Annual UPDATE – Maitland City Council, Chamber and Business

A shared POSITIVE sentiment for Maitland!

Yesterday’s Annual Update event at Club Maitland City once again proved why it is one of the Chamber’s most anticipated events on the calendar. With 110 attendees registered, the room was filled with engaged business and community leaders, all keen to hear about the future of Maitland and the opportunities ahead.

Our MC, Jamie Canavan, opened the event by welcoming attendees and acknowledging our newest Chamber members. As our membership continues to grow steadily each month, it is important to recognise the businesses and individuals choosing to invest in our local business community. Their contribution strengthens the Chamber and reinforces the collaborative spirit that makes Maitland such a vibrant place to live, work and do business.

A sincere thank you goes to our event sponsor, The Mutual Bank. We were pleased to hear from CEO Mark Williams, whose thoughtful presentation focused on preparedness, resilience and leadership in an increasingly complex world. Mark reflected on The Mutual Bank’s proud history as one of the region’s longest-standing banking institutions and highlighted the importance of strong foundations, both personally and professionally.

His presentation encouraged business owners and leaders to think proactively about future challenges, including supply chain disruptions, resource pressures, cybersecurity risks and the rapid impact of artificial intelligence. Mark reinforced the importance of staying informed, adaptable and prepared for change. As always, his articulate and engaging presentation captured the attention of the room, and we are grateful to Mark and The Mutual team for their continued support of the Chamber and our business community. For more information about The Mutual’s services and community commitment, visit www.themutual.com.au.

The highlight of the day was the annual address from Maitland City Council General Manager, Jeff Smith. Jeff provided a comprehensive overview of where Maitland is today and where the city is heading in the years ahead.

A key message throughout the presentation was that Maitland continues to experience significant growth and opportunity. With close to 100,000 people now calling Maitland home and approximately 2,000 new residents arriving each year, the city is forecast to reach around 145,000 residents by 2041. Maitland’s geographical position as the “Heart of the Hunter” continues to provide a significant competitive advantage for local businesses, offering access to one of the region’s largest talent catchments and making the city an attractive location for investment and business growth.

Jeff spoke about Council’s shared vision of creating “a connected city with thriving communities”. Importantly, connection extends beyond roads and transport, encompassing social connection, environmental sustainability, economic development and strong partnerships across the region.

Attendees also gained insight into Council’s priorities for the coming years, including investment in infrastructure, digital transformation, financial sustainability, customer-focused service delivery and long-term planning. Council recently adopted its 2026-27 Operational Plan, which includes a budget of $169.5million on services to the community and a $56.4 million capital works program, demonstrating a significant commitment to supporting the city’s continued growth and resulting in a forecasted surplus of $1.98 million.

Operational Plan Highlights include:

• Prepare an Investment Attraction and Retention Plan.
• Advocate for investment to strengthen local economy.
• Prepare a Night-time Economy Action Plan.
• Develop an Employment Lands Strategy for exhibition.
• Implement sustainable procurement policies and frameworks that support local businesses.
• Continue to deliver business development programs.
• Support the delivery of a range of events and public programs across Maitland.

Economic development featured strongly throughout the presentation. Jeff outlined Council’s new focus on Economic Development, Partnerships and Advocacy, supported by the adopted Economic Development Strategy 2025-2035. This strategy is designed to strengthen Maitland’s economic future through investment in skills development, connected places, business innovation and strategic partnerships.

The audience also heard about several major advocacy priorities and growth opportunities, including the Dalmore Park Business and Innovation Precinct, the Anambah to Branxton growth corridor, the Four Mile Creek National Pinch Point project and the future potential of the former Maitland Hospital site.

During the Q&A session, attendees raised questions regarding the future of the former Maitland Hospital site. Jeff acknowledged the community’s strong interest in this important asset and advised that discussions and consultation continue with the NSW Government. Council remains committed to advocating for a master planning process that maximises community benefit and supports the long-term economic and commercial growth of the city.

Roads and transport infrastructure were also discussed. While significant planning for regional roads requires co-design with Transport for NSW and other government stakeholders, Jeff emphasised that planning and advocacy efforts are ongoing. As with many major infrastructure projects, progress takes time, coordination and investment, but the work is continuing behind the scenes to position Maitland for future growth.

A strong theme emerged throughout the day: optimism. There was a genuine sense of confidence in the room about Maitland’s future and the opportunities that lie ahead for our city and broader region.  While growth brings challenges, there was broad recognition that Council, businesses and the wider community are taking a thoughtful and responsible approach to managing that growth. The future of Maitland is bright, but it will require all of us to work together, advocate effectively and remain engaged in shaping the region we want to see.

We sincerely thank Jeff Smith for sharing his insights and engaging openly with our members, and we thank all attendees for contributing to such a robust and positive discussion. The Chamber looks forward to continuing these important conversations as we work collectively to support investment, opportunity and prosperity across Maitland and the wider Hunter region.