City of Newcastle is incentivising talented and community-minded Australians to relocate to the city with a $10,000 grant available for up to 30 innovative and accomplished entrepreneurs.
‘New Move’ was launched today as an economic development initiative to attract people from Australia’s capital cities to relocate and invest in Newcastle, with independent economic modelling estimating the program could create up to 75 new jobs and $25 million in local economic output.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said New Move is an Australian first, adapted from the highly successful US Tulsa Remote initiative, that will help attract new skills and talent to Newcastle through the initial incentive of a financial grant, whilst also raising long-term awareness of the city’s diverse economic opportunities.
“Newcastle is an economic hub driven by innovation and skills and we want to share this fact with all of Australia,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Attracting talented people as an economic stimulus strategy provides great value for money, with independent modelling showing that attracting 30 entrepreneurs to the city through New Move will help create new local jobs and millions of dollars in economic output.
“The grant is one great reason to consider a move to Newcastle, however there are 10,000 more reasons why Newcastle is the perfect place for entrepreneurial, community-minded and innovative people to create impact.
“The global labour market is changing. COVID-19 has shown that people can work from anywhere in the world. Increasingly young professionals are choosing smaller, but well-connected cities, like Newcastle due to their superior lifestyle.
“We know people can be apprehensive about moving cities. New Move and the 10,000 Reasons campaign promotes Newcastle as a safe, welcoming location for Australia’s top entrepreneurial talent.
“Newcastle is home to world-class education, healthcare, and aerospace hubs, and an innovation ecosystem that supports start-ups. There’s no shortage of opportunities for talented and skilled people.
“Significant investments have recently been delivered that underpins Newcastle’s transformation, along with a pipeline of future city shaping projects including the reimagination of Broadmeadow sporting and entertainment precinct, John Hunter Hospital Innovation Precinct, University of Newcastle’s increasing presence in the CBD and the international expansion of Newcastle Airport.”
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, who chairs the City’s Strategy Committee, said that with technology evolving so rapidly, the business community needs people with specific skills.
“The injection of new skills and innovation brought by new talent attracted by New Move will help generate new economic opportunities with a flow-on-effect into increased local employment and opportunities for Novocastrians,” Cr Clausen said.
“Through an advertising campaign focused on Sydney and the nation’s capital cities, Newcastle will be showcased as a smart city and innovation hub supported by a vibrant culture and modern infrastructure.
“Newcastle is a gateway city – small enough to provide the charms of regional life but big enough to attract international investment and the best domestic and global talent.
“Talent attracts talent. New Move recipients will be asked to commit to be city ambassadors, helping further develop local skills, and activate our community to create future economic opportunities. In return, recipients will have access to co-working spaces, and networking events to build local business and community connections.”
The New Move program is targeted at a metropolitan audience and will provide 30 successful applicants, who meet the eligibility criteria, with a $10,000 relocation grant to be spent within the Newcastle local government area, in addition to a tailored program of ongoing networking opportunities and support.
The New Move program is funded by City of Newcastle within its existing economic development budget and was supported by a unanimous resolution of Council in December 2020.
Unlike previous regional relocation grants offered by other levels of Government, New Move is highly targeted and includes ongoing networking to ensure new residents have the best opportunity to deliver economic and social returns to the City.
Expressions of Interest are now open with an opportunity for applicants to explore and experience the local community, industry and culture at a weekend event taking place 9-11 April.
To find out more about New Move, visit New Move website and FAQs page.
Month: March 2021
DIGGING DEEP AT CENTRAL STATION
A major milestone has been reached in the construction of Sydney Metro under Australia’s busiest railway station.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance today visited Central Station where excavation has reached the bottom of the new Sydney Metro station box which is 27 metres below ground level.
“This has been an extraordinary engineering and construction achievement, delivering new Metro in the heart of our busiest railway station, while train services continued right around us,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW Government has supported jobs through the COVID-19 crisis, with work fast tracked at Central over the past year due to reduced customer numbers within the station precinct.
“Right now, around 5,000 people are working on Sydney Metro and about 50,000 will have worked on the City & Southwest project by the time services start in 2024.”
Mr Constance said the two underground Metro platforms at Central are being built differently to other Sydney Metro stations.
“We’re building this brand new Metro station at Central from the top down rather than bottom up, to deliver the platforms as quickly as possible while minimising the impact to commuters,” Mr Constance said.
“The two tunnel boring machines did not stop at Central but kept tunnelling through, which meant the final stage of excavating the station box was to smash through the twin tunnel sections from above using 14 excavators.
“More than 280,000 tonnes of crushed rock has been removed from the station box, enough to fill about 46 Olympic swimming pools.”
The 460-tonne steel structure of the new landmark Northern Concourse roof is also complete, with more than 500 louvres currently being installed on the eastern, northern and western ends of the roof, which was made in Kurri Kurri.
Excavation of the 19 metre-wide Central Walk underground link has reached about 75 per cent, and is on track to open in stages from next year. Central Walk will connect light rail customers with suburban trains, Metro trains, buses and regional services.
The work at Central Station is being delivered as part of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, which will see Metro rail services extend from Chatswood, through the city and beyond to Bankstown in 2024.
NSW PREPARES FOR VACCINE ROLLOUT ACROSS THE STATE
Five major vaccination hubs and 99 regional satellite sites will open progressively across NSW starting from Monday, 15 March, as the COVID-19 vaccination rollout stretches across the State.
These vaccination hubs and satellite sites will initially focus on frontline healthcare and border workers, and will eventually be followed by a wider rollout of the vaccine to the general public through the GP network.
The five major hubs and their linked satellite sites will open progressively from 15 March through to April and will be located at:
- Newcastle Hospital
- Wollongong Hospital
- Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
- Coffs Harbour Hospital
- Dubbo Hospital
The vaccine will be dispatched from the hubs to the satellite sites.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it has been great to see the enormous enthusiasm from those receiving and giving the jabs.
“NSW is on track to achieve its goal of more than 35,000 vaccinations in the first three weeks with thousands of frontline workers already receiving their first doses thanks to excellent work of our NSW Health staff in the three initial hubs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said it’s fantastic the rollout of the vaccine will be expanded into regional NSW, now including major hubs in Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.
“Regional NSW has endured a myriad of impacts from COVID-19 and with the vaccine now on its way, we will have the confidence and assurance we need to live fully and remain open for business,” Mr Barilaro said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said rolling out vaccinations to frontline staff in the regions is the next step to ensuring they are protected against COVID-19.
“Wollongong and Newcastle are particularly significant because we have frontline staff meeting overseas freighters arriving at ports and those staff obviously are at higher risk than others,” Mr Hazzard said.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the expansion is a major boost for the state’s frontline healthcare workers, especially those in regional NSW.
“An important aspect of the continued rollout is ensuring everyone at risk of COVID-19 has access to vaccination as close to their homes as possible,” Dr Chant said.
CCTV released as police investigate car fire – Edgeworth
Police are appealing for public assistance following a car fire in Edgeworth last year.
About 3am on Monday 23 November 2020, a 33-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were awoken by a large banging noise before they exited their home on Ridley Street, Edgeworth, and located their Ford Falcon utility well alight.
Emergency services were called and crews from Fire and Rescue New South Wales extinguished the blaze a short time later.
A second vehicle – a Hyundai Elantra – received minor smoke damage, while the Ford was completely destroyed.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation into the incident.
As inquiries are continuing, police have released CCTV footage of a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The man is wearing a hooded jumper, shorts and black joggers.