Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle plans to deliver a significant upgrade to improve pedestrian and cycling accessibility, create a safer environment, provide green space and improve amenity for residents and businesses in Georgetown.

Councillors voted tonight to unanimously approve the proposed public domain plan, which will see millions invested into Georgetown’s neighbourhood shopping precinct. 

An artist’s impression of the revitalised Georgetown Local Centre.

Traffic calming and safety improvement works will kick off in the coming months, with the remainder of the project to provide a new landscaped pedestrian plaza, improved footpaths, upgraded street furniture and lighting, as well as more street trees and landscaping.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it’s a great outcome for Georgetown, with the plan delivering outcomes highlighted during the recent community feedback.

“Georgetown is rapidly growing with new residential developments that include ground floor commercial opportunities, which will attract more families and business to the area,” Cr Nelmes said.

“It’s important we get the right mix of growth and local amenity for our residents and implement a design that has increased accessibility and encourages pedestrian usage and cyclist safety.

“Feedback from the community during the public exhibition of these plans indicated a strong desire to improve the look and feel of the area, enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity, and increase the number of street trees in the area.

“This upgrade project will meet the needs of the Georgetown community to create a safer, more accessible and attractive environment to visit and enjoy.

“A major component of our Local Centres program includes drainage improvements. We will also look to partner with businesses to beautify local shop fronts through a future Façade Improvement Scheme.”

The early works will support the existing 40km/h zone, with new pedestrian refuges to be installed to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to safely navigate the area along the busy Georgetown Road.

The major works include a new public plaza at the intersection of Moate Street and Georgetown Road, which will create an attractive destination to support the shopping precinct while also facilitating safer cycle access between Asher Street and Parkview Street.

Ward 3 Councillor and Chair of the Infrastructure Advisory Committee, Peta Winney-Baartz said the Local Centre program is a great way to improve popular neighbourhood shopping precincts for the local community and visitors.  

“A refreshed space will encourage residents to support local Georgetown businesses, providing improved spaces to shop, dine, and meet with friends,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“Our team have worked hard to design and plan improvements to the look and feel of the area that also support a busy suburb, with safer vehicle movements alongside improvements to pedestrian safety.

“There will be community updates provided to businesses and the community to keep them informed as we progress through the upgrades. We’ll also invite local residents and businesses to let us know their ideas for the best use and activation ideas for the new public space later in the year.” 

The Georgetown Local Centre upgrade is part of City of Newcastle’s commitment to developing vibrant, safe and active public places. 

Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay to read more about the project.

A woman will face court tomorrow charged with drug supply in the state’s north.

In February 2024, Hunter Valley Police District detectives established Strike Force Smollett to investigate the alleged supply of prohibited drugs in Muswellbrook.

About 11:30am today (Tuesday 23 April 2024), police searched a home on Virginia Street, Denman, suspected of being used in drug supply.

Police allegedly located a quantity of drugs and mobile phones in the home and arrested a 36-year-old woman.

She was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with:

• Supply prohibited drug > indictable and < commercial quantity;
• Supply prohibited drug > = large commercial quantity
• Possess prohibited drug

She was refused bail to appear before Singleton Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 24 April 2024).

City of Newcastle (CN) is helping to create a new generation of waste warriors, hosting a hands-on event at Newcastle Museum today as part of global environmental initiative, Earth Day.

The annual awareness day, dubbed the largest civic event on Earth, activates one billion people around the world to advocate for the health of the planet.

City of Newcastle’s Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, artist Ken O’Regan and Councillor Carol Duncan with Ken’s work Fractured Sanctuary as part of Earth Day at Newcastle MuseumNovocastrians of all ages turned out in force for the free event at the Museum, which featured a range of fun and educational activities based around the global theme for 2024 – Planet vs Plastics.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said CN is committed to continuing its decades-long action and advocacy to protect and improve our environment.

“It takes collective action, commitment, and leadership to safeguard the environment for the future,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As a leader in this space, City of Newcastle is making change through its Climate Action Plan, Sustainable Waste Strategy and Newcastle Environment Plan.

“These strategies provide a roadmap for a sustainable Newcastle through the priority areas of climate change, nature-based solutions and the circular economy.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Community and Culture Advisory Committee, Councillor Carol Duncan said CN was committed to championing innovation and delivering free, educational opportunities for the community.

“Every year, Australians send more than 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste to landfill, while globally, at least 14 million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans annually,” Cr Duncan said.

“Events such as Earth Day at Newcastle Museum allow us to connect local actions with global outcomes, sparking conversations about the impact of plastics in our local and global communities to inspire a vibrant future.”

Highlights of today’s event included a recycled plastic art-making workshop with local artist, Ken O’Regan, inspired by his work Fractured Sanctuary, which is currently on display in the Museum’s Earthball Gallery.

O’Regan used discarded everyday plastic items to create an illuminated display inspired by the rose windows of mediaeval cathedrals, the leadlight of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and the neon signage of modern commercial life. 

Children’s author Deb Kelly was on hand to read from her book Little Horses, which was inspired by the success of the local Seahorse Hotel Project to create habitat for the endangered White’s Seahorse off the coast of Port Stephens and Newcastle.

CN’s Waste Services team presented activities about the lifecycle of plastics, while visitors also enjoyed the Museum’s popular science shows, craft activities and a special screening of the award-winning documentary, A Plastic Ocean, which documents the global effects of plastic pollution and highlights innovative solutions to create a cleaner ocean.

City of Newcastle (CN) has delivered a school holiday boost for children across Newcastle, with four new or upgraded playgrounds now open as part of the annual playground replacement program.

The community helped officially open a new play space at Adamstown Park today, which was relocated and expanded as part of CN’s $600,000 investment into the four playground projects.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz join excited locals to officially open the new Adamstown Park playground.Popular recreational areas at Rawson Park in Stockton and Waratah’s Coolamin Reserve also received new equipment, while Islington Park’s playground was upgraded with new rubber softfall and a fresh coat of colour.

Additionally, work is progressing at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park where a significant new $3 million playspace is being delivered as part of the park’s Masterplan, with the project expected to be completed in October.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said CN is committed to delivering enriched neighbourhoods with spaces that bring people together for active living and social connection.

“We know how much our community values open spaces and their local playgrounds, which is why it is vital we continue to deliver our playground replacement program and other recreation projects to ensure everyone has the opportunity to access quality facilities now and into the future,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As part of our commitment to undertake a staged implementation of the newly adopted Adamstown Park Masterplan, the Adamstown playground was relocated, upgraded and expanded, activating the green space.”

Councillor Carol Duncan, who is also the Chair of the Community and Culture Advisory Committee, said it’s not just children who’ll benefit from the new playground.

“We’re catering for the recreation needs of teenagers and adults who visit this area of Adamstown Park, with a new basketball court expected to be completed in the coming weeks,” Cr Duncan said.

Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said this is another example of CN providing facilities that are safe, engaging and support the community’s wellbeing.

“New accessible pathways have been created to link the Adamstown playground with Glebe Road, while a sheltered picnic table offers visitors and locals seating and shade,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

CN has invested more than $10 million into projects over the past five years as part of its commitment to delivering enhanced and accessible recreational opportunities for the community, with more than 116 playgrounds located across the local government area.

City of Newcastle (CN) continues to raise the bar in urban planning and design, working with an independent panel of experts to evaluate and critique more than $1.5 billion in developments during the past year. 

CN’s Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP) convened for 13 meetings throughout 2023, offering guidance to CN staff and applicants on 48 development proposals as well as providing input on strategic projects including the Draft Newcastle Development Control Plan 2023. 

A render of One National Park Street, Newcastle West

The projects are included in UDRP’s 2023 Annual Report, released ahead of next week’s Council meeting, which highlights a range of major developments, development proposals and design competitions in Newcastle.

Significant development proposals considered by the URDP in 2023 include GWH’s $71 million twin-tower luxury apartment complex, ‘ONE’, on National Park Street in Newcastle West, and Altim Property’s $12 million customised commercial space, ‘Arbour’, also in Newcastle West. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes said the URDP provides an invaluable contribution to planning and design in Newcastle.

“The Urban Design Review Panel generously share their extensive industry experience and expertise with applicants and design teams,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle’s design panel has origins back in the 1980s when it was initially formed as the Urban Design Consultative Group.  

“Since the panel’s inception, its members’ combined knowledge and guidance has continued to enhance our understanding of quality design; setting positive benchmarks for future development projects in and around the city.”

Panel Chair Dr Philip Pollard, who also acts as CN’s Jury Representative for planning and design competitions held throughout the year, said the UDRP continues to look for ways to take urban design excellence in Newcastle to the next level.

“While interest rates and a shortage of medium to large building contractors have applied pressure to developments, the City has continued to see a high level of interest from the industry, with the number of larger developments continuing to provide new residences, commercial spaces and other facilities. Design competitions have also produced some excellent proposals that set a high standard,” Dr Pollard said.

“In addition to the major developments we reviewed over the last 12 months, the UDRP has considered a range of smaller projects with relatively modest budgets. These developments contribute greatly to the character of the city and provide a variety of accommodation, from co-living to smaller medium density developments, to individual dwellings and an early learning centre.

“Good design benefits the whole community and need not be the most expensive option.”

The current panel was appointed in 2021 and comprises a specialist group of design professionals with extensive industry experience across a diverse range of fields including architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, sustainability, heritage, and safer by design.

CN is now seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for new members to join the UDRP on a three-year fixed contract. EOIs can be lodged via the Tenderlink portal until 30 April, with the new Panel’s term beginning on 1 July.

CN Executive Director Planning and Environment, Michelle Bisson, thanked the current members for their time and expertise.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to each member of the UDRP for their invaluable contributions throughout 2023. We appreciate the members for generously sharing their extensive industry experience and expertise with applicants and design teams,” Ms Bisson said.

“The UDRP continues to enhance the City’s understanding of good design, and this has set positive benchmarks for future development.

“I look forward to strengthening this expertise with a new panel of independent design experts, allowing us to continue to achieve excellence in urban design long into the future.”

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.