City of Newcastle has opened two new basketball courts near the corner of National Park and Parry Streets to activate the formerly unused corner of National Park.
The new basketball courts replace the long defunct tennis facilities and sit alongside the recently opened greenspace where the former bowling club building previously stood.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the continued revival of the space within National Park has occurred at the perfect time.
“Following the demolition of the former bowling club building, we created new green space in this inner city park for the community to enjoy,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The addition of the basketball courts makes the location the perfect place for our community to get outdoors to participate in recreation and exercise as the weather continues to warm up.
“I’m pleased to say that the basketball courts have opened just in time for the school holidays and I have no doubt that kids and adults alike will be heading to National Park to shoot hoops over the coming weeks.
“Our outdoor spaces have been coveted by our community during the pandemic and continue to be important contributors to the wellbeing of our people.
The Lord Mayor said the long-term future of the area would be determined through community consultation on the upcoming National Park Plan of Management.
“National Park is a unique site in Newcastle and will play an important part in the liveability of our city centre as the population grows and the CBD moves to the west,” Cr Nelmes said.
“We’re looking forward to working with the community on the future of National Park, with engagement expected to start before the end of the year.”
National Park is one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves, covering over 20 hectares and is currently home to a range of community facilities including sportsgrounds, netball courts, athletics track and high school.
The northwest corner of the park was formerly home to tennis courts and a bowling club, which was later occupied by charity Life Without Barriers until 2017.
In 2019 City of Newcastle commenced a process to provide safe public access to the northwest corner of the park, including demolishing the Life Without Barriers building and turfing the area for passive recreation. Investigations are currently underway for additional basketball courts at the site.
The National Park Plan of Management review is currently underway, with community consultation set to commence in November and a draft plan to be publicly exhibited in early 2021.
Head to the basketball courts map to find a complete listing of basketball courts throughout Newcastle.
Author: admin
GOSFORD SCHOOL SET FOR EXPANSION
A $2.8 million project to relocate the ET Australia Secondary College in Gosford is the latest to be approved under the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program.
The existing school, which provides training and schooling to Year 7 to 10 secondary college students, will be relocated nearby within the Imperial Shopping Centre, while a new Year 11 and 12 campus is built at 125 Donnison Street.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the new development will increase capacity from 170 to 280 students across two campuses, create opportunities for 40 new jobs and inject $2.8 million into the local economy.
“We’re using every lever at our disposal to keep the NSW economy ticking throughout the pandemic, and I’m very happy to see another shovel-ready project being given the green light,” Mr Stokes said.
“A bigger ET Australia Secondary College will cater for more students, provide more jobs and help breathe new life into the Gosford CBD.”
“The relocation of the existing school could also allow for the development of Gosford’s proposed regional library, which is earmarked for that location.”
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said it was a fantastic example of unused commercial premises being transformed for new and improved purposes.
“The development is now ready to get underway and will create 26 much-needed construction jobs and an additional 14 operational jobs once completed – on top of the existing 35 jobs that will be retained,” Mr Crouch said.
“The expansion of the school, which has been operating for eight years, will provide an alternate learning pathway for more students who need it.”
The ET Australia Secondary College is the latest to be approved as part of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program which is keeping people in jobs and the economy moving during COVID-19.
To date the program has seen 91 projects determined, creating opportunities for more than 50,000 new jobs, and generated more than $25 billion of economic investment for the NSW economy.
AGSKILLED 2.0 DRIVES INNOVATION IN NSW AGRICULTURE
The NSW Government has committed $15 million to upskill primary producers across plant-based sectors of the agricultural industry.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said AgSkilled 2.0 expanded on the success of the original program in driving the productivity, profitability and competitiveness of NSW agriculture through training and upskilling.
“AgSkilled 2.0 will continue to 30 June 2023 and has expanded the opportunity for training to a much greater range of plant-growing primary producers,” Mr Lee said.
“This expanded AgSkilled program will offer training across the key agricultural industry sectors of production horticulture, viticulture and rice growing in addition to the cotton and grains production covered in the original program.”
The original program delivered training to 5,227 people, over 849 courses across 189 locations to support cotton and grains farmers in regional NSW.
Mr Lee said the key to the program’s ongoing success was the engagement with industry to ensure training in agriculture is designed to be relevant, current and responsive to industry needs.
“This training increases the productivity and safety of existing workers in the sector and can offer career pathways for people to work in the agriculture sector,” Mr Lee said.
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the expansion of the AgSkilled program would provide a boost for workers who wanted to upskill or are new to the agricultural workforce.
“These expanded opportunities are targeted directly at emerging needs and skill gaps that have been identified by industry, which means the State’s agricultural businesses can get a leg up when hiring skilled labour,” Mr Marshall said.
“Never before has it been so critical that we develop locally-based workers for the agricultural sector, so this will give them crucial training on the header, cultivating soil and plant health in the paddock, using new technology and more.
“Our farming businesses are the best in the world, and with programs like AgSkilled 2.0 they will have the workforce to match.”
The training is complemented by a range of other Training Services NSW initiatives to support regional NSW. For more information, visit www.training.nsw.gov.au
NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING FACILITY
Emergency services personnel will have access to a new world-class training facility with the launch of Fire and Rescue’s Practical Learning Environment in Western Sydney.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new $19 million training facility is designed to challenge the skills of first responders to ensure they are best prepared to help the community in the event of an emergency.
“The safety of the people of NSW is our number one priority and this new training facility will help prepare our emergency services for all scenarios,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Access to state-of-the-art props and resources is essential to improving the hands-on training of all first responders.”
The Practical Learning Environment consists of an urban search and rescue scene with an underground train tunnel, a service station prop, a five-storey tower that consists of a variety of fire and rescue scenarios as well as a live fire facility.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the new training environment would not only assist emergency services personnel but the people of NSW as well.
“Our emergency services personnel put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe,” Mr Elliott said.
“All emergency services agencies will have shared access to the Practical Learning Environment, and by leading this adaptive training space we are building the best fire and rescue agency to protect the residents of NSW.”
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said each prop was specifically designed to enhance capabilities from fire and rescue to natural disaster and humanitarian relief.
“Our academy is a world-class resource that will ensure our first responders have access to life-saving practical training,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“Within each prop there are real life scenarios from hazardous materials spills, to road crash rescues and factory fires which will test the skills and knowledge of our firefighters.”
The next phase of the project will see the construction of a residential home, a streetscape and a train station scenario with a railway track and platform for rescue demonstrations.
Armed robbery – Mount Hutton
Police are investigating after an armed robbery in Lake Macquarie.
About 6.15pm yesterday (Sunday 27 September 2020), a 24-year-old man was working at a bottle shop on Wilsons Road at Mount Hutton, when a man entered the store and threatened him with a firearm.
He demanded cash before fleeing the scene in an easterly direction towards South Street, Windale.
Lake Macquarie Police District officers were called a short time later and established a crime scene.
The man is described as being between 180cm to 185cm tall, wearing dark clothing with his face covered.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area between 6pm and 6.30pm last night, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from nearby is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Man charged following large brawl at Lake Macquarie sportsground
A man has been charged following an alleged brawl in Lake Macquarie earlier this month.
Just before 5pm on Saturday (19 September 2020), police were called to a sporting ground on Minnie Street, Dora Creek, after reports of a physical altercation.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended, however, those involved had dispersed.
Following extensive inquiries, a 22-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station about 8.30am today (Monday 28 September 2020) where he was arrested.
He has since been charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court later today.
Anonymous caller urged to come forward as investigations continue into suspicious death – Hunter Valley PD
Detectives are appealing for an anonymous caller to come forward as they continue investigations into the suspicious death of a man in the state’s Hunter region nearly two years ago.
Just after 5.30am on Saturday 29 September 2018, emergency services were called to Carrington Street at Glenridding, after a man’s body was located on the side of the road.
The man was later identified as New Zealand firefighter Ian Pullen, aged 43, who had come to the Hunter region to assist with bushfire efforts.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District formed Strike Force Awabakil to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Pullen’s death.
Investigators believe Mr Pullen was struck by a vehicle between 4am and 5.30am that day.
An anonymous call made to police indicated that the vehicle involved returned to the scene, where the occupants exited the car and approached Mr Pullen while he was still alive.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer, reminded the community that a $350,000 reward remained on offer for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Pullen’s death.
“Ian Pullen had come to the region to help the community battle a bushfire threat and to think that someone struck him with their vehicle and left him to die is abhorrent,” Det Insp Zimmer said.
“An anonymous tip-off has led investigators to believe the driver of the vehicle knew they had struck someone, and police are interested in their movements after exiting the car.
“We are appealing for that caller to come forward and speak with investigators so we can continue to piece together exactly what happened on that tragic morning.
“It’s been nearly two years since Mr Pullen’s death, and we want to provide some answers for his heart-broken family. They need to know what happened to their loving son, husband and father,” Det Insp Zimmer said.
Man missing from Newcastle found
A man missing from the state’s Hunter region has been found safe and well.
The 47-year-old man was reported missing to officers from Newcastle City Police District after he had not been seen or heard from by family and friends since Saturday 19 September 2020.
Following inquiries, police located the man at a home in Waratah yesterday (Saturday 26 September 2020).
Police thank the media and the community for their assistance.
Australia's first strategic action plan for blood cancers
As part of the 2020/21 Budget, the Morrison Government will provide more than $600,000 to the Leukaemia Foundation as part of Australia’s first National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer.
Blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, are estimated to account for more than one in 10 cancer deaths in Australia this year.
The number of blood cancers diagnosed each year is on the rise, from around 12,500 new cases in 2010 to an estimated 17,300 in 2020. While survival rates are improving, it is estimated that there will be more than 5,600 deaths from blood cancer this year.
The National Strategic Action Plan will deliver continued support for people battling blood cancers.
Throughout the Blood Cancer Awareness Month of September, there is no better time to shine a light on the tireless work of the Leukaemia Foundation and its efforts to bring Australia’s first comprehensive plan to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with blood cancer to life.
Our Government is committed to ensuring Australia is equipped to deal with the challenges of blood cancer and the need for a coordinated and strategic national response.
This funding will deliver Optimal Care Pathways for blood cancer patients, and enable the Blood Cancer Taskforce to continue its vital work, providing strategic oversight of the implementation until the end of next year.
Optimal Care Pathways will provide wide ranging, evidence-based recommendations for best practice care, from the point of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care.
The Blood Cancer Taskforce, made up of representatives from leading Australian haematologists, researchers, and cancer charities, will continue in their roles of coordination of the blood cancer community and implementation of actions in this National Action Plan.
This announcement builds on the $150,000 provided in 2019-20 to establish the expert Blood Cancer Taskforce to develop the National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer.
The plan was developed in consultation between governments, researchers, non-government organisations, health care professionals, industry, patients, carers and advocacy groups.
This commitment adds to our Government’s significant investment to combat blood cancer, including more than $310 million for blood cancer research from 2013-2019, through the National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund and Cancer Australia.
The Morrison Government has also delivered more than $5 billion for blood cancer medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 2013-14 to 2018-19.
Our Government recently provided access to ground-breaking CAR-T cell therapy for several types of Leukaemia and lymphoma.
CAR T-cell therapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The patients T cells are extracted from the body, genetically reengineered and programmed to recognise and destroy cancer cells, and then reimplanted into the body.
Together with states and territories, the Government currently provides access to Kymriah, a CAR-T cell therapy, through specialist hospitals.
We thank the Leukaemia Foundation for their advocacy and look forward to continue working with them and other partners in implementing this Strategic Action Plan.
The National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer is available at www.leukaemia.org.au
Man charged after attempting to cross NSW/Victoria border in taxi
A man has been charged after allegedly attempting to travel across the NSW/Victoria border in a taxi yesterday.
About 4.30pm (Saturday 26 September 2020), police stopped a Victorian taxi at a checkpoint on the Hume Highway, Albury.
The passenger, a 26-year-old man, was asked to produce a permit; however, it was not valid.
When he was spoken to further, police will allege the man stated he wanted to go shopping in Albury.
He was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station, where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 -COVID-19 and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Bail Court today (Sunday 27 September 2020).
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.