Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle (CN) is dishing up a taste of the cultural delights that will be on the menu when its flagship arts festival returns later this year.

Three of the performances originally commissioned by CN for last year’s postponed New Annual have been rescheduled in March, allowing locals to whet their appetites for the official return of the festival from 23 September to 2 October.

Explore the Indigenous roots of Carrington Foreshore with towering, illuminated puppets created by Curious Legends in partnership with local Worimi people, meet local artists and take part in community art projects on the Studio Arts Trail in Hamilton and check out a thought-provoking one-woman show that summons the spirit of iconic French solider and Saint, Joan of Arc.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said maintaining support for the local arts community had been an important consideration when the decision was made to postpone last year’s event.

“After the success of the inaugural New Annual in February 2021, City of Newcastle was looking forward to following it up bigger and better in September last year before we made the tough call to postpone it in light of the growing COVID-19 case numbers at the time,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Despite our disappointment, we were committed to maintaining support for the local arts community, who have been heavily impacted during the past two years as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.

“After consultations with the artists, we are thrilled to be able to include these performances and activities in March this year as an initiative of our COVID-19 Community and Economic Resilience Package.

“This decision enables upwards of 50 artists, musicians and performers to remain involved with these three events and benefit from the exposure and performance opportunities they provide.

“This will also give people a chance to soak up Newcastle’s live events atmosphere with a taste of what’s to come when the full New Annual festival returns in September.”

For more details visit whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au

Event details

Gimbay Gatigaan: 3-5 March (Carrington Foreshore)

In collaboration with the Newcastle Worimi community, Curious Legends will present Gimbay Gatigaan, an outdoor, site-specific family-friendly production exploring Aboriginal life and stories from Onebygamba (known locally as Carrington).

Studio Arts Trail: 5 March (Hamilton precinct)

Follow the Art Trail map to discover some of the most collaborative spaces for eclectic art projects in Newcastle including Hudson St Hum, Newcastle Arts Space, Clyde St Studios and Creative Incubator.

Voices of Joan: 3-6 and 9-12 March (Hamilton North)

Voices of Joan, by Newcastle theatre maker Janie Gibson, unravels the tangled threads of misogyny and Catholicism as she searches for Joan’s story in fragments of words. What is revealed is a voice of courage amidst adversity and an ancient story about gender, truth, and power, themes that still resonate today.

A landmark design to reimagine the former Spotlight and Anaconda building has been unveiled following a targeted architectural design competition.

A three-member independent jury unanimously selected the innovative design by Plus Architecture for the proposed redevelopment of 711 Hunter Street, Newcastle West, which extends from Hunter Street to King Street and along the northern side of National Park Street.

The winning design has an overall height of 90 metres and features 267 dwellings across two towers, as well as 1400 square metres of commercial floorspace and 322 parking spaces, with an estimated construction cost of $100 million.

Stand out design elements strongly supported by the jury include the ‘meeting place’ concept – a public domain to facilitate and encourage people to meet, and the visual link between National Park Street to the Army Drill Hall, with jury members also supporting the design’s warm tonal palette and horizontal staked layers.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the architectural design competition had delivered design excellence for the redevelopment of 711 Hunter Street which will lead to positive outcomes for the city.

“Newcastle’s city skyline is set to be further transformed when this significant redevelopment in the West End comes to life,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle congratulates Plus Architecture on their winning design and commends the joint venture partners, St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group, for their commitment to the ongoing revitalisation of Newcastle’s West End.

“The construction associated with a redevelopment of this size will generate jobs and help buoy Newcastle’s economy which is a positive as we come up against the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and look to the future.”

Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment, Michelle Bisson said the competition will raise the benchmark of architectural design excellence in Newcastle.

“Ongoing revitalisation and development is continuing to transform Newcastle particularly in the West End, and 2022 is shaping up to be another exciting and busy year for our city,” Ms Bisson said.

“Once constructed, 711 Hunter Street will boast a hallmark building that will stand the test of time for future generations to admire.”

The architectural design competition was run by an independent jury process under the governance of City of Newcastle and the NSW Government Architect’s Office. Consultants Urbis administered the design competition on behalf of property developers St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group.

St Hilliers Property Project Director Paul Smith said the design competition has been a great way to bring the best architectural talent and ideas to the fore for this prominent site in Newcastle’s West End.

“The quality of architectural design presented by Plus Architecture is really impressive and we look forward to further refining the design by incorporating the jury’s recommendations before proceeding to the next phase,” Mr Smith said.

“With a development of this significance, we will work closely with Plus Architecture to set sustainability targets and quality design outcomes during the more detailed development application phase, including a focus on thermal comfort, energy, waste and water.”

A development application for the site is expected to be lodged by St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group in the first half of 2022.

New local jobs have already been created through the attraction of 30 entrepreneurs to Newcastle as part of an Australian-first economic stimulus program initiated by City of Newcastle.

The New Move program, which was adapted from the hugely successful US Tulsa Remote initiative, has seen 30 bright minds relocate to Newcastle, attracting new skills and talent to the region, whilst also raising long-term awareness of the city’s diverse economic opportunities.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the attraction of skilled professionals under the New Move program has tangible benefits for the city.

“Newcastle’s position as an economic hub is driven by innovation and skills. By attracting new talent to the city, New Move is boosting Newcastle’s economy and creating new local jobs,” said Cr Clausen.

“The positive impacts of the relocation of 30 New Move grant recipients have already been felt and REMPLAN economic modelling has shown that the program will create up to 75 new local jobs and up to $25 million in additional local economic output.”

New Move grant recipient Nicole Shelley was born in Newcastle and returned to her hometown after 14 years in Sydney to expand her marketing agency, pepperit.

New Move is an initiative of Newcastle’s Economic Development Strategy, adopted unanimously by the elected Council in May 2021, and complements programs targeted at Novocastrians including the City’s popular New Skills program which helping to address industry specific skills gaps.

“Although I have lived away from Newcastle since 2007, I’ve witnessed the transformation the city has undergone to become a hub of innovation and creativity, which is one of the reasons I was attracted to move back,” Mrs Shelley said.

“Since moving to Newcastle, I have opened a local pepperit office, employed three locals in full-time positions and our business is currently supporting two internships for University of Newcastle students, with plans to grow our team to eight within 12 months.

“I look forward to continuing to give back to the local community and am eager to play a part in the ongoing transformation of this amazing city.”

Newcastle’s newest residents have relocated from across the globe and throughout Australia, with some moving from Sydney and Melbourne, as well as expatriates returning to Australia for the New Move program from Hong Kong and The Netherlands.

Co-founder of Art Thinking Maria José Sanchez-Varela Barajas made the move from Mexico and has already helped bring festivals and ideas to Newcastle.

“I love the way that culture and heritage are embraced throughout global destinations like Singapore, Dubai and Barcelona, to create a unique vibrancy through art, science and innovation and I see the same potential in Newcastle, which is why I made the move here, ” said Ms Sanchez-Varela Barajas.

“For me, Newcastle has the perfect combination of creativity, a great location, art, innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive within and I’m keen to play my role in driving innovation and new ideas forward.”

Cr Clausen said New Move recipients have committed to becoming ambassadors for our city through event attendance, mentoring, volunteering and knowledge sharing to develop local skills and create further economic opportunities.

“Research has demonstrated that talent attraction has a higher marginal rate of return than business attraction, which is why the New Move program will prove beneficial to our local economy,” Cr Clausen said.

New Move participants will be provided access to co-working spaces and networking events to build business and community connections.

Police have been told a 35-year-old woman, a 36-year-old man and two children – aged 9 and 11 – were leaving a home on Dunkley Road, Mount Hutton, about 9pm (Wednesday 9 February 2022), when a 33-year-old man – who is known to them – entered a Toyota Prado and began following their vehicle, allegedly driving dangerously.

They were followed to Waratah Police Station where, shortly before 11pm, they reported the incident. The driver of the SUV allegedly continued to drive in an erratic manner outside the police station and in nearby streets.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District and Traffic and Highway Patrol attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver allegedly ignored the police direction and drove off at speed along Georgetown Road, Waratah.

Several pursuits were initiated through nearby streets but all were terminated due to the dangerous manner of driving.

It is further alleged the man continued through a number of Newcastle suburbs, hitting multiple parked vehicles, including one at the intersection of Centenary Road and Merewether Street, and a power pole on King Street.

About 11.40pm, the driver of the SUV attempted to overtake a tram travelling east on Scott Street, when the vehicle mounted a concrete median strip and became stuck.

Police approached the vehicle and – as they attempted to arrest the driver – a struggle ensued with officers deploying OC spray.

A 33-year-old man was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment to minor injuries before being charged with six offences including drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, and hinder police in execution of duty.

He remains under police guard in hospital and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court via a bedside hearing later today.

A new small business incubator program is offering 15 Novocastrians the chance to take their business ideas to the next level.

Delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s NewSkills training program, the intensive 12-week Side Hustle Bootcamp will provide the burgeoning entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain and develop their ideas into a viable business.

Many well-known and loved local businesses started out as side hustles including Cocoa Nib, Savant Apothecary and Eat Your Water, going on to become much-loved brands locally and nationally.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said investing in people sits at the heart of City of Newcastle’s Economic Development Strategy and is key to economic growth.

“Newcastle’s economic future will be built on the talent, skills and ingenuity of our people,” Cr Clausen said.

“City of Newcastle sees the value of investing in micro-enterprise start-ups as a key part our city’s economic development with over 40 per cent of employment in our economy generated from micro and small business enterprise.

“Investment in training through our NewSkills program will provide tangible benefits to the wider Newcastle community, by encouraging residents to turn their side hustle business ideas into fledgling start-ups, whilst encouraging economic diversification.”

The Side Hustle Bootcamp program delivered by City of Newcastle has been designed by small business experts. The program includes six group workshop sessions online and face to face to bring the side hustle ideas to life.

Small business training expert Giovanna Lever said the objective is for participants to finish the program with the skills, tools and confidence needed to successfully take their ideas to market.

“Small business is the backbone of the economy and thousands of Australian small businesses started as side hustles,” Ms Lever said.

“Supporting these workshops will be a practical webinar, access to a curated national community of fellow side hustlers, tools to apply to your business idea and ongoing support throughout the program.”

Cocoa Nib owner and entrepreneur Aymee Slaviero said her successful artisan chocolate brand started out as simply a passion for all things chocolate.

“I’m a trained pastry chef and have worked for some of Australia’s most renowned restaurants, but as a cult-chocolate lover I knew chocolate was my calling, and now I own and operate two artisan chocolate retail stores in Newcastle and the Hunter,” Ms Slaviero said.

“Anyone with an idea big or small should register their interest in this program to gain the skills and confidence needed to take their idea to the next level.”

Expressions of interest are now open, visit City of Newcastle’s website to apply.

City of Newcastle delivered a similar program under NewSkills in 2021. The highly successful Product Development Mentoring Program provided Newcastle businesses with training and mentoring to develop new tourism products, to help sustain and grow the city’s visitor economy.

Energy minister Angus Taylor draws fire from Hunter community groups as he announces Commonwealth approval of Snowy Hydro power plant.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor will visit Kurri Kurri to announce the approval of the controversial Snowy Hydro gas-diesel power plant Monday morning. Assessment of the proposed power plant by both the NSW and Commonwealth Governments has drawn fire from community groups in the Hunter region.

“Today’s announcement is bad for the Hunter, and bad for Australia,” said Gas Free Hunter Alliance coordinator Fiona Lee.

“As Commonwealth Environment Minister, Sussan Ley should be protecting the environment, not rubber stamping dirty, outdated fossil fuel projects which will worsen the impacts of climate change and pollute the local environment,” said Ms Lee.

“Mr Taylor appears to lack all commitment to supporting regional communities to transition away from fossil fuels, or to taking real action on climate change,” she said.

“The Hunter region needs secure, future-focused jobs. Investing $610 million or more of public funds into an unnecessary and outdated gas plant will create just 10 long-term jobs. Instead, we call on Mr Taylor to fund renewable energy and storage, and to retrain workers in fossil fuel reliant industries.”

Retired TAFE teacher, Kurri-based grandmother Ms Lynn Benn said, “At a time when we need to rapidly move away from fossil fuels, I cannot see that this proposed gas powered plant makes sense from any angle. But I am most incensed at the waste of taxpayers money. If it makes sense then let private enterprise build it. For that amount of money we could safeguard Kurri hospital, give our local bush fire brigades a much needed boost or provide something for the local kids to do. Let’s look to the future, not the past.”

Over 55,000 thousand people have signed petitions opposing the power plant. Of the 261 submissions on the proposed power plant, only two supported it.

The Federal Government has today approved the unnecessary and polluting Kurri Kurri gas-fired power station, despite sustained objections from climate scientists, energy experts and the community.

The Morrison government will spend up to $600 million of public money on the Kurri Kurri power station, even though it makes no commercial sense. Last spring, gas power stations produced just 1.3 percent of New South Wales’s power, the lowest level this century.

Climate Councillor, energy expert and Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University, School of Law, Dr Madeline Taylor said:

“The Kurri Kurri gas power station simply isn’t needed. Energy analysts and economists agree it will raise electricity prices for residents and businesses, not lower them.”

“As renewable energy and storage technologies become cheaper by the day, this short-sighted investment in a new gas-fired power station, built with taxpayer money, makes no sense from an energy or economic perspective, and will likely end up as a stranded asset.

“We need a total transformation of our electricity system based on renewables and storage technologies. Gas for electricity generation is often expensive, inefficient, and not commercially viable. At a time when the world is turning away from gas-fired electricity and embracing renewables, Australia could rapidly decarbonise and become a renewable energy superpower, but instead, public money is being funneled into a project potentially representing a liability to our clean energy future.”

climate action group 350.org Australia has slammed the Morrison Government for “burning public money” by rubber stamping Snowy Hydro’s Kurri Kurri gas power station in a move that will be welcomed by their gas industry mates.

The Morrison Government has announced that the gas plant has received its necessary environmental approvals to begin construction.

350 Australia Senior Campaigner Shani Tager said: “If the Morrison Government had any sense they’d pull the pin on this expensive, polluting gas power station that the market has said we don’t need. Instead they’re pushing ahead and we’ll all be left footing the bill.

“Not only is this burning public money, it flies in the face of climate science with the International Energy Agency saying there’s no role for new gas projects on the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. Even the Liberals own energy market operator says this isn’t needed.”

Questions were raised in Senate Estimates last year about how the Kurri Kurri site was selected given it is set to be owned by the McCloy Group and the Stevens Group. The McCloy Group Chairman is Jeff McCloy who gave evidence to ICAC that he gave “tens of thousands” in secret donations to liberal party candidates and described himself as a “walking ATM.”

“The Morrison Government is again showing that they listen to their mates with a vested interest in the fossil fuel industry rather than what the community wants.

“If the Morrison Government wanted to build something useful they could build large-scale battery storage and support the expansion of renewables in the Hunter Valley. But they won’t because this announcement is really about what’s good for the Liberal party’s donors, not about what’s needed in the Hunter.”

Locals are getting ready for the Hunter Memory Walk & Jog, returning in 2022, which will be held on Sunday 27 March at the beautiful Speers Point Park.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM said Dementia Australia was excited to see the Memory Walk & Jog event return to Hunter in 2022.
“The Memory Walk & Jog series is Dementia Australia’s biggest fundraising initiative, and helps us provide invaluable support, education and resources for people living with dementia in Australia, their carers, families and friends,” Ms McCabe said.
“It has been my pleasure to take part in many Memory Walk & Jog events across Australia over the years, and I attest to how enjoyable and rewarding they are. They really do offer fun for all the family!
“These events are so important, not just from a fundraising perspective, but also because they are opportunities for people impacted by dementia to gather, to get active and to share stories with people in similar circumstances.
“Together, we can make the world look brighter for people with dementia. Let’s show them they are not alone!”
Currently, there are an estimated 157,000 people living with dementia in New South Wales. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to increase to an estimated 345,000 people by 2058. Events like Memory Walk & Jog play an important role not only in funding support, but also in raising awareness of dementia.
There are 19 Memory Walk & Jog events planned across Australia in 2022, which represents the series’ largest event program to date.
Each event offers fun for people of all ages and abilities. The course is family-friendly, and suitable for all levels of fitness. Each event is designed for people of all ages and abilities to select whether they take part in a walk, jog or run of 2km, 8km or a timed 8km course. Participate as an individual, get a team together, or even come in fancy dress.
The safety and wellbeing of Memory Walk & Jog participants, volunteers and staff is Dementia Australia’s top priority at these events. The team is constantly monitoring the evolving situation with COVID-19, and remains in communication with the relevant federal, state and local authorities.
A robust COVID-safe plan has been tailored for each event and will be adapted as needed.
Register for the Hunter Memory Walk & Jog event now, or find out about the other events planned across Australia at www.memorywalk.com.au
If you can’t attend one of the planned events in the series, why not consider organising your own group or individual walk or jog, with a My Way or Walk & Jog Impossible Challenge? More details can be found at www.memorywalk.com.au
Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated half a million Australians living with dementia, and the almost 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available and the Helpline is open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au

Detectives have released CCTV vision as investigations continue into an armed robbery in the state’s Hunter Region last month.
Shortly after 10.15pm on Tuesday 4 January 2022, a man – armed with a rifle – entered a service station on Newcastle Street, East Maitland, and threatened a 27-year-old male attendant.
The man threatened the employee, demanding cash and cigarettes, before leaving the store in a westerly direction.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified of the incident and established a crime scene, which was forensically examined by specialist police.
The employee was not physically injured during the incident.
As investigations continue, detectives have released CCTV vision of a man who may be able to assist with ongoing inquiries.
The man depicted in the CCTV is described as being of solid build, between 160-165cm tall, with a dark complexion. The man is depicted wearing dark-coloured clothing and red sneakers.