April 2025 – Page 14

Putting Newcastle on the national cricket map

City of Newcastle has thrown its support behind the second stage of planned improvements to Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground, which would deliver the upgrades required to host elite national level competition.

CEO Jeremy Bath said the $20 million project builds on City of Newcastle’s ongoing investment into city’s premier sportsground, with a vision to attract men’s and women’s domestic first-class cricket and Big Bash League matches, as well as high level AFL fixtures.

“City of Newcastle is committed to the major redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground, which will transform the facility into a modern venue able to cater for the needs of local, regional and elite-level sporting fixtures,” Mr Bath said.

“In 2022 we completed an $8 million refurbishment, which included major upgrades to the field of play, lighting and seating capacity.

“At that time we said government grants would be required to deliver the second stage of this development, which includes a two-storey addition at the rear of the existing grandstand to provide upgraded amenities for players, officials and spectators.

“We have been working with Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia for a number of years to develop this proposal to complete the facility’s transformation, with lighting, media and spectator upgrades that would make No.1 Sportsground a destination for top level sport across a range of codes, including cricket and AFL.”

Proposed improvements to No.1 Sportsground include:

Enhanced player and match official amenity, including upgraded changerooms and new turf training pitches.
Improved fan experiences, featuring new entry points, shaded seating and upgraded restrooms with enhanced accessibility for females and people with disabilities.
Upgraded media and broadcast infrastructure, including enhanced lighting to meet the 1500 LUX standard required for live broadcast and streaming.
Multipurpose spaces that would be utilised as community rooms outside of match days.

Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said securing a commitment from the Australian Government for the Newcastle project was one of their top national priorities ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

“The cricket community in Newcastle, along with the City of Newcastle, Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia, have identified the enormous benefits these improvements to Newcastle No.1 Sportsground would bring in inspiring everyone to play and love cricket,” Mr Germon said.

“If the facilities for the players, fans and our broadcast partners are able to get to an acceptable level with a capacity up to 15,000 people, Newcastle No.1 could become a second home venue for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.

“An upgraded Newcastle No.1 could also be utilised as a multi-sport, multi-purpose facility. Therefore, we call on the Federal candidates in Newcastle to commit their support ahead of the May 3 election.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the project would deliver wide-ranging benefits.

“We have been working collaboratively with cricket and AFL for a number of years on the revitalisation of No.1 Sportsground for the benefit of players and spectators,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“This project will not only deliver enhanced facilities for those within our community who utilise it for grassroots and regional level sport, but will also have a wider-reaching impact on Newcastle’s economy through its potential to attract and host major sporting events.”

Councillor Peter Gittins, who sits on City of Newcastle’s Liveable Cities committee, welcomed the plans and the backing of Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia.

“I remember fondly the time when Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground was a premier sporting venue. Not only was there the rugby league match of the day every Saturday but the ground played host to numerous touring league and cricket teams. The crowds were large, the atmosphere electric and the ground itself was always immaculate and a Newcastle icon,” Cr Gittins said.

“As a city with such a proud sporting tradition, Newcastle deserves a venue that will enable it to host first-class cricket including Sheffield Shield, the Marsh Cup and the Women’s National Cricket League as well as extending its AFL arm.

“The time has come for our No.1 Sportsground to regain the crown as a sporting venue of the highest order and, in so doing, return top quality sport to what was once its natural home in the region.”

Newcastle Museum transforms into hub for youth-led innovation

Young Novocastrians will dive into a vibrant mix of local live music, creative workshops and climate and activism activities this Saturday as they ‘takeover’ Newcastle Museum during City of Newcastle’s feature Youth Week event.

The NM:PM Future Street Party will be one of five free activities being hosted or supported by City of Newcastle to celebrate the statewide youth-led festival, which runs from 9-17 April.

Councillors Paige Johnson, Callum Pull & Sinead Francis-Coan join members of the Youth Council and event participants to celebrate the upcoming Youth Week program in Newcastle. Puppets supplied by Fingers Crossed Creative.More than $10,000 in grant funding from City of Newcastle and the NSW Department of Communities and Justice has been invested into the community-led events.

City of Newcastle’s Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, said the Youth Week program highlights the city’s commitment to empowering young people.

“We’re proud to celebrate the valuable contributions that young people make to our city,” Ms Baird said.

“Youth Week provides a platform for youth culture to be recognised, ensuring young people are both seen and heard.

“It is an opportunity to explore the variety of voices, creatives and events across the city and put youth creatives first in the community. We are really excited to have an all-ages NM:PM and allow Newcastle Museum to be full of young bands.”

The Newcastle Youth Week program was shaped with input from around 35 young people, with members of City of Newcastle’s Youth Council Standing Committee actively participating in the grant funding process.

Councillor Paige Johnson said the committee plays a vital role in ensuring young people have a voice in shaping community initiatives.

“The enthusiasm and dedication of the Youth Council has been instrumental in allocating Youth Week grants to projects that reflect the interests and needs of young Novocastrians,” Cr Johnson said.

“This is about giving young people the opportunity to drive these initiatives, not only for fostering a sense of ownership and pride, but empowering them to create meaningful change in their own communities.”

Co-chairperson of the Youth Council Standing Committee Ibrahim Khalid says the program is a testament to the impact young people can have when given the opportunity.

“Young people have so much to say and offer, and this program reflects the passion and innovation of our youth,” Mr Khalid said.

“The Youth Standing Committee is proud to have helped shape a diverse and engaging lineup of events that speak to our generation. This program provides young people with a platform to express themselves, connect with their community, and play an active role in shaping the future of our city.”

Among the funded initiatives will be a Snak and Rap event hosted by creative program facilitator UP&UP at Maryland Skate Bowl, offering young people free food while they express themselves through graffiti, street art, and open mic performances.

Other grant-supported events include a multicultural youth conference, a student-led sustainability expo, and a songwriting workshop hosted by Headspace led by a local musician.

The all-ages Future Street Party at Newcastle Museum will feature music by local performers Butterknife, Trophy Wyfe, The Sobars and Evan Worgan, badge and jewellery-making workshops, and a book swap hosted by Newcastle Libraries’ Young Adult Book Club.

Attendees can also explore the history of activism through the Museum’s current exhibition from the National Archives of Australia, Disrupt, Persist, Invent, before taking part in a climate activism yarning circle hosted by Youth Rising.

For more details about the local Youth Week events visit What’s On Newcastle.

Doctors’ strike

The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF) has advised it will proceed with planned strike action between Tuesday and Thursday this week – in breach of the orders of the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

ASMOF’s strike plans will disrupt our hospitals and health facilities across NSW – both to emergency departments as well as planned surgeries – contrary to the union’s claims patient care will not be impacted.

Preparations are now urgently underway to manage impact on our patients.

Patients with surgeries postponed will be contacted.

We remind the community that if you need advice, treatment or care and it is not a life-threatening emergency, HealthDirect should be your first call on 1800 022 222.

You can continue to phone Triple Zero (000) in the event of an emergency.

We do not want this. We reinstated the independent IRC for this very reason.

The IRC allows workers to advance their claims without the limits of the wages cap the previous government imposed, without endangering the welfare and safety of the community.

This is not something the government devised on our own – unions and workers fought for it too.

And we have always said our government would accept a determination of the IRC, whether it rules in our favour or not.

I share the community’s desire to see our healthcare workers paid more – it’s why we’ve offered a 10.5 per cent multi-year wage increases (on top of the 4.5 per cent already in pockets) and sat down with unions over many years to deliver those pay increases.

This is not a union without options – it is inexplicable ASMOF would actively choose to jeopardise patient safety over resolving its claim in the IRC.

I say to ASMOF, it is not too late to return to the IRC.

First new Crown cemetery in 85 years opens in Sydney

The Minns Labor Government today officially opened the first new Crown cemetery in 85 years at Varroville in Sydney’s South-West.

This followed an independent report that found that years of indecision and infighting by the previous government increased the risk that Sydney would run out of cemetery space.

The new $125 million Macarthur Memorial Park, will help ensure future burial supply for Sydney, covering 113 hectares and providing capacity for 136,000 burial plots and over 300,000 ash interments, catering for all religious and ethnic groups.

Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper joined Crown cemetery operator Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Limited and religious leaders at Macarthur Memorial Park prior to its opening to the public on Wednesday.

Macarthur Memorial Park has been designed as a contemporary cemetery with the local community at heart. It includes 35 hectares of publicly accessible parklands including six lakes and eight kilometres of walking and bike tracks available to the public during daylight hours, as well as a cafe.

For members of the public laying loved ones to rest, Macarthur Memorial Park is primarily a lawn cemetery with areas for natural burial, cremated remains and monumental lawns. There are 20 dedicated burial areas for specific religious and ethnic groups.

The memorial park features three chapels, called The Sanctuary, with seating for up to 500 people, and a separate function centre for a variety of family and community events with seating for 250 people.

Development has been restricted to protect the visual landscape. There will be no headstones visible from nearby roads and screen plantings will conceal burial plots.  There are no mausoleum, crypts or crematoria on site. 

Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Limited will manage Macarthur Memorial Park which will remain under the ownership of the NSW Government as a Crown land cemetery.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Macarthur Memorial Park is a sustainable and multi-denominational cemetery that will provide burial space to Sydney families for generations to come while also providing the local community with much needed recreation space. 

“The new Crown cemetery will ensure thousands of people can continue to lay loved ones to rest, and that we can continue to offer burial space to meet the religious and cultural needs of those for which burial is the only option.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The cemeteries sector has been in a crisis. Macarthur Memorial Park is the first crown cemetery to open in nearly a century and ensures that people of all faiths will benefit from this facility.

“It is imperative that the people of NSW have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services that are respectful of culture and faith and provided in a compassionate and accountable way.

“The Minns Labor government has prioritised addressing the serious challenges around cemeteries and crematoria inherited from the previous government.

“We have reformed the Crown cemetery sector and are implementing our strategy with strong consumer protections, sustainable practices to encourage new burial supply, and certainty for operators.

Member for Leppington, Nathan Hagarty said:

“This new Macarthur Memorial Park is a welcome addition to South-West Sydney.

“It ensures access to culturally appropriate burial options, meeting the needs of a growing and diverse community.

“It’s a place where families can honour their loved ones, and where locals can enjoy peaceful, open space.

“It reflects the values of respect, inclusion, and forward planning.”

Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Chief Executive Officer Lauren Hardgrove said:

“We are delighted to provide this park for the people of NSW and look forward to the community embracing this unique facility in the Scenic Hills.”

Solar battery installations soar, cutting energy bills in NSW

Thousands of NSW households are enjoying lower energy bills thanks to the strong early adoption of the Minns Labor Government’s household battery incentive, which delivers thousands of dollars off the cost of installation.

Since the incentive was launched in November, more than 7,800 batteries have been installed in homes and businesses across NSW.

By using the incentive scheme, eligible homeowners and businesses get an upfront discount on the cost of battery installation through installers working with government-accredited suppliers.

The discount amount is related to the size of the battery, meaning larger batteries attract bigger discounts. For a typical household battery with 13.5 kilowatt-hours of capacity, this is a discount of more than $2000 on average and is available for both new and existing solar systems.

A typical household with an $1850 annual electricity bill can save around $1500 per year by installing solar and a battery.

More than half of the 7,800 installations have taken place outside the Sydney Region, including 23 in the City of Broken Hill. The scheme has reached more than 90% of all Local Government Areas in NSW, with more than 600 installers taking part across the state.

The top 15 Local Government Areas for installations so far are:

Northern Beaches	402
Central Coast	337
City of Blacktown	286
City of Shoalhaven	280
Sutherland Shire	270
City of Lake Macquarie	241
City of Penrith	236
City of Wollongong	214
The Hills	208
Ku-ring-gai	178
City of Parramatta	173
City of Blue Mountains	172
Camden	166
City of Campbelltown	166
Tweed	163

With more than one-third of NSW homes now equipped with rooftop solar systems, the ability to store this solar energy in batteries for later use offers significant benefits for household budgets and energy reliability.

Households will also be able to receive an extra discount and generate revenue by signing their new and existing batteries up to a Virtual Power Plant. This will allow excess energy that households have stored in batteries to be sold back into the grid.

The household battery incentive is part of the NSW Government’s Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, reducing peak electricity demand in NSW, maintaining grid stability during periods of high electricity demand and reducing the grid’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering cost of living relief through $435 million in annual energy bill rebates, $200 million to support the roll-out of public EV charging stations and $175 million to make energy savings upgrades for 24,000 social housing homes.

Find out more information about the NSW Government’s household battery incentive program.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“More than a third of NSW homes already have rooftop solar, and now we’re helping thousands of them connect a battery so they can store the energy produced when the sun is up, and use it around the clock.

“We know there is a lot more work to do to reduce cost of living pressures but schemes like this are putting money back in people’s pockets in a way that is good for energy reliability and good for the environment.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“NSW has set a cracking pace for battery adoption across the country, and we only see this momentum picking up.

“These installations are providing cost of living relief through lower energy bills and are making a valuable contribution to a more sustainable and secure energy system.”

Minister for Families and Communities to meet with senior child protection officials in New Zealand

The Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington, will travel to New Zealand this morning for four days to meet with senior child protection officials and other stakeholders, as part of the NSW Government’s continuing efforts to reform our child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) systems.

New Zealand’s child protection system has undergone significant reform and transformation since 2017, focussed on more effective and efficient early intervention supports, and building Māori service provider capacity within their service system. The New Zealand reform journey – including its successes and stumbles – offers unique insights into the challenging road ahead for NSW.

Across the four days, Minister Washington is scheduled to visit Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, and Dunedin. She will meet with New Zealand’s Minister for Children, as well as the Independent Children’s Monitor, the Chief Social Worker, the Principal Youth Court Judge, and various child protection stakeholders and service providers, including Maori services.

Oranga Tamariki – New Zealand’s Ministry for Children will host the Minister’s official visit.

While Minister Washington is overseas, the Attorney General will act as the Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion.

PUBLIC HOUSING CLASS ACTION JUST THE BEGINNING, LABOR WON’T GET AWAY WITH DEMOLITION: GREENS

The Victorian Greens say that the public housing residents’ class action is just the beginning and that residents across the 44 public housing towers will continue to resist and fight back as Labor steamrolls ahead with their disastrous plan that will displace thousands of people in a housing crisis.

The lawsuit that included 479 households from the three towers in North Melbourne and Flemington argued that the Victorian Labor Government failed to properly consider the residents’ human rights when they decided to demolish the towers, and that other alternatives – such as retrofitting the towers – weren’t even considered.

Since Labor’s plan was first announced, they’ve refused to provide documents to justify the demolition of the towers, failing to produce documents to the parliament and the courts as part of this case.

The Victorian Greens attempted to compel the documents through the parliament and Labor blocked 148 out of 156 claiming ‘executive privilege’ to keep the documents secret. From what the Greens did receive it implies that the plan to demolish and privatise the towers was based on nothing more than a few dot points on the back of an envelope.

The Victorian Greens say that the case has made it clear that residents do not want to be kicked out so Labor can privatise the public housing estates, and that this is only the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s plans to demolish their homes.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“This case has made one thing clear, residents do not want Labor to demolish their homes so the public housing estates can be privatised. This is just the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s bad plan. This plan that wants to tear down homes and displace thousands of public housing residents in a housing crisis has never stacked up. It’s only a matter of time until the wheels fall completely off.”

Leader of the Victorian Greens and member for Melbourne, Ellen Sandell:

“The outcome today is disappointing for the brave North Melbourne and Flemington residents who took the state Labor government to court, but the fight is not over. Residents are speaking out, they deserve to have their voices heard and the Greens are going to keep standing alongside them to oppose Labor’s demolition and privatisation of public housing.”

Putting Newcastle on the national cricket map

“In 2022 we completed an $8 million refurbishment, which included major upgrades to the field of play, lighting and seating capacity.

Proposed improvements to No.1 Sportsground include:

Enhanced player and match official amenity, including upgraded changerooms and new turf training pitches.
Improved fan experiences, featuring new entry points, shaded seating and upgraded restrooms with enhanced accessibility for females and people with disabilities.
Upgraded media and broadcast infrastructure, including enhanced lighting to meet the 1500 LUX standard required for live broadcast and streaming.
Multipurpose spaces that would be utilised as community rooms outside of match days.

Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said securing a commitment from the Australian Government for the Newcastle project was one of their top national priorities ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the project would deliver wide-ranging benefits.

“We have been working collaboratively with cricket and AFL for a number of years on the revitalisation of No.1 Sportsground for the benefit of players and spectators,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

Councillor Peter Gittins, who sits on City of Newcastle’s Liveable Cities committee, welcomed the plans and the backing of Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia.

New planning pathway to deliver 330 new homes in Orange

The Minns Labor Government is delivering a massive boost to Orange’s housing market after giving the green light for 330 new homes to be built through the new Redmond Place housing precinct.

It’s the first proposal to be finalised under the Minns Government’s Social and Affordable Housing Rezoning Pathway which seeks to accelerate rezoning proposals for NSW communities in need.

The precinct will dedicate up to 20 per cent of the homes as affordable housing to make sure there are more affordable places to live, so everyone has access to a safe and secure place to call home.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has prioritised the Redmond Place rezoning so more homes can be delivered in a shortened timeframe for those who would otherwise not be able to afford to rent privately.

Landcom will work closely with Orange City Council to deliver this new neighbourhood which will feature a variety of open space areas, parks and shared community facilities in a safe and well-connected street network.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2026.

This follows other significant changes introduced by the Minns Labor Government to deliver more new homes including by making the largest ever investment in the delivery of social and affordable housing in NSW, and undertaking the largest rezoning in NSW history.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW with a greater choice of homes, so young people, families and workers have somewhere to live in the communities they choose.

For more information, please visit https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/redmond-place-orange

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Redmond Place precinct will deliver quality affordable housing in Orange for families, essential workers and vulnerable people.

“We’re not just building 330 new homes, we’re also building a community with parks and shared infrastructure to create a place people are proud to call home.

“As the first proposal finalised under the Social and Affordable Housing Pathway this precinct is evidence that the reforms being delivered by the Minns Government are working to get more roofs over heads faster.”

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:

“The regions are again leading the way with this resilient new neighbourhood in the heart of the Central West which improves housing supply and meets local needs.

“As Orange continues to grow, so too must its housing options. Redmond Place will offer a mix of homes including single dwellings, duplexes, town houses and low-rise apartments, delivering greater choice and affordability.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“These new planning pathways will cut red tape to fast-track the delivery of social and affordable homes for the communities that need them most.

“Everyone deserves a secure, affordable place to call home, no matter where they live. Supporting our growing regional areas means making sure more people have access to housing they can afford.”

Member for Orange Philip Donato said:

“Orange is a growing community and projects like the Redmond Place Precinct will allow it to continue to thrive.

“These 330 homes are great news for Orange and will help to keep the great Australian dream of owning a home a reality in the Central West.”

Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said:

“Redmond Place Precinct is an investment in the future of our growing region.

“Now that the project has the green light, I look forward to seeing shovels in the ground to bring this vital development to life.”

New homes delivered in Bellambi

The Minns Labor Government has invested $9.74 million to transform four aging cottages into eighteen social housing units at Bellambi. The units will provide a safe, secure and affordable home for residents in the Illawarra region.

The new two-storey development quadruples the social housing originally on the site, with eight one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units available, including 16 car and two motorbike parking spaces.

The new complex is just a moments’ walk to local shops, cafes, health services and transport connections including Bellambi station.

Around 44 jobs were created during construction of the building, which sits on the land of the Dharawal people. The site includes extensive landscaping and mature tree planting throughout.

The project showcases the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver more and better social and affordable housing and homelessness services across the state, thanks to the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW package.

Meanwhile, a People and Place Plan is currently being developed by Homes NSW to help guide future renewal of the wider Bellambi estate, which is set to be shared with the community in mid-2025.

Homes NSW has identified Bellambi as a key site for renewal due to the age of the housing in the region and the changing needs of the community who live in the area.

The planned renewal is still in the early planning stage and no social housing residents living in the Bellambi Estate are currently being asked to move, and there are no changes to current tenancy arrangements.

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, and Member for Keira Ryan Park said:

“I’ve been privileged to attend some of the community engagement sessions in Bellambi, and I’m heartened to see how closely Homes NSW has been collaborating with residents, I’m excited for the future of this neighbourhood.

“There is a clear and urgent need for more and better social housing in Wollongong, particularly for people living with disability and the elderly.”

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“The community have been calling for more homes that work for them – that is what we are delivering. These new, modern social homes are fit-for-purpose and built to meet the needs of residents.

“This area desperately needs more accessible one and two-bedroom homes that are safe and comfortable to ensure older tenants are able to age in place with dignity.

“This renewal isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about building a community. We’re increasing the supply of social and affordable homes, but also delivering the infrastructure and support that locals in the Illawarra rely on.”