Honeysuckle works
Realigning Honeysuckle Drive between Hannell Street and Steel Street. Includes road widening, replacement of Cottage Creek bridge, new safer transition lanes, bike paths and parking in some sections and landscaping.
Developer: HCCDC
Status: Construction underway
Estimated completion: December 2020
HCCDC Contact: Kristi Jorgensen honeysuckle@hccdc.nsw.gov.au
Construction Enquiries and Complaints Contact: Olivia Power 0401 096 484 honeysuckle@robsoncivil.com.au
Works Underway: Construction of a diversion road and a separate shared path for pedestrians and cyclists on the northern side of Honeysuckle Drive. The road and shared path is expected to be in place on 28 March 2020.
Construction of seawalls and Cottage Creek channel outlets structure. The works will use approximately 160,000 tonnes of rock and backfill materials. Approximate length of work 300m.
Developer: HCCDC
Status: Construction underway
Estimated completion: August 2020
Contact: David Legg, HCCDC
(02) 4904 2750
honeysuckle@hccdc.nsw.gov.au
Delivery of new public domain including shared path, green space, seating, shade, BBQ facilities and maritime inspired play space.
Developer: HCCDC
Status: Due to commence mid 2020
Estimated completion: Late 2020
Contact: Jacob Whiting, HCCDC
(02) 4904 2750
honeysuckle@hccdc.nsw.gov.au
Honeysuckle City Campus
The building will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the University of Newcastle's School of Creative Industries and a new Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) Hub. This includes providing specialised spaces and technologies that enhance working and collaborative environments enriching teaching, learning, co-working and entrepreneurial experiences.
Developer: University of Newcastle
Status: Enabling works underway, construction to commence in April 2020
Contact: Damian Burke, University of Newcastle
honeysuckleproject@newcastle.edu.au
Work Underway:
Periodic closure of Worth Place southbound and adjacent footpath over the next 2 months. Signage and detours routes will advise closure periods.
Temporary pedestrian detour and loss of 20 car spaces within the western extent of Wright Lane car park over next 2 months.
45 Honeysuckle Drive
Mixed use residential apartments and ground floor retail space.
Developer: Miller Property Corporation
Status: Construction to commence early 2021
Estimated completion: 2022
Contact: Warwick Miller, Miller Property Corporation
0418 636 613
42 Honeysuckle Drive
Mixed-use precinct including Little National Hotel, boutique office building, retail space and car parking. Hotel facilities available to commercial tenants.
Developer: Doma Group
Status: Construction currently on hold
Estimated completion: 2022
Contact: Chris Farrington, Doma
(02) 6260 7750
35 Honeysuckle Drive
Construction of residential dwellings commenced in November 2019.
Developer: Doma Group
Status: Construction underway
Estimated completion: Late 2021
Contact: Chris Farrington, Doma
(02) 6260 7750
Works Underway: No high impact work
21 Honeysuckle Drive
Architecturally designed apartment dwellings, public domain, ground floor retail and parking. Will integrate with new public domain at Worth Place Park West.
Developer: Doma Group
Status: Construction underway
Estimated completion: Mid 2020
Contact: Chris Farrington, Doma
(02) 6260 7750
Works Underway: Rolling disruptions to the footpath adjacent to 21 Honeysuckle Drive to accommodate footpath upgrade works.
Work to realign and upgrade Honeysuckle Drive is underway.
The realignment will improve access to the city and assist with flood mitigation at Cottage Creek. We’re also widening the road, building safer transition lanes, bike and parking lanes along some sections of the road and shared pathways joining up with existing shared pathways.
Honeysuckle Drive will remain open during the works. Vehicles are being diverted through Throsby car park on a temporary road and the speed limit has been reduced to 40km per hour for approximately 400m of road works.
Pedestrians and cyclists have a dedicated shared path to follow on the northern side of the temporary road. Signage is in place to communicate the new arrangements. See map below for the location of the temporary road and temporary shared cycle/pedestrian path.
The entry to the Throsby car park has been relocated west, along Honeysuckle Drive close to Hannell Street.
The next phase of works includes replacing the Cottage Creek bridge and widening and straightening the road. We are opening up Cottage Creek by removing the concrete covers over the creek between Honeysuckle Drive and the harbour and adding rocks to give Cottage Creek a more natural appearance.
Stay informed:
- Up-to-date information is provided on this page and via our Honeysuckle NSW Facebook page.
- Notification - Start of Work, Honeysuckle Drive Upgrade
- Notification - Night Work 11 March Honeysuckle Drive Upgrade
- Notification - Temporary Diversion Road works 20 March Honeysuckle Drive upgrade
Waterfront works
The Wharf building has been restored, repaired and the timber deck reinstated
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 recently completed major repairs to the Lee Wharf A building. Some minor works, such as painting are being completed.
Major works included stabilising the building's foundations, repairing the structure and reinstating the timber deck at the rear of the building. We have undertaken this work to ensure that the building is preserved for future generations.
Renamed 'The Wharf', we recently sought proposals for a new tenant. Submissions are under review and we hope to announce the successful operator towards the end of this year.
Construction of Worth Place Park West, new public domain will get underway this year with the recent approval of the DA. Located adjacent to the Lume development currently under construction at 21 Honeysuckle Drive, Worth Place Park West will connect with existing Honeysuckle public domain marking a significant step in the continued revitalisation of the Honeysuckle waterfront.
The park will include sandstone block steps into the harbour, shaded seating, a sheltered picnic area, barbecue facilities and a Maritime inspired play space. Native trees, including banksia, tuckeroos and pines, will line new pedestrian links, making it easier to move from the waterfront to the Honeysuckle Light Rail stop.
The delivery of Worth Place Park West is an important step in completing the public connection between Wickham Marina through Honeysuckle to Bathers Way.
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
- March 2020 - Temporary Diversion Road Works 20 March Notification
- March 2020 - Night Work 11 March Notification
- February 2020 - Start of Work Notification Honeysuckle Drive Upgrade
- May 2019 - Harbour Square water feature upgrade
- April 2019 - Changes to footpaths and walkways as seawall works commence
- November 2018 - Lee Wharf A, Seawall Upgrades and Harbour Square Boat Dock
Honeysuckle updates newsletter
- Honeysuckle Update: Summer 2019 - Download PDF
- Honeysuckle 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
- Click here for an overview of the key works in progress.
- Visit the Honeysuckle page to find out more about the precinct projects.