Former Macquarie Coal Complex rezoned as 1,142-hectare employment precinct near Teralba

Newy 87.8 FM – The NSW Government has finalised new planning controls for the former Macquarie Coal Complex at Teralba and West Wallsend, creating a 1,142-hectare employment precinct with capacity for up to 1,130 new jobs.

The site is about 20 kilometres south-west of Newcastle and is directly linked to the M1 and the Main Northern Railway.

The precinct includes at least 500 hectares of developable land, around 36 hectares of new open space and 22 hectares of residential land in Barnsley West and Teralba Southgate.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure also lists about 620 hectares of environmentally constrained land.

The former mining land can be used for new industries including renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and warehousing.

The government says the rezoning does not remove rehabilitation requirements. Land will only be released for development once the mining company has rehabilitated it and it is confirmed safe, stable and non-polluting.

Every future project will still need its own development assessment, with applications in the precinct to be assessed by the department rather than council.

The department worked with Lake Macquarie City Council, Glencore and the Australian Government's Net Zero Economy Authority on the plan, which was exhibited from 14 July to 11 August 2026 and received 148 submissions.

New planning controls have also been finalised for the Mt Arthur Coal Mine near Muswellbrook.

The government recently announced the Macquarie Coal Complex as the preferred location for the new state-owned passenger train factory.

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