Category: Newcastle News

Almost $140 million will be invested into infrastructure projects across the city as part of a record Budget delivering essential services alongside a modest $4.1 million surplus.

The Council will place its draft 2024-25 Budget and Delivery Program on public exhibition for community feedback next week.  

More than $415 million will be invested across 60 services and more than 280 projects to be delivered across Newcastle during the next financial year.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Budget will set a new benchmark for CN’s investment in the local community.

“During the past decade Council has worked incredibly hard to balance the needs and expectations of our growing community with our commitment to making sure we are financially sustainable,” Cr Nelmes said.

“In that time, we have more than doubled our annual infrastructure program as we continue to deliver essential projects and services for the benefit of all Novocastrians.

“In 2024/25 this will see a record $139.5 million earmarked for local facilities and infrastructure projects across Newcastle.

“This includes $14.6 million for roads and footpaths across the city, including $5 million for renewing roads in the western corridor and $7.7 million on stormwater projects and flood planning in areas such as Mayfield East and Darby Street.

“We’re also revitalising our coast, city, and urban centres with $9.9 million for projects such as the East End Public Domain Plan, Hunter Street Mall and local centre upgrades at Orchardtown Road, New Lambton, and Georgetown. 

“These projects are fundamental to building an inclusive, liveable, and sustainable city, and ensuring we continue to be an attractive destination for visitors and investment.”

Other Budget highlights include:

• $21 million to complete the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery
• $14.7 million in improvements to our waste management 
• $11 million on recreation and sports improvements, including the Gregson Park playground at Hamilton
• $6 million on new cycleways and transport projects
• $5 million for Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road, Wallsend road renewal
• $4.5 million on coastal management including Stockton coastline protection work
• $4.1 million on the Memorial Drive Road embankment 
• $2.8 million on improving bushland and watercourses
• $2.4 million on resources and improvements for Libraries, Civic Theatre and City Hall
• $1.3 million on renewable energy projects including climate action and EV charging. 

CEO Jeremy Bath said CN continues to earn respect as an innovative organisation with a strong focus on the future of Newcastle, its economy and environment, and its people. 

“We continue to follow the roadmap provided in our Community Strategic Plan, while delivering key initiatives and actions set out in our Community Engagement Strategy, Newcastle Environment Strategy, and Social Strategy. We are also developing new strategies that will help us manage our growing population, including the Broadmeadow Place Strategy,” Mr Bath said.

“Investing in our community delivers benefits now and into the future, with estimates that our proposed infrastructure program in 2024/25 will create 735 local jobs and increase total economic output in the LGA by up to $305 million.

“Delivering back-to-back-to-back balanced budgets following the pandemic is not an achievement that occurs by accident. Rather it is the result of the commitment and passion of our 1300 staff who have yet again shown that Newcastle is a city that can provide for its citizens without having to take on huge amounts of debt.”

Child protection caseworkers will protest outside the Community Services Centre (CSC) in Edgeworth today (Thursday 18 April) at 12.30pm after management said the site would be closed.

The CSC is where child protection caseworkers support and protect children at risk of harm in the local area.

Last week child protection caseworkers declared the child protection system is now in crisis in New South Wales, and announced the commencement of an industrial campaign to force the NSW government to act to save thousands of at-risk kids from further harm. 

The Public Service Association (PSA) says the month of campaign action will commence with a series of rolling stop-work meetings across the state and escalate as necessary.

Child protection caseworkers are concerned about chronic understaffing and staff burnout.

The announcement the Edgeworth CSC will close has only inflamed the concerns of local child protection caseworkers and expedited their contribution to statewide campaign action.

The action comes after alarming new statistics showed three in four children reported as at risk of harm from October 1, 2022 until September 30 last year received no visit from Department of Communities and Justice caseworkers.

More disturbingly, a recent report found low staffing numbers are believed to be among the reasons for some of the deaths of children in child protection in 2022.

The sector is experiencing an unprecedented attraction and retention crisis with one in four positions unfilled in some regions of the state.

The Department’s own figures show the vacancy rate for child protection caseworkers has increased exponentially in the last year, with the state losing more caseworkers that it is employing.

The child protection caseworkers that are left are relatively inexperienced and coping with the extra workload of colleagues who have left.

One in two child protection caseworkers leave in their first two years of employment with the department.

Premier Chris Minns needs to intervene, said PSA Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright.

“The most vulnerable children in New South Wales are at risk of serious harm, or even worse, because child protection caseworkers are chronically understaffed, exhausted and management just aren’t listening to their concerns,” said Mr Wright.

“But the response to this crisis by the Department of Communities and Justice management is to close offices rather than increase resources.

“PSA members are now concerned that we are at risk in NSW of exposing the very same vulnerable children we are meant to be supporting to even greater harm through a broken system.

“Chris Minns needs to immediately onboard another 500 child protection caseworkers to address the attraction and retention crisis in child protection, otherwise the system will collapse.

“To be fair the current government didn’t create this mess but it’s up to them to fix it.

“These child protection caseworkers are passionate about their work, and they want Novocastrians to know no urgent child protection responses will be impacted, and that skeleton staffing will be maintained at all times during this protest.

“But they feel they have to do something as management just aren’t listening to their concerns,” said Mr Wright.

Child Protection caseworkers will walk off the job and protest outside the Edgeworth CSC (720 Main Road, Edgeworth) today, Thursday the 18th of April at 12.30pm.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a wanted man last seen in the Hunter Valley area.

William Hickey, aged 23, is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for robbery related offences.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District have been conducting inquiries into his whereabouts.

William is known to frequent the Sydney and Kempsey areas.

William is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 175cm to 180cm tall, with a thin build, blue/grey eyes, brown hair and beard.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to not to approach him but to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

In accordance with Council’s resolution of 12 December 2023, CN sought advice on the proactive release of the investigation report prepared by the independent, external Conduct Reviewer.

CN is governed by the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) when considering the release of documents which contain the information of third parties.

Following due process, including consultation with third parties, a full copy of the Investigation Report has been proactively released. Minor redactions have been included, for example to protect the personal information of third parties.

CN is unable to engage in ongoing commentary on the detail in the Investigation Report. It has followed a rigorous process in line with the Procedure for the Administration of the Code of Conduct. This included the Conduct Reviewer Pinnacle Integrity determining the allegations to be investigated and undertaking the process independently.

City of Newcastle (CN) has proactively released the full independent Investigation Report into the CEO Code of Conduct Review, which cleared Jeremy Bath of alleged wrongdoing. 

The Code of Conduct investigation was undertaken by an independent Conduct Reviewer, Pinnacle Integrity, following a series of Newcastle Herald reports linking the CEO to letters submitted to the newspaper by his friend Scott Neylon. This prompted a Council resolution on 25 July 2023 and a request from the Minister for Local Government on 26 July 2023, along with a complaint submitted by former Councillor Mr Bob Cook on 30 July 2023. 

The investigation was undertaken in line with the NSW Government’s prescribed Procedure for Administration of the Code of Conduct, and considered allegations that the CEO provided confidential information to a friend for the purpose of writing letters to the editor, and or wrote letters to the editor under his friend’s name. 

The investigation report details evidence from multiple parties. It found that the allegations against the CEO were not substantiated. 

In January 2024, CN proactively released a copy of the outcome letter, which is a summary of the investigation and its findings. 

Despite the Code of Conduct Procedures requiring all information to be treated as confidential and not publicly disclosed, the release of the full investigation report follows unprecedented leaking of confidential information related to the report by complainant Mr Cook, and extensive reporting on this information (on several occasions with significant error) by the Newcastle Herald.  

As a result of Mr Cook’s repeated breaches of the Code of Conduct procedure, CN has commenced the process to seek the consent of the Office of Local Government to restrict any future information regarding complaints being provided to Mr Cook.  

Separately, and following a formal request by CN, the Newcastle Herald has made corrections to its front page article dated 30 March 2024 ‘Probe Slammed a Sham’, and published an ‘Editors Note’, given the significant and damaging inaccuracies in the story. 

CN is committed to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and procedural fairness. Consistent with the requirements of the GIPA Act, CN consulted with numerous third parties whose information was captured in the investigation report, prior to its proactive release. 

Statement attributable to Jeremy Bath: 

“I welcome the release of the full Pinnacle Integrity report into the independent investigation of a complaint against me lodged in July last year by Bob Cook. I have at all times made myself available to the Conduct Reviewer, undertaking both verbal and written interviews.  

“I provided my written support for the release of the full report by Pinnacle Integrity almost four months ago. I understand why securing the release of the report has taken time, given the NSW Government’s model code of conduct policy makes a presumption against the release of the investigation report where no breach of the code has occurred. Releasing a report when the NSW Government’s own procedure states that it should not occur, is legally complex and time consuming. 

“The report confirms what I have always said: I did not write letters to the Newcastle Herald published under the name of my friend Scott Neylon. 

“Herald journalist Donna Page has to date refused to reveal who provided her my and Scott Neylon’s residential addresses recorded on the electoral roll. 

“It is a crime under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to provide a person’s electoral roll details to a third person such as a journalist. I do not understand why Donna Page believes the public has a right to read the Pinnacle Integrity report clearing me of any wrongdoing, but doesn’t believe the readers should know the identity of the person who illegally accessed my home address on the electoral roll and how it was ultimately provided to her, and others. 

“I now have concerns that any person of voting age is at risk of having their home address and personal details on the electoral roll leaked to the Newcastle Herald. Donna Page has to date not disclosed this person’s identity, and therefore has prevented this person from having to explain his/her actions.” 

Statement attributable to Pinnacle Integrity: 

“Pinnacle Integrity is an approved Conduct Reviewer for Councils across NSW. 

The Procedures legislated for Conduct Reviews in NSW are underpinned by this prescribed process and natural justice. Specifically, that means that every person subject of a complaint is rightly afforded the presumption of innocence. They are not required to prove their innocence.  To remove that right, or incite others to challenge that right, is manifestly inappropriate and is contrary to principles of law in Australia. 

The Reviewer’s role is to establish the truth having regard to available evidence. It is a scrupulously objective, independent, and fair process. Conduct Reviewers do not; hold coercive legislative powers, interrogate witnesses, seize records, nor enforce participation in the process. Witnesses voluntarily participate in the process.  

The Review is neither prosecutorial nor it is an inquisition seeking to apportion guilt to validate a predetermined or preferred outcome. 

In this instance, there is a published prevailing view that our role ought to have been to prosecute a person subject of complaint to ratify a preferred finding. That is not, and will never be, our role. Our role is to assess available evidence, rather than rely on inference, assumptions, or inuendo.    

It is accepted that some parties will be disappointed or dissatisfied with the outcome of complaint inquiries. That is inevitable and unavoidable, but does not dictate or influence investigative outcomes. 

Whilst the procedural framework that underpins reviews might not satisfy those seeking a desired outcome, Conduct Reviewers remain bound by those Procedures. If there is a strongly held or political view that this process needs to change, then that is a matter for the Government of the day.”  

The Investigation Report can be downloaded at CN’s website. 

A passenger has died following a crash at Lake Macquarie overnight.

About 12.15am (Sunday 14 April 2024), emergency services were called to Freemans Drive, Cooranbong, following reports of a crash.

A Subaru Impreza was reportedly travelling northbound when it lost control and crashed into the rear of a Hyundai Santa Fe – a fully marked mobile speed camera vehicle – parked on the side of the road.

The passenger – a 18-year-old man – was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at the scene.

The driver – also aged 18 – was freed by emergency services and taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. He also went mandatory testing.

The 43-year-old man seated in the Hyundai, suffered minor injuries and did not require treatment.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene which will be forensically examined by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.

An investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the crash and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

City of Newcastle (CN) has awarded five local creative organisations close to $100,000 in funding to bring their unique ideas to life at this year’s New Annual festival.

A total of $94,500 was offered from CN’s “Made New” expressions of interest (EOI) commissioning process as part of a five-year plan to support the region’s arts industry.

Catapult Choreographic Hub perform Rhapsody as part of the New Annual Festival.

Design and fabrication workshop Built In-Kind will make its New Annual debut in 2024 as one of the successful program applicants. 

The group, which specialises in custom furniture and delivers education to women and diverse communities, will offer “The Memory Feast” workshops. Participants will create a sculptural ‘dining hall’ from recycled materials and finish with a dining experience that showcases local chefs, food, and wineries. 

Newcastle Youth Orchestra will debut “Mistborn Orchestral Suite” an immersive concert merging music, visuals, and dance to showcase compositions by local Indigenous composer Jacob Cummins. A participatory wayfinding art adventure through the city will be brought to life by Tantrum Youth Arts, and Newcastle-based dance company Catapult Choreographic Hub will commission a new contemporary dance work crafted by acclaimed First Nations choreographer Jasmin Sheppard and performed by a diverse ensemble of artists. 

The final recipient of this year’s “Made New” funding, Art Thinking, will create an immersive experience centred around a chair that interacts with users’ physical input to generate visuals on LED screens.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that continuing to support such a high calibre of local creative talent was integral to New Annual’s success.

“City of Newcastle’s ‘Made New’ program will this year see almost $100,000 additional funding invested directly into local arts performances as part of the flagship festival,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Our commitment to fund local talent forms part of our five-year plan to support and grow our region’s arts industry while simultaneously attracting renowned artists that will help New Annual achieve national recognition.

“In addition, the festival will strengthen Newcastle’s position as a cultural tourism destination, which generates an economic boost for local businesses through hotel stays and increased visitor spending in the city.”

Chair of CN’s Community and Culture Advisory Committee Cr Carol Duncan said New Annual would continue to provide a high-profile vehicle for innovation, creativity, and entertainment in Newcastle.

“Local artists and performers accounted for more than 60 per cent of New Annual’s 2023 programming, and this year we expect the same,” Cr Duncan said.

“The expressions of interest for the 2024 ‘Made New’ funding were of a high standard, and I am thrilled that the five successful organisations will be featured in this year’s program.”

Featuring free, ticketed and family-friendly events, New Annual will run for 10 days during the Spring school holidays from 27 September to 6 October 2024, with the full program to be announced later this year. 

To keep up-to-date with the latest New Annual news and announcements, visit www.newannual.com

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption conducted a preliminary investigation into information referred to it by The Cabinet Office concerning whether the then minister for the Hunter, Mr Timothy Crakanthorp MP, had failed to declare a conflict of interest.

The Commission has prepared a report pursuant to section 14(2) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 including the Commission’s factual and other findings concerning Mr Crakanthorp’s conduct in relation to the NSW Ministerial Code of Conduct. The report has been furnished to the Secretary of The Cabinet Office, and the Premier of NSW, who are the relevant public authority and responsible minister for the purposes of this matter. The report has been provided so that they are appraised of the outcome of the Commission’s investigation, the Commission’s findings and for the purpose of taking any action they consider appropriate.

As the Commission is satisfied that there are no reasonable prospects of finding Mr Crakanthorp’s conduct is sufficiently serious to justify a finding of corrupt conduct, it has terminated its investigation.

The Commission will not be making further comment.

A man will appear in court charged after another man died following an assault in the Hunter region yesterday.

Just before 2am (Tuesday 9 April 2024), emergency services were called to Cambridge Avenue, Raymond Terrace, following reports a man was found with serious head injuries.

NSW Ambulance paramedics attended and treated a 38-year-old man; however, he died at the scene.

Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were told the injured man was involved in an altercation when he was reportedly assaulted.

As part of inquiries, police arrested a 29-year-old man nearby.

He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station before being transferred to Maitland Hospital for assessment.

Upon his release from hospital, the man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with murder.

He was refused bail and will appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 10 April 2024).

Raptor Squad officers have charged a man in Newcastle following an investigation into an alleged armed affray last month.

About 4.40pm on Saturday 2 March 2024, officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command were called to an address in Cranbrook following reports a man had been threatened with a knife.

Witnesses told police two men had been involved in an altercation, during which one man lunged at the other with a large kitchen knife before fleeing the scene.

Local police commenced initial inquiries, before the matter was taken carriage of by State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad.

Following extensive inquiries, about 11.40am today (Monday 8 April 2024), a 25-year-old man was arrested in Bar Beach, Newcastle.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with use offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, use knife in public place – cause person to fear for safety, and affray.

The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow Tuesday 9 April 2024.