HBR August 2026

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments and Muswellbrook and Lake Macquarie councils are working together to secure the future of the Hunter, with new plans set to unlock more than 7,000 jobs as part of the region’s shift from coal into a major industrial hub.

Port of Newcastle (PON) has become the first port in NSW approved to safely store grid-scale lithium-ion batteries at its Mayfield Multipurpose Terminal. This approval further strengthens the Port’s position as the State's leading logistics gateway for renewable energy infrastructure, providing project owners greater flexibility in the delivery of critical energy projects.

The $381 million Muswellbrook Bypass is powering forward with early work well underway and a refined design to deliver safer journeys, faster freight movements and better outcomes for the local community.

Greensteel Australia announced on 7 July that it has secured the historic 70,000 sqm site at 51 Industrial Drive, Mayfield North, and will invest $500 million to build Australia’s first new steel mill in more than 30 years. The mill will be the first in the country to run entirely on electricity, with no gas used anywhere in the process.