Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Lake Macquarie.
Keith Metcalfe – aged 71 – was last seen at a facility at Toronto Road, Booragul, about 6.30pm yesterday (Monday 25 October 2021).
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified a short time later and commenced inquiries to locate Keith.
Police have serious concerns for his welfare as Keith lives with dementia.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of medium build, with a bald head and grey goatee.
Keith was last seen wearing a striped white top with a blue collar and brown pants.
Anyone who sights Keith, or who has information about his whereabouts, is urged to contact police immediately

A woman has been charged as investigations continue into a fatal domestic-related stabbing in the Hunter region earlier this year.
About 7.20pm on Saturday (16 January 2021), emergency services were called to a home on Ronald Street, Tenambit, after reports a man had been injured.
Upon arrival, officers found a 51-year-old man suffering stab wounds to the stomach, he died at the scene.
A 23-year-old woman, known to the man, was arrested at the scene and charged; she remains before the courts.
Detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced Strike Force Creekborough to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives attended a home in West Wallsend about 8am today (Tuesday 26 October 2021), where they arrested a 26-year-old woman.
She was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and hinder discovery evidence re. serious indictable offence.
She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today, where she was granted conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Monday 20 December 2021.
Investigations under Strike Force Creekborough are continuing.

Major events have broad support from residents and businesses, while each Supercars Newcastle 500 delivers an average $36.2 million in economic output and 149 jobs, according to global accountancy firm Ernst & Young (EY).
City of Newcastle (CN) engaged EY to evaluate community perceptions of major events with a statistically robust survey of 650 locals and businesses, and to undertake an economic analysis of the Newcastle 500 as part of an ongoing review and planning process.
EY found more than two-thirds of residents and businesses believe the benefits of major events outweigh any negative impacts, along with strong support for CN’s investment in attracting large events.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said events were a key part of delivering on City of Newcastle’s vision of being a vibrant emerging global city.
“Newcastle’s position as an events city has been growing since the early days of Surfest in the 1980s, but it was only after delivering our first Newcastle 500 in 2017 that the rest of Australia has really taken notice,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Research tells us that events deliver both an immediate and ongoing benefit for the community and economy, with greater visitation, investment and liveability outcomes.
“Local tourism and accommodation providers that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 will be looking forward to and benefit from the economic stimulus provided by the Newcastle 500’s return in March next year.
“Major events in Newcastle, be they motor racing, music festivals or world-class surfing, are here by design, not by chance. On the back of research like the EY reports, we’ll continue working to build Newcastle’s position as a global events city.”
Business support for events is especially strong, with more than three-quarters saying the benefits of major events outweigh any disruptions, while 88 percent believe major events are a benefit for businesses across the LGA.
The benefits of major events are also enjoyed throughout the region, with a resounding 96 percent of accommodation providers outside of Newcastle saying major events deliver benefits to the region as a whole.
When asked which major event had the most positive impact on turnover, the Newcastle 500 came out strongly on top for both local businesses and accommodation providers in the region. CN’s annual budget for the Newcastle 500 (including a licence fee to Destination NSW and services provided to Supercars) is $1.6 million, which means for every $1 of ratepayers’ money invested in the race, $22.60 is returned to the local economy.
More than 80 percent of residents said major events are a benefit for the city, and 60 percent were either supportive or neutral for the Newcastle 500 continuing.
EY’s economic assessment measured the impact of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Newcastle 500 events, finding an upward trend in big-spending international and interstate visitors offsetting a slight decline in total spectators from the inaugural event.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the return of major events to Newcastle was something to look forward to as the city emerges from COVID-19 restrictions.
“Events bring a significant amount of economic stimulus, particularly through the visitor and hospitality sectors, which are those that are hurting the most right now because of COVID-19,” Mr Hawes said.
“Confirmation from Supercars Australia that the Newcastle 500 would be returning in March 2022 has been very positive news for the Hunter’s businesses, and the research released by City of Newcastle matches the feedback we are receiving from many of our members.”
Ernst & Young Partner Erik Heller said a conservative methodology has been adopted in analysing the benefits of major events, while the economic impact of the Newcastle 500 was determined by estimating the direct and indirect expenditure of people that visited Newcastle for the event or extended their stay following the event.
“Ernst & Young has taken a balanced, statistically-driven approach in evaluating residents, businesses and accommodation providers’ awareness, perception and sentiment towards major events in Newcastle,” Mr Heller said.
“To capture a robust sample of people who live in the Local Government Area (LGA), quotas and weighting have been applied to provide results that are representative of the population of Newcastle based on age, gender and ward populations.
“The weighting process has also been applied to collecting data from businesses, considering 17% of businesses are located in the City Centre and 83% are in the wider Newcastle LGA.”
The relevant reports, the ‘Newcastle Major Events Evaluation’ and ‘Economic Impact of the Newcastle 500 Supercars Event’ can be downloaded here.

Sporting facility upgrades for Alder Park in New Lambton, Empire Park opposite Bar Beach, Cook Park in Shortland and Hamilton Park Tennis Club are among 59 projects awarded a combined $450,000 in funding from the City of Newcastle.
Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz, who is a member of the City’s Liveable Cities Advisory Committee, said the grant funding is eligible to projects that improve sportsgrounds used by grassroots sporting clubs.
“Novocastrians love their sport, which is why City of Newcastle is committed to assisting local clubs with projects that will benefit the region’s players for years to come,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
“Grant funding provides clubs the opportunity to enhance the facilities they use on a weekly basis, without impacting upon the cost of playing.
“The injection of $450,000 of grant funding into the local economy will also assist in the creation of jobs as Newcastle recovers from COVID-19 and the recent lockdown.”
Image: Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz and New Lambton FC President Clayton Harrison at Alder Park, which will benefit from new seating thanks to City of Newcastle grant funding.
New Lambton Eagles Football Club President Clayton Harrison said that the grant funding secured through City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Grants Program will be used to enhance spectator experience with new seating at Alder Park.
“We’re grateful for the financial support from City of Newcastle, which will allow our club to install tiered seating at Alder Park in New Lambton,” Mr Harrison said.
“The seating will not only benefit New Lambton FC spectators throughout the winter season, but also the athletics community which operates from the park during summer.”
Financial support has also been provided to Wallsend Football Club for playing surface improvements at Cook Park, Hamilton Park Tennis Club for electrical upgrades and Merewether District Cricket Club for irrigation upgrades at Empire Park.
The Community Support and Infrastructure Grants assist a wide variety of projects across diverse funding streams including arts, culture and heritage projects, environmental programs and social inclusion initiatives. Façade improvement projects and sustainability initiatives have also been funded through the program.

City of Newcastle has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Newcastle is an inclusive community via an updated Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) to be presented to Councillors at Tuesday’s Council Meeting.
Councillor Carol Duncan, who is a member of the City’s Access Inclusion Advisory Committee, said that City of Newcastle’s DIAP helps ensure that people living with disability can access services and facilities.
“City of Newcastle is committed to making our city more liveable for all people who live, visit and work in Newcastle by taking action that will lead to a more inclusive and equitable society,” Cr Duncan said.
“An estimated 30,000 Novocastrians are living with a disability and the DIAP acts as a roadmap to guide City of Newcastle’s actions and establish strategies to ensure Newcastle is an inclusive community for all.
“City of Newcastle’s first DIAP achieved many positive outcomes including the establishment of the Access Inclusion Advisory Committee to provide people with disabilities a stronger voice to Council. Committee members have also been consulted and co-designed a number of major projects for the City of Newcastle including the planned revitalisation of Newcastle Ocean Baths, and inclusive play spaces for Stevenson Park and Harbour Foreshore.
“The DIAP and the Advisory Committee have initiated the establishment of the inclusive Count Us In Festival and improved accessibility to Nobbys Beach and Newcastle Museum through the installation of an adult lift and change facilities.
“I look forward to the achievements that will come to fruition as a result of the new DIAP over the coming years and thank the community members who participated in the consultation which informed the new Plan.”
The City’s first DIAP 2016-2019, was developed in 2016 and included 57 actions, of which 55 were significantly progressed or completed across the four-year period.
Community engagement including in person consultation sessions, focus groups, online survey and staff consultation was undertaken to guide the development of the DIAP 2021-2025.
Under the new DIAP, key actions will be carried out to achieve the community’s vision for Newcastle in line with the City’s Community Strategic Plan and pave the way for City of Newcastle to become a more inclusive organisation by championing inclusion.
Actions and strategies presented in the draft DIAP 2021-2015 are categorised within four themes prescribed by the NSW Disability Inclusion Act including Attitudes and Behaviours, Liveable Communities, Systems and Processes and Employment.
On Tuesday night Councillors will vote to place the DIAP on public exhibition throughout November. Accessible and easy-read versions of the draft DIAP will be available for comment during the public exhibition period.
Highlights achieved as a result of the DIAP 2016-2019:

• Establishment of the Access Inclusion Advisory Committee
• Count Us In Festival, a month-long program of events and activities focussed on disability inclusion
• Installation of accessible adult lift and change facilities at Nobbys Beach and Newcastle Museum
• Access Inclusion Advisory Committee co-design of major projects
• Inclusive design and consultation incorporated in City of Newcastle’s Local Centres Upgrade Program
• Inclusion of accessible activities in events at New Year’s Eve celebrations
• Training provided to external event organisers on how to run inclusive events
• Disability awareness staff training to create more accessible content, programs and built environments
• Delivery of new and improved infrastructure in the public domain, including accessible and inclusive playground features
• Facilities improvements, such as the introduction of wedge mats for better seating options at Civic Theatre for wheelchair users and improved access to City Hall via automatic doors
• Improved program planning and inclusive customer service delivery at City of Newcastle facilities including Newcastle Art Gallery, Libraries, Newcastle Museum and Civic Theatre
• Data sharing to assist with better orientation and mobility across the city
• Online map of accessible parking published on City of Newcastle website
• Development of an Inclusive Sports and Cultural Activities Guide

When the stones were set in the arches at South Newcastle Beach, horse and carts filled the streets of Newcastle and beach attire consisted of three-piece suits and ankle length dresses.
Fast forward more than 113 years and the historic structure still stands as one of the oldest European hand-crafted structures on the New South Wales coast.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle has embarked on work to shore up the foundations of the historic beach shelter to ensure the iconic arches are preserved for decades to come.
“The foundations of the stone shelter have deteriorated over time. This was revealed during work on the Bathers Way revitalisation project at South Newcastle Beach, so City of Newcastle has developed a solution to strengthen the structure.
“The stone shelter and its foundations have been surveyed and stabilisation works, that honour the original structure while allowing construction activities to continue safely, are underway.
“This is a fantastic outcome for the City. It’s important we prioritise this historic feature in its existing location so people can continue to enjoy the shelter along Bathers Way, as have countless beachgoers since 1907.
“Significant progress has been made on the Bathers Way revitalisation project at South Newcastle beach since August 2020, with the piling to create a strong foundation and protect the coastline now complete and the majority of the bleachers constructed. The foundations for the skate bowl are in place, with the surrounding skateable surfaces due to be constructed in the coming months.”
Image: Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Hunter Regional Committee of the National Trust Co-chair Mark Metrikas onsite at the Bathers Way revitalisation project at South Newcastle Beach
Hunter Regional Committee of the National Trust Co-chair Mark Metrikas said the stone shelter holds significant heritage value and has been an enduring feature of Newcastle Beach for more than 113 years.
“National Trust is delighted that City of Newcastle is preserving the South Newcastle stone beach shelter by integrating it with the new skatepark and Bathers Way extension.
“We appreciate that City of Newcastle reached out to the National Trust to discuss options to stabilise the shelter when recent excavation revealed some issues with the rubble stone foundations.
“The stone shelter was built in 1907 as part of beach improvement works. In that era, most of the bathing and picnicking took place at South Newcastle.
“The arched stone shelter harks back to the time when promenading was popular, and people wore their Sunday best clothes to be seen near the beach.
“The shelter is the last of several pavilions and shelters in New South Wales.”
The Bathers Way revitalisation project at South Newcastle Beach is part of City of Newcastle’s Coastal Revitalisation Program and is partly funded by a $5 million grant from Round Five of the Resources for Regions program, part of the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Fund.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Government is supporting mining related communities through the Resources for Regions Program with 149 projects totalling $345 million already delivered since 2012.
“Mining makes a significant contribution to the NSW economy, supporting more than 100,000 jobs across the State, and this program helps provide crucial funds to maintain community facilities and roads,” Mr Toole said.
“I’m thrilled to see this project progressing, not only is it helping create new jobs and driving economic growth, but it’s also delivering lifestyle improvements that will enrich the wellbeing of the Newcastle community for generations to come.”
The project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2022 and will feature a shared path from Shortland Esplanade to King Edward Park, improved access to South Newcastle Beach and King Edward Park, new skatepark and bowl, parking, landscaping, lighting and accessibility improvements, new fitness equipment, shade, seating, viewing areas, and a new café/kiosk and accessible amenities.

Audited financial statements for the last twelve months show that the City of Newcastle lifted its infrastructure spend by more than ten percent, to a record $102.4 million, to counter the impact of COVID-19 on the local economy.
The record infrastructure spend, combined with a decision to put more than $10 million away for the future remediation of the long closed Astra Street waste facility meant the City of Newcastle’s operating result from continuing operations was a cash reserves funded deficit of $4.4 million compared with a forecast surplus of $1.6 million.
The deficit with income from grants and contributions for capital purposes, was a cash reserves funded deficit of $32.5 million compared to a budgeted deficit of $22.7 million.
Despite the COVID-19 hit budget, CN remains in a strong financial position on the back of long-term prudent and progressive economic management, with total cash and investment reserves of $366 million, including unrestricted cash reserves of $22.6 million.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle made a conscious choice during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020 to support the community with a $5.5 million Community and Economic Resilience Package and increased capital works budget.
“During COVID-19, Council decided to provide financial relief and support for vulnerable groups and business, and to expand existing services, while increasing investment in projects to stimulate the local economy and support jobs,” Cr Nelmes said.
“This included investing a record $102.4 million across the city through our capital works program in 2020/21 to provide upgraded or new community infrastructure that delivers real benefits for our community in their everyday lives.
“These crucial decisions were only possible due to our strong financial sustainability, a legacy of six consecutive surplus Budgets prior to the pandemic.
“We expected COVID-19 to place further strain on our community and our budget, however as a Council we understand the importance of providing targeted responses and support for those in need and our local economy.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said six years of consecutive budget surpluses had provided Council with the cash reserves to run a stimulus program during the worst of the pandemic.
“It’s been an extraordinary 18 months for the City of Newcastle. Despite the repeated hits from having to close down so many of our income generating services, we were able to avoid laying off staff, cutting community grants or suspending infrastructure projects.
“With the city now almost at 80% fully vaccinated, we can look forward with real optimism to Newcastle bouncing back to a stronger position than before the pandemic struck. For City of Newcastle, it will be a gradual return to profitability given the impact of the recent lockdown. Despite this we have set ourselves the challenge of lifting our infrastructure spend even higher over the coming year to ensure the local economy rebounds as quickly as possible”, he said.
In 2020/21 City of Newcastle also committed an additional $10 million to remediation work at Astra Street which will include final capping and reprofiling of the site, drainage improvements to aid in management of surface water and sediment runoff, followed by revegetation and landscaping.

Green-thumbed residents are being given the opportunity to transform Newcastle’s street verges into flourishing road-side gardens.
The new Street Garden Initiative will be launched by City of Newcastle this summer, providing keen gardeners with the guidelines they need to develop attractive, safe and appropriate green spaces on the city’s verges.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the city’s verges have long been limited to formal street tree plantings and complicated arrangements with footpath, overhead and underground utilities. However, Novocastrians are increasingly looking to this roadside space as a location for new gardens.
“Newcastle is one of only a handful of local government areas across the nation that have tackled this issue to enable our community to assist in greening the city and enhancing our urban forest,” Cr Clausen said.
“Whilst home during COVID, many within our community have taken a new interest in our local parks and their own gardens, and our city has never looked better. Getting outside in the garden has proven health benefits, improves our local biodiversity and helps make our region more resilient to the effects of urban heat island and storms.
“City of Newcastle’s new Street Garden Initiative provides gardeners with clear guidance on what can be grown in their verge, how to go about approaching neighbours, and registration requirements before gardening commences.
“The City has worked through the challenging parts of this equation – such as mitigating impacts to utilities, road users and pedestrians – and the easy-to-follow guidelines ensure that gardening can be undertaken safely on the verge.”
The best-practice suburban street garden program will begin with a 12-month trial to inform the rollout of a long-term initiative, which will add to the health and vitality of street trees planted in conjunction with the street gardens.
Comprehensive guidelines provide clear direction on every aspect of establishing a verge garden, including information on the positioning of gardens to allow for pedestrian access, a setback from the gutter for garbage truck access and to assist people accessing cars.
Appropriate plant species selections including maximum plant height, a standard planter box design for those wishing to use the space to grow food and registration of gardeners to provide workplace health and safety information for those working near the road reserve also form part of the guidelines and application process.
Newcastle gardeners should keep an eye on City of Newcastle’s website for further information, with the Street Garden trial to begin in December 2021.

A sixth man has been charged following an investigation into a series of armed robberies in the Lake Macquarie region.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Bergs to investigate eight armed robberies at licensed clubs and hotels, which occurred between February and May 2019.
Four men – aged 24, 27, 36 and 29 – have been charged by strike force detectives over their involvement and have since faced court.
As part of Strike Force Bergs, an investigation has been conducted into the alleged robbery of a hotel on Lake Road, Argenton, on Monday 6 May 2019, where it is alleged two men entered the premises using keys and assaulted an employee, before allegedly stealing cash, then fleeing on foot.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators arrested a 25-year-old man at an apartment on Hanbury Street, Mayfield, about 9.50am yesterday (Thursday 21 October 2021).
During a subsequent search of the premises, investigators seized methylamphetamine, an extendable baton, and two mobile phones.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with robbery in company, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 22 October 2021).
The other man allegedly involved, a 24-year-old, was arrested and charged in June and remains before the courts.