Category: Newcastle News

Many of City of Newcastle’s publicly facing facilities will be closed to the public in line with the lockdown announced by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for areas of the Hunter, including the Newcastle local government area.
The following City of Newcastle facilities are closed:

• Blackbutt Reserve (other than bush trails for essential exercise)
• City of Newcastle libraries including the return chutes
• City Administration Centre at 12 Stewart Avenue including the customer service centre and the digital library
• City Hall
• Civic Theatre
• Community centres and halls
• Fort Scratchley
• Newcastle Art Gallery
• Newcastle Museum
• Tighes Hill Animal Facility
• Visitor Information Centre

Essential services including kerbside waste collection and patrols of beaches, ocean baths and public areas by City of Newcastle lifeguards and rangers will continue, while Beresfield Childcare Centre will remain open.
City of Newcastle staff will continue to undertake essential construction and maintenance services in a COVID-19 safe manner and in accordance with relevant Public Health Orders.
Summerhill Waste Management Centre is open to all customers including domestic and commercial, and for kerbside collections in line with NSW Government advice. Customers will be required to check-in, wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing. Cashless payments are preferred. If you have a bulk waste self-haul voucher with an expiry date between 5 August and 10 September 2021, its expiry will automatically be extended by two months to give you sufficient time to use your voucher.
Swimming centres remain closed across Newcastle in line with the seasonal schedule.
City of Newcastle will continue to provide customer service via telephone and online web chat between 8.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
We encourage our community to follow the Public Health Order and the Stay at Home restrictions.
For information regarding the lockdown or Public Health Orders visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19
Information regarding individuals or businesses who are or may be contravening the current NSW Health Order should be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

City of Newcastle will soon go to tender to remediate a former landfill site at Shortland where much of the debris from the Newcastle earthquake was buried.
The work will be brought forward following preliminary investigations that show the scale of work will be significantly more complex and costly than previously expected.
The former Astra Street landfill opened in 1974, taking waste from across the Hunter until it was closed in 1995.
Acting Director Infrastructure and Property Joanne Rigby said City of Newcastle has been working with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on a plan to remediate the site and protect the nearby RAMSAR-listed Hunter Wetlands.
“City of Newcastle is committed to ensuring historic sites like Astra Street Shortland are not forgotten and we work closely with the EPA to ensure they’re adhering to modern environmental management standards,” Ms Rigby said.
“We have completed our preliminary investigations and finalised two detailed designs, which will improve the 20-year-old capping and drainage on the 37-hectare site.”
Ms Rigby said the detailed designs had allowed City of Newcastle to update their project estimates, with cost efficiencies and innovative methodologies to be explored where possible during the tender process.
“Following further assessments of the site, the cost of the remediation work is expected to significantly increase on initial estimates, which will need to be factored into the 2021 Budget,” Ms Rigby said.
“City of Newcastle will invite tenders from five companies identified during an expression of interest process to carry out the construction of these enhanced environmental safeguards, with work expected to get underway next year.
“This will include the final capping and reprofiling of the site, drainage improvements to aid in management of surface water and sediment runoff, followed by revegetation and landscaping.
“These works will allow City of Newcastle to help protect and maintain the local environment well into the future, safeguarding the water quality of surrounding wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, increasing biodiversity values and promoting long-term native vegetation growth.”

In line with NSW Government advice Summerhill Waste Management Centre has now reopened to all customers.
During the stay at home orders which have been in place across New South Wales since early-August, Summerhill Waste Management Centre has continued to operate for commercial purposes and kerbside collections, and from today domestic customers can visit the facility to dispose of waste and recyclables.
Where possible, we encourage you to continue to stay home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and limit your use of our facility to essential purposes only.
COVIDSafe measures will remain in place and customers visiting the facility will be required to check-in, wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing. Cashless payments are preferred.
Self-haul vouchers with an expiry date of 5 August 2021 or later will automatically be extended by two months to give customers sufficient time to use their voucher.
For more information on City of Newcastle’s waste services visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/summerhill

Newcastle’s network of active transport options continues to grow, with City of Newcastle finalising work on the Hunter Street Trial Cycleway project.
The cycleway, which stretches between National Park Street and Worth Place, runs on both sides of Hunter Street, separated from the road and traffic.

City of Newcastle received $525,000 as part of the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces program to deliver the cycleway and trial a range of safety measures.
The project trials a reduction to one travel lane on each side of the road to improve pedestrian safety and allow for parking to be retained, a reduction in the speed limit to 40 km/h, and safe buffer zones with plastic bollards.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the community has been clear in stating it would like to see more dedicated bike lanes throughout the city.
“Cycling is a genuine transport option for families, commuters and recreational users, which is why expansion and improvement of the cycleway network is essential and stands as one of the city’s Priority Projects,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Cycling on Hunter Street could be considered daunting for less confident riders. The project provides cyclists more room and safety.
“It’s important our cycleways and shared paths cater to all riding ability and this project achieves that. We hope it encourages more people to consider swapping their car for their bike when travelling around the city.”
Councillor John Mackenzie said cycling around the city is becoming increasingly popular, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During lockdown we have seen a massive increase in people dusting off their bikes and enjoying cycling. We know the main impediment to cycling is safety, and separated cycleways like this one on Hunter Street provide the best safety and amenity for new riders,” Councillor Mackenzie said.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said he was glad to see new cycleway infrastructure in Newcastle.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for more public spaces – and easy, safe access to it,” Mr Stokes said.
“Whether it’s new cycle lanes, pedestrian-only streets or wider footpaths, we’re committed to working with councils and communities to fund projects that can make life better for everyone – both now and once the pandemic is over.”
President of the Newcastle Cycleways Movement Sam Reich said he was supportive of the project and the measures being put in place.
“We’re extremely pleased with the concept of the Hunter Street Trial Cycleway as global experience has shown that one-way, physically-separated lanes between the parking zone and the curb are the safest on-road infrastructure for bike riders, and provide greater safety and amenity for pedestrians on the footpath as well,” Mr Reich said
“We have been advocating for this style of bike commuter safety infrastructure in the region for decades, and it’s gratifying that the concepts are now being seriously trialled.”
Delivery of the Hunter Street cycleway will soon be followed by completion of the first stage of the City Centre to Merewether Cycleway, which is a 1.1-kilometre shared path along Watkins Street, between Glebe Road and Merewether Beach.
All aspects of the trial will be considered as options for inclusion in the City Centre Revitalisation West End Stage Two development, which is currently in the detailed design phase.
To find out more information visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/cycleways

A man has been charged as part of investigations into several armed robberies in the Lake Macquarie area earlier this year.
Strike Force Woonooka was established by Lake Macquarie detectives to investigate five armed robberies at various service stations in the local area, which occurred between Thursday 10 June 2021 and Saturday 31 July 2021.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a property on Thompson Street, Belmont South, about 12.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 September 2021), where they arrested a 30-year-old man.
During the search, police seized a mobile phone and several kitchen knives.
The man was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, and armed with intent commit indictable offence.
Police will allege in court the man was involved in armed robberies that occurred at a service station on Main Road in Cardiff on Thursday 10 June 2021 and Friday 9 July 2021, a service station on Main Road in Edgeworth on Saturday 12 June 2021, a service station on Collier Street in Redhead on Thursday 22 July 2021, and a service station on Warners Bay Road in Warners Bay on Saturday 31 July 2021.
He was refused bail to appear in Belmont Local Court today (Friday 10 September 2021).
A 28-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were previously arrested and charged over their alleged roles in the robberies. They remain before the courts.
Investigations under Strike Force Woonooka are continuing.

A man will face court tomorrow following a barricade incident in the Hunter Region.
About 6.30am today (Friday 10 September 2021), officers from Newcastle City Police District responded to reports of a domestic-related assault at a unit on Fowler Street, Hamilton.
A 24-year-old woman met with officers outside the unit and advised that a man known to her had allegedly entered the unit via an opened door about 3am.
Police were told the man assaulted the woman using a crowbar and she suffered minor injuries.
She advised police a female relative, aged 22, and two young children were still inside the home.
It will be alleged that the man was in possession of a crowbar and knife, and threatened police, refusing to allow entry.
Specialist officers, including Police Negotiators, also attended the scene.
About 9am, the younger woman and the two children walked out of the unit uninjured.
About 10am, the man walked out of the unit and was arrested.
The 26-year-old man was taken by NSW Ambulance paramedics to John Hunter Hospital for assessment.
After being assessed the man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic), assault occasioning actual bodily harm, use etc weapon to prevent lawful detention etc, aggravated break and with intent armed.
He has been bail refused to appear tomorrow (Saturday 11 September 2021) at Newcastle Local Court.

City of Newcastle has provided $110,000 towards the purchase of food packages and toiletries, as well as crisis accommodation, counselling and web connectivity to community groups responding to the current lockdown of the city.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the funding was part of an expanded Community and Economic Resilience Package (CERP) designed to combat the economic and social impacts of the current lockdown.

“City of Newcastle has an important role in coordinating local services and providing targeted support,” Cr Nelmes said.
“When the pandemic was declared last year City of Newcastle was quick to respond to the needs of our community, providing rapid financial support to frontline services struggling to cope with the sudden surge in demand.
“With the current Delta outbreak placing added strain on community members and the services that support them, City of Newcastle has expanded this response, dispersing more than $110,000 amongst 15 community organisations.
“Our Rapid Response Grants will give these organisations the resources they need to address critical challenges for some of our most vulnerable residents as we continue to work together to stay safe and keep our community strong.”
The grants will allow existing service providers to supply nutritious food and vouchers for essential needs, improve access to community services, address issues such as social isolation, and increase access to affordable internet, digital technology and equipment to improve participation in education and access to essential services.
Erin Beard from the Family Support Network said the funding would allow them to help more families by providing food, toiletries and baby items, as well as school supplies to help children and young people improve their home learning experience.
“We are all generally feeling the stress of lockdown but for families who are already under duress, these COVID times add an extra load. This grant from City of Newcastle has meant we can relieve some of that stress,” Ms Beard said.
“With the impact of COVID-19 we have changed the way we are providing services and with more online groups and facetime calls, we are aware of the burden of this on families who need to use their data and internet for this support. For children that are doing online learning as part of home schooling, data usage can be an additional cost. This grant means we can support families in a practical way, by covering some of the associated costs.
“We can also provide basic necessities for babies and children, meet some of their school needs and relieve some of the burden of the cost of grocery items.”
Recipients of City of Newcastle’s Rapid Response Grants:

• ACON – emergency food and personal care relief packs
• Awabakal Ltd – culturally tailored communication, outreach and support resources and materials
• Catholic Care Social Services – emergency relief packs and casework support
• Community Disability Alliance Hunter – peer-led social support and public health information package
• Family Support Newcastle – mother and baby items, web connectivity resources and food and toiletry packages
• Got Your Back Sista – emergency food relief and counselling vouchers
• Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church Pantry – hampers with food, essential items and toiletries
• Hunter Multicultural Communities – welfare packs and multilingual newsletter production
• Hope Street Wallsend and Mayfield – food preparation and emergency relief packages
• Jesmond and Maryland Neighbourhood Centre – small equipment IT purchases for phone and web connectivity
• LIVEFree Project Hamilton South – scaling up of existing service to meet demand for welfare checks
• Newcastle Beacon – emergency relief food and pharmacy packages
• NOVA for Women – emergency accommodation funding and small equipment purchases for phone and web connectivity
• REACH Homeless Services – food and hygiene packs
• SOUL Café – short term staffing costs for mental health clinician and street manager