KEITH LULIA

Quote: Exeter Rhino "Certainly exciting times at Newcastle.

In many ways the place has a lot in common with Bradford. The centre is shrinking, spurred on by the declining steel industry (see wool for Bradford), and it is becoming a commuter town for a larger neighbouring city. On the other hand, Newcastle has a coastal location with a good climate & decent beaches, not to mention a big money investor in the city's RL team, whereas Bradford has very little going for it.'"

Not wanting to hijack the thread - but that is the perception of Newcastle by people who don't know Newcastle.

Inner city Newcastle has not grown in twenty years, but the city is in the middle of a booming region that is expanding as rapidly as any in Australia, and possibly the world.
The port of Newcastle is already the largest bulk cargo exporter in the southern hemisphere and is in the process of expanding from 100 million tonnes a year of coal to 200 million tonnes a year. There is a lineup of coal ships for 40 kilometres down the coast waiting to get into the Port.
The Billionaire who has bought the Knights has made his billion dollars in the coal industry in just 10 years, and he isn't the only one to make that sort of money in the Hunter.
The population of the region has increased by 30% since the steel works closed and the unemployment rate is just over 4%.
A few people commute 160 kilometres to Sydney for a job - but more people commute the other way.
The Newcastle region is basically one huge construction site as we rip up and export the world's largest and most accessable coal deposit.