Category: Newcastle News

A man will face court today after police allegedly located a commercial quantity of ‘magic mushrooms’ during a vehicle stop in the Hunter last month.
About 10.25pm on Friday 1 May 2020, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were travelling along Raymond Terrace Road, Nelson Plains, when they noticed a grey Holden Cruze parked on the side of the road in darkness.
Officers stopped and spoke with the driver – a 19-year-old man – before conducting a search of the vehicle.
Police located and seized more than 120g of psilocybin, commonly known as ‘magic mushrooms’, as well as a small amount of cannabis, drug paraphernalia and cash.
He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug larger than commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Saturday 2 May, where he was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Monday 29 June 2020).

A man has been charged after he allegedly refused to leave a licensed premises before throwing rocks at police in Lake Macquarie yesterday.
Just before 1am (Saturday 27 June 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were called to the tavern on the Pacific Highway, Gateshead, after a man was reportedly acting disorderly and refusing to leave.
Police have been told the man initially left the premises when asked by security but returned a short time later and refused to leave.
As officers arrived, the man walked outside and as they approached him, he began swearing and throwing rocks at them.
The man attempted to encourage bystanders to assault police before fleeing when further police arrived to assist. He was pursued and arrested following a short struggle.
The 26-year-old Windale man was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with excluded person fail to leave premises when required, excluded person re-enter/attempt to re-enter premises, resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, and affray.
He man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 29 July 2020.

Newcastle Art Gallery has announced the finalists for the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020.
One of Australia’s major art prizes, the KILGOUR PRIZE awards $50,000 for the most outstanding work of art selected by a judging panel consisting of the Newcastle Art Gallery Director and two invited arts industry representatives. A $5,000 People’s Choice is also awarded to the painting voted most popular by the general public.
This year the 30 finalists were selected from more than 350 entries received from artists across the country. The 2020 finalists include artists from the ACT, NSW, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The list also features two local artists, Michael Bell and Peter Gardiner, who have both been regular entrants to the KILGOUR PRIZE, with the latter winning the KILGOUR PRIZE in 2016.
“Every year the KILGOUR PRIZE presents some of the best contemporary Australian portrait and figurative painting. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian arts sector, the KILGOUR PRIZE has been an incredible opportunity to encourage and support artists to continue producing and creating works of art. This year’s selected artists present diverse interpretations of the brief, resulting in a very dynamic exhibition,” Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said.
Funded by a bequest from artist Jack Noel Kilgour, the KILGOUR PRIZE has encouraged innovation within portrait and figurative painting since 2006.
The winner will be announced on Friday 31 July 2020 and the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 will be on display 1 August – 15 November 2020.
2020 Judges:
Lauretta Morton, Director Newcastle Art Gallery
Stephen Gilchrist, curator and Lecturer Art History, The University of Sydney
Rachel Arndt, Gallery Programs and Touring Exhibitions Manager, Museums and Galleries of NSW.
2020 Finalists:
An Sheng, Andrew Bennett, Anh Nguyen, Ben Ryan, Brittany Jones, Bronni Krieger, Corinna Howell, Craig Handley, Dagmar Cyrulla, Daniel Butterworth, Elizabeth Austin, Erik Krebs-Schade, Esther Erlich, Greg Creek, Jacqueline Hennessy, Jordan Richardson, Joshua McPherson, Kenneth Lambert, Kerry McInnis, Kylie Melinda Smith, Lileana Colarelli, Lori Pensini, Lynn Savery, Melissa Ritchie, Michael Bell, Oliver Shepherd, Peter Gardiner, Tony Costa, Tracy Dods, Wendy Sharpe.
For more information – www.nag.org.au/Exhibitions/Future/KILGOUR-PRIZE-2020
ABOUT THE KILGOUR PRIZE
Jack Noel Kilgour (1900–1987) was an Australian artist well-known for his academic approach to landscape and portrait painting. In 1987 Kilgour bequeathed funds for the creation of a major figurative and portrait art competition to be run in perpetuity. As one of Australia’s major art prizes, Newcastle Art Gallery is proud to be the home of the KILGOUR PRIZE.
More information: https://www.nag.org.au/Kilgour-Prize

City of Newcastle welcomes today’s announcement of the successful joint bid from Australia and New Zealand to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) and New Zealand Football (NZF) have together made history as the first co-Confederation to host a FIFA Women’s World Cup. It will also be the first FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in the southern hemisphere.
McDonald Jones Stadium is expected to be a match venue, with Newcastle forming part of Australia’s bid, bringing thousands of visitors to the city.
Newcastle has also been suggested to play host to some of the visiting teams, based on providing an attractive location for teams to base themselves to stay and train during their world cup campaign.
^{Emerging Jets Squad players Charli Vogtmann, Kalani Dinnery, Annika Driscoll and Rose Harvey with Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.}
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the vote had Australian – and indeed Novocastrian – football fans cheering.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Australia to showcase the Matildas’ and Newcastle Jets W-League talent on home turf and strengthen ties with our neighbours across the ditch while also unlocking economic benefits and driving positive social impacts for women and girls,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Australia staged the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which included Newcastle hosting two group stage matches, a semi-final and third place playoff at McDonald Jones Stadium, reinforcing Newcastle’s reputation for hosting world-class sporting tournaments.
“Even more recently, Newcastle hosted the Matildas in the Olympic qualifier against Vietnam at McDonald Jones Stadium on 6 March  in their qualification to the upcoming Olympics.
“Winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup bid reaffirms Australia’s ability to attract top-tier sporting codes and I can’t wait to join fans in the stands here in Newcastle.”
The Australian-New Zealand bid was rated the most technically proficient in FIFA’s report, ahead of Japan and Colombia.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held from 10 July to 20 August 2023.

A second dedicated fenced off-leash dog area is a step closer to reality with City of Newcastle inviting the community to have their say on the next potential site.
Residents and community groups can provide feedback on dedicated off-leash spaces in Lambton, with areas at Lambton Park and Armstrong Park flagged as potential locations.
^{(L-R): Lambton resident Mark Brooker with dog Wesley, Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Declan Clausen with dog Toby, and Lambton Residents Group member Mary Webster with dogs Jem and Scout at Lambton Park.}
Community feedback received on the Dogs in Open Space Plan showed high demand around the suburb. Council is also exploring opportunities to improve dog infrastructure in Islington, Adamstown and Maryland.
Council has identified the need for additional fenced dog parks across the city under the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan. Consultation has opened for site selection of the next park and if a suitable site is determined, a more detailed dog park design will be available for community feedback.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Declan Clausen said City of Newcastle was committed to providing open spaces where the city’s 45 thousand dogs small and large could safely run free.
“We know that Novocastrians are passionate about their dogs and having dedicated spaces for their canine companions to exercise and socialise safely with other dogs is important to them,” Cr Clausen said.
“A Council survey found 60% of people want more fenced, off-leash dog areas in Newcastle and provided valuable insights on desired features such as shade, seating, signage and designated areas for small and large dogs.
“This is reflected in the overwhelming success and popularity of the City’s first fenced, off-leash dog park at Acacia Avenue, North Lambton, which opened last October and is enjoyed by countless two and four-legged friends on any given day.
“City of Newcastle will incorporate the lessons learned from the success of the Acacia Avenue dog park along with the community’s feedback to continue to deliver on the outcomes of the Dogs in Open Space Plan to provide, improve and manage off-leash dog areas over the next decade.”
Community views are welcome to help select the location of our next fenced off-leash dog area and can be made via newcastle.nsw.gov.au/YourSay until 5pm Thursday 6 August 2020.

Close to forty energy jobs are set to go at the CSIRO – with up to nine coming from Newcastle’s energy research flagship, the CSIRO Energy Centre.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has slammed the cuts, saying she was ‘deeply concerned’ about the impacts on the capacity of the Energy Centre.
“The scientists at Newcastle’s CSIRO Energy Centre are at the absolute forefront of driving innovation in the energy sector,” Ms Claydon said.
“It’s unconscionable to be cutting staff in an area of research that is so critical to our region and our nation.”
Ms Claydon said that the decision to diminish national energy research capacity was ‘unfathomable’.
“As we grapple with the urgent need to assess and plan for our future energy needs as part of the move to a low-carbon economy, it is short-sighted beyond belief to be slashing our world-class energy research capacity,” Ms Claydon said.
Ms Claydon said any energy research job losses would compound the impacts of the lack of a national energy policy.
“The Morrison Government’s failure to deliver any sort of coherent national energy policy has repelled investment and stopped the creation of thousands of jobs in regions like ours,” Ms Claydon said.
“Even before these cuts, the CSIRO was set to lose more than 500 jobs by the end of this financial year.  I call on the Minister to step in and stand up for these important local and national jobs.”

A man has been charged with damaging a police vehicle after he allegedly kicked the door during an incident where officers were threatened with a knife earlier this week.
Two men, aged 28 and 35, where charged after allegedly threatening officers with a knife during a brawl in Hamilton South about 2.10pm on Tuesday 23 June 2020.
During the brawl, officers will allege in court that a 22-year-old man damaged the police vehicle then ran from the scene.
Investigations led police to arrest the man in Hamilton South, while they were conducting pro-active patrols of the area.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, malicious damage, and affray.
He was refused bail and appeared in Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 25 June 2020).

City of Newcastle’s solar farm has exceeded expectations in its first six months of operation, generating almost twice the revenue it was expected to make annually.
The five-megawatt solar farm installed at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre generated more than $420,000 in revenue between when it went live in mid-November and the end of April, well above original forecasts used in the business case’s projected average of $250,000 a year.
^{The Summerhill Solar Farm at dawn.}
Selling energy back into the electricity market, the solar farm further demonstrated its value during the January bush fires when the City supported the state’s damaged energy grid as a net exporter.
A renewable power purchase agreement with a wind farm that came into effect on 1 January, making the City the first NSW Council to be powered 100 per cent by renewables, saved a further $30,000.
“The business case showed the solar farm would save rate payers around $9 million, after costs, over its 25-year lifespan – and so far, it’s on track to do even better,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The solar farm helped us exceed our renewable energy goals under the Newcastle 2020 Carbon and Water Management Action Plan, which targeted 30 per cent of our electricity needs from low-carbon sources.
“By combining solar installations, battery storage and the purchase agreement to power all our operations, the City has created a resilient energy strategy that will protect us from future electricity price spikes.
“Working in concert with the power purchase agreement, these investments give us price stability, create financial savings for rate payers and have already enabled us to reduce our operational carbon emissions by 77 per cent, compared to the 2008 baseline.”
The Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership Director David Craven said the solar farm was a “fantastic accomplishment by the City of Newcastle”.
“They have again stepped up as leader in renewables and as a leader amongst local governments taking significant action on climate,” Mr Craven said.
“Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new energy generation and is proving to save Novocastrians millions, while creating a healthy future for this community.”
The City is also paving the way to an electric transport future by converting fleet vehicles to electric and installing an electric vehicle charging network powered by solar panels and battery storage.
Meanwhile, the City is increasing solar-energy generation on its buildings.
“We recently added an additional 100-kilowatt roof top photovoltaic system to our Waratah Works Depot, doubling the capacity of the system installed onsite in 2013 and taking total generation of our 12 solar systems to almost 9 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year,” Councillor Nelmes added.
“Our five-megawatt solar farm and over 660 kilowatts of rooftop solar provide the equivalent energy needs of more than 1,770 Newcastle households a year with clean, renewable energy.”
For its commitment to renewables and reducing carbon emissions, the City won the prestigious Local Government Sustainability Award in 2019 and is currently a finalist for Environmental Leadership and Sustainability in the 2020 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 23 June 2020. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
A Lord Mayoral Minute providing an update on the impacts of COVID-19 and the City’s comprehensive Community and Economic Resilience Package was supported.
A Lord Mayoral Minute for the City to sign a letter of intent with the World Economic Forum to establish mutually beneficial cooperation with the G20 Smart Cities Alliance as a Pilot City was supported.
Ordinary business
Establishment of the Draft Stockton Coastal Maangement Program
Council has adopted the final Draft Stockton Coastal Management Program and endorsed its submission to the Minister for Local Government by 30 June 2020.
Write-off a sundry debt
Council has resolved to write off a debt totalling $52,048.35 in unpaid tipping fees after being unable to recoup outstanding fees from a business in liquidation.
Making of the rates and charges
Council has set its rates and charges for the 2020/21 financial year.
Making of the rate – Hunter Catchment
Council has adopted the rate commission payable to the City for the collection of the 2020/21 Hunter Catchment Contribution at five per cent of the contributions collected, as determined by Hunter Local Land Services.
Interest on overdue rates and charges for 2020/21
Council has adopted the rate of 2.3 per cent a year on interest on overdue rates and charges deferred against an eligible ratepayer’s estate for the period 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021.
Exhibition of draft Local Housing Strategy
The draft Local Housing Strategy will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days.
Adoption of 2020/21 budget
Council has adopted a new budget for 2020-21 that includes a record $116 million capital works program that will generate up to 700 jobs and increase local economic output by $275 million.
Proposed road closure – 81 Fletcher Street, Adamstown
Council has endorsed the sale of a 278sqm land parcel to the owners of an adjoining block in Fletcher Street, Adamstown, for $75,000.
Classification of Council Land – 280 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Council has resolved to classify 280 Hunter Street, Newcastle, as operational land after buying the plot, known as Rail Bridge Row, from Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation earlier this year.
Tender for Natural Areas Rehabilitation
Council has accepted four individual tenders for the provision of natural areas rehabilitation services to deliver specialised bushland services and other environmental projects through Newcastle.
Executive monthly performance report
Council received the executive monthly performance report for May 2020.
Notices of Motions
Shining example of energy transition
A notice of motion to celebrate the City’s Summerhill Solar Farm for generating more than $420,000 in revenue, well up on business case projections of $250,000 a year, and reducing operational carbon emissions by 77 per cent compared to a 2008 baseline, was supported.
Clarification on Local Land Services Hunter Catchment and Contribution Levey and Benefits
Another NOM was supported to write to Hunter Local Land Services to query the $2.59 million paid annually by Newcastle residents for the Hunter Catchment Contribution levy and ask how that money could help address long-term catchment issues down river, including flooding in Wallsend.

Newcastle has proven a drawcard for millennials bypassing the big cities in favour of a regional relocation.
The city was among the top three locations in Australia favoured by regionally-based millennials — people aged between 20 and 35 years old — who opted to move to another region rather than shift to a major metropolitan area, according to a new report issued today.
Compiled by Regional Australia Institute (RAI), “Big Movers: Population Mobility in Australia” tracked population movements that occurred in between the last two Census counts in 2011 and 2016.
According to an ABC article on the report, 207,510 millennials moved between regional communities during the four-year period, with Newcastle, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast the most popular destinations.
Other Hunter locations, including Maitland and Lake Macquarie, also benefitted from the millennials’ preference to maintain their regional roots.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes spoke with ABC News presenter Joe O’Brien today to explain what we’re doing to make Newcastle a smart, progressive and liveable city.