NSW regions

Hunter

Population: 644,279
Area: 31,000 sq km

Major cities and centres

• Cessnock
• Lake Macquarie
• Maitland
• Newcastle
• Port Stephens

Region overview

• one of Australia’s largest regional populations
• Australia’s oldest wine growing region
• world’s largest coal export port
• Australia’s equine capital
• energy powerhouse
• fastest growing regional airport
• major defence bases

Major sectors

• manufacturing
• coal and mining
• viticulture and winemaking
• power generation
• agribusiness
• equine
• information communications technology (ICT)
• tourism
• health
• education
• defence and aerospace
• railway rolling stock
• marine
• call centres
• renewable energy

The Hunter is one of Australia’s economic powerhouses, approximately 2 hours drive north of Sydney and covers an area of 31,000 square kilometres.  It includes the Lower Hunter (Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock (Hunter Valley Wine Country), Barrington Tops (Gloucester and Dungog) and the Upper Hunter (Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper Hunter) and the Great Lakes.

Residents enjoy employment choice, the chance to choose a lifestyle by the beach or in a rural setting, excellent health and education facilities, and the luxury of time that comes from short commuting distances between work and play. The Hunter also has a range of affordable housing options for residents.

Competitive advantages

• efficient, uncongested, rail, air and sea transport network
• plentiful supply of employment land
• loyal, plentiful and skilled workforce
• easy access to Sydney
• Australia’s biggest regional market
• world’s largest coal export port
• sophisticated telecommunications services
• progressive, co-operative approach to industrial relations
• leading University, TAFE and education facilities
  

Export

The region accounts for more than 32 per cent of the State’s exports including coal, mining services, products and equipment, as well as fresh and processed food, and wine.

Industries

Coal and metal

$10 billion a year coal industry. 97 million tonnes exported annually comprising approx 94% of the region’s total exports.  Produces over 36% of Australia’s aluminium.

Wine

The region is one of Australia’s top wine growing areas, producing 25.4 million litres of wine annually valued at more than A$203 million.

Power generation

Four power stations that generate over 60 per cent of the State’s electricity.

Equine

Australia’s equine capital of Scone is the annual destination for the world’s top breeding stallions with over 70 studs. Over $2 billion has been invested in the region’s stud farms and horses in recent years.

Defence and Aerospace

Major military bases including Australia’s primary jet fighter base.
Sophisticated defence infrastructure including world competitive aeronautic, marine, engineering and technology capability and a proven track record in defence project delivery.
The Hunter is home to key Defence companies Boeing, Thales, Varleys, Forgacs, Lockheed Martin, L3 & Raytheon and serves as a maintenance base for major aerospace company BAE and Jetstar airline.

Manufacturing

As a major economic driver, sectors include metals processing, transport, machinery and equipment manufacture, chemical processing, mining, defence and light industry.

Agribusiness

Valued at over $1 billion annually. The industry includes agriculture, horticulture, timber/paper products, aquaculture, food processing and manufacturing of products such as fertilisers.

Tourism

In 2009/10, there were 9.5 million visitors to the Hunter region – the highest of any NSW region. The Hunter’s close proximity to Sydney and it’s broad range of tourism activities attracted 3.1 million domestic overnight visitors, 6.3 million domestic day trip visitors and 136,800 international visitors.

Investment opportunities

• The Honeysuckle Project: urban renewal redevelopment including 50 hectares of central business district and residential real estate fronting four kilometres of one of Australia’s great working harbours.  Over $800million worth of projects has been completed, generating over $1.335 billion in economic activity. Projects underway include entertainment, commercial and residential.
• Port side land: opportunity exists for locating new port-related industry in the region.
• Williamtown Aerospace Centre: up to 100 hectares adjacent to RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle  Airport
• Rapidly growing population and employment generating business opportunities

Infrastructure

Transport

National and international access.

Free-flowing transport links offer importers and exporters a seamless delivery network to and from the Port of Newcastle. Passenger and freight rail services operate within and through the Hunter linking in to the service networks to the rest of Australia.

Newcastle Airport, with direct flights to major cities and regional towns including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Tamworth and Norfolk Island.

Major educational facilities

• University of Newcastle
• TAFE Hunter Institute
• TOCAL CB Alexander College

Major defence facilities

• RAAF Base Williamtown
• Singleton Army Base

Labour

Large professional, skilled labour force and strong industrial relations record. The Hunter has a 313,000-strong workforce with a larger proportion of residents with either Certificate or Diploma qualifications  as well as a strong tertiary education component.  

Research

Research institutions in the Hunter include:

• Hunter Valley Research Foundation, providing assistance to business, industry, government and wider communities. 
  
• Hunter Medical Research Institute is an internationally recognised medical research organisation.
  
• Newcastle Innovation is the research arm of the University of Newcastle
  
• CSIRO Energy Centre sets a new benchmark in ecologically sustainable design by showcasing energy generation initiatives, building demand reduction and supply options.
  
• Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources
  facilitating research within the minerals, energy and resources sector. 
  

For more information

NSW Department of Trade and Investment - Newcastle Office
Level 3, 251 Wharf Road
Newcastle NSW 2300
Tel: (02) 4908 7333 Fax: (02) 4929 7096

Regional Development Australia - Hunter
www.rdahunter.org.au
Tel: (02) 4908 7300

Related Documents

• Regional Profile - Hunter [PDF File - 314.1 KB]