The draft Kurri Kurri District Strategy includes commercial centre masterplans for Kurri Kurri and Weston and a land use strategy that sets out an overarching vision for the district.

Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said it is vital to plan carefully, as Kurri Kurri is strategically located and has been identified in the Hunter Regional Plan as one of the Lower Hunter’s strategic centres.

“This strategy is critically important, it has considered our needs now and down the track. It will inform local policy for the district until 2036,” Cr Pynsent said.

“The draft strategy sets out opportunities for the future and will guide development as we continue to build a community that is active, accessible and thriving into future.”

The draft strategy was developed following extensive community consultation, with the aim to ensure the plan captured the community’s aspirations for the future.

Towns With Heart secretary Sharon Dyson-Smith said the draft plan has its pros and cons.

She was happy to see the affirmation of the murals project and its benefits to the community through tourism and festivals, and the proposal to develop a district branding strategy to foster commercial opportunities.

“(This) builds from Towns With Heart's vision of enhancing the sense of pride that the strong and vibrant community encourages,” she said.

Ms Dyson-Smith was also pleased to see priority being given to redevelopment of existing commercial sites rather than building new ones.

“This will help maintain the character of the area, a plus for many of the younger families currently moving in,” she said.

Integration with the Richmond Vale Rail Trail and the construction of new toilet blocks at Rotary Park and Molly Worthington Park were also positive points.

But Ms Dyson-Smith was concerned that the lack of formal parking at the netball courts has not been adequately addressed, and that the placement of an RV park there was inconsistent with the newly-established dump point at the Kurri Rugby League ground.

She was also worried that the number of trees in the strategy and plans for outdoor eating areas would impact parking spaces in the CBD.

Kurri Kurri District Business Chamber president Kerry Hallett said she found the documents “underwhelming”.

She said suggestions such as nose-to-kerb parking and a 40km/h speed limit in the CBD were inconsistent with the needs of the area, and that Heddon Greta and Cliftleigh appear to have been “left out in the cold”.

Ms Hallett said she hopes Ausgrid is consulted for all tree planting plans.

“We don’t want to see trees with the middles chopped out as per other towns – it’s ugly and dangerous,” she said.

A point of the draft strategy Ms Hallett agrees with is the need to maintain compact commercial centres.

“The creep of outlying commercial centres, which impact on the CBDs, has been allowed by Council. It is highlighted as a problem in the plan and should be stopped now, before any further developments are approved,” she said.

Cessnock City Council is encouraging residents – especially those in Kurri Kurri and Weston – to provide feedback on the draft strategy and its associated documents.

The documents will be on public exhibition until Wednesday, August 2.

Anyone may make a written submission in relation to the draft strategy. Any views expressed in written submissions will be considered by council before the strategy and accompanying plans are finalised.  

Submissions must be received by 5pm on August 2 and should quote ‘59/2016/1 – Kurri Kurri District Strategy’.

Submissions should be addressed to The General Manager and can be submitted via email to  council@cessnock.nsw.gov.au, or by post to Cessnock City Council, PO Box 152, Cessnock NSW 2325.

To make a submission or for more information, visit council’s website or call 4993 4100.

Council will host the following community drop-in sessions:

Residents can also share their thoughts on the strategy by completing the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PN6JNTY.

Draft Kurri Kurri District Strategy

Draft Weston Commercial Centre Masterplan

Draft Kurri Kurri Commercial Centre Masterplan