Hunter Ports is a privately owned entity in the Tinker Group and whose first proposal is the concept for a new coal terminal on the southern side of the Hunter River in Newcastle.
Hunter Ports’ proposal of locating the terminal on the old BHP Steelworks site has been initially rejected by the NSW State Government despite its compelling merits to the industry, community, the environment and the State. Hunter Ports is considering further options and remains committed to incorporating various innovative elements of the original concept.
A state-of-the-art terminal is proposed to set new benchmarks in environmental and operational standards and to deliver the opportunity to transform the local community through reduced noise, dust and industrial interfaces.
It would also deliver significant community benefits, create thousands of jobs and bolster the local economy.
Hunter Ports’ proposal includes the plan to create a new rail corridor through the industrial land adjacent to the Hunter River, which would remove an estimated 90 per cent of coal trains from residential areas and permitting the closure of the Mayfield rail corridor.
The proposed new rail link would also incorporate a marshalling area in the Steel River industrial zone, which would see the end of trains parking and idling in residential areas.
This would transform the precinct by significantly reducing dust and noise, as well as improving air quality and local surroundings.
Good design can ensure that dust, noise and visual amenity impacts from a new coal loader are also minimised.
Hunter Ports is also committed to improving associated local infrastructure in and around Newcastle for the benefit of the community.
Hunter Ports’ compelling concept could deliver a significant number of benefits including:
Local community benefits
- An estimated 90% of coal trains removed from residential areas
- Potential to permit the closure of the Mayfield rail corridor, transforming the surrounding communities
- Possible creation of a new “green belt” along the Mayfield rail corridor
- No more trains parked or idling in residential areas, with a marshalling area proposed within the Steel River industrial zone
- Improved air quality and reduced noise, providing a better living environment for residents;
- Kick-start the diversified development of Newcastle Port by providing valuable infrastructure; and
- A package of local infrastructure improvement projects for Newcastle
Environmental benefits
- State-of-the-art terminal that would set new benchmarks in environmental and operational standards in the way export coal is handled in Australia
- Innovative features that would be used for the first time in Newcastle to minimise dust, noise and visual impacts.
- Noise barriers with extensive native plantings between the terminal and the residential areas so most residents won’t see the terminal and noise will be minimised
- Barriers to shield the stockpile area from prevailing winds to significantly reduce dust
- High density coal storage with lower exposed surface area to further minimise dust; and
- No major dredging, carve-outs of the river banks and land reclamation would be required on proposed site, which is a significant environmental benefit relative to alternative locations in Newcastle.
Industry benefits
- Up to 100mtpa of additional export capacity for Newcastle Port
- Innovative measures in terminal design and operation, including first time use of wind barriers and noise barriers
- Approximately $12 billion in coal export and related revenues, once fully operational
- Up to $1 billion in royalties for NSW Government per year, at full capacity; and
- Generate gross regional product for Newcastle of up to $140 million a year, once the terminal is fully operational.
Employment benefits
- Up to 800 jobs during construction
- Up to 1,600 jobs on and off site once fully operational; and
- Thousands of other jobs in the wider Hunter region.
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