2011 was an interesting year for the Kurri Kurri district and its citizens.

 

During 2011 we witnessed major investment in the Kurri Kurri CBD with Aldi and Coles supermarkets completed and operational. Rumour has it that Woolworths is seriously looking at establishing a footprint in the community. Housing growth has continued in the Heddon Greta and Cliftleigh area with a further 100 new homes starting in January on the Winton Group project.

 

Stanford Merthyr residents were rightly concerned with access to their suburb. The best outcome for all was achieved when the Roads Minister announced the approval of a round about and second access to the suburb via Heddon Street, Kurri Kurri.

 

2012 will see unbelievable activity with the ongoing construction of the Hunter Expressway.

Now that the Cessnock Council LEP (Local Environment Plan) has been gazetted by the NSW Government the business community is looking forward to moving forward with confidence.

 

During 2011 the Hunter Business Leaders Forum ( a group of business representatives) gathered momentum with the Business Community of the Cessnock LGA becoming increasingly frustrated by the slow rate of council approvals and economic growth considering we are only 20 months away from the completion of the Hunter Expressway.

 

Council Executive Staff and elected councilors were invited to a group meeting on the 30th of November of business leaders and council to re establish the Economic Development Committee to progress the city. Thankfully 10 of the elected councilors agreed to meet with the business leaders and as a result of that meeting a motion was put to the council to re establish the Major Projects committee and to focus on Economic Development.

 

If we are to create real job opportunities for the citizens of Cessnock we must get economic development firmly on the council agenda. Maitland and Newcastle are powering ahead in Rutherford and Beresfield, yet we don't have one bulky goods warehouse we can hang our hat on. HEZ is still sitting there with nothing happening while the Freeway Business Park both North and South at Beresfield are well underway.

 

We also have the uncertainty of the Smelter operation with no power contract going forward and a very poor international market place for exports of aluminium. If this business was to fail we would witness unemployment numbers beyond 10% in Cessnock which is totally unacceptable. We need to attract a diversity of new business to the area.