HCCDC owns and manages land in Lake Macquarie's Cockle Creek precinct. We are responsible for the site's environmental management and its future development as a commercial, industrial and housing centre.
We are supporting economic growth in the region through our role in managing land divestment, enabling Cockle Creek to prosper with new opportunities for housing and employment – and have also delivered vital road and infrastructure upgrades to the precinct.
New planning controls to address housing needs
NSW Government is implementing new planning controls in Cockle Creek, allowing up to 1,200 new homes to be created.
This is part of Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program, which aims to support the region’s housing needs. Land will be rezoned to allow more homes as well as future public space, retail and commercial development.
Cockle Creek has been approved as part of the TOD program due to its prime location close to public transport.
We will continue to work with NSW Government and Lake Macquarie City Council to finalise details of the rezoning, including appropriate height and density controls.
Since taking ownership of the Cockle Creek precinct in 2019, we have settled four key parcels of land comprising over 60 ha.
This includes 6 ha for Costco Wholesale, and a 55 ha residential development for more than 500 new homes. These developments are set to inject more than $300 million into the economy and create an estimated 225 permanent jobs.
More recently, we settled 2 additional light-industrial zoned land parcels for development. Both proponents will soon announce plans to bring exciting and innovative new business to the precinct, expected to create an additional 500 ongoing jobs.
Commercial and light-industrial developments
Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale's first regional NSW operation has created a significant economic boost for Lake Macquarie. The 6 ha site plays a key role in the transformation of Cockle Creek, and has created over 200 local jobs since the Boolaroo warehouse opened in 2021.
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Future developments
Two commercial and light-industrial lots were settled with private developers in 2022 for transformation into an exciting mix of light-industrial and manufacturing, retail, hospitality, innovation, technology and entertainment uses.
One of these developments was recently approved by Lake Macquarie City Council, With Out of Town 4WD set to create an auto parts-focused retail and manufacturing precinct. The second development is still in the approval process.
Residential development underway
Green Capital Group is enabling up to 500 new homes in Cockle Creek after the group settled 55 hectares for a multi-staged residential development. The development is also contributing approximately 400 FTE jobs to the economy during construction.
Green Capital is currently undertaking works to establish subdivided residential lots.
Proceeds from the land sales to Green Capital are funding Government’s ongoing management of the environmental lands in the Cockle Creek precinct in perpetuity.
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Environmental management
Managing environmental needs of Cockle Creek into the future.
As part of NSW Parliament's support of legislation (PDF, 251 KB), lands in Cockle Creek were transferred to HCCDC ownership, ensuring the ongoing environmental management of the site in perpetuity.
We are working with Government’s Waste Assets Management Corporation, which is managing the environmental requirements of the land with regulatory oversight from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
The site includes a large containment cell, covering 20 ha, which has been created to contain the contaminated materials in accordance with EPA requirements.
The containment cell and a water treatment plant require regular monitoring and maintenance. Other environmental protection areas, such as Munibung Hill, need general maintenance, including controlling vegetation.
A Perpetual Care Fund has been established to go towards the cost of managing the land, including the monitoring, maintenance and repair of the containment cell and other environmental protection infrastructure for the long term.
Land sale proceeds have been deposited into the Containment Cell Perpetual Care Fund.
Vital infrastructure
We have delivered significant infrastructure works in Cockle Creek to provide stormwater management and vital road upgrades. We also opened the new Cressy Road, providing an essential link to Costco warehouse.