Category: Newcastle News

Budding young musicians and rockstars in the making will get a new Music Hub in Newcastle to jam and record if Labor is elected.
This election is a choice between a Shorten Labor Government with a plan for vibrant local communities, or more cuts and chaos from the Liberals.
Senator Kristina Keneally joined Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon to announce the funding for a Music Hub in Newcastle on behalf of Shadow Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke.
Senator Keneally said Atwea College had been awarded $350,000 to create a rehearsal area, live performance space and recording studio at The Creative Arts Space on Beaumont Street, Hamilton.
“The facilities will be accessible to community members and disadvantaged young people who don’t have access to anywhere they can practice,” Senator Keneally said.
“This funding will allow for soundproofing and electrical works, upgraded lighting and a stage extension. It will also fund some fabulous new equipment like speakers, amps and instruments.”
Ms Claydon said the project was a perfect fit for Newcastle.
“Live music has long been the lifeblood of Newcastle, but it’s getting harder and harder for young people to find the space to hone their skills,” Ms Claydon said.
“Atwea will also provide professional musicians who will be on hand to give mentoring, training and support to the next generation of artists and to connect them to Newcastle’s music community.”
Atwea College Executive Director Rowan Cox said the funding would help foster Newcastle’s music culture and provide much-needed updates to the Creative Arts Space in Hamilton.
“The Newcastle Music Hub will give young Novocastrians access to professional equipment and give them the skills and experience to pursue their musical ambitions,” Ms Cox said.
“The jam spaces and recording studios will be available for young members of the community to book time in.  In the recording studio, they will be offered supervision and support by Atwea trainers. Atwea also plans to restart Open Mic Nights and Battle of the Bands to create more opportunities for live performances for local artists.”
Music Hub funding is provided under Labor’s Soundtrack Australia policy – the most comprehensive contemporary music policy by an Australian Government.
From encouraging more Australian children to learn and play music, to assisting young bands reach overseas markets, to more support for live music and ensuring fans aren’t being ripped off when they buy tickets – Labor wants to see more Australians making music, listening to music, and seeing live music.

City of Newcastle has opened this year’s grants and sponsorship funding round worth half a million dollars to support events and initiatives such as Newcastle’s first homegrown comedy festival.
As the opening night of the four-day Newcastle Comedy festival nears, the City invites community groups keen to stage events in the next financial year to apply for $280,000 in funding under its Event Sponsorship Program (ESP).
The inaugural rib tickler was awarded more than $15,000 under last year’s ESP to deliver a barrel of laughs at Civic Theatre, pubs and live venues across the City from Thursday 23 May.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Newcastle Comedy Festival crew (bottom left) Chris Wedlock,
(top left) Andrew Milos, (top right) Alan Parry and (bottom right) Grant Gibbons
Festival director Andrew Milos, of the aptly named Big Dog Pod, said the funding was crucial to getting a locally produced event off the ground.
“I’m really glad we’ve got the backing behind us to do this because if I didn’t do it then someone from Sydney would have,” he said.
“It’s helped give us some breathing room to secure local comedy acts, such as Raw finalist Cameron James, and we’ve been able to approach second year sound engineering students from Newcastle University to help us out.
The ESP, applications for which are now open, provides funding for Community Events, Major Community Events, Major Destination Events, Commercial Events and Business Events. More than 35 events were sponsored under last year’s program, extending from local community based festivals through to international competitions such as the Port to Port Mountain Bike event.
The ESP will be followed by another $210,000 worth of grant funding through Economic Development ($70,000) Community ($60,000) and Recreational Facilities ($80,000) grant programs over the next few months.
Triple J Raw Comedy finalist Cameron James will be a local hit at the upcoming comedy festival
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the grants open the door for new ventures and groups to provide a welcome community contribution, or for existing organisations to build on their previous success.
“It’s the aim of the grant funding to support local talent and community groups as they evolve into successful organisations delivering outcomes year-in, year-out,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Last year’s funding across our range of sponsorship and grant programs has contributed to projects with a direct expenditure of $1.25 million and provided support for business growth and employment while encouraging innovation, community capacity building, placemaking and developing the visitor economy.
“I know in speaking with the organisers of the Newcastle Comedy Festival that they have big plans to grow the local comedy scene so it’s very important that we help them.”
Fore more information on the City’s sponsorship grants, visit http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-Sponsorships

Virtual and augmented reality demonstrations, an Internet of Things workshop and an intro to borrowable podcasting equipment will feature at Newcastle Library during the upcoming Hunter Innovation Festival.
City of Newcastle has partnered with festival organisers to help Hunter residents explore innovation in a friendly, hands-on environment as part of strategic smart city strategy adopted by Council in 2017.
“The City of Newcastle is proud to be on board with the Hunter Innovation Festival as Festival Partner in 2019, supporting an expanded program and providing the Library as a festival hub,” Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Newcastle has a long history of producing world-class innovation in heavy industries and we’re also punching above our weight in emerging industries, such as robotics and advanced manufacturing.
“Our smart city infrastructure and platforms are now attracting international attention and we’re working hard to diversify the local economy through a range of public works and economic initiatives.
“Social inclusion is an important part of this, so I’m delighted that library members will soon be able to borrow tech to create professional podcasts and that our libraries in general are spearheading the smart city charge – through virtual and augmented reality and even hosting school holiday STEM programs.”
The festival follows adoption of Newcastle Libraries’ 2019-2029 Strategy, which aims to deliver a world-class library for a smart, liveable and sustainable city.
“The Library is a gateway to understanding the knowledge economy, supporting an inclusive approach for the benefit of all citizens,” Newcastle Libraries Manager Suzie Gately said.
“A key part of our new strategy is partnering with stakeholders in the smart city ecosystem to promote initiatives to improve liveability, sustainability and local innovation.
“The Hunter Innovation Festival is a great event to show the integral role libraries play in introducing the community to new technology and providing resources and programs to bridge the digital divide. “
Festival highlights at Newcastle Region Library on Laman Street include:

• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Demonstrations – learn how the City uses VR for destination marketing and AR to bring its heritage collections to life
• Data is the new oil – a talk looking at the relationship between smart cities and data
• Get involved in your smart city – a workshop on how to incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) into your daily life.
• Podcasting 101 – with the library soon to make podcasting tech available for loan, this workshop will help story tellers transform ideas it into great sounding audio
• Idea to Execution with SheStarts – a workshop for entrepreneurial women looking to take the plunge and start their own business
• Technology and Backyard Food Production – a look at how you can use smart tech to increase the productivity of your veggie patch and garden
• Six kids’ workshops including two Family Maker Labs and a Mars Rover Challenge

The festival runs from May 6 to 17 and will include more than 40 events in Newcastle and the Hunter including a Hackathon, Pitch Night, Business Bootcamp, a Humans v Robots debate, Hunter Research Foundation Centre’s Economic Breakfast with an international guest speaker, a Flash Mob, an interactive lighting installation in Civic Park and more.
Visit the HIF websit here for more.

A man has been charged following an alleged kidnapping incident in Newcastle earlier this week.
Around 9pm on Monday 29 April 2019, a 48-year-old man and 37-year-old woman were at a licenced premises at Main Road, Cardiff.
Police have been told the pair then got in a vehicle and drove to multiple locations within Newcastle, during which the woman was allegedly assaulted several times.
About 2pm the next day (Tuesday 30 April 2019), the woman was dropped off in the Wallsend area, where she sought assistance from a nearby business and police were contacted.
The 48-year-old man was arrested at Waratah Police Station and charged with take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage occasion actual bodily harm.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 1 May 2019).

Strike Force Raptor North have arrested a Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) nominee, who was wanted on three outstanding warrants.
In March 2019, police commenced inquiries to locate a 25-year-old man, who was wanted on two outstanding warrants for assault offences and a revocation of parole warrant.
Following extensive inquiries, which included social media posts by the man taunting local police, Strike Force Raptor North investigators arrested the man at a unit in Parkway Avenue, Cooks Hill, about 7.45am today (Wednesday 1 May 2019).
He was taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with the outstanding warrants.
The man, who is a nominee of the Rebels OMCG, was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
Anyone with information, including relevant photos and videos, that may assist Strike Force Raptor can report it directly to investigators via the Strike Force Raptor online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/Default.aspx?id=49 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Information provided to investigators will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Two men will appear in court next month after being charged with a break and enter offence near Lake Macquarie.
During Sunday 28 April 2019 a home in Robina Drive at Hillsborough was broken into and a quantity of Australian currency was stolen.
That afternoon the owner reported the matter to police at Lake Macquarie Police District and officers commenced an investigation.
On Monday 29 April 2019 officers from Lake Macquarie Target Action Group arrested a 20-year-old man at a Roe Street, Mayfield home.
Officers subsequently searched a property at Hamilton South and recovered a quantity of cash.
Investigators then executed a search warrant at a home in Avery Lane at Buchanan and seized a quantity of cash and items of clothing for forensic analysis.
Following the search warrant a 22-year-old man was arrested at Cessnock Police Station.
Both men were charged with break, enter and steal and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
The 20-year-old man was granted conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 22 May 2019.
The 22-year-old man was granted conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 29 May 2019.
Police continue with their inquiries into the incident.

A man will face court tomorrow after an alleged kidnapping in the Lake Macquarie area.
About 8.15am on Monday 29 April 2019, a 28-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, known to each other, were travelling in a Holden Commodore station wagon to Newcastle.
While at the intersection of the Pacific Highway and Northcott Drive, Adamstown Heights, the 28-year-old man allegedly assaulted the woman, then continued driving.
The woman escaped from the car while it was stopped on King Street, Newcastle, and ran to a nearby Court House where police were contacted.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and spoke to the victim, commencing an investigation.
About 8pm, the 26-year-old woman was walking to an address in West Wallsend, when a 28-year-old man in a Holden Commodore, who is known to her, allegedly forced her into the car, travelling to Cessnock.
The man stopped the vehicle believed to be somewhere in Pokolbin preventing the woman from leaving.
They continued to travel to an address in Cessnock, where they remained most of the day. The woman was dropped off at a hotel in Cessnock and contacted police.
Following inquiries, detectives arrested a 28-year-old man at a hotel in Cessnock, about 2.15pm today (Tuesday 30 April 2019).
The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with common assault (x2), contravene apprehended violence order (x2), and take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 1 May 2019).

Shadow Minister for the Environment Tony Burke and Labor Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon are pleased to announce a Shorten Labor Government will commit $2.3 million to rejuvenate Throsby Creek and prevent damaging plastics and rubbish from ending up in the ocean.
This election will be a choice between a Shorten Labor Government with a plan for the environment, or more cuts and chaos from the Liberals.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the project includes the installation of traps to collect rubbish before it flows to the harbour.
“The funding will allow for the installation of four gross pollutant traps to catch rubbish at the source so it doesn’t end up in our precious ocean,” Ms Claydon said.
Ms Claydon said the fund would also allow for landscaping of the northern bank of the creek between Lewis Street Bridge and Hannell Street.
“The plan is for a non-sealed walkway with appropriate landscaping. Work will include cultivation of existing soil, soil improvement, plating and mulching,” Ms Claydon said.
“This will greatly improve the amenity of the area, mitigate erosion and decrease the potential for contaminant runoff from the former industrial land.”
“Through the Urban Rivers and Corridors Program, a Shorten Labor Government has committed $200 million to restore urban waterways and habitat corridors across the country to their natural beauty,” said Mr Burke.
“Labor’s investment will unlock grant funding for projects to clean up our rivers including revegetation, tree planting, waste capture and naturalisation projects.”
“For too long, our rivers, creeks and wetlands have been treated like storm water drains, end up polluted, dirty and littered with shopping trolleys rather than being safe spaces for families, kids and school groups to visit.
“Labor will engage state and local governments, local councils, community groups and local environmental organisations to bring urban waterways and habitat corridors back to health.”
Labor’s $200 million investment will fund projects to clean up our rivers, including:

• Building wetlands to capture and clean and filter stormwater.
• Revegetation and tree planting along corridors.
• Citizen science and education programs along creeks and corridors, including bush kinder.
• Bird boxes and waste capture.
• Employment of indigenous rangers.
• Turning urban waterways back into creeks and rivers again through changing hard surfaces back to natural surfaces (cement turned to river banks).

State Member for Newcastle and Chair of the Throsby Creek Government Agencies Committee Tim Crakanthorp welcomed the funding.
“The Committee has worked tirelessly over the past few years to produce a plan to restore Throsby Creek to its natural state. This funding will address some key priority areas as outlined in the plan.
“Throsby Creek is one of Newcastle’s most important natural assets. This funding will improve the community amenity and the health of the river for future generations of Novocastrians to enjoy.”
The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has consistently failed to provide federal environment programs that adequately address the urgent need for urban river rehabilitation.
Only Labor is serious about protecting the environment and making sure it’s there for future generations to enjoy. We’ll take action on climate change, invest in the environment, and maintain Australia’s status as the “great outdoors”.
These policies and projects will form part of a comprehensive platform for a healthier environment in our cities and across Australia.

A police officer has suffered minor injuries while arresting a man in the Lake Macquarie region.
At around 1.40am this morning (Monday 29 April 2019), officers attended a home on Shelley Street, Toronto, following reports of a domestic violence incident.
Police arrested a 22-year-old man at the scene before it’s alleged he broke free and fled on foot.
A male officer then pursued on foot before attempting to restrain him.
The man managed to break free, before returning to the scene a short time later where he was placed under arrest without incident.
During the earlier altercation, the senior constable suffered a laceration to his right forearm.
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital by road ambulance for treatment and has since been released.
The 22-year-old man was charged with breach AVO, use carriage service to menace/harass/offend and resist arrest.
He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Monday 29 April 2019).

A second man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives over an alleged armed robbery near Maitland last year.
Just after 5am on Saturday 22 December 2018, three men – armed with a firearm, samurai sword and baseball bat – forced entry to licenced premises on West Street, Greta, about 20km north west of Maitland.
An employee was allegedly struck with the bat and threatened with the firearm, before the group stole several items, including a mobile phone, laptop and alcohol.
They fled in a utility being driven by a fourth man.
The injured man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Maitland Hospital for treatment of head abrasions, and two broken fingers. He has since been released.
Detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Timbrell to investigate the incident.
Following inquiries, a 21-year-old man was charged on Monday 1 April 2019 and remains before the courts.
As a result of further inquiries, a second 21-year-old man, was taken to Lithgow Police Station last Wednesday (24 April 2019), and charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon.
The man was refused bail to appear at Lithgow Local Court on the same day, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday (29 April 2019).
Investigations under Strike Force Timbrell continue and police are still seeking two men in relation to the incident.