Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle has returned a sixth consecutive annual operating surplus.
Audited financial statements endorsed by Council tonight show City of Newcastle delivered a budget surplus of $9.4 million for the year 2018/19.
The financial statements also show the City registered operational income of $336.3 million and total operating expenses of $295.9 million.
“City of Newcastle continues on the path of financial sustainability, delivering a sixth consecutive budget surplus,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This compares favourably to a growing trend of budget deficits in local government and demonstrates that the City has the capacity to respond to rising service expectations and unforeseen events.
“Development and investment activity remain strong in Newcastle, with the total value of building approvals again topping $1 billion in 2018/19.
“Our record $91.6 million capital works program for 2018/19 is contributing to this growth, as we maintain heritage assets while revitalising and re-inventing our city.
“The works program delivered projects including popular playgrounds at Blackbutt’s Richley Reserve and the South Stockton Active Hub, plus upgrades to our local centres at Carrington and Beresfield.
“Meanwhile, tourism and visitation are at record numbers, bolstered by the success of the Newcastle 500 and growth in a wide range of events spanning sport, music, art and culture – many of which are supported by CN sponsorships and grants.
“From landmark infrastructure projects to local centre upgrades and flood mitigation works in Wallsend, we’re improving the amenity, safety and sense of community right across the city.”
CEO Jeremy Bath said the City had met or exceeded all six financial performance ratios set by the NSW Office of Local Government (OLG).
“These benchmarks are a measure of financial sustainability and highlight the robust financial health of the City of Newcastle,” he said.
“The figures show ratepayers can be confident that we will continue to deliver high-quality services and projects in a financially responsible way,” he said.
The OLG manages a website that rate payers can use to track how their Council is faring compared to other local governments https://yourcouncil.nsw.gov.au/council-data/newcastle-1560307491/

Following is a summary of the Ordinary Council Meeting for Tuesday 22 October 2019. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Ordinary business 
Adoption of 2018/19 annual financial statements 
Council voted to receive and adopt City of Newcastle’s annual financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended 30 June 2019.
Tabling of disclosures by designated persons – annual report 
Council resolved to note the annual disclosure of interest by designated persons returns (for the financial year 2018/2019) by the CEO.
Administration of 2020 Council election 
Council resolved to enter an election arrangement with the Electoral Commissioner to administer the 2020 ordinary election of Council.
Supplementary report – exhibition of draft Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy 
The draft Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy Implementation Plan and Background Investigations will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days.
Adoption of Community Participation Plan 
Council adopted the Community Participation Plan and will publish it on the NSW eplanning portal by 1 December.
Adoption of Joslin Street Local Centre Public Domain Plan and Traffic Plan 
Council has adopted the Joslin Street Local Centre Public Domain Plan and Traffic Plan.
Acquisition of 8A Albert Street and 161 Railway Street, Wickham 
Council resolved to accept the transfer of 8A Albert Street, Wickham, from Rail Corporation NSW for the purposes of widening it and also 161 Railway Street for use as a public road.
Carrington Greenspace Masterplan public exhibition 
The draft Carrington Greenspace Masterplan will be placed on public exhibition for a period of 60 days.
Executive monthly performance report 
Council received the monthly report.
Greater Newcastle Aerotropolis – Appointment of Council’s representatives 
Council voted to appoint Lord Mayor Councillors Nuatali Nelmes and CEO Jeremy Bath as shareholder representatives to Greater Newcastle Aerotropolis.
Notices of Motion 
National Park Plan of Management 
A Notice of Motion to commence a site-specific Management Plan at National Park through consultation with the community and relevant stakeholders was supported.
Emergency Egress for high rise occupants with a disability  
A Notice of Motion to receive a report on emergency egress from high-rise buildings for occupants and visitors with a disability, including options for amendments planning documents, was supported.
Contracts with value of $1 million or more 
A notice of motion that all contracts greater than $1million that City of Newcastle awards go to a tender process and reported to Council for approval was not supported.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
Three Lord Mayoral Minutes were supported at tonight’s meeting.

Council agreed to prepare detailed Budget submissions for both Commonwealth and NSW Treasurers to consider as a part of their funding allocation, with 14 projects listed including Stockton Coastal Erosion, Newcastle Art Gallery expansion project, expansion of Newcastle Light Rail, flood mitigation at Wallsend and rate rebates for pensioners.

Council will also prepare a submission to the NSW Productivity Commissioner, providing City of Newcastle’s feedback about how the NSW Government can best support continued growth in living standards for all Novocastrians, with specific reference to the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036 noting that an opportunity exists for legislative reform and support that could expedite the implementation of the Plan.

Following the success of the Lord Mayor’s Scholarship for Women, council accepted the proposal from the University of Newcastle to support the expansion of the scholarship program to create the Lord Mayor’s Scholarship, which will be open to all students facing disadvantage.

Inquiries are continuing into a crash which has seriously impacted traffic on the M1 Motorway at Berowra this morning.
Emergency services were called to scene shortly after 3am today (Wednesday 23 October 2019), after a roadworker was struck in the breakdown lane by a utility, driven between the roadwork safety vehicle and the rock wall.
The 28-year-old roadworker was treated at the scene by paramedics for head injuries before being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition.
The driver of the utility, a 72-year-old man from Kingsgrove, has also been taken to Royal North Shore for mandatory testing and to be treated for a minor head injury.
Officers from Ku-Ring-Gai Police Area Command attended and established a crime scene; however, inquiries are now been taken over by the Crash Investigation Unit (CIU), who are on site.
Advice from the Transport Management Centre are that motorists are advised to avoid the Pacific Motorway with all northbound lanes of the M1 closed and motorists are being diverted onto the Pacific Highway at Windybanks Interchange.
Southbound motorists can now use the M1 to travel south but are doing so on the northbound carriageway. Southbound motorists can also divert onto the Pacific Highway at the Berowra off-ramp.
Traffic is very heavy in both directions, especially southbound.
Motorists should allow plenty of extra time, expect delays, reduce speed and exercise caution.
Anyone needing to travel between the Central Coast and Sydney, including HSC students, should consider catching a Central Coast and Newcastle Line train instead.
For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com

Emergency services remain at the scene of a fatal house fire near Maitland tonight.
Shortly after 8.30pm (Tuesday 22 October 2019), emergency services were called to
Peppertree Circuit, Aberglasslyn, following reports a house was on fire.
Fire fighters attended and extinguished the blaze, however; the home sustained extensive damage.
The body of a man was located inside.
A woman and a 13-year-old teenage boy sustained minor injuries and were taken to John Hunter Base Hospital as a precaution.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

City of Newcastle will become the first local government in NSW to move to 100 per cent renewable electricity after awarding a tender to purchase power from the state’s largest windfarm.
A 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) was awarded today to energy retailer Flow Power for the equivalent of all the City’s operational needs from the Sapphire Wind Farm in the New England region.
The accepted tender, which follows Council’s August resolution to make the switch to renewables when existing supply contracts expire, stands to save rate payers around $1.8 million over the 10-year contract.
“From 1 January, the City will become the first local government in NSW to purchase enough renewable electricity to meet 100 per cent of our operational electricity requirements,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This means enough clean energy will be put into the grid to power every sportsground floodlight, local library, park-BBQ and any other facility Council operates.
“Drawing all our energy needs from renewables is a significant achievement for the City and our mission to make our operations more sustainable and cost effective.
“Around 70 per cent of the respondents to a recent community survey supported this move, ranking renewables as one of their highest priority measures to reduce impacts on the environment.”
Flow Power CEO Matthew van der Linden said organisations like City of Newcastle were “leading the transition to a new energy future”.
“We’re thrilled to see the uptake of renewable deals like these grow in the Hunter Region, as proven by City of Newcastle and Molycop earlier this year,” Mr van der Linden said.
“We see this as a long-term partnership, which will not only support City of Newcastle but also, have significant broader impacts for the local region.”
The City already uses half a megawatt of solar energy generated on the roofs of 10 of its facilities, including Newcastle Museum, with an additional five megawatts to come from the solar farm at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Located 18km west of Glen Innes, CWP Renewables’ Sapphire Wind Farm generates enough energy to power around 115,000 homes annually. The facility is part of a 1,300-megawatt wind, solar and battery portfolio the Newcastle-based firm is building across Australia.
Sapphire also supplies locally based industrial products manufacturer Molycop, which became one of the biggest buyers of renewable energy in Australia when it signed a PPA with Flow Power earlier this year.
The City will join the University of Newcastle in switching over to renewables on 1 January and follow the lead of other progressive Australian organisations, including the University of NSW, CBA, Westpac, Monash University and Melbourne University.

An international quest to find a missing photo album, gifted by New South Wales to the British monarchy in 1882, has made its way to Newcastle.
Newcastle City Library is currently hosting The Queen’s Album, a NSW State Archives touring exhibition commemorating 200 years since the birth of Queen Victoria.
The exhibition showcases a selection of 64 images included in a photo album presented to Queen Victoria, depicting scenes of the colony’s landscapes, people and buildings, as well as the industrial development of Newcastle.
 Three images showcasing the city’s industrial strength and economic progress around 1880 feature in the display, including views of the railway lines, harbour and Customs House,” City of Newcastle Manager Libraries and Learning Suzie Gately said.
“Documents mentioning the gift were rediscovered by the NSW State Archives in 2016, and this exhibition was inspired by the chance discovery last year of plate glass negatives for 48 of the 64 photographs found among the Archive’s 14 million items.”
NSW State Archives Senior Exhibitions Curator Dr Penny Stannard said the exhibition had reignited efforts to find the missing album in a mystery the public has been asked to help solve online and via a #QueensAlbum social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
“The history of Newcastle as an industrial city was captured in the album, so we’re delighted to be sharing the exhibition with the local community,” she said.
“If we’re really lucky, it may even spark a new clue to the album’s location.
“Our search for this exquisitely presented collection of photographs given to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in February 1882 has spanned cultural collections in Australia and overseas to no avail, so we’re turning to the public to help locate it.
“Initial research by the NSW State Archives has revealed a design document and a prototype album, but the whereabouts of the final album is currently unknown.”
The Queen’s Album exhibition will remain on display at the library until Saturday 2 November 2019.
Join the public search for the #QueensAlbum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram today and see how this unique exhibition unfolded at https://youtu.be/Q0MyO3xTVIQ.
For more information on The Queen’s Album exhibition and the wider NSW State Archives Collection visit https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/
 

The owner of the building recently leased by City of Newcastle as its new head office has agreed that the commercial terms can be made public.
The decision reveals that City of Newcastle secured a lease (gross lettable area) that is significantly less than the average price paid for A-grade office accommodation in the CBD.
 Spartohori Pty Ltd agreed Wednesday to a written request from Lord Mayor Cr Nuatali Nelmes to waive its right to commercial confidentiality over the lease.
 The annual amount to be paid in rent will now be included on City of Newcastle’s contract register, available at:
 www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/Our-Responsibilities/Access-to-Information/Contracts-Register
 The lease came into effect on 4 September this year, with City of Newcastle securing space within six floors of the new building for 15 years, with a first right of refusal (after the mortgagee) to buy the asset.
 The City will pay $276.92/m2 for the gross lettable area plus 63.36% of outgoings for the building, which is significantly less than the average gross A Grade rental in the Newcastle CBD of $500/m2.
 City of Newcastle’s rent can only increase by CPI, and even then by no more than 3%. This is 1% lower than the standard lease agreement for A-Grade office accommodation in the CBD.
 Lord Mayor Cr Nuatali Nelmes said she requested the owner of 12 Stewart Avenue to make the lease terms public.
 “In 2017 when the elected Council considered the lease, the owner was clear that the terms must be confidential. This is standard business practice noting he was negotiating leases with other parties for the same building.
 “Councillors voted in support of the recommendation to relocate the City’s administration centre to 12 Stewart Avenue and to maintain confidentiality on this information on commercial grounds.
 “With the owner having now finalised all leases for the building, I considered it a fair and reasonable time for the lease to be publicly available.
 “City of Newcastle secured a lease agreement that is significantly less on a per square metre basis than the average lease for A-Grade office accommodation in Newcastle, which is an excellent result for the city,” Cr Nelmes said.
 CEO Jeremy Bath said the favourable terms were reflective of the City of Newcastle’s position as the building’s anchor tenant.
 “The benefits of consolidating 450 staff previously spread across three buildings and 12 floors into one building and across just six floors, are obvious,” he said.
 “There is already noticeably more communication and collaboration occurring, confirming the expected efficiencies of being in the one location. There is an abundance of international research to show that we make better decisions when we collaborate. Council staff are no different.
“An independent business case by CBRE found that ratepayers are at least $13.5 million better off for the relocation. The sale of the Roundhouse building achieves significant savings in building maintenance and avoiding millions of dollars in redeveloping the 43-year-old building.
 “The $13.5 million public benefit calculated by CBRE doesn’t include the $16.5 million proceeds from the sale of the Roundhouse Building or the $22 million in interest that will be generated from investing these funds over the next 20 years. Should the elected Council support the sale of the Fredrick Ash Building next year, then this financial benefit to ratepayers will increase even further.
 “In recognising the financial benefits of leasing our head office over owning it, City of Newcastle has done what many others locally did years ago. Hunter Water, the Newcastle Herald, ANZ, Telstra, RMS, Coles, Kmart, Big W, David Jones and Woolworths have all recognised that there are significant financial gains from leasing a building rather than owning it.
 “The independent business case does not yet include plans to make the ground floor a dual space for customer service as well as the region’s first digital library. This will only enhance the public benefit of the move.”
 Representative and spokesperson for Spartohori Gregory Politis said in his emailed response to the Lord Mayor:
 “Now that lease arrangements, negotiations and commercial matters have been finalised with all tenants at 12 Stewart Avenue, and in the interest of the public good, I am of the mind that the commercial lease between Spartohori Pty Ltd and the City of Newcastle will no longer need to remain confidential on the grounds of commercial in confidence.
 “I therefore agree and permit the lessee to disclose all details pertaining to the above stated lease to the public.
 “I appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this commercial matter.”
 The total amount to be paid annually is:
 Rent – $2.080 million
Outgoings – $482,509
99 car spaces – $272,250
 Forecast rental income from the sublease of one floor with 20 car spaces – $500,000.
 Net expense – $2.335m
 Rent and outgoings for the new office are fully provided for in CN’s 2019/20 budget which was approved by the elected Council in June.

They say every dog has its day, and that is certainly the case for local pooches who can now roam free in the city’s first fenced dog park.
The new facility at Acacia Avenue Reserve, North Lambton was officially opened today with creatures great and small converging on the park to celebrate.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the unveiling of the dog park is fantastic for our dog-loving city and is the culmination of significant community feedback.
“After a strong response to the development of our Dogs in Open Space Plan, including more than 1,000 community submissions, it was clear that catering for our four-legged friends is extremely important to our city,” he said.
“Delivering a fenced off-leash area for the city came through as one of the major pieces of feedback and we’ve worked since then on identifying the best location in consultation with the community.
“The community’s input has been reflected in the unique way the park has been constructed with special areas for both large and small dogs to play in comfort. I’m thrilled with this space and know it will be a vibrant and popular place for people and their pets to be active and play outside.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the new park was a premier facility for dog owners wanting their pets to enjoy time off-leash and socialising in a contained environment.
“The dog park is encircled by a 1.5 metre-high chain-mesh fence and contains 452 metres of accessible pathway throughout,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The park is now equipped with two shelters and tables, two dog bubblers and dog dispenser bags, ensuring comfort for dogs and their owners.
“A unique and popular feature of the park is the dedicated areas for small and large dogs to enjoy. The 1.5 hectare fenced area is the ultimate space for pet owners to bring their dogs without the worry of them wandering off into traffic.”
The City of Newcastle has one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the State with more than 44,300 registered dogs calling the city home.
The existing off-leash area at the reserve’s lower level will be retained providing an overflow from the fenced area.
City of Newcastle rangers were on hand at the opening event to provide free microchipping, dog care packs and information on responsible dog ownership.

Rankin Park families have a new $150,000 playground on McCaffrey Drive as City of Newcastle continues its rollout of new and upgraded facilities across the local government area.
The Coldstream Reserve facility follows delivery of three other new playgrounds by the City this year in Adamstown, Wallsend, and the incredibly popular Stockton Active Hub on the Stockton foreshore.

“Up to five of Newcastle’s 119 playgrounds are included annually in the City’s asset renewal works program,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Two more upgrades are set to be delivered in Wallsend at Carrington Street Reserve and Brickworks Park over the next 12 months.”
The Lord Mayor and locals will gather in Coldstream Reserve Saturday to officially open the facility, which was built by City of Newcastle as a replacement for another nearby playground which had to be closed because of mine subsidence.
“I’m delighted to deliver this new playground for the Rankin Park community,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“This is the fourth playground we’ve opened this year and I know how much pleasure they bring for both kids and their families.
“After the forced closure of the Rosedale Crescent playground, the community was consulted to choose a new location, and the consensus was Coldstream Reserve just a few hundred metres away. The feedback so far is that the kids absolutely love it.”
The playground includes a range of options to challenge young bodies and minds, including a rope-based play system, platforms and slide, swing set and balance logs.
Funded by Subsidence Advisory NSW in partnership with City of Newcastle, the playground blends with the slope of the reserve, changing levels via steps in a sandstone retaining wall.
Equipment colours match surrounding eucalypts and the play area, which is fenced off from McCaffrey Drive, is accessible via a path that also leads to picnic tables under a timber shade structure.
Playgrounds earmarked for an overhaul are selected and prioritised from a biennial independent audit that assesses their existing condition against current safety standards and guidelines.
The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the new playground tomorrow, Saturday 19 October 2019 from 10.30am.
Image caption: Two-year-old George Outram with Ari Boorer, 2.

An advanced network of sensors spread across the city has put Newcastle on the front foot to combat a range of local environmental issues.
The City’s ‘Envirosensing’ network and Internet of Things (IoT) project, which will be officially launched today, is the culmination of three years of work to build one of the most advanced smart city infrastructure systems in Australia.
The system is designed to measure a range of environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, wind direction, air quality, water usage, soil moisture and solar irradiance.
The infrastructure also allows for the pilot deployment of smart bin sensors, smart parking sensors and other smart city applications.
Data collected by the sensors can help the City better understand and respond to issues such as urban heat island effect, air pollution, flood management and water sustainability, as well as monitor the performance of urban systems and assets.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle is leading the way when it comes to investment in and uptake of technology.
“The launch is a significant milestone, marking the completion of the base infrastructure required to start deploying applications that not only solve the city’s challenges but also harness exciting opportunities,” Cr Nelmes said.
“An example of how these sensors can be used is in combatting the phenomenon of higher temperatures in areas with a lot of buildings and pavement, known as the Urban Heat Island effect.
“Studies show that Urban Heat Islands are associated with higher pollution and negative health conditions, especially for the elderly and young children. This technology will be integral to exploring possible actions to mitigate urban warming.”
Today’s launch will also showcase custom-designed adaptable sensor housings developed with local industrial design outfit Design Anthology, which are integrated into the city’s growing smart pole network and can be accessed by the City’s research and industry partners to develop new technologies and help solve city challenges.
Cr Nelmes said this network will establish Newcastle as an experimental testbed for progressing research, prototyping and entrepreneurial activity.
“The scope of this system’s potential is as far-reaching as the imagination of the researchers and entrepreneurs we hope to attract to solve an open-ended range of challenges using sensing and data,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This infrastructure will allow us to focus on optimisation, efficiency and evidence-based decisions in our journey towards becoming a smart, sustainable and liveable global city.”
The NSW Government supported the deployment of smart city infrastructure through a $5 million grant via the Restart NSW-funded Hunter Innovation Project. A partnership with the State Government will see the City of Newcastle invest an additional $2 million over three years.