Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 10 March (items adjourned from 24 February 2026). NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Ordinary business
Committee for the Hunter membership
Council voted unanimously for City of Newcastle to join the Committee for the Hunter, which will help foster strategic partnerships, influence region-shaping policy and priorities, and demonstrate leadership in the long-term social and economic development of the Hunter.
Newcastle Maritime Museum Society Collection (recommitted motion from 24 February 2026)
Council voted unanimously for City of Newcastle CEO to engage urgently with Venues NSW to seek a short-term extension of the existing storage lease at the Newcastle Showground for the Newcastle Maritime Museum Society collection beyond its current expiry on 20 March 2026. This follows in principle support from the NSW Government regarding temporary storage of the collection at the Newcastle Logistics Precinct, while a long-term plan to get the collection back on public display is developed by the Society and its stakeholders.
Urban Design Review Panel Annual Report 2025
Council received the Urban Design Review Annual Report 2025.
Notices of Motion
Community petition – Scholey Street, Mayfield
Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to accept a petition from residents of Scholey Street, Mayfield and request the Chief Executive Officer provide an assessment on the conditions in Scholey Street and respond to the petition organiser. Council will provide traffic data speed and volume information to the NSW Police to assist with enforcement in the area.
Opal gates Hamilton Railway Station
Council supported a notice of motion to write to the NSW Minister for Transport and government officials to request the installation of Opal fare gates at Hamilton Railway Station.
Council support for the return of the Newcastle 500 Supercars event
Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion to reaffirm City of Newcastle’s previous resolutions of October and November 2023 that Council supports retaining Supercars in the Hunter region through a regional model. The motion confirmed that Council does not support reinstating the Newcastle 500 street circuit in Newcastle.
Supporting accessible, healthy and safe open spaces for dogs in Newcastle
Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion to consider fencing the existing off-leash area at Tarro Reserve as part of the review of the action plan in Dogs in Open Space Plan 2019. Council voted to consider various actions in the upcoming capital works budgets once the review of the Dogs in Open Space Plan 2019 has been completed.
Supporting greater accessibility of public toilets after hours in Newcastle through the Master Locksmith Access Key scheme
Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to ensure all new accessible public toilets in the Newcastle LGA are able to be fitted with the Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) system as part of infrastructure projects. Council will include a program to increase MLAK toilets across the city in the review of City of Newcastle’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022-26 and investigate options to provide the MLAK key free of charge to eligible Newcastle residents in ‘User Rates and Charges’ in future Budgets.
Maintaining current speed zones on Minmi Road
Council supported an amended notice of motion to oppose any attempts by Transport for NSW to make any section of Minmi Road 40 km/hr, with the exception of school zones.
Exploring the establishment of a special entertainment precinct for midtown Newcastle
Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion for the CEO to investigate the feasibility, benefits, and implications of establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct, commencing with the Midtown Newcastle precinct. This investigation, where appropriate, will include preliminary targeted stakeholder engagement, with a report to be brought back to Council in 2026 outlining findings, potential boundaries, implementation considerations, resourcing implications, and recommended next steps.
Supporting a trial of increased operating hours at Beresfield Library
Council unanimously supported a notice of motion that City of Newcastle investigate in the 2026-2027 financial year undertaking a six-month trial to increase opening hours and programming at Beresfield Library, in conjunction with findings of the recently completed Library Evaluation Survey and upcoming Library Service Review.