Category: Newcastle News

Supercars will return to the city in 2022 when Newcastle hosts the season opener of the Repco Supercars Championship series.
The major motorsport event will be back on the Newcastle street circuit after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, shifting from its previous position as the final race of the series to become the much-anticipated season opener.
The Newcastle 500 will also mark the start of what is expected to be a fierce racing rivalry between the Chevrolet Camaro and a new-look Ford Mustang, which will be adapted to suit a new ‘Gen3’ control chassis.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the return of the biggest event on Newcastle’s annual calendar, which provides a multi-million fiscal injection into the local economy and helps put the city on the world stage.
“The Newcastle 500 has been shown through independent research to benefit Newcastle’s economy by more than $30 million over the three-day event, contributing to up to 124 full-time jobs,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As part of the Supercars Australia Championship series, the Newcastle 500 also brings widespread exposure for our city. The 2019 event weekend recorded 344 media stories, reaching a domestic audience of more than 14 million people, with an estimated value of over $2 million.
“Our wider community also recognises the benefits of hosting such a landmark event, with 81 per cent of respondents previously indicating in a Hunter Research Foundation Centre survey that they believe Newcastle and the region benefit from hosting the Supercars Newcastle 500.
“We look forward to welcoming Supercars and their fans back to Newcastle in 2022.”
While the dates for the event are still to be finalised, it is expected to take place in early March 2022. As a result of the new timing, no road closures will take place prior to February 2022. City of Newcastle has also stipulated there will be a shortened timeframe for the dismantling and removal of event-related structures and equipment.
Cr Nelmes said the new timing of the Newcastle 500 was a boon for the city’s major events calendar.
“Moving the Newcastle 500 from November/December to March will diversify our major events calendar, drawing new visitors to the city in autumn while freeing up the CBD during the busy Christmas shopping period,” she said.
“The return of the Newcastle 500 cements our city’s reputation as a destination known for hosting major Australian and international events.
“No city anywhere in Australia offers what Newcastle does in terms of providing stunning aerial pictures of some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches. The Newcastle 500 street circuit traces both the City’s coastline as well as its working harbour.
“In recent years the shots of Supercars racing in the foreground while our working harbour operates in the background are images that are embedded into the minds of tens of millions of motor racing fans around the world.”
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the five-year agreement to host the Newcastle 500 comes to an end next year.
“The City has varied its agreements with Supercars Australia and the NSW Government to host the 2022 event, with discussions around a longer-term arrangement to be finalised mid 2022,” Mr Bath said.
“As part of the agreement, Supercars has committed to providing a locally based community engagement manager for the event.
“City of Newcastle’s commercial terms with Destination NSW remain unchanged.”

A motorcyclist has died following a crash in the Lake Macquarie District earlier today.
About 2.35pm (Thursday 3 December 2020), emergency services were called to Caves Beach Road, Caves Beach, after reports a motorcycle had left the road and hit a fence after colliding with a turning vehicle.
The rider, believed to be an 18-year-old man, was treated by Ambulance paramedics, however he died at the scene.
The female driver of a Ford Territory wagon involved in the crash was taken to Belmont Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police Distrct have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash-cam footage or CCTV footage which might assist police with their investigation is asked to call Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are at the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Lake Macquarie.
About 2.35pm today (Thursday 3 December 2020), emergency services were called to Caves Beach Road, Caves Beach, after reports a motorcycle had left the road and hit a fence.
The rider died at the scene.
Local traffic diversions are in place, as police commence inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
No further information is available at this stage.

Police are investigating an aggravated break and enter at a Newcastle home overnight.
About 3.45am (Thursday 3 December 2020), officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to a home on Moore Street, Birmingham Gardens, after reports the home had been ransacked.
Police have been told a 20-year-old male resident was asleep in his room when he was woken by a man armed with a knife.
The armed man threatened him before taking several items from the room.
The man left through a back door.
It’s believed a mobile phone, a wallet and a silver Nissan Pulsar with NSW registration plates DAT 46B were taken.
Police established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation into the incident.
The man is described as being aged in his mid to late-20s, with a medium build and an olive complexion. He was last seen wearing dark clothing and a cap.
As police continue their inquiries, police are urging anyone in the nearby area who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of surrounding streets or who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 3.30am and 4.30am today (Thursday 3 December 2020) to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Detectives have charged a woman over alleged fraud relating to bushfire support recovery grants.
Strike Force Roche was established in April 2020 by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.
It’s alleged that between April and August 2020, a 27-year-old woman fraudulently applied for four Bushfire and COVID-19 Government Grants.
The woman received almost $21,000 in grants.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested the woman at Belmont Police Station about 3pm today (Wednesday 2 December 2020).
The Warners Bay woman was charged with two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and two counts of attempt dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
She was given conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 20 January 2021.

Two men have been charged with drug offences after officers dismantled a clandestine lab in the Hunter.
Last month, officers attached to the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation into the alleged manufacture and supply of methylamphetamine in the Maitland area.
Following extensive inquiries, Port Stephens-Hunter Police – assisted by officers from the Northern Region Operational Support Group – executed a crime scene warrant at a home on Hunter Street, Maitland, at 2.30pm on Tuesday (1 December 2020).
Police located a clandestine laboratory at the rear of the property, including equipment and chemicals consistent with the supply and manufacture of prohibited drugs.
Officers from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearm Squad Chemical Operations Unit attended to dismantle the lab and continued yesterday (Wednesday 2 December 2020).
Other items seized during the warrant include liquid believed to be a precursor for the manufacture of prohibited drugs, an electronic stun device, two pistols, a rifle scope, and a set of nunchucks.
Two men – aged 47 and 39 – were arrested at the home and taken to Maitland Police Station.
Both men were charged with possess precursor intend to use in manufacture/production, supply large commercial quantity prohibited drug and possess unauthorised pistol.
They were refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 2 December 2020), where they were formally bail refused to reappear at the same court on Thursday 21 January 2021.

Novocastrians can soak in the grandeur of City Hall’s grand Concert Hall while being entertained by local talent performing a range of opera, jazz, and classical repertoire, all in the space of their lunch break.
City of Newcastle will host the City Hall Concert Series where music lovers can enjoy the unique opportunity to see world class artists live on stage in a string of free and ticketed shows throughout December.

In the main attraction of the series,multi-award-winning Teddy Tahu Rhodes will be joined by internationally acclaimed flautist Jane Rutter on Saturday 5 December for a sublime concert of love and romance where audiences will be swept away with the passion of Italian opera.
Tahu Rhodes is Australia’s favourite leading man of the operatic and concert stage, dazzling audiences with his extraordinary voice and presence. The pair will unite their musical genius to raise people’s spirits and pull at heartstrings with some of the world’s greatest love songs.
Today saw the first of four free lunchtime concerts in December with Hunter Opera taking the stage with Iranian born tenor Sam Elmi performing alongside Catherine Sheng Cooper (Violin) and Mercia Buck (piano).
Councillor Carol Duncan said the concert series invites the community to experience City Hall in all its glory and that midday performances hark back to an earlier time in Newcastle.
“Our city’s historic civic building is a stunning setting for musical performance. Lunchtime performances were held in City Hall in the 1920s so it’s special that contemporary audiences continue to embrace such a timeless pastime.
“By hosting free concerts that can be enjoyed by people during their lunch break, we are making City Hall and music culture accessible to all.
“I encourage people to make the most the opportunity to see world renowned acts in one of the City’s most iconic venues.”
The Wandering Hearts concert featuring acclaimed soprano, Eleanor Lyons, and her conductor and pianist husband, Vladimir Fanshil scheduled in November has been postponed until 10 March.
Love songs and Lullabies – Saturday 5 December, 7pm Tickets on sale now 
Brilliant bass baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes and internationally acclaimed flautist Jane Rutter will unite for a sublime concert of love and romance.
FREE LUNCH TIME CONCERTS
Damian Wright – Thursday, 10 December 12.30pm
Heather Price – Soulful Sounds – Wednesday, 16 December 12.30pm
Terence Koo – Jazz Musician Wednesday, 23 December 12.30pm

A new public space, inspired by Rome’s Spanish Steps, is proposed as part of the redevelopment of Hunter Street Mall and Iris Capital’s East End and in the process create a stunning view corridor of Christ Church Cathedral from Newcastle foreshore.
The ‘Stairway to Heaven’ concept, first developed fourteen years ago by a group of prominent Novocastrian architects, proposes to link Christ Church Cathedral to the Harbour via a grand staircase.
The plan seeks to open-up connections and view lines from Newcastle foreshore and the Hunter Street Mall to Christ Church Cathedral, aligning with long held strategic objectives of the City of Newcastle and the Revitalising Newcastle program to connect the city to the waterfront.
City of Newcastle proposes to demolish the 59-year old Mall Car Park, which closed on 20 April 2020 due to its poor structural condition, to make way for the project.
CEO Jeremy Bath said the proposed demolition of the Mall Car Park presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine the future use of the car park site.
“The option of demolishing the existing Mall Car Park has allowed us to bring back to the table the concept of the ‘Stairway to Heaven’, an idea that was first imagined well over a decade ago.
“By introducing a grand staircase with wide pedestrian access, active shop fronts, landings and courtyards, it would bring a European Quarter feel to this part of the city, highlighting the character of Newcastle’s historic CBD and re-establish a link to the Harbour.
“Given the poor structural condition of Mall Car Park, the significant costs associated to rectify and bring the carpark up to current standards, the City does not intend to repair or reconstruct it.
“Instead we are now exploring the best use for the site, including the potential to integrate the site with the adjoining Iris Capital East End development which would involve undertaking a range of feasibility studies for the next phase of the development.
“The proposed feasibility analysis and discussions with Iris Capital will ensure essential public car parking requirements are factored into the next phase of planning and that the best outcome is achieved for the Mall Car Park site and city.
“I will be asking the elected Council next Tuesday to refer the concept to the Asset Advisory Committee and the Urban Design Consultative Group for advice. The Newcastle Inner City Residents Alliance (NICRA) will also be formally consulted.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was committed to creating a more attractive and liveable city through planning opportunities such as the Stairway to Heaven concept.
“Opportunities to open up our iconic and beautiful Christchurch Cathedral to the Harbour don’t come every day, and we are constantly looking at ways to get the best future outcomes for our community through these everyday planning decisions,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’re looking forward to working with the community and key stakeholders on how best to utilise this immensely important piece of Newcastle.”
A development application will shortly be lodged seeking approval to demolish Mall Car Park.

There are grave fears for the ability of Australia’s family court system to support women and children fleeing family violence, as the Morrison Government backs in its radical proposal to effectively abolish the Family Court.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the Government voted last night to merge the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court of Australia into one generalist court.
“There are major issues with the Family Court system but this legislation will go no way to addressing them. This reckless plan from the Morrison Liberal Government will essentially abolish the standalone Family Court—a court which plays a critical role in providing specialist support, especially in cases where there is family and domestic violence,” Ms Claydon said.
“70 per cent of matters brought before the family courts involve domestic violence. The consequences of reducing our ability to support and protect these people are incredibly serious indeed.”
“Newcastle lawyers consistently tell me of a chronically underfunded system. They speak of the lengthy delays in replacing judges. They say that matters are taking up to four years to resolve, with families waiting up to a year for family reports to be made. They tell me of their worry and concern for our judges, who are each carrying a workload of 1½ judges by themselves. And they tell me of constituents falling through the cracks, thrust into personal danger or stuck in limbo while their family situations deteriorate.
“The Morrison Government needs to reverse its strategy of persistent neglect that has brought our family law system to its knees.”
Ms Claydon said the legislation was also condemned on the national stage.
“More than 110 eminent organisations involved in family law banded together to pen an open letter which calls on the Morrison Government to abandon this legislation once and for all. The letter actually urges that we go in the opposite direction and increase the level of specialisation in family law and family violence, not dilute and diminish it.
“When any legislation prompts such unified and vehement condemnation from those that know, it behoves a government to listen. The passage of the Bill through the House demonstrates that this Government has heard nothing.”

City of Newcastle will increase the number of street trees in Stockton’s main street from three to 40 as part of a $3.3 million upgrade to start in early 2021.
The project will give Mitchell Street a makeover to improve public spaces, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and increase shade as part of the City’s Local Centres program.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that the investment would deliver a more attractive space for shopping and dining as Stockton’s population grows.
“The community has told us that that they love the atmosphere of Stockton’s main street and shopping precinct, but they want an improved public space,” the Lord Mayor said.
“A key feature of this upgrade is the significant increase in street trees which will provide much needed shade and add to the colour and character of this important shopping and business centre within Stockton.
“An innovative design has been developed to create space for these trees and still allow space for parking and footpaths. Local businesses will be able to take advantage of shade for street side dining, and shoppers will have a more pleasant place to spend time or catch up with friends.
“We’re now inviting the community to view the plans on our website or in Stockton Library and let us know their thoughts before starting construction in the New Year.
“This investment is one of 26 projects valued at more than $17 million delivered in Stockton over the past five years, including coastal protection works and the much-loved Stockton Active Hub.”

Plans for the upgrade are available on City of Newcastle’s website, and on display at Stockton Library from today until December 14.
The Mitchell Street upgrade will include drainage improvements, new footpaths and street furniture, landscaping including new street trees and raingardens, and a reduction in speed limit to 40 km/hr to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.

City of Newcastle is delivering the Mitchell Street upgrade as part of its record $116 million 2020-21 capital works program designed to support the local economy in response to COVID-19.
Suburban hubs across the local government area are being revitalised as part of City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program, with Carrington and Beresfield completed while Joslin Street Kotara, Llewellyn Street Merewether and Orchardtown Road New Lambton are underway.
Visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay to have your say on the Mitchell Street upgrade.