Category: Newcastle News

Global superstar Elton John is heading to Newcastle this week on a yellow brick road paved with gold for the local economy as the revitalised city cements its transformation into an event powerhouse.

The international music icon will kick off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour of Australia and New Zealand with two concerts in Newcastle on 8 and 10 January, which are expected to inject around $12 million into the local economy.

His visit will launch a lucrative period for the seventh largest city in Australia, with major events set to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to Newcastle, provide global exposure and deliver an economic boost worth tens of millions of dollars.

Events include an extended run of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Come From Away at the historic Civic Theatre in February, the season-opening race of the Supercars Championship on March 10-12 and Australia’s largest annual surfing festival, Surfest, which attracts some of the world’s top surfers and will culminate in a thrilling finals showdown on 25-26 March.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said in the past decade, Newcastle has been transformed into an innovative global city, capturing the attention of investors, event promoters and visitors from around the world.

“We are a city on the rise, with more than $1.85 billion in new developments approved in Newcastle during the last financial year and record levels of private investment delivering entertainment, tourism and hospitality options alongside major residential and retail developments,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Newcastle’s revitalisation has driven our burgeoning events and tourism economy, which continues to grow off the back of a strategic focus and investment by City of Newcastle.

“Events deliver both an immediate and ongoing benefit for the community and economy, with greater visitation, investment and liveability outcomes. Ongoing investment in events and tourism is integral to building a thriving, diverse and robust economy.”

Newcastle’s record of hosting national and international events stretches back to 1985 when Surfest was launched as the richest professional surfing competition in the world.

But its evolution as an events city shifted gears when City of Newcastle and the NSW Government helped secure the Supercars Newcastle 500 for five years from 2017.

Since then, it has opened up further opportunities to host and deliver national and international events on a significant scale, including the 2018 A-League grand final, 2020 SAANZAR Rugby Championship and the 2021 World Surf League Championship Tour event.

This was capped off last year with the staging of Van Gogh Alive, which saw 84,000 people flock to the city to experience the immersive, multi-sensory display of the painter’s iconic artworks. Newcastle was the first regional city in Australia to host the event.

Promoter Andrew Kay said he would return to the city with more major events following the success of the 2022 season.

“We were absolutely thrilled by the reception we received in Newcastle and the Hunter. With over 84,000 tickets sold in just five weeks, the region has shown its appetite and appreciation for quality events,” Mr Kay said.

“Van Gogh Alive was welcomed by the entire community and businesses with whom we partnered, including the City of Newcastle. We will be back with more major events.”

Venues NSW and McDonald Jones Stadium CEO Kerrie Mather was equally positive about Newcastle’s ability to host major events.

“The stage is set for an historic week in Newcastle when the one-and-only Elton John comes to town for the very first, and final, time,” Ms Mather said.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have Elton John kick off his farewell tour of Australia and New Zealand in Newcastle, and we can’t wait to see McDonald Jones Stadium come alive during his two shows that must be seen live.

“Elton John at McDonald Jones Stadium will be the perfect way to celebrate the start of the new year and is just a taste of the major events to look forward to over the coming 12 months.”

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

“From 2024 our expanded terminal will have the ability to welcome hundreds of thousands of international passengers annually as a result of airfield upgrades that will cater to larger aircraft,” Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock said.

“This will enable direct flights between Newcastle and destinations in Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

“Newcastle’s future as an international tourism and major events destination is bright, and the Federal Government’s $55 million funding towards the expansion of Newcastle Airport’s terminal and $66 million towards the airfield upgrade will be instrumental in transitioning Newcastle from a thriving regional centre to an emerging global city.

“Combined with the arrival of two new luxury hotels, Newcastle’s appeal as a host destination for large-scale international events is becoming even more attractive.”

Background

• Prior to COVID-19, Newcastle’s tourism industry contributed $1 billion to the local economy each year, with more than five million international and domestic travellers visiting in 2019.
• City of Newcastle worked with Venues NSW to secure the historic Elton John concerts for Newcastle as part of a Major Events Partnership.
• This partnership also saw McDonald Jones Stadium (home of the Newcastle Knights and Newcastle Jets) host a round of the 2022 FOX Australian Supercross Championship, while the Newcastle Entertainment Centre hosted a sold-out international netball fixture between Australia and England.
• Elton John’s two concerts will attract more than 30,000 visitors from outside the Newcastle LGA, including over 2500 interstate visitors and more than 100 international visitors. It has an estimated economic impact of $10 million – $12 million.
• The Supercross had an audience of more than 15,000 people with over 13,000 from outside the Newcastle LGA and almost 500 interstate visitors, with an estimated economic impact of $3 million.
• Venues NSW estimated that events at both McDonald Jones Stadium and Newcastle Entertainment Centre will drive $50 million dollars of economic impact into the Newcastle LGA in the 2022/23 financial year.
• Van Gogh Alive attracted 84,000 visitors over five weeks, which eclipsed its attendance totals during its season in Canberra.
• The World Surf League’s 2021 Championship Tour event in Newcastle had an estimated benefit of more than $15 million to the local economy, while also showcasing Newcastle to a global audience of more than 10 million viewers.
• The 2018 A-League grand final delivered an estimated $1.7 million windfall in visitor expenditure over the weekend.
• The 2017 Matildas v Brazil match in Newcastle attracted an Australian crowd record for a women’s soccer match of almost 17,000 people and generated half a million dollars for the city via 330 bed nights.
• Each Supercars Newcastle 500 event delivers an average $36.2 million in economic output and creates 149 jobs.
• The TV audience for Newcastle 500 event in 2017 peaked at more than 1.8 million viewers with an average of 1.3 million people tuning in to the three-day event.

Three teenagers have been charged after another teen suffered serious injuries in an alleged assault in Lake Macquarie overnight.

About 12.10am (Sunday 1 January 2023), emergency services were called to Ocean Street, Dudley, following reports of an assault.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and were told a 16-year-old boy had been struck to the head with a glass bottle, suffering serious lacerations.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter hospital in a critical condition, where he remains in an induced coma.

A crime scene was established, and police have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Two males, aged 17 and 16, were arrested nearby and taken to Belmont Police Station.

Another 17-year-old male was arrested at Belmont Police Station a short time later.

All three males have been charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company, and reckless wounding in company, and were refused bail to appear in Children’s Court today (Sunday 1 January 2023).

Detectives from the Marine Area Command are appealing for information following a fail-to-stop boating crash on Lake Macquarie earlier this year.

About 4am on Wednesday 16 October 2022, a vessel collided at speed with another vessel – that had two fishermen on board – just off Wangi Wangi Point.

When the vessel drove away; the voices of a man and a woman could be heard onboard.

Officers were notified, and the two fishermen, aged 36 and 41, were taken to the John Hunter Hospital with serious neck, spine, ribs and shoulder blade fractures as well as serious head lacerations. The men have since been discharged.

Officers from the Marine Area Command formed Strike Force Twelfth to investigate the crash. 

The damaged fishermen’s boat was seized and forensically examined, with the results indicating that the other vessel was made of aluminium and had a blue coloured hull.

Subsequent inquiries revealed the vessel was towed by a white four-door utility, that drove along Cams Boulevard in Summerland Point, about 4.35am the same day of the incident.

As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage of a vehicle whose occupants may be able to assist with inquiries.

Marine Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Mick O’Keefe said someone in the community may have the final piece of information that is key in assisting detectives with solving this case.

“Through traditional detective work, investigators have established that they are looking for a male and female who were in a white Toyota Hilux, towing a blue bottomed aluminium boat. We believe some children may have been on their boat at the time of the incident and we hope no one was injured like the fishermen were,” Det A/Insp O’Keefe said. 

“This is an opportunity for those involved to turn themselves in to police, or expect a visit from detectives soon enough, it’s just a matter of time.

“If members of the public have any information which might assist detectives, I urge them to call Crime Stoppers or their local police station. Just like on the road, there are rules that need to be obeyed on the water to avoid reckless incidents like this.”

City of Newcastle (CN) welcomes the $2.3 million in funding from the NSW Government’s 2021-22 Coastal and Estuary Grants Program for the first of three protection structures to address immediate erosion risk at Stockton Beach.

This grant will be boosted by further funding from CN for the first protection structure to be delivered as part of the Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) 2020. This will see CN’s investment at Stockton since the adoption of the Coastal Management Program in 2020 increase to $9.5 million. Council has already committed $27.5 million to protecting Stockton Beach.

The first protection structure will be located at the southern end of the existing Mitchell Street seawall (just south of Pembroke Street) in Stockton.

CN has completed the design of the protection structure and has recently awarded the tender for the work and this funding will enable construction on the first protection structure to commence in the first half of 2023. CN will continue to work with Stockton Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Group to ensure works respect the significance of the Stockton coastline to the Worimi people and protects their heritage.

The design of the structure considers its ability to address erosion from storm events, as well as long-term beach recession. It also considers the requirement to protect public assets at high-risk.

The beach protection structures, and the emergency works undertaken at Stockton Beach, complement the NSW Government’s proposed mass sand nourishment on the beach.

An investigation is underway following the fatal shooting of a man in the state’s Hunter Region overnight.

Shortly before 11pm (Tuesday 27 December 2022), emergency services responded to reports of a man being shot at a home on Traders Way, Heddon Greta, approximately 20km east of Cessnock.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man, but he died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged 25.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist forensic police.

Detectives have commenced an investigation into the incident under Strike Force Roslyn.

Significant impacts of three consecutive La Niña events added to the challenge of ensuring Newcastle’s famous coastline from Stockton in the north to Burwood Beach in the south remained safe and accessible for the community to enjoy.

Throughout 2022, City of Newcastle (CN) has delivered a program of work along the coastline which includes the emergency response to severe weather events which caused havoc along the coastline and damaged several coastal assets while at the same time undertaking the investigations and planning for coastal management over the longer term.

In the north, this program of work included completing emergency repair works at Stockton Beach where further beach erosion resulted from the series of weather events earlier in the year.

CN is also moving ahead with the work required to receive and place sand on Stockton Beach, with placement designs and environmental approvals expected to be finalised in early 2023.

In the shorter-term, CN has awarded the tender to build the first of three buried terminal protection structures designed to significantly reduce the chances of erosion in the event of large swells. Construction is anticipated to start early next year on the first structure, which will consist of underground vertical concrete piles that extend from street level to 8.5m below ground at the southern end of the Mitchell Street rock sea wall.

Significant work has also been undertaken on the development of the Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP), which progresses the Stockton 2020 CMP and extends the boundaries of the Program north to the Local Government Area border. The revised series of draft management actions listed in the Extended CMP will be circulated to community representatives, and their feedback will be considered in the final set of actions, which will go on public exhibition in mid-2023.

South of the harbour, good progress is being made on the stage one upgrade of the iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths, with renewal of the pools and promenades on track for completion by mid-2023, ahead of re-opening of the baths for swimming by next summer. Consultation on stage two of the upgrade, which centres on the pavilion buildings, will commence early next year.

Just down the coastline work continues on the upgrade to Bathers Way at South Newcastle Beach. Improvements to stormwater drainage, removal of contaminated materials and measures to stabilise the cliff line in the area have been undertaken in addition to the upgrade works, leading to unavoidable program delays, along with supply chain and labour impacts of COVID-19. Despite this the lower promenade is almost complete, and the much-anticipated skate park and skate bowl are taking shape, with the facility expected to be completed in Autumn, and opened by mid-2023.

CN is moving forward with another key link in the city’s iconic coastal walkway, with tenders called for the design of the next stage of Bathers Way, which will create a more accessible shared path through the State heritage-listed King Edward Park. Once appointed, the design consultant will build upon an existing concept layout, with community consultation to inform the final design.

At Bar Beach, a series of emergency repairs have been undertaken following major storm events in April. Temporary stairs have been installed to allow lifeguards direct access from the viewing tower and promenade to the beach, as well as improving access to amenities and upgrades to access for lifesaving vehicles.

Further works are planned to follow the busy summer period, including improvements to accessways at four points between Bar Beach and Merewether Beach. The Bar Beach promenade area will also be upgraded, including construction of a new disabled access ramp, new stairs, upgrades to seawalls and the installation of new handrails.

The stretch of coastline between Bar Beach and Merewether is a key focal point for the development of the Southern Beaches Coastal Management Program (CMP), which is currently underway. The Southern Beaches CMP will cover the length of coastline from Nobbys in the north to Glenrock in the south, providing a long-term program of actions required to adapt to immediate and future changes on our coast. Community consultation on the development of the plan will occur throughout 2023.

Dixon Park’s new kiosk will be up and running for summer, completing the building’s transformation, including the iconic Mark Richards mural, which has been expertly renewed by Up&Up Inspirations. Sunnyboy Kiosk will serve up to 15 flavours of gelato, fresh juices, acai bowls, pastries, fish and chips, and hamburgers, with ample shade and seating, all overlooking Bathers Way – delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s ongoing coastal revitalisation works.

Christmas has come early for Newcastle beachgoers, with the opening of a new kiosk at Dixon Park Beach just in time for the busy summer school holiday period.

Newcastle’s newest beach coffee haunt, Sunnyboy Kiosk, serves up 15 flavours of gelato, fresh juices, acai bowls, pastries, fish and chips, and hamburgers, with ample shade and seating, all overlooking Bathers Way and delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s ongoing coastal revitalisation works.

Councillor Carol Duncan said the well-positioned kiosk will see it used year-round by locals and visitors.

“Newcastle’s southern beaches are world-renowned, and the revitalisation of the kiosk demonstrates City of Newcastle’s commitment to ensuring our incredible coastal assets remain accessible and attractive for our community to enjoy,” Cr Duncan said.

“The opening of the kiosk completes the building’s transformation and complements the iconic Mark Richards mural, which has been expertly renewed by Up&Up Inspirations.

“We look forward seeing how the community interacts with the revitalised space throughout the summer.”

Sunnyboy Kiosk lessee and operators Tom and Nova Carias said they were ready to serve up tasty treats for the community at Dixon Park Beach.

“Sunnyboy Kiosk will be the place to be this summer,” Ms Carias said.

“We opened our doors to the public this week just in time for the start of the summer school holidays and we look forward to sunny days ahead welcoming surfers straight out of the water, beachgoers off the beach with sandy feet and meeting locals who will make this their regular coffee haunt.”

The refurbishment of the Dixon Park Beach kiosk supports City of Newcastle’s Coastal Revitalisation program, which began in 2010 as part of a long-term commitment to enhance Newcastle’s coastline.

City of Newcastle has hit a key milestone in its plan to build Newcastle’s first Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Summerhill Waste Management Facility.

Consultants GHD have lodged a development application for the facility on behalf of City of Newcastle, paving the way for the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel to begin its assessment of the regionally significant project.

The MRF will sort recyclables from residents’ yellow-lid kerbside bins into separate materials such as paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, steel and aluminium, which can then be on-sold to recyclers for use in the manufacture of new products.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was pleasing to see progress continue on the MRF, which will ensure City of Newcastle meets community expectations as well as State and Federal Government recycling targets.

“The community has told us very clearly that they support measures to sustainably divert waste from landfill and City of Newcastle is committed to delivering on these expectations through our recently adopted Sustainable Waste Strategy,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As there is no MRF operating in the Hunter region, Summerhill Waste Management Facility is an optimal location for a regional solution with close access to the M1 and Hunter Expressway.

“Recyclables collected from Newcastle households have been transported to the Central Coast since 2020 when the only MRF in the Hunter closed affecting City of Newcastle and several other Hunter Councils.

“The construction of the MRF will help us transform Summerhill into an innovative regional resource recovery hub that will reduce waste, increase recycling rates, create new jobs and kick-start local business opportunities within the circular economy.

“The submission of this development application, in conjunction with the current call for tenders to design, construct and operate the MRF, will allow us to maintain momentum towards achieving this goal.”

Concept designs prepared by CN ensure the MRF is scalable to process up to 85,000 tonnes of recyclables per annum, creating a regional solution for recyclable materials from across the Hunter.

The MRF project received $5 million from the Federal and NSW Governments in August last year and is included in the adopted 2022/23 Budget as one of four city-shaping projects that will deliver key outcomes for the community.

Three people have been charged after a woman was stabbed during an assault earlier this week.

About 11pm (Sunday 11 December 2022), emergency services were called to Hassall Street, Hamilton South, following reports of an assault.

On arrival, officers attached to Newcastle City Police Area Command were told two men and two women had been involved in a fight, where a 35-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck and a 46-year-old man sustained a laceration to his hand.

The pair drove to the Mater Hospital before the woman was later taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition. She is currently serious but stable.

A 36-year-old woman also sustained serious head injuries and a 38-year-old man sustained a fractured arm.

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

Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, the two men and 36-year-old woman were arrested and charged with wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, armed with intent to commit indictable offence and affray.

They were refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 22 February 2023.

City of Newcastle will invite tenders next month for the construction of Newcastle Art Gallery’s $40 million expansion, as work continues on grouting the historic mine tunnels 80 metres below the building.

Four companies have been shortlisted for the project following an expression of interest process and will be invited to submit tenders in January, with construction scheduled to begin mid-2023.

Early works are continuing to progress at the Newcastle Art Gallery site, with almost 70 bores drilled and more than 1,500 cubic metres of grout successfully placed to date in the Borehole Seam.

The mine remediation is scheduled to continue until mid next year in line with the approved Grouting and Verification Plan, with the NSW Government’s Newcastle Mines Grouting Fund contributing towards the cost of this work.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was pleasing to see the much-anticipated project progressing towards a key milestone, which will see a tender awarded for the main construction work.

“After more than 16 years of effort to make this project a reality, we are finally seeing real progress to deliver an expanded and upgraded Art Gallery of international standing, which will become a fitting home for our nationally significant $126 million collection,” Cr Nelmes said.

“By doubling the size of the Gallery and significantly increasing the exhibition space to display works of art of local, national and international importance, this project will launch a new era of cultural tourism that will consolidate the Hunter’s reputation as an active and vibrant centre for the arts in NSW.”

Cr Nelmes said all works of art have been professionally moved to a safe and secure offsite location, and Art Gallery staff have also relocated to City of Newcastle’s Administration Centre at 12 Stewart Avenue ahead of the construction work.

Once complete, the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery will extend the building’s footprint east along Darby Street and Queen Street and will include a new café and retail shop, multi-purpose and educational program space, and a secure international standard loading dock.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon welcomed the progress of the expansion project.

“Like all Novocastrians, I am delighted to see progress being made on this important project for our region,” Ms Claydon said.

“The Newcastle Art Gallery has been at the centre of our city’s rich cultural history for over 45 years and this expansion project will ensure its future is assured.”

The $40 million 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 a $10 million bequest from Valerie Ryan and $500,000 in funding from the Margaret Olley Art Trust through the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation.

Additional fundraising by the Art Gallery Foundation is ongoing to help reduce the cost to ratepayers.