Category: Newcastle News

The City of Newcastle is developing a Community and Economic Resilience package, to assist Novocastrians through a period of unprecedented social and economic disruption caused by the spread of COVID-19.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is taking proactive actions that will benefit our community in what is perhaps the City’s greatest ever challenge.
“People may be isolated for periods of time, small businesses will face supply chain issues and reduced economic activity, and the unemployment rate is likely to rise.
“Collectively, we can get through this and City of Newcastle is doing all that it can to facilitate community and economic resilience.”
Part of City of Newcastle’s work includes the development of a Community and Economic Resilience Response.
“This situation requires us to consider how we can deliver economic and well-being outcomes that will support our community,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The principles we have used are about expanding existing platforms and focusing on strategic legacy items for economic and community resilience.
“For example, we will look at ways of developing our local skills base, accelerating digital literacy for small business and growing community cohesion.
“Talented and diverse teams across the City of Newcastle are also putting together measures in response to COVID-19.
“These resilience measures are being informed by international experts and seek to focus on areas where local government can support local businesses and organisations do what they do best.
“The measures will complement the previously announced Federal and NSW Government stimulus packages.
“A second phase of the resilience package likely to be announced in May will be a multi-million dollar increase in the City’s planned capital works program for the next financial year.
“Newcastle has a long history of dealing with economic adversity, which gives us the confidence to know that as a community we can get through this together. It will be challenging and have personal impact, but with community mindedness, we will come out the other side,” Cr Nelmes added.
The COVID-19 economic resilience package will be considered at Tuesday night’s ordinary council meeting and then factored into the City’s upcoming Quarterly Budget Review.
Further information about the City’s response is available at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.

Blackbutt Reserve’s 182 hectares of eucalypt bushland, trails and recreational facilities remain open as the City continues to work with the State and Federal Government on limiting the spread of COVID-19.
However, activities and services requiring Blackbutt staff to have close contact with members of the public have been suspended in line with current social-separation guidelines (social distancing) to protect visitors, staff and volunteers.
All wildlife shows, animal encounters, public-feeding talks and the operation of the kiosk are suspended until further notice, with bookings for private encounters to be fully refunded.
Bookings for Blackbutt’s BBQ shelters will be honoured should customers choose to proceed.
For more information on our response to COVID-19, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

City of Newcastle is continuing to work with the State and Federal Government on limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Following restrictions placed on events under the NSW Government Public Health Order, which states outdoor events of more than 500 must not be held before 14 June 2020, the City is implementing a number of measured responses.
Since the Order was issued, the City has been notified of around 30 cancellations or postponements of public events on community land.
For licensed events that have notified the City of cancellation, we will refund the application fee. Similarly, application fees will be refunded for any sports licences that have been issued for events now cancelled.
The City is also supporting event organisers postpone to another date free of charge, providing their preferred new date is available.
Given the current uncertainty around events, the City’s annual Event Sponsorship Program (ESP) will be deferred until after the Public Health Order is repealed. This will give event organisers more certainty when planning their event and related sponsorship applications. The City will provide more information as soon as a new opening date for the program is confirmed.
The City continues to plan a proposed flagship cultural event previously scheduled for later in 2020. While it had been scheduled to fit the national cultural festival calendar, the timing is now under review as we work with the cultural and arts sector on new programming.
The City’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Team meets daily to assess the latest advice and formulate plans for maintaining services.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce are its paramount concerns, and the City has implemented a daily update for employees on the response, including advice around social distancing and hygiene.
The response to COVID-19, including how social distancing should work for City of Newcastle employees, is developing in line with advice from our Government partners daily.
Should it be necessary, the City’s indoor workforce is well placed to work from home given the recent rollout of laptops and migration to cloud-based services.
For more information on cancellations and events and programs at our facilities, go to https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Latest-News/Events-and-public-gatherings

City of Newcastle (CN) is working in collaboration with government partners including NSW Health to ensure our city is prepared in the event of the further spread of COVID-19 to the region.
In order to do all we can to limit the transmission of the virus and to prioritise the wellbeing of staff and the community, the end of season closure will be brought forward to Monday 23March for City-owned swimming centres across the local government area.

City of Newcastle Interim Director City Wide Services Alissa Jones said the decision affected the City-operated Beresfield Swimming Centre, along with Lambton, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend Swimming Centres, operated by BlueFit Aquatics.
“In collaboration with BlueFit we have brought forward the final day of the season to 23 March 2020 as part of our commitment to the health and wellbeing of staff and the community,” Ms Jones said.
“This means that all swimming centres in Newcastle will be closed from Monday 23 March 2020.
“City of Newcastle will continue to provide lifeguard services at our beaches and ocean baths. Information on patrol hours can be found on our website.
“The City’s key objectives are to provide timely information about any changes to services or the operation of our facilities and to support the State and Federal Governments to manage the impact of the pandemic.
“City of Newcastle will adjust operations to further protect public health and the health of our staff and volunteers.
“City of Newcastle is working with staff affected by the early closure of the Beresfield Swimming Centre to minimise the adverse impact on them.”
BlueFit CEO Todd McHardy said BlueFit has considered a number of strategic approaches to ensure the best outcomes for both community and staff.
“The responsible solution across the Newcastle region is to bring forward the winter closure for all facilities to commence on Monday 23 March 2020, the final day of trade being Sunday 22 March 2020,” Mr McHardy said.
“Safety is our number one priority and with ongoing government-imposed reductions in mass gathering numbers and further recommendations on social distancing, we believe closing the Newcastle swimming venues will limit the transmission of the virus in our community.
“We recognise the financial impact this has on our staff and the broader community, therefore, BlueFit has developed a safety net strategy to support our team and customers in times of hardship in an effort to reduce the impact across our network.
“All learn to swim program participants will be notified through separate correspondence of relevant closures and program disruption. We are committed to supporting both the community and our staff through this period and we are grateful for the strong partnership we have with the City of Newcastle to assist us through these tough decisions.
“We feel the impact on the community will be minimal given we are entering the end of the summer season and with the magnificent beaches and ocean baths available in Newcastle, and prioritises the health and wellbeing of staff and the broader community.”
Further information about the City’s response is available at Newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

In response to COVID-19, the Federal Government has introduced social distancing measures, which include limiting non-essential organised gatherings of 500 people or more.
Unsurprisingly, the Civic Theatre has been advised by promoters of all upcoming shows that they have been either cancelled or postponed.
Our ticketing service provider, Ticketek, will inform all customers affected by a show cancellation directly. Many show promoters are postponing rather than cancelling.
The Civic Theatre will provide regular updates on its website and by social media.
The Playhouse and Civic Café will continue to operate but have instituted the additional recommended social distancing measure of ensuring customers are seated 1.5 metres apart.
Whilst the Newcastle Art Gallery remains open, in order for the City to do all it can to limit the transmission of the virus in our communities, and to prioritise the wellbeing of members, staff, volunteers and visitors, all public programming at the Gallery has been suspended until further notice. This includes programs Art Cart and Last Fridays.
Newcastle Museum remains open but has suspended the Supernova and Mininova Gallery exhibition as well as the Bush Mechanics and Cultural Resurgence exhibitions.
Fort Scratchley is open, however its popular Tunnel Tours have been suspended to limit close contact in a confined space.
All City library branches are open, however programs and events have been suspended until further notice.
City of Newcastle is working in collaboration with government partners including NSW Health to ensure our city is prepared in the event of the further spread of COVID-19 to the region.
The City’s key objectives are to provide timely information about any changes to services or the operation of our facilities and to support the State and Federal Governments to manage the impact of the pandemic.
City of Newcastle will adjust operations to further protect public health and the health of our staff and volunteers.

A man will appear in court today after being charged with a range of traffic and firearm related offences following an investigation in the state’s Hunter region.
Police will allege about 6.40pm on Saturday 28 December 2019, a stolen Holden Rodeo utility was involved in a fail to stop crash on the New England Highway, Hexham, where it collided with the rear of another vehicle, before the male driver fled the scene on foot.
Upon a search of the Rodeo, police located ammunition inside the cabin and a rifle hidden under the tray.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District’s Target Action Group commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following inquiries, a man was arrested at a house on Goldingham Street, Tenambit, 7km east of Maitland, about 9.15am today (Wednesday 17 March 2020).
A Firearms Prohibition Order was executed and during the search, police seized a sawn-off shot gun which will undergo forensic examination.
The 33-year-old man was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with;

• Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
• Drive whilst disqualified
• Two counts of negligent driving
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
• Unlawfully possess thing resembles number plate
• Use vehicle with unauthorised number plate
• Not give particulars to other driver
• Two counts of possess shortened firearm
• Two counts of not keep firearm safely
• Possess loaded firearm public place
• Acquire ammunition subject to prohibition
• Two counts of acquire prohibited firearm

He was refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 17 March 2020).

A body has been found inside a truck that rolled and caught alight on the M1 at Mount Kuring Gai early this morning.
Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes of the M1, near the Church Street overpass, about 2.30am today (Tuesday 17 March 2020).
On arrival officers found a B-double that had crashed into the medium strip and rolled before catching on fire – burning a load of wool it was transporting.
A body, believed to be the driver, was found inside the Prime Mover – it is yet to be identified.
Officers from Kuring Gai Police Area Command have established a crime scene and a full investigation is now underway.
Traffic is being diverted around the crash site and motorists are being advised to avoid the area where possible.
Please refer to livetraffic.com for the latest traffic updates.

Investigations are underway following a truck crash on the M1 at Mount Kuring Gai early this morning.
Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes of the M1, near the Church Street overpass, about 2.30am today (Tuesday 17 March 2020), following reports of a truck crash.
On arrival officers found a B-double that had crashed into the medium strip and rolled before catching on fire – burning a load of wool it was transporting.
The male driver has not been accounted for.
Officers from Kuring Gai Police Area Command have established a crime scene and a full investigation is now underway.
Traffic is being diverted around the crash site and motorists are being advised to avoid the area where possible.
Please refer to livetraffic.com for the latest traffic updates.