Sponsored Initiatives
Williamtown Aerospace Centre (WAC)
The Williamtown Aerospace Centre (WAC) at Williamtown will be a key economic driver for the Hunter Region and has the potential to position the Hunter as a major national and potentially international, centre for the aerospace and aviation industry. It comprises Newcastle Airport and the soon-to-be-commenced business park, Williamtown Aerospace Park (WAP).
WAP is an employment park with an emphasis on aerospace, aviation and the existing industrial base that clusters around RAAF Base Williamtown. Hunter Land is developing 50 saleable hectares, with the first stage in 2011. Land for aerospace users includes sites with airside access. Land and design/construct packages (for both owner occupiers and lessees) will be available. WAP offers torrens title freehold. Future proposed components of WAP include a hotel and convention facility.
Hunter Founders Forum
The fundamental purpose of Hunter Founders Forum is to serve the Hunter community by fostering innovation and investment in the region, diversifying and growing the economy.
As a non-political, not for profit organisation, the Hunter Founders Forum is guided by an independent voluntary board committed to promoting a pathway for key stakeholders to network in an ethical and transparent manner.
At regular Hunter Founders Breakfast Forums two or three companies ‘pitch’ to a group of qualified individual angel, institutional and corporate investors. The brief local company pitch is from an ‘investor ready’ company with a Business Plan / Information Memorandum in place.
The AAAI 2011 National Angels Conference was held in Newcastle on 16-18 February 2011, hosted by the Hunter Founders Forum and Hunter Angels Trust, Newcastle. The conference attracted a large number of angel investors from around Australia and overseas.
Cruise Hunter
Cruise Hunter is a project managed within Newcastle Port Corporation, whose aim is to attract luxury cruise ships and navy vessels to the Hunter, providing major benefits to the Region’s economy. The year 2010 was very significant, with P&O Australia’s Pacific Sun using Newcastle as home port in September and October, with return seasons in February / March 2011 and February / March 2012. There is also an increasing number of other international cruise ships visiting Newcastle. The NSW Government completed a $2.5 million refurbishment of the Channel Berth in the Port of Newcastle for the start of the 2010/11 cruise season. Moves are underway to establish a permanent cruise terminal.