Category: Newcastle News

Newcastle households are being given the opportunity to take up home composting and reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill.
Residents will be offered a 75% discount off the recommended retail price as well as free shipping of selected composting, worm farming and bokashi fermenting products.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the program will be available to the public from 5 June, which is World Environment Day. This year’s theme is ecosystem restoration, focussing on resetting our relationship with nature, and home composting is a great way to do this.
“In Newcastle, around 30% of the waste in our red-lidded bins is organic and food waste. Per household we throw away an average of 135kg of food waste each year and home composting is one way we can combat this,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Composting and worm farming are both fantastic ways to recycle scraps from the kitchen while providing a rich fertiliser for the garden.
“Households with no garden, or limited space, can still get involved by choosing the compact bokashi bin, which ferments a large range of food scraps including meat, citrus and dairy, so there’s a way for everyone in the community to get involved.
“An important impact of this program will be less food waste to landfill. A recent survey of more than 500 Newcastle residents found 98% felt it was important to divert waste from landfill.
“To support this program, Newcastle Libraries will be hosting a four-part podcast series and short video series, which will help provide residents with knowledge and skills for successful home composting.”
Newcastle Local Government Area residents will be able to purchase a home composting system from the Compost Revolution website at the subsidised price and it will be delivered to their door free of charge.
Before making their purchase, residents will need to complete a simple training program either online or in person to ensure they choose the right home composting program for their household and learn how to compost successfully.
The discounted products available are:

• Dirt Vader compost bin plus compost revolver;
• The Farm worm farm plus 1,000 worms; and
• Urban Composter bokashi bin + 1L enzyme refill + scrap smasher.

“Composting, worm farming, and bokashi fermentation are positively exploding as more people discover how easy it is to make a big difference for the environment while creating their own soil and fertiliser at home,” David Gravina, CEO of the Compost Revolution, said.
“Composting is something all of us can do to turn a problem into a valuable resource while doing our bit for the planet.”
This initiative is part of a broader organics recycling plan for the City of Newcastle, which includes the construction of a commercial grade organics recycling facility at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Once the facility is commissioned, it will allow food waste to be collected with vegetation in the organics bins. Ultimately, this new facility will produce a quality compost product from kerbside organics, which can be used as a replacement for inorganic fertilisers.
The home composting program will be launched on 5 June, with products available to purchase online. Product numbers are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/foodwaste
This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority, Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, which is part funded from the waste levy.
Face-to-face home composting workshops

• Monday 28 June: 10am – 12pm at Stockton Senior Citizen Hall
• Saturday 10 July: 2pm – 4pm at Hamilton South Estate Centre Care Hall
• Monday 6 September: 2pm – 4pm at Hunter Multicultural Communities Waratah
• Saturday 16 October: 2pm – 4pm at Wallsend Library

Communities across the state will share in $250 million worth of funding to create a legacy of green and accessible public spaces as part of a program that is the first of its kind in NSW.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding supported 60 successful council proposals for more than 100 projects as part of the NSW Government’s inaugural Public Spaces Legacy Program.
“This pandemic has reminded us of the immense value we all place on our public spaces – our parks, streets, plazas, cycleways, foreshores, bushland and walking trails,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This program and the funding behind it will not only lead to better public spaces, but the work to construct them will boost local economies through the creation of more jobs.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the funding being delivered to councils was reliant on them meeting agreed targets to speed up local development applications.
“This program is the first of its kind in NSW and demonstrates state and local government working together to create a legacy of beautiful public spaces that communities, for decades, can be proud of,” Mr Stokes said.
“In exchange for legacy funding, councils participating in the program need to speed up their assessment times. They have until June 30 to keep hitting their targets but, so far, the program has seen a 20 per cent improvement.
“It’s been great to see the unclogging of the planning system as part of this program – 42 of 53 planning proposals that had been stuck in the planning system for more than four years have been resolved and 161 of 168 regionally significant development applications have been cleared.”
This innovative program will see legacy projects delivered across NSW including:

• Albury: More than two hectares of public space adjacent to the Murray River will be upgraded with a boardwalk and the construction of a shared zone market area to provide for up to 60 market stalls;
• Bankstown: Paul Keating Park precinct will be rejuvenated with an inclusive playspace in the heart of the CBD, plus more tree coverage and seating;

 

• Georges River: A car park will be converted into permanent green, public space, including smart furniture, more trees and shade.

 

• St Leonards: the new St Leonards Plaza will create a green space in the heart of the CBD to benefit local residents and workers with an accessible, active and vibrant public space;
• Double Bay: A road will be closed to create a public plaza in Knox Street, including seating and gathering areas, landscaping, lighting and public art elements;

Mr Stokes said 28 councils in Greater Sydney and 32 councils in regional NSW took part in the program.
“We’re offering funding from $2 million to $5.5 million for projects from Albury to Byron and from Dubbo to Sydney, including parklands, trails, foreshore and riverfront precincts, plazas and street improvements,” he said.
Councils will be provided with funding for project planning and design and will have until 30 June 2021 to demonstrate they have met DA assessment performance improvements to lock in their full allocation of funding ahead of construction starting from August.
For more information, visit:
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/Planning-reforms/NSW-Public-Spaces-Legacy-Program

When an 8-year-old girl was swept on her body board out of Newcastle’s Canoe Pool, onto the rocks and into the ocean during 14-foot dangerous swell in January, City of Newcastle lifeguard Mick Body sprang into action.
He moved quickly along the rock shelf and dived into the treacherous surf conditions, rescuing the young girl who was struggling to stay above the rough water. Mick, joined by another lifeguard (Luke Kelly), held onto her and navigated the large swell to return her to the safety of shore and her frantic family.

It is this display of courage, professionalism and experience that has earned the City of Newcastle Lifeguard an Australian Professional Ocean (APOLA) Lifeguard Association Meritorious Service Award, the highest accolade in the profession.
Mick, who has worked as a professional lifeguard for almost 20 years said he was honoured to receive the National Award and to be recognised for doing a job he loves and is passionate about.
“It was a surprise, but definitely an honour to be recognised with this award,” Mr Body said.
“During large swells waves engulf the Canoe Pool and then bounce off the side of the ocean baths creating a strong side wash which catches people by surprise. I’m pleased our rescue that day avoided an almost certain drowning.
“As lifeguards we have the best office in the world. Every day is new and that is exciting. The beauty of working on the beach is that we are ambassadors for our city and meet people from all over who come here to enjoy themselves.”
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes praised Mick’s quick-thinking and lifesaving action.
“Our lifeguards provide an absolutely invaluable service to our community and regularly go beyond the call of duty to keep our community safe,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Without Mick’s bravery, advanced skills and knowledge of the beach, the outcome would have certainly been a tragic one.
“I’m proud that this incredible effort has been acknowledged on a national stage and I thank all of our lifeguards for their daily acts of kindness, bravery and courage.
“Each surf season City of Newcastle lifeguards save on average 100 lives and perform more than 15,000 preventative actions as more than one million people visit local beaches.
“Lifeguards are extremely proactive when it comes to taking preventative measures. This can include asking surfers to surf outside the flagged area to urging beach goers to swim between the red and yellow flags instead of near dangerous rips.
“When prevention fails, it can often take just split seconds for swimmers to find trouble and the same time for lifeguards to act.”
City of Newcastle has also been recognised by APOLA for continuing to deliver its Water Safety Education Program to local young people and the City’s multicultural community during COVID. The program is presented by City Newcastle’s lifeguards and teaches fundamental water safety skills and preventative measures.
The face-to-face program, which has run for 52 years, targets primary school students and works with the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre and University of Newcastle Language Centre.
By developing an adapted COVID-safe program, City of Newcastle Lifeguards were still able to virtually reach 14,000 primary students in the Newcastle ensuring the community was able to receive vital information that may prevent drownings.

A safer, more attractive local centre is on its way for Shortland, with City of Newcastle endorsing the Shortland Local Centre Public Domain and Traffic Plan at the Ordinary Council meeting this week.
The upgrade will improve safety on Sandgate Road with a new pedestrian refuge and reduced driver speeds via the installation of road cushions and implementation of a 40km/hr High Pedestrian Activity Area.
Heavy vehicle traffic will also be reduced in the area, with vehicles weighing over 10 tonnes being redirected to the Newcastle Inner City Bypass. Buses and heavy vehicles with business destinations within Shortland suburb will be unaffected.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that pedestrian safety in Shortland is a key priority.
“During our earlier rounds of engagement with the community we heard that pedestrian safety at Sandgate Road was a significant concern,” Cr Nelmes said.
“These upgrades are designed to address the community’s concerns and also improve the experience for shoppers and visitors with new footpaths and street furniture also being delivered.”
Ward Four Councillor Jason Dunn affirmed the importance of these upgrades to the local community.
“It was pleasing to see so many community members have their say on the proposed changes, and I’m looking forward to seeing the upgrade be delivered as a result of the community’s feedback,” Councillor Dunn said.
Owner of Shortland’s My Community Pharmacy John Jones said the upgrade is fantastic for Shortland locals.
“It’s great to see Shortland being included in the upgrades being delivered across Newcastle,” Mr Jones said.
“The people of Shortland love supporting their local businesses so it’s a positive that it will be safer to get here with improved accessibility, making it a space we can all be really proud of.
Construction of the upgrades is scheduled to commence in the coming months.
The City has engaged a local artist to work with the community to develop a theme for a new mural installation. The mural project will be delivered in conjunction with construction and the subsequent opening of the upgraded local centre.

A safer, more attractive local centre is on its way for Shortland, with City of Newcastle endorsing the Shortland Local Centre Public Domain and Traffic Plan at the Ordinary Council meeting this week.
The upgrade will improve safety on Sandgate Road with a new pedestrian refuge and reduced driver speeds via the installation of road cushions and implementation of a 40km/hr High Pedestrian Activity Area.
Heavy vehicle traffic will also be reduced in the area, with vehicles weighing over 10 tonnes being redirected to the Newcastle Inner City Bypass. Buses and heavy vehicles with business destinations within Shortland suburb will be unaffected.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that pedestrian safety in Shortland is a key priority.
“During our earlier rounds of engagement with the community we heard that pedestrian safety at Sandgate Road was a significant concern,” Cr Nelmes said.
“These upgrades are designed to address the community’s concerns and also improve the experience for shoppers and visitors with new footpaths and street furniture also being delivered.”
Ward Four Councillor Jason Dunn affirmed the importance of these upgrades to the local community.
“It was pleasing to see so many community members have their say on the proposed changes, and I’m looking forward to seeing the upgrade be delivered as a result of the community’s feedback,” Councillor Dunn said.
Owner of Shortland’s My Community Pharmacy John Jones said the upgrade is fantastic for Shortland locals.
“It’s great to see Shortland being included in the upgrades being delivered across Newcastle,” Mr Jones said.
“The people of Shortland love supporting their local businesses so it’s a positive that it will be safer to get here with improved accessibility, making it a space we can all be really proud of.
Construction of the upgrades is scheduled to commence in the coming months.
The City has engaged a local artist to work with the community to develop a theme for a new mural installation. The mural project will be delivered in conjunction with construction and the subsequent opening of the upgraded local centre.

Belmont Police Station will become the first station within the Lake Macquarie Police District to raise the Aboriginal Flag on site today (Monday 31 May 2021).
A ceremony will commemorate the inaugural raising of the Aboriginal Flag and highlight the NSWPF ongoing commitment to foster positive relationships between police and the Aboriginal community.
The local police and community will mark the occasion with a traditional Welcome to Country and saltwater blessing, as well as performances from local school choir and dance groups in the forecourt of Belmont police station.
NSW Police has set a target to fly the Aboriginal flag in all regional NSW Police Districts. There are currently 18 police stations across NSW that permanently fly the Aboriginal flag including Armidale, Albury, Batemans Bay, Broken Hill, Condobolin, Deniliquin, Dubbo, Gosford, Griffith, Gunnedah, Moree, Nowra, Oak Flats, Tweed Heads, Wilcannia, Raymond Terrace, Maitland and Nelson Bay.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has predicted high ocean swell for the Newcastle’s coastline between Friday 28 May and Monday 31 May. Of concern is the three high tides over this swell event at 2.1 metres on Friday, 2 metres on Saturday and 1.9 metres on Sunday. BOM does not expect this to be a high rainfall event.

As a result, Stockton Beach will be closed from Friday 28 May and Newcastle’s beaches south of the harbour will be monitored and closures will be put in place if necessary.

City of Newcastle is monitoring its facilities and assets along the Newcastle coastline including areas in Stockton which may be impacted by coastal erosion. Following the weekend’s swell event and when safe, the City will inspect all beaches and undertake any repairs required prior to opening the beaches again.
The community is encouraged to stay safe around Newcastle’s coastline, follow the direction of signage and abide by beach and road closures.
To keep up to date with the weather, visit bom.gov.au

Police are appealing for dashcam footage as they continue to investigate a multi-vehicle crash, which left a man in a critical condition, near Lake Macquarie earlier today.
About 6.45am (Thursday 27 May 2021), emergency services were called to the northbound lanes of the M1 Motorway at Cooranbong, about five kilometres north of the Mandalong Road exit, following reports of a four-car crash.
The driver of a black Mitsubishi utility, a 72-year-old man, was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital and remains in a critical condition.
The 50-year-old male driver of a black LDV utility and the driver of a white Mitsubishi utility towing a dual axle, a 32-year-old man, were both uninjured and taken to Belmont Hospital for mandatory testing.
The driver of a white Mitsubishi 4WD, a 57-year-old man, was outside his vehicle at the time. He sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash.
Officers from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash – or has dashcam footage – to contact the Crash Investigation Unit on 02 4929 0744 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Works of art never before seen outside of the Torres Strait will be displayed in Newcastle as part of a landmark exhibition focusing on the artistic traditions of the Torres Strait Islander culture.
The Torres Strait Island flag was raised at City Hall today for the first time in the building’s 92-year history to coincide with the Newcastle Art Gallery exhibition. It will be flown at City Hall permanently as a mark of respect for the local Torres Strait community.

Four years in the making, WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait was developed by Newcastle Art Gallery in collaboration with highly awarded artist and curator Brian Robinson.
It will include over 130 works of art drawn from the Gallery’s collection, as well as newly created pieces and key loans from, local, state and national institutions, artists and private collections.
Several pieces have not been seen outside of the Torres Strait, including new works from Badhulgaw Kuthinaw Mudh (Badu Art Centre), Ngalmun Lagau Minaral Arts (Moa Arts) and Erub Erwer Meta (Erub Arts).
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the free exhibition provided an important opportunity to strengthen ties with local Torres Strait Islanders and showcase their traditions and customs to the wider community.
The exhibition title, WARWAR, is a traditional Eastern Island word in the Meriam Mer language, which translates into English as ‘marked with a pattern’.
“WARWAR is a landmark event for Newcastle Art Gallery and the Hunter region, representing the first time a Torres Strait Islander exhibition of this calibre and size has been seen outside of a major city in Australia,” Cr Nelmes said.
“It provides an important opportunity for City of Newcastle to engage with our large Torres Strait Islander community, some who have never seen these culturally significant works of art before, or seen their culture celebrated in such a significant way.
“To strengthen these ties further, we raised the Torres Strait Island flag at City Hall for the first time in a special ceremony today in front of members of the local Torres Strait community. It will remain there permanently, even once the exhibition ends.”
Newcastle-based artist Toby Cedar, who won the 2020 CAIF Ports North Sculpture Award, and teaches dance and culture locally, said the exhibition was an important acknowledgement of Torres Strait Island culture.
“It is extremely special to me to be a part of this exhibition as it will be showcasing our rich Torres Strait Islander art and culture,” Mr Cedar said.
“For many people, the exhibition will be the first time they have learnt anything about the Torres Strait Islands and our People, which is very important to me. The way Brian has curated the exhibition in separate stages explains our history and stories very well.
“It is wonderful that all of the local and surrounding Torres Strait Islander communities will have access to view many of the artifacts from our past here right in NSW, with many of the pieces being shown for the first time.
“I will also be very proud to see our Torres Strait Island flag flown at City Hall for the first time with my family as it makes me feel my people are being included and acknowledged alongside the other flags that are already flown there.”
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the Gallery had been actively acquiring works of art from Torres Strait Islander artists since 2017, many of which will be on display for the first time. Works of art on loan from major Australian institutions that have also never been publicly displayed before make the exhibition an incredible opportunity for the community to experience and gain a new appreciation and understanding of the culture here in Newcastle.
“WARWAR features a diverse range of works of art that showcase the evolution and strength of Torres Strait Islander tradition and society through arts practitioners from the 19th century and the emergence of the contemporary art traditions of today,” Ms Morton said.
“It explores issues of cultural maintenance, Christianity, language and the impact of globalisation on the physical environment of the Torres Strait Islands, which are located in the narrow stretch of water between the land masses of Zai Dagam Daudai (Australia) in the south and Naigai Dagam Daudai (Papua New Guinea) in the north.”
Exhibiting artists include Joseph Au, Grace Lilian Lee, Glen Mackie, Billy Missi, Laurie Nona, Brian Robinson, Dr Ken Thaiday and Alick Tipoti.
Guest curator Brian Robinson said Warwar: The Art of Torres Strait is an important part of the unique Ailan Kustom (island customs) from which wisdom, strength and creativity is drawn from.
“It is through visual art, dance, and song that ancestral stories and legends are maintained and passed on to the younger generation, and it is important that exhibitions such as this are supported to assist in this preservation,” Mr Robinson said.
“Newcastle Art Gallery have played a pivotal role in the co-curation of this unique exhibition, which contributes to the development, enhancement and understanding of this amazing indigenous culture.
“For the local Torres Strait Island communities, the exhibition is a way of reconnecting back to the islands; back to family and friends; back to a rich and vibrant history defined by amazing customs imbued with ceremonies and rituals that have endured for thousands of years.”
WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait will run from 29 May – 22 August 2021 at Newcastle Art Gallery and has been specifically timed to coincide with significant dates including Mabo Day, Reconciliation Week, ‘Coming of the Light’ and NAIDOC Week.
Newcastle Art Gallery will program bespoke events on each significant date in collaboration with local Torres Strait Island artists and performers, while a Curator and Artist Talk will be held on Saturday 3 July featuring exhibition guest curator Brian Robinson and local artist Toby Cedar in conversation with Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton.