Fed up with the lack of employment opportunities in the Cessnock area, a group of local people have formed a group to advocate for development in the Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ).
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Under the banner Friends of HEZ, their philosophy is to promote “a better Kurri” through the generation of employment opportunities at the 870-hectare industrial area off Leggetts Drive.
Kurri resident Shane Lawrence was a sub-contractor at Hydro for about 15 years before the smelter closed in September 2012.
“No-one speaks up for jobs in our community,” Mr. Lawrence said.
“The town is dying, so we thought we would do something to get it up and running.
“It’s jobs for the town and for people’s kids.”
Weston businessman Alex Ross echoed Mr. Lawrence’s sentiments.
“The whole town is shutting down; you’ve only got to look at the empty shops in the main street of Kurri, and Cessnock, and Maitland… it’s all the same,” he said.
“It’s an industrial area, all of the infrastructure is there, what’s done is done.”
The Friends of HEZ put together a petition that asked the NSW Legislative Assembly to “review the planning constraints within the HEZ in view of removing these impositions and barriers to establishment of employment-generating industries in the Cessnock LGA, especially in view of the fact that it is adjoined by the 2,139 hectare Werakata National Park containing the same species of flora and fauna as within HEZ”.
About 1200 people signed the petition, which Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr has tabled with parliament.
“It’s a reminder to the minister that there’s a large percentage of our population that want HEZ and the like to go ahead,” Mr. Barr said.
“We want employment, jobs and prosperity.
“This is about the future of our community.
“It will give the minister confidence that people do want it to go ahead.
“To have the backing from the community is a brilliant thing.”
National transport and logistics company Toll Group is planning the construction of a $50 million ammonium nitrate storage facility at HEZ.
The project is being developed in partnership with HEZ owner and developer, Hunter Investment Corporation.
It will provide 450 jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs when complete.
Toll anticipates the development will be fully operational by mid-to-late 2015.
The Director General’s Requirements have been issued for the project and the developer has lodged an environmental impact statement with the Department of Planning.
