Category: Newcastle News

MEETING OF THE CITY TASKFORCE
The City Taskforce, a collaboration of 17 leading organisations and employers, chaired by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes City of Newcastle, held its fifth meeting today via Zoom. The Taskforce was formed to develop a collaborative approach to the City’s response to COVID-19, from crisis to recovery and beyond. City leaders focused their discussion on the second edition of The Newcastle Response, highlighting significant impacts to the tourism sector, as well as commercial rental vacancies across the city and eroded business confidence in the context of further job losses and economic impacts as a result of COVID-19.
The Newcastle Response – Tourism Sector 
City leaders endorsed the second Newcastle Response, which provides local insights on one of the industries hardest hit by COVID-19: tourism. Developed in collaboration with representatives of Newcastle Airport and Alloggio, and supported unanimously today by the City Taskforce, the document recognises the valuable contribution the tourism sector makes to the city’s vibrancy and its role in sustaining local jobs. It calls upon State and Federal decision-makers to:

• Support an interstate destination marketing campaign for Greater Newcastle, as submitted by Newcastle Airport and partners in June 2020.
• List Newcastle as a destination independent of the North Coast on Destination NSW’s websites.
• Make available additional tourism product development training from Destination NSW, and pilot new training through the NSW First Program in Newcastle in 2020/21.
• Advocate for the reversal of about 200 Hunter Jetstar job losses, including 112 stemming from the closure of Newcastle’s Jetstar maintenance base.

The Taskforce also recognised the need for JobKeeper to be extended or alternative targeted support measures to be introduced for tourism businesses and other sectors that are “on ice”. Despite some restrictions easing, discretionary spending is down 58% at pubs and venues and 34% on travel compared to baseline levels. Among those travel and accommodation services suffering the biggest downturn are those that derive their revenue from regional, interstate and international travellers due to ongoing border closures.
Commercial rental vacancies erode business confidence 
The Taskforce heard how commercial rental vacancies across Newcastle had significantly increased from February to June, changing the city’s streetscape and eroding business confidence – an issue not localised to Newcastle, but which can be seen around the world as a result of COVID-19.
City leaders raised the concept of applying the Renew Newcastle model more broadly to redevelop and revitalise commercial precincts and the city’s overall amenity in parallel with discussions with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment around zoning and the night-time economy. Leaders agreed to workshop this further with key members of the City Taskforce, including the Hunter Business Chamber, Colliers International, Alloggio and Independent Creative Alliance Newcastle.
The Newcastle Response – Tourism Sector also advocates for the extension of the Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation 2020.
City Taskforce work streams update 
City of Newcastle received $4.2 million in applications to its Industry Response Program, offering targeted grants to businesses, groups and organisations representing those industries hardest hit by COVID-19. A funding pool of $500,000 was made available by the City of Newcastle, with the successful applicants from a wide cross-section of the community – including live music, small business, tourism and the arts – to be announced in the coming weeks.
Engagement with the local evidence base working group continues to provide valuable, granular insights specific to the region, with representatives from the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health, Regional NSW, NIB and the City of Newcastle in the areas of research, innovation and data science.
The region’s youth unemployment rate remains a concern, affecting more than one in four young people. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a generational impact on this cohort in terms of skills and employment gaps. This City Taskforce work stream has seen the establishment of a working group with representatives of Hunter Young Professionals, Youth Council, Hunter Regional Employment Facilitator, Community Disability Alliance Hunter and the arts and tourism sectors. Together they will look at creative ways of tackling the youth unemployment challenge.
Vale Matthew Morris, former Charlestown MP 
Taskforce members acknowledged the passing of former State Member for Charlestown, Matthew Morris, who sadly died of brain cancer. Mr Morris, 51, served two terms as the Member for Charlestown, elected in 2003 and again in 2007, and while he was a private person after he left office, his contribution to the community is his legacy.

A man has been charged as part of investigations into the death of another man at a rubbish tip at Cessnock.
Emergency services were called to the waste management facility on Old Maitland Road just after 5pm on Sunday (5 July 2020), after a 54-year-old man was found critically injured. He died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene which was examined by specialist forensic officers.
Local detectives, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Nargal to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death which is being treated as suspicious.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant at a property at Lovedale just before 10.30am today (Wednesday 8 July 2020), where they seized a Toyota Landcruiser.
A 30-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Cessnock Police Station.
Shortly after, investigators executed a search warrant at a home at Aberdare, where a number of items were seized.
The man was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-driver manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death and driver not disclose identity of driver/passenger as required.
Police will allege in court that the man was driving the Toyota Landcruiser when he struck the 54-year-old – who is known to him – at the waste facility.
The Aberdare man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 9 July 2020).
Inquiries are continuing.

The first ever driverless vehicle to mix with traffic on Newcastle’s roads has started ferrying passengers along Wharf Road as part of a three-month trial.
Novocastrians and visitors to the city can now ride the free shuttle service between the Watt Street and Nobbys Beach roundabouts on weekdays between 10am and 2pm.
Running at a speed of just 20km/hr, the vehicle uses an array of sophisticated technology, including 360-degree cameras and input sensors, to avoid cars and objects.
The operation is overseen by an onboard chaperone – a local bus driver who is greeting passengers and answering questions after undergoing training to control the vehicle via a control pad should any issues arise.
^{Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen at today’s launch.}
Newcastle’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen, welcomed the first passengers this morning as they ushered in the pilot project.
“I’m delighted to see the trial underway and people riding the city’s first driverless vehicle,” Councillor Clausen said.
“This is another milestone in Newcastle’s smart city journey as we trial the future of automated transport as part of the city’s ‘living lab’ experiment. With the help of Federal Government funding, the project will assess driverless vehicles in mixed traffic conditions and the role they can play in multimodal transport systems.
“Tourists will now be to be able to take in our magnificent harbour and foreshore and return home telling people they were among the first passengers in Australia on a shuttle with nobody at the wheel, or with no steering wheel at all in fact.”
COVID-19 has limited the number of passengers who can ride the shuttle to three at a time; and surface cleaning is being carried out across the day to keep everyone safe.
^{On the road.}
One of the first passengers to ride, Tania Papasotiriou, was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
“It was fantastic,” she said. “I was expecting it to be more bumpy or more slow but it was great, the sensors worked perfectly and it was very smooth and the space is very comfortable inside.
“I’m hoping the community embrace this technology and then we can have more of them in the streets.”
Shuttle operator Keolis Downer invited other Novocastrians to take part in the trial by boarding on Wharf Road just east of the Watt Street roundabout or at Nobbys Beach.
“We encourage Novocastrians to come to Wharf Road and take a ride to experience the future of transportation using this technology,” Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Mark Dunlop said.
“It’s only a short walk from the light rail on Scott Street and frequent bus services to Customs House.
“We are very interested in the public perception around this technology and will be asking for further feedback after receiving a large number of responses to a survey last November when the shuttle was on show during the Newcastle 500.
“Passengers can be assured of the safety of the vehicle and the training of our onboard chaperones who have additional qualifications to their skills as bus drivers.”
The shuttle completed rigorous safety planning and testing before approval was given to operate on public roads.
The trial is being funded through a $5 million grant awarded to the City under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
Find out more or take part in a survey at http://newcastlesdriverlessshuttle.com.au
Tech enticed bus driver to chaperone shuttle
State-of-the-art automation technology on the City’s new driverless shuttle prompted Keolis Downer bus driver Glenn Matthews to put his hand up to become a Chaperone.
To upskill for his pioneering career change over the next three months, Glenn and colleagues undertook specialist training in Sydney and at the Hamilton bus depot before applying their newfound knowledge on the shuttle’s Wharf Road loop.

^{Glenn Mathews (right) with a trainer from the company that made the driverless shuttle.}
“It looked like a great project to be a part of and I was interested to see how this tech could be utilised in the transport industry,” said the bus driver of two years.
“Driving a bus and monitoring the driverless shuttle in autonomous mode is very similar in the fact that you need to have situational awareness of other road users at all times.
“The only difference is the steering wheel.
“It has been exciting to learn a new technology and learn how it interacts with pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
“It’s been fantastic to be a part of this project and I can’t wait to have customers on board.”

City of Newcastle is ready to welcome families back to some of its recently reopened facilities these school holidays while providing a range of online opportunities to be creative, experiment with science, or make something memorable.
With COVID-19 restrictions still affecting regular school holiday programming, the City’s cultural venues are getting creative to deliver a digital-led calendar of events sure to keep the kids busy.
These activities will complement the growing list of places reopening their doors to the public, with families also invited to get out and about – from a safe distance – and visit some of their favourite Newcastle destinations including Blackbutt Reserve, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle Museum and our Libraries.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the creativity of City of Newcastle’s dedicated staff would ensure families had plenty of options to keep themselves entertained.
“It’s been wonderful to welcome the public back into many of our much-loved facilities in recent weeks, with our art gallery, museum, and a number of library branches now open across the local government area,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Fort Scratchley has reopened for visitors, while Novocastrians can once again enjoy getting back to nature with our ever-popular walking trails, open spaces and animal attractions at Blackbutt Reserve.
“The reopened spaces have all adapted their operations in line with COVID-19 restrictions to protect the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff, and we look forward to families making the most of these venues during the school holidays.
“We’re also offering a range of interactive online experiences which will provide children with plenty of options for home-based fun.
“From live-streamed science experiments and webinar-facilitated art workshops, to digital art classes and an exciting online youth music concert featuring rising local stars, the variety of free events and activities includes something for all interests.”
While entry to the art gallery and museum is free, online bookings for the scheduled daily sessions at each venue are essential to assist in managing numbers in line with our COVID Safe plans.
Families can find their perfect balance of school holidays inspiration at www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/School-Holidays, with information about all our face-to-face and digital activities now available.

Strike Force Nargal has been formed to investigate the death of a man at a rubbish tip at Cessnock.
Emergency services were called to the waste management facility on Old Maitland Road just after 5pm (Sunday 5 July 2020), after the 54-year-old man was found critically injured. He died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and detectives are now investigating the circumstances of the man’s death.
As this is an unexplained death, it is currently being treated as suspicious.
If anyone was at the tip between 4.30pm and 5pm they should contact Cessnock Police or Crime Stoppers.

A driver has died after a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 2.20am (Sunday 5 July 2020), emergency services were called to Wine Country Drive, North Rothbury, following reports a car had caught fire after leaving the road and hitting a tree.
The driver and sole occupant died at the scene, however they have not been formally identified.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District along with Fire and Rescue NSW attended scene and commenced investigations.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Winter sports return today after City of Newcastle staff worked with sporting associations, clubs and neighbouring councils to support the resumption of competition and ensure a safe and consistent approach.
Around 140 sportsgrounds are hosting players in adherence to each sporting association’s COVID-19 safety plan.
Maryland Fletcher FC come back to two vastly improved fields at Kurraka Reserve, thanks to new turf and a $160,000 irrigation and drainage upgrade delivered by the City with the help of a $100,000 Federal sporting grant.
Regeneration of the two playing surfaces also included relevelling, top dressing and over sowing with ryegrass.
^{Federal member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon with Maryland Fletcher FC President Dave Carter and City of Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne on Kurraka Reserve’s new playing surface.}
“We are delighted to welcome all sports back from this weekend and especially happy for the young Maryland-Fletcher players returning to a picture-perfect playing surface,” City of Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne said.
“The new drainage system will prevent Kurraka becoming waterlogged in winter while the irrigation system will dramatically improve the turf quality and playability for both soccer and cricket year-round.
“The past summer’s drought and water restrictions, which turned many sporting grounds into dust bowls around the country, underline the importance of efficient irrigation systems.
“Better grounds encourage greater participation while minimising labour and maintenance costs, and the City’s parks and recreation staff do a fantastic job maintaining and upgrading fields.”

Maryland Fletcher FC President Dave Carter said the club’s youngsters were eager to play on the newly improved fields.
“The result of the upgrade is a vastly improved and sustainable playing surface that’s going to save us hundreds of volunteer hours and ongoing maintenance costs every year,” Carter said.
“It’s been a great example of what can be achieved with cross-government and local community cooperation. We’re grateful for Council for managing the installation and the support of our Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon MP in obtaining a Federal grant.”
Where sporting activities involve more than 20 participants, organisers must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan. The City will continue to liaise with clubs to ensure they meet requirements.

Newcastle is ready to accommodate an influx of new event bookings as the City reopens the doors for functions at its key venues.
Function rooms located within City Hall and the Fort Scratchley Function Centre are now available for hire, with COVIDSafe plans in place to ensure the safety of attendees.
The guidelines will be determined by the one person per four square metre rule and allow seated functions and events only.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the reopening of venues was a positive step as the city recovers from COVID-19 restrictions.
“The City of Newcastle has a well earnt reputation for delivering first-class events, from small scale local functions all the way though to international events.
“While business tourism, family celebrations and community events had to be put on hold in recent months in the interests of public health and safety, we can now welcome people back into our wonderful function spaces within City Hall and Fort Scratchley.
“Allowing bookings for functions and events at these venues will also have a positive flow-on effect for local businesses such as caterers, accommodation providers, event organisers and florists, who rely heavily on the events industry to survive, while traders in surrounding precincts such as Darby Street will also benefit from increased visitation to the city.
“The past week has seen the phones running hot from people wanting to book the City’s venues.”
A comprehensive COVID-19 Safety Plan has been developed for all City of Newcastle venues to protect the health of the community and staff, including enhanced hygiene measures and distancing measures.

 
A man is in a stable condition after a domestic-related stabbing in Muswellbrook overnight.
About 12.30am (Friday 3 July 2020), a 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were at a home on Wollombi Road, Muswellbrook, when a 48-year-old man and a teenage boy attended the home.
Police have been told the 48-year-old man became aggressive towards the 22-year-old man before there was a struggle between the pair and the older man was stabbed in the shoulder and abdomen.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended a short time later and established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist forensic police.
The older man was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
The younger man suffered minor injuries and was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for treatment.
He has since been released and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Friday 3 July 2020).
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing.