Honeysuckle works
Seawall construction
Important seawall works are now underway in Honeysuckle at Lee 5 and Throsby
Road improvements
Work to realign, widen and upgrade Honeysuckle Drive will start in early 2020.
Work to realign and upgrade Honeysuckle Drive will start in early 2020.
The realignment will ultimately improve traffic flow and assist with flood mitigation at Cottage Creek. We’re also widening the road, adding a soft median strip and will be planting street trees in the median strip.
First steps include relocating some services and changing the configuration of the Throsby car park to reduce the loss of some car parking spaces during construction. Changes will also accommodate temporary traffic movements.
Honeysuckle Drive will remain open during the works although the speed limit will be reduced over approximately 400m of road during works. Vehicles will be temporarily diverted through Throsby carpark, while pedestrians and cyclists will have a dedicated path to follow on the northern side of the temporary road. Signage will be in place to communicate the any diversions.
Stay informed:
- Up-to-date information is provided on this page and via our HoneysuckleNSW Facebook page.
Work is underway to rebuild the 75 year old Harbour seawalls at Lee 5, and Throsby. These new seawalls are the first step in the delivery of attractive green spaces and new public domain in Honeysuckle.
Works commenced in April 2019 including:
- cutting and removal of existing Lee 5 concrete wharves;
- delivery of 160,000 tonnes of rock to site; and
- placement of rock in harbour to form new seawalls.
Work is expected to take around 18 months to complete.
Whilst it is anticipated that these works will be noisy at times, a work method has been established to minimise noise and disruption as much as possible.
Lee Wharf A Repairs
HCCDC has been undertaking repairs of the Lee Wharf A building since November 2018.
These works include making repairs to stabalise the building and reinstating the timber deck at the rear of the building. We have also restored the building to ensure it is preserved for future generations. Work is expected to be completed mid-December 2019.
HCCDC is currently seeking proposals for a new use for this iconic waterfront site.
To help ensure safety and maintain access, we have created precinct-wide signage to help people navigate in and around Honeysuckle during construction. More than 25 signs have been installed to direct flow and inform wayfinding from the Marina through to Hunter Street and up to Lynch's Hub in the east of Honeysuckle.
Vehicular signs are positioned at major entry points into Honeysuckle, to guide the traffic entering and travelling through the precinct. The pedestrian signs help decision making when walking to your destination and show the estimated time to walk there. For cyclists, the signs outline the best route to destinations.
The signs also include key locations, points of interest, and nearby transport options.
What work is currently underway at Honeysuckle?
HCCDC is undertaking essential infrastructure upgrades as part of a $55 million program to provide new public domain in the west end of Honeysuckle.
This includes using more than 160,000 tonnes of rock to build a new seawall and stabilise the 75 year old wharf opposite the light rail depot, demolishing the former Hansen Yuncken building at 50 Honeysuckle Drive and reopening Cottage Creek.
Will Throsby Car Park remain open?
Throsby Car Park is expected to remain open during the infrastructure works.
There have been some changes to parking within the area to maintain a safe pedestrian route between the Wickham Marina and Honeysuckle, however there has been no net loss of parking.
The Throsby Car Park is temporary, however, and will eventually close when the land is repurposed.
What other car parks are there in Newcastle?
As part of the Honeysuckle urban renewal project, HCCDC opened a temporary carpark in Throsby in 2011, adjacent to the newly opened harbourside businesses. This was followed by the addition of car spaces in Wright Lane that supported the activation of the city centre and development of the new Museum. We have recently added car spaces at Station Street near the Interchange and will soon add more spaces near Worth Place.
Why is there a pedestrian and cyclist diversion?
HCCDC is delivering an attractive new promenade that is the current missing link in our city’s waterfront walk, stretching from Maryville to Merewether.
In order to deliver this new public space, we first need to install infrastructure and undertake construction works along the waterfront.
Safety is our number one priority, and therefore a designated, separated path has been built to connect Honeysuckle Drive with the Marina.
This diversion is expected to remain in place for at least two years.
What’s involved with building the seawalls?
Over the next 18 months, HCCDC is constructing the last of its Honeysuckle seawalls, using more than 160,000 tonnes of rock; the equivalent weight of 500 Boeing 747s, to build new seawalls.
Trucks will place rocks on the laydown area near the wharf, before heavy machinery places them to construct the new public domain area and seawall.
This is part of HCCDC’s $55 million public domain plan, which will provide new parks and a foreshore promenade in the west end of Honeysuckle.
What is the future of the remaining land in the west of Honeysuckle?
Of the remaining land held in Honeysuckle, more than one third is being transformed into high-quality public space, while the other land is zoned for mixed use and commercial development. This land is strategically located in Newcastle’s emerging west end CBD and close to the transport interchange.
What will happen to the Wickham School of Arts building?
The former Wickham School of Arts building has local heritage significance. The building is recognised within the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2012. The building is likely to be incorporated into a future development Lot in order to allow for greatest flexibility of adaptation. This will be considered as part of a wider divestment strategy for the land.
Why are you planning to straighten Honeysuckle Drive?
Part of transforming the west end of Honeysuckle involves straightening Honeysuckle Drive between Cottage Creek and Hannell Street, while reopening and beautifying Cottage Creek.
Straightening Honeysuckle Drive will involve building a new road bridge over Cottage Creek. This will allow for the Creek’s hydraulic capacity to increase, mitigating flood risks both in the new waterfront precinct and upstream of the catchment, which includes Newcastle West.
Straightening Honeysuckle Drive will also improve traffic flow and prevent pinch points as vehicles enter or exit Honeysuckle Drive.
HCCDC is working with engineering experts to determine the traffic flow around these construction works, and is committed to delivering the project as safely and with as little disruption as possible.
Where will the seawall rocks come from?
The seawall rocks are being sourced from quarries within the Hunter Region.
What’s the best way for me to stay informed of changes in Honeysuckle?
To keep informed about what's changing in Honeysuckle:
- Register your email to join our mailing list: honeysuckle@hccdc.nsw.gov.au
- Keep an eye on the Current Works page for latest notifications.
Who can I speak to if I’d like more information?
If you have any questions about Honeysuckle, please contact HCCDC via phone or email and your query will be directed to the relevant project manager.
T: +61 2 4904 2750
E: info@hccdc.nsw.gov.au
Current works notifications
- December 2019 - Download PDF
Honeysuckle News - Summer 2019
- May 2019 - Download PDF
Harbour Square water feature upgrades
- April 2019 - Download PDF
Changes to footpaths and walkways as seawall works commence
- November 2018 - Download PDF
Lee Wharf A / Seawall Upgrades and Harbour Square Boat Dock
Honeysuckle updates newsletter
- Honeysuckle community update: November 2018 - Download PDF
Honeysuckle is experiencing the next stage of transformation. To keep informed about what's changing:
- Register your email to join our mailing list: honeysuckle@hccdc.nsw.gov.au
- Honeysuckle News - Summer 2019 - PDF
- Click here for an overview of the key works in progress.
- Visit the Honeysuckle page to find out more about the precinct projects.