Category: Newcastle News

After two significant weather events impacted Stockton Beach in recent weeks, City of Newcastle is implementing a program of remedial work to address safety issues that forced the closure of several beach accessways and to manage debris that washed onto Stockton Beach.

The accessway alongside beachside café, Lexie’s, will be repaired as a priority. The work on the Lexie’s Café accessway will require a temporary closure of the carpark and the informal outdoor dining area at Lexie’s on Tuesday 29 March.

The recent large seas exposed historical building waste along the Dalby Oval section of the coast, which will also be managed as part of this program of work. The accessway at Dalby Oval will be repaired so it can be reopened to the public after work at this location is complete. This work will also allow work crews access onto the beach to manage the debris on the beach adjacent to the Stockton Beach Holiday Park.

Scheduled beach scraping in front of the Stockton Beach Holiday Park was unable to take place in early March due to the impact of the two east coast low weather events. Beach scraping is scheduled again for late April as suitable tide windows allow.

Temporary fencing and a work compound, for the contractor undertaking this work will be established at Dalby Oval by late March, weather permitting. It is expected that this remedial work program will require two weeks to complete.

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 this work is completed.

55 years ago, the nation backed-in the 1967 Referendum to change the Constitution so that the Commonwealth could make laws in respect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and included them in the census. Now we have the chance to make good on the unfinished business that remains.  

The Uluru Statement from the Heart represents an overwhelming consensus of First Nations peoples on a proposal for a Voice to Parliament and the establishment of a Makarrata Commission to oversee truth-telling and treaty-making.   

The Uluru Statement is a generous gift to the nation – inviting us to walk together with First Nations people in a movement to build a better future.  

Last night I had the privilege of hosting Thomas Mayor, a Torres Strait Island man born on Larrakia country in Darwin and author of Finding The Heart of The Nation: The journey of the Uluru Statement towards Voice, Treaty and Truth in Newcastle.  

Thomas Mayor was entrusted to carry the sacred canvas of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He embarked on an eighteen-month journey around the country to garner support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice, and a Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making or treaties.  

Labor has repeatedly called for the Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in our Constitution, and if we form government at the next election, we will progress a referendum as a matter of priority in consultation with First Nations. 

Labor is the only party committed to implementing the Uluru Statement of the Heart in full. 

Along with truth and treaty, a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament will be a momentous step towards unifying our nation and creating a shared future. 

It’s time we attended to the unfinished business of this nation. That’s why I’m calling on the Newcastle community to get involved with the campaign to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.  

It’s been a long journey and there is still much work to be done.  

After 55 years of unfinished business – the time for a referendum on a First Nations Voice is now.  

A third man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives investigating the armed robbery of a hotel in the state’s Hunter region earlier this year.

About 12.20am on Tuesday 25 January 2022, two masked men – one armed with a handgun and the other with a meat clever – entered a licensed premises on Main Road at Cardiff and threatened two employees before taking a cash register and fleeing.

Police were told they left in a blue Ford Falcon sedan, last seen heading east on Main Street.

Although shaken, the employees – a 52-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman – were not physically injured and contacted police.

Initial inquiries were conducted by officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District before the matter was referred to detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Hawksview.

So far during the investigation, strike force detectives have charged two men – aged 32 and 33 – over their alleged roles in the incident. They remain before the courts.

Following further inquiries, strike force detectives – assisted by officers attached to Waratah Target Action Group (TAG) – attended a home at Edgeworth just before 1pm yesterday (Wednesday 23 March 2022).

On arrival, a 27-year-old man led police on a short foot pursuit and attempted to evade them by swimming through a nearby creek.

He was located hiding in nearby bushland a short time later, then arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.

The man has since been charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon and four counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.

Police will allege in court that the man was one of three responsible for the robbery of a hotel at Cardiff earlier this year.

The man has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today.

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving following a crash in the state’s Hunter region overnight.

About 10.30pm (Wednesday 23 March 2022), a grey SUV exited a service centre on the Pacific Highway at North Arm Cove to travel north.

A short time later, the northbound SUV and a southbound van collided in the southbound lane, with both vehicles coming to a rest in a nearby nature strip.

Emergency services were called and attended a short time later.

The driver of the van – a 51-year-old man – and a 55-year-old female passenger were treated at the scene; the woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment and has since been released.

The driver of the SUV – a 42-year-old man – was assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District conducted a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he underwent a secondary breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.157.

He has been issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for high-range PCA; he is due to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 11 April 2022.

Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash are continuing.

Police remain at the scene of a double fatal crash near Port Stephens this afternoon.

Shortly before 1.40pm (Thursday 24 March 2022), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway at Tea Gardens, near Viney Creek Road West, after reports of a crash involving two cars and a motorcycle.

Police have been told an Isuzu D-Max utility travelling southbound collided with a motorcycle and a Toyota station wagon, both travelling northbound.

The male motorcyclist died at the scene.

The female driver of the Toyota was trapped by confinement; however, she died at the scene a short time later.

The man and the woman have not yet been formally identified.

A female passenger of the Toyota was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

The male driver of the Isuzu suffered minor injuries and has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.

Northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway are closed, with a contraflow in place in one of the two southbound lanes. The northbound lanes are expected to be closed for a significant period of time.

Drivers are urged to expect delays and to drive to the conditions, with a large amount of water across the roads from wet weather today.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway.

The first meeting of the Deputy Premier’s Stockton Beach Taskforce since Deputy Premier Paul Toole inspected erosion at Stockton Beach with Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes last month is set to occur tomorrow.

After a meeting hiatus last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Taskforce will be an opportunity to progress the actions of Stockton’s Coastal Management Program including returning sand and amenity to Stockton Beach.

An evaluation report in December last year found that an ongoing program of sand top-ups will be more cost effective and efficient than structures like an artificial headland, in terms of buffering the coastline and returning a permanent beach at Stockton.

This followed an extensive evaluation process that considered four feasible coastal management options to complement the mass sand nourishment identified in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the Taskforce meeting and said City of Newcastle is looking to the State Government for action on the approvals required to get sand onto Stockton Beach.

“We appreciate the work undertaken by the State Government to identify offshore sand sources suitable for replenishing sand on Stockton Beach and the commitment by the former Deputy Premier to fund the work required for a mining licence for offshore sand extraction,” Cr Nelmes said.

City of Newcastle has provided the State Government with a report detailing several possible planning approval pathways and the technical studies that may be needed to support the approval process, including possible environmental assessments.

“City of Newcastle has asked the State Government to review this document and confirm if the offshore sand extraction is a regional or state significant project and the associated planning approvals required to ensure sand is returned to Stockton Beach.

“With tomorrow’s Taskforce meeting we are hoping for confirmation of State Government funding, knowing that at least $21 million is required for the initial mass sand nourishment of Stockton Beach.”

The certified Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020 identified the need for an initial 2.4 million m³ of sand as part of a mass sand nourishment program and, to complement this, a regular program of sand top ups of around 146,000 m³ to maintain the buffer to the coastline and to provide beach amenity for the community.

“We want to get moving with the extraction approvals required to get sand onto Stockton Beach and we recognise the important role the Stockton Beach Taskforce plays in coordinating the various government departments who need to work together to make that happen,” Cr Nelmes said.

The Deputy Premier’s Stockton Beach Taskforce was established to provide advice and recommendations to both the NSW Government and City of Newcastle on such issues as sand sourcing, actions to mitigate the loss of community amenity and seeking the priority capital and operational funding required.

Local children have the chance to take one more slide down the towering spiral waterslide at Lambton Swimming Centre before the iconic attraction is updated.

City of Newcastle has progressed plans to replace the 22-year-old enclosed raft waterslide, with the project awarded to Australian Waterslides & Leisure.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 120m-long twisting waterslide will remain in operation until the end of the April school holidays, with work to commence on replacement once the Lambton Swimming Centre closes for winter.

“The existing waterslide will continue to operate throughout the remainder of the current season, ready for locals to enjoy the new waterslide when the pool reopens for the 2022/23 summer season,” Cr Nelmes said.

Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the waterslide has been a hit since its installation, with hundreds of people flocking to Lambton Swimming Centre during the school holidays to make a splash down the popular attraction.

“I encourage local kids, whose parents may have enjoyed climbing up the 9-metre-high tower to splash down the waterslide when it was originally installed in 2000, to take one more slide down the popular attraction before it is replaced,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

A like-for-like replacement of the waterslide will be installed at the site of the existing slide within Lambton Swimming Centre and the project will make use of the existing supporting infrastructure.

The Lambton Swimming Centre was developed as the City of Newcastle’s (CN) first inland swimming pool and was opened in 1963. An average of 184,000 people visit the popular facility annually.

During the last winter closure period, annual maintenance was undertaken at Lambton Swimming Centre, which included painting and upkeep throughout the facility.

Elsewhere at City of Newcastle inland pools, new playgrounds were recently constructed at Wallsend Swimming Centre and Mayfield Swimming Centre, and a new accessible changeroom area was created at Mayfield Swimming Centre. Further exciting improvements for our local pools will be unveiled in the 2022/23 budget in April.

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council Meeting of Tuesday 22 March 2022. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Lord Mayoral Minute

Federal Election Priorities

A Lord Mayoral Minute regarding federal election priorities was supported ahead of the May 2022 election. City of Newcastle will prepare an election priorities document to enable advocacy for funding and delivery of projects and policies, consistent with CN priorities and budget commitments.

Priorities include, but are not limited to Newcastle Airport Terminal expansion, Richmond Vale Rail Trail, National Park No.1 Sportsground redevelopment, Hunter Park (Broadmeadow Sports and Entertainment Precinct), Sporting Facility Fund, Surf Lifesaving Club redevelopment funding, Stockton Coastal Erosion mitigation and sand replenishment.

Ordinary Business

Endorsement of motions to the 2022 National General Assembly of Local Government
Council endorsed 11 motions for submission to the 2022 Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly, which is being held from 19-22 June 2022 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.

Public exhibition of Wickham Masterplan update 2022
Council voted to place the draft Wickham Masterplan 2021 Update (2022 amendment) on public exhibition for 28 days and receive a report following the exhibition period.

Exhibition of Planning Proposal and Development Control Plan for Community Infrastructure Incentives at Wickham
Council supported the Planning Proposal to amend the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 in order to implement the Draft Wickham Masterplan 2021 Update (2022 Amendment).

City of Newcastle will forward the Planning Proposal to the Minister for Planning for ‘Gateway Determination’.

Council also voted to place the Planning Proposal, subject to Gateway Determination, on public exhibition for 28 days.

Exhibition of Draft Newcastle Development Control Plan Section 6.03 Wickham
Council voted to place the draft Newcastle Development Control Plan 2012 Section 6.03 Wickham on public exhibition for 28 days.

Council will receive a report on submissions received after the public exhibition period including any further amendments made in response to submissions.

Employment zones reform
Council received a report on the NSW Government’s changes to employment zones in all NSW Local Environment Plans. City of Newcastle will make a formal submission to the Department of Planning and Environment raising concerns about the short timeframe to consider the significant reform.

Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill – proposed raised crossing at Union Street
Council approved the proposed upgrade of the pedestrian crossing in Elizabeth Street Tighes Hill, near Union Street, to a raised crossing with kerb extensions.

Tauranga Road, New Lambton – half road closure at Lambton Road
Council approved the proposed half road closure of Tauranga Road at Lambton Road, Lambton, and implement one-way northbound traffic flow between Thalaba Road and Lambton Road.

Executive monthly performance report
Council received the executive monthly performance report for February 2022, which reports on City of Newcastle’s monthly performance.

Tender report – Lambton Pool waterslide replacement
Council voted to approve an exemption to tender under Section 55(3)(i) of the Local Government Act 1993 for the design, supply and installation of a waterslide at Lambton Swimming Centre.

Organics Processing Facility
Council voted to accept a variation to contract 2019/144T for the design and construction of an organics processing facility for combined food organics and garden organics at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre to enable food waste to be brought forward by four years.

Notices of Motion

Support for east coast submarine naval base in Newcastle
Council did not endorse a Notice of Motion asking for City of Newcastle to support the building of the new east coast future Navy base in Newcastle.

Supporting the National ‘Statement from the Heart’ for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition campaign
Council endorsed a Notice of Motion calling for City of Newcastle to support the National ‘Statement from The Heart’ and the campaign for Constitutional Recognition of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and to recognise that 26 May represents the fifth anniversary of the Statement from The Heart.

Council will partner with the Gurakiai Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Local Government NSW and From the Heart to hold public forums in Newcastle to raise community awareness of the issues.

Preservation and repurposing of Shepherds Hill Observation Post
Council endorsed an amended notice of motion to write to the Minister for Defence to seek funding for feasibility investigations and concept plan for the adaptive reuse of the Shepherds Hill Observation Post, which could include activities such as whale watching.

Refugee / asylum seekers – humanitarian settlement
Council supported a Notice of Motion calling for the Lord Mayor to write to the NSW members of the Senate and House of Representatives and the current Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, requesting urgent humanitarian settlement for all refugees and asylum seekers who seek sanctuary and a safe home in Australia. As a Refugee Welcome City, CN offers its support to assist stakeholders to settle those refugees and asylum seekers as soon as possible after leaving detention.

Council also endorsed adding City of Newcastle to the list of local councils supporting the Back your Neighbour campaign.

Newcastle Surf Lifesaving Clubs
Council supported an amended Notice of Motion noting that the development of a Coastal Management Plan is underway, and significant investment has already been made into coastal assets. City of Newcastle will continue to explore future funding options with Federal, State, and external stakeholders to maximise the functionality of local Surf Lifesaving Clubs, which will provide a community service and increase tourism visitation to enjoy Newcastle’s beautiful beaches and outdoor recreational lifestyle.

Gas Decarbonisation
Council supported a Notice of Motion to write to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and various Ministers to urgently develop a gas decarbonisation roadmap, setting business, industry and households up to be resilient and sustainable in a decarbonising world, while safeguarding jobs in important manufacturing industries.

Newcastle West Safety Audit
Council supported a Notice of Motion to conduct a crime prevention through environmental design safety audit for the ‘West End’ after dark precinct during the detailed design phase of the West End city centre revitalisation program of works in consultation with residents, NSW Police, local venue operators, Councillors, City of Newcastle staff, and other key stakeholders.

City of Newcastle Creative Hoardings Program
Council supported a Notice of Motion to investigate the feasibility of initiating a Newcastle Creative Hoardings Program, whereby developers with construction sites in high visibility areas must cover their hoardings with street art concepts, created by local street artists (wherever possible) as endorsed by the City’s Public Art Reference Group.

The Motion also noted that the popular Big Picture Festival is returning later in 2022 as a part of the Special Business Rate Program, and event organisers propose to collaborate with other SBR street art projects to create a more holistic and broader initiative.

City of Newcastle (CN) is calling for the community to come together in support of a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution.

Council endorsed a Notice of Motion at Tuesday’s Ordinary Council Meeting in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for real and practical change in Australia through the establishment of a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, with a proposed referendum to be held in the next term of Federal Parliament.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said now was the time to work together to bring about meaningful change.

“City of Newcastle are proud of Newcastle’s rich Indigenous heritage and established the Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee to ensure that acknowledgment of the original custodians of our land is embedded in all that we do at Council,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We wholeheartedly support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for a constitutionally recognised voice that would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide advice to Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives.

“City of Newcastle will partner with Guraki, Local Government NSW and From the Heart to hold public forums in Newcastle to raise community awareness of the issues and further these important conversations, which are crucial in Australia becoming a unified nation reconciled with its history.”

Chair of the Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee Luke Russell said now is the time for Australians to come together through a referendum and officially acknowledge the traditional custodians.

“A Voice to Parliament would give the Australian Government the opportunity to collectively make policies with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rather than for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mr Russell said.

“Together with City of Newcastle, Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee is well placed to further these conversations within our community to help educate, inform and bring about change.”

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon said the Uluru Statement from the Heart is a generous gift to the nation – inviting us to walk together with First Nations people in a movement to build a better future.

“Fifty-five years ago, the nation backed in the 1967 Referendum to change the Constitution so that the Commonwealth could make laws in respect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and included them in the consensus,” Ms Claydon said.

“Now we have the chance to make good on the unfinished business that remains.

“The time for a referendum on a First Nations Voice is now, and it’s great to see the City of Newcastle getting involved in the campaign to ensure we get this done.”

Councillor Deahnna Richardson said a Voice to Parliament is the structural reform required to give First Nations Australians the agency we need when it comes to decisions about our people, our culture and our lands, but we cannot move forward without a consensus among all Australians.

“With just over one in four people still undecided about a Voice to Parliament, these are crucial conversations that we need to have,” Cr Richardson.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s definitely time.”

For more information, visit: fromtheheart.com.au

City of Newcastle is delivering on its commitments to good urban planning in Wickham, with a community infrastructure contribution planning proposal and updates to the City’s development control plan adopted by the elected Council on Tuesday night.

The updated planning documents reflect the Wickham Masterplan (2021), which was developed in a collaborative approach with the Wickham community and local landowners. The proposed changes to the Development Control Plan (DCP) incorporate revised mapping, height limits, updated character statements, and new upper-level setback controls, which protect the Village Hub, while allowing for the balanced growth of the suburb.

The documents will be formally exhibited with the planning proposal to be submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment for Gateway Determination, ahead of public exhibition with the accompanying DCP for further community feedback.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the planning proposal and proposed amendments to the DCP better reflect the shared vision for delivering urban renewal within Wickham.

“This is good news for residents and the community of Wickham who have been involved in the planning of Wickham’s transformation from the very start,” Cr Clausen said.

“Creating greater community infrastructure to support Wickham’s growing population while maintaining its inner-city suburban character by protecting the Village Hub are important parts of our vision for Wickham which also includes enhanced and better connected green spaces, footpaths, and cycleways.”

The DCP will be amended to reflect the Community Infrastructure Incentives Policy, which was adopted by Council in July 2021, and the Wickham Masterplan (2021) adopted in September 2021.

“Throughout the planning process, Wickham’s identity is continuing to evolve and take shape, as the suburb transitions from a semi-industrial suburban area into a thriving urban neighbourhood that supports the revitalisation of Newcastle’s West End,” Cr Clausen said.

“The Wickham Masterplan supports the strategic relocation of Newcastle’s city centre to Newcastle’s West End under its urban renewal strategy, harnessing its proximity to public transport, the CBD, harbour and green spaces.”

City of Newcastle Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment Michelle Bisson said the community’s future enjoyment of Wickham is at the centre of planning decisions.

“City of Newcastle is ready to progress Wickham to the next stages in the planning pathway,” Ms Bisson said.

“It is great to see that the Wickham Masterplan is progressing, and we look forward to receiving community feedback on the proposed amendments.”