Broadmeadow rezoning puts sustainability at the heart of regional renewal
The NSW Government has finalised rezoning for Broadmeadow, enabling up to 3,200 new homes with 5 to 10 per cent affordable housing, supporting about 2,350 construction jobs, reserving significant public open space, and setting a path to deliver a new multipurpose arena.
Atelier Ten developed the precinct scale sustainability strategy and prepared the climate adaptation plan, community resilience plan, net zero pathway, circular economy strategy and resource use modelling. We worked with Cox Architecture on place specific initiatives and on the integration of major public assets including the stadium, showground and rail.
The work aligns with City and State policy on climate positive development, integrated mobility and the circular economy, helping carry outcomes from plan to delivery. The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation will coordinate delivery with the City of Newcastle and State agencies to sequence infrastructure and development.
Shaping the Strategy
The strategy embeds policy and place ambitions, whilst addressing site’s risks, constraints, and the operational demands of a complex precinct which extends over 313 hectares.
- Place and policy: Connection with Country, climate positive operations, resilience, biodiversity, healthy neighbourhoods, circular economy and integrated mobility set the organising themes
- Risks and constraints: A flood prone setting with urban heat exposure and critical infrastructure, including a regional petrol pipeline, required shelter in place, clear evacuation routes and careful staging
- Stakeholders and operations: Multi agency assets (stadia, showground, rail, schools) and long design lives called for shared utilities and clear governance to lock in outcomes
Key sustainability outcomes adopted in the rezoning
The rezoning locks in a core set of sustainability measures for Broadmeadow, informed by Atelier Ten’s precinct studies.
- Water management and climate resilience: Adopts a final flood strategy and integrated water management to guide safe staging and long term resilience, supported by the Climate Adaptation Plan and resource use modelling
- Staged housing development: The NSW State Government Place Strategy outlines capacity for up to 20,000 homes over the long term, while the August 2025 state rezoning unlocks about 3,200 homes on the first tranche of government land. 5-10 per cent has been designated for affordable housing, aligned with inclusive, transit accessible neighbourhoods and the Community Resilience Plan
- Heritage and Place: Preserves key heritage places with a focus on adaptive reuse and connected heritage routes, consistent with the Sustainability Strategy and Connected with Country principles
- Integrated transport and shared utilities: Transport and utilities assessments support compact growth near Broadmeadow Station and shared precinct infrastructure, with modelling to test network capacity and energy, water and materials impacts
- Safety and Risk: A Land Use Safety Report, including the regional pipeline corridor, enables a constraint led approach to staging and emergency management, informed by adaptation and resilience planning
- Delivery governance: Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation will prepare an infrastructure delivery plan to sequence housing, public open space and enabling works, with the Net Zero Pathway and Circular Economy Strategy shaping delivery choices and material flows