A shopping centre and medium-density housing could be built on the Stockton Centre site under a new vision for the future of North Stockton and Fern Bay.
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The Stockton Centre, which is still operational ahead of its planned closure in 2020, has long been suspected as a potential redevelopment site but the state government has refused to indicate any future use.
However, a draft planning strategy presented at a Newcastle council meeting on Tuesday night identifies the site as one of two preferred locations for a mixed-use town centre.
The other site is part of Newcastle Golf Club.
The draft Fern Bay and North Stockton strategy, developed by Newcastle and Port Stephens councils, envisions up to 12,500 people living in an area stretching from Stockton's Corroba Oval to Fern Bay, including part of Fullerton Cove.
The strategy, which is yet to be adopted, would guide development and community infrastructure over the next 20 years.
Newcastle councillors deferred adopting the strategy until they could have a workshop with Port Stephens councillors to discuss some of its traffic and transport components.
A town centre is one of the strategy's five focus areas.
The others are environment; housing and people; open space and community facilities; and transport.
A series of initiatives are listed to achieve the goals of each focus area and are given a timing of immediate - 0-2 years (2019 - 2021); short term - 3-5 years (2022 - 2024); medium term - 6-10 years (2025 - 2029); or long term - 11-20 years (2030 - 2039).
While the Stockton Centre site is listed as the preferred option for a town centre, the strategy notes the government is yet to decide on its future use.
It proposes, in the short term, liaising with the government to discuss future use and developing a master plan for the site.
A master plan must be developed to support any future change in land use.
Some of the housing initiatives include supporting the planning proposal for the Defence Housing development at Fort Wallace, undertaking a detailed assessment of plans for housing on the former rifle range site, and investigating the possibility of infill housing in Fern Bay.
Transport initiatives include the provision of a new road connecting the existing Fern Bay residential area through to North Stockton, a network of footpaths and shared pathways, and the widening of Nelson Bay Road to two lanes each way between Vardon Road and Seaside Boulevard. The latter is listed a long-term outcome.
A ferry terminal at North Stockton, possibly at the existing boat ramp, is slated to support long-term growth but is listed as an immediate priority for investigation.
A new library within the town centre would be investigated short term, while the Department of Education would be consulted on growth scenarios for the provision of education facilities.
A new sporting precinct at Corroba Oval including multi-purpose courts, additional fields and undercover seating would be investigated in the short term. Identifying a site for an RV park is a medium-term initiative.
Community consultation that guided development of the strategy included comments made on an interactive online map, a survey and two drop-in sessions in September, 2017.
"Feedback indicated a community priority for a new supermarket and supporting retail uses within the draft strategy area," a report prepared for councillors said.
"The draft strategy seeks to identify opportunities for Fern Bay and North Stockton to create a pedestrian focused place for people, which offers housing diversity, a mixed-use town centre, connected open spaces and community facilities."
READ MORE: The complete draft strategy
