All aboard for the $1 million revitalisation of Maitland’s transport precinct

Maitland City Council has secured $1 million as a pilot partnership as part of the NSW Government's reVITALise - Public Transport Precinct Vibrancy Grant to bring the transformative ‘Next Stop: Maitland’ project to life and enhance Maitland’s key transport hub with place-based improvements.

This initiative will revamp Maitland Station and its surrounding area, making it a safer, more vibrant and welcoming space for residents, businesses and visitors.

Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold emphasised the project’s significance, “Maitland Station is a key gateway to our city, and this project provides an exciting opportunity to strengthen its role as a central hub in the Hunter region.

“By incorporating community input, we aim to create a space that prioritises safety, accessibility and connectivity, fostering pride among all who use it.”

The improvements aim to create strong links between Maitland Station and key destinations, including Maitland Park, Maitland Regional Art Gallery and the CBD. Additionally, the project will complement other regional initiatives, such as the Morpeth to Rutherford Shared Pathway Project, reinforcing Maitland Station’s role as a vital connector within the Hunter area.

Maitland is one of seven pilot councils to benefit from Transport for NSW’s $7 million grant program. Initiatives funded by the reVITALise grant program aim to help enliven people’s everyday walk or wheel to and from public transport, and may include amenity and accessibility improvements for people when walking or cycling, such as seating and shade, lighting, landscaping, public art and murals, or supporting infrastructure such as bike racks or mobile phone charging stations. 

Transport for NSW’s A/Executive Director Cities Revitalisation and Place, Brooke Wharton, said findings from placemaking initiatives in other precincts have demonstrated the benefit of location-specific solutions.  

“The reVITALise Stanmore Station Parcels Office temporary activation in 2023 illustrated the benefit of public space activation, with more than 80 per cent of survey respondents agreeing that the activation made Stanmore Station feel more vibrant, safe, and welcoming,” Brooke Wharton said.  

“The reVITALise Rainbow Tunnels project, also in 2023, demonstrated that art and creative lighting improve people’s perceptions of safety and attachment to place, with over 90 per cent of survey respondents agreeing that the lighting installations improved their experience.” 

“Transport looks forward to partnering with the seven pilot councils across NSW to deliver place-based solutions to create more active, safer and vibrant local areas.” 

To ensure the community’s vision is at the heart of the redevelopment, Council has launched an online survey and will host a series of ‘walkshops’ – walking workshops and co-design sessions to help shape the vision and inform outcomes for the project.

“We encourage everyone to tell us what improvements you’d like to see around Maitland Station, by completing our community survey or joining a ‘walkshop’ so we can create a space that inspires connection and vibrancy,” said Mayor Penfold.

The survey is now live, with walkshops and co-design sessions set to be held in February and March 2025, with final works to be delivered by May 2026.

Take the survey or learn more by visiting mait.city/RevitaliseMaitlandStation.

For more information on the reVITALise – Public Transport Precinct Vibrancy Grant visit mait.city/4hR6Gfe.