Hunter Region Just Transition Policy: Newcastle City Council Reviews Local Measures Alongside Other Hunter Areas

Newcastle City Council voted at its 7 July meeting to advance local planning documents under the NSW Hunter Region Just Transition Policy, which sets out support for workers moving from coal-related roles into new sectors. The policy applies across the Hunter and requires each local government area to prepare implementation plans that address job losses in mining and power generation.

The policy was introduced in 2024 following the closure schedule for several Hunter coal mines and the Eraring power station. It directs funding toward retraining programs and new industry development, with Newcastle positioned as one of six local government areas required to submit annual progress reports to the state government.

Impacts for Newcastle households and workers

Residents employed at the Port of Newcastle or in related logistics could see changes to shift patterns if hydrogen export facilities receive priority under the transition plan. Council documents tabled on 7 July list possible use of University of Newcastle facilities for short courses in renewable energy maintenance, with places reserved first for workers from closed mine sites in the local government area.

Under the same policy, Lake Macquarie City Council has already allocated space in its 2026 operational plan for similar training hubs, while Singleton Council has focused on road upgrades to support new industrial sites. Newcastle's draft plan aligns most closely with Lake Macquarie on the use of existing TAFE sites rather than new construction.

The 2025-26 NSW Budget papers record an allocation of 180 million dollars across the Hunter for transition activities, with 35 million dollars tagged for Newcastle-specific projects including coastal site assessments linked to port expansion. These figures appear in the Regional Development section of the budget and are drawn from the Hunter Region Just Transition Framework released in December 2024.

Next steps for implementation

Council staff will now prepare a final submission to the state Department of Planning for review by September. The government has stated that approved local plans will begin receiving tranche payments from the allocated budget in the first quarter of 2027.