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The Minns Labor Government has approved the Future Land Use and Enabling Works project at the former Liddell Power Station site. The plan calls for the demolition of the nearly 50‑year‑old power station and its subsequent remediation and recontouring, paving the way for future industrial land uses across a sprawling 143‑hectare parcel in the Upper Hunter region .
The State Significant Development approval, which carries an estimated Capital Investment Value of over $260 million, is set to create around 100 full‑time equivalent jobs during both the construction and operational phases over the next decade. In addition to demolishing the aging power station, the project will involve extensive earthworks, including the construction and operation of a borrow pit for capping and civil works, recontouring and revegetation of the site, and the development of a landfill for disposing of asbestos‑contaminated materials from the demolished infrastructure.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully highlighted the broader significance of the project:
“Under the Minns Government, we have a planning system that is supporting the renewable energy transition, approving projects that will support our communities, energy security and emissions reductions. With up to 100 jobs generated during construction and operation, this project will benefit the local economy and provide indirect benefits to community services throughout its lifespan.”
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley added that the project not only injects a substantial capital investment into the Upper Hunter but also cements the region’s status as an enduring industrial powerhouse:
“The $260 million project injects a major capital investment within the Upper Hunter and will support dozens of new, local jobs. The Liddell Power Station is an important part of the Hunter’s history, and this project represents the significant investment opportunities that lie ahead for the region.”
The approval comes on the back of the Minns Government’s recently launched Industrial Lands Action Plan, which aims to address challenges such as escalating land values, rising rents, and low vacancy rates in industrial sectors across NSW. This state‑wide approach is intended to secure and manage the supply of industrial lands, a strategy that industry experts believe will drive new jobs, attract further investment, and support local economies .
Industry groups have welcomed the redevelopment. The Property Council of Australia, for example, has hailed the decision as a timely intervention that ensures valuable industrial land remains in use for economic growth rather than being lost to competing developments. Property Council Hunter and Central Coast Regional Director Amy De Lore said:
“Industrial land is in short supply, and repurposing the Liddell site ensures that this prime asset continues to drive economic activity and create jobs in the region.”
The transformation of the Liddell site is a key chapter in the region’s broader energy transition narrative. The power station, which ceased operations in 2023 after reaching the end of its technical life, had long been a symbol of the Hunter’s industrial might. With AGL previously committed to a “cleaner future” through remediation efforts, the demolition marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new phase where industrial innovation and renewable energy infrastructure can flourish. The project’s strict conditions of consent, including measures to manage biodiversity, water, and traffic impacts; ensure that while the region embraces industrial progress, environmental and community values remain safeguarded.
In tandem with the redevelopment of the Liddell site, the NSW Government is advancing a major upgrade to the region’s transmission infrastructure. A new initiative aims to enhance renewable power lines between Kurri Kurri and the Upper Hunter, a critical corridor for transmitting clean energy from emerging wind and solar projects. Spearheaded by Ausgrid in partnership with EnergyCo, the project involves upgrading approximately 85 kilometers of sub‑transmission lines, constructing new substations, and augmenting existing infrastructure. This renewable transmission network will facilitate the efficient flow of energy into the Upper Hunter, ensuring that the region’s growing renewable capacity is seamlessly integrated into the state’s electricity grid. Community consultation efforts are well underway to minimize environmental impacts and support local economic benefits.
However, the project is not without its detractors or wider controversies. In recent years, the future of the Liddell site has become a battleground for competing visions of Australia’s energy future. In 2024, federal MP Peter Dutton sparked fierce debate when he proposed that, if elected, his government would build one of seven government‑owned nuclear power plants on the site, with a target operational date between 2035 and 2037 .
Labor, by contrast, has maintained its focus on renewable energy, industrial repurposing, and robust infrastructure investment, strategies it argues are not only more cost‑effective but also align with broader commitments to reducing carbon emissions. Critics of the nuclear option, including environmental groups and local community advocates, warn that nuclear power comes with high upfront costs, long lead times, and unresolved challenges related to radioactive waste management and public safety. They argue that diverting funds toward nuclear projects could strain taxpayers and detract from investment in proven renewable technologies and battery storage initiatives.
The political rivalry between Dutton and Labor has added another layer of complexity. While Dutton’s vision is championed by some as a bold step toward securing long‑term energy independence, opponents contend that it risks undermining the current government’s carefully calibrated industrial transformation agenda. They point to concerns over escalating costs and potential overruns, issues that have long haunted nuclear power proposals worldwide. Many local residents and economic experts have voiced their frustration at the possibility of billions in additional public spending on a technology they view as both expensive and risky.
Local government officials and industry leaders remain optimistic that the redevelopment will not only revitalise the Upper Hunter’s industrial landscape but also stimulate ancillary sectors, from manufacturing to renewable energy. As work is slated to begin within the next three months, regional stakeholders are watching closely, hopeful that this initiative will set a new benchmark for sustainable industrial redevelopment in NSW while the broader debate over nuclear energy, and the cost implications it entails, continues to simmer.
Written by: Newy Staff
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