First fenced park planned for City’s pooches

City of Newcastle will build the city’s first fenced dog park where owners can legally let their dogs roam free inside their very own playground.
The 1.5-hectare fenced area will be built at Acacia Avenue reserve, North Lambton, as part of the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan. The plan was adopted by council last night to cater for the 44,300 registered dogs in the Newcastle local government area.
Dogsinopen.JPG
The project will provide separate areas for big and little pooches and include additional natural shade, shelter and seating for owners, plus drinking water for their four-legged friends.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the plan would guide the provision, improvement and management of off-leash parks across Newcastle over the next 10 years.
“Novocastrians absolutely love their dogs, with more than 50 per cent of households across the City owning at least one pooch,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This places us at the top-end of the list in terms of dog ownership across the country, so I’m delighted that this long-term plan has been adopted to cater for what is certainly a growing community need.
“Dogs are becoming an increasingly popular addition to the family household, so it was no surprise that many submissions to the draft plan provided positive feedback around the provision of more fenced parks and increased off-leash areas.”
Dogsinopen-(1).JPGA snapshot of what’s proposed in the 10-year Dogs in Open Space Plan 
Merewether’s Jane Garrick, a long-time supporter of fenced dog parks in Newcastle, is the doting owner of five-year-old Evee, a Ridgeback-Kelpie crossbreed.
Ms Garrick said she was elated to hear that she’ll be able to take Evee across town to Lambton rather than drive the longer journey to Speers Point.
“We take her to Speers Point where there’s a fenced park and this works really well for her,” she said.
“I’ll definitely take the trip to Lambton for future visits but ideally I’d still love something a bit closer where I can walk her to and from home.”
Ms Garrick said fenced parks where perfect for keeping Evee from straying on to nearby roads.
“She’s easily distracted by birds and cats and often won’t listen or come back when she’s called.”
Based on the likely success of the new fenced park at Acacia Avenue, the City will explore other possible sites at Lambton Park, O’Connell Reserve, Carrington Foreshore, Maryland Drive Reserve and Stevenson Park.
Where size permits we will aim to provide separate small and large dog parks and dedicated quiet zones for temperamental breeds.
For more information and to view the full plan, visit http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Living/Residents/pets-and-animals/Dogs

Busting congestion across Sydney and the Central Coast

Motorists across Sydney and the Central Coast will be spending less time in traffic and more time doing what’s important to them after a $253.5 million congestion-busting funding boost.
The package includes upgrading King Georges Road and Blaxland Road at Balaclava Road in Eastwood, the Princes Highway at Waratah Street in Kirrawee, The Horsley Drive and Homebush Bay Drive in Sydney Olympic Park, while also investing $50 million into commuter car parking.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment would mean Sydney-siders and people on the Central Coast would be getting home sooner and safer.
“Our investment means people can spend more time with friends and family and tradies can be earning more on site rather than being stuck in traffic,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is a significant investment in tackling the congestion hotspots that are costing people precious time and losing businesses money.”
“People living in Sydney know better than anyone the very real impacts road congestion has on people’s lives and we are doing something about the pinch points and bottlenecks that lie at the heart of the problem.”
Funded through the Government’s $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund, projects include:

  • $95 million to upgrade The Horsley Drive in the city’s south-west;
  • $50 million toward widening King Georges Road in the city’s south;
  • $50 million to upgrade Homebush Bay Drive, including investigating options to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Australia Avenue and Underwood Road;
  • $4.5 million to upgrade Blaxland Road at the Balaclava Road intersection in Eastwood;
  • $4 million to upgrade the Princes Highway at Waratah Street in Kirrawee;
  • $7.5 million for commuter car park upgrades at Panania;
  • $7.5 million for commuter car park upgrades at Hurstville; and
  • $35 million for commuter car parking at Gosford Station and Woy Woy Station on the Central Coast.

Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said the Urban Congestion Fund was designed to eliminate congestion issues where they are hurting the most.
“This is not only the major freeways but the local pinch points which cause daily headaches to commuters,” Minister Tudge said.
“This package shows we are not slowing down in NSW, and builds on the $26 billion we already have invested in game-changing infrastructure in Sydney and across the State since coming into power.”
The Morrison Government’s existing investment across urban New South Wales includes WestConnex, NorthConnex, the M1 Productivity Package, the Northern Road Upgrade and the transformational Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport, which will support tens of thousands of jobs and connect western Sydney to the world.

Greens Condemnation of Pauline Hanson

Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim says words of condemnation for Pauline Hanson’s repugnant comments about Port Arthur are not enough.
“One Nation is a threat to community harmony, and Australia’s safe and tolerant society,” Senator McKim said.
“Ms Hanson’s comments about the Port Arthur massacre represent a new low.”
“They are an affront to every Tasmanian, particularly those of us who remember the horrors and trauma of that incident.”
“But words of condemnation are not enough – they must be backed up by actions.”
“The best way to reject One nation’s hateful agenda is for all other political parties to join with the Greens in preferencing One Nation last in the Senate in Tasmania at the forthcoming election.”

Greens announce climate and energy election plan

The Australian Greens have released their climate and energy plan for the upcoming federal election. Releasing the policy Renew Australia 2030: Powering past coal for a future for all of us, Greens Leader Richard Di Natale joined climate and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP at a building powered by renewables, the 60L Green Building, in the heart of his Melbourne electorate.

The climate and energy plan includes:

  • 100% renewables by 2030 including support for households and business solar and batteries and the establishment of renewable energy zones

  • A new public energy retailer Power Australia and re-regulation of electricity prices

  • Phasing out the burning and export of thermal coal supported by a $1 billion transition plan for workers

  • The building of a solar export industry based on hydrogen and direct exports to Asia

  • Doubling energy productivity and a reduction in pollution across the economy driven by industry programs, a energy efficiency target and a carbon price

  • A shift to electric cars with the phase out of petrol car sales

  • Support for farmers to drawdown carbon in the land

The plan will create 170,000 new jobs and drive Australia towards zero-net emissions by 2040.

Dr Richard Di Natale, Australian Greens Leader:

“Coal is the world’s biggest cause of climate change – and Australia is the world’s biggest exporter of coal. Unless we phase out coal, we can’t deal with climate change,” said Dr Di Natale.

“Unlike the major parties, the Greens have a plan to phase out coal exports and create a jobs boom in the renewable energy export industry. Our Renew Australia 2030 action plan will lower energy costs for households and businesses and drive fossil fuels out of the economy.”

“Australia can become a renewable energy super power, replacing coal with clean energy and exporting that clean energy to a global market that’s ready to consume it.

Adam Bandt MP, Greens climate change and energy spokesperson:

“This is a plan to take on coal. If you don’t have a plan for coal, you’re not serious about climate change.

“We need to turf out the Coalition coal-huggers, but Labor has no plan for coal either. The Paris Agreement requires us to keep coal in the ground, but Labor and Liberal take millions of dollars from coal corporations and keep exporting this toxic substance.

“Coal mining companies will have to compete for export permits as we phase out thermal coal mining and we have set out a plan to retire coal-fired power stations by 2030. We’ll make sure that no-one will be left behind, as coal workers will be supported with a $1 billion just transition fund.”

Click here to read the full plan to Renew Australia.

Greens welcome acknowledgement from federal agriculture minister and Victorian environment minister that native forest logging is unsustainable

The Australian Greens welcome the acknowledgement from the federal agriculture minister and the Victorian environment minister that native forest logging is unsustainable and contributes to climate change.
“It’s clear that native forest logging in Victoria and across the country must end immediately and that the destructive logging laws, the Regional Forest Agreements, must be scrapped,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens forests spokesperson.
“The Greens plan would end native forest logging immediately, transition the industry to 100% plantations from the current 88%, and include a carbon pollution trigger in national environment laws.”
“Victoria’s native forests store more carbon than any other forest in the world, yet they’re currently being logged mainly for woodchips.”
“As well as being massive carbon stores, Victoria’s native forests provide homes for threatened animals and provide most of Melbourne’s drinking water.”
“There is a clear pathway to end destructive native forest logging. Given that Coalition and Labor seem to have now finally realised that logging is unsustainable, I urge them to work with the Greens to ensure we protect these forests for a safe climate, for water security, for threatened animals, for the agriculture industry, and for future generations.”
Victorian Greens environment spokesperson Ellen Sandell said: “Native logging in Victoria is so destructive, economically and environmentally, that even the Federal Liberal Government is calling for it to be stopped. The Victorian Labor Government cannot continue this environmental destruction any longer: they must end native forest logging in Victoria now.”

Fatal pedestrian crash – Buchanan, near Maitland

A man has died after being struck by a truck near Maitland.
About 2pm today (Wednesday 27 March 2019), emergency services were called to the Hunter Expressway at Buchanan after a 58-year-old man was struck by a semi-trailer.
He died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.
The truck driver, a 42-year-old man, was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner and inquiries continue.

City steps up to fund Park and Ride

City of Newcastle will fund the operation of Park and Ride for the next month in response to Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) refusal to publicly indicate whether it will continue to support the popular bus service beyond the end of this week.
CEO Jeremy Bath said the City’s commitment meant the service would continue from McDonald Jones Stadium to the CBD during April while a detailed examination of the cost of the service is undertaken.
“City of Newcastle will underwrite the Park and Ride for the month of April,” Mr Bath said.
“In a city that has traditionally refused to use public transport, the Park and Ride has proved Novocastrians will catch a bus to work when the service is affordable and reliable.
“More than 41,000 people have used the Park and Ride since it started in November 2017 in response to the impact of the construction of the NSW Government’s light rail project.
“While public transport is very clearly a responsibility of the NSW Government, we owe it to the almost 1,000 passengers that use the Park and Ride weekly to do everything we can to continue the service.
“Over the next four weeks we’ll undertake a detailed analysis of the costs of the Park and Ride operation. This will include speaking with bus operators, including Keolis Downer, to establish the true cost of running the Park and Ride service under a variety of hours of operation.
“We will also speak with users of the service to understand their needs vs their wants when it comes to public transport.
“During April, there will be no change to the current service with buses to operate weekdays from 7am to 9am from McDonald Jones Stadium and departing from the city to Broadmeadow between 3pm and 6.30pm.”
Mr Bath said that under the current model, he understood that the Park and Ride operates at a cost of approximately $500,000 a year.
He said the City would look at how to reduce the cost of operating the service, which for its first 16 months has been funded by the NSW Government.
“For the Park and Ride to continue the price will have to rise. The price of the service hasn’t increased since it was launched and that was done to encourage car enthusiasts to try public transport, often for the first time.
“However, if the City is going to bear the cost of the Park and Ride then we will need to re-examine the pricing model. But that decision can’t be made until we understand the true cost of operating the service as well as people’s willingness to pay for an express bus to the city and back.
“TfNSW’s refusal to confirm whether they will continue to fund the Park and Ride has created angst and frustration for its users. I have written to the 5,000 people registered with the Park and Ride today asking them for patience as we commence a review of the costs of the operation.”
Mr Bath said TfNSW was still yet to formally advise the City of its decision to withdraw funding for the service, almost a week after their agreed deadline.
“To date, we’ve heard nothing from TfNSW other than a promise more than a week ago to provide a decision by last Friday,” he said.
“This is despite four months of regular discussions in which we we were led to believe the Park and Ride would continue to be funded by the NSW Government.
“City of Newcastle is firmly of the opinion that it makes no sense to shut off funding to a public transport service that is incredibly popular, especially one that is a key promise in TfNSW’s own future transport plans,” he said.
Park and Ride users are reminded that the service will not operate Friday 29 March due to the Super Rugby match at McDonald Jones Stadium between the Waratahs and Sunwolves.
It will return to regular service from Monday 1 April 2019.

Statement on Business Improvement Associations

Business Improvement Association (BIA) Newcastle Now has been issued a ‘please explain’ over a $1.1 million discrepancy relating to employee expenses.  This follows a review of financial figures  provided by Newcastle Now as part of a City of Newcastle review of BIAs and their operations.
On 12 March, Newcastle Now submitted a breakdown of its expenses for the past three years, listing expenditure on wages of $244,949. Newcastle Now’s audited annual reports for the same three years (15/16, 16/17, 17/18) indicate it spent $1,384,488.95 on employee expenses. Each annual report stipulates that project expenses were separate to these employee expenses.
City of Newcastle had requested an itemised breakdown of expenses for the past three years from all BIAs: Newcastle, Hamilton, Wallsend and Mayfield. The request for information will form part of a draft report by AECOM which will be shared with BIAs next month.
The report will include a recommendation on how much of the $1,430,000 paid annually by select commercial property owners should be passed on to BIAs for promotion of their respective business areas. In December last year, Council resolved that a portion of these funds should be withheld from the BIAs and instead made available to the community via a contestable process to generate additional events and projects.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said Newcastle Now’s breakdown of its expenses requires further explanation given the $1.1 million discrepancy between what the BIA has submitted to the AECOM review and their audited financial statements.
“Newcastle Now’s audited annual reports confirm it spent almost $1.4 million on wages in the past three years and a further $287,799.70 on administration expenses.
“Until I terminated its funding on 31 December last year, Newcastle Now was spending 56 per cent of its annual income on employee and administration expenses. This is money that ratepayers expect would be spent promoting the CBD.
“Trying to get accurate financial data has proved extremely difficult. Newcastle Now, along with BIAs in Hamilton, Mayfield and Lambton, wrote to me last month requesting additional time to provide a breakdown of their expenses during the past three years. I refused this request on the basis that BIAs were given two weeks to provide this information, which is more than enough time to detail how they had been spending ratepayers’ funds.
“It’s worth noting that the Wallsend BIA didn’t request additional time and in fact provided the required information in just a week. Ultimately, Hamilton and Mayfield submitted documents before the deadline, and Newcastle Now six days after the deadline.
“Newcastle Now’s financial explanation is concerning. Unless they can reasonably account for the $1.1 million discrepancy in their employee costs, my recommendation to Council will be that a new agreement shouldn’t be offered to Newcastle Now for the new financial year.
“It appears City of Newcastle and Newcastle Now remain a long way apart in terms of how they should be investing ratepayer funds in the CBD. The past 12 months were the most challenging faced by many traders in the Newcastle CBD due to the light rail construction. In a year when Newcastle Now should have been investing every last cent into promoting and activating the CBD, we now know that they instead spent more than half a million dollars on employee and administration costs.
“AECOM’s draft report will be released on 9 April. Council will then consider at its meeting on 16 April whether to place the report on public exhibition for 28 days with a final report coming back to the Council in late May.
“The report will recommend how the special rate funds should be split between the BIA and other groups interested in providing events and projects that promote, market or beautify the business areas of Newcastle, Hamilton, Wallsend and Mayfield.
“The report also recommends that administration and governance for all four BIAs could be undertaken by a shared resource, independent of City of Newcastle, for economies of scale.”

Government delaying electric vehicle strategy to 2020 keeps Australia in the slow lane, say Greens

The Morrison government delaying the electric vehicles strategy to mid-2020 leaves Australia stalled on the sidelines of the electric vehicle revolution, say the Australian Greens.
“The Morrison government’s delay to the electric vehicle strategy means Australia isn’t even in the slow lane when it comes to electric vehicles, we’re stalled on the sidelines,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport and infrastructure spokesperson.
“The Labor party isn’t much better, watering down the recommendations in the Senate inquiry report.”
“The major parties have no plan, no policies and no incentives to drive electric vehicle uptake.”
“The Greens are the only party with a real plan to get Australia in the fast lane so that we can reap the rewards that will come from electric vehicles.”
The Greens plan includes: setting a target of 100% of new passenger vehicles being electric by 2030, strong vehicle emissions standards; removing import tariffs and other taxes such as GST, stamp duty and registration, and rolling out fast charging infrastructure.

Man charged with DV offences after detaining and choking woman – Newcastle

A man will appear in court tomorrow after being charged with assaulting, choking and detaining a woman at Newcastle last week, during a domestic altercation.
About 11am on Friday 22 March 2019, a 42-year-old man attended a home at Hamilton East where he was allowed entry by the 43-year-old female occupant.
During a conversation the man allegedly grabbed the woman around the throat from behind, until she fell to the ground.
After standing on the woman’s chest and neck, the man punched her in the face, and threatened her.
The man then armed himself with a hammer and forced the woman to travel with him to his home at Bolton Point.
The man allegedly took the woman’s phone and held her against her will.
After several hours the man returned the woman to her home, but allegedly kept her home and car keys.
The woman contacted friends, and police from the Northern Region Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team were notified and commenced their inquiries.
About 2.50pm today (Tuesday 26 March 2019), investigators arrested the 42-year-old man at Bunkerville without incident.
The man was conveyed to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with detain for advantage (DV), intentionally choke person without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking/intimidation.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 27 March 2019).