The meeting, scheduled for Noahs on the Beach at 12.30pm tomorrow, was announced in the wake of Tuesday's unsuccessful Sydney meeting between government and council officials and GPT.

A spokesman for Ms McKay said 44 people had accepted their invitations yesterday afternoon, with another 15 people sending apologies.

The invitees included public servants, MPs, local councillors, business leaders - including developers Hilton Grugeon and Jeff McCloy - welfare practitioners, university management and Save our Rail.

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T he spokesman downplayed suggestions such a large meeting would achieve little, saying it was important a wide range of people were able to express their opinions.

In her invitation, Ms McKay said the new Newcastle City Centre Renewal Steering Committee chairman, senior public servant Warwick Watkins, would chair the meeting.

"During a discussion you will be invited to put forward your ideas on how the city can best pursue a positive agenda for the future," Ms McKay said.

Newcastle lord mayor John Tate told councillors yesterday it was "unfortunate" that Premier Kristina Keneally did not attend Tuesday's meeting with GPT.

"Unfortunately there was no tangible encouragement for GPT to reverse its decision, and chief executive Michael Cameron acknowledged that GPT's major problem at this time is the interest they are paying on their loan money and they made it clear this is no longer sustainable for them," Cr Tate said.

GPT said as much when it announced its decision on Monday, August 23 - the day before announcing its interim financial statements for the year - saying "we have a responsibility to our security holders and cannot indefinitely support the carrying costs of our land holdings in Newcastle, which are dilutive to GPT's earnings".