Category: Newcastle News

A 700m long avenue of native trees stretching along the creek side of Maryland Drive will create a living legacy in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

The 70 mature trees, which were initially planned as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations to mark the Queen’s 70 years of service to the Commonwealth, will now provide a lasting tribute to the late monarch, who visited Newcastle four times during her reign.

The project was jointly funded by City of Newcastle and the Australian Government’s Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program, which was designed to support community-based tree planting events across Australia.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Federal Member Sharon Claydon visited the site today to unveil a commemorative plaque and plant the final three trees in the Queen’s Jubilee Avenue of Native Trees.

Cr Nelmes said the avenue provided a fitting tribute to the long-lasting reign of the Queen while also contributing to the biodiversity of the area.

“Just over a month ago we joined the world in mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II after more than 70 years serving her nation and our country as Australia’s Head of State,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Today we pay tribute to that dedicated service with this splendid avenue of native trees, which will continue to grow and mature over the years for future generations to enjoy.”

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said it was a poignant day that celebrates the Queen’s long reign by creating a living legacy in her honour.

“I am honoured to help plant the final trees and unveil this commemorative plaque, which will provide beautification and sustainability for Maryland locals and visitors alike, whilst commemorating the Queen’s extraordinary life and service,” Ms Claydon said.

A large garden bed planted with native shrubs and grasses is located at the beginning of the Queen’s Jubilee Avenue and features a large sandstone block, providing a striking centrepiece to display the commemorative plaque.

The project supports City of Newcastle’s commitment to increasing urban forest canopy cover and improving open spaces for wildlife and future generations.

Twelve native tree species were chosen in the planting program to provide the maximum benefit to the biodiversity of this area and ensure the successful establishment of vegetation within an important wildlife corridor.

The project also involves restoration of the northern vegetation surrounding Maryland Creek enabling wildlife to move between landscapes, creating more resilient local wildlife populations and ensuring weeds are kept to a minimum.

Future community-tree planting events will be held to improve the connection of the Queen’s Jubilee Avenue of Native Trees, Maryland Creek, and the nearby RAMSAR-listed Hunter Wetlands, which are internationally significant for migratory shorebirds and other wildlife.

City of Newcastle is offering to help nine people take their first career step with applications now open for its annual intake of apprentices and trainees.

Recruitment began this month for a range of early career positions, with roles available across various sectors including environment, horticulture, civil construction, painting and decorating, business administration, and customer experience.

Two positions have been identified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of the Trainee and Apprentice program.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said CN was committed to being a diverse, inclusive and culturally welcoming employer of choice.

“We are investing in training and development to create safe employment pathways with equal opportunity as part of our efforts to encourage broad representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff across the organisation and in leadership roles,” Cr Nelmes said.

Experienced Painting and Decorating Tradesperson Garry Welsh knows first-hand how valuable CN’s Trainee and Apprentice program has been over the years.

A proud Wiradjuri man, Mr Welsh said it was pleasing to see positions identified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“I got an apprenticeship with City of Newcastle in 1999 and then came back to work here for the better part of the last decade,” he said.

“It’s great to see such diversity and inclusiveness coming through this program, and I’m stoked to be in a position to be able to help others by mentoring them.

“Just seeing their enjoyment and happiness during the three or four years of their apprenticeship and then securing a full-time position makes it worthwhile.”

During his time at CN, Mr Welsh has revamped the city’s sporting fields, halls, libraries, and other public assets.

He said one job stood out from the others.

“Transforming Lambton Pool was my favourite job in the last five years. I painted the whole facility, including the seating, shelters, grandstands, and non-slip areas,” Mr Welsh said.

“It’s a very rewarding career, particularly when you see customers so happy with the end product.”

Successful applicants under the program will begin work on 16 January 2023. Applications for these roles close on 23 October. Visit CN’s website for more details.

A man has died following a motorcycle crash near Lake Macquarie last week.

About 4.30pm on Wednesday 12 October 2022, three trail bikes were travelling south along Kalaroo Road, Redhead, when one of the bikes and a Toyota Hilux collided. 

Emergency services attended and treated the trail bike rider – a 24-year-old man – at the scene. He was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police were notified that the man died in hospital yesterday (Monday 17 October 2022). 

The driver of the utility – a 20-year-old man – was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and his since been released pending further inquiries.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

The critically acclaimed musical Come From Away is set to run for an extended stay at the Civic Theatre in February 2023; the first time in 30 years that a Broadway smash hit has come to Newcastle.

Come From Away shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada in the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that sprang into action to welcome the ‘come from aways’ into their lives.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes experienced Come From Away at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre at the weekend and was thrilled to announce the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical would be making its way to Newcastle in February 2023.

“This is a spectacular Broadway theatre production and a major coup secured by City of Newcastle that is sure to enhance the cultural life of our city for Novocastrians and visitors this summer,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Major events are a clear economic driver and Come From Away will be a significant drawcard for our city that will provide considerable benefits for Newcastle’s visitor economy.

“Come From Away joins a stellar line-up of international acts featured on Newcastle’s 2023 major events calendar, kicking off on January 10 with one of the biggest names in music, Elton John, offering a taste of what is to come for the region.”

Civic Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace said by securing a Broadway production like Come From Away, the Civic Theatre is now in consideration for future international theatre productions of this calibre.

“We’re delighted to welcome Come From Away to the historic Civic Theatre and look forward to seeing this spectacular production come to life on stage with our theatre’s iconic proscenium arch, grand tiered seating and incredible atmosphere,” Ms Wallace said.

“By securing this international Broadway production for Newcastle and Civic Theatre, we can demonstrate the demand for other musicals and live theatre productions on the national touring circuit.”

Newtheatricals producer Rodney Rigby said he jumped at the chance to present Come From Away in Newcastle for the first time at the historic Civic Theatre.

“We’re thrilled that we can bring this record-breaking Broadway musical about kindness and humanity to Newcastle,” Mr Rigby said.

“Newcastle audiences will finally get to see a production that has captured the hearts of millions across Broadway, London’s West End, North America, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.”

Come From Away is showing at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre from 18 February until 5 March 2023.

The production runs for 100 minutes and is recommended for ages 10 and older.

Tickets on sale now. For more information, visit www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au

More than 15,000 carers across Newcastle who provide round the clock care and support to a family member or friend will be recognised by City of Newcastle ahead of National Carers Week.

Councillors unanimously supported a Notice of Motion at the September Ordinary Council Meeting to seek further ways to acknowledge and support community inclusion of carers.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle will ramp up championing inclusion of carers so that everyone feels valued.

“City of Newcastle support the rights of every person to participate fully in the social, economic, civic and cultural life of our community,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The statistics relating to carers across Australia are alarming and any one of us could find ourselves in the precarious role of carer for a loved one at some point in our lives.

“All levels of government have a role to play in recognising the incredible work of carers, providing leadership for cultural change, and developing and acting on strategic priorities to achieve measurable improvements in financial and social wellbeing.”

Across Australia, based on 2018 figures, 37.4% of primary carers to someone with a disability also have a disability themselves.

Access Inclusion Advisory Chair Councillor Margaret Wood said caring responsibilities create significant barriers to economic and community participation, with options for replacement care limited by workforce shortages and funding shortfalls.

“On average, 28% of primary carers spend more than 60 hours per week caring for the main recipient of care,” Cr Wood said.

“Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or drug issue, or who are frail aged,” Cr Wood said.

City of Newcastle kicked off National Carers Week 2022 with a Carers Forum at Fort Scratchley today, with the event providing an opportunity for carers to receive up-to-date information about local groups, resources, and activities.

The event was attended by council representatives, as well as Carers NSW, Hunter Multicultural Communities, One Door Mental Health, Hunter Ageing Alliance, and Dementia Australia.

National Carers Week will celebrate the 2.7 million Australians who provide care nationwide from 16 to 22 October.

Visit www.carersweek.com.au for more information.

Significant damage and loss of sand caused by several storm events this year has put the spotlight on future-proofing Newcastle’s southern beaches – the stretch of coastline between Nobbys Beach and Burwood Beach.

Executive Director Planning and Environment Michelle Bisson said that the coastline is changing and that the community have an important role in deciding how to manage these changes into the future.

“Significant weather events, combined with long-term sea level rising, means that waves are now reaching higher on the shoreline, exposing both bedrock and man-made structures more frequently – not just here but along the entire east coast,” Ms Bisson said.

“The City is spending $1.1 million now to reinstate safe access at Bar Beach, and also looking to the future to develop a longer-term strategy for this hugely important stretch of our coastline.”

City of Newcastle is working with coastal experts to better understand the impacts over the short and long term and what that means for the future use of these beaches and assets located along the coast.

Recent studies include an assessment of coastal inundation and erosion hazards, and follow earlier studies in 2018 that found unprotected areas of coastline are at a higher level of risk for erosion than previously thought.

“The area most at risk is the currently unprotected section of coastline from Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club at Bar Beach south to the cliff line at Dixon Park,” Ms Bisson said.

“Along this stretch there is no natural cliff line or man-made structure in place. The results of the coastal hazards assessment indicate a future reduction in shore width, and risk of damage to built assets including the Cooks Hill Surf Lifesaving Club building and adjacent roads and parking areas.”

“Our team is working with these coastal experts to develop a Coastal Management Program (CMP) for this area, which will consider the increasing exposure to coastal hazards and explore long-term management options for this highly valued stretch of coastline.”

Consultation on the potential impact of these predictions and possible management options has already begun with key stakeholders including Surf Lifesaving clubs along this stretch of coast and will continue with the broader community over the coming months.

The CMP will ultimately be placed on public exhibition and then brought to the Council for support. It will then be forwarded to the NSW Minister for Local Government for certification.

City of Newcastle reminds the community to follow safety warnings and to adhere to any accessway closures or hazard notices that impact use of the beach while the emergency repair work is completed.

An outdoor stage with live music, roving performers and pop-up stalls will ensure an unforgettable street party along Darby Street this Saturday.

The community event will run from 10am to 8pm, with performances designed to entertain diners making the most of the large outdoor dining platform installed between Sanctum and Goldbergs restaurants and activate the revitalised Headphones Courtyard.

Council Street will be temporarily closed between Darby and Dawson streets to create an authentic street party atmosphere with live music on an outdoor stage as well as a pop-up bar and food stalls. Shoppers enjoying Darby Street’s renowned eateries and boutiques will have the chance to win tickets to see Elton John perform in Newcastle.

The free event is being hosted by Canvas Event with support from City of Newcastle. Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said it was the perfect way to encourage more people to enjoy everything on offer along one of Newcastle’s most iconic streets.

“We’re committed to providing safe, shared open spaces for our community while supporting local businesses and this event is a fantastic way to achieve this vision in conjunction with the initiatives being trialled through the Streets as Shared Spaces program,” Cr Clausen said.

“Darby Street’s rich connections to art, culture, music and food ensure this precinct is much loved by locals and visitors alike. This trial will allow us to gain valuable feedback to guide more permanent changes as part of a potential future upgrade of this precinct under City of Newcastle’s Local Centres Program.”

The Darby Street trial has been made possible with a $500,000 grant from the NSW Government through the Streets as Shared Spaces program (Round 2) and funding from City of Newcastle’s Urban Centres Revitalisation Program.

The second round of Streets and Shared Spaces program is providing funding for councils across NSW to undertake temporary intervention projects that improve local streets and pavements as shared spaces, to trial innovative ideas that test and build the case for more permanent changes.

“These innovative and creative projects will allow people to dine under the stars and create spaces to relax and connect, which will support local business operators as they bounce back from the pandemic,” New South Wales Minister for Infrastructure Rob Stokes said.

“We’re reimagining our streets as better places for people, which will drive an increase in foot traffic and bring the community together to enjoy the vibrancy our state has to offer.”

The street party will also deliver a boost for local retailers and hospitality venues. Shoppers who spend $50 or more at participating venues will be given the chance to win one of two double passes to see Elton John when he performs at McDonald Jones Stadium in January next year.

Nici Palmer, owner of Blackbird Corner on Darby Street, said she is excited for the street party and hopes its success will allow the event to grow in the years to come.

“We really hope that this trial will help improve foot traffic along our fabulous street, and I’d love to see the Street Party become an annual event, celebrating all of the unique things Darby Street has to offer.”

The City of Newcastle is supporting a number of events along Darby Street throughout the six-month Streets as Shared Space trial. Details of upcoming events can be found at whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has found that four individuals, including two public officials, engaged in corrupt conduct through a dishonest scheme involving the purported false sale and/or development of properties owned by the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council (ALALC) that resulted in three of them deriving more than $1 million in benefits. 

The Commission’s report, Investigation into dealings involving Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council land (Operation Skyline), released today, examines the conduct of Nicholas Petroulis, solicitor Despina Bakis, former ALALC chairperson Debbie Dates and former deputy chairperson Richard Green, between 2014 and 2016, and their involvement in the scheme.

The scheme comprised Mr Petroulias falsely representing that a company he controlled, Gows Heat Pty Ltd (Gows), had an option to purchase ALALC properties that it could on-sell to another party. To provide credibility for this representation, Ms Bakis prepared false contractual documents between Gows and the ALALC; she also had an undeclared conflict of interest in that she was engaged as the solicitor for the ALALC, through her legal business, Knightsbridge North Lawyers, while also representing Gows. Mr Petroulias’ conduct included improperly altering ALALC board meeting minutes and participation in preparing the sham agreements.

Gows’ purported option was “sold” to a third party, the Sunshine Property Investment Group Pty Ltd (Sunshine), for more than $1 million. While Sunshine had been informed that the bulk of the money would go to the ALALC, all of the funds went to Mr Petroulias, Mr Green, and Ms Bakis. Mr Petroulias ultimately received over $600,000, and Mr Green and Ms Bakis received financial benefits totalling $244,000 and $179,000 respectively.

This “sale” breached multiple requirements of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (the ALR Act). For example, the dealing did not have the approval of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council as required by section 42G of the ALR Act. In addition, Mr Green and Ms Dates signed the contractual agreements with Sunshine on behalf of the ALALC despite lacking the authority to do so, and other ALALC board members, staff and members were not aware of this transaction.

The Commission found that pre-existing entrenched poor governance, failures to follow the ALR Act, and a breakdown of communication made the ALALC vulnerable to the corrupt conduct exposed in this investigation. The Commission has made 15 corruption prevention recommendations, some specific to the ALALC, but also recommends that the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the ALR Act registrar consider if they all should be applied to LALCs in general.

The Commission seeks the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on whether any prosecution should be commenced. The DPP determines whether any criminal charges can be laid, and conducts all prosecutions. The Commission is of the opinion that consideration should be given to obtaining the advice of the DPP about the prosecution of Mr Green, Mr Petroulias and Ms Bakis for various offences.

The Commission held a public inquiry in this investigation, with 53 hearing days in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Former Chief Commissioner the Hon Peter Hall QC presided at the public inquiry and 38 witnesses gave evidence. On 5 March 2021, the Chief Commissioner ruled that the public inquiry was concluded. Further information about the progress and delay in completion of the public inquiry is available in chapter 2 of the report. The report is available on the ICAC website at www.icac.nsw.gov.au.

Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have arrested four people following an investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs across the state’s Central Coast and Hunter.

In April (2022), detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad, in partnership with the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), established Strike Force Great to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine throughout the state’s Central Coast and Hunter regions.

As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 38-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman following vehicle stops at Killarney Vale and Belmont shortly after 9am today (Wednesday 12 October 2022).

They were taken to Belmont and Wyong Police Stations.

A short time later, investigators executed search warrants in Belmont North, Nords Wharf and Wadalba, locating and seizing more than 2kg of methylamphetamine – with an estimated potential street value of $2 million – $220,000 cash, a gel-blaster firearm, electronic devices, and other items relevant to the investigation.

They were assisted by officers attached to Raptor Squad, Hunter Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Northern Region Operation Support Group (OSG) throughout the operation.

A 43-year-old man was arrested during the search of a home at Belmont North and taken to Belmont Police Station.

Following further inquiries, a 42-year-old man was arrested at a workplace in Wyong about 10.30am and taken to Wyong Police Station.

All are expected to be charged.

Inquiries continue.