Port Stephens / Newcastle City Council Amalgamation

The New South Wales State Government has announced plans to merge Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Council as part of a state-wide local government amalgamation. The overall number of regional councils is planned to be reduced from 109 to 87. This announcement has surprised many, as previous proposals indicated a merger of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils. Other councils in the Hunter identified for amalgamation are Gloucester and Dungog Councils.

Four years of consultation with NSW councils, independent assessment, council merger preferences, and feedback from communities and stakeholders have informed the proposed mergers. The NSW Government suggests proposed Newcastle–Port Stephens merger is anticipated to have a $85 million total financial benefit over 20 years and see the population grow to more than 279,000 by 2031.

For more information on the Council Boundary Review visit the dedicated NSW Government website: https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au.

Members of the public can make written submissions on the proposal until Sunday 28 February 2016 at 5pm. Submissions regarding the Newcastle–Port Stephens merger can be made online at: https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/proposals/newcastle-city-and-port-stephens-councils.

The EPS Planning and Law team welcome any enquires about the impacts of the planned merger on projects and opportunities in the affects Council regions.