Category: Newcastle News

Large-scale business events have returned to Newcastle following a COVID-enforced industry hiatus, with more than 360 delegates currently in the city attending the 2022 RSL NSW Annual State Congress.

The two-day conference which wraps up today at the Newcastle Convention and Exhibition Centre follows on from the International Conference on Emerging Advanced Nanomaterials earlier this month, which featured leading scientific figures including three Nobel Laureates and attracted more than 500 delegates over five days, representing approximately $1 million in economic value.

Both conferences were supported by City of Newcastle’s event sponsorship program as part of a strategic push to capture more of the lucrative business events market, which contributed over $10.4 billion annually to the NSW economy, prior to the pandemic.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said with COVID-19 restrictions now behind us, we are starting to see a growing number of face-to-face business events returning to the city.

“In March 2020, the business events industry ground to a halt in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving in-person events impacted by the necessary ongoing public health orders and restrictions,” Cr Nelmes said.

“However, there is now renewed optimism amongst the industry and demand to return to gathering face-to-face.

“This is welcome news for our city with business events a significant contributor to Newcastle’s visitor economy through the tourism, hospitality and events sectors, with the RSL NSW Annual State Congress alone expected to generate approximately 750 room nights for local hotels and deliver more than $300,000 in economic benefit.”

Newcastle has already secured multiple business events for 2023 that will cater for between 200 and 400 delegates each, including conferences for the Australian Museums and Galleries Association, Australian College of Emergency Medicine, Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia and, Australian Christian Churches as well as the joint NSW Coastal Conference and National Coast to Coast Conference. A number of other significant business events are also in the pipeline.

Cr Nelmes said Newcastle was perfectly placed to accommodate large-scale business events, with first-class conferencing and meeting facilities at privately owned and Council-run venues, while the opening of two five-star hotels added a new level of luxury to the city’s accommodation choices.

RSL NSW President Ray James said the quality of amenities on offer and the city’s rich military history made Newcastle the obvious choice for the RSL NSW Annual State Congress.

“In consultation with its sub-Branches, RSL NSW selected Newcastle to host one of the ex-service organisation’s largest events due to the city’s first-class conference venues, accommodation options, recreational facilities, and transport options available to members from across the state,” Mr James said.

“The visiting delegates will take the opportunity to visit the city’s various war memorials and museums to commemorate and pay their respects to the fallen.”

Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is strategically focussed on increasing business tourism through the Newcastle Destination Management Plan.

“Of the 5.1 million visitors welcomed to Newcastle in 2019, business travellers represented 22 per cent of both domestic and international overnight stays, with hotel occupancy levels consistently averaging 80 per cent mid-week,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Tourism Australia research indicates that business travellers spend 74 per cent more per night on average compared to leisure visitors.”

City of Newcastle is a long-standing member of the Australian Association of Convention Bureaux and works with local and state partners including the University of Newcastle and Destination NSW to identify, bid for, and secure business events.

When it comes to the future of business events, Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock said the region’s potential to host large-scale international events is gearing up.

“Newcastle Airport is growing, and from 2024 our expanded terminal will have the ability to welcome hundreds of thousands of international passengers annually as a result of airfield upgrades that will cater to larger aircraft including Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s,” Dr Cock said.

“This will enable direct flights between Newcastle and destinations in Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

“Newcastle’s future as an international tourism and major events destination is bright, and the Federal Government’s $55 million funding towards the expansion of Newcastle Airport’s terminal and $66 million towards the airfield upgrade will be instrumental in transitioning Newcastle from a thriving regional centre to an emerging global city.

“Combined with the arrival of two new luxury hotels including The Kingsley and QT Newcastle, Newcastle’s appeal as a host destination for large-scale international business events is becoming even more attractive.”

Applications for nominations for City of Newcastle’s 2023 Citizen of the Year Awards are now being accepted.

Categories include Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, and Community Group of the Year, within the Newcastle Local Government Area.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the annual award program was a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements of Novocastrians over the past year.

“It’s been another challenging year as we emerge from a global pandemic that has left an indelible mark on our community,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Consider who among you has made a difference – it could be a friend, neighbour, colleague or local community group – and nominate them for City of Newcastle’s 2023 Citizen of the Year Awards.

“This is your chance to tell us whose efforts deserve formal recognition. It’s quick and easy and nominations can be submitted online.”

The 2023 award recipients, who will be selected by a panel and announced at an award ceremony in January, will join an esteemed list of past recipients, including Citizens of the Year Paralympians Lauren Parker and Kurt Fearnley OAM, and Australia’s first recognised Indigenous surgeon Professor Kelvin Kong, who is a finalist in the 2023 NSW Australian of the Year Awards.

Representing Newcastle and Australia in the green and gold at the Paralympics, Commonwealth Games and world championships, para-triathlete Lauren Parker said the 2022 Citizen of the Year title was an honour to carry.

“I was proud to be crowned Citizen of the Year and to represent Newcastle on the world stage,” Miss Parker said.

“I love competing and to do so with the full support and recognition of my hometown means so much to me, especially when facing obstacles and challenges along the way.

“I’m so happy that I can show to the people of Newcastle that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. I hope that my sporting success has brought hope to many people of the community.”

Nominations are now open online at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/citizenoftheyear until 5pm Friday 25 November 2022.

Nominees will be judged by the City of Newcastle Award Panel consisting of the Lord Mayor, CEO, Councillors, The Grainery Church Pastor Sue Irwin, and the current Citizen of the Year Award holders.

A second man’s been charged over his alleged involvement in the robbery of a jewellery store in the state’s Hunter earlier this year.

Just before 9.30am on Wednesday 6 July 2022, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a shopping centre on Molly Morgan Drive, East Maitland, following reports of a robbery at a jewellery store.

On arrival, police were told a male approached the store and allegedly used an emergency tool to smash the glass of a jewellery cabinet, before fleeing with a number of items.

Initial inquiries were conducted by local police, before detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the matter under Strike Force Malwood.

As part of ongoing investigations, a 38-year-old man was arrested at a home in Tenambit in September and charged over his alleged role in the incident. He remains before the courts.

Following further inquiries, strike force detectives attended a correctional facility at Silverwater and arrested a 36-year-old man about 9am today (Wednesday 26 October 2022).

He was charged with steal from the person value less than $150,000 value, face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence, larceny, and destroy or damage property.

The man was remanded in custody and appeared at Maitland Local Court today, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Thursday 3 November 2022.

City of Newcastle (CN) is inviting entrepreneurs and professionals to set up shop for three months free of charge as part of a program to diversify and increase the local skills base.

Australian and international innovators are being offered a free three-month membership to the ‘Landing Pad’, a shared working space at the University of Newcastle’s I2N hub with access to smart city infrastructure, an investor network, and collaboration with academic experts.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen says Newcastle is ‘start-up heaven’ and the Landing Pad initiative encourages people to experience the city and its local innovation culture before establishing here permanently.

“City of Newcastle’s Economic Development Strategy is built around people, and the Landing Pad provides extra encouragement for entrepreneurs to build their base from our city and help create new jobs or support emerging industries,” Cr Clausen said.

“Local governments often spend a lot of time and money trying to attract big businesses. We’ve flipped that narrative and are attracting highly-skilled entrepreneurs who’ll bring their networks, their expertise, and their innovative businesses to create local opportunities.

“People considering a move away from the big cities will experience the best of modern Newcastle, a place brimming with innovators, a vibrant night-life, and business confidence, with more than $100m in DAs approved by Council each month.”

Senior Manager of I2N and Innovation at the University of Newcastle, Siobhan Curran said the Landing Pad supported a community of innovators to leverage technology to scale their businesses globally.

“A Landing Pad candidate might be looking to mitigate climate change or deliver better health or business outcomes. We’re industry, sector and stage-agnostic, as long as they’re developing a positive product or solution that’s scalable,” Ms Curran said.

“The Landing Pad offers professional office facilities, mentoring opportunities and a network of like-minded people in an enviable location.

“You might strike up a conversation in the cafe or kitchen that could spark your next collaboration, or connect you to customers and clients. You need to increase your surface area for luck to strike, and it’s harder to do that at home on your laptop.”

According to the Regional Australia Institute, recent banking data shows Newcastle is one of five local government areas welcoming the lion’s share of migration away from capital cities. Leading the charge are people in their 30s, looking for economic opportunities with a balanced lifestyle, close to nature.

Leadership coach, Kate Brettell, relocated her family from the Netherlands to Newcastle last year and is one of 30 Landing Pad new members.

“If you want to make an impact in your community, you can do it more easily in Newcastle than a major city. This city welcomes new ideas with open arms,” Ms Brettell said.

The Landing Pad is a joint initiative of City of Newcastle and University of Newcastle to support scaleups and skilled professionals relocating to Newcastle. Eligible applicants will be granted free access for three months to the world-class co-working space in the vibrant Honeysuckle precinct (valid until June 2023).

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 25 October 2022. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Lord Mayoral Minutes

Solidarity with women of Iran

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that acknowledged the women, girls and people of Iran protesting against Iran’s significant discrimination against women and ongoing egregious human right violations and reaffirms its commitment to leading a just, inclusive, and socially cohesive Newcastle. The Lord Mayoral Minute also acknowledged local community members who arranged a moving protest on 15 October in Newcastle showing their solidarity with the people of Iran, and called on Iran to cease its oppression of women.

Lord Mayor’s Scholarships renewal

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that endorsed the request of the University of Newcastle to continue to support disadvantaged students through the Lord Mayor’s Scholarship and the Lord Mayor’s Women’s Scholarship until 2025.

Ordinary business

Tabling of Register of Disclosures of Interest – annual report

Council noted the tabling of the Register of Disclosures of Interest for the financial year 2021/2022 by the Chief Executive Officer.

Variations to development standards

Council received the report on approved development variations between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022 in accordance with the Department of Planning and Environment’s concurrence to vary development standards in the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012.

Exhibition of draft renewal corridors section of Newcastle DCP 2012

Council voted to place the renewal corridor sections of Newcastle Development Control Plan 2012 for Islington, Mayfield, Hamilton, Broadmeadow and Adamstown on exhibition for a minimum of 28 days and receive a report following the formal exhibition period.

Adoption of Newcastle Heritage Policy

Council voted to lay the Newcastle Heritage Policy on the table so it can be reviewed by the Community and Culture Advisory Committee before coming back to the next ordinary council meeting. The policy outlines City of Newcastle’s commitment to heritage conservation by identification, preservation, conservation, celebration and promotion of the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Exhibition of Mobile Food Vending (Local Approvals) Policy

Council voted unanimously to place the draft Mobile Food Vending (Local Approvals) Policy on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. During that time council staff will investigate additional sites for food trucks that are not within close proximity of restaurants and cafes. The policy provides a framework for the approval and operation of mobile food vending vehicles in the Newcastle Local Government Area.

Adoption of 2021/22 financial statements

Council voted unanimously to receive and adopt City of Newcastle’s 2021/2022 audited annual financial statements, together with the auditor’s report.

Wallarah Road, New Lambton – raised pedestrian crossing

Council voted unanimously to approve the installation of a raised pedestrian crossing with kerb extensions on Wallarah Road New Lambton, including associated lighting upgrades, landscaping and footpath connections.

Bridge Street, Waratah – raised pedestrian crossing

Council voted unanimously to approve the upgrade of the existing children’s crossing on Bridge Street Waratah, to a raised pedestrian crossing with kerb extensions, associated lighting upgrades, rain gardens and landscaping, signage and line marking works.

Adoption of Special Rate Expenditure Policy

Council voted unanimously to place the revised Special Business Rate Expenditure Policy on public exhibition for 28 days. The policy provides a framework for City of Newcastle to manage the Special Business Rate (SBR) program.

Executive monthly performance report

Council received the executive monthly performance report for September 2022.

Notices of Motion

Submission on the draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to make a detailed submission to the NSW Government regarding the draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan 2041, which is currently on public exhibition. The submission will address a wide range of issues, such as the lack of public rail transport infrastructure in the western corridor and the importance of public transport in connecting our expanding regional employment, economic, educational, and health nodes.

Newcastle needs a year-round aquatic facility

Council supported a notice of motion to write to Venues NSW seeking confirmation that land will be preserved within the Hunter Park precinct to enable a year-round aquatic facility. Council will also develop and promote a public petition to the NSW Legislative Assembly calling on the NSW Government and Opposition to invest in a new year-round swimming facility in Newcastle.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing from the Port Stephens area.

Kytaya Bolt-Wells, aged 13, was last seen on Kingston Parade, Heatherbrae, about 3.30pm on Saturday (22 October 2022).

When she could not be located, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for Kytaya due to her young age.

Kytaya is described as being about 165cm tall, of thin build, with brown eyes and long brown hair.

She was last seen wearing a black “Champion” jumper, black tracksuit pants with skull shape patterns, and white Nike “TN” shoes.

Police believe Kytaya may be using public transport and could be making her way toward the Sydney CBD.

Anyone who may have information into her whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

City of Newcastle (CN)’s annual financial report confirms the city invested more than $100 million into infrastructure projects last year, as part of a stimulus program to buffer the local the economy during the pandemic.

Audited financial statements for the financial year 2021/22 show CN delivered $100.6 million in key infrastructure projects, following on from $102.3 million spent the year before, again as a response to the economic impact of COVID-19.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said last year’s budget was strategically boosted to address the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the local community, a move made possible by CN’s strong financial record.

“There’s no doubt COVID-19 placed significant strain on our community and our budget, however as a Council we understand the importance of providing targeted responses and support for those in need,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Council unanimously voted in August 2021 to spend an extra $10 million on additional COVID support measures to stimulate the local economy and help create more than 100 new jobs.”

“This decision, which was made in the midst of a pandemic-enforced lockdown that would ultimately last for more than two months, was only possible due to our strong financial position, a legacy of delivering six consecutive operating surpluses prior to the pandemic.”

While the capital works boost resulted in CN running a $12.5 million deficit if revenue from capital grants and contributions are excluded, CN still recorded a $20 million turnaround in its financial performance from the year before.

In addition to the impacts of the three-month lockdown of Newcastle from August last year was the Wickham fires, which cost $2.5 million in clean-up costs, and to date remains outstanding by the owners of the two demolished buildings.

The Newcastle Airport, which is 50 per cent owned by CN, also suffered a $2.3 million loss versus a forecast profit of $4.0 million.

However, with the impacts of COVID-19 continuing to reduce, CN is forecasting a budget surplus this year of $1.3 million despite a record $132 million infrastructure spend.

The City remains in a strong financial position with net assets of $1.91 billion and total cash reserves of more than $363 million, including unrestricted reserves of $26.6 million.

Cr Nelmes said CN would continue to deliver high-quality services and projects in a financially responsible way.

Highlights of the capital works program delivered in 2021/22 include:

• $16.6 million on renewal and maintenance of the city’s roads
• $14.1 million on waste management including planning for the organic waste processing facility
• $11.3 million on transport projects
• $10.6 million on city centre and urban centre revitalisation
• $8.8 million on recreation parks, sporting facilities and open spaces including the $1.5 million Wallsend Active Hub
• $7 million on the environment including $3.6 million on coast, estuary and wetlands
• $4.9 million on renewal and maintenance of the stormwater network
• $4.3 million on coastal revitalisation
• $3.7 million on aquatics facilities including the first stage of the Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade project
• $3.5m on fleet renewal
• $1.8 million on the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said while COVID-19 had caused obvious financial challenges, prudent economic management had allowed CN to increase its support for the community without risking its track record of financial sustainability.

“Our financial statements have been audited by the NSW Audit Office who issued an unqualified opinion for the 2021/22 financial year, which is an outstanding result. CN also outperformed the benchmarks in all but one of the six financial key performance ratios set by the Office Local Government,” Mr Bath said.

“Prudent financial management again enabled us to cope with the economic impacts of COVID-19 and support our community when they needed it most,” Mr Bath said.

“Increasing our works program to $100 million for the second consecutive year helped stimulate the local economy and create new employment opportunities, with every one million dollars we spend generating about 10 new local jobs.

“Importantly, the works were fully funded from the City’s cash reserves, which have been built on the back of six years of strong financial management and surpluses.

“While we’ve felt the enormous impacts of the past three COVID-affected financial years, the underlying financial strength of our organisation and hard work of our staff has ensured we are well positioned to support existing services and invest in new and upgraded infrastructure to improve the livelihood and wellbeing of our community.”

A woman reported missing from the Lake Macquarie area has been located this morning.

The 61-year-old was last seen about 7pm on Wednesday 12 October 2022, when she was dropped at Wellington Street, Umina Beach.

She was reported missing to officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District on Tuesday (18 October 2022), who commenced inquiries to locate her.

Following inquiries, including a public appeal for information, police located the woman safe at Blackwall Mountain about 7.30am today (Friday 21 October 2022).

Police thank the community and media for their assistance.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Lake Macquarie area.

Susan Chiddy, aged 61, was last seen about 7pm on Wednesday 12 October 2022, when she was dropped at Wellington Street, Umina Beach.

She has since failed to contact family or friends and officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District were notified on Tuesday (18 October 2022) and commenced inquiries to locate her.

As part of inquiries, it has been established Susan visited the Deepwater Plaza, on Railway Street, Woy Woy, about 4pm on Wednesday 12 October.

Susan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of thin build, with shoulder length blonde hair.

CCTV shows she was last seen wearing a purple jacket, pink pants, a green cap and was carrying a black handbag.

Anyone who may have seen Susan, or may know of her whereabouts, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

City of Newcastle has announced $1.5 million co-funding in partnership with $4.7 million Federal Government funding for the planning, design and approvals to secure sand for amenity nourishment at Stockton Beach.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes thanked Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP, at Stockton Beach this morning and reiterated the importance of this collaborative funding and the work it enables for the Stockton community.

“City of Newcastle has been working hard on the ground in Stockton to protect the beach and secure funding for mass sand nourishment,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This $1.5 million co-contribution is part of our $27.5 million commitment we made in 2020, with $4.6 million already invested into the Coastal Management Program.”

The federal grant includes a 25 per cent co-contribution from City of Newcastle and the immediate priority is to source 300,000 cubic metres of sand from the entrance to the harbour to provide short-term relief to the current shoreline recession pending mass sand nourishment.

City of Newcastle Executive Manager Planning and Environment Michelle Bisson said mass sand nourishment remained the long-term solution to protecting Stockton Beach pending support from the NSW Government.

“The long-term solution is to secure the 2.4 million cubic metres of sand needed an initial mass nourishment, and annual sand top ups in line with community wishes and the plan endorsed by the NSW Government in 2020,” Ms Bisson said.

The grant will fund these investigations and approvals – looking at sand sources from the north arm of the Hunter River, as well as three suitable bodies of sand in the Stockton Bight which were identified in the NSW Government’s 2021 Stockton Offshore Sand Exploration Project.

“Securing multiple sand sources builds flexibility into the mass-nourishment strategy to ensure the longevity of sand supply to Stockton Beach, building necessary resilience and future-proofing the project,” Ms Bisson said.

City of Newcastle’s Stockton Coastal Management Program was one of the first of any Councils in the State to be certified, under the Coastal Management Act 2016, by the NSW Minister for Local Government in August 2020.

City of Newcastle invested $4.6 million on coastal protection measures over the 10 years prior to the Stockton CMP being certified in August 2020.

The cost to implement coastal management actions including the initial amenity sand nourishment, outlined in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020, to provide a buffer for the coastline and beach amenity at Stockton will be $27.5 million, with $4.6 million of this already spent on coastline protection and emergency repair works.

City of Newcastle has completed an engineering design process to determine the best locations to place sand to achieve the objective of providing a buffer against storm erosion risks and projected sea level rise impacts while restoring the recreational beach amenity for the Stockton community and broader Hunter region.