About 9.10pm on Friday 8 April 2022, emergency services were called to a carpark on Arnott Street, Edgeworth, following reports of a public place shooting.
A 27-year-old man was found suffering a gunshot wound to the right leg. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
He has since recovered and been released; however, has failed to provide any information as to how he came to be injured.
Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting under Strike Force Undola and have established the man was linked to the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) at the time.
As part of their inquiries, investigators have also established that the man may have been shot near the intersection of Wakefield and Sugarloaf Range Roads, near Freemans Waterhole, just north of Lake Macquarie and will be conducting an extensive search of the area commencing at 10:30am today (Thursday 11 August 2022).
As investigations continue, police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who was in the area on the evening of Friday 8 April 2022 and may have dash cam vision, to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
City of Newcastle’s culture of excellence, transparency and continuous improvement has been recognised amongst its peers at a host of recent industry awards ceremonies.
For the second consecutive year, City of Newcastle’s (CN) Annual Report has won gold at the 2022 Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) for Excellence.
The Awards give organisations an opportunity to benchmark their reports against world’s best practice, with a gold rating recognising a report’s high-quality coverage against criteria such as providing a balanced and reasonable picture of economic, environmental, and social performance, as well as transparency of the organisation’s core business.
Meanwhile, the Masterplan for the future of Hamilton’s historic and much-loved Gregson Park was recognised as a finalist at the Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT Awards.
The Gregson Park Masterplan celebrates the European and Indigenous heritage of the site, while meeting the recreational and accessibility needs of the community. It features a larger inclusive play space with water play, yarning circle, and a planted swale with indigenous plantings, a new community shelter, more shaded seating, and the potential for community gardens and a kiosk.
Finalists in this award are recognised as outstanding examples of strategic planning that have enriched and revitalised a community.
At the Local Government NSW Awards, CN’s Public Art Reference Group (PARG) was a finalist in the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Awards category. This award recognises councils that have excelled in strategic policy, planning, delivery and evaluation in arts and culture.
Established in 2018, the PARG provides advice on the commissioning and development of new public art works in the city that are reflective of Newcastle’s history, culture, and community.
A man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives as part of an ongoing investigation into several alleged armed robberies in the Newcastle area this year.
In July 2022, detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Kulla – with assistance from Newcastle City Police District – to investigate three alleged armed robberies, including:
About 10.25pm on Sunday 3 July 2022, a man – armed with a knife – approached two staff members as they were leaving a licenced premises on Station Street, Waratah. The man demanded the employees reopen the hotel before he allegedly stole cash and fled the scene on foot.
About 3.20am on Friday 8 July 2022, a 21-year-old male employee was leaving a licenced premises on Denison Street, Hamilton, when he was approached by a man armed with a knife. He allegedly threatened the employee and demanded to be let inside the premises, before stealing cash and fleeing the scene south along Beaumont Street.
About 1.20am on Sunday 7 August 2022, two staff members were leaving a licensed premises on Denison Street, Hamilton, via an exit on Steel Street, when they were approached by a man – allegedly armed with a handgun. The armed man threatened the staff members, before stealing cash and fleeing the scene towards Veda Street.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives – with assistance from Newcastle City Police District and the Tactical Operations Unit – attended a home on Everton Street, Hamilton, about 7.30am today (Tuesday 9 August 2022).
Upon police arrival, a 29-year-old man refused to leave the home and a police operation commenced.
Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW attended following reports of a small fire inside the home, however, were not required.
Specialist officers, including negotiators, attended the scene before the man was arrested without incident about 10.30am.
A search warrant was subsequently executed at the Hamilton home, and a second was executed at a home on Scholey Street, Mayfield – where officers seized a number of items for further forensic examination.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, robbery while armed with dangerous weapon.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 10 August 2022).
Investigations under Strike Force Kulla are ongoing.
Newcastle’s Young Professional Engineer of the Year and Project of the Year have been announced at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards – People & Projects Newcastle.
“The Engineers Australia Excellence Awards recognise outstanding engineers who show innovation and resourcefulness in their work and the region’s top engineering projects and the teams behind them,” said Engineers Australia Newcastle Division General Manager Helen Link.
“The Newcastle region is home to some of the globe’s oldest engineering structures, as well as world-class people and projects pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence to provide creative solutions to local problems.”
Project of The Year – Newcastle
Pacific Complete -Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade
Joint Venture between Laing O’Rourke and WSP Australia, in partnership with Transport for NSW
The Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade converted 155km of the Pacific Highway to a four lane, divided carriageway between Hexham and the Queensland border.
The project team navigated two major river catchments, floodplains, soft soil, threatened species habitat, and sensitive heritage areas to provide safer, reduced travel times and better connectivity for local communities.
The size, scale and complex nature of the project provided unique challenges to the project team, who devised innovative solutions to leave an economic, social, and environmental legacy.
Young Professional Engineer of the Year – Newcastle
Steve Adamthwaite, MIEAust
As leader of Arup’s NSW/ACT Water Business Steve Adamthwaite drives sustainable, community-oriented solutions to deliver service and infrastructure excellence to industry and the community.
Adamthwaite represents the next generation of leaders and innovators – driving change, leading projects, and developing skills to underpin a sustainable future for the infrastructure sector, its people and the communities that rely upon it.
He also shapes future strategy through leadership positions with WaterAid NSW (Deputy Chair), Australian Water Association (Vice President NSW) and Engineers Australia (Deputy Chair, National Young Engineers Committee, Shadow Board).
Winners from the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards – People & Projects Newcastle now go into the running for the National Young Engineer of the Year Award and the Sir William Hudson Award – the highest accolade which an engineering project can receive from Engineers Australia.
The national awards will be held at the Sydney Hilton on October 5.
City of Newcastle has set its sights on capturing more of the lucrative leisure tourism market by encouraging visitors to discover the city’s eclectic and unexpected experiences.
Maintaining the colourful ‘Newcastle’ brand with the new tagline and campaign ‘Seek Off Beat’, City of Newcastle (CN) aims to increase awareness of the city’s diverse mix of tourism offerings, driving both day and overnight visitation to Newcastle.
City of Newcastle Acting Manager Major Events & Corporate Affairs Georgia Lazzari said through its Destination Management Plan 2021-2025, CN is strategically focused on positioning the city as a premier tourism destination, with quirky visitor experiences as well as its signature offerings.
“Our new tourism tagline ‘Seek Off Beat’ taps into the curiosity of potential visitors by encouraging them to look beyond their existing perceptions and discover a vibrant, sophisticated city with stimulating culture, history and coastal experiences,” Ms Lazzari said.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said illuminating the City’s visitor economy strengths would provide an important boost to the economy and further support local job creation.
“Newcastle is steeped in heritage, bustling with arts and culture, with a lively night-time economy, and world-class major events,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Prior to COVID-19, Newcastle’s thriving tourism industry contributed more than $945 million to the local economy each year and supported 4,920 jobs, with the city welcoming more than 5.1 million international and domestic visitors.
“As we face the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 in the Hunter region, there is significant opportunity for a tourism-led economic recovery, with initiatives and projects designed to attract new visitors and increase tourist spend.
“We’ve seen the industry show confidence in Newcastle’s leisure tourism potential, investing significantly to deliver our first two five-star hotels in the heart of our city’s cultural precinct.
“From 2024, an expanded Newcastle Airport terminal will welcome more than 250,000 international passengers annually as a result of runway upgrades that will cater to Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s, enabling direct flights to more international destinations.
“To help attract more leisure visitors, a key action in the Newcastle’s Destination Management Plan has been to work with the business sector to increase the number of bookable visitor experiences on offer.
“By continuing to raise awareness of our city’s unique offerings in a way that appeals to visitors from outside the region and abroad, Newcastle’s future as an international tourism and major events destination is bright.”
The new tourism brand will be in market for stage one of a multifaceted campaign on 4 August 2022 for an initial period of eight weeks.
An off-duty police officer has been charged with mid-range drink-driving following a crash on the Central Coast.
About 11.35pm yesterday (Wednesday 3 August 2022), emergency services were called to Geoffrey Road, Chittaway Point, following reports of a crash.
On arrival, officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District found a Suzuki sedan had crashed into a garbage bin and parked car.
The driver – an off-duty senior constable attached to a specialist command – was uninjured and subject to a roadside breath test which returned an alleged reading of 0.167.
She was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station where she was subject to a secondary breath analysis which allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.132.
The 32-year-old woman was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with mid-range PCA, to appear at Wyong Local Court on Monday 15 August 2022.
City of Newcastle (CN) has launched a business support program to help local traders benefit from the influx of visitors to the city centre for the New Annual festival next month.
CN’s flagship arts event will kick off with the world-renowned Van Gogh Alive experience on 22 September followed by a vibrant 10-day program of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and cultural workshops.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a financial incentive program would help local businesses deliver special offers and promotions during New Annual that celebrate Newcastle’s culture, encouraging patrons to spend more time in the city.
“Newcastle is home to a unique range of boutique makers and traders, hospitality venues, and arts and cultural institutions that have been seriously impacted by the ongoing challenges of COVID-19,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Our first New Annual event in 2021 attracted 30,000 people to the city, providing an important economic boost across the arts, hospitality, and tourism sectors, while also celebrating and showcasing our creative city.
“New Annual 2022 presents an opportunity for local businesses to tap into the increased visitation to the city by delivering special offers that entice visitors to shop, dine and experience the best of Newcastle during the festival.
“Supporting our local small businesses through this partnership program will also enhance the experience for New Annual attendees while helping to create a whole-of-city festival atmosphere.”
Expressions of interest to take part in the business support program are open until 5pm, 16 August 2022. A business information webinar will be held from 2pm on 9 August, registration is essential.
New Annual 2022 will feature local and nationally recognised artists delivering a mix of free, ticketed and family-friendly events. The full New Annual program and ticket sales are available online now at www.newannual.com
Local domestic violence and homelessness support service, Jenny’s Place has received a welcome $18,000 windfall as the 2022 Annual Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast beneficiary.
The funds raised at this year’s breakfast, hosted by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, will support the Newcastle Domestic Violence Resource Centre (DVRC), which operates from the Joy Cummings Centre and provides early intervention and prevention services to women and children experiencing domestic violence.
Established in 2008, the DVRC fills a gap in government services to deliver long-term, specialised casework and provide targeted response training for individuals, community groups and businesses.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Jenny’s Place was a worthy choice to benefit from the generosity of church and civic leaders at the annual early-morning fundraiser at NEX Newcastle.
“The Newcastle Domestic Violence Resource Centre is not government-funded and relies solely on community donations and sponsorship to keep its doors open, so I’m pleased to be able to help support such an important cause,” Cr Nelmes said.
“This is particularly significant when you consider the DVRC is a referral pathway for the Staying Home Leaving Violence program and many other agencies, including the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, Centrelink, Housing NSW and other housing providers, educational institutions, health professionals and hospitals, counsellors and more.”
Jenny’s Place Executive Manager, Marcia Chapman said the funding was gratefully received and would help break the cycle of domestic violence to create a safer city for everyone.
“In 2020-21, the Newcastle Domestic Violence Resource Centre provided direct relief to more than 220 women experiencing domestic violence. Our caseworkers support women to maintain employment, develop safety and exit plans where necessary, and to access domestic violence services, while encouraging choice, change and growth,” Ms Chapman said.
“We’re thrilled to be the beneficiary of the 2022 Annual Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and look forward to continuing to work with community leaders to stamp out this insidious issue in our society.”
Jenny’s Place has been supporting women and children experiencing family and domestic violence since its first refuge opened in 1977. Each year the organisation assists more than 1,200 women to find safety and rebuild their lives free from violence.
The 25th anniversary of an historic declaration signed in Newcastle to pursue sustainable development was marked before representatives from Hunter businesses, not-for-profit, local and state government today.
The Newcastle Declaration was endorsed at the Pathways to Sustainability International Conference hosted by City of Newcastle in June 1997, and signed by former Newcastle Lord Mayor Greg Heys, as well as representatives from the International Union of Local Authorities, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI,) Australian Local Government Association.
The Declaration made its way around the world, being presented to the United Nations at the 1997: Rio +5 Conference in New York.
The acknowledgement of its 25-year milestone came during today’s meeting of the Hunter Region Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Collaboration Group, which works together on ways to achieve the United Nations’ goals across the region.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle remained committed to the objectives laid out in the original Newcastle Declaration.
“It is important to recognise this significant milestone and the actions of our former leaders who were forward thinking for their time in responding to the challenge of establishing sustainable management practices with the Newcastle Declaration,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As a result, City of Newcastle is now a leader in this space and over the past 25 years has successfully achieved economic, social, cultural and ecological goals by integrating sustainability into the design and implementation of our policies, programs and projects.
“City of Newcastle was the first local government in NSW to switch to 100 per cent renewable electricity supply, with our 5-megawatt solar farm and a power purchase agreement with the Sapphire Wind Farm.
“By meeting together with local businesses, government representatives, and not-for-profit organisations that are also committed to sustainable development initiatives, we will collaborate on ways we can bring the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to life in Greater Newcastle for an environmentally sustainable future.”
Lincoln Hawkins reflected on the Pathways to Sustainability International Conference in 1997 as the Conference Chair and acknowledged the collective work of all those involved in the Newcastle Declaration.
“The Pathways Conference was held during a crossroads in the 1990s – a very significant time in Newcastle with the 1997 Bicentenary,” Mr Hawkins said.
“The Newcastle Declaration was agreed on behalf of towns and cities around the world, who took a major step toward embracing the global challenge of sustainability at a local level.
“The challenges and opportunities faced then are clearly no less important today. Their legacy continues to play a critical leadership role in showing us how to successfully transition to sustainability.”
CN is a proud long-standing member of ICLEI and is committed to the requirements of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, has taken the Cities Race to Zero Pledge, and recently endorsed The Malmo Commitment.
With an exciting new program and the blockbuster Van Gogh Alive exhibition at Foreshore Park, City of Newcastle’s flagship arts festival will return this September with a vibrant showcase of art, culture and creativity.
City of Newcastle has announced the program for its New Annual 2022, which will kick off with the opening of Van Gogh Alive on 22 September followed by an immersive festival of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and Indigenous workshops, with installations in the city’s cultural precinct until 2 October. As a major installation, Van Gogh Alive will extend beyond the New Annual festival, running to 23 October 2022.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this year’s New Annual program is eclectic and ambitious and will be a drawcard to the city.
“We are thrilled to once again deliver this amazing arts and cultural event in September, which will allow locals and visitors to discover a new side of Newcastle as they witness the spirit and energy of our city and its creative community during the festival,” Cr Nelmes said.
The New Annual 2022 program features local and nationally renowned artists delivering a mix of free, ticketed and family-friendly events. The breadth of the program is highlighted by its 14 headline acts including ‘COLOSSUS’, a contemporary dance performance created by internationally renowned Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake, ‘This Land’, a musical showcase of award-winning and acclaimed First Nations performers, and ‘Radial’, a fusion of film-making and improvised community performance presented by Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation.
City of Newcastle recently announced that the New Annual festival is bringing the immersive, multi-sensory experience of Van Gogh Alive to Newcastle’s premier major events space, Foreshore Park. It will be presented in association with Andrew Kay Management in a specially designed 2,300-square-metre gallery known as The Grand Pavilion and run from the start of New Annual to 23 October.
Other areas of the city will also be transformed with installations as part of New Annual such as a purpose-built stage in Civic Park and the architecturally-designed ‘Pavilion of Sand’ in Wheeler Place.
Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is proud of the success of the inaugural festival in February 2021 and the second event will be a major drawcard for the city
“The inaugural New Annual held in early 2021, was embraced by the Newcastle community. Our flagship cultural event provided an important economic boost across the arts, hospitality, and tourism sectors, while also celebrating and showcasing our creative city,” Cr Nelmes said.
The 2021 New Annual attracted over 30,000 people, supporting more than 500 artists and 250 event staff, crew, and volunteers, as well as a strong increase in occupancy rates and revenue among local accommodation providers.
The full New Annual program and ticket sales are available online now at www.newannual.com
https://youtube.com/watch?v=JhRdbdcRt2k%3Frel%3D0
New Annual Program Preview
VAN GOGH ALIVE
The immersive, multi-sensory experience of Van Gogh Alive will held at Newcastle’s premier major events space, Foreshore Park. It will be presented in a specially designed 2,300-square-metre gallery known as The Grand Pavilion. Van Gogh will remain in Newcastle for six weeks, extending beyond the New Annual Festival to 23 October 2022. General public tickets for Van Gogh Alive will go on sale from 4 August.
THIS LAND
Unite with friends and family to celebrate the return of ‘This Land’, a First Nations celebration of the sound, soul, and spirit of the many nations in this country. The musical showcase will highlight a handful of award-winning and acclaimed First Nations music artists who are shaping the voices of the next generation.
RADIAL
A fusion of film-making and improvised community performance, ‘Radial’ is a collaborative process designed to capture a portrait of a community in motion. A partnership between City of Newcastle, Tantrum Youth Arts and Back to Back Theatre, ‘Radial’ will be filmed at several Newcastle locations during New Annual using a special circular camera track, culminating in a public screening on the final day of the festival at the Civic Theatre.
CREATION
‘CREATION’ is a major exhibition of artist Deborah Kelly’s work at The Lock Up accompanied by a series of free public workshops in costume-making, song, and dance. Working with local artists, choirs, and dancers, the workshops lead to a spectacular procession and concert at the City Hall showcasing the songs of CREATION.
COLOSSUS
A contemporary dance performance created by internationally renowned Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake. The exhilarating performance features riveting, and hypnotic dance work performed by Sydney Dance Company’s pre-professional and local dance artists, which explores relationships between the individual and the collective, with a cast of 50 performing as one on the Civic Theatre stage
PAVILION OF SAND
‘Pavilion of Sand’ will return with an architecturally designed, modern art installation reflecting Newcastle’s historic sand dune topography. The Pavilion of Sand will transform Wheeler Place into a visually spectacular space that will connect the city to the Awabakal and Worimi cultures with a range of First Nations-led programming including live music, weaving, workshops, conversation, dance, and reflection.
TITAN ARUM
Justin Shoulder’s TITAN ARUM ignites your imagination with this exotic performance in a landscape both familiar and alien. A sensory ceremony of dance, light and sound in a communal garden with hanging fruits and carnivorous plants, the immersive installation work will be activated with live performances throughout the festival at 164 Hunter St.
EX MACHINA
Hailed as one of Australia’s most exciting and forward-thinking ensembles, Omega Ensemble performs a thrilling program of complex and driving music from important contemporary voices including Bryce Dessner, Missy Mazzoli, Alex Turley, and with two exciting world premieres from Nico Muhly and Christopher Cerrone. This special presentation departs from the traditional concert hall and arrives at Newcastle Museum for a stellar performance in front of the prized 150-year-old steam locomotive.
MENAGERIE
‘Menagerie’ is a new, interactive community performance from Curious Legends. Across four workshops, festival-goers of all ages will help create a large-scale giant illuminated puppet, culminating in a community celebration on the last day of the festival. Participants of ‘Well’, a separate event on the program aimed at children aged 6-11, will also work on a cumulative artwork that will form part of Menagerie’s Gentle Giant.
