Category: Newcastle News

The restoration of the 1890s-built Shepherds Hill Cottage is expected to be completed early 2021, with final work back underway and ahead of an expression of interest process to identify potential operators.
The cottage was originally used a mess hall for colonial military officers and sustained severe damage in the 2015 Super Storm that caused tens of millions of dollars to the city and black outs for up to five days.

Extensive repairs and restoration work to the outside of the Cottage were completed last year as part of a $730,000 project, which included a new roof and plumbing, repair of wooden windows and renewal of cladding, posts and beams.
The current works include an internal fit out, followed by construction of new outdoor toilets, a storeroom, driveway and parking area, which were allocated $285,000 in this year’s budget.
The restoration project is part of City of Newcastle’s record $116 million 2020/21 capital works program and will complement the landmark Bathers Way coastal pathway, which is currently under construction at South Newcastle Beach.
“With final approval from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment now secured, we are completing the work required to open this incredible, historic site for public use,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“A heritage architect is overseeing all work on the 182sqm building, which sits on one of the most spectacular pieces of real estate in Newcastle at the top of King Edward Park, offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, Port Stephens and the Newcastle coastline through to Dudley.
“With its prime position on the Bathers Way coastal pathway it will become a major community asset once restored and I look forward to seeing what options for use are proposed during the expression of interest process.”

Shepherds Hill Cottage forms part of Shepherds Hill Defence Group site, which sits on Crown Land managed by the City.
A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the site was endorsed by the NSW Heritage Council midway through 2019 after a revised CMP was placed on public exhibition in late 2018.
Once the restoration works are completed early next year, City of Newcastle will run an EOI process for a prospective tenant. The successful tenderer will need to comply with the Shepherds Hill CMP and obtain Heritage NSW and development application approval of their proposal.
The cottage, battery observation post and gun emplacement were originally designed to defend Newcastle’s burgeoning coal port after the 1878 Royal Commission into Colonial Defences.
More recently, Shepherd’s Hill Cottage was being partially utilised as the headquarters for Marine Rescue Newcastle prior to the building being damaged in 2015. The organisation has been without a permanent home since that time but will now be moving to a Crown Land site managed by City of Newcastle on the Stockton foreshore. Marine Rescue has accepted a 21-year peppercorn lease for the parcel of land, which will allow the group to construct a new purpose-built command post.
Marine Rescue’s communications tower, which is still on the Shepherd’s Hill site, is expected to be removed by the end of October.

A man will face court today charged after allegedly assaulting two police officers in the Lake Macquarie district yesterday.
About 11.40pm on Monday (21 September 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were called to a hotel on Pacific Highway, Charlestown following reports a man was acting aggressively.
Officers spoke to the 35-year-old man before he allegedly became confrontational towards the police officers.
It is alleged the man punched and kicked the two constables several times while they were attempting to arrest him.
During the altercation, officers deployed OC spray and a taser, however the man was unable to be restrained.
Further police arrived and the man was detained after threatening to stab officers with a syringe. He was taken John Hunter Hospital for treatment, before being transferred to Belmont Police Station.
The two officers were treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. Both officers sustained injures to the face, one requiring sutures.
The Carrington man was charged with assault officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm (x2), resist officer in execution of duty (x2), and use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
He was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court today, (Tuesday 22 September 2020), where he was again refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 30 September 2020.

City of Newcastle is already three-quarters of the way towards its goal of creating a greener public space within the Foreshore precinct.
The City began a four-year tree replacement program in Foreshore Park during 2017 as part of its preparations for the inaugural Newcastle 500 Supercars event.

Since then, City of Newcastle has planted 51 advanced trees, including 10 Kentia palms and 41 Norfolk Island pines, as part of its target to increase the amount of shaded canopy in the popular East End park from 2,800sqm to 9,800sqm.
The tree plantings to date have been located around the perimeter of the park, strengthening the boundaries of the space and reinforcing the avenue plantings at Wharf Road. They have already contributed a projected shade canopy of 7,370sqm, or more than 75 per cent of the City’s overall goal.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that although there will be some replacement planting occurring with advanced trees in the nursey now ready, the majority of the remaining plantings would be completed in conjunction with the Harbour Foreshore Precinct Masterplan, which has recently finished its first phase of community engagement.
“This is a generational opportunity to reimagine one of the City’s premier parks to suit the needs of a growing community following extensive community engagement,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The masterplan process will look at the current functions and management of the park and how they might be better utilised now and into the future.
“Early feedback has highlighted the significance of the Foreshore’s environment to the community, with 70 per cent of those surveyed nominating tree planting as the most important natural element of the Foreshore masterplan.
“We are proud of the work that has been completed to date at Foreshore Park, with the new tree plantings offering significantly more shade cover than was previously available.
“The remaining trees and shrubs required to achieve the commitment for canopy increase will be placed in accordance with a community-endorsed masterplan.
“These new plantings will help with the integration of nature and the built environment and strengthen the character and use of the park, while significantly contributing to the City’s biodiversity and environmental need.”
City of Newcastle and the masterplan consultants will work closely with stakeholders to achieve the desired character for the Harbour Foreshore and prepare a masterplan that will produce the targeted canopy cover for the site.
The first meeting of the newly formed Harbour Foreshore Community Reference Group was held recently to discuss future directions for the concept designs.

City of Newcastle Libraries live programming is back this Spring after a period of restricted offerings due to COVID-19.   Our library programs will be COVIDSafe and inclusive.
Programs are restricted to 20 participants and bookings are essential as, unfortunately, we won’t have space for drop ins. If you are unwell, or someone in your household is unwell, please stay home. If you cannot make it to a program please cancel your ticket, so someone else can join in the fun.
While not everyone will be able to join in ‘live’ at the library, all our programs will have an online streaming or recorded equivalent.
Time restrictions at libraries have been removed to permit study and extended stays.
Live face to face onsite programs commence at library sites, pop-up spaces and outdoor library events across the City from 1 October. Children’s based activities such as the Paul Jennings Exhibition and Grow Story Stomp in Civic Park will be held next month.
Volunteers and library partners will return allowing support programs and local history and digitisation projects to continue.
Considered measures have been taken to ensure the libraries meet Public Health Order requirements including the preparation of spaces with additional safeguards.
Library members and visitors are encouraged to practise good hygiene, maintain social distancing and stay home if you are feeling unwell.
For more information about Newcastle Libraries services and programming, visit the Newcastle Libraries website or call 4974 5300.

A routine inspection at Stockton Swimming Centre ahead of the upcoming summer season has uncovered a maintenance issue at the facility which requires emergency repair work.
Repair works will take a number of weeks, meaning that Stockton Swimming Centre is unable to reopen as scheduled on 28 September.
Unrelated, City of Newcastle is undertaking safety improvements and rebuilding the Lexie’s accessway at Stockton Beach, with works expected to be complete in time for the upcoming school holidays.
The emergency works at the Swimming Centre, which relate to a blockage in the reticulation system, have already commenced, with the Centre expected to reopen mid-October.

In the first year of operation the Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) at Summerhill Waste Management Centre has recycled the weight equivalent of 74 semi-trailers of waste destined for landfill, whilst generating income for the City.
Opened in September 2019, the $6 million RRC provides over 2,000 square metres of undercover sorting area.
The site enables staff to sort recoverable items such as metals, cardboard, soft plastics, clean wood and electrical goods from loads of mixed waste, where previously this material would have been disposed of directly to landfill.
Prior to construction of the RRC, the Small Vehicle Recovery Centre was only able to accept 10-12,000 tonnes of waste per annum, due to size and equipment restrictions, and only 3% of this was able to be recycled.
Since commencing operations, City of Newcastle has recovered and diverted 3,100 tonnes of recyclables from landfill, which is a substantial increase to 16% materials recycled.
So far, this initiative has saved over $450,000 in waste levy fees to the Environment Protection Authority by recovering items for recycling, rather than disposal to landfill and has generated in excess of $250,000 income from sale of those resources.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said there has been a significant financial benefit for the City.
“The Resource Recovery Centre is a real win for ratepayers. The initial build was partly funded by the NSW Government and the fully operational facility now pays for itself, with the savings from waste levy fees and revenue from the sale of goods outweighing the operational costs to run the facility.
“It’s an ongoing investment for the City of Newcastle. As the City develops is strategic vision for Summerhill, the model for this facility represents a blueprint for future facilities to be developed on the site focusing on diverting additional waste from landfill.”
Manager Waste Services Troy Uren said the venture benefits both the environment and the community.
“Not only are we keeping recyclable material out of landfill, the City is contributing to a circular economy by selling waste materials to be repurposed and delivering positive economic, environmental and social outcomes for the Newcastle community.
“Newcastle residents have embraced the RRC, where they can bring sorted materials for free to be recycled. Scrap metal, cardboard, soft plastic and e-waste can all be dropped off at no cost, as well as problem household waste such as paint, gas bottles and batteries.
“We’re continuing our commitment to the environment by constructing an organics recycling facility, due to start processing our garden waste on site in 2022, with an aim to incorporate food waste by 2026 and divert 900,000 tonnes of food and green waste from landfill over 25 years.”

Two teens reported missing from the Lake Macquarie area have been located safe and well.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District commenced inquiries into the whereabouts of the teenagers, both aged 14, after they were reported missing last week.
Following extensive inquiries, the 14-year-old missing from Charlestown was located in Berowra yesterday (Saturday 19 September 2020) and the second teenager, missing from Whitebridge, was located in Belmont early this morning (Sunday 20 September 2020).
The two incidents were not related.
Police wish to thank members of the public and the media.

A woman will face court today charged over an alleged aggravated assault on the mid north coast on Friday.
About 11.30am (Friday 18 September 2020), police were told a 28-year-old woman attended a home on Bangoran Place, Port Macquarie, and allegedly pushed a 42-year-old woman against a wall.
The older woman was also allegedly asked to hand over her phone and threatened with a knife, causing a small laceration to her neck.
Her dress was then torn off her body before the younger woman left empty handed and police were alerted.
Officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District attended and commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following inquiries, about 3.40pm yesterday (Saturday 19 September 2020), police arrested the 28-year-old woman on Braemer Drive, Port Macquarie.
She was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station and charged with aggravated assault with intent to rob.
She was refused bail to appear in Port Macquarie Local Court today (Sunday 20 September 2020).
Inquiries continue.

Police are re-appealing for information after the death of a cyclist in a collision with a truck in Newcastle last year.
About 9.20am on Wednesday 20 March 2019, emergency services were called to the intersection of King and Perkins streets, Newcastle East, after a cyclist and a truck collided.
Police were told the truck was turning left from King Street into Perkins Street, when the collision occurred.
The cyclist, a 56-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, she died at the scene.
The truck driver was uninjured and taken to the Mater Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash
As inquiries continue, investigators would like to speak to witnesses who have not yet spoken to police. In particular, a female pedestrian who was crossing the King Street pedestrian crossing immediately prior to the collision to contact Police.
Police are also appealing for anyone who may have seen the cyclist or truck prior to the collision, witnessed the collision or has dash cam footage, to contact Newcastle Police on (02) 4929 0999.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to find a teenage boy who has been missing from his Lake Macquarie home since Tuesday.
14-year-old Cooper Hazlewood was noticed missing about 1.00pm on Tuesday 15 September 2020.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District and Cooper’s family have concerns for his welfare as this behaviour is considered out of character.
Cooper is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 140-145cm tall, thin build, light brown hair and green eyes.
Cooper is known as a user of the bus network in the Lake Macquarie area and is known to frequent the shops at Whitebridge and Hudson Park in Kotara.
Police are appealing for anyone with information about Cooper’s whereabouts, or who may have seen him since Tuesday, to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.