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Missing The Boat in Newcastle CBD
As Novocastrians know, the Newcastle CBD has been in massive need of revitalising for some time. The Honey Suckle Development, an integral part of this rejuvenation process, commenced in the early 1990’s when I was embarking on my professional career. At the time BHP had just closed a large part of their operations in Newcastle and there were concerns about the future of the community. Fortunately the Newcastle area, and the Hunter Valley for that matter, transformed itself and evolved so it was no longer reliant to a blue collar workforce from the “big Australian”.
Whilst the progress in the area has been remarkable, unfortunately, this week GPT who was primed to develop a $600m development in the centre of Newcastle CBD have withdrawn their support due to the time taken to implement the recommendations of a March 2009 report recommending the removal of train lines to allow the development to proceed. GPT has categorically stated the lack of Government support to ensure the recommendations are implemented is the reason they are leaving to pursue other opportunities. As a direct result the anchor tenant of the proposed development David Jones will also leave the Newcastle CBD once it lease expires in January 2011 after a tenure of more than 50 years.
This decision is a huge blow for the revitalisation of the Newcastle CBD.
I hope that the electorate of Newcastle and surrounding areas send a very clear statement to the Labour party next year in the state election because it’s their loyalty to this political organisation that effectively leaves them without a real voice in government. They simply have to turn up on election day and they get re-elected. What local people in large parts of Newcastle don’t understand is that the constituents in “swinging” electorates get a much more real effective voice because if they don’t the politicians are out of a job next time the ballot comes around.
Whilst the progress in the area has been remarkable, unfortunately, this week GPT who was primed to develop a $600m development in the centre of Newcastle CBD have withdrawn their support due to the time taken to implement the recommendations of a March 2009 report recommending the removal of train lines to allow the development to proceed. GPT has categorically stated the lack of Government support to ensure the recommendations are implemented is the reason they are leaving to pursue other opportunities. As a direct result the anchor tenant of the proposed development David Jones will also leave the Newcastle CBD once it lease expires in January 2011 after a tenure of more than 50 years.
This decision is a huge blow for the revitalisation of the Newcastle CBD.
I hope that the electorate of Newcastle and surrounding areas send a very clear statement to the Labour party next year in the state election because it’s their loyalty to this political organisation that effectively leaves them without a real voice in government. They simply have to turn up on election day and they get re-elected. What local people in large parts of Newcastle don’t understand is that the constituents in “swinging” electorates get a much more real effective voice because if they don’t the politicians are out of a job next time the ballot comes around.
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