Fifteen years ago, I left Newcastle to take on new challenges in Sydney. Like many in our industry, I was drawn to the energy, the complexity, and the pace of big-city projects.
A year ago, I came back.
Coming back to Newcastle isn’t just a return to my roots and family — it’s a return with purpose. I’ve opened a Newcastle office for Essence Project Management, and I’m stepping back into a region that looks both familiar and fundamentally transformed. The Hunter is surging with energy, opportunity, and momentum.
The Hunter is no longer an up-and-coming market. It is a leader in its own right. From the city centre to the valley, momentum is building fast. Across housing, health, education, defence, and clean energy, the activity is constant and growing.
Alongside this energy, there are challenges. Infrastructure needs to keep pace. Planning must be strategic. The supply of housing must rise to meet demand. The Hunter has reached a turning point, and what we do now will shape the future.
Almost 800,000 people now call the Hunter region home. This growth is visible on every street and in every new subdivision. Infill developments are reshaping Newcastle’s inner suburbs. Greenfield sites in Lake Macquarie and Maitland are expanding quickly.
The NSW Government has set a target of 30,000 new homes in the Lower Hunter by 2028. But to make that happen, infrastructure must come first. Without roads, utilities, and transport, the homes cannot follow.
The Newcastle and Hunter Valley region is growing rapidly, with areas in Maitland now representing the fastest-growing postcode in New South Wales. However, it is not just about population numbers. The demographic profile is changing as well, bringing new challenges and opportunities for planning, housing, and community services.
The Hunter’s population is growing older as well as larger. The fastest growth in the last ten years has been among people aged 85 and over. This brings a different kind of demand. Health services, aged care, and retirement living are all under pressure.
At the same time, young families are still looking for affordable homes and connected communities. We need both. Meeting the needs of every generation will require careful design and long-term vision.
The Hunter has long had a strong industrial base. Now, that base is changing. Defence investment at Williamtown is accelerating. Long-term contracts are being signed. Aerospace hubs are under construction. A new missile production facility worth $850 million is underway.
Australia’s entire fleet of F-35 fighter jets will be serviced and upgraded right here in the Hunter. These projects build capability, but they also boost local jobs and develop regional skills.
In energy, we’re watching the shift from coal to renewables play out in real time. The Waratah Super Battery is coming online to help secure NSW’s power grid. Meanwhile, hydrogen and offshore wind are no longer just ideas — they’re part of the strategy. The Hunter has firmly positioned itself as a clean energy frontrunner. At the Port of Newcastle, a major hydrogen hub is in development — backed by significant government funding — while an offshore wind zone has now been formally declared, unlocking new pathways for investment and long-term generation. From big batteries to green hydrogen to wind farms, the energy transition here is tangible.
Having spent the last 18 years delivering complex retail, residential, infrastructure, and urban projects across NSW, I see this moment as an opportunity to bring experience home — to lead, but also to listen. Because Newcastle isn’t Sydney.
This region has its own strengths, identity, and expectations. There’s a deep sense of pride here — and a real hunger for capability, delivery, and grounded leadership.
We need to bring big thinking to regional opportunities, without losing what makes this place work. Growth isn’t just about numbers — it’s about designing communities that reflect the people who live here. Places that feel authentic to the Hunter’s character and needs.
I’m incredibly proud to be back in my hometown — and excited for what lies ahead. The momentum in the Hunter right now is undeniable.
To everyone in the Newcastle community who has welcomed me back — thank you. Whether we’ve reconnected or met for the first time, your support has been both generous and genuine.
Finally – at a recent UDIA Hunter Forum, I heard a line from Minister Jennifer Aitchison that captured the current moment:
Move to Newcastle from Sydney and halve your mortgage. Move to Newcastle from regional New South Wales and gain access to exceptional services and amenity. It is a win-win.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Fifteen years ago, I left Newcastle to take on new challenges in Sydney. Like many in our industry, I was drawn to the energy, the complexity, and the pace of big-city projects. A year ago, I came back. Coming back to Newcastle isn’t just a return to my roots and family — it’s a return […]
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