Upper Hunter Employment Lands Strategy

The Strategy provides a strategic planning framework to guide the future development of employment lands in the Upper Hunter Region (including Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter local government areas), consistent with the broader strategic planning framework and policy context.

The Upper Hunter Region is in the midst of an economic transition that will shape the future of the Region for generations to come.

The Region’s $15 billion economy has traditionally powered NSW, supplying energy needs through both coal mining and power generation, while exporting coal and agricultural product globally. As the world changes, the Region must also change with it powering toward a new green future, capitalising on its existing assets in energy generation, agriculture, and mining, while supporting a diversified post-mining economy with expansion in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and agribusiness sectors. The Region will leverage its strengths to create a diversified economy that also includes tourism, services and digital uses, becoming a diverse innovation powerhouse across its four LGAs.

By 2041, this Strategy sees the Upper Hunter Region as a dynamic, sustainable, and diverse regional economy that embraces innovation and resilience, while fostering a strong sense of community. Industry will continue to be supported in the Region, generating jobs, infrastructure services, and amenities to enable a growing population. Through diversification, the Region will be recognised as a leader in the development of new industries and technologies, and as a desirable place to live, work and visit.