A new report has found the Hunter region is in a strong position to lead Australia’s clean industrial future, but the slow pace of renewable project approvals and delays in electricity transmission infrastructure are standing in the way of local manufacturing targets and export opportunities.
The assessment by independent think tank Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) looked at how prepared the Hunter is to shift to clean industries like hydrogen, low-emissions aluminium and advanced manufacturing. While the region has strong foundations, such as a deepwater port and large industrial employers, the report points to a lack of follow-through on energy system upgrades and planning approvals.
According to BZE’s analysis, 17 out of 19 key measures of progress are still lagging. One of the biggest concerns is the time it takes to move renewable energy projects from concept to construction. Although there is a large pipeline of projects proposed, the approval process often takes between five and eight years—and of those approved, only a small share have broken ground.
The Powering Up The Hunter report is the first regional review released under BZE’s National Action Plan, which offers a framework for coordinating infrastructure, industry development and workforce planning in industrial areas across the country.
For the Hunter, the transmission network has emerged as a major bottleneck. Without the timely delivery of the Hunter Transmission Project, the region will not be able to access enough clean electricity to power major industry and reduce emissions.
“Delivering the Hunter Transmission Project on time is key to unlocking the massive clean jobs opportunity for the Hunter. If this project is not delivered on time, clean energy will not become available and we will continue to rely on coal, which is expensive and polluting,” said BZE CEO Heidi Lee.
The report shows that several large manufacturers in the region already have strong emissions reduction targets. Companies like Tomago Aluminium and Orica’s Kooragang Island operation are seeking to decarbonise, but their plans rely on affordable and steady supplies of clean energy—something that cannot happen without investment in transmission, distribution and energy storage.
“Three of the six biggest local manufacturers have bold emissions reduction targets that depend on securing access to affordable and reliable clean energy, and the development of key technologies. We need to give them the clean energy and technology they need,” Ms Lee said.
In addition to energy supply and planning challenges, the report calls for clearer industrial transition plans that can help employers and workers prepare for the changes underway. Without more detail, BZE argues that decarbonisation goals risk remaining too vague to act on.
To help shift from planning to delivery, BZE held a local workshop with the Hunter Joint Organisation and GHD today. The event brought together local government, businesses and technical experts including Dr Chris Oughton, to discuss practical steps the region can take to get projects moving.
While the Hunter has the right mix of industry, skills and infrastructure to take part in clean export markets, the report makes clear that time is now a key factor. Delays in approvals and grid upgrades are not just technical problems—they affect whether jobs, manufacturing, and future investment stay in the region or go elsewhere.
