Category: Newcastle News

Newcastle’s Civic precinct will turn green and gold this month when City of Newcastle hosts outdoor screenings of the Matildas World Cup campaign in Wheeler Place.

There will be added home-grown pride on the line, with Novocastrians Clare Wheeler and Emily Van Egmond this week named in the 23-player squad for the much-anticipated tournament.

Thousands of football fans are expected to converge on the live site to cheer on the Matildas, who will open the FIFA Women’s World Cup against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday 20 July.

The live site will be set up next to Civic Theatre from 7pm for each of Australia’s matches during the Group stage, which will also see the Matildas take on Nigeria on 27 July and Canada on 31 July.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the live site will bring the action of the World Cup to Newcastle, offering a family-friendly way for locals to enjoy the atmosphere and cheer on their football heroes with fellow Novocastrians.

“Novocastrians are passionate about football and turned out in droves in December when we held an open-air broadcast of the Socceroos sudden death match against Argentina during the men’s World Cup,” Cr Nelmes said.

“I know we can expect the same level of support for our much-loved Matildas, who inspired an Australian crowd attendance record for a women’s soccer match during their clash against Brazil in Newcastle just a few years ago.”

Chair of the Sports Infrastructure Working Party Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz encouraged Novocastrians to join together at the City’s family-friendly live site in support of the Matildas.

“City of Newcastle is thrilled to be able to host these live screenings for the community and I invite everyone to don their green and gold and get down to Wheeler Place to soak up what is sure to be an incredible World Cup atmosphere,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“With the Matildas group matches kicking off at 8pm each time, I’d encourage everyone to show their support for our local business community, with plenty of great places to eat and drink throughout the city centre and Darby Street before and after the game.”

Novocastrian women have played a significant role in the success of the Matildas throughout their history, with more than 20 players hailing from Newcastle since the Australian women’s team was officially formed in 1978.

This includes Matildas stalwarts Cheryl Salisbury, Joey Peters and Emily van Egmond, who have pulled on the green and gold jersey more than 100 times each.

Former Matildas midfielder Shelley Youman, who represented Australia 23 times during the 1990s, welcomed the opportunity to come together at City of Newcastle’s live site screenings.

“Gathering as a community at the Newcastle live site to support the Matildas in the Women’s World Cup will ignite a power of unity and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of women’s football and women’s sport in general,” Ms Youman said.

“Newcastle has always been a fantastic sporting hub for female athletes. The Women’s World Cup on home soil will create electric atmosphere, and inspire a new generation of athletes, demonstrating that the strength and spirit of a community can transcend the boundaries of the sporting arena.”

Further details on the Women’s World Cup live site will be shared on City of Newcastle’s Facebook and What’s On websites in the lead-up to this month’s events.

Newcastle Museum is turning back the clock to the days of paddle steamers and horse drawn carriages as part of a special exhibition showcasing one of Australia’s best model railways.

Created by noted modeller Ross Balderson and a small group of fellow enthusiasts, Newcastle 1899 depicts the Newcastle Railway precinct in miniature at the turn of the century, complete with steam trams chugging their way up and down Scott Street.

The working model is complemented by a bustling harbor filled with historically accurate ships including tugboats “Champion” and “Commodore” and the paddle steamship “SS Namoi”.

Creating it was a labour of love for Mr Balderson, who has been working on it for more than a decade after being inspired by an image in a railway book taken by renowned Newcastle-based photographer Ralph Snowball.

“I have produced numerous model railway layouts throughout my life recreating New South Wales locations and capturing moments in time of our past history,” Mr Balderson said.

“I chose to model Newcastle after first being inspired by one single photograph published in a railway book, which showed a scene looking across Newcastle’s railway station platforms and rail yard to a row of moored sailing ships loading goods at Queens Wharf.

“With the assistance of Greg Ray and David Hampton I have been given the opportunity to show the model at Newcastle Museum, displaying how the city once appeared back in the days of sailing ships and horse drawn vehicles.”

City of Newcastle Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, said Newcastle Museum welcomed the opportunity to showcase this unique peek into Newcastle’s past.

“Ross and his supporters have spent the past 10 years painstakingly recreating the Newcastle Railway Station precinct, drawing from historical photographs, measuring existing buildings, and hand-painting backdrops to develop a breathtaking record of Newcastle in the age of sail and steam,” Ms Baird said.

“The model is a superb reflection of the complex and varied skills that contribute to model-making, combining artistic flair, precision accuracy and detailed research to create one of the finest examples of historically accurate miniature railways in Australia.

“Newcastle Museum plays an important role in interpreting and preserving our city’s fascinating history for future generations and we are proud to be able to display the model for the first time in Newcastle.”

Local history buffs and railway enthusiasts who have been following the progress of the build through the Lost Newcastle and the Rediscovered Newcastle Facebook groups will finally have the chance to see the model in real life when it is displayed in Newcastle Museum’s Link Gallery from 7-9 July.

Lost Newcastle founder and Newcastle Councillor Carol Duncan said it has been wonderful watching this project from afar and can’t wait to finally see it in person.

“Ross and his supporters are so incredibly passionate about this project and it’s been fascinating to see this model come together over the years,” Cr Duncan.

“I encourage everyone to take the chance this weekend to check out this working model at Newcastle Museum, which provides an insight into a time in Newcastle’s history that otherwise could be lost to future generations.”

Newcastle 1899 will be displayed alongside Hexham-ish, a model railway built by Steve Curry based on the J & A Brown railway that operated for over 130 years between Hexham and Minmi.

Steve has been responsible for scratch-building highly detailed models of the J & A Brown locomotive fleet, including a representation of The Buck, which is on permanent display at Newcastle Museum.

Entry to the museum is free, and both model railways will be available to view during regular opening hours of 10am-5pm. Both layouts will operate, with trains running throughout the day.

Two men have been charged following a three-day joy ride in the Hunter Region this week.

Around 5am on Wednesday 5 July 2023, officers from Newcastle City Police District observed a white Hyundai Tucson on Harriet Street, Waratah, driving in a manner dangerous.

Checks on the vehicle revealed it was reported stolen during a break and enter at a Cameron Park address on Tuesday 4 July 2023.

Around 4.30am on Thursday 6 July 2023, the stolen vehicle was sighted by police travelling at speeds up to 180km/h on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga. 

A pursuit was initiated by officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command; however, was terminated due to safety concerns.

Around 7.30am that morning (Thursday 6 July 2023), police spotted SUV on Croudace Bay Road, Belmont, before it collided into a police vehicle and fled the scene.

A second pursuit was initiated before later being terminated.

The Hyundai was located shortly afterwards at Gari Street in Charlestown, where police were told two men were seen abandoning the SUV and running into nearby bushland.

With the assistance of the dog unit, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District located and arrested two men at Park Street, Charlestown, before taking them to Belmont Police Station.

An 18-year-old man was charged with take & drive conveyance without consent of owner and a 22-year-old man was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

Both men were also charged with breach of bail and subsequently refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Friday 7 July 2023.

Detectives from State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad have charged a man following an investigation into online grooming in Newcastle under Strike Force Trawler.

Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.

Earlier this month, detectives began engaging online with a 64-year-old Wallsend man, who they will allege was using a social media platform to approach and groom young boys for the purpose of sexual activity.

Following subsequent inquiries, about 9am today (Thursday 6 July 2023), strike force detectives attended a service station in Wallsend where they arrested 64-year-old man.

A short time later, officers executed a search warrant an address in Wallsend, where a number of electronic devices were located. 

The items were seized to undergo further forensic examination.

The man was taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with use carriage service-procure <16 years for sexual activity.

He was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today.

Inquiries under Strike Force Trawler continue.

Night works are soon to wrap up on the resurfacing of one of Newcastle’s most well-known streets as City of Newcastle (CN) invests more than $14.7 million into a record year of road improvements.

Recent road upgrades have transformed Hamilton’s Beaumont Street as part of CN’s ongoing investment into upgrading essential community infrastructure, which will see $7.5 million spent on road resurfacing during the next 12 months.

A further $7.2 million will be invested into road rehabilitation projects over the next twelve months, as part of City of Newcastle’s $54 million investment in road upgrades over the past five Budgets.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said CN had increased its annual road upgrade expenditure by more than 170 per cent since 2019/20 as it continues to deliver vital road rehabilitation projects and improvements across the Local Government Area.

“During the 2023/24 financial year, we will invest more than $14.7 million into our city’s road network for resurfacing and rehabilitation projects, as part of CN’s largest annual capital works program to date,” Cr Clausen said.

“CN’s investment in capital works has been growing over the past five years as we continue to balance infrastructure renewal with revitalisation projects to meet our community’s expectations that come with sustained growth.”

Among the projects completed during the 2022/23 financial year were Croudace Road, Elermore Vale and Maryland Drive, Maryland and most recently the resurfacing of Beaumont Street in Hamilton.

Councillor Carol Duncan praised the efforts of City of Newcastle’s nightwork teams for successfully resurfacing one of Newcastle’s busiest suburban streets.

“The resurfacing of Beaumont Street, between Donald and Denison Street, has been no easy feat. As Hamilton’s popular main street, it sees a high volume of cars and pedestrians every day,” Cr Duncan said.

“The work has been carried out on Monday and Tuesday nights, while the rest of us were tucked up in bed. This has resulted in minimal disruption to drivers and local businesses. This outcome is a credit to CN’s civil works team who have worked through the night to make this happen.”

Local business owner and Hamilton Business Improvement Association (BIA) Chair Reece Hignall welcomed the road improvements made to Beaumont Street.

“Beaumont Street is now an even more attractive place to eat, drink and shop, with this work enhancing the safety and appeals of this precinct to visitors,” Mr Hignall said.

“The BIA met with CN and together worked collaboratively to ensure minimal disruption to our many small businesses here in Hamilton.”

Upcoming major road resurfacing and rehabilitation projects to commence in 2023/24 include Hope Street Wallsend, Lambton Road New Lambton, Fern Street Islington and Memorial Drive The Hill.

Relaxed liquor licence conditions will continue for 15 of the Newcastle licensed venues that participated in a trial examining options for boosting the city’s nightlife.

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The relaxed conditions include the removal of 1am and 1:30am lockout restrictions and the easing of restrictions on the types of drinks that may be served.

The Newcastle area has been subject to more stringent trading conditions than those typically found elsewhere in NSW.

Stage One of the Newcastle Liquor Licence Trial started in October 2020 and looked at the effect of eased licensing conditions in some low-risk venues such as small bars and restaurants, while Stage Two kicked off in October 2021 and evaluated the effectiveness of more relaxed rules in hotels, general bars and public entertainment establishments, involving 21 venues.

After carefully considering the findings of the trial, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) decided that participating venues could apply to have their liquor licence conditions relaxed permanently.

Because the results were not uniform, all proposals submitted to ILGA were considered on a case-by-case basis, with a strong focus on compliance, safety and avoiding any unacceptable risks to the community.

Some of the venues applied for relaxed conditions to be removed from their licences permanently but were not fully approved. During the trial, most participating venues indicated that the relaxed licensing conditions positively impacted their patronage, business turnover and employment opportunities.

Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“The Newcastle area is home to an incredible collection of venues, artists and nightlife businesses that make it such a vibrant place after dark.  It is good to see those evidence-based changes that will allow Newcastle to remain vibrant and safe later into the night.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“Relaxing the licence conditions for some venues supports the evolution of Newcastle’s nightlife into a safe, vibrant, fun and creative environment.

“Newcastle has undergone significant change and we must change with it, to continue the cultural and economic revitalisation of the region.

“The trial has shown that venues that improve patron safety and take action to reduce alcohol-related violence can have their licence conditions relaxed and contribute to a thriving, safe, inclusive night-time economy for everyone.”

Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said:

“Newcastle has changed significantly since 2008 and taking a one size fits all approach to liquor laws in the city was outdated approach.

“I am pleased to see venues with a good compliance history that promote patron safety are being rewarded with the eased conditions from the trial applied to their licenses. This will further help grow the night-time economy in Newcastle.”

City of Newcastle has kicked off its NAIDOC Week celebrations with the launch of a new monthly storytime session designed to share First Nations culture with the next generation.

Uncle Amos Simon from Muurrung Marai facilitated the first Sharing Culture Storytime event at Wallsend Library today, connecting his captivated young audience with the Awabakal and Gathung language and culture through songs, dance, yadaki (didgeridoo) and puppets.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is proud to support city-wide NAIDOC Week celebrations, reinforcing our strong support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament through the upcoming constitutional referendum.

“Newcastle has a long and rich history of standing side-by-side with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to enact positive change, having established the Guaraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee more than two decades ago, while also being the first city to raise the Aboriginal Flag over a civic building under the leadership of former Lord Mayor Joy Cummings,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Today, we are proud to be the first local council in Greater Newcastle to formally endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the ‘Yes’ campaign for constitutional recognition, reflecting the views of our progressive and inclusive community by supporting annual NAIDOC Week celebrations throughout the city.”

Councillor Deahnna Richardson, a proud Wiradjuri woman, said the Sharing Culture Storytime session is among a number of events being held in Newcastle as part of national NAIDOC Week celebrations, which will run from 2 – 9 July.

“This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘For Our Elders’, recognises the key role Elders have played, and continue to play, as the cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors and leaders of our mob,” Cr Richardson said.

“NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for our community to acknowledge that the story of Australia began far before European settlement, while recognising that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for our land for over 65,000 years.”

City of Newcastle will support Awabakal Corporation in its peak NAIDOC Week event on Monday 3 July, which will begin with a flag raising in Civic Park at 9am followed by a march to Foreshore Park. Family friendly celebrations featuring stalls, rides, dancing and song will run from 10am to 2pm, giving the community a chance to come together to celebrate First Nations culture, while City of Newcastle will proudly host the Elders Tent.

Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee Member Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said City of Newcastle facilities will celebrate our Indigenous culture through a range of exhibitions and activities.

“NAIDOC Week provides an important opportunity for our community to celebrate the stories and rich history of the oldest continuous living culture on Earth,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free events on offer throughout the city to celebrate our Indigenous culture this NAIDOC Week.”

Newcastle Libraries will continue their activities with special NAIDOC Week Storytime sessions at the Wallsend and City library branches on 6 and 7 July respectively. Storytime will be facilitated by Indigenous health practitioner Sarah Corrigan from Rainbow Crow Cultural Collective, who will also introduce families to the Wayapa program, which is based on ancient Indigenous knowledge about living in harmony with the environment and connection with the world’s oldest living continuous culture.

The Lovett Gallery at Newcastle City Library will host the free Koori Knockout: 50 Years travelling exhibition from the State Library of NSW, which will be open to the public from 6 July to 21 October.

The photographic exhibition celebrates the first 50 years of the rugby league carnival, which began in Sydney with just seven men’s teams and has gone on to become the biggest rugby league knockout carnival in the world. The exhibition includes images of Newcastle All Blacks teams, who were crowned winners of the Koori Knockout in 1987, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

Newcastle Museum is celebrating the talent and creativity of Newcastle’s diverse First Nations people through its exhibition entitled FIRST, which showcases the work of 16 Indigenous creatives who have a link to Newcastle and the Hunter.

Whilst at the Museum, visitors can also check out Cultural Resurgence, an exhibition featuring works developed by more than 600 school students, community groups and organisations participating in cultural enrichment programs delivered by Speaking in Colour.

Newcastle Art Gallery will also celebrate NAIDOC Week at Hamilton’s James Street Plaza with an outdoor projection of the video work Dead Tongue (2015) by leading First Nations artist Dr Christian Thompson AO.

The work, which comprises a moving portrait of the artist along with a stirring soundtrack of the artist singing in Bidjara language, will be on display from 3 July until the end of August. The project will culminate on Saturday 26 August in an evening of First Nations performance and music in collaboration with local artist Wanjun Carpenter. The project is presented by Newcastle Art Gallery with the support of Art Thinking, Hamilton Business Association, and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia annually in the first week of July to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Delivering unforgettable experiences in unexpected locations, City of Newcastle’s flagship New Annual festival is set to return this September for 10 days of art, culture, and creativity.

From aerial artists completing feats of physical daring to an epic percussive performance featuring 100 local drummers, New Annual offers a diverse program of dance, circus, visual art, music, and theatre by local and nationally renowned artists.

Audiences will discover new performance spaces this year, including Newcastle’s iconic Christ Church Cathedral and a popular inner-city distillery, while familiar landscapes such as Civic Park and Museum Park will be transformed by large-scale installations and pop-up stages.

Now in its third year, Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said New Annual was cementing its status as a drawcard event for the city.

“New Annual is the catalyst for Newcastle’s cultural events sector to take centre stage alongside leading national events,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Building on the success of last year’s festival, which attracted almost 40,000 people to more than 140 performances and activities, New Annual will once again surprise, inspire and delight audiences as they discover a new side of Newcastle and its creative community.”

New Annual will kick off on Friday, 22 September with an impressive opening program including ‘What Will Have Been’ by the world-renowned Circa Contemporary Circus, an exhibition by internationally acclaimed, Newcastle-raised South Sudanese photographer Atong Atem and ‘Rhapsody’, a one-of-a-kind cultural experience by Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub.

Civic Park will be a hive of activity as Strut and Fret invite audiences into the Spiegeltent for the extravagant ‘Blanc de Blanc Encore’, while a 700sqm maze of glass, mirrors and moving prisms will transport visitors into another world with artist Keith Courtney’s spectacular and immersive installation ‘Kaleidoscope’. Both Blanc de Blanc Encore and Kaleidoscope will have extended seasons that run beyond the end of New Annual.

A vibrant mix of free, low-cost and family-friendly events will continue throughout the 10-day festival, with highlights including ‘Noise’, a powerful performance by Dancenorth Australia in collaboration with local drummers, ‘This Land’, a musical showcase of acclaimed First Nations performers, and ‘Just Not Australian’, an artistic showcase challenging contemporary Australian nationhood.

Museum Park will come alive with a range of free events and activations including ‘Ngiarrenumba Burrai (Our Country)’, which is a series of First Nations cultural workshops being held throughout the New Annual program. A Community Day will take over the precinct on 30 September, with a vibrant celebration of diverse traditions, food, art forms, and cultural expressions being delivered as part of a two-year grant from Multicultural NSW.

Newcastle’s Civic Theatre will host a dynamic range of performances and events throughout New Annual, including gigs by award-winning pop icon Kate Ceberano accompanied by the George Ellis Orchestra and popular folk rock five-piece Boy and Bear, as well as a moving production of ‘Good Mourning’ by Tantrum Youth Arts, backstage tours and Civic Cinema screenings.

The untold inside story of Newcastle rock royalty Silverchair will also be shared for the first time, with drummer Ben Gillies and bassist Chris Joanou in conversation at the Civic Theatre for the official launch of their new memoir Love & Pain.

Newcastle artists, musicians and creatives will be in the spotlight across the New Annual festival, which was conceived with a vision to celebrate the depth of talent in the city’s thriving cultural and arts sector.

Councillor Carol Duncan said New Annual highlights Newcastle’s identity as a creative hub with a vibrant cultural heritage.

“City of Newcastle is committed to supporting local artists and organisations through flagship events such as New Annual, which provide a high-profile platform to showcase their talents,” Cr Duncan said.

“More than half of the programming during the past two New Annual festivals was delivered by local artists, offering a vital economic boost for Newcastle’s recovering creative arts and live music sectors that were heavily impacted by COVID-19.

“I can’t wait to do it all again this September and look forward to seeing our local artists on the bill alongside some of the best arts and cultural practitioners from across Australia.”

This year’s local programming will include Novocastrian-born award-winning playwright Ang Collins, who was selected as part of the local “Made New” program to premiere her Newcastle-based play, Spewy, at New Annual.

The play will be performed at Earp Distilling Co and follows the romantic journey of two twenty-somethings navigating their place in our vibrant city.

“I’ve been thinking about writing a play like Spewy – a funny, no-frills Newy-centric rom-com – for a number of years and I’ve always wanted to stage it in my hometown, for an audience of locals who will relate to the characters and story first-hand,” Ms Collins said.

“Thanks to New Annual’s Made New initiative, I was finally given the opportunity to write this story for a professional festival platform, and to bring it to life with some of my favourite regional artists.

“I am so excited to see New Annual invigorate my favourite harbour city and show the rest of the country the calibre of new work that we Novocastrians create.”

Fellow Novocastrian Daz Chandler from The Parallel Effect will deliver the NSW premiere of ground-breaking interactive theatre experience ‘Message From Another You’ during New Annual, while local theatre maker Janie Gibson will transform the New Lambton Community Centre with ‘Voices of Joan’, a moving and irreverent solo performance unravelling the history of misogyny through a radical retelling of the story of Joan of Arc.

New Annual will run from 22 September to 1 October. Visit www.newannual.com for more details about the program and to secure your tickets. Book by 14 July to receive a 10 per cent early bird discount on most shows.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has suspended the licence of a Lake Macquarie green waste facility following repeated environmental breaches.

J E T Group Australia Pty Limited operates a composting and green waste processing business in Toronto, near Newcastle.

EPA Director Regulatory Operations, David Gathercole said their licence has been suspended as they failed to install leachate and stormwater management systems after being directed to by the EPA.

“J E T Group’s failure to take appropriate action is extremely disappointing, with their failure to install pollution controls meaning ammonia is able to escape the property,” Mr Gathercole said. 

“Discharged ammonia can pollute waters, damage ecosystems and impact on human health.

“The EPA will take all necessary regulatory action against operators large or small when they fail to meet their legal obligation and put both the community and environment at risk.

“The waterways in the region deserve the best protection and the community has the right to expect them to remain pollution free.”

J E T Group has appealed the suspension notice to the Land and Environment Court.

The community will need to use an alternative facility while the facility’s licence is suspended. It is an offence under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) to transport waste to a facility that cannot lawfully receive it.

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 27 June 2023. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Ordinary business

Acceptance of offer – Newcastle Art Gallery expansion – Telstra asset relocation works

Council unanimously voted to not invite tenders for the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion Telstra asset relocation works. A satisfactory result would not have been achieved through the calling of tenders as the network assets are owned by Telstra Corporation Limited (Telstra) who have exclusive rights to carry out any modifications to their network.

Supplementary report – proposed sale of operational land – 55 Cowper Street, Wallsend

Council voted to adopt an alternative motion to lay this item on the table until reports are received on existing road reserves across the city and the road reserves lost in Newcastle by RMS/TfNSW in the last decade, as well as a plan for road reserves including strategic acquisitions, temporary and permanent uses.

Stage 1 of Hunter Estuary Coastal Management Program (CMP) completed

Council unanimously adopted an amended motion that endorsed the Hunter Estuary CMP Scoping Study, noted that the Hunter River Estuary is the most polluted in NSW and called for reinstatement by the NSW Government of the dedicated Hunter Catchment Management Authority or equivalent government agency, tasked with improving the health of the estuary. City of Newcastle will write to the Minister for the Hunter and Minister for the Environment requesting their assistance to urgently rectify this situation.

Making of the rate and charges for 2023/24

Council unanimously voted to make the Rates and Charges for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 in accordance with sections 532 – 535 of the Local Government Act 1993.

Interest on overdue rates and charges for 2023/24

Council voted to adopt the rate of 9.0% per annum on interest on overdue rates and charges for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 (inclusive). Interest is waived for ratepayers who on the basis of financial hardship, enter into an agreement to pay outstanding rates over a period of time.

Executive monthly performance report

Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for May 2023.

Tender report – biennial hire of plant trucks and equipment

Council voted to accept tenders for the casual hire of plant, trucks, and small plant and equipment for a two-year period.

Tender report – construction of operational area for recycled materials transfer at Summerhill Waste Management Centre

Council unanimously voted to accept a tender for the construction of an operational area for recycled materials transfer at Summerhill Waste Management Centre, enabling the existing operations to continue until the Materials Recovery Facility project is completed.

Notices of Motion

Pedestrian crossings

Council unanimously voted for an amended notice of motion calling for City of Newcastle to develop a Newcastle Local Pedestrian Crossing Policy and explore the delivery of new crossings in a variety of areas across the city including locations in Hamilton South, Merewether, Hamilton North, Cooks Hill, Mayfield, New Lambton, Minmi, Elermore Vale and Tighes Hill.

Newcastle Inner City Bypass – further advocacy

Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion calling on City of Newcastle to write to the Member for Wallsend, appropriate Ministers and Shadow Ministers calling on the newly elected NSW Government to urgently review aspects of the Inner City Bypass project, to ensure the opportunity to deliver a meaningful active and public transport connection between two of the City’s main catalyst sites (John Hunter Hospital and University of Newcastle) and opportunities for refinements to minimise biodiversity and habitat losses, are not lost.

National Parks Estate advocacy – 505 Minmi Road

Council supported a notice of motion that City of Newcastle writes to the Member for Wallsend and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, calling for the urgent implementation of the Government’s election commitment to investigate the protection of 505 Minmi Road for conservation in the National Park Estate, reiterating the elected Council’s strong support for this option to permanently protect the Green Corridor.

Endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion that notes and applauds the announcement that the Albanese Labor Government will be delivering Australia’s first Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across all states and territories as part of the Labor Government’s $58.3 million commitment to theses clinics.

City of Newcastle will write to Federal Member for Newcastle and Deputy Speaker, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care advocating for Newcastle to be included in any subsequent funding for further clinics.

Supercars 500 and climate change

Council supported an amended notice of motion that that notes that the NSW Government and Supercars Australia are yet to commit to any extension of the Newcastle 500, with the final decision subject to Council endorsement. It also noted Council’s previous resolved support for the electrification of Supercars, and opportunity to utilise Supercars to promote the use of public transport and electric vehicles in the city.

Invitation to the NSW Local Government Minister

Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion that notes Council unanimously supported a motion for the NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig to hold a Local Government Summit.

Late item

Social and affordable housing advocacy

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion that City of Newcastle offers the city’s support as a partner with the State and Commonwealth Governments to deliver on $2 billion in national commitments to deliver thousands of additional social dwellings, to support additional social and affordable housing in the city in response to the housing crisis.