Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle today welcomed 200 new Australian citizens at its first citizenship ceremony for 2023 at the Civic Theatre.

In a historic first, the ceremony was held on 25 January following changes by the Federal Government to allow Councils to hold the mandated annual ceremony “on or around” 26 January.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the community had called for the ceremony to be moved to a more culturally inclusive date.

“This is one of the most special days in many new citizens’ lives, remembered for years to come,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle prides itself on social and cultural inclusivity and is pleased to embrace and facilitate this change for the community.”

The ceremony featured traditional performances and an Acknowledgement of Country by the Deadly Callaghan Yidaki Group and celebrated Newcastle’s rich multicultural community, with 53 birth countries represented, from Brazil to Norway to Vietnam.

Among the new citizens to make the pledge of commitment were City of Newcastle Project Manager, Daniel Elia, his wife Mabel and their 11-year-old daughter, Danibel.

The Elermore Vale family of four are now all proudly Australian citizens, after their 18-year-old son, John, was granted an expedited online ceremony as a student at the height of COVID-19 restrictions in October 2021.

Ecuadorian-born Daniel and Filipino-born Mabel met working at an engineering firm in Dubai, where they married in 2002. Sixteen years later, they began their journey to Australia, first settling in Sydney for two years before relocating to Newcastle.

Some of the projects Mr Elia has worked on include erosion protection works in various locations at Stockton Beach and renovations at Blackbutt Reserve, while this year he is involved in upgrades to City Hall and Civic Theatre, the very building he received his citizenship in.

Mr Elia said he was proud to call Newcastle home and was thrilled to become an Australian citizen.

“I like Newcastle because it’s so accessible, wherever you want to go you can get there in 15 minutes. There’s no traffic and it’s peaceful,” he said.

“It feels like I’m becoming part of the community and I’m fully integrated with the people here, living in peace and harmony with everyone. It’s a nice, safe place that embraces people from all over the world with fairness and equality. Even in the office I can speak to people in French, Spanish; it’s so diverse.”

Family-friendly entertainment options on 26 January, include the Beach 5s Rugby Festival at Nobbys Beach and the iconic Newcastle Harbour Swim.

Beach Rugby 5s is an exciting and fast-paced mixture of rugby union and rugby league. CN has worked collaboratively with Hickey Sports Management to develop the inclusive program for the event, which will be held at Nobbys Beach on Thursday 26, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January.

A special “Legends Match” will kick off at 1pm on 26 January.

Nobbys Beach offers an idyllic vantage point for spectators to soak up all the excitement of the Australia Day long weekend tournament.

CN is also supporting the 2023 Australia Day Newcastle Harbour Swim, which is the only legal swim across our amazing working harbour.

Expressions of Interest are now open to community members looking to participate in the Community Reference Group (CRG) for the upgrade of the next section of the iconic Bathers Way shared path running through King Edward Park.

CRG members will act as a consultative body providing insights to the project team on current usage and opportunities for improvement, and also providing feedback on the design. CRG members play a vital role in sharing information to other members of the community, including the stakeholder groups they represent.

The project will transform the section of Bathers Way between Strzelecki Lookout and South Newcastle Beach, creating a more accessible shared path through the state heritage-listed King Edward Park, and affirming the Bathers Way’s status as a drawcard destination for locals and tourists.

Tenders for a principal design consultant to build upon an existing concept layout for the upgrade will close on 31 January, with renewed concept designs expected to be completed mid-year.

The upgrade will include renewal of King Edward Park’s amenities building, and improvements to connections between the lawn, rotunda and the popular Garside Gardens area of the Park.

A key feature of the project is the construction of an Aboriginal art installation, which seeks to educate visitors on the Aboriginal significance of the site – while more comfortable viewing areas will enhance the overall visitor experience with the addition of more shade and seating.

Applications for the CRG close at 5pm Wednesday 15 February 2023. To find out more and to submit your application, please visit here

Artists from across Australia are being invited to make their mark on the expansion of Newcastle Art Gallery as the project takes the next step towards construction.

Newcastle Art Gallery will commission four new works of art to be displayed on the hoarding (temporary fencing) erected around the site for the duration of the construction work, which is on track to begin mid-year.

An expression of interest for artists was launched by Newcastle Art Gallery today, coinciding with City of Newcastle opening a tender for the four contractors shortlisted to complete the main construction works.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said these steps were a positive sign of things to come for the Art Gallery.

“It’s wonderful to kick off the new year with two important milestones for this much-anticipated project continuing on time towards the planned completion of our reimagined Newcastle Art Gallery at the end of 2024,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The expansion will provide greater access to our nationally significant collection and a wider range of prominent exhibitions.

“In the meantime, however, it is important to give our community as many avenues as possible to stay connected to the Newcastle Art Gallery including an outreach program at local schools, our Night Galleries digital displays throughout the city, and a new six-part podcast series, Conversations from the Collection.

“Given the site’s prominent location in the heart of our city, the construction hoarding project offers a unique opportunity for established or emerging artists to reach new audiences while also improving the external view of the work zone.

“I can’t wait to see the calibre of concepts proposed by artists during this expression of interest period, and also look forward to the successful construction company and timelines being confirmed at a future Council meeting following the tender process.”

Local and national artists and collectives working in all mediums are invited to apply for this project, with the chosen works of art to be digitally reproduced for display on the construction hoarding.

For more information visit www.nag.org.au/

The street hoarding project is being supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

The $40 million expansion project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships program and $5 million from the New South Wales Government, as well as $10.5 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years. A further $2.5 million is being sought through the Foundation’s public fundraising campaign.

A teenager reported missing from Newcastle has been located safe and well.

The 16-year-old boy was last seen leaving a hospital at New Lambton Heights on Jacaranda Street, about 9.30pm last night (Friday 20 January 2023).

When he could not be located, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified and immediately commenced inquiries to locate him.

Following inquiries, a geo-targeting SMS was sent out to the local area and a member of the public located the boy safe and well this afternoon (Saturday 21 January 2023). He has since been reunited with his family.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.

The Civic Theatre has set a new box office record less than a month out from the Newcastle debut of the hit Broadway musical Come From Away.

More than 11,000 tickets have already been sold for the critically acclaimed production, and three new dates have been added in an extended season that will now open at the Civic Theatre on Wednesday 15 February.

Come From Away shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from around the world who were grounded in Canada in the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that welcomed the ‘come from aways’ into their lives.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said strong ticket sales indicate there is an appetite for Broadway theatre amongst Novocastrians and visitors seeking to have a good time following three years of pandemic-induced disruptions.

“It’s been 30 years since an international touring Broadway production landed in Newcastle and it’s clear that as a city, we are ready to welcome a live musical theatre production of this calibre,” Cr Nelmes said.

“With its remarkable true story about kindness and humanity, Come From Away is sure to enhance the cultural life of our city with Novocastrians and visitors ready to get back out there and enjoy themselves in 2023.

“Come From Away joins a stellar line-up on Newcastle’s 2023 major events calendar, which kicked off with Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which attracted more than 50,000 people to the city and injected more than $12 million into the local visitor economy.

“Major events are a clear economic driver and Come From Away is another significant drawcard for our city that will provide considerable benefits for Newcastle’s visitor economy.”

Civic Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace said Come From Away has already smashed the ticket sales of previous live musical theatre performances.

“With four weeks still to go, ticket sales have exceeded our expectations and previous ticket sales records held at Civic Theatre,” Ms Wallace said.

“Tickets sales have been recorded across a wide geographical area, with Newcastle-based purchases complemented by sales from as far away as Tasmania, Brisbane, Armidale, Narrabri and Coffs Harbour.

“Come From Away is also attracting new audiences to the Civic Theatre, with more than 45 per cent of bookings from first-time customers.

“Due to popular demand, we’ve added another three performances to the extended run of Come From Away and look forward to seeing this spectacular production come to life on stage with our theatre’s iconic proscenium arch, grand tiered seating and incredible atmosphere.”

Come From Away is showing at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre from 15 February until 5 March 2023.

The production runs for 100 minutes and is recommended for ages 10 and older.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au

A passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has been selected as Newcastle’s 2023 Citizen of the Year.

Nathan Towney was crowned Citizen of the Year at an award ceremony on Wednesday, in recognition of his leadership as The University of Newcastle’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Leadership.

A Wiradjuri man, Mr Towney was pivotal in the successful launch of Ngarrama in 2022 in partnership with Awabakal Ltd and supported by City of Newcastle, and will oversee the event’s return to King Edward Park on Wednesday 25 January 2023.

The free public vigil – the name of which translates to “to sit, listen and know” – is held on the eve of Australia Day to engage the community in meaningful reconciliation through truth telling and historical acceptance, featuring performances and informative talks from local Aboriginal elders.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Mr Towney’s worthy conferral as Citizen of the Year came at a significant time in the national discourse on Indigenous affairs, ahead of the forthcoming referendum to establish a Voice to Parliament.

“Mr Towney is a dedicated community leader who is passionate about building positive relationships and creating greater awareness and understanding of the path to reconciliation,” Cr Nelmes said.

“A member of City of Newcastle’s Gurakai Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Mr Towney freely and generously gives his time and knowledge and is an exceptionally worthy recipient of the Citizen of the Year title.”

Mr Towney said it was an honour to receive the award, which gave weight to the incredible work being done in the community to shift public perceptions and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“I’m really proud to be part of this community,” Mr Towney said. “Newcastle has been a place of opportunity for Aboriginal people for many years and there are a lot of people who do amazing work across this region. I feel this personal recognition has been made possible by the foundational work of many people who have advocated for Aboriginal people, history and cultures in Newcastle across generations.”

The 2023 Young Citizen of the Year title was awarded to local entrepreneur Dominic May, who founded CoastXP, a unique coastal sightseeing experience.

As well as actively contributing to the diversity of local tourism offerings and Newcastle’s post-pandemic economic recovery, Mr May was lauded for his rescue efforts when the crew onboard the fishing vessel ELLIE-K issued a mayday call off the Newcastle coast in July.

Mr May and a group of whale watchers arrived on scene with seconds to spare as the vessel was taking on water, rescuing the entire crew including the family dog.

In recognition of its work with all levels of government to tackle coastal erosion, Stockton Community Group Inc. was announced as the 2023 Community Group of the Year.

Led by Co-Presidents Alison Rigby and Melanie Taggart, the volunteer group was congratulated on its efforts to highlight erosion at Stockton Beach and call on the NSW State Government to “step up and act” through organised campaigns such as the Red Line Rally in July.

Stockton Community Group Inc. continues to advocate alongside City of Newcastle for the implementation of actions under the Stockton Coastal Management Plan (CMP), which was certified by the NSW Government in August 2020.

Young people will soon be swinging, sliding and climbing around five local playgrounds as City of Newcastle (CN) embarks on a $750,000 replacement program in 2023.

The program is set to include a makeover of Beresfield’s Vera Wilson Park, Loch Ness Drive Park in Fletcher, Harold Myers Park in Birmingham Gardens, Avon Street Reserve in Mayfield, and Waratah Park.

Upgraded equipment will cater for a range of ages, with swings, challenging climbing components, slides and multi-play units – as well as a new stairway at Fletcher and a mini trampoline at Waratah – among the new play attractions.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said up to five of Newcastle’s 134 local playgrounds are replaced each year under a commitment to delivering improved recreational opportunities for families across the local government area.

“We know how much our community values open spaces and playgrounds, which is why City of Newcastle is investing $750,000 to upgrade five local playgrounds this year,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The city’s playgrounds provide children and families with the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and engage in an active and healthy lifestyle.”

City of Newcastle has invested more than $9.5 million in playground projects during the past five years, including the construction of an inclusive playground at Stevenson Park in Mayfield, Stockton Active Hub, and the adventure playground at Richley Reserve.

The Wallsend community also celebrated the recent completion of the $2 million Wallsend Active Hub. Its delivery caps off more than $7.7 million worth of investment by City of Newcastle into four District-level playgrounds across the area during the past five years.

In addition to these planned playground renewals, CN will be constructing a new inclusive playspace and waterpark for the Harbour Foreshore Precinct in Newcastle’s East End as part of the implementation of the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan.

The playspace will include a junior and toddler space based around themes of the beach, as well as a splash pad with interactive water play, tugboats, Awabakal canoes, and water mazes. There will also be a large swing set based on maritime navigation, flying foxes, and purpose-built shade structures.

Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/works to stay up to date with progress on playgrounds and other projects in your area.

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, today announced that funding for three local schools under the Schools Upgrade Fund has been delivered by the Albanese Labor Government.

Successful projects in the Newcastle electorate under the Targeted Round are:

• Belair Public School will receive $31,150 for playground upgrades
• Heaton Public School will receive $50,000 to upgrade the creative play space
• Mayfield West Demonstration School will receive $50,000 for air conditioning and air ventilation.

Ms Claydon said the funding for these commitments has now been confirmed and will be provided to the schools in coming weeks.

“We committed to funding for these important school upgrades – and we’ve delivered,” Ms Claydon said.

“This is terrific news for these schools – especially for their students.

“It means better equipment and facilities to help them learn and play in a top-class environment.

“I’m so proud of our local schools and students. Everyone has had a tough couple of years and this funding is part of our efforts to help them bounce back.”

The funding is part of the $270 million Schools Upgrade Fund which is being rolled-out by the Albanese Labor Government to boost school infrastructure for students, especially to combat the impacts of the pandemic.

Ms Claydon also encouraged local schools to apply for funding for projects under the open grant round.   

“The open grant round is worth $32 million and will be invested in things like new laptops and iPads, classroom upgrades and outdoor learning areas,” Ms Claydon said.

“I encourage all schools in Newcastle to apply.”

Funding will go to schools most in need towards small-scale projects worth up to $25,000 to create healthier and safer learning environments and help students get back on track after disruptions caused by COVID.

For more information on how to apply visit: www.education.gov.au/schools-upgrade-fund

The 60-year-old grandstand at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre is set to be replaced as part of City of Newcastle’s ongoing investment in the much-loved community facility.

With the busy school swimming carnival season just weeks away, temporary seating structures have been installed while a DA is considered for the new grandstand, allowing up to 320 spectators to cheer on competitors, ahead of plans to commence work on the permanent grandstand during the winter.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the ongoing upgrades reflected the facility’s important role as Newcastle’s aquatic hub.

“City of Newcastle (CN) is committed to maintaining and investing in Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre to ensure the 185,000 community members, sporting clubs and visitors that enjoy the facility each year continue to enjoy quality sporting and leisure opportunities for active living and social connection,” Cr Clausen said.

“With the original concrete grandstand due to be replaced once the facility closes this winter, CN has installed temporary seating facilities with shade that will accommodate school swimming carnival spectators and pool visitors seeking a place to relax.

“Detailed designs for the new grandstand are in the process of being finalised but it will remain 75-metres long featuring six tiers and capacity to seat more than 700 people with accessible seating options and viewing platforms catering to wheelchairs and prams.

“Replacing the grandstand will complement a raft of recent improvements at the facility, with CN investing close to $1 million toward projects like a new 120-metre-long waterslide, water play area upgrades, and replacing the Olympic swimming pool’s diving blocks and new diving boards funded via a grant from the NSW Government.”

A Development Application has been lodged for the demolition of the existing grandstand and construction of a new concrete grandstand, with tenders for both expected to open in Autumn 2023.

A scheduled program of maintenance continues at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre including safety upgrades, painting, and changeroom improvements, while design has started for a more efficient heating system.

The sun may have gone down on Sir Elton John’s first and last Newcastle tour, but local tourism and hospitality operators are still revelling in the wake of the event’s success.

Large crowds flocked to McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, and again on Tuesday, for the first stop on the Australian leg of the mega-star’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, injecting more than $12 million into the local visitor economy.

Of the more than 50,000 tickets sold for two performances, 11,000 tickets were purchased by visitors from outside Newcastle, 2,000 from interstate and more than 120 by international visitors.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city was still buzzing after Sir Elton John’s two performances that have shone a spotlight on Newcastle and elevated its status as a national events destination.

“It has been an amazing week here in Newcastle for locals and visitors with Sir Elton John performing in our city for the first-time on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle partnered with Venues NSW to secure Newcastle as the first stop on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Australia under a strategic Major Events Partnership and would like to congratulate the event organisers for putting on a fantastic show for our locals and visitors.

“Attracting headline acts of this calibre is a testament to Newcastle’s growth as a world-class event city and indicative of our maturing local economy.

“Major events are a key part of City of Newcastle’s Destination Management Plan as a primary driver of the local tourism visitor economy, delivering both an immediate and ongoing benefit for the community and economy, with greater visitation, investment and liveability outcomes.

“City of Newcastle is committed to ongoing strategic investment in major events and tourism through event sponsorship, industry development, tourism brand refresh Seek Off Beat and targeted marketing campaigns which are integral to building a thriving, diverse and robust visitor economy.”

The upcoming expansion of Newcastle Airport will pave the way for attracting more international events, while international hotel brands like Crystalbrook and QT have already recognised Newcastle’s expanding tourism appeal, investing millions of dollars to open five-star hotels in the city.

“What we have seen this week is nothing short of record breaking. The first performance has driven unprecedented demand on a Sunday which is typically our quietest day of the week,” QT Newcastle General Manager Michael Stamboulidis said.

Local hospitality operators like Earp Distilling Co. have been welcoming guests from as far flung as the Whitsundays to Victoria over the past few days according to manager Cameron Burns.

“We’ve been run off our feet, thanks to Elton. This tour has been huge for local tourism and hospitality operators. The more we can help bring events like this to Newcastle, the better,” Mr Burns said.

McDonald Jones Stadium Venue Manager Dean Mantle said the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour has been a major success.

“McDonald Jones Stadium is officially back open for concerts after successfully staging two at-capacity Elton John shows,” Mantle said.

“While it had been more than 30 years between concerts, the success of this tour will only strengthen McDonald Jones Stadium’s position to secure more major events of this scale, complementing the offering from our sporting partners, the Newcastle Knights and Newcastle Jets.

“The success of this event was made possible due to the strong partnership between Venues NSW, City of Newcastle, Michael Chugg and Frontier Touring.”