Honeysuckle - Legislation

The Corporation was incorporated under the Growth Centres Act 1974 in 1992. The Corporation’s functions and powers are to promote, coordinate, manage and secure the orderly and economic development of land within the growth centre.

IIn 1992 the Honeysuckle growth centre was identified as surplus Government land generally adjacent to Newcastle Harbour and Throsby Creek.

It was extended in 1994 to coincide with the boundaries of the Building Better Cities [BBC] program. This enabled the Corporation to meet the commitments of its BBC funding; for example, the construction of affordable rental housing in Hamilton.

Therefore, the Corporation’s growth centre boundary up until 2002 was: Selwyn Street, Tighes Hill in the north; Glebe Road, Hamilton in the south; Chatham Road, Broadmeadow in the west and; the coast, in the East.

In 2002 the Hunter International Sports Centre Trust sought the Corporation’s assistance in the lease and development of Site A in the Sports Facilities Zone. Approval by the Minister for Planning was required for the Corporation to act as a Project Manager.

This also required Executive Council approval to extend the Corporation’s growth centre to include the Sports Centre site. The most logical way to extend the growth centre to include the Sports Centre was west, following existing boundaries such as roads.

The Corporation does not own any land, other than the remaining land in the original 45 hectares around the harbour, in its growth centre. There were and are no plans to develop other lands in the growth centre by the Corporation. It cannot operate in the growth centre without the consent of the Minister for Planning.

Download the map showing the change in the growth centre boundary.

Growth Centres map (Acrobat 7 Reader required)

NSW Legislation Website

The Scheme

In 1992, under the Growth Centres Act, the Corporation was required to present to the Minister a ‘Scheme’ to be implemented. The scheme outlined the mission, project philosophy, objectives, planning principles and steps to implement the Honeysuckle project.

The Scheme PDF (3.94MB)

The Concept Masterplan

The scheme makes reference to a document entitled concept masterplan which included a map. The concept masterplan was a flexible framework that set the stage for ongoing planning. The scheme states that ‘the concept masterplan will need to be reviewed and updated as the project progresses and as such should not be considered to be ‘fixed’ as part of the scheme’.

The scheme also states that planning would be undertaken within the environmental and development control legislation. The concept masterplan map has been updated as planning guidelines have been created and revised.

Concept Masterplan Map (661KB)

Planning Guidelines

1997: Central Honeysuckle Regional Environmental Plan (REP)

Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and Newcastle City Council

1998: Development Control Plan (DCP40)

Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Newcastle City Council.

2003: Development Control Plan (DCP40) revised

Department of Planning and Newcastle City Council

2003: Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (LEP)

Department of Planning and Newcastle City Council

2005: Newcastle Development Control Plan (replaces DCP40)

Department of Planning and Newcastle City Council

For more information:

Newcastle City Council Policies and Guidelines for New Development Website

Department of Planning Website

NSW Legislation Website

NSW Cities Taskforce: Newcastle City Centre Vision

In December 2006 the NSW Cities Taskforce announced a vision for Newcastle city centre including Honeysuckle which includes a city centre Vision, Local Environment Plan, Development Plan and Civic Improvement Plan.

Comments on the plan are welcome and should be sent to Newcastle Council by 5pm, 21 March 2007. For more information:

Department of Planning website

Newcastle City Council website

The Scheme, the Concept Masterplan and the Railway Line

The 1992 concept masterplan which was attached to the scheme, reflected the State government proposal at the time, that the rail line be closed between Newcastle and Civic stations. When the NSW State government subsequently announced that the rail line would remain, the planning guidelines created for the city and the concept masterplan map included the rail line between Newcastle and Civic stations.

The project’s southern boundary is an important transport corridor, with City Rail services to Newcastle, which Premier Iemma announced will be maintained. There was, and is, no legal reason for the Corporation to implement the removal of the rail line between Newcastle and Civic stations.

The planning principles in the scheme are reflected in the current planning guidelines. The philosophy of the scheme—Honeysuckle to act as a catalyst for economic and social revitalisation of the city of Newcastle—is still relevant.

The extension of the growth centre did not extend the Honeysuckle scheme to the wider Newcastle area. As there are no plans to develop other lands in the growth centre a variation to the scheme was not required.

The planning principles and philosophy of the concept masterplan are reflected in the planning guidelines. The concept masterplan map is updated as planning guidlines are updated and the project progresses.