SOURCE: PORT OF NEWCASTLE
PON CEO Craig Carmody met with the Prime Minister at Carrington yesterday to
discuss matters critical to future investment in the region and its port.
Mr Carmody welcomed the Prime Minister's sweeping support for the Port of
Newcastle's the $2.4 billion Multipurpose Deepwater Terminal (MDT), which is set
to create 15,000 jobs and $2.5 billion of gross domestic product during the
construction phase alone.
The Prime Minister's visit is reflective of the importance of the port to the economy
and the relevance of our diversification plans to the government's agenda. Mr
Carmody took the opportunity to talk to the Prime Minister about how the
Commonwealth can support PON's diversification plans in a number of areas
for the benefit of the region and the nation.
The Prime Minister also discussed with Mr Carmody the National Energy
Resources Australia (NERA) announcement last month of the Hunter
Hydrogen Technology Cluster and the importance for the region. Mr
Carmody noted that the Port had an important role to play in facilitating
new and emerging markets such as hydrogen and that the Commonwealth
Government's support has been important in establishing this as a viable
opportunity.
The MDT remains an exciting project that will turbo-charge the local economy
to the tune of $1.3 billion and create a more cost-competitive supply chain for
NSW businesses that trade internationally. Once penalties on container trade
through the port are removed, Port of Newcastle is keen to move forward with
the project and fuel the jobs and economic opportunities it will bring with it.