“It’s perfect for rural or agricultural activities, combined with natural habitats for native animals and plants right on our doorsteps,” she said.

So last Tuesday’s announcement that State Government planners have approved a proposal to rezone 195 hectares of rural land for industrial use was disappointing news to Ms Talley.

The land, owned by Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese, is earmarked to become a Hunter freight hub and industrial precinct that could potentially provide 1000 jobs.

About two-thirds of the 300-hectare site will become industrial land and the remainder will be divided between rural living and environmental conservation.

Ms Talley labelled the rezoning an “absolute disaster”.

“At its essence, it is a spot rezoning of a rural area,” she said.

“It is adjacent to an already-rezoned 184 hectares of industrial land (at Beresfield) so together, the total is a whopping 379 hectares.”

Ms Talley said the community has been united in its opposition to this industrial rezoning since it was first proposed nearly five years ago.

“This final approval illustrates what a sham the community consultation part of the planning process really is,” she said.

“It is little wonder that people are disillusioned with government at all levels.”

Black Hill Environment Protection Group’s Terry Lewin said his group was disappointed with the approval for a project it believes is in the wrong place.

“It has a high likelihood of becoming a white elephant,” he said.

Mr Lewin said opponents would be seeking to keep development away from Black Hill Road as the plan progressed. 

The Maitland-Newcastle Diocese acquired the land in 2003 to build a school before changing plans. 

Diocese vice-chancellor administration Sean Scanlon said on Tuesday the church was thankful to Cessnock Council “for its vision and support in seeing this approved”.

“The diocese has owned this land since 2003 and welcomes this rezoning to allow for future use as an industrial hub, creating many jobs for people of the lower Hunter region,” he said.

Cessnock City Council first applied for the change five years ago but submitted an amended plan in November.

Council’s application states the mooted freight hub would create numerous flow-on opportunities for other businesses to emerge in its wake. 

“Additional employment lands at...Black Hill will directly support the freight hub,” Cessnock City Council wrote in its final proposal.

The rezoning’s next stage, adjusting Cessnock’s development control plan, will handle the finer details of the zoning changes.

EARLIER REPORT: New zone for a freight hub