Category: Newcastle News

A pedestrian-friendly town centre in North Stockton and a drawcard coastal walk from Stockton to Tomaree Headland are part of an ambitious planning strategy adopted by Port Stephens and Newcastle councils.
The Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy, which was guided by early engagement with the Fern Bay community and a workshop with Councillors from both Newcastle and Port Stephens, is a 20-year blueprint for the rapidly growing area between the Hunter River and Stockton Beach.
The strategy identifies North Stockton as the site of a future town centre and calls for new accommodation developments to support local tourism.
A neighbourhood centre to allow a smaller supermarket in the Fern Bay-Fullerton Cove area has also been included as a direct result of community consultation and will be facilitated by Port Stephens Council with a planning proposal.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy identifies opportunities to create a pedestrian-friendly town centre and mixed-use planning provisions that cater for diverse housing, connected open spaces and community amenities.
“Developed by both Newcastle and Port Stephens councils, the joint strategy is a fantastic outcome after a great deal of work and forms a strategic planning basis to follow along with landowners and the broader Stockton community,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“There are multiple large land holdings in the area that have potential to create positive outcomes for the community and we will work hand in hand with Port Stephens to plan for them in the years ahead.”
Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer said the decision marked the beginning of an exciting time for the residents of Fern Bay and North Stockton.
“This is a great outcome for these communities,” Mayor Palmer said.
“The creation of more housing, access to better facilities and more transport options will ensure this town truly thrives.
“It’s been a wonderfully successful collaboration between our Port Stephens Council and City of Newcastle teams, and we’ll continue to work together on the best outcomes for the Fern Bay North Stockton communities into the future.”
The strategy also recommends a ferry terminal at North Stockton, duplication of Nelson Bay Road with traffic lights at the intersection of Vardon Road, as well as other upgrades to paths, bus stops and transport.
Also key to the strategy are:

• Attracting heritage and nature-based tourism including a coastal walk – featuring boardwalks and observation decks – from Tomaree Headland to Stockton
• Improving access to useable open spaces and well-designed community facilities
• Prioritising safe and convenient travel by walking, cycling and public transport
• Growing a resilient coastal community with access to liveable and diverse housing

Last November, planning staff from both councils attended the Fern Bay Fiesta at Fern Bay community hall to provide information on the strategy.
City of Newcastle and Port Stephens Council adopted the Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy at their Council meetings in March and April 2020 respectively. The Strategy will now be implemented in a coordinated effort between both councils, to achieve positive outcomes for the Fern Bay and North Stockton community spanning LGA boundaries.

City of Newcastle is inviting Hunter residents to help shape the future of cycling in the city by taking part in an update of the 2012 Newcastle Cycling Strategy and Action Plan (NCSAP).
Anyone can have their say until 14 May by completing a cycling survey at www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/YourSay before the updated NCSAP goes on public exhibition for further feedback later in 2020.
“We want to hear from cyclists to find out what’s great about riding around Newcastle, what could be improved and how more locals might be encouraged to get out and enjoy the city under pedal power,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“We also want to hear from people who don’t ride, about what we could do to encourage them to start riding.
“We’ve delivered fantastic cycleway projects over recent years, such as the off-road path from Samdon Street, Hamilton, to Selma Street, Newcastle West; a shared path in Brickworks Park, Wallsend; and around Lambton Park to name just a few.  We know that the perception of lack of safety is a key barrier to more cycling so have also been trying to address several difficult crossings on cycle routes around the city.
“We are currently planning new routes for Hunter Street, Newcastle West, and from Merewether to the Junction as part of a perpetual program of development.
“We’re lucky to have a relatively flat city conducive to cycling, so we look forward to hearing from the community and updating our overarching strategy.”
The City is taking part in the phone-based Local Government Cycling Participation Survey in conjunction with the current engagement program to obtain additional data, particularly from non-cyclists.
In addition to infrastructure projects, much has been done to encourage greater participation in cycling by updating maps, running bicycle skills workshops and promoting gracious behaviour by path and road users.

City of Newcastle has awarded a contract for an advanced organics recycling facility as part of a 25-year commitment to revolutionise food and garden waste treatment.
The project at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre by Barpa Pty Ltd, in partnership with a company that has designed 120 composting facilities worldwide, will over 25 years:

• Divert about 900,000 tonnes of food and garden organics from landfill
• Slash greenhouse emissions by 900,000 tonnes, equal to eliminating 250,000 cars
• Save ratepayers $24 million in operational costs
• Reduce the section 88 levy paid to the NSW Government by $32.5 million

Onsite recycling of garden organics will begin at Summerhill in a fully enclosed facility in 2022 before food organics are added four years later, following comprehensive community consultation.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the project would generate major environmental and financial benefits for the city and community.
“With food and garden organics accounting for around 30 per cent of waste streams, we are embarking on the largest waste commitment ever made by the City: to divert almost a million tonnes of organic material from landfill,” the Lord Mayor said.
“When properly processed into compost, recycled organics can be sold as fertiliser that improves soil quality and productivity, displacing artificial chemical-based fertilisers on crops, sporting fields and in public and household gardens.
“Initially diverting around 20,000 tonnes of garden organics from landfill each year, the Summerhill facility will grow in capacity to process around 50,000 tonnes annually.
“It will see us begin processing all food organics material instead of continuing to landfill them at a prohibitive cost. After paying more than $230 million in waste levies over the past 12 years, the organics recycling facility will save ratepayers $32.5 million over the next 25 years.
“We intend to start processing food organics in 2026 following extensive planning and community engagement. In the meantime, work is continuing on the development of a program to roll out subsidised worm farms and community compost bins across the city.”
Barpa’s proposal for a fully enclosed recycling facility, which will be the first of its kind in the Hunter, was recommended in favour of three rival bids.
Elimination of odours through longer composting times and superior ventilation technology and systems, together with bid partnerWaste Treatment Technologies’ expertise in breaking down biodegradable material and converting waste to compliant, marketable compost, gave Barpa the edge.
The organics recycling facility will lower carbon emissions by ending the costly transfer of garden organics to the Upper Hunter in up to 45 return truck journeys of 173km a week.
Manager of the City’s Waste Services Troy Uren said higher regulatory standards loomed large over such traditional waste practices and that the project also stood to save ratepayers many millions of dollars more in deferred landfill expansion, in addition to $24 million in operational costs, over a quarter of a century.
“Garden organics are currently trucked from Summerhill to a Ravensworth site that can’t process food organics, and at significant cost to the ratepayer in what was only ever intended to be a temporary solution,” he said.
Background:

• While the $120 million operating costs of the facility amount to $26.5 million more than continuing to just recycle garden waste offsite at Ravensworth, $32.5 million will be saved from no longer paying a levy for food organics. This creates an overall saving of $6 million
• This $6 million saving grows to $24 million with projected compost sales of up to $18 million, with scope to divert more waste from neighbouring councils and other commercial sources
• Processing food organics will also defer the need to develop landfill ‘air space’ equal to 840 Olympic swimming pools, which would cost up to $18 million to excavate and prepare
• The City of Newcastle received a $1.5 million grant from the NSW Government in 2017 for early planning and is confident of sourcing additional grant funding from both the state and federal governments
• Even with construction costs, the organics recycling facility remains cheaper than landfill by more than $50 a tonne
• The contract with Barpa has been divided into two stages – design and approvals and construction and commissioning

Lord Mayoral Minutes
Protecting City of Newcastle jobs
A Lord Mayoral Minute calling on both the Federal and NSW Governments to commit to protecting Council jobs, by ensuring that local government is included in any future COVID-19 economic measures, was supported.
ICLEI Oceania – CitiesWithNature initiative
A LMM to accept an invitation from ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Oceania to become a Pioneer City for the new CitiesWithNature Australia Initiative, aimed at recognising and enhancing the value of nature in and around cities across the world, was supported.
COVID-19 financial support
Another LMM calling on the state and federal governments to deliver financial support and stimulus to help local governments continue effective operations, and provide essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic, was supported.
City of Newcastle Fast-track Infrastructure Stimulus Opportunities
Another LMM seeking NSW and Federal Government support for a dedicated local infrastructure stimulus program, with funding for both large-scale projects and a ‘Local Government New Deal’ aimed at protecting jobs through smaller infrastructure projects, was supported.
Ordinary Business
Practice Note: Code of Meeting practice
Council resolved to receive the Practice Note to the Code of Meeting Practice to allow it to meet remotely to manage the risk of transmission of coronavirus.
ICLEI Regional Executive Committee
Council has endorsed nomination of the Lord Mayor for the ICLEI Oceania regional executive committee.
Executive monthly performance report
The Executive Monthly Performance Report for March 2020 was received.
Notices of motion:
Extended powers of planning minister
A Notice of Motion to express opposition to the recent changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, which grant the Minister for Planning Rob Stokes unprecedented powers to override planning decisions made by local councils, planning panels, the Independent Planning Commission, was supported. An amendment was moved to leave the item on the table for future discussion in light of recent changes.

Llewellyn Street, Merewether, will soon be overhauled with new street furniture and shade trees among a range of cosmetic and infrastructure improvements to make the local centre a more attractive and accessible shopping destination.
The $3 million Lewellyn Street local centre upgrade borrows design elements from the nearby Bathers Way – especially concrete and timber installations – and includes footpath and drainage replacements to make the shopping, dining and heath care hub safer and more user friendly.
The improvements will include comfortable, fixed street furniture, new shade trees and low-level gardens to take the edge off summer heat.

A platform with fixed seating at the corner of Dent Street will allow alfresco dining, while bench seating and bar tables with stools along Llewellyn Street create a more functional streetscape along with bike racks and a bubbler.
Ward 2 Councillor Carol Duncan said Llewellyn Street’s physical and functional overhaul would make it a more appealing place to do business and meet friends for coffee or a meal.
“The Llewellyn Street upgrade will create a more-appealing gathering place by addressing existing issues of accessibility, stormwater management and visitor comfort courtesy of new street furniture and shading,” Councillor Duncan said.
“Due to an increase in development and associated road safety issues, flooding and infrastructure needs, Llewellyn Street was identified as a priority project within the City’s local centre renewal program, which has already seen the multimillion-dollar upgrades of the Beresfield and Carrington town centres.
“Like those projects, new road surfaces, kerb and gutter replacements and reconfigured parking spaces will improve access and, together with pedestrian lighting upgrades that includes a smart pole for free Wi-Fi, make the area safer at night.”

Pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy improved amenity courtesy of raised zebra crossings, new cycle lanes, traffic-calming treatments and a new 40km/hr speed limit.
Speed humps and gardens at the intersections of Morgan, Winsor and Merewether streets will also help slow passing traffic.
The project follows extensive public consultation that began in 2016 when the City engaged with the community to develop a Public Domain Plan.
It was publicly exhibited in November and December that year before being approved by Newcastle Traffic Committee and the elected Council.
Work on the project is expected to start in July and take about 12 months to complete.

A pedestrian has died after being hit by a truck in the Hunter region this morning.
Just after 7am (Wednesday 29 April 2020), emergency services were called to Lang Street, Kurri Kurri, following reports that a man had been hit by a truck.
The man, believed to be aged in his 70s, was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
The male truck driver has been taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have established a crime scene, with Lang Street currently closed between Mitchell Avenue and Greta Street.
The road is expected to be closed for some time as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have dashcam vision, is urged to contact police.
 

Newcastle Meals on Wheels will soon have an improved ability to provide for its clients after receiving a $20,526 NSW Government Community Building Partnership grant.
The not-for-profit organisation joins 17 others sharing in $300,000 from the 2019 round of the program.
Other beneficiaries include the St Vincent de Paul Society, who will receive $30,000 for renewable energy provision at its Matthew Talbot Centre and associated transitional housing properties, and Mayfield United Junior Soccer Football Club who will upgrade their changerooms to be more user-friendly with a $20,000 grant.
“These organisations work hard for their communities, so I’m thrilled that they were successful with their applications,” Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said.
“It was very competitive process, which only highlights the calibre of the people within these organisations and wonderful contributions they make to Newcastle.”
Newcastle Meals on Wheels General Manager Damien Isaacs said the support was a godsend.
“Our Catering Kitchen pushes out well over 5000 meals a week and that takes a huge toll on our cooking equipment,” he said.
“We plan to upgrade our combi-therm oven and our Hobart mixer with this support, and it is well-timed for us as the pandemic increases dependence on our service and also multiplies the strain on old equipment.
“In order to support the most vulnerable in our community and keep prices affordable, we depend heavily on support like this.”

All known asbestos is due to be removed from Newcastle East Public School buildings by the end of the year, in a win for the school community.
The calls for asbestos removal were launched by State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp and the school community earlier this year, after it was revealed on the first day of Term 1 that friable asbestos had been found in the school’s heritage building during its renovation over the summer holidays.
The Department’s action on this was queried through recent Budget Estimates, where Mr Crakanthorp asked several questions through the Upper House.
In response, it was confirmed that all known asbestos will be progressively removed from buildings by the end of 2020, while artificial turf will be laid on already-encapsulated asbestos in the school playground.
In addition, Mr Crakanthorp’s questioning revealed that $1.4 million has been spent on removing asbestos from the school to 25 March 2020, while almost $150,000 has been spent on replacing potentially contaminated and subsequently destroyed library books and sports equipment.
“This is a big win for the Newcastle East school community, and after the start to the year they had it will be very welcome,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
“I need to thank Minister Sarah Mitchell for acting on mine and the parents’ calls to have the known asbestos removed from this school.
“Ultimately what we needed was some peace of mind for this community, and I’m thrilled that the parent body and I have been able to work together to achieve this.”

Police are appealing for public assistance after several gravesites were damaged by graffiti at a cemetery on the Mid North Coast.
This morning (Friday 24 April 2020), officers from Manning-Great Lakes Police District were called to a cemetery on The Lakes Way, Tuncurry, following reports of damage to several headstones.
Police arrived and located at least a dozen gravesites damaged by white spray paint.
Detectives have commenced an investigation into the incident.
Police believe the damage occurred sometime between 11am yesterday (Thursday 23 April) and 9am today (Friday 24 April).
Police are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the Forster and Tuncurry areas between these times, anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam vision, or who may have any information which could assist investigators is urged to contact Taree Police Station on 6552 0399 or to call 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.