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Farewell Hunter Business Chamber, welcome Business Hunter!
Business Hunter, is the new name and brand for what used to be the Hunter Business Chamber and was officially launched on the 31st March at a function at Newcastle’s Great Northern Hotel attended by 150 members and VIPs.
Smart mall lights up heart of Charlestown
Pearson Street Mall has reopened to the public following a $2.8 million transformation
The Knights Rugby League Centre of Excellence
APP’s Northern NSW team has been engaged to deliver a new rugby league Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the Newcastle Knights. The $20 Million project is to be delivered under a funding agreement between the NSW Office of Sport and the Knights owners, Wests Group.
New Civic Square to be at the heart of town
Muswellbrook Council has announced that its continued vision for the revitalisation of Muswellbrook’s town centre will include a multi-use precinct with quality retail, commercial, civic, cultural, entertainment, education and community amenities.
Energy Renaissance to deliver defence-grade cybersecure battery management system with CSIRO and IMCRC
Energy Renaissance, an Australian lithium-ion battery manufacturer, announced on 25 March that it will develop a defence-grade cybersecure Battery Management System (BMS) for its superStorage family of batteries that are to be manufactured in Tomago, NSW.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM THE HUNTER’S ORGANISATIONAL LEADERS
As a management consultant who works in leadership development, it’s been my privilege to support leaders and organisations across many different industries.
Opportunity to hatch a business at The Levee
Do you have an exciting new business ready to hatch? Council is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) to occupy The Hatch, a vendor style kiosk prominently positioned in Maitland’s premier lifestyle precinct, The Levee, Central Maitland.
Hunter Green Hydrogen Hub to drive jobs, investment and a Net Zero Future
The Hunter is set to become the home of one of the State’s first green hydrogen hubs with the NSW Government committing at least $70 million to their development.
Newcastle Seafood Festival
Presented by the Throsby Basin Business Chamber and City of Newcastle as an activation between both business and community, the Inaugural Newcastle Seafood Festival is set to become a destination event on NSW’s Tourism calendar and is a Feature Event of the Newcastle Food Month.
Next milestones in Australia’s F-35 program
The first F-35A aircraft has been inducted into BAE Systems Australia’s (BAESA) maintenance depot as part of the next major milestone in the Joint Strike Fighter Program.
Record $40,000 awarded to help Port students with studies
A record-breaking $40,000 has been awarded to 20 talented students as part of the 2021 Port Stephens Mayoral Academic Scholarships — the program’s biggest ever scholarship pool.
Innovation Districts Challenge calls on SMEs to develop solutions that address the economic impact of COVID-19
University of Newcastle is partnering with NSW Government to unearth solutions developed by Hunter and Central Coast-based businesses that directly address the economic challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seven local councils onboard to Australia’s leading reusable cup scheme
Swap-and-go coffee cup scheme, Green Caffeen, has launched a partnership with Hunter Joint Organisation to make it easier for locals to enjoy a takeaway coffee, without the eco guilt.
Volunteers to nip Barrington Tops’ environmental weeds in the bud
National Parks and Wildlife Service are calling for all hands on deck this autumn to help remove environmental weeds from Barrington Tops National Park.
Council welcomes new talent for 2021
In January, three trainees and one apprentice were welcomed by Mayor Cr Loretta Baker as they signed on to work with Maitland City Council in 2021.
Flying Kangaroo set to connect Newcastle and Melbourne
Australia’s national carrier Qantas now directly connects the Hunter Region and northern NSW to Melbourne for the first time in more than a decade. Qantas launched a Boeing 717 jet service on 1 February 2021.
Newcastle Airport adds Sunshine Coast to destination list
The Hunter Region, Central Coast and Northern NSW will have direct access to one of Australia’s most iconic coastal destinations from 4 January, when local airline Fly Pelican, commences flights to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest to celebrate its 35th anniversary
The 35th anniversary of Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest has been announced to go ahead on 11 and 12 September 2021.
Small wind turbines offer a big solution for telecommunications
On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $341,990 in funding to Diffuse Energy Pty Ltd (Diffuse Energy) to demonstrate the effectiveness of its innovative micro wind turbine technology for use on off-grid telecommunications towers and broader remote applications.
How a local Robotics company provided 10 years of computer education to Aboriginal communities and how you can too
Mayfield based robotics company, Robotic Systems, have recently completed their 2020 goal of providing 3,684 days or 10 years of computer education to Aboriginal communities in northern QLD.
COVID-19 CASH FRAUD CRACKDOWN
Covid-19 cash fraud is gearing up to be one of the biggest legal issues of our time.
HUNTER’S NEWEST DISPLAY VILLAGE OPEN IN HUNTLEE
The newest Display Home Village in the Hunter is open at
Huntlee. COVID meant plans for Huntlee’s second Display Village
had to be altered and timetables adjusted, but it is now in full
swing.
TASMANIAN DEVILS RETURN TO MAINLAND FOR FIRST TIME IN 3,000 YEARS
For the first time in 3,000 years, the Tasmanian devil is back in
the wild on mainland Australia, an historic moment that is critical
to rewild Australia, the country with the world’s worst mammal
extinction rate.
Australia’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility to be built in Tomago
On 13 October Energy Renaissance, Australia’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturer, announced that it will build Renaissance One, a new A$28 million battery manufacturing facility in Tomago.
New direct flights between Canberra and Newcastle
Newcastle Airport is excited to announce a new direct service between Canberra and Newcastle, commencing 20 November.
A Stronger, United, Sustainable, Voice for Hunter Valley Wine Country
On 16 September in a monumental move that will see enormous potential unlocked for local tourism operators in Australia’s most visited wine region, Cessnock City Council (CCC) approved the formation of a Joint Tourism Services Agreement between the Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre (VIC) and the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association (HVWTA).
$9 million Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary opens its doors
Environment Minister Matt Kean MP joined Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer on 25 September to officially open the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, with the gates opened to the general public on 26 September.
The missing block to build an all-renewable electric grid
A new type of thermal storage material, housed in blocks like
LEGO, could see coal-fired power stations converted to run entirely
fossil-fuel free.
The Mutual Bank’s head office is ready for business
Already described as a ‘new landmark of the lower Hunter’, The Mutual Bank’s new head office at 6 Mitchell Drive, East Maitland is officially complete and ready for business.
Newcastle children’s charity “blown away” by $10,000 donation despite COVID cancellation
Like so many charity events in 2020, Charlie’s Run 4 Kids was forced to cancel its major fundraiser, a 5-day run held every September to raise money for John Hunter Children’s Hospital’s Child Therapy Department and towards a family whose child is undergoing treatment.The team at DFK Crosbie decided their contribution as CR4K’s major sponsor was too important to place on hold, despite the event’s cancellation.
$2.8 million transformation to reinvent Charlestown Mall gets underway
A fresh upgrade is now underway for one of Lake Macquarie’s busiest pedestrian malls, with works starting on-site mid-August.
Work starts on new $2.6M neurological rehabilitation centre at Thornton
Construction has started on a new 2.6M centre to provide multidisciplinary rehabilitation services to people with neurological conditions and others needing complex therapy.
Port Waratah Lights it up blue to support Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
During September, Port Waratah Coal Services in partnership with Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance (HPCA) will light up the night blue to support International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Every night during September, two shiploaders at the Carrington Terminal will shine blue to raise awareness for the “Little Prick” campaign. The “Little Prick” campaign refers to the Prostate Specific…
Online seminar series to help SMEs pivot to defence
Hunter Defence is taking its Defence Readiness Seminar Series online to help regional businesses take advantage of new opportunities in the defence sector.
Awards to celebrate Lake Mac businesses
Nominations opened 22 July for the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards, which aim this year to celebrate and recognise all our amazing local businesses.
Costco and Green Capital Group announced as major Cockle Creek developments
Millions of dollars will flood into the Hunter region with the NSW Government announcing Costco Wholesale Australia and Green Capital Group as part of the transformation of the Cockle Creek precinct in Lake Macquarie, in line with the NSW Government’s COVID Recovery Plan
Wheels turning on driverless vehicle trial
The first ever driverless vehicle to mix with traffic on Newcastle’s roads has started ferrying passengers along Wharf Road as part of a three-month trial.
Have your say on exciting plans for Maitland, including a 4 Star Maitland Gaol Hotel
Two important plans for Maitland, as a visitor destination, and Maitland Gaol, are now on public exhibition after Council endorsed the draft plans.
Passenger train arrivals demonstrate unique direct-to-rail capability at Port of Newcastle
The first shipment of new passenger trains for the Sydney network arrived at Port of Newcastle early July, immediately taking advantage of the port’s direct connections to the New South Wales heavy freight and passenger rail networks.
Experience Hunter – Reunite, Rediscover, Revitalise
With tourism and hospitality organisations, and towns themselves, suffering over the last few months, armed with the knowledge of travel restrictions lifting Out of the Square wanted to do their bit to help.