Former Newcastle rail line to become public domain

A $500 million plan for the regeneration of Newcastle’s former heavy rail corridor will see the area transformed into a new public space that includes parks, a plaza, and a host of developments in the retail, commercial and residential sectors.

Prepared and lodged by UrbanGrowth NSW, in conjunction with Transport NSW and Hassell, the plan would appear to draw inspiration from New York's High Line and Sydney’s Goods Line projects – each of which have taken former rail lines and transformed them into new public space.

The submitted rezoning proposal aims to revitalise the city by delivering light rail and a new transport interchange, creating employment opportunities and opening the city to the harbour edge. It is described as a vision to “activate the city and waterfront to attract people, new enterprises, jobs and tourism to Newcastle” that will serve to strengthen the city’s position in the Asia Pacific.

Covering 4.25 hectares, from Worth Place to the former Newcastle station, the proposal calls for the rezoning of the former rail infrastructure into usable public space. While only half of this space will incorporate community projects such as two new green spaces and a new urban plaza, the remainder of the area will be rezoned for retail, commercial and residential uses. The new light rail system will run west of Worth Place, and along Hunter Street and Scott Street into the city centre.

Michael Cassel, Director of the NSW Government’s Newcastle Urban Transformation and Transport Program explained “the planning proposal is a response to the community’s desire to see a contemporary waterfront city emerge from the urban transformation program.”

In a bid to increase corridors between the waterfront and the city centre, plans for the improvement of the public domain will include greater pedestrian and vehicle connections. Hunter Street will also undergo revitalisation.

The closure of the Newcastle rail corridor, when first announced in 2012, was met with anger by many local residents. However, despite prolonged protest, in 2015 the NSW Government sanctioned the removal of the rail lines.

Images show artists impressions of Newcastle's Argyle Place (top) and Market Street (bottom) after completion of the plan.

27th June 2016 - SINGAPORE’S FORMER RAIL CORRIDOR TO BECOME A LINEAR PARK

30th August 2015 - TRANSFORMED GOODS LINE WALKWAY CONNECTS SYDNEY’S RAILWAY SQUARE TO DARLING HARBOUR