Category: Newcastle News

The Albanese Government is ensuring the voices of young people are heard on the issues that matter to them.

Today, young representatives, aged 16-25, from the Newcastle Hunter region will have their say at the Newcastle Youth Forum.

The Newcastle Youth Forum will be an opportunity to engage directly with the Minister for Youth, Dr Anne Aly and local Federal Members Sharon Claydon MP and Meryl Swanson MP, about the big issues that are facing young people at a local and national level.

Young Australians are best placed to provide advice on creative solutions that work for them to help solve issues that they care about. 

The Youth Forum builds on the work the Albanese Government is already doing to restore trust with young Australians in our political and government institutions.

This work includes re-establishing the Office for Youth, a dedicated unit within government to improve and harmonise policies impacting young Australians, and appointing the Youth Steering Committee made up of 15 diverse young people from across the nation to help shape our Government’s Youth Engagement Model.

Additionally, the Government has appointed 40 young Australians to five Youth Advisory Groups providing advice across matters in a range of portfolios, including Climate Change and Energy, Indigenous Australians, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Industry and Science and Social Services.

These exciting initiatives are ensuring two-way conversations with young Australians on the issues that matter most to them, making sure they have a genuine platform to shape the future of our nation. 

MINISTER FOR YOUTH DR ANNE ALY said:

“We’re ensuring young people have a genuine seat at the table, to be really listened to and to effect the change that is important to them.”

“We know that a government that not only works for young people, but also with them, will be far more effective – delivering a better future for all of us.”

MEMBER FOR NEWCASTLE SHARON CLAYDON MP said:

“There are so many young Novacastrians who want to see things improve for their generation, our community, and the future of our planet. The Albanese Labor government is ensuring the voices of young Novacastrians are heard at the highest level.”

“We know that young people are best place to help shape real solutions on the issues that matter to them. That’s why these discussions in Newcastle today are so important.”

MEMBER FOR PATERSON, MERYL SWANSON MP said:

“We’re empowering young Australians, making sure we are engaging them in two-way conversations.”

“Young Australians in Paterson want to be a part of shaping the solutions that work for them.”

New data reveals strong enrolments in Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education courses across New South Wales, thanks to a landmark agreement between the Australian and New South Wales Government.

The Australian Government partnered with the NSW Government to invest $319 million in the state, as part of a 12-month Skills Agreement, to deliver up to 120,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education places in 2023.

New figures show that about 65,000 students have enrolled in TAFE NSW under the Fee-Free initiative, highlighting the demand for education and training.

Hunter students enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE courses save thousands of dollars on their course fees, helping relieve the cost of living pressures. For instance:

• A student studying a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) will save up to $8,220.
• A student studying a Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security) will save up to $4,060.
• A student studying a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care will save up to $4,970.
• A student studying a Certificate III in Electrotechnology (Electrician) will save up to $3,960.

We also know that clean energy industries are the future for our workers, and include solar installation, large-scale renewable projects, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and renewable manufacturing.

That’s why the Australian Government is spending $95.6 million over nine years to support 10,000 New Energy Apprenticeships.

There are currently 6,635 apprentices in training in the Hunter, including New Energy apprentices who commenced from 1 January 2023, who can receive up to $10,000 over the course of their apprenticeship to assist with the cost of living.

Whether in the care sector, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, construction, or technology, it remains vital that we continue to deliver skills training in an effective and accessible way.

Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said:

“Fee-Free TAFE is focused on identified priority courses in areas experiencing skills shortages right now. These courses will lead to jobs needed most by employers.”

“The Albanese Government is spending $95.6 million over nine years to support 10,000 New Energy Apprenticeships.”

“They could be electricians rewiring homes for rooftop solar, batteries and efficient appliances, or machinists and metal fitters maintaining gearboxes at offshore wind farms.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon MP said:

“The courses offered through Fee-Free TAFE align directly with areas where we need thousands more workers, but importantly offer a critical value-proposition, in this current economic climate, where financial barriers are removed.”

Fee-Free TAFE represents opportunity for workers in our local Hunter region, both in existing industry and those preparing for emerging occupations.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Tim Crakanthorp said:

“The Minns Labor Government has been elected to return TAFE to the heart of the vocational education system.

“We have started to work closely with Minister O’Connor and the Albanese Government to support TAFE. Fee-Free TAFE is critical to that success.”

Young people are gearing up to take over Wheeler Place and Museum Park this Saturday with pop-up skate ramps, live music, market stalls, art exhibits and workshops to kick off Youth Week 2023 celebrations.

City of Newcastle (CN) is hosting and supporting an exciting program of youth-led events, designed and delivered by young people, that highlight the contribution young people make to the community, as part of the state-wide event which runs until 30 April.

Together with the NSW Department of Community and Justice, CN has provided funding towards three events that will take place during Youth Week to promote cultural diversity, social inclusion, arts and culture, mental health and wellbeing.

CN will open the doors to the City Administration Centre for an Open Day, by invitation only, providing local high school students with the opportunity to learn more about civic engagement and Council services and facilities. Whilst opportunities for creative and cultural expression, as well as social connection and wellbeing will be the focus of the Civic Takeover and Young N’ Cultured events.

Visit What’s On Newcastle for more information on Newcastle Youth Week events.

Newcastle Youth Week events and activities:

Civic Takeover
Wheeler Place and Museum Park
Saturday 22 April 2pm – 6pm
All ages, free event, no bookings required

Pop down to Wheeler Place and Museum Park this Saturday for an afternoon of live music from emerging local performers, market stalls, a youth art exhibition, an artist-led sculptural workshop and pop-up skate ramps. Civic Takeover is presented in partnership with Newcastle Art Gallery, Skate Connection, Newy Youth Markets and Tantrum Youth Arts.

Young N’ Cultured
University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus
Friday 28 April, 4pm – 6pm
All ages

Come celebrate diversity and join the sharing of vibrant cultures and knowledge with an evening enriched by the sounds, colours, and spirit of cultural songs, dance and storytelling. Presented in partnership with University of Newcastle, Young N’ Cultured showcases both traditional and contemporary talents embodied across Newcastle’s multicultural communities.

City of Newcastle (CN) will expedite processing a soon to be lodged Development Application by Iris Capital, to enable the demolition of the buildings located in Phase 3 of its award-winning East End development.

Phase 3 is bound by Hunter, Newcomen, King and Laing Streets and includes the building which previously housed several retail outlets and a food court.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said CN is committed to the long-term revitalisation of Hunter Street and this is another step towards improving the Mall area as an attractive destination for locals and visitors.

“Delivering the long overdue transformation in the Hunter Street Mall has been a vital project for City renewal. The initial stages highlight the overall vision for the future completed revitalisation of the heritage precinct. The next stage of public domain works are planned and ready to deliver.

“Through close collaboration with NSW Police and Iris Capital we identified that we have some public safety concerns in the final stages of the heritage revitalisation, so action is progressing on the demolition of the non-heritage buildings so the site can be adequately contained,” Cr Nelmes said.

Iris Capital Development Manager Jamie Boswell said this site completes Iris Capital’s contribution to the East End Village and the demolition is an important step towards future development.

“This site provides another opportunity for revitalisation and for Iris Capital to contribute further to the transformation of the Hunter Street Mall and along with City of Newcastle we are committed to public safety and the best outcome for the community is to progress with the demolition of the existing structure as quickly as possible,” Mr Boswell said.

The DA for demolition of the buildings will be expedited following concerns about the current state of the buildings and antisocial behaviour from members of the public and local business owners.

Police are aware of reports of antisocial behaviour in and around these buildings and will continue to work collaboratively with the City of Newcastle and increase proactive police patrols in response.

CN’s Executive Director Planning and Environment, Michelle Bisson, said her team will undertake the assessment as a priority to ensure all requirements are met, including heritage considerations and expect to have the application determined shortly after lodgement.

The East End Public Domain project consists of multiple phases of work with the long term vision to reinstate Hunter Street as a traditional high street and an attractive destination for locals and visitors, with outdoor dining and boutique retail opportunities.

With school holidays underway, families are celebrating City of Newcastle’s ongoing investment in recreational spaces with five new local playgrounds officially opening for children with energy to burn. Young people will be able to swing, slide and climb on upgraded equipment at Loch Ness Drive Park in Fletcher, Waratah Park in Waratah, Harold Myers Park in Birmingham Gardens, Vera Wilson Park in Beresfield and Avon Street Reserve in Mayfield.

With a total investment of $750,000 across the five playgrounds, there are activities to suit all ages and importantly, equipment that allows children’s senses to go wild these school holidays.

Loch Ness Drive Park, Fletcher

The largest of the five playgrounds, the design of the renewed playground at Loch Ness Park was guided by Everyone Can Play principles. The playground has an activity for every age, with a total of 41 inclusive activities split across two-levels.

Waratah Park, Waratah

Nestled amongst greenery, Waratah Park’s playground design is sympathetic to its natural surroundings. The new playground offers a range of 22 activities to encourage children to enrich and improve their skills on items including a climbing wall, challenging climbing nets, swings, and a slide.

Harold Myer Park, Birmingham Gardens

This renewed playground features 35 activities, with multiplay equipment designed to encourage interaction between children with slides, gangways, climbing nets and climbing walls.

Vera Wilson Park, Beresfield

This playground showcases areas for children to build strength and endurance, as well as elements that encourage creativity and social interaction. With 24 challenging and inclusive activities, children of all ages will be able to enlighten their senses on commando tubes, climbing walls, swings, slides, climbing nets and play panels.

Avon Street Reserve, Mayfield

Stimulating hearing and a sense of rhythm, this playground offers musical play activities in the form of underground pipes with attached dongers. These pipes double up us talk tubes, enabling children to interact with other children in the playground. Multiplay equipment also offers swings, slides, balancing beams, play panels, gangways, and climbing nets.

Find out more about our Playground Replacement Program on our project page.

50 people have been charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter region this morning.

About 10am (Sunday 16 April 2023), officers attached to Newcastle City Police District, along with specialist police resources, attended Tourle Street, Sandgate, in relation to unauthorised protest activity.

Police spoke with a group of 50 people who entered the railway corridor, with a portion of those people who had climbed onto a train carriage.

47 people were issued court attendance notices for offences including obstructing a railway (locomotive), assist in obstructing a rail locomotive, aggravated enter inclosed lands and interfere with business, and enter inclosed lands.

During the event, it is alleged two more people damaged property and a third person assaulted a security officer, all while attempting to gain entry onto the railway corridor.

All three were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.

A 32-year-old man was charged with common assault and assist in obstruction of rail locomotive or rolling stock.

A 59-year-old man was charged with destroy or damage property, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, and enter inclosed non-agricultural lands interfere etc business.

They were both granted bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 1 June 2023.

A 47-year-old man was charged with destroy or damage property, assist in obstruction of rail locomotive or rolling stock, and enter inclosed non-agricultural lands interfere etc business.

He was bail refused to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 17 April 2023).

The Upper Hunter’s newest racing facility will be unveiled with an historic TAB meeting on Sunday afternoon at Muswellbrook.

Following a $3 million redevelopment of the facility, the Muswellbrook Greyhound Track will host a Grand Opening family day to celebrate the club’s first ever TAB race meeting.

“It’s a very exciting time not only for our racing participants in the region – which is a heartland of our sport in NSW – but for the community in and around Muswellbrook,” Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said.

“What greyhound racing does within local communities, is that it supports livelihoods of participants and but there are also flow on benefits throughout the towns.

“We estimate the facility will bring an additional $20 million into the Muswellbrook economy, and 20 additional jobs.

“The local community will see an influx into the economy from those coming to race,  and, as part of a new GRNSW policy initiated last year, local suppliers were the preferred supplies for work, and will continue to be.”

GRNSW purchased the track from the Greyhound Breeders, Owners & Trainers Association in 2021 with the aim of rebuilding the facility. The last race meeting staged at Muswellbrook was an 11-race, Non-TAB card on August 1, 2021.

As the case is with all GRNSW track upgrades, the focus of the rebuild at Muswellbrook  has been firmly on safety.

“The reason why we are investing in these tracks around the State is to bring all of our racetracks up to the safest standard for our greyhounds, and we have done exactly that here at Muswellbrook,” Mr Macaulay said.

“The safety and welfare of our animal is paramount.”

Among the work conducted at the track has been a full refurbishment with the remediation and re-profiling of the track and the turf surface, the installation of a new safety rail, safety padding on the turns and in the catching pen, and a Safechase lure system.

The kennels have new insulation and air conditioning installed, new starting boxes and new synthetic mats at the boxes are in place, and a new swabbing bay and stewards’ room have been built.

“We are very, very proud of the new facility at Muswellbrook, it looks spectacular, and to celebrate the Grand Opening, we are inviting everyone from around the region to come along and be part of what will be a memorable day,” Mr Macaulay said.

“There will be lots of free activities for all the family, including a jumping castle, face painting, sausage sizzle, fairy floss, kids’ zone, and local band Hurricane Fall will be performing, and it will all be free.”

Local participants have shown their support for the new facility with a large number of nominations ensuring a 12-race card has been scheduled.

The completion of the upgrade at Muswellbrook will offer participants another state-of-the-art venue in the region to race at, along with The Gardens in Newcastle and the Maitland track.

A man will face court today charged over an alleged stabbing at a train station near Newcastle.

Emergency services were called to Broadmeadow Railway Station about 10.15am yesterday (Friday 14 April 2023), after reports a 28-year-old man had suffered a stab wound to his abdomen.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

A 25-year-old man was taken to Mater Hospital under police guard.

A crime scene was established by officers from Newcastle City Police District, who commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The 25-year-old man was discharged from hospital late yesterday before he was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

He was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and possess prohibited drug.

The Bar Beach man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 15 April 2023).

A police officer has been charged over alleged sexual related offences.

In December 2022, an investigation commenced into reports of an alleged sexual offence involving a 17-year-old girl.

Following inquiries, a 27-year-old man was arrested yesterday (Thursday 6 April 2023) and taken to Singleton Police Station.

The probationary constable – attached to a command in the Northern Region – was charged with incite other to do a sexual act with them without consent and behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Singleton Local Court on Thursday 11 May 2023.

The officer’s employment status is currently under review.

City of Newcastle held three events at Fort Scratchley during the Newcastle 500, which is in line with what was done during the 2019 Newcastle 500.

Approximately 200 City of Newcastle employees and their guest attended an event on the Friday of the race weekend after being selected via an internal ballot. General Admission tickets were provided at no cost to City of Newcastle and our staff. Those attending were required to take a day of annual leave in order to attend. All costs (including food and drink) were paid for by the staff who attended.

Approximately 300 business and community leaders attended an event on the Saturday of the race weekend at Fort Scratchley, which also featured a fundraising event for domestic violence charities Got Your Back Sista and Nova for Women and Children. Just over $40,000 was raised for the two charities. Again, General Admission tickets to the event were provided at no cost to City of Newcastle.

An event held on the Sunday of the race weekend was a public event with more than 300 people purchasing tickets, with income from the event ensuring not only were all costs associated with using Fort Scratchley across the weekend covered but that a profit of $10,805.99 was made.