PORT STEPHENS, NSW - For investors and developers seeking their next opportunity in the Lower Hunter, a rare chance to engage directly with the decision-makers and market experts shaping Raymond Terrace’s future is now available - at no cost.
Port Stephens Council and Commercial Collective have joined forces to deliver the Raymond Terrace Investor Event, a free online forum on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm AEST. The event has been purpose-built to give investors and developers the intelligence, context and direct access they need to make informed decisions about the region.
Crucially, attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions to a panel of regional, commercial and planning experts - and have them answered live. For those unable to attend, registration ensures access to the full recording and presentation collateral.
What Attendees Will Walk Away With
This is not a passive information session. The forum has been structured to equip investors and developers with actionable insight across every layer of the Raymond Terrace opportunity:
- A clear picture of Council’s strategic direction and the planning frameworks actively supporting development in the region
- Honest market intelligence on feasibility, pricing, comparable sales and where the investment upside lies
- An understanding of the infrastructure pipeline and how government investment is enhancing connectivity, liveability and long-term land value
- Insight into housing supply gaps and the appetite and capacity, for infill, medium-density, affordable and social housing development
- Visibility of specific development sites including Council-owned land as a practical example of the region’s potential
- Direct answers to your specific questions put to the expert panel live during the forum
“We designed this event around what investors and developers actually need - not just a pitch, but real data, real planning context and real access to the people making decisions. The live Q&A is a deliberate part of that. We want attendees to leave with clarity, not just enthusiasm.”
- Dane Crawford, Co-Founder & CEO, Commercial Collective
Expert Panel: Three Perspectives, One Clear Opportunity
The panel discussion, facilitated by Sarah Willcox, Associate Director of Commercial Collective, brings together specialists across the three domains that matter most to investors and developers evaluating a regional market:
Regional Planning & Council Strategy
Steven Peart, Director of Community Futures at Port Stephens Council, will provide direct insight into Council’s planning agenda for Raymond Terrace, including zoning, infrastructure priorities and the strategic frameworks that are actively enabling new development. This is a rare opportunity to hear the Council’s development vision directly from a senior decision-maker.
Commercial Real Estate & Development Markets
Dane Crawford brings more than 15 years of commercial real estate experience and over $2.5 billion in development activity to the discussion. His keynote will cover market feasibility and investor outlook, and his panel contribution will address the commercial fundamentals that make Raymond Terrace a credible and timely investment proposition relative to more established and more expensive markets.
Regional Economic Strategy & Growth Drivers
Bob Hawes, CEO of Business Hunter, will bring a regional economic lens to the conversation, covering population trends, employment growth, major investment activity and the broader strategic forces positioning the Lower Hunter, and Raymond Terrace specifically, for sustained expansion.
Audience members are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the event, with additional questions welcomed during the live panel session. All registered attendees who cannot join on the day will receive answers via the post-event recording.
“We have the perfect mix for investors: a growing population, affordable land, and major projects like the M1 extension already moving. We’re hosting this event to show you our 20-year roadmap, the Raymond Terrace Place Plan, and exactly how Council is clearing the way for new projects”
- Mayor Leah Anderson, Port Stephens Council
The Raymond Terrace Opportunity in Brief
Raymond Terrace is a strategic regional centre servicing the broader Lower Hunter catchment, a well-connected, comparatively affordable market underpinned by population growth and active government investment. The forum will present the full development landscape, spanning commercial, residential, industrial, mixed-use and employment-generating projects, and will highlight why now is the moment to act.
- Strategic location at the junction of key transport corridors, with direct access to Newcastle, the airport precinct and surrounding industrial hubs
- Relative affordability offering genuine entry-point value compared to more mature Hunter markets
- Active infrastructure investment across transport, public domain and community facilities enhancing liveability and investor confidence
- Council commitment to facilitating growth, with planning frameworks and land holdings that support the next wave of development
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Time: 2:00pm - 3:30pm AEST
Format: Free online webinar - registration required
Can’t attend live? Register and receive the full recording and presentation collateral
Questions: Submit in advance at registration or live during the panel session
Register now: https://bit.ly/4wizwNy
