IMAGINE LAKE MAC OUR PLAN TO 2050 AND BEYONDIMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND 1 CITY VISION Bringing our City Vision WE BALANCE to life, Imagine Lake Mac OUR CHERISHED helps us to look ahead ENVIRONMENTS with purpose WITH OUR NEED FOR GREAT SPACES TO Its goal is to fulfil the LIVE AND VISIT, SMART City’s potential TRANSPORT OPTIONS …To be one of the most AND A THRIVING productive, adaptable, ECONOMY; WHICH sustainable and highly ADAPT AND STRIVE TO liveable places in Australia BE FAIR FOR ALL. Acknowledgement Lake Macquarie City Council acknowledges the Awabakal People, the traditional custodians of the land over which this document was prepared. We pay respect to knowledge holders and community members of the land and acknowledge and pay respect to Elders, past, present and future. We would also like to acknowledge staff, Councillors and community members involved in preparing this strategy. 2 IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND 3 Message from the Mayor Message from the CEO I am pleased to present Imagine Lake Lake Macquarie City is a vibrant place to Mac, a long-term strategy that will guide work, live and invest. the evolution of the City. Its natural landscape, particularly the Imagining Lake Macquarie in 2050, I lake and coastline, shape our lifestyle see a dynamic and productive city and and love of the outdoors. The nine a place that enables its community to major centres strategically spread thrive. across the City are focal points for It is a progressive city, well known for its employment, recreation, retail and innovation, investment opportunities, services. Three of them, at Charlestown, outdoor adventures, liveability, and of Glendale and Morisset, are important course its natural beauty. regional hubs for the Hunter. This vision is not a stretch of the We are committed to preserving the imagination. We are already within City’s unique features, but we are also reach of it because we have a strong preparing for change. foundation to continue building upon. Growth provides opportunity. In Lake Imagine Lake Mac identifies four Macquarie, population growth has key growth areas - North East from the potential to stimulate investment, Charlestown to Belmont, South East construction, employment and between Caves Beach and North consumer expenditure within the City. Wallarah, North West including Cardiff, Increased economic activity will ensure Glendale and surrounds, and the South our City is recognised as a leading West spanning Cooranbong to Wyee. contributor to the region. These areas have existing infrastructure By making plans now, we can influence that supports housing, transport, local growth and help increase economic activity, recreation and room economic activity so it enhances the for growth. lifestyle of our residents. More jobs, Most of the change we will see over the plenty of housing, ample services and next three decades will happen in these many opportunities to connect and play growth areas, especially within and will make our City even better. around our centres. Imagine Lake Mac provides us with I encourage you to read Imagine Lake strategies to preserve and enrich Mac to find out what those changes are, the parts of our community and where it will happen and what it may environment that we love most. It also look like in the future. ensures we can adapt to change as it occurs, and leverage opportunities that Kay Fraser will allow us to live life to its fullest. Mayor of Lake Macquarie I welcome the future that Imagine Lake Mac seeks to achieve. Morven Cameron Chief Executive Officer 4 IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND 5 CONTENTS 8 OVERVIEW 22 WHAT ARE WE 32 SHAPING LAKE 42 CHANGE AND GROWTH PLANNING FOR? MACQUARIE CITY TO Areas of change 44 SOUTH EAST GROWTH AREA 50 TORONTO AND SURROUNDS 58 14 INTRODUCTION Population 24 2050 AND BEYOND NORTH EAST GROWTH AREA 46 Caves Beach Centre and 50 Toronto Economic Centre 58 What is Imagine Lake Mac? 16 Liveability 25 A city of vibrant centres 34 Charlestown Strategic 48 Tourism Precinct Rathmines 58 What does it seek to achieve? 17 Transport 26 A city to call home 35 Economic Centre Swansea 50 Fassifern Rail Station 58 How was it created? 20 Infrastructure 28 A city of prosperity 36 Warners Bay Economic Centre 48 Lake Macquarie 50 Awaba 58 Airport Precinct Housing 28 A city of close connections 37 Hillsborough Road Business 48 Park and Recreation / Catherine Hill Bay 50 Economy 29 A city for progress and play 38 SOUTH WEST GROWTH AREA 60 Entertainment Area Change and opportunity 29 A city with a vast natural 39 Morisset Strategic 60 Windale 49 NORTH WEST GROWTH AREA 52 Natural environment 30 environment Economic Centre Mount Hutton 49 Glendale Strategic 54 A city of resilience 40 Cooranbong 60 Rural production areas 30 Economic Centre Gateshead Health Precinct 49 Wyee 60 Jewels 49 Cardiff Advanced 54 Industry Precinct Belmont Economic Centre 49 Munibung Precinct 54 Belmont North Precinct 49 Cardiff Economic Centre 55 Teralba 55 Boolaroo – Speers Point 55 Edgeworth 56 Cameron Park 56 West Wallsend 56 North West Lake 57 Macquarie Catalyst Area 6 IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND 7 Committed to shaping our future We will enhance the lifestyle of residents Providing more opportunities for work, fun and a place to call home Playing a bigger role in contributing to the region’s growth and wellbeing Creating change that will enhance the social, economic and environmental foundations of the City OVERVIEW 8 IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND IMAGINE LAKE MAC 2050 AND BEYOND 9 OVERVIEW WHAT DOES OUR OPPORTUNITY A HIGHLY Lake Macquarie City already has ways to travel within and beyond To make the most of these a strong foundation, ready to the City. opportunities, public and private become one of the most productive, investment need to be aligned with LIVEABLE Lake Macquarie City’s location adaptable, sustainable and liveable our efforts to enhance social and midway on the east coast axis places in Australia. environmental wellbeing. between Melbourne and Brisbane There is opportunity to enhance the presents an opportunity for us to This is what Imagine Lake Mac aims lifestyle of City residents, providing play a bigger role in contributing to to do. more employment, recreation, the region’s growth. socialisation, choice of housing and LAKE MAC Pub lic inv es tm e LOOK LIKE? n Roads Cycleways t Tourism Community Facilities Infrastructure Public domain Transport improvements Education l a i and meet the needs of diverse networks will be extensive and connect c The City’s economic Housing demographics. A focus of Imagine Lake people to centres and public transport. o Recreation GOAL centres will anchor the Mac is to facilitate development of S We have a long-term vision to see the Tourism medium to high-density housing such Sport areas where we will creation of a city centre, too. The vision Lake Mac in 2050 will Health as apartments, townhouses and homes P for such a centre is that it is a thriving, Libraries be one of the most activate significant on small lots in and around our centres. Business r bustling social and economic hub, Physical and mental health i productive, adaptable, Recreation v change. Public investment to expand transport day and night. It would include retail, Connection sustainable and a options should be a catalyst for government, commercial and business Industry t Levering these economic hubs will Cultural liveable places in e help us to cater for an increase in attracting private investment in medium activities and offer social, cultural and Night time activities i population and provide the City’s to high density development. entertainment opportunities. Safety Australia. n v housing, jobs, recreation and services The completion of the Lake Macquarie A city centre would be a major transport e in highly accessible areas. It will also Transport Interchange will unlock node, have a higher density of people s t add to the social foundations of the City potential for further development in living in and close to the area, and it m and contribute to our environmental the North West Growth Area, as well as would be easily accessible from other e sustainability. providing a regionally significant link parts of the City and further afield. Lake and creeks Heritage n t radiating from the north to the south. Mountains and Paths and trails Intensifying development in key Finally, the ‘jewel in the crown’ for the ridges areas also opens up opportunities for Also, there is significant opportunity for City will be the abundance of high Air and water diversifying our economy. The creation Bushland quality high speed rail and a Very Fast Train quality indoor and outdoor spaces of dynamic workspaces, co-location of station to strengthen our connection to connect with others, enjoy nature, Beaches and Foreshore businesses to improve collaboration, t with other regions and our position as a relax or get active. These spaces may n coastline and continued investment in digital e key economic and growth contributor. be bushland reserves, the lake and m infrastructure will provide the n foreshore, parks, a quiet garden area o In the future, our centres and their r i foundations for more diverse industries v within a busy centre, or a purpose-built n e surrounds will be more pedestrian l to call Lake Mac home. a r area within a multi-use building. u t a N friendly and encourage the use of active By 2050, there will be a greater variety transport such as walking and cycling as In summary, Lake Macquarie City will of housing types across the City to the preferred way to move around the become an even better place to live, accommodate a growing population City.