AT THE recent unveiling of the Clean Energy Precinct (CEP) masterplan, Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody spoke to DCN about the project’s potential to drive future jobs and economic growth, describing it as the foundation of a “whole new economy.”
With skills shortages a growing concern across multiple sectors, Mr Carmody said the CEP would generate “interesting, high-skill and long-term” jobs - spanning roles from stevedoring to advanced electrical and mechanical trades.
“This will be a brand-new terminal,” Mr Carmody said. “It’s going to be a major hazard facility, like Curtis Island up in Gladstone. So we’re talking about highly specialised jobs — not just the traditional port roles, but engineers, technicians, safety experts, and all sorts of skilled workers we haven’t needed at this scale before.”
To prepare, the port is working closely with the University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW to develop a pipeline of local talent. “TAFE’s a big part of this. We’re investing heavily in getting the right training and education in place. We know the workforce we’ll need, and we’re building it now — right here in the Hunter.”
Mr Carmody said the port has been actively engaging with students in the region to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.
“I was at a high school recently and said, ‘Look, I don’t know if you’re interested in STEM, but I think you should be,’” Mr Carmody said. “Because by the time you finish your degree, I’m going to be hiring. These are the jobs we’ll need.”
Speaking about the local impact of the new jobs, Mr Carmody said: “One of the best things about Newcastle is that people grow up here and want to stay here. We’ve got a community that wants to work locally — and if we educate them properly, we’ve already got the workforce right in front of us.”
Mr Carmody also touched on the reality of an ageing maritime workforce and the urgent need for renewal.
“We all know the average age in the industry is now well over 55. We’ve got a massive workforce shortage coming. For 20 years we’ve gotten by using crews from developing countries — but that doesn’t deliver the high-skilled workforce we need for clean energy.”
He said while there’s strong demand for seafarers, future port operations will increasingly rely on highly trained professionals in areas like automation, logistics tech, hydrogen handling, and facility safety.
“It’s not just about bodies on the ground anymore — it’s about capability. We need smart, technically skilled people who can operate in a high-risk, highly regulated clean energy environment.”
For a region historically powered by coal, Mr Carmody sees this transformation as a chance to retain - and retrain - local workers for the next era of industry.
“This community has relied on 10,000 coal mining jobs. But that’s changing,” he said. “We need to create the next wave of meaningful work — and this clean energy terminal gives us that chance. It’s about taking people who are already skilled in heavy industry and giving them the tools and qualifications to step into something new.”
Speaking about the state and federal government investment in skills infrastructure, Mr Carmody noted that the port was not solely relying on this.
“We’re not sitting back - we’re actively building the relationships and programs we need to make sure the people of Newcastle benefit directly. This isn’t just an energy project. It’s a jobs project.”
As the port has reached a major milestone in the progression of its clean energy future, Mr Carmody expressed the need to act quickly: “If you want to work at the port — start planning now. The future is coming faster than you think.”