Category: Newcastle News

Events, place activations and initiatives to re-energise Newcastle and boost the local economy are now eligible for a record $1.3 million in funding from the City.
Applications open today for a pool of $800,000 under the Special Business Program, which is on offer for the best projects that will promote, beautify and develop the City Centre and Darby Street.
Applications are also open across three additional funding programs to help activate public spaces, enhance community wellbeing and strengthen the city’s reputation as a destination for tourism, business and events.

“Funding across a range of sponsorship and grant programs will support industries hardest hit by COVID-19 and ensure that as restrictions are lifted our city is ready,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“We are providing financial support for all levels of the community, from localised suburban landscape improvements to major events that attract thousands of visitors to our region and inject millions into our economy.
“These funding programs are more important than ever in the wake of COVID-19 and its unprecedented economic and social impacts on our community.
“City of Newcastle has made a deliberate decision to open these funding opportunities at the same time, allowing a more streamlined submission process and providing applicants the best opportunity to receive support from one of the programs.
“While large events may not be possible right now, opening applications for funding allows organisers to get on with planning so that we can respond quickly when it’s safe to do so.
“In the meantime, there are many initiatives that may stimulate the City Centre and Darby Street business, support our local arts and cultural sector, and promote Newcastle as a destination that we can get on with funding today.
“I look forward to seeing innovative proposals that will enhance community wellbeing, improve the city’s identity and make Newcastle an even better place in which to live, work, play and invest.”
City of Newcastle’s $280,000 Event Sponsorship Program is open for events that promote Newcastle, provide tourism-related economic benefits, and capitalise on the city’s assets. Applications can be made across five categories depending on the size and significance of the event.
The Boost Arts and Cultural Grants program will provide a total of $150,000 to Newcastle’s cultural community by stimulating professional artist engagement and the presentation of arts and cultural works.
A further $60,000 is on offer through the Boost your Place Challenge, with the grants designed to encourage younger people to stay connected, create and innovate through placemaking projects.
Applications for all funding areas are open until Wednesday 12 August and can be submitted online. Visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-Sponsor

City of Newcastle will relocate the two remaining beachfront cabins at Stockton Beach Holiday Park to higher ground away from the threat of erosion within the south west corner of the park this Friday.
We ask that residents and visitors to Stockton take care if they are in the vicinity of the caravan park on Friday and follow directions in place.
City of Newcastle is continuing discussions with stakeholders around plans for the other cabins, which were relocated from the beach to land adjacent to the pool at the southern end of the caravan park in February to protect them from the impending coastal erosion event that was later declared a Natural Disaster.
These cabins are not operational and City of Newcastle has no current plans for their use.
Friday’s relocation comes ahead of another east coast low forecasted by the Bureau of Meteorology to occur early next week. It is predicted to bring more high winds and large swells for the coastline.
City of Newcastle continues to monitor the seawalls and emergency sandbagging at Stockton and contractors are undertaking works to repair existing sandbags in preparation for the next swell event. This work will continue to be carried out tonight, Friday evening and across the weekend, with contractors working until at least 8pm (due to tides) between Stone Street and north of Griffiths Avenue.
All accessways remain closed and traffic control will be in place at various locations when needed.
To stay up to date on the weather warnings, please follow the Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au, and for emergencies, the State Emergency Services at www.ses.nsw.gov.au  or phone 13 25 00.

Kotara’s Joslin Street is the latest City of Newcastle local centre to be given a makeover with a $2 million upgrade to improve public amenity, pedestrian safety and access, now underway.
City of Newcastle is upgrading suburban centres across the local government area including those recently completed in Carrington and Beresfield. Recently completed was the first two stages of Wallsend, including the works at Bunn Street and the Tyrrell Street Bridge.
Also upcoming in this local centre upgrade program are the works in Llewellyn Street, Merewether and the next stage of Wallsend, the intersection upgrades at Kokera and Cowper streets.
^{(L-R): Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, Project Manager Patrick Burgess and Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz at the Joslin Street Local Centre.}
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Joslin Street upgrade followed comprehensive consultation with the local community and would make for a more accessible centre for local shopping and commerce.
“Kotara residents and Joslin Street businesses told us that pedestrian safety and amenity of the area were key priorities for an upgrade,” the Lord Mayor said.
“A key element of this upgrade is expanding the public open space on the corner of Joslin Street and Rae Crescent by removing the slip road and beautifying the area with landscaping and an interactive artwork sculpture.
“Stacked sandstone blocks, a picnic table and bench seating, as well as a bubbler with a dog drinking bowl will further add to the amenity of this currently underutilised and inaccessible space.
“The works we’re undertaking now will make Joslin Street a more attractive and useable community space for Kotara’s current residents while catering for the growing number of young families in the area.”
A pedestrian refuge and speed humps will be installed to slow vehicle movements and better connect the shopping precinct and the new-look public open space, while lighting upgrades will provide a safer night-time environment.
Construction on the Joslin Street Local Centre is expected to be completed within a year. Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/localcentres for more information.

Police are appealing for public assistance after a ride-share driver was stabbed in Merewether this morning.
About 2.35am this morning (Thursday 23 July 2020), a 22-year-old driver picked up a group of people at Windale before travelling to William Street, Merewether.
Police have been told one of passengers threatened the 22-year-old with a blade and demanded his car keys, wallet and phone.
The driver resisted before he was stabbed in the upper arm and leg.
The group fled the scene in the man’s vehicle before the driver called emergency services.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and established a crime scene.
The driver was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries.
The vehicle is described as a 2010 silver-coloured Ford Focus, with NSW registration plates BPX 15C.
Anyone with information about the incident or about the whereabouts of the vehicle is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Four teenagers have been charged over allegedly lighting a blaze at a fast food restaurant in the Hunter at the weekend.
About 3.30am on Sunday (19 July 2020), emergency services were called to a fast food restaurant on Allandale Road, Cessnock, after reports of a fire within the external playground area.
Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the flames a short time later.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Following extensive inquiries, about 9am yesterday (Thursday 23 July 2020), police attended a high school in Cessnock, and arrested a 15-year-old boy.
Then about 2.40pm, officers attended another high school in Cessnock, where they arrested a 14-year-old boy.
Later that evening, two teenage girls – aged 16 and 17 – attended Cessnock Police Station where they were both arrested.
All four teenagers were charged with damage property by fire and were all granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday 11 August 2020.
Inquiries are continuing into the incident.

City of Newcastle will shortly lodge an amended development application to further increase exhibition floor space for an expanded Newcastle Art Gallery.
Earlier this week the Lord Mayor and Gallery Director Lauretta Morton presented the revised plans to Federal Senator Hollie Hughes and NSW Upper House Member Taylor Martin MLC, along with the Newcastle Art Gallery Working Party Chair Cathy Tate and the Board of the Art Gallery Foundation.
^{(L-R): Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation Chair Suzie Galwey, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Senator Hollie Hughes and Taylor Martin MLC at Newcastle Art Gallery.}
The expansion will see the 43-year-old building extended east along Darby Street and Queen Street with an eye-catching glass façade, a street-level café and retail shop, with overall exhibition space expanded by 250% which will include a dedicated display of the Gallery’s permanent collection. The additional exhibition space has in part been created by the removal of two shopfronts that were previously proposed in the approved DA.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the State Government had previously endorsed the project in its Cultural Infrastructure Plan 2025, which identified the Newcastle Art Gallery redevelopment as a regional opportunity.
“An expanded Newcastle Art Gallery would further develop the Civic Precinct and provide a wide range of benefits to the community including increased exhibitions, events, educational programs and upgraded facilities,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This is particularly important as a mechanism to help stimulate the NSW economy and create 170 jobs during this time of uncertainty. The annual impact on regional revenue would be more than $1 million, with 14,116 additional local visitors and tourists exploring what the gallery and the city has to offer.”
Senator Hollie Hughes said Monday’s meeting was positive and demonstrated a collaborative approach to the Gallery expansion.
“Newcastle Art Gallery is well supported by the local community and it was useful to hear more from the City’s representatives about plans for this project and how a collaborative approach may help bring it to life.”
Taylor Martin MLC welcomed the opportunity to be briefed on plans for the site.
“City of Newcastle has presented a well-considered proposal for its Art Gallery expansion including its recent amendments which will ensure the maximum exposure of its collection through more exhibition space.”
Chair of the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation, Suzie Galwey, said she was pleased to see plans progress.
“The Foundation’s mission is to build and nurture our highly acclaimed Newcastle Art Gallery collection, and this expansion is key to that.”
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the redeveloped Gallery would be a major drawcard for the city.
“As Australia’s first purpose-built regional Gallery, Newcastle is custodian to a nationally recognised permanent collection of over 7,000 works of art, providing a time capsule of Australian art dating back to the earliest days of Newcastle more than 200 years ago when it became Australia’s second city to be settled,” Ms Morton said.
“The long-awaited expansion of the Gallery, which our Foundation, Society and the community have worked tirelessly towards, will offer the ability to share more of the City’s collection, displaying works of art of local, national and international importance for visitors to view and enjoy.
“This makes the Gallery one of the City’s biggest cultural assets, located in the heart of the city centre’s revitalisation directly across from the new 5-star Kingsley Hotel.”
City of Newcastle has committed more than $10 million to the project and to date invested $3.6 million towards the Art Gallery expansion.
Based on a 2019 quantity survey, $35.6 million is required to complete the construction of the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery.
BIS Oxford Economics completed a Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis in March 2019 demonstrating that the benefits of the expansion proposal far outweigh the costs with a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 1.77 and a Net Present Value of $24.1 million, including 170 new jobs during its two year construction.
Benefits to the NSW Economy: 

• The Cost Benefit Analysis by BIS Oxford Economics positively demonstrates that the benefits of the proposal far outweigh the costs with a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.77 and a positive Net Present Value (NPV) of $23.8 million.
• The expanded NAG would further develop an arts and culture precinct within walking distance of the Civic Precinct: Newcastle City Hall, the Civic Theatre, Newcastle Library and Newcastle Museum.
• The estimated job creation from the expansion project has been estimated by Prosperity Consulting at 170 jobs; comprising 152 temporary jobs during the construction phase and 18 ongoing FTE jobs post completion.
• The 152 jobs compromise 76 direct jobs directly generated in the region in the areas of construction and consultancy from the project. An additional 38 jobs will result from additional production and an additional 38 jobs will be generated from the additional consumption.
• The redevelopment of NAG would provide a wide range of benefits to society associated with increased exhibitions, events, expansion of educational programs and upgraded facilities.
• The annual effect on regional revenue attributable to the Gallery’s expansion/ redevelopment is estimated at $1,099,830 with 14,116 additional local and tourist visits.
• Further additional visitation is estimated at 73,590 in relation to use of the additional Gallery facilities outside of exhibition spaces; generating revenue of $2.7 million in relation to the use of these facilities.

A police officer has been charged following an investigation into alleged neglect of duty.
In January 2020, an investigation was commenced by officers from a northern region police district after an officer allegedly failed to appropriately investigate a reported domestic violence incident.
Following inquiries, a male senior constable was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice yesterday (Tuesday 21 July 2020), for neglect of duty.
He is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 3 September 2020.
The officer is currently suspended with pay.

City of Newcastle has introduced a program to conduct COVID-19 safety inspections on food businesses in Newcastle.
The City’s Environmental Health officers will educate local businesses about COVID-19 Safety Plans and will also now undertake proactive compliance inspections of local cafes, restaurants and food courts.
The trial program aims to provide a positive impact to both food businesses and the community through improved COVID-19 safety compliance reducing the risk of virus transmission.
The program has been developed in response to requests for the City to support local food businesses to implement safety plans and will also respond to compliance complaints.
Food businesses must prepare and implement an effective COVID-19 Safety Plan in accordance with the NSW Public Health Order.
For further information on COVID-19 support including access to a food safety checklist, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/

The Civic Theatre will serve up a much-needed dose of laughs to lift our spirits when the Newcastle landmark reopens its doors to the public from the 27th of July.
The 90-year-old iconic Theatre will begin welcoming audiences back with a staged reopening to allow for small scale shows and ensure COVID-19 safety measures.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the reopening of the Civic Theatre would help activate the city’s night-time economy in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions.
“COVID-19 has brought Newcastle’s vibrant live performance industry to a standstill, with restrictions and shut-downs proving devastating for the livelihoods of many performing artists,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Reopening the Civic Theatre is a positive step in our city’s journey towards recovery, allowing us to support our local performing arts community.”
Audience numbers will be capped to comply with social distancing requirements and manage the flow of patrons through the venue, with an initial limit of 150 people in the Civic Theatre and 50 in the Playhouse. Later this year it plans to increase the audience capacity to an allowable 500 under the current Public Health Order.
Civic Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace said the performance spaces would be reactivated with an intimate comedy event on 1 August, which will give audiences a whole new perspective on the venue.
“With restrictions around capacity and social distancing in place, we’ve decided to take the opportunity to show the Civic Theatre in a new light,” Ms Wallace said.
“The audience will enter via the loading dock to enjoy an intimate comedy club experience, being held in conjunction with Big Dog Comedy, with both the performers and audience together on the Civic Theatre stage!
“This will provide a unique ambience to welcome back anyone looking for a night out with a twist.”
Tickets for the show are now on sale, giving Novocastrians their first chance to experience the Civic Theatre’s new in-house ticketing system.
The Civic Theatre box office is now the authorised seller for all tickets to the Civic Theatre, the Playhouse and City Hall Concert Hall.
Tickets are still sold through the Civic Theatre website and the new system provides an enhanced online customer experience with lower transaction fees.

A man will face court today charged over the alleged sexual abuse of a young child in Port Stephens last month.
On Tuesday 30 June 2020, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a child was sexually abused by a man who was known to her.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators, assisted by officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District, arrested a 44-year-old man at a home at Narara about 7.45am on Sunday 5 July 2020.
The man was taken to Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years.
Police will allege that the man sexually abused the five-year-old, while staying with her family in April this year.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Tuesday 21 July 2020).
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.