Category: Newcastle News

A new footpath connecting Blackbutt Village in New Lambton to Blackbutt’s Richley Reserve along Freyberg Street has been completed as part of a $3.7 million upgrade of the popular local centre.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this connection is a first step in delivering a safer, more attractive place for visitors and locals to spend time.

“It’s great to see improved accessibility for the community linking these two important locations,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The addition of over 30 street trees along Freyberg Street also creates a more appealing environment with increased shade and colour, with more trees being introduced along Dunkley Avenue in the coming weeks.

“Our staff are preparing to commence upgrades to stormwater infrastructure and road surfaces in the western car park area in the next few weeks, as well as seeking community feedback on timed parking options across the broader local centre area.

“When we spoke to the community during the development of this upgrade we heard concerns about pedestrian safety, and also the availability of short-term parking for visiting the shops and local services.

“We look forward to hearing community views on the range of timed parking options which were developed in consultation with local businesses during a workshop held with them earlier this year.”

Construction is scheduled for overall completion in early 2024. The upgrade has been supported with a $591,677 grant from the NSW Government under Round Seven of the Resources for Regions program.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said Resources for Regions has delivered 242 projects worth $420 million for mining communities in the last 10 years.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting regional mining towns that supply our state with these precious resources, and I am grateful to the City of Newcastle for putting forward this project which will support the ongoing prosperity of the local community,” Mr Toole said.

“Mining plays a very important part in the NSW economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the state and it will continue to play a role in Newcastle for years to come.”

The project is being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program and follows similar upgrades at Carrington, Beresfield, Joslin Street in Kotara, Llewellyn Street in Merewether, James Street Plaza in Hamilton, and the upgrades currently under construction in Stockton and Shortland.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teen missing from the Lake Macquarie Area.

Jessica Simpson, aged 15, was last seen at a residence on Francis Street, Cardiff South, about 5.30pm on Wednesday 1 June 2022.

Unable to be located since, Jessica was reported missing to officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District, who commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police hold serious concerns for Jessica’s welfare due to her age.

Jessica is described as being of Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander appearance, medium build, approximately 170 to 175cm tall, with long black hair and brown eyes.

She is known to utilise public transport and frequent the Bathurst area, as well as the Sydney CBD and surrounding suburbs.

Anyone with information into the whereabouts of Jessica is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Large and powerful surf conditions combined with high tides have impacted sections of Newcastle’s coastline over the weekend, compounded by the recent impact of the severe weather events in March and April.

Newcastle’s southern beaches, particularly Bar Beach, has been significantly stripped of sand leaving a large drop off between the sea wall and the promenade. Beach accessways at Merewether, Bar Beach and Dixon Park have been closed due to the safety of access ramps and stairs. City of Newcastle is conducting daily inspections across the southern beaches to ensure public safety and is finalising plans for repair work.

At Stockton Beach, waves overtopped some sections of the coastline including the Kyowa rock bag structures at Barrie Crescent, the Mitchell Street Seawall at Flint Street and some of the beach dune and accessways at Meredith and Beeston Streets and the Stockton Holiday Park.

Several beach accessways remain closed at Stockton until beach conditions improve and repair works are completed. There has been no reported impact to private property in Stockton.

City of Newcastle has supported the NSW Government’s application for funding for Stockton Beach nourishment under the Federal Government’s Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program. The total cost of a long-term solution to coastal erosion is estimated at $27.5 million and will require the approval of a licence to mine sand offshore.

The Deputy Premier’s Taskforce is scheduled to meet on June 23 to discuss mass sand nourishment sources. The initial volume of sand required for Stockton Beach is around 2.4 million cubic metres or the equivalent of 960 Olympic sized swimming pools.

A factory has been partially destroyed during a fire near Newcastle.

About 5.30pm today (Tuesday 14 June 2022), emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a factory on Parker Street, Carrington, about 5km north of Newcastle.

The premises were self-evacuated before the arrival of emergency services.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 49-year-old male employee for minor smoke inhalation. He was taken to Mater Calvary Hospital as a precaution.

There were no reports of any other people being injured.

The fire was extinguished by NSW Fire & Rescue about 8.10pm.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the fire; however, it is not being treated as suspicious.

Damaged sustained to the factory is believed to about $1m.

There is no health risk to the community.

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

City of Newcastle (CN) is preparing for a forecast weather event with large swell coinciding with a high tide which has the potential to cause damage along Newcastle’s coastline.

This event, which is expected to peak overnight Sunday 12 June, is likely to impact sections of Newcastle’s coastline that received damage previously following large swell and severe weather events in March and April.

CN will continue to monitor its coastal facilities and assets along the Newcastle coastline including areas in Stockton where emergency works have previously been undertaken in response to weather event damage caused earlier in the year.

Further closures of accessways onto Stockton Beach may be required for public safety. A current list of beach accessway closures at Stockton Beach can be viewed here.

CN reminds the community to follow safety warnings and to abide by all road and beach closures.

To stay up-to-date on weather warnings visit the Bureau of Meteorology at www.bom.gov.au and for information about any emergencies visit the State Emergency Service at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or phone 13 25 00.

Work to reduce the impact of flooding near University Drive at Waratah West is underway, with construction commencing on an upgrade to stormwater infrastructure at Boatman Creek.

Notorious for flooding after heavy rain, the low section of the busy University Drive has seen vehicles including buses get stuck travelling along the crossing of Boatman Creek.

The solution being constructed will better manage the flow of water after heavy rain by removing the existing culvert, excavating new creek embankments, and naturalising the newly widened channel north of University Drive with sandstone and landscaping, as well as construction of a new bridge on this stretch of the cycleway and shared path.

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that the work will improve resilience to flooding around this section of Boatman Creek, and also renew active transport connections in the area.

“By addressing the history of flooding in this area, this project will help reduce disruption to traffic on this important road connecting our community with the University and the nearby Mater Hospital,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As well as the benefits relating to flooding, construction of the new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the new embankment is important for maintaining this vital transport link between Newcastle City and the University.”

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the upgrade is an important part of plans to improve the management of stormwater across the city.

“It’s exciting to see this project progressing, alongside stormwater projects being planned and delivered in Wallsend to address longstanding issues with flooding, and several projects currently being delivered in The Junction to improve flows into Cottage Creek”.

Construction is scheduled for completion in early 2023.

Three teens have been charged following investigations into traffic and property-related offences in the Hunter region.

Operation Mongoose was established in April 2022 to investigate property offences, break and enters, and vehicle thefts throughout the Oxley and Port Stephens/ Hunter Valley Police Districts.

About 10pm last night (Thursday 2 June 2022), two teenage girls entered a home on Carandotta Street, Mayfield, and allegedly stole a BMW hatchback.

Just before midnight, officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle travelling west on Raymond Terrace Road, Woodberry. When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated, however due to safety concerns, it was terminated near East Maitland.

A short time later, the vehicle was located abandoned on Melbourne Street, East Maitland. With the assistance of the Dog Unit, the two 15-year-old girls were arrested in a nearby property.

The first teenage girl was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company, and carried in conveyance without consent of owner.

The second teenage girl was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal, take & drive conveyance without consent of owner, and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.

Additionally, about 2:50am this morning (Friday 3 June 2022), officers attended a home on Gostwich Avenue, Woodberry, and arrested a 14-year-old boy before being taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.

He subsequently charged with aggravated break and enter, take and drive conveyance, larceny, enter vehicle without consent of owner, enter prescribed premises without lawful excuse.

All three teens were refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Friday 3 June 2022).

A serving police officer has been charged with property offences.

In July 2021, officers attached to the Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation into an alleged incident where property was damaged.

Following extensive inquiries, a 38-year-old senior constable – attached to a command in the Northern Region – was issued a Court Attendance Notice for destroy or damage property

He is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Monday 11 July 2022.

TALENT OUTSHINES DISTANCE FOR HUNTER ‘YOUNG ARCHIES’ FINALIST To have your artwork hanging in the NSW Art Gallery before you finish high school is quite an achievement. For it to be there because you have been selected as one of 70 Young Archies finalists out of more than 2400 entries nationally is even more impressive. “I’m so honoured, I couldn’t wait for the day, I couldn’t wait to see it up on the website,” selected artist Juliette Kostalova said. “I’m yet to go see it at the gallery, I’m too far away.” The Year 12 student from Rutherford Technology High School, near Maitland in the Hunter Valley, is one of just three students from a regional public school to be named as a finalist for the prize. Her self-portrait Solus has been nominated among the 16-18-year-old category and was created specifically for the competition. Luella Chiswick, from Lisarow Public School on the Central Coast, and Freda Schaeffer, from Martins Gully Public School near Armidale, are among the five to eight-year-olds whose works Aerlie and Captain Bobbie were selected. A total of 25 students from NSW public students are finalists in the competition. Without question, the Archibald Prize for portraiture is the best-known art prize in Australia. A decade ago, the Young Archies were established and have been embraced by budding artists of all ages. “I’m so nervous, I do want to win but the entries this year are so good,” Juliette said. The winner of the Young Archies will be announced Saturday, 18th June 2022.

A multi-sensory experience that has attracted more than eight and a half million people across 75 cities around the world will be the centrepiece of City of Newcastle’s second New Annual festival in September.

Presented in a specially designed 2,300-square-metre gallery known as The Grand Pavilion, which will be set up at Newcastle’s premier major event space, Foreshore Park, Van Gogh Alive features more than 3,000 high-definition images of the artist’s work, projected at a scale that allows visitors to experience the paintings like never before.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said attracting Van Gogh Alive is a coup for Newcastle that will enhance the city’s reputation for hosting world-class events while boosting the local economy by attracting thousands of visitors.

“We’re excited to partner with Andrew Kay Management to bring the impressive Van Gogh Alive to a regional city for the first time in Australia as part of our New Annual festival,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Spanning across a ten-day period and featuring over 50 events across the city, New Annual will showcase local and visiting artists sharing music, dance, theatre, performance, and visual art in a celebration of creativity.

“The versatility of Foreshore Park ensures we’re able to attract major events such as this unique immersive experience in Newcastle, which will attract an influx of visitors to our city at a time when the local tourism industry needs it most and as local operators and businesses recover from the pandemic.”

Newcastle artist James Drinkwater described Van Gogh, who was his favourite painter as a child, as being “in the pantheon of the greats” and welcomed the opportunity to see this show in Newcastle. He said the city was “coming of age” culturally and believed an event such as this one would make art more accessible to the wider community.

“This event is a marker of the times and acts as a conduit between the wonderful and complex social spectrum of Newcastle,” James said.

Created and produced by Grande Experiences, Van Gogh Alive is co-produced by Andrew Kay in association with BBC and Alex Fane in the Grand Pavilion.

Bruce Peterson, owner of Grande Experiences, said “After mesmerising a global audience of over 8.5 million people and selling-out cities all over the world, including Rome, London and Beijing, we’re incredibly excited that Van Gogh Alive now comes to Newcastle. This is an unforgettable cultural experience for all the family.”

Andrew Kay of Andrew Kay Management, said “Van Gogh Alive has been an international hit, thrilling audiences across the globe since the first experience launched at the Art Science Museum in Singapore in 2011.”

Van Gogh Alive provides audiences with the opportunity to plunge themselves in the life and work of Dutch Post-Impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh, through a vibrant symphony of light, colour and fragrance, set to an evocative classical soundtrack.

An interpretive area provides an educational introduction to some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, before the cutting-edge technology of the SENSORY4 ^TM Gallery transports visitors inside the artist’s greatest works, with images projected onto virtually every surface.

Newcastle will host Van Gogh Alive from 21 September until 23 October at Foreshore Park, while the New Annual program will run from 23 September to 2 October throughout the city.

Further information about City of Newcastle’s flagship cultural festival is available at newannual.com

Ticket information for Van Gogh Alive is available at vangoghalive.com.au