Category: Newcastle News

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has condemned the University of Newcastle’s decision to apply for Fair Work Commission intervention in enterprise bargaining.

The move comes as 140 job cuts loom over staff already experiencing severe stress and anxiety about their futures.

University management has applied for the Fair Work Commission to deal with a bargaining dispute, despite negotiations commencing just six months ago.

NTEU members are pushing for a fair pay rise, workload regulation and flexible work provisions.

NTEU members will strike for half a day on Thursday October 23.

The University of Newcastle attempted to sideline staff and their union from the bargaining process a little over two years ago.

UoN Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky serves as Vice-President of the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association (AHEIA), the aggressive employer association known for advising universities on strategies to circumvent union negotiations.

NTEU General Secretary Damien Cahill said:

“The University of Newcastle has shown it would rather blow up negotiations and push disputes to the commission than engage constructively with staff seeking fair pay and conditions.

“Management is running to the Fair Work Commission rather than staying at the bargaining table and addressing the reasonable demands of staff for a fair pay rise, workload regulation and job security.

“This is a cynical tactic from a university whose vice-chancellor is the vice-president of the bosses’ association that is notorious for using aggressive industrial tactics.

“Staff are already under enormous pressure with 140 job cuts hanging over their heads. Now they must endure management’s aggressive industrial tactics designed to avoid genuine negotiation.

“The University of Newcastle appears to have lost faith in its own executives’ ability to negotiate a fair agreement. Instead of working with staff and the NTEU, they’re deploying the same failed playbook as they did last time.

“Universities that find common ground with the NTEU reach agreements that benefit everyone. But the University of Newcastle seems determined to pursue confrontation.

“The NTEU will continue to fight for fair pay, secure jobs and reasonable working conditions for all university staff.”

Detectives have released CCTV footage as they appeal for public assistance in relation to an armed hold up that occurred last year in the states Hunter region.
Shortly after 8pm on Thursday 18 April 2024 officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District responded to reports of an armed hold up at a café on Gan Gan Road, Anna Bay.
Police were informed that two men entered the store armed with a machete and a shortened baseball bat and stole a quantity of cash.
The men left the location in a red two-door hatchback that was driven from the location by a third unknown person.

There were no reports of any person being injured.

Strike Force Merson was established to investigate the incident.

As inquiries continue investigators have released CCTV of two men who maybe able to assist police.
The first man was wearing a black balaclava, black hooded jumper with the word EVERLAST written in white across the back, black gloves, blue jeans and red sneakers. He was also carrying a green shopping bag.
The second man was wearing a grey beanie, white jumper with a fluorescent yellow hood, black gloves, white pants and white sneakers.

Police are warning members of the public to be on alert after counterfeit cash has been reported being handed to businesses across the Hunter Valley.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were alerted after counterfeit $50- and $100-dollar notes were handed to businesses in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Muswellbrook, Scone, Singelton, Blandford, Cliftleigh, Glendon, Merriwa and Middle Falbrook between May 2025 and October 2025.

Officers have seized the notes which amount to over $2,600 in counterfeit notes and inquiries are now underway.

Tips from NSW Police to spot a counterfeit note include,

• Feel the note – a genuine note is printed on special plastic polymer and is difficult to tear
• Check for words that mark the note as counterfeit such as ‘prop’ or ‘specimen’
• Hold the note to the light and look for the Australian Coat of Arms. This is generally located to the left of the clear window, or denomination numeral when looking at the front of the note.
• Feel for slightly raised printing on the main design of the note
• Look for the seven-pointed star inside a circle
• Compare the background printing – look for any distortions or less clearly defined patterns.
• Check that the note has a clear window and that it has a clear printed image: $50 has the Southern Cross and the $100 has the lyrebird.
• If possible, look under a UV light to locate the serial numbers

City of Newcastle has looked close to home for its latest strategic investment, purchasing a significant industrial property in Sandgate to augment its long-term financial plans.

The 8.64-hectare land holding is the first Newcastle property acquired under City of Newcastle’s Future Fund, which was established to ensure it can meet the need for infrastructure and services across the city into the future. 

Executive Director of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer David Clarke said the Future Fund enables City of Newcastle to diversify its revenue base to cater for both the growing population and aging assets. 

“Ensuring the long-term sustainability of almost $3 billion worth of infrastructure we manage on behalf of the community is one of our key responsibilities,” Mr Clarke said.

“As our infrastructure ages, the cost of maintaining and renewing these essential assets increases, which is why we proactively set aside funds each year to meet these future needs.

“Our Future Fund is a strategic initiative that enables us to invest our cash reserves into a diversified portfolio of property and commercial assets. 

“This latest acquisition strengthens that portfolio and positions us to generate stable returns, protecting our financial position and ensuring we can continue to meet the needs of our growing community without putting extra pressure on rates.”

The Rural Drive property includes two warehouses that have existing leases in place with a number of businesses, which will generate ongoing rental income for City of Newcastle.

Mr Clarke said City of Newcastle will also consider potential longer term uses for the site.

“This strategic purchase also presents an opportunity to explore its use in the years ahead,” Mr Clarke said.

“We will undertake a master planning process on the site to determine the most suitable mix of operational and income producing uses. 

“One future consideration could include building a new, more modern facility for our Works Depot, which currently sits within the footprint of the Broadmeadow Precinct Investigation Area. 

“This master planning process will take some time and there is a lot to consider before any decision can be made at a later date.”

The Sandgate purchase was vetted by the Future Fund Governance Committee in line with its adopted investment strategy before being approved by the elected Council. 

The Committee’s membership includes representatives of City of Newcastle and the elected Council, as well as two independent members with appropriate professional capabilities and an independent Chairperson. 

It is the third property purchased under the Future Fund, with previous acquisitions including a Bunnings warehouse in Taree and a Wollongong medical centre.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the state’s Hunter region.

Lailah Russell, aged 13, was last seen in Newcastle about 6pm yesterday (Thursday 16 October 2025). 

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

There are serious concerns for Lailah’s welfare due to her young age.

Lailah is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 160cm, thin build with long light brown hair

She was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, black shorts and white sneakers.

Lailah is known to frequent the Newcastle, Muswellbrook and Singleton areas.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle City Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Hunter Valley locals are gearing up for a huge game of Eye Spy for something beginning with ‘R’, when more than 70 critically endangered Regent Honeyeaters are released into the skies of Wonnarua Country.
The flock of zoo-bred birds will fly out over lands owned by the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council as part of ongoing efforts to boost population numbers in the wild.
With around 300 Regent Honeyeaters left in the wild, NSW’s Hunter Valley is the centre of their range and a key breeding location.
Specially fitted non-invasive radio trackers will help researchers keep a close eye on the released birds as they cross the Tomalpin Woodlands.
But it’s also likely the birds will fly into backyards, parks and school grounds, which is why ecologists are calling for all eyes on the skies.
Easily spotted by their beautiful yellow and black feathers, these birds have become synonymous with the region, yet their movements remain a mystery.
Do they make a beeline for sandstone Country breeding haunts?  Or do they hop around the Hunter’s blooming eucalypts with flocks of wild-born birds?
The data collected from this landscape-size game of Eye Spy will have a real and direct impact on answering these questions and help save this critically endangered bird from extinction.
This is the fourth bird release in this location, and marks 30 years since the Regent Honeyeater conservation breeding program began in 1995.
To date more than 220 Taronga Sydney Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo-bred birds have been released onto Mindaribba lands, areas of exceptional habitat and a diversity of flowering gums.
Reporting your Regent Honeyeater sightings is easy with a step-by-step guide and online portal at BirdLife Australia: http://www.birdlife.org.au/what-to-do-if-you-see-a-regent-honeyeater/
This critical conservation project is a joint effort between the NSW Government’s Saving our Species Program, Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Birdlife Australia and Local Land Services. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER SPECIES EXPERT, KIM MAUTE:
“Reintroducing this critically endangered species into the wild is one way the NSW Government is ensuring the survival of this species.
“But everyone can play a part in making sure these genuinely beautiful and musical birds are spied by future generations.
“We encourage everyone to keep an eye out for these birds during spring and share your sightings so we can continue to make the best conservation decisions for this iconic bird”.
 
MINDARIBBA LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL CEO, TARA DEVER: 
“It’s time to let people know how special it is. This piece of Wonnarua Country, at the foot of old Tumblebee Mountain, is as much a part of everyone who has grown up here as it is to the Regent Honeyeater.
“These zoo-bred Regent Honey Eater releases are critical to the survival of the species.
“My grandparents and their parents before them had Regents in their backyard at Stanford Merthyr. We want our grandchildren to have them in theirs.
“The Regent Honeyeater is still here because this place of Kurri Kurri, this salty water place, is a good place, it’s special Country.
“This is not something that can be left to a few anymore – there is no time left to think about your involvement. Its protection starts with every man, woman and child in Kurri Kurri and beyond understanding that this bird is significant to them.
“The golden sunlight of their wings reflects the warm beauty of the Tomalpin Woodlands and Kurri Kurri itself.”
 
WELFARE AND CONSERVATION DIRECTOR AT TARONGA CONSERVATION SOCIETY, ANDREW ELPHINSTONE:
“The Regent Honeyeater is a flagship species, pollinating and maintaining habitat both sides of the Great Dividing Range, but faces an uncertain future.
“Over the past 30 years breeding Regent Honeyeaters we’ve heard some remarkable stories of Taronga Zoo-bred birds pairing and breeding with wild birds, travelling vast distances and being sighted 10-years after their release.”
 
REGENT HONEYEATER RECOVERY ADVISOR AT BIRDLIFE AUSTRALIA, MICK RODERICK:
“The Tomalpin Woodlands are probably the single-most important site for Regent Honeyeaters, and it is a privilege to be able to help save this bird from extinction by supplementing the population on Wonnarua Country.
“We have seen females from previous releases pairing with wild male Regent Honeyeaters and successfully breeding, which is the truest sign of success for the team which is great news.”

Rising Tide’s application to use Foreshore Park as a campsite from 25 November to 2 December has been approved by City of Newcastle following in principle support from the elected Council at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 12 August 2025.   

At the same Extraordinary Council Meeting, the elected Council approved Rising Tide’s application to use Camp Shortland from 28 November to 1 December for a public concert. 

Final authorisation for the Foreshore Park event following the notification process was delegated to City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath and has now been approved. 

The Foreshore Park site replaces Rising Tide’s original application to utilise Hamilton North’s Richardson Park as a camp site, following safety concerns from the Police. 

A total of 1,500 submissions were received by City of Newcastle during the public notice period for Foreshore Park, which were submitted through the formal Have Your Say online portal. 

76.6% of submissions were supportive of the proposed event at Foreshore Park. 65% of submissions from within the Newcastle local government area were supportive of the event. Support was substantially higher in suburbs in wards 1 and 2, which are located closest to Foreshore Park.  

The authorisation does not require the submission of a valid Form 1, following representations from the NSW Police questioning the purpose and benefit, given the event at Foreshore Park is for the purpose for camping and is not expected to include a public assembly. 

A report outlining the reasons for the event authorisation for Foreshore Park can be viewed here, which is available on the City of Newcastle Have Your Say page.

Overwhelming community support for free and accessible active recreation at Camp Shortland is helping drive the design for the future of the popular coastal site.

More than 500 participants weighed in on what should stay as part of City of Newcastle’s staged remediation of the former Newcastle 500 track.

An aerial view of Camp Shortland, including the existing temporary elements that were put in place on the former racetrack area.

Community members were invited to share how they use Camp Shortland and whether temporary fitness, sport and play elements introduced in 2020 to activate the racetrack area between events should remain as part of the site’s permanent landscape.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the consultation revealed clear priorities that will help guide the site’s design.

“The message from our community has been resoundingly clear, they want Camp Shortland to remain an accessible space for active recreation that welcomes people of all ages and abilities,” Mr Bath said.

“We’ve heard strong support for keeping the half basketball court and fitness equipment, along with suggestions to consolidate or relocate some of the exercise elements to achieve a better balance between active recreation and open green space.

“What’s particularly encouraging is the diversity of feedback, with 40 different suburbs represented, every age demographic from school-age to retirees, and more than 100 responses from beyond our local government area. 

“This tells us Camp Shortland truly functions as a regional asset, not just a local park and is highly valued by the community as part of the broader regionally significant Foreshore Park precinct.”

The consultation also informed the community about planned upgrades to existing infrastructure including barbecues, seating and shelters, which will be incorporated into the final design to enhance the functionality and comfort of the space.

The feedback will be used to refine the final landscape plan for the staged remediation, which must balance social, environmental, technical and heritage requirements.

It will then be submitted to the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage for assessment. As Camp Shortland sits within the State Heritage-listed Coal River Precinct, any modifications require approval to ensure they preserve the area’s cultural and historical significance. 

Mr Bath said the community would have another opportunity to review and provide feedback on the updated plan before it proceeds to final endorsement.

“Before we submit anything for final Heritage approval we’re committed to bringing the updated landscape plan back to the community for review,” Mr Bath said. 

“We want residents to see how their feedback has shaped the design and have another opportunity to provide input.

“Our goal is to create a space that honours Camp Shortland’s heritage, serves our community’s wellbeing and can be enjoyed for generations to come. The feedback we’ve received gives us a strong foundation to achieve that outcome.”

For more information and to view the engagement reports, visit the Have Your Say section of City of Newcastle’s website.

Newcastle’s youngest Deputy Lord Mayor has passed the baton of civic leadership to the first Greens councillor to hold the role in almost a decade during a ceremony at City Hall today.

Ward Four Liberal Councillor Callum Pull officially handed over the title, and the Deputy Lord Mayor’s chains, to Councillor Charlotte McCabe after completing a year-long stint in the role.

Councillor Callum Pull officially passes on the Deputy Lord Mayor chains to Councillor Charlotte McCabe as part of a handover ceremony at City Hall today.The transition marks the first changeover for this council term as part of a unanimously supported amendment moved by former Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen in October 2024, to share the position between four Councillors over four years.

Cr Pull became Newcastle’s youngest Deputy Lord Mayor when he was elected to the role at age 23 in October last year and is the second Liberal to hold the title following Councillor Brad Luke’s service from 2012-2014. 

He said it had been an “incredible honour” to serve as the Deputy Lord Mayor. 

“Throughout my 12 months as Deputy Lord Mayor I’ve been focused on initiatives that genuinely improve outcomes for the people I represent,” Cr Pull said.

“From championing an independent review of Council’s processes to the Minmi Road duplication as part of our record $145 million capital works program, I’ve focused every day on driving positive change. 

“The sharing of this role recognises the diverse political makeup of the Council our city elected. 

“It has been heartening to see that the majority of Councillors have been able to work across party lines and find compromise, because the political reality of the chamber is that compromise is essential and is the key to success.

“It has been one of the most eventful first 12 months of a Council term I’ve seen but through it all the city has continued to progress and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of and I hope will continue throughout the rest of the term.”

Cr McCabe is the first Greens Deputy Lord Mayor to serve in nearly a decade, following the term of former Councillor Michael Osbourne, which finished in 2016.  

She said she was honoured to take on the role of Deputy Lord Mayor.

“I think this strengthens the Council through bringing different skills and experience to the role. It also allows us to demonstrate that the diverse political perspectives of our electorate are included and acknowledged in a collaborative, inclusive governing body,” Cr McCabe said.

“As a second term Councillor it’s been incredible to see the tangible results taking place across the city after we’ve gone through the careful processes of consultation and refining plans, through to final adoption in the chamber.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with the Lord Mayor, Councillors and staff as we continue to deliver our strategic plans and respond to the needs of our community.”

From L-R: Cr Deahnna Richardson, Cr Callum Pull, Cr Charlotte McCabe and Cr Declan Clausen will share the role of Deputy Lord Mayor over the council term.Four councillors were nominated to serve a one-year tenure over the four-year period of this elected Council’s term. Cr McCabe will be followed by Labor Councillors Declan Clausen and Deahnna Richardson in 2026 and 2027 respectively. 

Raptor Squad have charged a man following an aggravated robbery in the state’s Hunter Region earlier this year under Strike Force Bromsgrove.

Strike Force Bromsgrove is an investigation by State Crime Command’s Raptor North into a series of related aggravated robbery related incidents in the Nelson Bay area in March 2025.

About 5.25am on Thursday 27 March 2025, emergency services were called to Salamander Way in Salamander Bay following reports of a home invasion.

On arrival, officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District were told five unknown men dressed in dark clothing and face coverings – two armed with firearms, and one armed with a knife – had entered the home.

The group of males allegedly threatened the home’s occupants – a 48-year-old woman and two men aged 52 and 26 – demanding drugs before stealing their mobile phones, a luxury handbag, and a luxury hat.

The offenders then fled the scene in a white 4WD vehicle, suspected to be bearing stolen registration plates CX35UZ.

Local police commenced initial inquiries and NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the youngest man for a suspected broken nose.

The matter was then referred to State Crime Command’s Raptor North who commenced investigations under Strike Force Bromsgrove.

Following extensive inquiries, about 12.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 October 2025), strike force detectives arrested a 31-year-old man in Ultimo.

He was taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with accessory before the fact to robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, and larceny value <=$2000.

The man was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Local Court 7 today (Friday 10 October 2025), where police will allege the man stole the number plates used in the robbery from an address in Claremont meadows on Wednesday 26 March 2025.

Investigations under Strike Force Bromsgrove continue.