City makes pact with local artist for NAIDOC Week

City of Newcastle is counting down the days to NAIDOC week 2019 after drawing on the inspiration of a talented local Aboriginal artist to help celebrate First Nations people.
In celebration of the week-long event from 7-14 July, the City has commissioned local artist Jasmine Craciun to bring this year’s theme – Voice, Treaty and Truth – to life in a colorful display of paintings to be draped on flagpoles across the City.
Banners-(1).JPGVoice, Treaty, Truth:  The three images which will feature on City banners to promote NAIDOC week in July
Craciun, a proud Barkindji and Malyangapa woman, says intense pride lies behind each of her three images and their connection to the words of this year’s theme.
“When I think of the word ‘Voice’ I think of protest and change, I think loud and proud,” said the 21-year-old (pictured below) said.
JasmineCraciun.jpg
“The red was used as the base colour in this work as, to me, red is the colour that speaks and represents being unapologetically proud and loud. “A treaty is a coming together of peoples, a sign of solidarity, and within this work you can see the many symbols for waterhole or meeting place.
“This work uses blue and purple tones to instill a sense of peace and calmness that could ensue in a country where the First Nations people not only have a treaty but support and understanding from all non-indigenous Australians.”
Craciun says her third image speaks to the need for transparency in the education of Australian indigenous history.
“I’ve tried to portray the bridges of history trying to break through into the upper level of the painting where Australia’s ‘comfortable’ history lives,” she said. “You can see the upper level is smooth lines and clean shapes representing the smoothing of Australia’s early history, compared to the chaotic ‘hard-to-swallow’ truth boiling below.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the artworks, both in their design and meaning, would play an instrumental role in supporting this year’s NAIDOC week celebrations.
“These works are important as they provide a real representation of our First Nations People’s history told through the lens of a local artist,” the Lord Mayor said.
“NAIDOC week is an important event on the City’s calendar and it’s fantastic that we have been able to bring Jasmine on board to help with the promotion of this special occasion.”
Local activities during NAIDOC week will be announced closer to the event. For more information on NAIDOC week, visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/.

Greens say Time to go, Equinor

Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young is calling on all South Australian MPs to add their names to a Bill to ban drilling in the Great Australian Bight following the knock-back of foreign oil giant Equinor’s plan to turn the Bight into an oilfield.
“The fight for the Bight is on. I am standing up for the countless South Australians who don’t want our Bight turned into an oilfield. It is time for all South Australian MPs to act. We need to work together to stand up for our state and stop Big Oil,” Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Equinor and the offshore oil and gas regulator should heed the advice of South Australians, coastal communities, surfers and beach lovers who want our Bight protected. Equinor should use this setback to go the way of BP and Chevron and get out of the Bight.
“The Labor and Liberal parties, desperate to hold their seats in the dying days of the election campaign, need to show South Australians their promises on the Bight weren’t just a stunt. Next week, I’ll be introducing a Bill to ban drilling in the Bight. All South Australian MPs should stand up for our state and sign onto the Bill.
“South Australians voted to keep our beautiful beaches pristine. We don’t want to risk critical habitat of the internationally-recognised endangered Australian sea lion. We don’t want to see our southern right whale nursery turned into an oilfield.
“Chevron and Equinor have just walked away from drilling off the coast of New Zealand. Equinor must do the same here.
“The Greens are standing up for our tourism and fishing jobs, our unique marine life, beautiful beaches and all South Australians who voted to stop drilling in the Bight.”

Elderly pedestrian dies – Mayfield

An elderly man has died in hospital after being hit by a car in Newcastle overnight.
About 5.30pm yesterday (Thursday 27 June 2019), an 89-year-old man was attempting to cross Maitland Road, Mayfield when he was struck by a vehicle.
The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he later died.
The driver of the vehicle, a 50-year-old man, stopped after the crash. A roadside breath test returned a negative result. Inquiries are continuing.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Investigations continuing following death of a man – Birmingham Gardens, near Newcastle

A man has died following an altercation near Newcastle overnight.
Shortly after 11pm (Thursday 27 June 2019), police were called to a home on Wilkinson Avenue, Birmingham Gardens, following reports of a domestic related incident involving two men, aged 52 and 68.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and found a 68-year-old man unconscious.
Both men were taken to John Hunter Hospital, where the older man later died.
A crime scene was established; inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing.
 

Woman charged with high-range PCA after crash near Wallsend school

A woman has been charged with high range drink-driving after a crash near a Wallsend school this afternoon.
About 3.10pm (Thursday 27 June 2019), police were called to Boscowen Street, after reports a Mazda 2 had crashed into a parked and unoccupied vehicle while driving through a 40km school zone.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Highway Patrol attended and spoke with the female driver and sole occupant of the Mazda, who was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.
The 40-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station where she returned an alleged reading of 0.296.
Her licence was suspended, and she was charged with drive with drive with high range PCA. She has been granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 18 July 2019.

NEWCASTLE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon MP is calling on Novocastrians to nominate a local volunteer for recognition at the 2019 Newcastle Volunteer Service Awards.
Ms Claydon said that when it comes to volunteering, Newcastle punches above its weight.
“The rate of volunteering in Newcastle was above the state average and higher than other metropolitan cities,” Ms Claydon said.
“I’m constantly in awe of the time and effort people devote to helping others and building better communities, not asking a thing in return.
“Whether they’re helping coach the local sporting team, supporting vulnerable people or patrolling our beaches, volunteers enrich our community every single day.”
Ms Claydon said that the nominated volunteers would be recognised at a special awards event.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community, but too often they don’t get the recognition they deserve,” Ms Claydon said.
“These awards are a great reminder of what an amazing city we live in, and what fantastic community spirit there is.
“I’d encourage everyone to consider nominating one of the exceptional volunteers who make such a difference to our city each and every day.”
Award nominations are open until Friday 2 August. Nomination forms are available at www.sharonclaydon.com.

PREMIER’S PRIORITY TO INCLUDE IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR ABORIGINAL STUDENTS

The first Premier’s Priority developed in partnership with the Aboriginal community has been announced – an ambitious target to significantly increase the proportion of Aboriginal students completing year 12, while maintaining their cultural identity.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Priority would work towards increasing the proportion of Aboriginal students attaining year 12 by 50 per cent by 2023. This would mean an additional 1200 additional Aboriginal students in NSW attaining year 12.
“Education is the great enabler and that’s why finishing school is so important. Recent studies show a clear link between completion of Year 12 and future outcomes, whether it be employment or further education,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Currently, around 70 per cent of Aboriginal young people do not finish year 12 in NSW. With the announcement of this ambitious new Priority, we are signalling our clear intent to do better.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin said engaging with families and communities was critical to improving Aboriginal educational outcomes.
“Helping young Aboriginal people reach their full education potential means they will be better equipped to fully participate in the cultural, social and economic life of their community,” Mr Harwin said.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the new target would build on a number of existing programs that had delivered successful outcomes.
“It is crucial that as a Government, we continue to focus on ensuring Aboriginal students are supported in the education system. Giving Aboriginal students the confidence to aspire to be the best they can be is so important, and I look forward to watching more children thrive as part of this priority,” Ms Mitchell said.
Cindy Berwick, co-chair of the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations and President of the NSW Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group, welcomed the focus on Aboriginal education brought by the new Premier’s Priority.
“This is a significant occasion. It is the first time there has been such a strong partnership between the NSW Government and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations,” Ms Berwick said.
The new target complements the NSW Government’s strong record of supporting indigenous communities, and initiatives include:

  • Language – established Australia’s first Aboriginal Languages Trust, under the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017.
  • Procurement – implemented an Aboriginal Procurement Policy, to award at least three per cent of domestic contracts for goods and services issued by NSW Government agencies to Aboriginal-owned businesses by 2021.
  • OCHRE – the NSW plan for Aboriginal Affairs, which commits the NSW Government to working with Aboriginal communities by building strong working partnerships.
  • Stolen Generations Reparations – reparations payments have been delivered to survivors in addition to Funeral Assistance Fund payments.
  • Tertiary students – Invested $10 million in Australia’s first Indigenous residential college at UTS to encourage more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into tertiary education.

The new Premier’s Priorities comes after the release this week of new priorities targeting literacy and numeracy across State schools, open spaces, recidivism, suicide and homelessness. The full list of Premier’s Priorities will be released later this week.

City to seek clarification about offshore sand extraction

City of Newcastle will seek clarification on the NSW Government’s position on offshore sand extraction for nourishment and replenishment of Stockton Beach, following a successful Lord Mayoral Minute at last night’s Council meeting.
The minute cited advice from the UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory (WRL), commissioned by the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), identifying offshore sand extraction as one of the only viable methods for large-scale beach nourishment along the open coast.
Stockton-damage-inside-release-(1).jpg
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that despite the expert advice, the NSW Government’s position remained unclear.
“A recent NSW Government-sponsored report identifies offshore sand extraction as possibly the only method to renourish Stockton Beach, however it remains unclear whether the NSW Government will support the use of this mechanism as a part of City of Newcastle’s Coastal Management Program,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“I want to thank the Stockton Community Liaison Group and the Newcastle Coastal Planning Working Group for the work they have done to date to address coastal erosion at Stockton.
“This minute, supported by the City of Newcastle, and the groups currently assisting to develop our coastal management programs, simply seeks clarification about the use of offshore sand extraction for the replenishment of sand at Stockton Beach.
“It is clear from my discussions with both groups that clarity from the NSW Government is urgently needed to move forward with our vital coastal planning and management.”
Ron Boyd, a Stockton-based expert on coastal erosion, and member of the liaison group and the Newcastle Coastal Planning Working Group, said clarification of the supply of marine sand for beach replenishment was a critical component of NSW coastal councils’ response to the Coastal Management Act of 2016.
“The severe sand erosion problem at Stockton can only be remediated by sand replenishment,” Associate Professor Boyd said. There are limited options for sourcing this sand and the marine option may prove to be the most suitable and cost effective.
“I’m aware that there’s an abundance of sand available on the inner shelf off Newcastle for this purpose, as well as a large sand deposit accumulating seaward of Nobbys Beach.
“Many coastal councils would also be considering this option, and in the short window available to draft Coastal Management Programs, it’s critical to identify if this option is available and how to proceed to include it.”
For more information about City of Newcastle’s coastal planning processes, visit our website: http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Living/Environment/Coast/Coastal-Planning
A copy of UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory’s ‘Guidelines for Sand Nourishment: Science and Synthesis for NSW can be accessed here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Water/Coasts/sand-nourishment-guidelines-science-synthesis-nsw.pdf

Green tick for new city budget

City of Newcastle will invest $32 million into sustainable waste measures and deliver major infrastructure projects, cultural facilities and workforce development under a new budget adopted by Council tonight.
Delivering a $12 million surplus, the $297 million City budget features a strong focus on environmental outcomes via a $12.35 million organics recycling facility that will divert thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill and save ratepayers an estimated $5.5m in state levies over the next six years.
The 2019-20 budget also sees the City ‘balancing the books’ by not relying on reserve funds for any services or works projects, as adequate revenue is generated.
“The adoption of tonight’s budget formalises a sustainable financial blueprint for the next 12 months and beyond,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It offers significant investment in major sustainability projects, while still delivering essential projects and services that the community expects from local government.
“Forty per cent of our $81 million works budget is committed to environmental initiatives, including new waste facilities, improvements to recreational parks and continued coastal revitalisation.
“Our budget includes a $32 million investment in the expansion of the Summerhill Waste Management Centre, including the organics facility and a $6 million resource recovery centre which allow the City to generate new income from the sale of organic and other recycled materials.”
Other highlights of the newly adopted budget include:

  • $21.6 million investment in City parks and recreation,
  • $14.8 million on cultural facilities ($2.3 million on Newcastle Art Gallery, $2.3 million on Newcastle Museum, $8 million on Civic Theatre)
  • $13.8 million on road infrastructures projects; and
  • $10 million in library services and upgrades
  • $5 million towards replacing outdated fleet
  • $2.5 million on graduate apprentice and trainee recruitment.
  • $2 million on Smart City projects
  • $1.5 million towards improving development application processing

The Lord Mayor said the 2019-20 budget was a strong indicator of the City’s sound financial position.
“Financial sustainability is one of the foundations of good government and this budget will guide our revenue and expenditure balance over the next 12 months to help maintain our strong financial position,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The income and spending outlined in this budget will allow us to deliver the many essential services expected of the city as well as helping to deliver improvements to many areas of business.
“Delivering a surplus that equates to 3.9 per cent of our forecast income of $309 million ensures that we have the required financial flexibility to address unforeseen events, such as natural disasters.
Twenty-four submissions were made on 32 different matters in the draft 2019-20 Our Budget and draft 2019-20 Fees and Charges Register.

Australia can't follow Trump into another disastrous war in the Middle East

The Australian Greens are gravely concerned at reports today that the Morrison Government is considering joining Donald Trump in his counter-productive and erratic so-called strategy to pressure Iran.
Australian Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said: “Donald Trump is a dangerous President and could easily start another needless war in the Middle East.  His inflammatory language and reports of aborted military strikes clearly demonstrate the danger he poses. Prime Minister Morrison needs to make clear at the G20 Summit in Japan this weekend that Australia will not have a bar of another disastrous US war.”
“Both the Coalition and the ALP are at risk of sleepwalking into another deadly and costly military entanglement in the Middle East. We need leadership now, not politicians who unquestionably follow the US into all its military follies. The stakes could not be higher.”