BY NAKITA JAGER

Improvements can now be made to the Newcastle CBD following the NSW government’s decision to approve rezoning of the heavy rail corridor.

Changes to the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan have allowed the NSW government to go ahead with the planning of the corridor.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot Macdonald, says that it provides certainty for developments to take place within the city.

“It has been a long process,” he says, “[but now we can] move on with a range of projects that the state government is committed to.”

These developments include additional public transport, the construction of affordable housing and an expansion of the Inner City University Campus.

“It gives us the certainty to move on after a long long time coming,” Mr MacDonald says.

The Parliamentary Secretary believes the new infrastructure will be developed within the next year, with light rail expected to be operational by 2019.



Artist’s Impression of Affordable Housing, Newcastle. Image: NBN.