Category: Newcastle News

A roaming music festival, contemporary dance party, and quarterly food, art and wine trails will attract more visitors into the city centre at night, increase spending at local businesses and showcase local creatives thanks to funding from City of Newcastle’s special business rate.

West Best Bloc Fest will return in 2023 to showcase more than 80 local music artists as one of 16 projects awarded a share of almost $800,000 through the City Centre and Darby Street Special Business Rate (SBR) funding program.

Many of the projects complement the vision of City of Newcastle’s Newcastle After Dark Strategy, which is helping to guide the development of a safe, vibrant night-time economy in the city centre.

Despite the economic downturn, Newcastle experienced the highest increase in night-time establishment growth across Australian cities during the past 12 months according to the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors’ Measuring the Australian Night Time Economy 2020-21 report.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said successful initiatives like City of Newcastle’s SBR funding program provided invaluable support for the city’s CBD business precincts and created vibrant, activated spaces for the community and visitors to enjoy.

“Newcastle’s night-time economy accounts for 13 per cent of its workforce, which is significantly higher than the national average,” Cr Clausen said.

“Supporting initiatives through SBR funding like West Best Bloc Fest are proven to not only attract a welcome influx of visitors into the city centre but also drive new and expanded economic opportunities for our local hospitality and arts & cultural sector.

“As highlighted in the Night Time Economy 2020-21 report, City of Newcastle has a track record of creating more vibrant, activated spaces at night through programs like Locally Made and Played, its interactive outdoor Night Time Galleries project and SBR program.”

On the back of delivering West Best Bloc Fest 2022 last month, organiser Dylan Oaks said the successful event would return in 2023 thanks to continued SBR support by City of Newcastle.

“Newcastle’s music scene is the healthiest I’ve seen it. We just delivered a sold-out event on 2 October showcasing 100 per cent Novocastrian talent,” Mr Oaks said.

“The SBR funding received for West Best Bloc Fest benefits multiple hospitality venues around our local West End block. This roaming event increases the vibrancy of the West End by engaging visitors in an interesting way, which leads to increased visitation in the area and spending in many of our city’s hospitality venues.”

Special Business Rates are collected from businesses in Newcastle City Centre / Darby Street, Hamilton, Mayfield, New Lambton and Wallsend for the promotion, beautification and development of those precincts.

Other successful projects under this round of City Centre and Darby Street funding include the mouth-watering return of Newcastle Food Month, Summer Shakespeare in Civic Park, West Walk food, art and wine trail, a month-long live painting festival and the highly popular Chalk the Walk 3D art trail.

A revised draft Special Business Rate (SBR) Expenditure Policy is currently on public exhibition until 5 December 2022.

Successful City Centre / Darby Street SBR projects include:

Voyage: A New Kind of Storytelling – a live music, spoken word and contemporary dance event that will form part of the 2023 Newcastle Writers Festival program delivered across two nights.

Newcastle Food Month – returning in April 2023, this month-long project promotes what makes Newcastle and the surrounding precincts a gastronomic playground.

UP&UP Street Art Workshops – will activate a city location for two days with a family-friendly event, for all ages and abilities, that celebrates street art.

Thriving Gardens – the project involves the installation of standalone smart gardening systems, fixed to shopfront facades throughout the City Centre and Darby Street.

West Walk – an exciting food, art and wine trail through Newcastle’s West. The trail is a progressive catered degustation to occur four times with live music and art exhibitions at independent galleries.

Sustainability Showcase Precinct on Darby Street will create a showcase ‘sustainability precinct’ reflecting a collaborative effort among restaurants and café operators and other shops.

EASLE’D – 100 artists will take to the streets of Newcastle’s CBD and Darby Street as part of a month-long live painting festival, including artists’ workshops, masterclasses, guided tours and an artists’ trail.

Story Spots – bite-sized animated videos that shine a light on the stories behind 12 unique businesses, precincts or events within the CBD and Darby Street zones.

Cultural Journeys – Women of the Hunter in Photography will share portraiture and stories of local women with the community, which will be displayed in conjunction with International Women’s Day 2023.

Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn – Newcastle Edition – Channel 10 travel and food TV show will create a feature episode that focuses on Newcastle and the City / Darby Street precinct.

Newcastle Gin Event 2023 – will bring together gin distilleries, food vendors and entertainers with locals and visitors from around NSW for the appreciation of gin at the Newcastle Museum Park.

Darby Street Magazine – Newcastle Weekly will create a marketing campaign, promoting all things Darby Street, utilising print materials as well digital channels.

Summer Shakespeare in Civic Park – Whale Chorus will deliver a second season of outdoor Summer Shakespeare in Civic Park and bring an estimated 2000 visitors to the Newcastle CBD.

Chalk the Walk, Newcastle 2023 – 3D artwork trail in key City Centre and Darby Street outdoor locations.

West Best Bloc Fest – an annual block festival curated to showcase 80+ emerging and established local musicians spread across supporting venues around the local West End block.

Hunter Street Stride – a collection of up to 12 venues ranging from Bar Mellow in the West End to The Ship Inn in the East End will feature live music on a single Saturday.

City of Newcastle has outlined its plan to become a nationally significant destination for cultural tourism as part of a masterplan designed to preserve Newcastle’s cultural institutions and enhance the surrounding precinct.

Councillors will vote next week to adopt the new Cultural Precinct Masterplan, which provides a roadmap to amplify the existing and emerging opportunities in the city’s arts and entertainment hub.

The precinct covers an area loosely bounded by Honeysuckle, Civic, Laman Street, the former Tower Cinemas, and the edge of the Hunter Street Mall.

It includes institutions and public spaces such as the Civic Theatre, City Hall, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle City Library, Civic Park, Victoria Theatre, Conservatorium of Music, the University of Newcastle’s inner city facilities and the Boat Harbour site on Wharf Road.

Newcastle’s two five-star hotels also fall within this precinct, with the Kingsley and the QT playing an important role in improving the visitor experience in and around neighbouring cultural institutions.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was committed to protecting and promoting the city’s cultural heritage.

“In October 2020, the elected Council resolved to explore the creation of a formal ‘Civic Cultural Precinct’ to ensure appropriate long-term planning for the protection of the city’s cultural institutions as well as ways of enhancing and better activating the precinct,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Newcastle is already known as an innovative and creative community with a vibrant cultural history and an amazing depth of talent within its performing and visual arts sector.

“As part of this planning process, we have laid out our vision to grow our visitor economy by creating a nationally significant platform for arts, culture, festivals, and expression.

“This will ultimately deliver a diversity of experiences within in a walkable footprint that will preserve the heritage of the precinct while delivering beneficial cultural, economic and tourism outcomes.”

The Cultural Precinct Plan was developed following consultation with 23 cultural institutions, community groups and local businesses and will require ongoing collaboration between stakeholders to be delivered.

It identifies the importance of key cultural projects such as the expansion of Newcastle Art Gallery and the refurbishment of the Victoria Theatre, which, along with increased collaboration across institutions, will help unlock more than $16 million in direct and indirect benefits to the local economy each year, including almost 35,000 additional visitor nights.

These projects would be augmented by “five big moves” identified to reshape the precinct, including the creation of an “academic corridor” to help integrate the Cultural Precinct with the University of Newcastle’s City Campus, and increased activation around Wheeler Place, Museum Park and Boat Harbour.

Police have released a CCTV images and are appealing for public assistance after an assault and robbery on the Central Coast earlier this month.

Just after 5.30am on Sunday 6 November 2022, a 28-year-old man boarded a southbound train from Broadmeadow Railway Station travelling towards Cockle Creek Railway Station.

As train arrived at Cardiff Railway Station, the man, who was seated at the time, was approached from behind by an unknown male who allegedly assaulted him then dragged him to floor, where three other men also began to assault him.

The men stole the man’s mobile phone before he was able to free himself and leave the train at Cockle Creek Railway Station.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.

As inquiries continue, police have released an image of four men who may be able to assist with their investigation.

The first man is describe as being of Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged 18 to 20, with black hair cut in a long ‘mullet’ style and wearing a black t-shirt and red hat.

The second man is described as being of Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander appearance, believed to be aged in his 30s, wearing a black hooded ‘GANT’-brand jumper with white writing on the front, black jeans, red and black shoes.

The third man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged 18 to 20, wearing a black hooded jumper, red shorts, red shoes and a red hat.

The fourth man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged 18 to 20, with long brown hair, wearing green hat, black t shirt, blue jeans, and grey shoes.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000..

NSW Labor is today announcing that Branxton local Peree Watson will run as the NSW Labor candidate for Upper Hunter in the March 2023 NSW State Election.

Peree has lived in the Upper Hunter her entire life, having raised her three children here and now living with her husband Ian in Branxton.

Peree wants to ensure the many diverse communities of the Upper Hunter receive their fair share of government resources and support. She believes the community deserves better healthcare, quality education and secure employment.

As the daughter of the late former President of the United Mineworkers Union, Mick Watson, Peree knows the importance of hard work and collaboration to deliver for the community.

Career and community involvement:

Peree has worked across the accounting, hospitality, management, and journalism fields before moving into the not-for-profit industry. She has also volunteered at her local playgroup, for her kid’s schools and football committees.

For the last 15 years, Peree has worked as a fundraiser for charities supporting some of the most vulnerable in our community, including the Hunter Medical Research Institute, the Leukaemia Foundation, Hunter Children’s Research Foundation, the Mark Hughes Foundation and the domestic violence charity Got Your Back Sista.

Comment from Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:

I’m excited to announce Peree Watson will be the Labor candidate for Upper Hunter at the next election.

 
“Peree is a passionate advocate and a deeply ingrained member of the community and I’m confident she will be a strong voice for the Upper Hunter in the NSW Parliament if she has the privilege of being elected.

“Labor faces an uphill battle in this electorate, but I believe Peree is up for the fight, and will turn up every single day for her community.”
 
Comment from Yasmin Catley, NSW Shadow Minister for the Hunter:

“Peree is just the person the Upper Hunter needs in Macquarie Street. She is a fighter and will deliver real change for this community if given the opportunity.

“Peree has a long history in this community, the Upper Hunter and broader Hunter Community. She is a well-respected local who and understands the concerns and needs of its residents.

“I have no doubt she will be a passionate advocate for Upper Hunter and will be a fantastic addition to our parliamentary team if she has the privilege of being elected.”

Comment from Peree Watson:

I love my community, and it has been a privilege to serve it for over a decade in various capacities. I’m now asking for the opportunity to serve this community in our parliament because I believe we deserve better, and only a Minns Labor Government can deliver that.

“I’ve experienced the challenges with access to healthcare, with finding teachers to teach our kids in the local schools and seen the challenges with housing affordability, and I want to work with the community, local groups and across Government to find solutions.

“I know this will be a tough election, but the people of this electorate deserve a choice, a voice and a government that won’t take them for granted.”

The newly renovated Darby Street Headphones Courtyard will be transformed into a spectacular pavement canvas this weekend as part of a live street art event supported by City of Newcastle (CN).

Hosted by Zest Events International, the Newcastle Chalk the Walk art competition will give emerging local artists the chance to make their creative mark on Newcastle’s renowned eat street precinct as part of CN’s Streets as Shared Spaces trial.

It follows the hugely popular Chalk the Walk event held during CN’s New Annual Festival, which saw artists create seven temporary masterpieces across the CBD and Darby Street during September.

The live competition will run from 9am to 4pm on Saturday 12 November, with participating artists in the running for cash prizes of up to $500.

Visitors are encouraged to come along and watch the artists at work in a mind-bending live art performance and become part of the illusion, posing for photos with the final artworks.

The Darby Street trial has been made possible with a $500,000 grant from the NSW Government through the Streets as Shared Spaces program (Round 2) and funding from City of Newcastle’s Urban Centres Revitalisation Program.

CN is supporting a number of events along Darby Street throughout the six-month trial. Details of this competition and other upcoming events can be found at whatson

Artists interested in registering to participate in the competition should visit chalkthewalk.com

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate an elderly man missing from the Lake Macquarie area.

John Davidson, aged 72, was last seen at a home on Tennent Road, Mount Hutton, about 9am yesterday (Tuesday 8 November 2022).

When he could not be located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for his welfare as he lives with dementia.

John is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, with medium build and grey hair.

He may have been wearing jeans and white joggers.

John is known to go on regular walks in the Mount Hutton, Charlestown and Gateshead areas.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to contact Lake Macquarie police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Leading Australian think tank Beyond Zero Emissions is curating a showcase of cleantech, including a number of Hunter companies, this week at COP27 on behalf of the Australian Government.

This exhibition, the Beyond Zero Emissions “Cleantech Hub”, features rising stars of Australia’s zero-emissions manufacturing industry at the Australia Pavilion, including Hunter companies Diffuse Energy, Energy Renaissance, Kardinia Energy, MGA Thermal and SwitchDin.

Sanaya Khisty, Beyond Zero Emissions Chief Strategy Officer, said, “We are delighted to bring some of the most innovative companies from Australia’s regions to the world stage. This showcase is an announcement to political leaders and the international community that Australian cleantech is open for business.

“These businesses embody a major opportunity to revitalise Australian manufacturing through Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts. Beyond Zero Emissions’ research shows that  Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts can become world-leading engine rooms where regional centres like Gladstone and the Hunter manufacture highly valuable products for the global green economy. 

“With a small commitment from the Australian government, these cleantech clusters can give Australian manufacturers an edge over international rivals by being powered by low-cost, reliable renewable energy.

“Here at COP27, we’re providing a glimpse into a bright future for Australian manufacturing. Australia has the chance to become a green exports powerhouse through Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts. This is a $333 billion opportunity that will set Australia up to prosper as the global economy decarbonises.” 

The work of Hunter energy technology company SwitchDin is enabling clean, distributed electricity grids. Andrew Mears, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SwitchDin said, “We’re proud to be an Australian company that is taking the lead towards a decarbonised grid by using our software to enable zero emission businesses and homes. Distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, batteries and EVs are accelerating this transition though utilities are struggling to keep up as they reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. 

“At SwitchDin, we’ve built software tools to orchestrate these distributed resources and simplify the delivery of clean and affordable electricity so as to benefit communities and drive the economy.”

Hunter manufacturer of printed solar Kardinia Energy creates low-cost solar energy technology that is rapidly scalable, flexible, lightweight and 100% recyclable. Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kardinia Energy Anthony Letmon said, “Kardinia Energy is excited to be represented by Beyond Zero Emissions at COP27. As a proud NSW company based in the Hunter, we are focussed on being the first commercial scale solar energy manufacturer in Australia, using advanced technology that does not rely on existing supply chains. 

“The hundreds of unsolicited inbound expressions of interest at sovereign, corporate and consumer levels from over 70 countries this year alone highlights the scale of the desperate climate challenge we face as a planet. 

“However, it’s also a socio-economic challenge; the world urgently needs access to secure and sustainable low-cost energy. Kardinia Energy’s Printed Solar technology can, and will, deliver this solution not only for the Hunter but globally.”

Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) is an independent think tank focused on publishing and promoting solutions to climate change. BZE produces research and works alongside renewable energy and cleantech manufacturers to demonstrate how Australia can prosper in a zero-emissions economy. 

BZE has collaborated with the Australian Government to exhibit regionally-based Australian manufacturers, including high purity aluminium, modular solar, renewable energy storage and more at the world’s biggest annual climate conference, COP27.

Further information

The Beyond Zero Emissions “Cleantech Hub” at the Australia Pavilion will exhibit at the following times during the COP27 conference:

• Friday 11/11 9AM-10AM (Decarbonisation Day) (EET – Eastern European Time)
• Tuesday 15/11 9AM-10AM (Energy Day) (EET – Eastern European Time)

The full list of Hunter companies and organisations featuring at the Beyond Zero Emissions “Cleantech Hub”, including through video content:

• Diffuse Energy
• Energy Renaissance
• Kardinia Energy
• MGA Thermal
• SwitchDin

We are delighted to invite you to the Kmart Kotara launch of its iconic Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal together with founding charity partner, The Salvation Army, in store tomorrow Thursday 10th November 2022. 

This year marks a historic milestone of reaching 35 years of supporting those doing it tough in communities across Australia. The need for the Appeal is greater than ever-before, as many Australians face into cost-of-living pressures such as increased electricity and food prices and rising interest rates seeing the financial strain on many individuals and families rapidly increasing.

Long standing charity partner, The Salvation Army, is anticipating this Christmas to be one of the busiest they have ever seen. Research conducted by The Salvation Army last Christmas found that a staggering 83% of those surveyed and presenting to the Salvos were struggling to afford Christmas presents for their children and more than half (56%) could not afford a meal on Christmas Day.

Raptor Squad detectives are appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate a malicious wounding in Lake Macquarie last year.

About 8am on Tuesday 10 August 2021, two men – then aged 33 – were seated inside a purple Holden Commodore at a gravel carpark at the intersection of Impala Street and Main Road, Edgeworth, when a black Audi hatchback drove into the carpark.

Two men exited the hatchback and approached the Commodore, before one of the men – armed with a knife – slashed the two passenger side tyres and then stabbed the male passenger.

Both men then approached the driver’s side and assaulted the driver before fleeing the scene in the Audi. The vehicle was last seen travelling east on Main Road.

The men attended John Hunter Hospital for treatment, but have both since recovered.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries, before the matter was referred to the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad for further investigation.

As inquiries continue, detectives have released a CCTV image of a black Audi hatchback, observed in the area a short time after the incident.

Detectives have also issued an image of a pair of distinct red and black sunglasses left at the scene.

The driver of the Audi is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 180cm to 185cm tall, with dark coloured hair in a mohawk style.

The Audi passenger is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 155cm tall, with tattoos on his face, neck and arms, and red hair with a mohawk and mullet style haircut.

A man will appear in court today charged following an investigation into a fatal crash in the state’s Hunter at the weekend.

About 11.10pm on Saturday (5 November 2022), emergency services were called to Maitland Road, near Henry Street, at Tighes Hill, after reports a car had left the road and collided with a power pole.

Initial inquiries suggest a Hyundai i30 was travelling east on Maitland Road when it left the roadway and collided with a power pole, splitting it in half and ejecting the male passenger from the vehicle who died at the scene.

The driver, a 31-year-old man, was able to free himself from the wreckage and was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital with minor injuries.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and established a crime scene which was examined by specialist police from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit.

About 1.30pm yesterday (Sunday 6 November 2022), the driver was arrested after being discharged from hospital and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous and negligent driving (occasioning death).

The man was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Monday 7 November 2022).