Category: Newcastle News

With work on the lower promenade at South Newcastle Beach now complete, specialist contractors have today begun final work to stabilise a section of the cliff face located to the south of the Bathers Way upgrade.

The area is known by the Awabakal name Yirannali, which means “a place of falling rocks”, and is a key point of interest on the Newcastle Coastal Geotrail given the fracturing of layers of coal and sandstone unique to this location.

City of Newcastle Acting Executive Director City Infrastructure Robert Dudgeon said this work is an important step before re-opening the nearby pathway to the community.

“We anticipate that we will see a significant increase in foot traffic compared to historic levels when we open the lower promenade and re-establish the connection from Newcastle Beach up to King Edward Park,” Mr Dudgeon said.

“While the work on the lower promenade is now complete, the contractor working on the cliff face has requested it remain closed to pedestrians while they complete the cliff stabilisation work.

“The area has a history of rockfall, I’m sure many people remember the large rock that fell in 2002.

“Public safety is our highest priority so it’s important that we reduce any risk to the community.”

The work involves installation of a series of rock bolts, while specialised machinery will be used to seal areas of soft rock to reinforce the cliff face.

“We anticipate some short periods of disruption to the flow of traffic and pedestrians along Watt Street in March due to crane movements when the sealing works take place, but much of the work is undertaken using hand tools with workers abseiling from the top of the cliff line,” Mr Dudgeon said.

The specialist contractor will work in close collaboration with Daracon who are working to complete the construction of the Bathers Way upgrade after the original contractor Lloyd Group entered voluntary administration in March last year.

The Bathers Way, South Newcastle Beach upgrade features a shared path from Shortland Esplanade to King Edward Park, improvements to parking, landscaping, lighting and accessibility, the installation of fitness equipment, shade, seating and viewing areas, as well as a new café/kiosk and accessible amenities.

The project also includes a $1.6 million upgrade to the skate park with wheelchair-accessible skate bowl and terrain park, which will complement the advanced-level facilities at Empire Park and provide a unique drawcard to promote ongoing visitation and activation of this area.

The upgrade remains on track for completion in mid-2024.

Council update: Ordinary Council Meeting Tuesday 27 February 2024 

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 27 February 2024. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Lord Mayoral Minutes  

Newcastle’s Citizens of the Year and Australia Day 2024 Honours List recipients

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported congratulating 2024 Citizen of the Year, Professor Nathan Bartlett, Young Citizen of the Year, Olivia Hughes, Senior Citizen of the Year, Emeritus Professor Julie Byles and Community Group of the Year, The LIVEFree Project. Congratulations also go to the 15 Novocastrians who received awards in the recent Australia Day 2024 Honours List.

Roads to Recovery and Financial Assistance Grant support

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that acknowledges the Federal Government’s Financial Assistance Grant program that will strongly support Council in delivering our Annual Works Program and Operational Plan, and will support our work to improve town centres, build new playgrounds, address climate change at the local level, provide beach lifeguards and deliver other important services to our community.

Ordinary business 

Change to 2024 adopted meeting schedule

Council unanimously voted to adopt a change in Council’s 2024 meeting cycle; moving the Council Committee meeting from 19 November to 12 November 2024.

Tabling of register of disclosures of interest

Council noted the tabling of the Register of Disclosures of Interest for the period 1 November 2023 to 31 January 2024 by the CEO.

December Quarterly Performance Report

Council received the 2022-2026 Delivery Program – December Quarterly Performance Report and adopted the revised budget.

Newcastle Maritime Museum Society (NMMS) collection storage facility lease 

Council voted to extend leases with Venues NSW and a private rental facility for the storage of the NMMS’s collection and paper-based records and archives for a maximum period of 12 months until 21 March 2025. Council will also extend the current in-kind storage support at various CN sites for other NMMS owned items for a maximum period of two years. Council noted that the NMMS remains responsible for the storage, management, relocation and ongoing care of its collection.

Cancellation of easement – 65 Portside Crescent, Maryville

Council unanimously voted to cancel an existing easement at 65 Portside Crescent, Maryville.

Traise Street, Waratah – kerb realignment and footpath

Council unanimously voted to approve kerb realignment and footpath connections on Traise Street, Waratah.

Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report

Council unanimously voted to table the Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report for the 2022/2023 financial year and note the 2023/2024 Forward Internal Audit Plan.

Executive Monthly Performance Report 

Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for January 2024.

Tender report – Blackbutt Cara Kiosk and Community Facility 

Council unanimously voted to accept a tender for construction of a new kiosk and community facility at Carnley Avenue, Blackbutt.

Tender report – Memorial Drive, The Hill – road embankment 

Council voted to accept a tender for the Memorial Drive, The Hill, road embankment.

Newcastle Art Gallery partnership agreement

Council unanimously voted to endorse a partnership agreement between Newcastle Art Gallery and the University of Newcastle for a period of four years, which will provide valuable opportunities for learning and professional development that will enrich the city’s cultural and academic landscape.

Notices of Motion 

Bring the Rugby World Cup to Newcastle 

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to write to the organisers of the Rugby World Cup advocating for Newcastle be considered a Host City for the men’s and women’s events, which will be held in Australia in 2027 and 2029 respectively.

Celebrating 150 years of local government in Wallsend 

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion reaffirming its support for the planned large-scale community event in August to commemorate Wallsend’s 150th anniversary as a municipality. Council will seek grant funding support under the NSW Government Vibrant Streets Package Open Streets Program for this event.

Fairness for regional hospital workers 

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion that acknowledges with disappointment the reinstatement of paid parking for staff at John Hunter Hospital came on 1 February. Council questions the NSW Government’s inclusion of JHH in the paid parking program, given the re-introduction of paid parking is for metropolitan hospitals only, and notes how this situation again highlights the inconsistent manner in which the Newcastle Local Government Area is sometimes classified as regional and sometimes metropolitan, and the financial impact of this inconsistency on our community.

Every day, scammers are ripping money out the pockets of hard-working Australians, and the Albanese Government is fighting back.

People across Newcastle have experienced the persistent calls, texts, and social media accounts attempting to scam them out of money.

Today the Assistant Treasurer, Stephen Jones MP, will visit Newcastle for a community Scams Forum. The forum will be an opportunity for people to learn ways to protect themselves from scams, know what to do if they are targeted by a scam, and hear about the steps the government is taking to crackdown on this crime.  

Australians lost over $3 billion to scams in 2022 alone.

That is why the Government is implementing an ambitious anti-scam agenda to combat scams and protect Australians.

The first phase was standing up the National Anti-Scam Centre in July last year, which was part of an $86.5 million investment to fight scams and online fraud in the May Budget.

This announcement included:

• $58 million for the ACCC to establish the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC)
• $17.6 million for ASIC to bust fake investment websites that promote fake scams
• $10 million for ACMA to establish and enforce an SMS sender ID registry to stop scam texts

The Government’s crackdown on scams has already shown signs of success. In the six months since the NASC was created, reported losses to scams reduced by 29 per cent compared with the same period in 2022. 

By last week, ASIC had taken down 4,220 investment scam websites, with another 540 in the works.  And early data in 2024 shows overall scam losses reported are around 40% lower than the same period in 2023. 

The NASC means that the people of Newcastle can look to a trusted, centralised point within Government for information and education to protect themselves from scams.

It is more important than ever that the Newcastle community is alert to scams and are aware of how to protect themselves.

Member for Newcastle said:

“Our community and local businesses are more protected from scammers than ever before with the establishment of the National Anti-Scams Centre.”

“Every day, scammers are ripping money out the pockets of hard-working Novocatrians. The Government is fighting back.”

“If an offer seems too good to be true or suspicious, it probably is.”

“If you or anyone you know receive a suspicious call, text or email take these steps to protect yourself:

• Stop – take your time before giving money or personal information.
• Think – ask yourself if the message or call could be fake?
• Protect – act quickly if something feels wrong. Contact your bank and report scams to Scamwatch”

City of Newcastle (CN) is developing a plan to guide investment along the Newcastle coast over the next 25 years.  

The Coastal Buildings Revitalisation Plan will provide clear direction for the maintenance, renewal and upgrade of coastal buildings and assets over the short, medium and long term. 

The Coastal Buildings Revitalisation Plan will provide clear direction for the maintenance, renewal and upgrade of a range of structures along the coastline including shade shelters and lifeguard facilities.

The Plan will incorporate a range of structures along the coastline from Stockton to the Merewether Ocean Baths Pavilion, and include lifeguard facilities, surf club pavilions and clubhouses, beach kiosks, shade shelters and amenities, as well as seawalls. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Plan would provide a coordinated approach to maintaining and enhancing the public facilities located alongside Newcastle’s most precious natural asset. 

“We know just how much our community and the millions of visitors that flock to our city each year value our beautiful coastline and the public facilities overlooking it,” Cr Nelmes said. 

“This is why we continue to invest significantly through our Coastal Revitalisation Program, with major infrastructure projects including upgrades to the Merewether Ocean Baths and the refurbishment of Nobbys Surf Pavilion, the ongoing revitalisation of the Newcastle Ocean Baths, and the delivery of our flagship Bathers Way coastal path. 

“The Coastal Buildings Revitalisation Plan will enable City of Newcastle to take a proactive and sustainable approach to identifying and prioritising future works on our coastal assets, to ensure they meet the needs of our community for generations to come. It will also assist us in applying for and securing State and Federal Government co-funding to undertake these important projects.”  

The first stage of the Plan includes assessing the condition of the existing coastal assets, and the development of a ‘user needs analysis’ to better understand the community’s needs and aspirations for them now and into the future.  

This stage is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. 

Proposed short, medium and long-term outcomes for each of the assets will be determined during the second stage of the Plan, which will also be informed by the Extended Stockton and Southern Beaches Coastal Management Programs, which are both currently in development by CN and require certification by the NSW Government. 

Hunter Surf Life Saving President Henry Scruton welcomed the opportunity to engage with City of Newcastle on the importance of these coastal buildings to the community. 

“The development of this Plan acknowledges the significance of these coastal assets to our city, and will help guide investment in surf clubs as an important service and intrinsic part of our coastal community,” Mr Scruton said. 

Cr Nelmes said Newcastle’s coastal areas attracted a wide range of community members and visitors for sport, recreation and work. 

“This Plan will help City of Newcastle explore future funding options with Federal and State Government, and external stakeholders, to help maximise the functionality of our coastal buildings and ensure residents, visitors, our professional lifeguards and surf lifesaving volunteers can continue to make the most of Newcastle’s beautiful beaches and outdoor recreational lifestyle,” Cr Nelmes said. 

Councillor Jenny Barrie also applauded the development of the Plan. 

“This is a great step forward to the important revitalisation of our coastal assets to benefit our surf lifesaving volunteers and the lifestyle of Newcastle’s wider community,” Cr Barrie said.

City of Newcastle (CN) is preparing to revamp a former café site at one of the city’s most popular parks as it seeks expressions of interest from potential new operators.

The Lambton Park building, which was constructed in the 1940s as a baby health centre, will undergo renovations as part of a development application set to be lodged within coming months.

An artist’s impression of the renovated cafe in Lambton Park.

Subject to approval, the project would see the building modernised into an open plan cafe complete with bi-fold doors onto a new rear deck extension, which will provide accessible ramp access for parents with prams and people with mobility issues.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the café redevelopment would continue CN’s ongoing investment in the Lambton Park precinct.

“City of Newcastle is committed to creating enriched neighbourhoods with accessible spaces that nurture connected, inclusive communities,” Cr Nelmes said. 

“The café redevelopment follows on from significant upgrades at the Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre, and the extensive renovation of Lambton Library, which delivered modern and accessible facilities while also returning the building’s original heritage character to the front façade. 

“We are continuing to deliver enhanced community spaces and invest in a range of projects to ensure our community has continued opportunities for active living and social connection.”

An artist’s impression of the renovated cafe at Lambton Park, including the proposed rear deck extension and access ramp.

Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the proposed upgrade would improve the facilities on offer in the popular recreation precinct.

“Lambton Park is a much-loved destination that plays an important role in meeting the recreational and social needs of our local residents,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“This café is ideally located next to the children’s playground, with the new rear deck allowing parents to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee while watching their children play on the equipment. Its proximity to the refurbished Lambton Library and nearby tennis courts ensure it will be a valuable addition to what is already on offer in the park precinct.

“This will be the first major adaptive reuse of this historic building since it’s construction more than 80 years ago and I look forward to seeing it well utilised by the community for years to come.”

An expression of interest process, managed by Colliers on behalf of CN, will begin next week to find a suitable operator to lease the café, pending the approval and completion of renovations.

Interest is being sought from potential operators of a one-of-a-kind cafe to be located at the reimagined Newcastle Art Gallery.

An expression of interest process, managed by Commercial Collective on behalf of City of Newcastle, kicked off this week.

The expansion will more than double the Gallery’s size, providing a fitting home to one of Australia’s most significant public collections of art, worth more than $126 million.

Alongside the expanded exhibition and education areas, the Gallery will feature a striking cafe space on the northeast corner of the building, with full height glass windows making the most of its unique position overlooking Laman Street and Civic Park.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the expression of interest was an important step towards creating a unique and high-quality destination for the Newcastle community and visitors.

“The expanded Newcastle Art Gallery will provide a significant cultural tourism opportunity for NSW, which is expected to attract 150,000 visitors per year,” Cr Nelmes said.

“In conjunction with the expanded exhibition space, the project will deliver, for the first time in the Gallery’s history, a permanent cafe that will complement and enhance the experience for visitors of this landmark cultural facilities, while also creating a hospitality destination in its own right.”

More information about the Expression of Interest is available via Commercial Collective.

The expansion project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package, as well as $12 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 $1 million is currently being sought through the Foundation’s public fundraising campaign.

A man will face court for a transmission of child abuse material through social media.

In October 2023, officers attached to Child protection Unit in St George Police Area Command commenced an investigation into an alleged circulation of child abuse material through social media after they seized devices containing child abuse material at an address in Rockdale.

Following extensive inquiries, officers attached to St George Police Area Command, with the assistance of Hunter Valley Police District, and Digital Forensic Unit, arrested a 19-year-old man at an address on Osborn Avenue, Muswellbrook, about 9.40am on 20 February 2024.

Police also seized number of mobile phone devices along with three computers at the scene.

The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday (27 February 2024).

A man – wanted on outstanding warrants – will appear in court today charged with more than 30 alleged traffic and hunting offences, following a police operation in the Hunter region yesterday.

Following investigations into property crime in the Hunter Valley Police District, officers attended a property on Ridgeland Road, Wybong about 7am yesterday (Sunday 18 February 2024) to execute outstanding warrants for the arrest of a 30-year-old man.

Upon police attendance, a man was seen to run from the residence and local general duties officers were assisted by PolAir, to track the man after he left the property, driving through bushland in a utility.

The 30-year-old man was arrested a short time later and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with six offences including take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, two counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive while licence suspended, and drive while disqualified.

Three outstanding warrants were also executed for 27 traffic, property and hunting offences.

The Singleton man was refused bail to appear before Muswellbrook Local Court today (Monday 19 February 2024).

City of Newcastle (CN) is moving ahead with a program of road and footpath upgrades across Newcastle’s bustling western suburbs as the population in the area continues to grow.

More than $6 million is forecast to be invested in works this financial year that will repair and improve the surface of roadways, extend the life of the infrastructure and provide enhanced connections for pedestrians and cyclists.

This complements the large-scale infrastructure projects in the pipeline to benefit the region, including two dual-lane road upgrades at Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road, Wallsend, which are designed to reduce traffic congestion in the western corridor and are currently undergoing detailed design.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the works recognised the significant growth that was continuing to occur in the city’s west, where populations had risen dramatically during the past decade.

“City of Newcastle is committed to meeting the needs of our city’s growing population, which has increased by around 14 per cent during the past decade and is forecast to pass 200,000 residents by 2041,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The western suburbs in particular have experienced strong population growth during the past decade, with the Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi area up by around 46 per cent and Wallsend and Shortland increasing by more than 20 per cent since the 2011 Census.

“We’re committed to maintaining and enhancing the essential community infrastructure in these areas as part of our record $14.7 million investment into road resurfacing and rehabilitation projects across the city this financial year.

“CN’s investment in capital works has been growing over the past five years as we continue to balance infrastructure renewal with revitalisation projects to meet our community’s expectations that come with sustained growth.”

Work is progressing on road reconstruction projects at Irrawang Street, Wallsend and Maryland Drive, Maryland, with the latter also including the replacement of a pedestrian refuge to provide safer access to the nearby Maryland Neighbourhood Centre.

Around 70 blocks across Fletcher, Maryland, and Wallsend will also have their road surfaces rejuvenated, while a project to rehabilitate a section of Awabakal Drive in Fletcher has recently been completed.

Residents in Fletcher will also benefit from a new 120m-long shared pathway that is currently under construction on Minmi Road to provide safer access to the nearby shops and businesses for pedestrians and cyclists.

Patching and strengthening works are scheduled for roads in Beresfield, Maryland, Jesmond and Wallsend with grant funding from the NSW Government’s Regional and Local Roads Repair Program.