FAQs

The draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan (the Plan) outlines the strategic framework for how Transport for NSW will respond to changes in land use, population and travel demand across the region over the next 20 years.

It provides a blueprint for transforming the way people and goods travel within, to and through the Hunter Region over the next 20 years.

The Plan is a supporting plan to the NSW Future Transport 2056 strategy.

Over the next 20 years the Hunter Region is expected to change significantly.

• The region’s population is projected to increase by over 100,000 to 863,000 people by 2041, making it the most populous region in regional NSW.
• There will be investment to improve rail services and infrastructure, and the continual improvement of the major regional corridors including the Golden Highway, New England Highway and the M1 Pacific Motorway, which will strengthen transport connections through the region.
• Freight traffic will continue to evolve and needs to be accommodated and moved efficiently on our road, rail and aviation networks.
• The role of the transport sector in supporting a transition to a low emissions economy will increase.
• We need a plan in place to make sure our transport network can meet the changing needs of our region.
• The Plan supports improved connectivity between the Hunter and key destinations beyond the region including Greater Sydney, Greater Newcastle and Canberra.

The Plan has been developed through formal engagement with key State and local government stakeholders from around the region to make sure it is relevant to the area.

Stakeholders engaged during development of this draft plan include representatives from all 10 councils across the Hunter Region, the Hunter Region Joint Organisation of Councils and all relevant State government agencies.

The draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan identifies a number of initiatives for investigation to improve safety, connectivity, productivity and resilience of the transport network. This will improve the range of transport services and options available to the community.

By 2041 these improvements described in the draft Transport plan will deliver benefits such as:

A connected region – increased population within a 30-minute public transport trip of jobs, education and services from Greater Newcastle or your nearest strategic centre (Taree, Foster-Tuncurry, Morisset, Maitland, Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Nelson Bay, Dungog, Scone and Raymond Terrace).

An integrated network – that embraces the 15-minute neighbourhood planning principle where people regularly choose to walk, cycle or take public transport to shops, services, schools or work.

Inter-regional connection – that builds on the Regional Rail Fleet and road upgrades as well as a potential future Fast Rail connection to improve multimodal connectivity between the Hunter, Central Coast and Greater Sydney for passengers and freight. 

Integrated transport, land use and infrastructure – that reflects balanced movement and place outcomes, contributing to better places and improving public transport attractiveness.

Supporting economic development – through improved road and rail networks that support Newcastle Port and Williamtown Special Activation Precinct, accommodate more efficient vehicle combinations, embrace technology-driven solutions, and address first mile/last mile freight.

Supporting tourism – through an upgraded Newcastle Airport, improved road networks and public transport services as well as integrated walking and cycling connections allowing visitors to easily explore the region.

Greater productivity – integrated transport infrastructure and services that connect residents with jobs, education, leisure and health ensuring the continued growth and diversification of sectors across the region, with first and last mile solutions tailored to support successful places.

Improved customer experience – by exploiting innovation and advances in technology to enable new and more personalised mobility solutions, inform customer decision-making with more ‘real-time’ information, improve safety, network resilience and freight efficiencies.

A more sustainable region – through uptake of electric vehicles (EV) in the transport fleet, an improved EV fast charging network and supporting the proposed Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

 A more resilient region – that builds climate and hazard resilience into the network's infrastructure supported by adaptive management strategies that maintain emergency access along key routes and bring the network back on-line quickly following planned and unplanned disruption.

The Plan covers 10 local government areas, including Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.

The Plan recognises the NSW Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050 and identifies initiatives to support the proposed Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) through transition of the transport network and NSW Government’s fleet to lower emission technologies. This includes supporting the use of clean energy fuel sources for vehicles and increasing public and active transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

The Plan embraces the use of technology to reduce the need to travel, including the use of telehealth, online shopping and food delivery services.

The draft plan has been developed together with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s (DPIE’s) Draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041.

The draft Transport plan and DPIE’s draft regional plan are closely aligned with each other and aim to deliver initiatives that will benefit the Hunter Region into the future.

The draft Transport plan also responds to the NSW Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050 and seeks to accelerate the transition of the transport sector to a low emissions future.

Regular engagement with the Greater Cities Commission has ensured that the RTPs have incorporated the emerging insights and directions prior to the release of the Six Cities Region Discussion Paper in September 2022.

Transport for NSW will continue to work collaboratively with the Greater Cities Commission and Department of Planning and Environment to ensure that the planning process supports alignment of all plans and strategies under development.

Appropriate alignment across these plans and strategies will enable Transport for NSW to deliver its strategic outcomes whilst taking a whole of government approach to supporting and delivering broader outcomes.

DPE’s draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041 is the NSW Government’s plan to ensure the ongoing prosperity and growth of the Hunter Region. It provides a vision and direction to guide planning and land use decisions over the next 20 years to drive job creation, housing diversity and vibrant, resilient, liveable communities.

The DPE draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041 is open for stakeholder and community feedback until Friday 4 March 2022.

You can visit https://dpie.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/hunter-2041 to read and provide feedback on the draft regional plan.

The initiatives identified in the Plan respond to the challenges identified for the region.

While some initiatives are already in the delivery or planning phases, new initiatives will be prioritised and staged over the next 20 years to deliver the best outcomes for the region.

Feedback captured from stakeholders and the community will be used to refine and finalise the plan and the timing of initiatives.

Transport will provide status updates every 12 months, and the Plan will be refreshed every five years.   

We are asking you to think about:

1. If you support the transport vision, objectives and initiatives outlined in the Plan?

2. Are there issues, ideas or initiatives that are important to you or that we have missed in the Plan?

The feedback we receive will help refine the plan.

Stakeholders and communities are encouraged to provide their feedback on the draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan via:

Our project webpage: https://future.transport.nsw.gov.au/HunterRTP

By email: HunterRTP@transport.nsw.gov.au

By completing the short survey on this web page.

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Transport is following NSW Health advice and changing the way we communicate and engage with stakeholders and communities.  

Consultation will be carried out via social media, digital and written advertising, and the project webpage to ensure the stakeholders and community can practice social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19.

Briefings will also be provided to relevant local councils, joint organisations and elected representatives.

Transport will review all feedback received during the display period and update the Plan where required.

The Plan will be finalised and released by mid-2023.