What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Port Stephens Council's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 and a Delivery Program 2025–2029 with an annual Operational Plan and budget, shaped by tourism, coastal growth on the Tomaree and Tilligerry peninsulas, and its part-ownership of Newcastle Airport.
The council manages local roads, waste, libraries, parks and planning across a large Hunter LGA that wraps the Port Stephens waterway — from Raymond Terrace and Medowie in the west to the Tomaree Peninsula's coastal towns. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The Delivery Program funds the council's annual capital works program. Port Stephens jointly owns Newcastle Airport (with the City of Newcastle) through Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd, whose ~$250M terminal expansion opened in July 2025.
Underway now
Newcastle Airport terminal expansion
New terminal opened 29 Jul 2025Newcastle Airport — jointly owned by Port Stephens Council and the City of Newcastle through Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd — opened its expanded terminal (about a $250M project) at Williamtown on 29 July 2025, adding capacity for widebody aircraft and international services.
Raymond Terrace Place Plan
Community consultation early 2026The council is preparing a Place Plan to guide the future of Raymond Terrace, running community workshops and inviting feedback through the Have Your Say portal in early 2026.
Source: Port Stephens Council — Community invited to shape the future of Raymond Terrace
Planned / committed
Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 & Delivery Program 2025–2029
to 2035The council's top-level Community Strategic Plan sets long-term goals for the LGA, delivered through the four-year Delivery Program 2025–2029 and annual Operational Plans and budgets.