Hunter Business News

Port of Newcastle continues to set trade records
The Port of Newcastle has defied global economic conditions to post a new trade record for the 2008-09 financial year. The record was announced in late July by Ports and Waterways Minister, The Hon. Joe Tripodi.

“Nearly 96 million tonnes of cargo valued at $17.01 billion was exported and imported through Newcastle which is a great achievement, given the world economic downturn,” said Mr Tripodi. It is the ninth consecutive year the Port of Newcastle has established a trade throughput record.

The 2008-09 result is more than 2.5 million tonnes and a massive $6.66 billion dollars above the 2007-08 financial year result. The 64% increase in overall value is mainly the result of high prices obtained for coking and steaming coal during 2008-09. Coal was the major commodity exported from Newcastle with 90.49 million tonnes shipped from the port. “This was the first time more than 90 million tonnes of coal has been exported from Newcastle, underlining its status as the world’s largest coal export port,” Mr Tripodi said.

Other commodities totalling nearly 5.35 million tonnes were valued at $2.69 billion. Trade through GrainCorp’s Newcastle terminal was up by more than 731,000 tonnes. Main increases in individual commodities for 2008-09 were:

• Alumina – 1.35 million tonnes (up 44,119 tonnes);
• Coal – 90.49 million tonnes (up 1.61 million tonnes);
• Copper & Zinc Concentrates – 411,486 tonnes (up 30,326 tonnes); 
• Grains – 882,090 tonnes (up 731,364 tonnes); and
• Total trade throughput in 2008-09 of 95,839,857 tonnes compared to 93,314,911 tonnes in 2007-08.

Hunter aerospace industry on display at Avalon Airshow
Hunter businesses exhibited at the 2009 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition at Avalon earlier this year to promote the strength of the aerospace industry in the Hunter and NSW. The Avalon Airshow, which is the country’s largest aviation industry exhibition, brings together senior government, military and business leaders as well as aerospace and defence industry players from around the world including the United States, New Zealand, Germany, United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Israel, Brazil and France. It provides an opportunity for the Hunter and NSW to showcase the latest aerospace technologies and services.

Minister for the Hunter, Jodi McKay said, “The Hunter is a NSW stronghold for the aerospace and defence industry and we are looking to generate regional business and investment growth in the sector through our participation at Avalon.” The Williamtown Aerospace Centre is an initiative to market land at Newcastle Airport together with 88 hectares of adjacent recently zoned land for defence and aerospace industries. It represents a great opportunity for industry to locate next to one of Australia’s fastest growing regional airports and Australia’s premier jet fighter base.

Hunter organisations who exhibited on the NSW Government stand included Tomago engineering company, Varley; Newcastle representatives of professional services company, GHD; manufacturing, engineering and consulting network, HunterNet; and the Williamtown Aerospace Centre.

BHP to expand Mount Arthur mine
BHP Billiton is planning to invest around $318 million to expand its Mount Arthur Coal mine in the Hunter Valley. The operation, which is known as the MAC20 Project, is expected to begin in the first half of 2011. The move would enable the company to increase production of saleable thermal coal from 11.5 million tonnes a year to 15 million tonnes a year. The company said the NSW Government approved expansion of capacity at the Muswellbrook mine under present development consent. 

Mount Arthur Coal presently employs 670 staff and the expansion will see a further 190 people added to the payroll. BHP Billiton is reported to have committed $477 million in the development of the new coal-loading terminal at Kooragang Island as a 35 per cent shareholder in the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) consortium.

Construction starts on Kotara Homemaker Centre
BB Retail Capital has started construction of its $50 million Kotara Homemaker Centre. The 30,000sqm centre will be anchored by retailer Domayne and comprise an additional 22 showroom retailers and two cafes. The centre is expected to create more than 800 jobs. BB Retail bought the four hectare site last year for $60 million.

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