Development corp mooted for western Sydney

A former Sydney Water boss has been named chairman of the board at the Hunter Development Corporation, the body charged with breathing new life into Newcastle's city centre.

The development comes as the government considers the establishment of parallel corporations elsewhere in the state, including for Sydney's west.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes will appoint David Evans on Wednesday as the head of the HDC board of directors.

Mr Evans' term will expire at the end of next year.

Former Landcom managing director Sean O'Toole has been appointed as a director and former director Karen Howard has been reappointed.

"These appointments will provide stability to the HDC board to ensure it can continue to provide sound strategic advice to the corporation," Mr Stokes said.

"The NSW government's program to revitalise the Newcastle city centre is in full swing and HDC will continue to play an important role in this whole-of-government program."

Mr Stokes will also announce the establishment of a new advisory committee to examine the role of the state's two regional development corporations - the HDC and the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation - and consider the role of development corporations in areas such as the Illawarra and the Western Sydney Priority Growth Area.