The Hunter Region includes the local government areas (LGAs) of Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
With Greater Newcastle at its heart, the Hunter Region is home to the lands and waters of the Guringai, Biripi, Geawgal, Worimi, Wonnarua, Darkinyung and Awabakal people.
It sits within stunning natural landscapes. This includes the beaches around Nelson Bay and Forster-Tuncurry; rivers and lakes that offer a natural lifestyle and biodiversity benefits; and vast bushland, valleys and the mountainous region of the Barrington.
The Hunter is the leading regional economy in Australia, accommodating 427,000 jobs. It is home to one of Australia’s most productive wine regions and a significant equine industry around Scone. The traditional mining, energy and manufacturing sectors present opportunities to transform to cleaner, renewable energy sources.
We think of the Hunter Region as part of the ‘Six Cities’ Region. This includes Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle City, Central Coast City, Illawarra-Shoalhaven City, Western Parkland City, Central River City and Eastern Harbour City.
We expect the Hunter’s population of 860,000 people to increase to nearly 950,000 people by 2041. This requires us to plan for an additional 101,800 dwellings across the region.
The Hunter Regional Plan 2041 recognises the region is changing. It draws on the concepts of sequenced planning and infrastructure, creating great places and enriching community character.
The plan is about sustainable growth. It looks at housing choice and lifestyle opportunities to cement the Hunter as a leading regional economy.
Download the Hunter Regional Plan 2041 (PDF, 48.1 MB).
For additional information, read our frequently asked questions.
