Category: Newcastle News

All the news happening in the Newcastle and Hunter Region

Union welcomes layout of City’s new admin HQ

United Services Union Organiser Luke Hutchinson has hailed office floorplans finalised by City of Newcastle to meet the city’s increasingly diverse needs from its future administrative base.
Space for all admin staff and ample meeting rooms will feature in levels 2-5 in the new West End office block, with additional training rooms slated for the sixth floor and a temporary customer service centre set to swing into operation in October.
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“We welcome a number of features included in the finalised floorplans,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“These include increased space for collaboration, sit/stand workstations for all workers, informal chat areas to increase interaction between staff, and adequate space for internal and external meetings, which has long been identified by our members as problem.
“The union strongly welcomes big improvements to dedicated staff training spaces at the new headquarters.”
Mr Hutchinson said the move would improve workplace conditions and overall staff wellbeing after a strong engagement process.
“Following consultation with our members, and representations made to the Lord Mayor, the USU was able to engage directly with CEO Jeremy Bath to work through some of the concerns and issues raised staff,” he said.
“We’re pleased to say that this was a really positive engagement and that several improvements have been made, including a USU Delegate’s appointment to the City’s internal consultative group.
“The USU will continue to work both proactively and collaboratively with City of Newcastle management and Lord Mayor Nelmes to ensure our members’ best interests are at the forefront of the move westward over the coming months.”
The 12 Stewart Avenue premises will accommodate all of the City’s 425 administrators, offering capacity for growth, and provide meeting-room flexibility previously unavailable in the City Administration Centre, City Hall and Fred Ash buildings.
Levels 2-5 have an identical layout, except for one corner tailored to support individual service units, and each comprises a 28-person meeting room that can also be expanded into a larger training facility.
Each floor from 2-5 will provide staff with:

  • 80 ergonomic electric sit/stand work points with privacy screens, dual monitors, keyboard, mouse and task chair
  • Three booths that each seat five people
  • An agile collaboration space with screen and whiteboard and informal chat area
  • Large breakout collaboration space with kitchenette, storage and informal seating for 12
  • Large team workshop space to accommodate 12 staff or large-team meetings and stand-ups for 30-plus people
  • Around 150 lockers for staff to store their caddy and personal items
  • Five 1-2 seat quiet spaces for focused task work and discussions
  • Utility area housing printers, bins and stationery.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said fit-out work would begin mid-June on the new offices that would conservatively benefit rate payers to the tune of $13.1 million over the next 25 years.
“Instead of three buildings and 13 floors in the Civic Precinct, all our administrative staff will be housed under one roof in the city’s new CBD, offering them several ideal places to meet with our myriad stakeholders,” Mr Bath said. “This will improve communication and decision making, which will in turn lead to better services for the community.
“This move is about increasing productivity and the capacity of staff through greater flexibility to provide even better services from modern offices. Twelve Stewart Avenue will also offer employees booths, quiet sections and team spaces to select in order to work better together and with hundreds of community members who are also integral to the city’s continued growth and success.
“Our new base utilises the best of modern design principles to improve our workplace culture and also offers easier access for people with mobility challenges just a stone’s throw from the Newcastle Interchange.”

Strike Force Raptor remove stolen kitchen fit out, seize drugs, weapons; former OMCG member charged

A former member of the Finks outlaw motor cycle gang (OMCG) will appear at court today after Strike Force Raptor seized drugs and weapons and removed an entire kitchen allegedly built with stolen products from a home in the Lake Macquarie region.
As part of investigations into a malicious damage last month, police from Strike Force Raptor North executed a search warrant at a home in Booragul about 8.30am yesterday (Thursday 6 June 2019).
During the search, officers seized 3.3g of methylamphetamine, prescription medication, clothing, two electronic control devices, and numerous items suspected of being stolen including cabinetry, kitchen appliances, ceiling fans, doors and other building materials.
A 28-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Toronto Police Station.
He was charged with 11 offences, including goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, possess prohibited drug (x2), destroy or damage property, possess instructions for manufacture of prohibited drug, and use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition (x2).
Police will allege in court that the man used stolen products to fit out his home kitchen and damaged a parked vehicle at Warners Bay on Friday 31 May 2019.
The man, who is a former member of the Finks outlaw motor cycle gang (OMCG), was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Friday 7 June 2019).
 

Man charged following pursuit with Porsche – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged with multiple offences following a pursuit in Lake Macquarie yesterday.
Police will allege in the early hours of Wednesday 5 June 2019, a house on Hurn Street, New Lambton, was broken into, where car keys were located, and a Porsche Macan was stolen from the premises.
About midday yesterday (Thursday 6 June 2019), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District sighted a Porsche on York Street, Teralba and attempted to stop it.
After the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated and terminated soon after due to dangerous driving.
A short time later, the Porsche was sighted travelling through Cardiff, where it mounted a gutter and drove down a narrow grass laneway in-between houses, before crashing into a fence on Clinton Close, Cardiff.
A man exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A search was commenced with officers from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Police Districts, the Dog Unit and PolAir and a short time later, a 24-year-old man was arrested in nearby bushland.
He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, disqualified driving, drive conveyance taken without consent, larceny, use class A vehicle with unauthorised number plate affixed, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, negligent driving, enter inclosed land without lawful excuse, go onto running lines, possess prohibited drug and two counts of possess prescribed restricted substance.
The man was refused bail to appear in Toronto Local Court today (Friday 7 June 2019).

Three charged with 37 offences over nine armed robberies – Lake Macquarie

Between February and May 2019, police will allege in court that two men robbed nine bowling clubs and a golf clubhouse, while armed.
In two of the incidents, the man allegedly assaulted a cleaner with a hammer and a staff member with a metal pole.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators, with the assistance of specialist tactical officers, arrested a 24-year-old man at Fishing Point just before 7am yesterday (Thursday 6 June 2019).
Shortly after, detectives executed search warrants at the Fishing Point property, a home in Rathmines and another home in Bolton Point, where a second man, aged 36, was arrested.
A third man, aged 27, was arrested in Maitland later the same day, where all three were taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with a combined total of 37 offences.
Investigations under Strike Force Bergs continue.

No.2 protected for historic rugby Test

Australia’s Women’s Rugby team will play their first ever standalone Test on a No.2 Sportsground playing surface that meets international standards thanks to a decision to quarantine the pitch until the historic 13 July fixture.
The boutique day-time international against Japan, the first in which the Wallaroos will play another country outside the customary curtain-raiser format, could be followed by annual Tests at No.2, which will undergo improvements between now and game day.
City of Newcastle will upgrade the glassed area at the northern end of the grandstand – to accommodate merchandise sales and host volunteers – and construct two fire stairwells at the rear of the concrete bleachers to sidestep the need for event fire-wardens.
Wallaroosinside.jpgThe Wallaroos will play a Test against Japan in July at No.2 Sportsground. Photo credit: Stu Walmsley
City of Newcastle Services Director Alison Murphy said the decision had been made in consultation with ground users to preserve No.2 after last weekend’s rain-affected matches and further downpours undid recent rye-grass sowing.
“Hosting the women’s rugby Test is an historic opportunity for the City and we are determined to do everything we can to make the Wallaroos an annual fixture, as women’s sport goes from strength to strength,” Ms Murphy said.
“Remediation works and the closure of the ground will provide staff with the opportunity to rehabilitate the surface to an appropriate standard for the Test.
“In the meantime, we will work with Wanderers Rugby Union Club and Newcastle Hunter Rugby Union to find alternative venues for training and competition games scheduled for No.2 on 22 and 29 June.”
Rugby Australia Head of Operations and Major Events Tony Harris backed the move to mothball the ground.
“We have every confidence in the City of Newcastle to have No.2 Sportsground ready for the Buildcorp Wallaroos first Test of 2019 against Japan, which will be broadcast around the world,” he said.
“We have been very impressed with the efforts of the City around this fixture and I know the team is looking forward to continuing their preparation for the International season when they convene in Newcastle on July 6.”  
The Japanese will be out to avenge their 29-15 loss to Australia at the 2017 World Cup in the Newcastle fixture, as well as a second match at North Sydney Oval on Friday July 19 July.
Two curtain raisers will be played before the 13 July Test:
11.15am   Hunter Women XV v Southern Inland Women XV
12.35pm   Australian Defence Force Women v NZ Defence Force 40 minute halves, 10 minute half time
3.05pm     Buildcorp Wallaroos v Japan

Former Salvation Army soldier charged with historical alleged child sex abuse

A former soldier of the Lambton Salvation Army will face court today charged over the alleged sexual abuse of two young boys in the 1990s.
In July 2018, detectives from Newcastle City Police District established Strike Force Georgiana to investigate allegations of historic child sex abuse by a former soldier of the Salvation Army at Lambton.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 69-year-old man at Newcastle Police Station about 9am on Wednesday 10 April 2019.
He was charged with three counts of sexual intercourse with person 10 or over and under 16, seven counts of aggravated indecent assault – victim under the age of 16, and five counts of commit act of indecency with person under 16.
Police will allege in court that the man sexually abused two boys separately on numerous occasions, both of whom he had met through his work with the Salvation Army at Lambton.
It is alleged the incidents occurred in the late 1990s, when the boys were aged 10 and 14.
The man remains in custody and will appear at Newcastle Local Court later today (Thursday 6 June 2019).
 

Trees and tech deployed to #BeatAirPollution

City of Newcastle celebrated a city-wide tree planting drive today and the upcoming installation of an environmental sensor network as part of World Environment Day’s global campaign to combat air pollution.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes helped plant a Port Jackson Fig in Centennial Park, Cooks Hill, this morning as the City’s Environment teams continued their work in driving rain to minimise carbon pollution on World Environment Day 2019.
The Fig will eventually grow to a height of 30 metres and is just one of 205 trees the City will plant before 23 June at parks and playgrounds in Cooks Hill, Broadmeadow, Wallsend and Shortland.
Figtreeplanting6inside_LM-(1).jpgThe Port Jackson Fig was winched into its new home via crane
Figtreeplantinginside_LM.jpgLord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes helped in the planting efforts
“Our City has never been more invested in local and global climate issues than we are right now,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Today’s tree planting and the ongoing projects our environment and smart city teams are working on are practical efforts we’re making following our commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Goal Development goals, which we incorporated into our 2030 Community Strategic Plan last year.
“While small in stature right now, this Port Jackson fig may absorb more than two tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over its lifetime whilst producing oxygen, aligning perfectly with the theme of World Environment Day today, which is #BeatAirPollution.”
Also harnessing the environmental benefits of technology, the City will soon deploy up to 40 clusters of Internet of Things sensors right across the local government area, providing a comprehensive analysis of environmental conditions in real-time, including particulate pollution, flooding, humidity and soil moisture.
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Figtreeplantinginside5_LM.jpgL-R City staff Angus Weingott, Michael Linsley and Matthew Warby with the Lord Mayor at Centennial Park
The Lord Mayor said the network had been designed to grow as new applications and challenges were identified, with data collected, communicated and aggregated on smart city technology platforms and made freely available to the public.
“By collecting real-time data on air quality and environmental conditions, City planners will be able to make more-informed decisions about the impacts of urban design decisions and better understand industrial processes,” the Lord mayor said. “Researchers can also use the data to inform projects to improve liveability and maintain urban amenity.”
The envirosensing network is a leading smart city application of the Hunter Innovation Project. Initial installation is funded by the NSW State Government as part of the Hunter Infrastructure Investment Fund.
The City of Newcastle received $4.9M for the Hunter Innovation Project to deploy smart city infrastructure across the city and local government area.
For more information about World Environment Day, visit https://www.worldenvironmentday.global.

Storms force Stockton closures

City of Newcastle has closed accessways along Stockton Beach and will monitor other seaside walkways and roads over the next 24 hours amid today’s storm warnings.
Heavy seas with significant wave heights in excess of seven metres from a southerly direction are expected to hit the coast by 1pm. Heavy wind gusts strong enough to uproot trees in urban areas are also predicted.
In preparation, the City has closed Stockton Beach accessways along the Mitchell Street seawall and the northern access at Stone Street.
Staff will continue to monitor rising water levels throughout the day.
Updates will be provided on the above, and other possible closures as they arise. Locations and facilities currently being monitored include:

  • Shortland Esplanade and promenades along City beaches, including the Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths
  • Low-lying roads

Please limit your travel and stay safe when moving in and around the City in the predicted weather event.
To stay uptodate on the most current weather warnings, please follow the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/, and for emergencies, the State Emergency Service https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/  13 2500.

Economic, Art and Community Grants now open

City of Newcastle has opened applications for three separate funding programs worth a total of $265,000 in a bid to empower community groups to make the city a better place.
The 2019-20 funding round includes:

Mulletsinside.jpgThe Mind Our Mullets project received the City’s support last year 
“Organisations should look to take advantage of the funding available to promote their own – and the City’s – economic and cultural development,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“We want to see emerging and established artists, cultural groups and commercial entities thrive in our City, and this funding is allocated to help them do so. These funding programs help deliver activities that foster a sense of community, build capacity within our community, strengthen our economic base and enhance the quality of life for our residents”.
Up to $20,000 will be made available for successful applicants under the Economic Sponsorship, and a maximum of $4,000 will be offered to each project that secures a Community Placemaking grant.
Organisations successful in the arts and cultural category will be provided with an annual contribution of $70,000 for a maximum of three years to help cover the cost of their ambitious projects.
Last year, funding across a range of sponsorship and grant programs contributed to projects with a direct expenditure of $1.25 million and provided support for business growth and employment while encouraging innovation, community capacity building, placemaking and developing the visitor economy.
The Mind Our Mullets project received support last year to increase awareness of and change waste management behaviours around Islington and Throsby Creek catchment.
The Greater Hunter Technology Festival at Broadmeadow, which showcased innovative companies and start-ups and allowed school, university and TAFE students to display their projects, also benefitted.
The latest round of City funding follows the opening of last month’s Event Sponsorship Program (ESP), which closed last Tuesday. The $280,000 ESP program provides up to $20,000 each to groups keen to stage community events, major community events, major destination events, commercial events and business events throughout the City.
For more information, or to apply to this year’s programs prior to the 1 July closing date, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/community/grants-sponsorships.

Police seek assistance to locate missing man – Hunter Valley

Police are seeking information from the public to locate a man missing from the Hunter Valley.
Matthew Warwick Brooker, 47 old, was last seen on Sunday 4 May 2019 when he left his workplace at Scone, after feeling unwell and has not been seen since.
Family became concerned and reported him missing to police.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170–175cm tall with a medium build. He has brown hair and possibly a moustache and/or goatee beard.
He is known to frequent the areas of Sydney City, Darlinghurst, Kings Cross and the Eastern Suburbs.
He is possibly driving a 2013 white Volkswagen Up! with NSW registration plates CMH15F.
Family and police are concerned for Mr Brooker’s welfare as this is out of character.