Category: Newcastle News

A man who was reported missing from Lambton in the Newcastle area has been found safe and well.

The 19-year-old was last seen at an address on Albert Street, Lambton, about 12.00pm today (Monday 29 May 2023).

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified and immediately commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Following a public appeal through social media and a geo-targeting alert sent to the Lambton area, police were advised the man returned home about 7.20pm.

Police and family would like to thank the community and media for their assistance.

More than $25.7 million will be invested into maintaining and enhancing the city’s roads, bridges and footpaths as part of a record Budget unanimously adopted by Council last night.

City of Newcastle is significantly boosting its investment in essential community infrastructure in 2023/24, pouring $7.5million into its road resurfacing program and more than doubling its spending on road rehabilitation projects as part of the largest annual capital works program to date.

More than $137 million has been earmarked for investment into local facilities and infrastructure, with almost 270 projects planned across the local government area during the next financial year.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this was a financially prudent Budget balancing community needs with a forecast $6.9 million surplus.

“This Budget is focussed on providing real benefits for our community in their everyday lives, whether it’s investing more than $15 million into improving our roads, spending $1.2 million to extend our city’s footpath network or making it easier for people to get around Newcastle with $3.6 million for new cycleways,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We recognise the important role our recreational facilities and open spaces play in the lives of our community, so we’re investing $19.7 million into new and improved parks, playgrounds, sporting and aquatic facilities, including $5 million towards the new all abilities playground at Foreshore Park and $1.9 million for the playspace at Gregson Park.

“We’re also committed to caring for our natural environment, with $13.5 million for environmental sustainability initiatives including $8 million towards planning and protecting our coastline, estuaries and wetlands, $1.5 million towards street tree planting projects and $1 million for upgrades at Blackbutt Reserve.

“City of Newcastle’s 2023/24 Budget will meet the expectations of our community while still following a path of financial stability to ensure our city remains an attractive and inclusive place to live, work and visit, now and into the future.”

Other highlights of the 2023/24 Budget include:

• $41.2 million to be invested in four City Shaping projects including the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery, remediation of the former landfill at Sandgate, and construction of waste diversion facilities at Summerhill Waste Management Centre
• $7.5 million to improve our inland pools and ocean baths, including the Newcastle Ocean Baths stage one upgrade and the Lambton Pool grandstand upgrade in time for the swim season
• $6.9 million for urban and city centre revitalisation projects including the next stage of the East End upgrade in the Hunter Street Mall, and Local Centre upgrades at New Lambton
• $4.9 million to improve our stormwater network to address localised flooding
• $4.4 million to support our waste management
• $4.2 million towards the replacement of the Boscawen Street Bridge as part of plans to reduce the risk of flooding in the Wallsend CBD
• $2 million to continue works to beautify and improve access along Bathers Way.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said prudent financial management will deliver a second consecutive surplus budget without compromising the Council’s capacity to maintain services and meet community commitments.

“During 2023–2024, we will invest almost $377 million into our city, delivering key services and infrastructure that ensure Newcastle is a liveable, sustainable, inclusive global city,” Mr Bath said.

“Our record $137 million infrastructure program continues to deliver essential projects for the benefit of our community, yet despite the economic challenges of inflationary pressure and the high cost of living, we are continuing to build on our past financial management to deliver an improved Budget surplus of $6.9 million in 2023/24.”

The Albanese Government has delivered on its commitment to cancer patients in the Newcastle region, thanks to a $1 million injection to the Kaden Centre.

The funding, which has been delivered through the Hunter, New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network, will ensure the Kaden Centre can continue its unique services for cancer patients through specialised exercise physiology care.

The Kaden Centre is a purpose-built facility where people experiencing all stages of cancer can undertake customised, targeted exercise programs, under the guidance of health professionals.

The Centre was established by the inspiring Suzanne Clark Pitrolo as a not-for-profit enterprise as a result of her experiences as a cancer patient. Since opening four years ago it has treated more than 1,200 people from the Newcastle and Hunter region with cancer and chronic illness.

There is strong evidence that exercise provides benefits to cancer patients. Appropriate oncology exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety, depression and fatigue, reduce hospital admissions and length of stay, and moderate the side effects of treatment.

Minister Butler said:

“I’ve spoken firsthand with many patients who have benefited from the Kaden Centre.

“We know exercise is not only safe for cancer patients, its known to help them cope better with their condition and their treatment.

“The Kaden Centre delivers custom, targeted exercise programs, prescribed by allied health professionals to drastically improve the long-term health outcomes for people living with cancer.  

“The Government is committed to helping all Australians diagnosed with cancer to access the best multidisciplinary care, as close to their homes as possible.”

Sharon Claydon MP said:

“I’m delighted that the Albanese Labor Government has kept the Kaden Centre’s doors open to continue their innovative oncology exercise program.”

“The Kaden Centre has helped over a thousand people in the Newcastle area, and it is vital that they are able to continue to do this important work thanks to the Albanese government’s investment.”

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council Meeting of Tuesday 23 May 2023. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Lord Mayoral Minutes

Women’s World Cup Live Site – Go Matildas!

A Lord Mayoral Minute was supported acknowledging the incredible success and community support for City of Newcastle’s public screening of the Socceroo’s vs Argentina World Cup Game on 4 December 2022 in Wheeler Place which attracted thousands of attendees.

Council unanimously supported investigating options for hosting live site public screenings in Wheeler Place of all Matilda’s games during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 when they play in Australia from 20 July.

IPART Emergency Services Levy

A Lord Mayoral Minute noted Council’s forced emergency services contribution is manifestly disproportionate to the 2023/24 rate cap, resulting in additional financial stress, with the unexpected cost hit due to absorb almost all IPART-approved rate rise for this year and in some cases absorb more than 100 per cent, for many councils.

Council unanimously supported writing to the Chair of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Authority (IPART), noting the financial sustainability impacts of the Emergency Services Levy on the Local Government sector, and to work towards an appropriate solution to ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of local councils.

Ordinary business

Adoption of Delivering Newcastle 2040

Council unanimously voted to adopt the 2023-2024 Delivering Newcastle 2040 and the 2023-2024 Fees and Charges, following public exhibition.

Adoption of Inland Pools Strategy 2034

Council unanimously voted to adopt the Inland Pools Strategy 2043 – our plan for protecting and improving Newcastle’s public pools for the next 20 years.

Council received the Inland Pools Strategy 2043 Engagement Report and endorsed the establishment of the Inland Pools Reserve Fund to set aside funding as part of the annual budget process to enhance the city’s five publicly owned inland swimming centres over the next 20 years.

Public exhibition of draft Community Engagement Strategy

Council unanimously voted to publicly exhibit the draft Community Engagement Strategy for a minimum of 28 days.

Tabling of Register of Disclosures of Interest – 1 February to 30 April 2023

Council noted the tabling of the Register of Disclosures of Interest for the period 1 February to 30 April 2023 by the Chief Executive Officer.

Proposed road closure and sale – road reserve adjoining 34 Robert Street Wickham

Council voted to lay item 8.5 on the table.

Proposed sale of operational land – 55 Cowper Street Wallsend

Council voted to lay item 8.6 on the table.

Adoption of planning proposal, draft Development Control Plan and draft Planning Agreement for 23 Merewether Street and 8 Lingard Street, Merewether, Lingard Planning Proposal

Council voted to endorse the planning proposal, the Local Environmental Plan be made and finalise the Development Control Plan and Planning Agreement for the Lingard Hospital Precinct, Merewether.

Variations to development standards (Reporting From 1 January 2023 To 31 March 2023)

Council received the report on approved development variations between 1 January 2023 and 31 March 2023 in accordance with the Department of Planning and Environment’s concurrence to vary development standards in the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012.

March Quarterly Budget Review

Council received the March Quarterly Budget Review Statement and adopted the revised budget as detailed therein.

Quarterly Performance Report on the 2018-2022 Delivery Program

Council received the 2022-2026 Delivery Program – March Quarterly Performance Report.

Executive Monthly Performance Report

Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for April 2023.

Tender report – Lambton Pool Grandstand Upgrade 2023/065t

Council unanimously voted to adopt a tender report for the construction of a new reinforced concrete grandstand beneath the existing grandstand roof at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre (Lambton Pool).

Tender report – Material Recovery Facility – Construction Works 2023/049t

Council unanimously voted to adopt a tender for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.

Proposed sale of 16 cabins – Stockton Beach Holiday Park

Council endorsed the sale of 16 cabins at Stockton Beach Holiday Park.

Tender report – Management of Inland Swimming Centres – Contract No 2022/137T

Council delegated the CEO authority to determine the tender for the lease and operation of CNs five owned inland swimming centres.

Notices of Motion

Request to release Climate Security Report

Council noted that the Office of National Intelligence has prepared a Climate Security Report.

Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion to write to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence requesting that the government urgently releases the declassified version of the Report.

Newcastle City CBD – Vandalism – Graffiti Attacks – Crime Prevention – Business Retention – Review of Mainstreet Economic Development throughout City Construction – 2023-2026

Council supported an amended notice of motion that notes City of Newcastle staff are reviewing opportunities to focus resources specifically on development of the Hunter Street public domain and welcomes CN’s investment of more than $8.5 million in events and activation programs developed to support local City Centre businesses since 2018.

City of Newcastle (CN) will move forward with its landmark investment into the future of recycling in the region after awarding the contract to build Newcastle’s first Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

Councillors unanimously voted on Tuesday evening to accept a $56.7 million tender from Australian-owned recyclables processor iQRenew to design and construct the MRF at CN’s Summerhill Waste Management Facility.

The Central Coast based company will also be responsible for operating and maintaining the facility, which will be capable of processing up to 85,000 tonnes of recyclables per year.

The MRF will sort recyclables from residents’ yellow-lid garbage bins into separate materials such as paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, steel and aluminium, which can then be on-sold to recyclers for use in the manufacture of new products.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the MRF will deliver a regional recycling solution designed to divert waste from landfill, cut greenhouse gas emissions and create local jobs.

“City of Newcastle is committed to delivering responsible, environmentally sustainable, and commercially feasible waste and recycling operations to manage our current and future waste streams,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The sudden closure of the only MRF in the Hunter in 2020 meant recyclables from Newcastle had to be transported to a processing facility on the Central Coast. For other local councils their recyclables now have to be transported to Sydney at significant expense to their ratepayers.

“The establishment of a local, Council owned facility will remove around 6,000 tonnes of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions over the next 25 years while also ensuring almost 200,000 tonnes of recyclables from Newcastle homes are diverted from landfill.

“Beyond meeting the needs and expectations of Newcastle residents, the MRF’s scalable processing capacity and optimal location close to the Hunter Expressway and M1 will make it an essential piece of regional infrastructure capable of servicing the entire region. City of Newcastle is progressing the design of a secondary access road as part of its Sustainable Waste Strategy, linking Summerhill Waste Management Centre to the Hunter Expressway and M1 following concept DA approval last year.

“The delivery of the MRF will also provide a major economic boost to our region, creating around 185 jobs during the construction and fit-out phase and up to 28 ongoing jobs when it becomes operational.”

CN’s plans to build the new facility have been overwhelmingly endorsed by the community, with ninety-eight per cent of residents surveyed during development of the project indicating their support.

A development application for the MRF is currently being assessed by the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel, with a decision expected in the second half of 2023. Pending approval, preliminary earthworks for the project would begin later this year with construction of the facility expected to get underway in the first quarter of 2024.

The project has received $5 million from the Federal and NSW Governments and plays a key role in CN’s Our Sustainable Waste Strategy, as well as addressing future government targets on waste diversion and recycling.

More shaded seating and an upgraded playground are among the latest projects being delivered by City of Newcastle as part of continued investment to enhance and improve its public swimming pool facilities.

Five of the tiered seating structures temporarily installed at Lambton Swimming Centre in January are being permanently relocated to the Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend Swimming Centres, where the addition of new shade covers will give schools, sporting groups and spectators more seating options when the facilities reopen later this year.

The three remaining temporary grandstands at Lambton will be permanently moved to the northern side of the diving pool, allowing work to continue on the demolition and replacement of the swimming centre’s 60-year-old concrete grandstand.

Families in Newcastle’s booming western suburbs will also benefit from planned upgrades at Beresfield Swimming Centre, with the installation of a new playground featuring a range of equipment including a nest swing, flying fox, inground trampoline and double slide, as well as a new shade sail, wider footpaths and picnic tables.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said whilst City of Newcastle is maximising the winter closure period to continue enhancing its inland pool network, the city is also moving forward with its 20-year strategy for these much-loved community facilities with a range of short, medium and longer-term upgrades proposed.

“City of Newcastle has invested more than $5 million upgrading and $2 million maintaining the city’s public pool network during the past few years,” Cr Nelmes said.

“By repurposing items like Lambton Swimming Centre’s temporary seating structures to our other facilities, community members and visitors that utilise Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend Swimming Centres are also set to benefit from the original investment.

“City of Newcastle is committed to maintaining and investing in our network of inland swimming centres to ensure they continue to meet the expectations and evolving needs of more than 320,000 people who visit them each year.

“That’s why we developed our ‘Inland Pools Strategy 2043’, which sets out an investment plan for Newcastle’s network of public swimming pools to ensure they are fit-for-purpose in the long term and made accessible to all members of the community.

“Key to the draft Strategy is proposed accessibility upgrades in the short term at an estimated investment of $1.25 million. This includes a new platform lift for entry into each of our 50-metre pools, while future redeveloped change room facilities to cater to those with accessibility requirements are proposed for Wallsend and Lambton Swimming Centres.”

Councillors will vote tomorrow night to adopt the ‘Inland Pools Strategy 2043’ following feedback from the community. The tender for the construction replacement of the Lambton Swimming Centre grandstand will also be considered at the Council meeting.

About 11.30am today (Sunday 21 May 2023), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway at Ferrodale, approximately one km north of the Medowie Road intersection, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and were told an SUV had left the road and hit a tree.

The driver – a 70-year-old man, died at the scene.

A 70-year-old woman was conveyed to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition with suspected spinal injuries.

A crime scene was established and an investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

As police make inquiries, anyone with dashcam footage or information related to the incident are urged to contact Port Stephens-Hunter Police District or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

A body has been located during the search for a man missing from the state’s Hunter region.

The 42-year-old man was last seen driving on Great North Road, Laguna, on Thursday 13 April 2023, after it is believed his vehicle broke down on his way home.

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

As part of inquiries, officers with assistance from specialist police resources and the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), conducted a search operation in the Laguna area where they located a body on Tuesday (16 May 2023).

A post mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the identity of the person and the cause of death.

Detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Missing Persons Registry, assisted by Hunter Valley police, established Strike Force Blakely to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

Inquiries continue.

Newcastle will become the cultural capital of Australia this week, with almost 500 representatives of the country’s museums and galleries sector gathering in the city for their annual conference.

The Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) 2023 National Conference is one of the largest business events being hosted by City of Newcastle this year, and is expected to inject almost $1 million into the local economy.

Delegates from across Australia, New Zealand and around the world are taking part in four days of workshops and panel discussions from May 16-19, tackling “brave conversations and new connections in changing environments”.

City of Newcastle’s cultural facilities will be showcased to the delegates throughout the conference, with events being held at Newcastle City Hall, Civic Theatre and Newcastle Museum, while the packed program also includes a special presentation on the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle’s rich cultural heritage and capacity to host major business events made it a perfect fit for AMaGA’s national gathering, which was also held in the city in 2009.

“Newcastle has a proud legacy of preserving, sharing and celebrating culture, history and art through its iconic and award-winning cultural facilities,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Our city also offers broad appeal as a host destination for large-scale business events, with top-class conferencing and meeting facilities as well as a range of quality accommodation options.

“We are proud to be the first regional area to play host to the AMaGA National Conference for a second time, and encourage the visiting delegates to explore all the city has to offer while they are here.”

City of Newcastle Director Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning Julie Baird, who is also the AMaGA National Council Vice President, said the national conference provided an opportunity for members of the sector to share, collaborate and learn.

“The conference is a wonderful chance to learn from the experiences of our colleagues in this sector, expand our networks, discuss opportunities to collaborate with others and discover new and exciting travelling exhibitions that we might be able to bring to our facilities,” Ms Baird said.

Hot on the heels of Come From Away’s record-breaking Newcastle season at the Civic Theatre, leading English theatre operator and producer Sir Howard Panter has visited the city as part of a reconnaissance trip scouting new locations to host future Broadway productions.

Sir Howard owns and operates 16 theatres across Europe as well as Sydney’s Theatre Royal on a 55 year lease from the NSW Government. He is currently in Australia to attend the opening of the Broadway jukebox smash Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, on Thursday at the Theatre Royal.

His company, Trafalgar Entertainment, is also responsible for producing a range of major theatre shows including Jersey Boys, The Rocky Horror Show, Jagged Little Pill, 42nd Street and War Horse.

Sir Howard and his team were in Newcastle today to take a firsthand look at the iconic Civic Theatre as well as the heritage-listed Victoria Theatre, which is undergoing a $5 million restoration project ahead of being reopened next year.

Sir Howard Panter said he’s been hearing for some time now of the excitement and reinvention of Newcastle.

“So many people have told me that I have to come to Newcastle. I was promised a mature, heritage city built on both the harbour and the coastline. Having now finally made my way here, I must say I’ve been blown away by what Newcastle has to offer,” Sir Howard said.

“To have a theatre of the size and grandeur of the Civic Theatre next to a new five-star hotel with light rail access on its doorstep, and a plethora of fine dining options on offer at Honeysuckle, it’s about as close to ‘theatre heaven’ as it gets.

“The Civic has that old world European feel to it that just adds to the sense of time travel that great theatre shows can take their audience on. I couldn’t be more keen to bring a Broadway show to Newcastle and hope we have some exciting news to share with the city in the next few months.”

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath met with Sir Howard and said discussions to bring Trafalgar’s first show to the Civic Theatre are well advanced.

“The reinvention of Newcastle as a cosmopolitan, thriving major events city has been known for some time to entertainment and producers throughout Australia. The record-breaking local staging of Come From Away has grabbed the attention of international theatre producers such as Trafalgar, who recognise the burgeoning theatre demand that exists in Newcastle, and the Hunter,” Mr Bath said.

“Having someone of Sir Howard’s stature make time to travel to Newcastle from his London base is both an honour and an opportunity to showcase all our city has to offer.

“With a thriving local night time economy, $110 million expansion of Newcastle Airport underway to enable international flights to the city, $45 million expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery to house the most valuable art collection in regional Australia, and a theatre catchment that stretches from NSW’s Central Coast to Port Macquarie, it’s really no surprise that theatre producers are circling Newcastle.

“Few theatres compare to the majesty of the Civic Theatre in Newcastle and Come From Away impressed theatregoers during its recent Newcastle debut, smashing previous box office ticket sales records and whetting the city’s appetite for more Broadway live musical theatre.

“Newcastle is ready willing and able to add its name to the national touring list of major shows when they visit Australia.”

More than 21,500 theatregoers from across the Hunter and as far away as Tasmanian and Queensland flocked to the Civic Theatre during Come From Away’s three-week extended run in February to share in the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from around the world who were grounded in Newfoundland Canada in the wake of 9/11.

Newcastle was also the first regional city in Australia to stage Van Gogh Alive, with 84,000 tickets sold in just five weeks for the immersive, multi-sensory display of the painter’s iconic artworks, delivered as part of New Annual 2022.