City of Newcastle (CN) has implemented safety precautions in preparation for another weather event forecast to impact the Newcastle coastline this week.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for gale force winds, heavy rainfall, and large and powerful surf conditions which may pose a risk to Newcastle’s coastline.
An abnormally high tide and powerful surf conditions impacted all city beaches last week with Stockton Beach suffering further erosion. Large amounts of debris were washed onto Stockton Beach making the area unsafe and forcing the temporary closure of all accessways to the southern end of the beach. A current list of beach accessway closures at Stockton Beach can be viewed here.
CN will continue to monitor its coastal facilities and assets along the Newcastle coastline including areas in Stockton which may be further impacted by coastal erosion this week. Coastal erosion can change beach conditions dramatically and quickly, making them unstable.
With public safety and CN staff safety a key priority, CN will assess the situation at Stockton Beach after this week’s weather event before determining the best approach to commence clearing the beach.
City of Newcastle reminds the community to follow safety warnings, to abide by all road and beach closures and to drive safely in the forecast hazardous weather conditions.
To stay up to date on weather warnings visit the Bureau of Meteorology at www.bom.gov.au and for information about any emergencies visit the State Emergency Service at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or phone 13 25 00.
Last night saw three aspiring young local chefs’ cook their way one step closer to London in the preliminary finals of the Brett Graham Scholarship.
The Hunter Culinary Association, in conjunction with TAFE NSW, host this prestigious annual event, now in its 18th year. Six preliminary finalists cooked for their chance to work under leading Australian chef Brett Graham in his highly acclaimed London based restaurant – The Ledbury. The Brett Graham Scholarship now in its 18th year, aims to recognise and nurture one of the Hunter Region’s most talented young chefs.
Ultimately three young Apprentices will now proceed to the final cook off – Ian Tintero of The George Tavern, Jahri Etteridge from Yellowtail, and Jayden Dann from EXP Restaurant (pictured left to right above). Contestants will all vie for the $10,000 career kick start on Tuesday 15th March. This will assist in covering airfares and accommodation in London, and is sponsored by both the Hunter Culinary Association and TAFE NSW.
Previous winners of the Brett Graham Scholarship have included Troy Rhoades Brown of Muse, Garreth Robbs of Bistro Molines, Chris Thornton of Restaurant Mason, George Mirosevich of the Signal Box, and Josh Gregory of Muse Kitchen.
Judges Tracey Amos from TAFE, Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Publisher, Cornelia Schultz and leading local Chef Shayne Mansfield of The Flotilla fame, all recognised the talent of this years competing Apprentices.
Gus Maher, Chair of Hunter Culinary Association, said his belief was that the competition was particularly close – “The Judges all said that each Apprentice brought a broad range of skills and creativity, and whilst all six finalists were very worthy, their choice of the final three was unanimous.”
Joining them on the Judging Panel for next weeks final will be Andy Wright – long time, well known Hunter Valley Chef, co-founder of The Hunter Culinary Association and now Proprietor of Pokolbin Catering Co with his wife, Janet.
The Hunter Culinary Association is a not-for-profit organisation, led by industry professionals, offering a suite of scholarships and awards that support aspiring young chefs, apprentices and front of house professionals.
As a region, the Hunter offers a culinary destination featuring diverse and abundant dining experiences ranging from quality cafes to hatted restaurants, which proudly showcase passionate and talented industry professionals, regionally sourced produce and award-winning wines from the Hunter Valley’s highly regarded wineries.
A proposed major refurbishment of Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground grandstand will transform the facility into a modern venue able to cater for the needs of local, regional and elite-level sporting fixtures.
City of Newcastle has applied for a $5 million grant from the NSW Government to complete the project, which will increase the footprint of the existing grandstand with a two-storey addition at the rear of the building to provide upgraded amenities for players, officials and spectators.
The construction is the second stage of the overall redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground, which began with a major upgrade of the playing facilities, lighting and seating capacity.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a refurbished grandstand would be the icing on the cake to attract first class cricket and AFL matches to Newcastle’s premier inner-city sportsground.
“With the first stage of the redevelopment approaching its end, City of Newcastle is turning its attention to the design and funding arrangements for the next phase, which will deliver premium-level facilities that will not only benefit local users but allow Newcastle to attract even more major sporting events to the city,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle are committed to the future of this facility and the wider National Park recreational precinct.
“We have already invested more than $7 million into the redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground and have recently submitted a $5 million grant application to the Multi-Sport Facility Fund through the NSW Government to complete the works.
“If successful, that funding will allow us to deliver the regional sporting facility our community deserves, which is capable of hosting elite level AFL and cricket matches.”
Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the concept designs included a range of benefits for both spectators and players.
“Concept designs prepared for City of Newcastle with input from both Cricket NSW and AFL NSW/ACT illustrate our grand plans for this site, with the ground floor featuring new universal player facilities, dedicated spaces for team doctors and medical staff and upgraded rooms for match officials,” Cr Winney-Baartz said
“The building’s new second storey will provide a panoramic view over the sportsground, with floor-to-ceiling windows running the entire length of a multipurpose community function room and team viewing areas, while commercial kitchen facilities will open up a range of opportunities never previously available at this venue.
“Upgraded public toilets will also improve the amenity for spectators, complementing the extended concrete bleacher seating constructed during the first phase of the redevelopment, which has almost doubled the ground’s current seated capacity.”
While wetter than average La Niña weather conditions and supply chain issues brought about by COVID-19 have extended the stage one construction phase, work is now nearing completion with sporting teams expected to be back on the pitch following a final growing-in period for the turf.
The staged works include increasing the size of the playing field to achieve the minimum standard required for a first grade AFL match, constructing seven new cricket wickets and re-building the entire playing surface with a new sub-soil irrigation and drainage system.
The installation of six new 40 metre light poles has upgraded the lighting to 750 lux, with increased electrical conduit to allow for a further increase in lux level if required for televised night-time fixtures. New sight screens, player dug-out benches and oval fencing will also improve the playing experience.
The project will position the region to attract sporting fixtures such as trial Big Bash League and trial AFL fixtures.
No.1 Sportsground History
No.1 Sportsground sits within the 20-hectare National Park, one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves.
National Park Sports Ground, as it was originally known, was designed by city engineer JF Shine in 1921.
Its original two-storey timber grandstand was completed in October 1921 and could accommodate between 200 and 300 people, with dressing rooms, stores and locker rooms in the lower level.
The sportsground was officially opened on 16 September 1922, with City of Newcastle changing its name two years later to Newcastle Sports Ground.
In 1989 the Newcastle Earthquake caused major structural damage to the original timber grandstand, which resulted in it being almost completely reconstructed with concrete stands, which remain today. This was the last significant upgrade to take place at the ground.
There’s no luggage required to enjoy a trip through the rural, remote and regional heart of Australia thanks to the latest exhibition at Newcastle Museum.
A Portrait of Australia: Stories through the lens of Australian Geographic celebrates the remarkable ordinary Australians with some of the best portrait images captured by the renowned magazine during the past three decades.
The stunning series of large format photographs will transport audiences across Australia, from the bush to the outback and up and down the coast, as they showcase the country’s diverse environments and the people who call them home.
While Novocastrians will be all too familiar with sights of rugged coastlines set against the deep blue ocean stretching as far as the eye can see, the exhibition provides a window into other Australian landscapes, allowing audiences to experience everything from the achingly vast emptiness of the Birdsville Track to the jostling movement of a sheep muster near Nyngan.
Australian Geographic is the country’s leading geographical magazine. For more than 33 years it has been reporting on Australia’s natural landscapes, its wildlife and its people, especially those who live in rural, regional and remote areas.
A Portrait of Australia: Stories through the lens of Australian Geographic is on display at Newcastle Museum until June 19 and entry to the exhibition is free.
Newcastle Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
A union-backed community protest movement that helped stop Blackbutt Reserve being cut in two by a new highway in the 1970s is being celebrated in an exhibition at Newcastle Library.
Power to the People, 50+ Years of Union and Community Green Ban Action celebrates the 50th anniversary of the “green ban” movement, which effectively saw union members refuse to work on construction projects that were deemed environmentally or socially undesirable.
Green bans were conceived by Builders Labourers’ Federation (BLF) NSW secretary Jack Mundey and were instigated at the request of, and in support of, residents’ groups.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the exhibition showcases an important time in history through the story of Jack Mundey and the green ban movement, and local Newcastle strike action to save Blackbutt Reserve and protect historic houses in the East End.
“Historical green bans demonstrate the value and impact that Newcastle’s communities can have when their passion and drive to protect our city’s rich natural and build environment is mobilised,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Power to the People50+ years of Union and Community Green Ban Action explores green bans to save Blackbutt Reserve and Newcastle’s East End, both initiated by the BLF, Newcastle Trades Hall Council and over 25 community groups in the 1970s, which protected two extremely important features of Newcastle.
“Newcastle green bans were born in parallel with the Sydney bans from 1971 onwards, and the legacy of the movement cannot be underestimated as it led a shift towards ensuring heritage and conservation were central to planning and policy.”
While many of the green bans in the early 1970s were focussed on Sydney, the protest movement also made its way to Newcastle through the Newcastle Trades Hall Council.
In one of the most significant instances locally, a green ban was enforced to help community groups stop a NSW Government plan to bulldoze more than 15 acres of Blackbutt Reserve for a 1.2 km section of Highway 23.
The road, which was being built to link the Sydney-Newcastle Expressway near Windale to the Pacific Highway at Sandgate, would have also effectively separated an additional 40 hectares of land from the main Blackbutt Reserve site.
Power to the People, 50+ years of Union and Community Green Ban Action has been curated by Newcastle Libraries in partnership with Cross Arts Projects, University of Newcastle and Newcastle Trades Hall Council.
The exhibition draws on archival material preserved in collections held by Newcastle Libraries, the University of Newcastle, the Hunter Living Histories, and Newcastle Trades Hall and presents an eclectic mix of stories that depict community uprising over unequal planning, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island heritage, social housing justice, heritage buildings, land rights and conservation.
It will be on display at Newcastle Libraries’ Lovett Gallery in Laman Street, Newcastle until Thursday, 14 April.
The Bureau of Meteorology has advised that a low offshore from the Mid North Coast continues to move towards the central New South Wales coast today. This system is currently weakening and will continue to weaken into the evening. A severe weather warning remains in place for gale force winds, heavy rainfall, damaging surf and an abnormally high tide for the NSW Coast, which may pose risks to Newcastle’s coastline.
City of Newcastle has implemented safety precautions in preparation of the east coast low forecast for this week.
Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for swimming, surfing and rock fishing at all beaches and at Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths during this period.
City of Newcastle has prepared and is monitoring its coastal facilities and assets along the Newcastle coastline including areas in Stockton which may be further impacted by coastal erosion. Please be aware that coastal erosion can change beach conditions dramatically and quickly.
City of Newcastle asks the community to follow safety warnings, to abide by all road closures and to drive safely in the forecast hazardous weather conditions. The high tide and large swell have forced the closure of a number of beach accessways at Stockton Beach. A current list of closures can be viewed here.
To stay up to date on weather warnings visit the Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au and for information about any emergencies visit the State Emergency Service at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or phone 13 25 00.
Newcastle’s rich cultural scene is set to be reinvigorated with almost 70 live performances being delivered across 18 venues during the next two months with support from City of Newcastle.
The newly-opened Newcastle Comedy Club will join venues across the city showcasing the talents of local performers as COVID-19 restrictions ease, encouraging more people to get out and about to experience the thrill of a live show and support the local industry.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is committed to reactivating Newcastle and creating new opportunities for live performances through the Locally Made and Played funding program, as part of support for the COVID-19-disrupted performing arts industry.
“Few industries have been harder hit by the economic impact of the pandemic than the performing arts and hospitality sectors,” Cr Nelmes said.
“With the NSW Government easing COVID-19 restrictions, now is the perfect time to incentivise our city’s venues to host live performances as people start to return with a renewed confidence.
“Due to the current uncertainty for many venues relating to higher COVID-19 case numbers, we have extended the performance timeframe to include April, affording the venues greater flexibility to navigate these challenges.”
Following two successful funding rounds in 2021, the criteria for Locally Made and Played has been broadened to allow a wider variety of venues and performance types including live comedy and micro-theatre.
Venues were invited to apply for up to $1500 to host the live performances, with the funds used to support individual performers and artists at $300 per performance.
Chair of City of Newcastle’s Community and Culture Advisory Committee, Cr Carol Duncan said Newcastle’s embattled live music and cultural scene is set to rebound with the support of the Locally Made and Played grants.
“Live performances funded by the Locally Made and Played grant will apply to performances that take place between 2 March and 30 April 2022, to coincide with the easing of restrictions,” Cr Duncan said.
“The funding will not only provide a boost to local venues financially hit as a result of COVID-19 but will also help support our home-grown talent right here in Newcastle.”
Newcastle Comedy Club part-owner Allan Brady said the New York-style venue is the first dedicated comedy club to open its doors in Newcastle and comes at a critical time.
“Novocastrians are craving a good time at the moment and live comedy is the perfect antidote to beating the COVID-19 blues,” Mr Brady said.
“Many local comics and performing artists are relying on venues like ours to remain open to invite them to perform, so the funding comes at a critical time for our industry and performers livelihoods.”
The Locally Made and Played grant program forms part of City of Newcastle’s COVID-19 Community Economic Resilience Program.
Firefighters and police remain at the scene of a major building fire near the Newcastle CBD.
About 2.35pm yesterday (Tuesday 1 March 2022), emergency services were called to a storage facility on Annie Street, Wickham, after reports of a large building fire.
Upon arrival, more than 100 firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW spent several hours battling the blaze within two buildings.
As of today (Wednesday 2 March 2022), the fire has been contained, however it’s estimated fire crews could be at the site for a number of days continuing to extinguish hot spots.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attended and established an exclusion zone, with residents and businesses from several neighbouring streets evacuated as a precaution.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Public Works Advisory and a licensed asbestos assessor are on-site to investigate the potential risk of asbestos. Air monitoring will be implemented in the area to provide the community with assurance.
Residents from Robert Street are now permitted to return to their homes, with police, Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT crews and EPA officers currently assessing and cleaning Milford Street – with the intention residents should be able to return to their homes this evening.
A key control mechanism for asbestos is to dampen the material and the rain has assisted this process. Damp asbestos materials release far fewer asbestos fibres into the air. The community should stay away from any suspected asbestos material.
The EPA are interested in reports from the community in relation to potential asbestos from the fire and encourage the public to report any suspected asbestos they may encounter in the area to EPA’s Environment Line on 131 555 or at info@epa.nsw.gov.au.
A public meeting and information session for affected residents and businesses will be held tonight (Wednesday 2 March 2022) at 7pm at the Goodlife Church in Albert Street, Wickham.
Detectives have established Strike Force Lynette to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. Anyone with information which may assist investigators is urged to come forward.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for gale force winds, heavy rainfall, damaging surf and an abnormally high tide for the NSW Coast, which may pose risks to Newcastle’s coastline.
City of Newcastle has implemented safety precautions ahead of an east coast low forecast to build today and tomorrow.
The low-pressure system is expected to linger off the coast on Tuesday and Wednesday with potential for heavy rain, strong winds and large waves.
Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for swimming, surfing and rock fishing at all beaches and at Newcastle and Mereweather Ocean Baths during this period.
City of Newcastle will prepare and monitor its coastal facilities and assets along the Newcastle coastline including areas in Stockton which may be further impacted by coastal erosion. Please be aware that coastal erosion can change beach conditions dramatically and quickly.
City of Newcastle asks the community to follow safety warnings, to abide by all road closures and to drive safely in the forecast hazardous weather conditions.
To stay up to date on weather warnings visit the Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au and for information about any emergencies visit the State Emergency Service at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or phone 13 25 00.
A $3.7 million upgrade of Blackbutt Village on Orchardtown Road is set to commence next month, delivering a safer, more attractive place to shop for New Lambton residents.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said after previously engaging with the community on their ideas for this popular area, it will be wonderful to see this long-awaited upgrade get underway.
“Early in this project the community highlighted concerns about safety, and in particular safety when crossing the busy Orchardtown Road,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Our team have been busy developing a design that both improves safety and encourages pedestrians and cyclists to the area, as well as making it a safer place to park your car and visit the local shops.”
The upgrade will include an off-road shared pedestrian and cycle path, a new pedestrian crossing, improved footpath connections to Blackbutt Reserve, as well as introduction of a 40km per hour High Pedestrian Activity Area.
Ward 3 Councillor and Chair of the Infrastructure Advisory Committee, Peta Winney-Baartz said the upgrade will see the entire public domain of the popular local centre renewed for the local community and visitors, with a focus on place activation and improving public spaces to further promote local businesses.
“Wider footpaths and new plazas will improve outdoor dining and promote activation of the area, while its look and feel will be improved with renewed drainage, kerbs, gutters, road surfaces, footpaths, lighting, street furniture, tree planting and landscaping,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
“As a part of our ongoing engagement with the community, we will also invite local residents and businesses to let us know their ideas for the best use and activation ideas for the new public open spaces later in the year.”
Traffic and Transport Manager Ryan Tranter said that City of Newcastle will continue to involve the community and local businesses in discussions about the introduction of timed parking in the local area.
“Parking safety and turnover issues have been strongly identified throughout community consultation to date, and we’ll continue to speak with local businesses and residents to ensure ease of access to the upgraded Local Centre for locals, customers and visitors,” Mr Tranter said.
“We hope that through the improvements we are delivering, the community will enjoy even greater connections in this area and benefit from its links to our expanded pedestrian and cycleway network.”
Following a workshop with business owners in the area, the broader community will be invited to provide feedback on options for timed parking in the coming months.
Construction is estimated to be complete by early 2024. The upgrade has been supported with a $591,677 grant from the NSW Government under Round Seven of the Resources for Regions program.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Government’s Resources for Regions funding is stimulating local economies and supporting the ongoing prosperity of mining towns.
“This project represents the NSW Government’s commitment to providing continued support to mining reliant towns,” Mr Toole said.
“Projects like the Blackbutt Village upgrades will go a long way to help revitalising this area in Newcastle and provide long term benefits for this great mining community.”
The project being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program and follows similar upgrades at Carrington, Beresfield, Joslin Street in Kotara, Llewellyn Street in Merewether, James Street Plaza in Hamilton, and the upgrades currently under construction in Stockton and Shortland.
