Category: Newcastle News

The first stage of a key cycleway linking the city centre to Merewether Beach has been fast tracked in recognition of the city’s newfound love for cycling since lockdown measures were introduced in March to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The project has been given a $3.1 million funding boost under Newcastle’s COVID-19 stimulus budget, allowing for completion of construction of a 1.1km section that stretches from Merewether Beach to Glebe Road at The Junction.

Plans include a 2.5m-wide, bi-directional shared path along Watkins Street and Coane Street, between Watkins and John Parade, with new and upgraded crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
“By prioritising our investment in Newcastle’s cycleway infrastructure we hope to help encourage this surge of interest to continue beyond the current climate, enabling cycling to play an even larger role within Newcastle’s transport mix now and in the future,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The cycleway will create an important connection with one of the city’s favourite coastal destinations and encourage more people to make the switch to pedal power.
“We are committed to promoting cycling as a genuine transport option for residents, families, commuters and recreational users, which is why expansion and improvement of the cycleway network is one of the City’s priority projects.
“Improving and expanding Newcastle’s cycling network is an important investment in the future of our city, in line with the adopted Newcastle Cycling Strategy and Action Plan.”
Almost $5 million has been allocated to cycleways projects under the revised 2020-21 capital works budget, including $3.1 million for the Merewether to The Junction  cycleway, as well as funding for a missing cycleway link on University Drive between Blue Gum Road and the inner-city bypass in Birmingham Gardens.
Councillor and cycling enthusiast John Mackenzie welcomed the funding.
“Cycleways deliver a range of benefits to the community by reducing pollution and congestion on our roads, improving a person’s health and wellbeing and reducing their environmental impact,” Cr Mackenzie said.
“I am pleased to see these cycleways projects being prioritised within the revised budget and look forward to seeing them progress during the next 12 months and beyond.
“Our community has been very clear in stating that improved cycleways throughout the city would encourage people to swap the car for the bike in their daily commute to work and school.
“This initial stage is an important step towards the completion of the overall City Centre to Merewether Beach cycleway project, which will provide a first-class route between the inner city and one of our most popular beaches.
“In recent months, as a result of COVID-19, we have seen increasing numbers of residents making use of our city’s cycleways for both transportation and recreational purposes.”
Concept designs for the Merewether Beach to The Junction cycleway will go on public exhibition from Monday 29 June until Monday 27 July via the City of Newcastle website.

The reopening of the City’s cultural attractions will continue this week when Newcastle Museum throws open its doors to the public.
The Museum will recommence its operations on Tuesday 23 June, with three daily one-hour sessions being held between 9.30am and 1.30pm.
Each session will be capped at 45 people, with the restrictions designed to allow visitors to enjoy many of the museum’s most popular attractions while still complying with the latest NSW Public Health Order.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the reopening of the museum will provide another exciting option for locals and visitors looking to make the most of the easing COVID-19 restrictions.
“Following on from the successful reopening of the Newcastle Art Gallery and several Newcastle Regional Library branches, I’m pleased to see the community once again given the opportunity to enjoy the cultural and historic displays on offer at Newcastle Museum,” she said.
“As with all our reopened facilities, careful planning has gone in to being able to safely reintroduce staff and visitors into this space. We ask that visitors continue to practise social distancing, following the floor markers and direction of our staff.”
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said while the facility’s interactive attractions will remain closed for safety in line with State guidelines, the museum still offers an entertaining and informative experience that provides a fascinating insight into Newcastle’s rich heritage.
“We’re so pleased to be able to open our doors and invite visitors back to Newcastle Museum,” she said.
“The public’s safety, and that of our team, is our top priority. So we’ve had to make some changes in our exhibition spaces, as well as remove a lot of our interactive exhibitions such as Supernova and Mininova for now.
“There is still more to discover, from the FIRE! Exhibition, A Newcastle Story, the popular BHP steelmaking simulation and the Cultural Resurgence and Kuueeyung exhibitions, which allow you to reflect on and absorb aspects of our rich local Aboriginal history and culture.”
The Museum will open from Tuesday to Saturday each week. Entry is free, however online bookings via newcastlemuseum.com.au are required before visitors arrive.
A series of Frequently Asked Questions are available at newcastlemuseum.com.au to assist the community with further information about the changes they may experience during their visit.

A passenger who allegedly fled from police has been arrested and charged after three officers were assaulted, one of them suffering a fractured eye socket, in the Hunter region last night.
About 8.40pm (Sunday 21 June 2020), an officer from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a Ford hatchback on Trevor Street, Telarah, after it was allegedly driving dangerously.
Police will allege two men, the driver and a passenger, got out of the car and approached the officer as he was walking towards them.
The driver, a 20-year-old man, allegedly pushed the male officer. As the sergeant tried to arrest the man, the passenger inserted himself between the men.
The driver then allegedly punched the officer to the face, before both men allegedly fled the scene on foot.
Shortly after, the driver was sighted at a nearby railway corridor trying to jump a fence when two officers attempted to restrain him. The driver allegedly punched a constable multiple times before jumping over the fence.
A senior constable followed him over the fence and was also allegedly punched before the 20-year-old man was eventually arrested and charged. He remains before the courts.
The sergeant was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment for a fractured eye socket. The two other officers were treated for minor lacerations and soft tissue damage at Maitland Hospital. All have since been discharged.
Following further inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Ada Street, Telarah, just after 3pm today (Monday 22 June 2020).
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, resist officer in execution of duty and escape police custody.
The man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 23 June 2020).

Three officers have been assaulted – one sustaining a fractured eye socket – after a vehicle stop in Maitland overnight.
About 8.40pm (Sunday 21 June 2020), an officer attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a silver Ford hatchback on Trevor Street in Telarah after it was observed driving in a dangerous manner.
Police will allege one male exited the vehicle and walked towards the Sergeant, attempting to block his vision of the car.
At this time, the officer observed another male exit from the driver’s side of the vehicle before he began acting erratically and allegedly pushed the officer in the chest.
As the officer attempted to arrest the driver, the second male allegedly inserted himself between the two men. The driver then allegedly punched the officer to the left side of his face, impacting with his eye.
Both men then fled the scene on foot.
Shortly after, the driver was sighted at a nearby railway corridor trying to jump a fence when two officers attempted to restrain him. During the melee, the driver allegedly punched a Constable in the neck and shoulder area multiple times before jumping over the fence.
A Senior Constable followed him over the fence and was also allegedly punched before the 20-year-old man was eventually restrained and arrested.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with driving without a licence, drive vehicle under influence of alcohol, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, escape police custody, two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, and two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm
The Curlewis man was refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today (Monday 22 June 2020).
Two female occupants of the Ford are assisting police with inquiries, while the male occupant remains outstanding.
The Sergeant was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment for a fractured eye socket. The two other officers were treated for minor lacerations and soft tissue damage at Maitland Hospital. All have since been discharged.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a stabbing at Waratah.
Just after 2pm today (Sunday 21 June 2020), emergency services were called to a shopping centre on Wallace Street where they found a woman with a stab wound to her arm.
The 26-year-old was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District have established multiple crime scenes in the car park and have commenced inquiries.
Police have been told the woman was stabbed by a man, who then fled the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or the events leading up to it, is urged to contact police immediately.

A man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a woman’s body at a home in the Hunter overnight.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a home on Galway Crescent at Metford shortly before 1.30am (Saturday 20 June 2020), where they spoke to a 20-year-old man outside.
Subsequent inquiries located the body of an 18-year-old woman deceased inside the home. She is yet to be formally identified.
The man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station.
A crime scene has been established at the home and inquiries are now underway by detectives attached to Port Stephens-Hunter PD, assisted by State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
The man has since been charged with murder and refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 21 June 2020).

A man has been charged after weapons and drugs were allegedly located following a search warrant at a home in Cessnock yesterday.
About 11am (Friday 19 June 2020), officers from Hunter Valley Police District Target Action Group stopped a car in Quarrybylong Street and spoke with the driver, a 26-year-old man.
During a search of the car, police allegedly located an electronic stun device and a home-made pistol. Police also located a quantity of methylamphetamine and ammunition for the pistol.
Police then conducted a search warrant at a house in High Street, Cessnock. During the search, police allegedly located a further quantity of methylamphetamine, a home-made garotte, machetes and knives.
The man was charged with 11 offences, including;
possess unregistered pistol
possess prohibited firearm
possess ammunition
possess prohibited weapon (x3)
supply a prohibited drug
possessing a prohibited drug (x2)
possess prescribed restricted substance
contravene Firearm Prohibition Order
The man was refused bail and appeared in Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 20 June 2020). He has formally been refused bail and will re-appear in the same Court on Monday 22 June 2020.
Inquiries are continuing.

City of Newcastle’s long-term management plan for Stockton’s erosion hit coastline will be decided at Tuesday night’s Council meeting after receiving overwhelming support from the community through the public exhibition process.
Councillors will vote to adopt the Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP), which proposes a mix of immediate and longer-term measures to replenish the heavily eroded beach and protect Stockton’s coastal assets.
Actions include an initial sand nourishment program costing $4 million from land-based or other permissible sources, as well as essential work to address the imminent risk to community assets and private property including minimal extensions of the existing buried seawalls.
A mass offshore marine sand nourishment campaign of 2.4 million cubic metres, followed by ongoing 10-year maintenance would provide the necessary protection for Stockton. The pathway for the mass nourishment strategy is through the Deputy Premier’s Stockton Taskforce, that is accessing the required volume of sand from offshore locations, funding sources and all relevant approval processes.
Community and agency stakeholders have backed the proposed measures, with 73 per cent of respondents indicating their support during the recent public exhibition period.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said feedback provided during this process has been used to refine the final draft of the CMP, which will be tabled at Tuesday’s meeting.
“We know how important it is to the community that we move forward with a plan that achieves the best outcome for Stockton’s coastline,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The response we received during the public exhibition period was fantastic, with more than 3,000 views of our dedicated web page and 436 downloads of the draft CMP document, not to mention 18,700 views of videos informing the community and encouraging submissions.
“This extensive engagement has allowed us to carefully consider the needs of the community and industry stakeholders while preparing the final version of the Stockton Coastal Management Program.”
If approved, the Stockton CMP will be submitted to the NSW State Government for certification review.
Stockton Community Liaison Group (CLG) Chair Barbara Whitcher said the group was keen to see the process continue to move forward.
“After extensive consultation with City of Newcastle, including 22 meetings, the Stockton Community Liaison Group is pleased to see that a coastal management plan, which has the broad support of the community, will go to Council,” she said.
“The majority in our community and Council are in agreement about the main features of the program to finally address erosion and protect our coastline.
“We are hopeful that all Councillors will endorse the plan at Tuesday night’s Council meeting to allow the process to continue moving forward with the NSW Government.”
Another key step towards addressing Stockton’s long-term erosion issues was also taken this week, with the first meeting of the Deputy Premier’s Taskforce being held on Tuesday.
The City of Newcastle will play a key role in the taskforce, which is being chaired by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and includes the Lord Mayor, the State Member for Newcastle and representatives from the Stockton community, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Department of Regional NSW, Port of Newcastle and the NSW Coastal Council.
The meeting was hailed by the Deputy Premier as “very successful”, with the Taskforce committed to meeting at least four times a year with the common goal of getting sand onto Stockton Beach.

A man and woman have been charged after a car crashed into a house following a pursuit in the Hunter yesterday.
About 2.20pm (Thursday 18 June 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling the New England Highway near Telarah when they noticed a Holden Commodore allegedly travelling in excess of the sign-posted speed limit and attempted to stop it on Brooks Street.
The Holden allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated before it lost control at the intersection of Raymond Street and crashed through two fences and into a nearby house.
The driver, a 20-year-old man, allegedly attempted to flee on foot, despite suffering serious injuries. He was arrested at the scene.
The passenger, a 21-year-old woman, was trapped inside the vehicle before being freed by emergency services.
The pair were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before the woman was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, while the man was taken to the same hospital by road ambulance. They remain in a stable condition under police guard.
Following inquiries, the driver was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous and, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period today (Friday 19 June 2020).
The passenger was charged with an outstanding warrant for traffic offences following an incident at Maitland on Monday 2 March 2020.
Both were refused bail and during bedside hearings were formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Monday 22 June 2020.

A record $116 million capital works program that will generate up to 700 local jobs and increase the local economy’s economic output by $275 million, is the centrepiece of City of Newcastle’s response to the devastating impact of COVID-19.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2020/21 budget was a significant budget for the City of Newcastle, with the national economy now in recession and more than 41,000 people either losing their job or withdrawing from the local labour force since February.
“When it comes to major economic downturns through incidents such as COVID-19, governments at all levels have a responsibility to accelerate investment to both keep people employed and uplift economic activity,” the Lord Mayor said.
“City of Newcastle’s $116 million capital works program for the next 12 months is projected to create up to 700 local jobs and increase total economic output in our local government area by up to $275 million.
“The budget also includes a further $3.3 million Community and Economic Resilience Package providing significant targeted relief for businesses, residents and the most disadvantaged members of our community.
“The elected Council recognises the critical need for the City of Newcastle to lead from local government by helping to kick start our local economy back into gear”, Cr Nelmes said.
Over the next 12 months the city will deliver a record local infrastructure works program, including:

• $22.9 million for upgrades to local roads and footpaths
• $17 million for waste management, including $9 million towards the construction of an organics facility to compost food and green waste
• $14.2 million for suburban and city centre renewal (including Hunter Street Mall works and Local Centre upgrades at Wallsend, Kotara, Merewether, Shortland, Stockton);
• $9.3 million for environmental sustainability projects, including $1.4 million for Ironbark Creek rehabilitation
• $8.2 million for new and improved parks, playgrounds, sporting and aquatic facilities
• $7.3 million on storm water upgrades to address localised flooding
• $5 million for new and improved cycleways
• $4.6 million for bridge reconstruction works, including Cowper Street and Nelson Street, Wallsend (part of a $20.8 million overall investment into flood mitigation in Wallsend Town Centre)
• $1.5 million to plant new street and park trees
• $5 million to implement our Climate Action Plan

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the record $116 million infrastructure program will be delivered despite a $12 million reduction in income caused by COVID-19.
“The prudent financial management of City of Newcastle means we have the capacity to fund this COVID-19 stimulus budget, without borrowing. Instead the $336 million budget will be funded from forecast income with a $23 million shortfall funded from existing reserves,” Mr Bath said.
The draft 20/21 Budget was placed on public exhibition from March to May and almost 70 per cent of the submissions were positive or constructive. The City’s support for the community and its future financial sustainability garnered the most responses from the community.
Councillor Nelmes added that the brave decisions by most of the elected Council have protected and expanded our services, while the increased investment into capital works has significantly stimulated the local economy.
“Independent economic analysis shows that our investment in local infrastructure has sustained over 3,500 local jobs and increased economic output across Newcastle by more than $1.27 billion since 2015.
“We have committed to infrastructure upgrades at Wallsend to help mitigate continued flooding in the town centre with detailed designs being developed for the reconstruction of Boscawen Street and Nelson Street Bridges.
“We’re also directing $14.2 million to revitalise suburban hubs and local centres to improve public amenity and pedestrian safety at Kotara, Wallsend, Stockton, Shortland, Merewether and Hunter Street to ensure the best possible outcomes for local businesses and our communities.
“Our City has invested in an advanced organics recycling facility at Summerhill which will divert around 900,000 tonnes of food and garden organics from landfill and will slash greenhouse emissions as part of a 25-year commitment to revolutionise food and garden waste treatment.
“The City’s annual street tree planting program will also deliver the benefit of cleaner air, reduced stormwater runoff, habitat for local biodiversity, more shade and a cooler urban environment.”