Cessnock Council wanted to prepare a vision for the Centre to celebrate the cultural landscape of the region and provide a quality environment where the community is actively encouraged to participate in community and civic life. Fulfilling its role as a regional centre, the City of Cessnock is a key location within the region as the first point of contact for visitors to the region from the south. Its location provides visitors to the region with a place to stop, orient and refresh themselves before setting off to explore the offerings of the Hunter’s Wine Country. It also offers a base camp for those wishing to stay in the region longer, a place to eat, sleep and be entertained.

Mecone worked as the consultant town planners to Cessnock Council to help develop a site-specific Development Control Plan for the Cessnock Commercial Centre. The intent of the
DCP was to help guide and encourage local economic and commercial development within the Centre and to activate and improve the public domain. As part of the preparation of the DCP, Mecone also provided recommendations to Council regarding potential changes that could also be introduced into the Cessnock LEP at a later stage.