A parliamentary inquiry into controversial planning decisions in Newcastle and the Hunter is set to get the green light following revelations at a corruption inquiry that local MPs took illegal donations from developers.

Upper house Greens MP David Shoebridge, who is pushing for the inquiry, said there had been a "strong commitment from a majority of MPs" to back the inquiry when he puts forward a motion on Tuesday for it to be established.

"Strong commitment from a majority of MPs": David Shoebridge. Credit:Peter Stoop

He said the inquiry would examine a range of contentious planning decisions, including the planned removal of the Newcastle heavy rail line between Wickham and the city's CBD and the installation of light rail.

The proposal to create a fourth coal loader at the Port of Newcastle would also be examined, along with a major housing development at Whitebridge in Lake Macquarie and the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine project.