Advocacy priorities

An important part of Council is to act as a voice for our region and its people and to make sure we are prepared to meet the needs of our community in the future. As such, Port Stephens Council is seeking commitment from the NSW Government to provide funding and support for the delivery of projects across the community, from health and housing to roads, public transport and education.

2024-2025 Community advocacy priorities

The 2024-2025 Community advocacy priorities document below lists the key projects for Port Stephens in the years ahead and aims to ensure our community is at the forefront of the NSW Government's future planning and advocacy program.

  • $15 million to directly invest into the investigation, design and approvals for an alternate road connection between Shoal Bay and Fingal Bay to improve traffic flow and ensure resilience to coastal hazards.
  • $5 million to support the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace by investing directly into the Strategic Business Case and Design works to resolve a series of high risk highway intersections north of Raymond Terrace to improve traffic safety, reduce travel time and support freight movements.
  • Directly invest into the urgent upgrade of Cabbage Tree Road and Tomago Road to support the Port Stephens Enterprise Corridor, the new Raymond Terrace M1 Bypass, the development of the Newcastle Airport international terminal and increasing investment in RAAF Williamtown.
  • Directly invest into new slip roads from the M1 Pacific Motorway extension with Masonite Road to improve passenger and freight access to Newcastle Airport.

  • $2 million to support the development of Masterplanning and detailed design works to deliver diverse employment and housing options on Council owned land in Salamander Bay, Medowie and Raymond Terrace. This investment would inform future partnership opportunities at all levels of Government to deliver residential and employment opportunities in the strategic centres of Port Stephens.
  • $50 million for the delivery of suburb level stormwater system upgrades to immediately unlock higher density housing options in Raymond Terrace and Shoal Bay. These areas are identified through comprehensive community engagement and place planning, and have the opportunity to unlock 3,080 houses.
  • $15 million to directly invest into Homes NSW, in partnership with community housing providers for the design, approvals and construction of new community housing on government owned land in Raymond Terrace. This investment would realise the potential identified within the Raymond Terrace Affordable Housing Masterplan.

  • $100 million in collaboration with Newcastle Airport, directly invest into the next stages of Astra Aerolab to leverage economic and employment growth opportunities, activate advanced manufacturing, support freight and logistics and safeguard the future expansion of the airport.
  • $2.5 million to fund detailed engineering design works and associated Environmental Impact Statement, approvals and work to open Dawson's Drain to alleviate flooding and drainage constraints.
  • $500,000 to fund the development of a Masterplan to ensure the strategic planning of land at Williamtown and Tomago supports the Tomago Renewable Energy Zone, the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, the duplication of Nelson Bay Road and the Newcastle Airport International Terminal and airport expansions.
  • Support public and private investment in the defence and aviation industries by relocating Federal Government offices (Department of Defence, the Department of Veteran Affairs, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Federal Police) to Raymond Terrace.
  • Fund the acquisition of PFAS impacted land to support landowners to unlock the growth potential of Port Stephens Enterprise Corridor between Williamtown and Tomago.

  • $20 million to fund the delivery of priority works for the Raymond Terrace Public Domain Plan to deliver safe, walkable and connected streets, improved lighting, extended cycleways and create unique spaces that recognise the heritage and culture of the community.
  • $9 million to co-fund the delivery of high priority pathways as part of the Tomaree Pedestrian Access Mobility Plan to improve safety and accessibility across Port Stephens.
  • $5 million to co-fund the delivery of priority works for the Nelson Bay Public Domain Plan to extend pedestrian connections, create active transport corridors and improve community space.
  • $2.5 million to directly invest into the planning and concept design works for the implementation of the Medowie Town Centre Masterplan which will deliver housing, employment and public recreation uses.
  • $11 million to fund the delivery of coastal pathways at Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay to improve safety, increase accessibility and provide additional protection to Shoal Bay Road from coastal erosion.

  • $1 million to directly invest into the development of a Business Case and Masterplan for the Nelson Bay Eastern Groyne to support Commercial Tour Operators, improve accessibility and create a gateway to the Port Stephens -– Great Lakes Marine Park.
  • $200,000 to directly invest into the development of a Masterplan for an indoor sports facility to cater to the growing regional communities of Raymond Terrace, Karuah and Medowie.
  • $20 million to directly invest into the development of the Birubi Point Tourism Transport Interchange to help protect culturally significant land, improve the visitor experience and create a gateway to the internationally recognised Worimi Conservation Lands.
  • $2.5 million to co-fund the delivery of multi-purpose sporting facilities, recreational space, pump tracks, pathway connections and picnic spaces as part of the Aliceton Reserve Masterplan.
  • $9.5 million to support the growing population of Medowie by co-funding the delivery of additional sporting fields, netball courts, open play space and connecting pathways as part of the Ferodale Sports Complex Masterplan.
  • $22 million to co-fund projects within the King Park Masterplan and the Lakeside Sports Complex Masterplan to deliver a regional indoor sports facility, new sports facilities and supporting infrastructure.
  • $12 million to co-fund the delivery of improvements to sporting facilities, recreational space, lighting and accessible amenities as part of the Mallabula Sports Complex Masterplan.
  • $250,000 to directly invest into annual destination marketing programs aimed at growing international visitation and visitor spend to Port Stephens. This funding will support the ongoing expansion of Newcastle Airport and minimize the impacts on the regional visitor economy from proposed renewable energy projects.

Other advocacy efforts

On 12 July 2023, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy declared an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Hunter suitable for offshore renewable energy, including offshore wind.

This was given effect by the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Declared Area OEI-01-2023) Declaration 2023.

The declared area off the Hunter covers 1,854km2 and extends from offshore of Norah Head in the south, to Port Stephens in the north.

At its meeting on 22 October 2024, Council considered the matter and reaffirmed its position to oppose the offshore wind project and requested the General Manager to re-engage with our local State and Federal Members to reiterate Council's collective stance refuting any further investigative efforts:

For more information about the project, visit the Australian Government website.