Find out about our key locations for investment in Port Stephens.
Port Stephens has been identified by all levels of government as a pivotal location for economic growth. With substantial private and government investment in defence, aerospace, innovation, education, infrastructure and residential housing — the future of our region is bright.
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| Airport | Defence, aviation, aerospace | Trading hub | Innovation education cluster |
Situated just east of Raymond Terrace and 25 minutes south of Nelson Bay, Williamtown is home to Newcastle Airport, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base and a growing aerospace and defence hub.
The Australian Government’s $1 billion investment in the new F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) fleet is a game-changer for Williamtown, which will be home base for most of the 72-strong fleet of jets. Primes servicing JSF maintenance contracts are actively seeking innovative SMEs to support service delivery. Astra Aerolab will house maintenance and support services for Australian fighter jets and drive $246 million into the NSW economy.
Newcastle Airport named Major Airport of the Year 2021 by Australian Airports Association, is the gateway to the Hunter region, and the second busiest airport in the state. The future is now firmly focused on preparing Newcastle Airport for international operations. The Commonwealth Government’s total investment of $121 million for terminal and runway upgrades has the potential to facilitate the transition from a regional centre to a truly global city with more capacity to support and facilitate development throughout Northern NSW.
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| Health | Retail hub | Strategic centre | Council HQ |
A historic riverside town and trading hub at the junction of the Hunter and Williams rivers, Raymond Terrace has evolved to become the main service centre for Port Stephens including retail, government, civic and professional services.
The Hunter Regional Plan 2041 identifies Raymond Terrace as an important strategic centre. It's home to Port Stephens Council's administration building, NSW Department of Family & Community Services, 2 successful shopping centres and a diverse and busy main street.
The town has seen significant public and private investment over recent years including a new GP Super Clinic, NSW Police Local Area Command, a courthouse and Defence administration centre. It has been identified as particularly suitable for the development of health services to support the region’s growing population including the King’s Hill Urban Release Area and proposed infill housing.
Raymond Terrace’s proximity to major employment and industry centres (Heatherbrae, Tomago, Newcastle and Maitland), its easy access to the M1 Motorway and affordable real estate make it an attractive option for businesses and residents alike.
Port Stephens Council is now implementing a Public Domain Plan for Raymond Terrace, which will support the growth and vibrancy of this community.
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| Bulky goods | Jobs cluster | Link to M1 | Small manufacturing |
Located on the Pacific Highway south of Raymond Terrace and north of the Tomago manufacturing precinct, Heatherbrae has been earmarked as a significant employment land cluster in the Hunter Regional Plan.
The town is conveniently close to the major population centres of Newcastle, Maitland and Port Stephens. This, combined with Australian Government funding of $1.6 billion to extend the M1 Pacific Motorway, is set to help this area evolve into a destination for bulky goods retailing.
Heatherbrae offers large parcels of affordable, vacant land with high visibility, ample space for parking and transport logistics. The area is also home to existing industrial estates, major bulky goods retailers, boat and caravan manufacturing and sales, along with smaller manufacturing and highway service businesses.
This area is set to continue to grow with our Council's strategies providing a framework for the release of more commercial land into the next decade.
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| Tourism | Strategic centre | Residential | Health |
A major tourism hub, Nelson Bay is identified as a strategic centre with significant opportunity for growth in tourism product and experiences.
A boost in public and private investment in local infrastructure is underway to enhance tourism facilities that capitalise on the incredible natural assets. There's also a significant commitment by our Council and the NSW Government to drive a future workforce with education and training.
Existing professional services with an expanding retail and hospitality sector will service the fast-growing population and improved health care will service the needs of the over 55s attracted to the region.
Our Council has also endorsed a plan to revitalise the town centre and update aging infrastructure to unlock the potential for growth in the Port Stephens visitor economy. We have committed to partnerships with industry to deliver destination marketing strategies to drive awareness, increase visitation and reach a visitor spend of $1 billion by 2030.
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| Jobs cluster | Industrial | Manufacturing | Trading hub |
With global heavy hitters such as Tomago Aluminium, WesTrac, Sandvik and Ampcontrol all calling Tomago home, it’s no surprise this centre has caught the attention of NSW Government.
The Hunter Regional Plan 2041 identifies Tomago as a catalyst zone and a significant employment land cluster. Its close proximity to Newcastle Airport, the Port of Newcastle, the Hunter River, the M1 Motorway and the rail corridor means Tomago is ideally placed to take advantage of existing freight and logistics infrastructure to move product around Australia and the globe.
Not just a logistics hub, Tomago is also home to growing businesses across the spectrum — manufacturing, small and medium businesses, defence and mining support, warehousing and distribution.
Tomago represents a huge opportunity for economic growth within the manufacturing and industrial sector and is set to become a vibrant trading hub attracting international, national and local tenants to complement the major corporations located in the precinct.
