Tomago is a Port Stephens industrial and manufacturing precinct on the Newcastle Port side of the Lower Hunter, with demand concentrated around the established Tomago Industrial Estate (Tomago Road / Westrac Drive / Kennington Drive) and the expanding Northbank Enterprise Hub Stage 3. If you are buying a lot, lodging a DA, or planning a warehouse, workshop or multi-unit industrial build here, you need a builder who designs around the operation and the lot; not a generic Hunter brochure.

AJA Commercial Building is based in Medowie and delivers fixed-price design and construct for industrial and warehouse projects across Port Stephens and the Hunter. This page is the practical brief for Tomago / Northbank. For Kinross Estate at Heatherbrae (same Port Stephens corridor, different estate), see Industrial Builder Heatherbrae.

Why Tomago and Northbank matter now

Northbank Enterprise Hub / Stage 3

Northbank Enterprise Hub (formerly marketed under the Tomago Industrial Estate major-project framework) is progressing Stage 3 on Lot 210 DP 1174939, about 50 ha, off Westrac Drive / Tomago Road, Tomago, in the Port Stephens LGA (Northbank Enterprise Hub project site). Stage 3 sits under major-project approval MP07_0086, with Stage 1 already complete (WesTrac facility on Lot 212). Stage 3 is the residual NEH-owned stage for future industrial allotments.

Through 2025 the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure approved a run of Stage 3 management documents that signal the estate is moving toward delivery, including:

• Design Guidelines and Landscape Masterplan for Stage 3 (approved 14 March 2025)
• Stormwater Management Plan for Stage 3 (approved 14 March 2025)
• Environmental Management Strategy for Stage 3 (approved 22 May 2025)
• Groundwater Monitoring Plan for Stage 3 (approved 11 June 2025)

The Estate Layout Plan for Stages 2 and 3 was approved earlier (16 August 2023). The approved Stage 3 layout shows an industrial subdivision with internal roads, drainage reserves and a large number of future lots. Annotated lot areas on that plan commonly sit from about 2,100 m² into mid-size parcels around 4,000-6,000 m², with some larger holdings above 10,000 m². Treat those figures as layout-plan indicative, not a live stock list. Confirm remaining lots, services staging and covenants with Northbank / the selling agent and Port Stephens Council before you freeze design or price (Northbank Stage 3 Design Guidelines).

The Stage 3 Design Guidelines also note flat topography suited to larger building footprints, access via the signalised Westrac Drive / Tomago Road intersection, and freight logic toward the Pacific Highway and the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace. The guidelines require Stage 3 internal streets to support B-double passage at estate level. Estate design controls (setbacks, pervious coverage targets, landscaping, stormwater) are estate-specific; they do not replace a lot-by-lot DA path.

A related Commonwealth approval, EPBC 2021-9058 for the Northbank Industrial Facility (MP10_0185), was issued on 13 February 2025. That is a separate approval track on adjoining Northbank land, so check the current project documents on the Northbank site rather than assuming it applies to Stage 3 lots.

Tomago Industrial Site planning proposal (PP-2025-874)

Separately, PP-2025-874 (Tomago Industrial Site Planning Proposal) seeks to update zoning on the broader Tomago Industrial Site from IN1 General Industrial to E4 General Industrial under the Regional Precincts SEPP framework, and to introduce certain additional employment-supporting land uses. The proposal covers about 374.65 ha of IN1 land at Tomago Road, Tomago. The Gateway determination was issued on 18 December 2025 and public exhibition ran from 12 March to 11 April 2026. At the time of writing, the Planning Portal lists the proposal in post-exhibition / Gateway Implementation (NSW Planning Portal: Tomago Industrial Site Planning Proposal).

Confirm current zoning on title with Port Stephens Council and the Planning Portal before you brief design. Agent copy may still say IN1 while the employment-zone reform is progressing, and marketing or draft LEP text is not planning advice.

Established Tomago lots (Kennington Drive and neighbours)

Outside Northbank Stage 3, the established Tomago industrial estate continues to see ready-to-build and redevelopment parcels marketed. Knight Frank previously marketed adjoining vacant lots at 10-12 Kennington Drive as IN1 General Industrial, level and cleared, about 4,009-4,158 m² each (combined about 8,167 m²), with agent claims about proximity to the M1 and the Port of Newcastle (Development Ready / Knight Frank: Kennington Drive). That campaign is marked Sold on the listing page, so treat it as estate colour rather than live stock. Other Tomago industrial holdings (for example McIntyre Road dual-title and hardstand campaigns) appear and sell through the year; confirm what is actually available with the selling agent.

Tomago is an active Port Stephens industrial node with a clear Northbank Stage 3 pipeline and an established estate that still generates lot and rebuild briefs. Briefs need slab, height, docks, fire, truck access and stormwater locked early against a real Westrac Drive, Kennington Drive or Stage 3 lot, plus current zoning and estate guidelines.

Local proof AJA can stand behind

AJA has not yet published a completed Tomago project on this website, and we will not pretend otherwise. The closest work we can point to sits on the same Hunter and Port Stephens corridor:

• 62 Spitfire Place, Rutherford: a completed AJA industrial complex. See Industrial Builder Rutherford.
• Steel River / Mayfield West: Newcastle-side industrial estate work. See Industrial Builder Steel River.
• Heatherbrae / Kinross: the neighbouring Port Stephens estate. See Industrial Builder Heatherbrae.

What owner-occupiers and developers need from a builder here

Typical Tomago / Northbank briefs:

• Warehouse / logistics / trade supply: clear height, racking loads, forklift aisles, hardstand and prime-mover or B-double turning where estate roads allow
• Manufacturing / workshop: plant loads, services, washdown, crane-capable bays, future expansion, high-power where required
• Owner-occupier shed + office: amenities and a layout that still works in five years
• Developer multi-unit: repeated bays, shared services, fire strategy and a buildable programme on Stage 3 or established Tomago lots

What you need from the builder:

1. Brief the operation first: vehicles, stock, plant, staff, customers, waste and future expansion. That drives slab, structure, openings and services.
2. Choose a buildable system: structural steel, precast panels, tilt / hybrid. Match fire design and procurement to the use.
3. Design & construct with a clear scope: AJA’s D&C approach ties design decisions to a fixed-price quote with assumptions and exclusions in plain language.
4. Industrial and warehouse delivery: see industrial construction and warehouse construction.

What will my project cost?

Every commercial project is different, and construction costs depend on the site, the design, approvals, services, specification and program. The most reliable way to get a number for your project is to talk to us. Contact AJA for a quote or budget estimate.

Other AJA industrial locations

• Heatherbrae / Kinross: for Masonite Road and Camfield Drive sites in Kinross Estate, see Industrial Builder Heatherbrae. It sits in the same Port Stephens LGA, with a different estate and access logic.
• Steel River: for Mayfield West lots on the Newcastle side, see Industrial Builder Steel River.
• Rutherford / Anambah: for Maitland industrial infill and AJA’s completed build at 62 Spitfire Place, see Industrial Builder Rutherford.
• Tomago: Northbank Stage 3, the Tomago Road / Westrac Drive estate, and Port Stephens access to Newcastle Port and the Pacific Highway / M1 extension corridor.

How AJA works Port Stephens from Medowie

AJA is based in Medowie and runs Port Stephens and Hunter industrial projects as a practical sequence: brief → site issues → design coordination → clear fixed-price scope → build. Tomago is a short Port Stephens run for site meetings and construction management alongside Heatherbrae and Hunter work.

What matters is whether the team can coordinate consultants, resolve slab, height, dock and fire issues early, and deliver a controlled programme on an industrial lot inside Northbank Stage 3 or the established Tomago estate.

Practical checklist before buying a Tomago lot or starting DA

• Confirm current zoning on title (IN1 today under the Regional Precincts SEPP for much of the Tomago Industrial Site; PP-2025-874 seeks E4). Verify with Port Stephens Council and the Planning Portal; do not rely on agent shorthand alone
• If the lot is inside Northbank Stage 3, obtain the current Design Guidelines, layout plan and any estate covenants from NEH / the agent
• Map truck access via Tomago Road / Westrac Drive (and Kennington Drive where relevant) against your vehicle mix, including B-double if claimed at estate level
• Lock clear height, dock/hardstand and office split before design freezes
• Confirm power, water, sewer, stormwater and NBN capacity for the intended use (Stage 3 materials describe augmentation of existing Stage 1 services and Hunter Water coordination; verify lot-by-lot)
• Decide steel / precast / hybrid with fire strategy early
• Ask for a fixed-price D&C path with written assumptions; not a verbal “ballpark”

Short FAQs

Is Tomago still worth building in if Northbank Stage 3 lots are not all released yet?

Yes if you have an established Tomago lot (Kennington Drive corridor and neighbours), a residual parcel, or a clear warehouse / multi-unit brief timed to Stage 3 release. Active estates still generate builds; the scarce piece is the right lot and a buildable programme. Confirm remaining stock with the selling agent and Council.

What is the difference between Northbank Stage 3 and the rest of Tomago Industrial Estate?

Stage 3 is the NEH-owned, roughly 50 ha Lot 210 expansion under MP07_0086, with an approved layout and 2025 management plans. The wider Tomago industrial precinct includes earlier stages (Stage 1 WesTrac complete) and established streets such as Kennington Drive. Pick the section that matches your lot.

What does PP-2025-874 change for my build?

It is a planning proposal to update Tomago Industrial Site zoning from IN1 to E4 and adjust some permitted uses. Gateway was approved in late 2025 and exhibition ran from March to April 2026. Until the change is finalised and reflected on title, confirm the zone that actually applies to your lot with Council.

Do you only build large warehouses at Tomago?

No. Large warehouses and transport sheds are in the mix, but manufacturing, trade, owner-occupier shed-plus-office and multi-unit industrial are all common. The brief drives the building.

Do you have Tomago project proof, or only nearby Hunter / Port Stephens work?

AJA has not published an on-site Tomago completion on this website. Corridor proof includes Rutherford (62 Spitfire Place), Steel River and the neighbouring Heatherbrae / Kinross estate. Those are nearby projects, not Tomago builds.

Fixed-price: what does that actually mean?

A fixed-price quote is useful when the scope behind it is clear: assumptions, exclusions, allowances and responsibilities written down. Vague one-line prices are where variations hide.

Can you help if we already have an architect?

Yes. We can price and construct from a developed design, or work design and construct. Either way, coordination of structure, services and fire still has to happen before the quote is treated as final.

Where are you based relative to Tomago?

Medowie. Tomago is a planned Port Stephens run for site meetings and construction management alongside Heatherbrae and Hunter work.

Should I confirm anything with council or the agent before briefing a builder?

Yes. Remaining lot availability, exact zoning on title, Stage 3 guideline obligations, services capacity and truck access assumptions should be confirmed with Port Stephens Council and the relevant selling agent (or Northbank for Stage 3). Marketing copy is not planning advice.

Talk to AJA about Tomago

Planning a warehouse, industrial shed or multi-unit build at Northbank Stage 3, Westrac Drive, Kennington Drive, or elsewhere in Tomago? Send the lot address, intended use and any plans through Contact us, or use the options below to book a site assessment or call us about a fixed-price design and construct path.