Newcastle is set to join Wollongong and the Central Coast as the three regional centres signed up to the State Government's new Minister for Cities portfolio.
Premier Dominic Perrottet is expected to announce an inaugural minister in an upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
The Greater Sydney Commission will also be renamed the Greater Cities Commission as the new cities come under its wing.
But Shadow Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley has echoed concern across the region and in the opposition, the new portfolio might not be the right solution.
"I'm concerned that we're now going to have this Sydney-centric view of the world, instead of making local decisions with local people," Ms Catley said.
Newcastle and Wollongong have long argued they've fallen through the gaps in State planning, considered too regional for metropolitan grants, and too metropolitan for regional ones.
Labor's now pushing the Government to establish a new commission for Newcastle or the Hunter in its own right.
 |
| Image credit: newcastle.nsw.gov.au |
