Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle has completed the sale of its Roundhouse building to Crystalbrook Collection for 22 per cent above valuation and will offer the Fred Ash Building (FAB) for sale or lease later this year to capitalise on its location next to the city’s first five-star hotel.
A portion of the funds from the Roundhouse sale will go to fitting out the City’s new administration building on the corner of Stewart Avenue and Hunter Street. The tender for this contract will close on Tuesday 19 March.
Once awarded, the contract will allow for the entire southern tower and the top floor of the northern tower to be prepared for staff occupation before the end of the year. The second floor of the northern tower will be offered for lease.
The fit out has been estimated at $8.5 million with the actual price to be determined by the competitive tender process.
It includes the installation of a mobile Council Chamber on the ground floor, allowing the space to be used for a variety of community purposes when not being used for formal Council meetings, which occur twice a month.
The new City Administration Building will see the relocation of 425 staff spread across the 41-year-old Roundhouse, the 114-year-old FAB and the 90-year-old City Hall. The actual cost of relocating from the three buildings to the new single office location will be around $145,000.
The fit out will for the first time provide staff with kitchen and dining facilities. A rooftop terrace on the sixth floor, accessible to all staff, will create an outdoor work space as well as a dedicated lunch area. Part of the rooftop will be fitted for civic functions.
The rear of the sixth floor will house the office of the Lord Mayor and CEO and staff. The floor will also include a function/meeting room capable of hosting civic events, a kitchen for catering events, and meeting rooms accessible to all staff.
The new building will incorporate meeting rooms on each floor to encourage better communication and collaborative decision-making. Due to overcrowding in the City’s current staff buildings, entire floors have no dedicated meeting rooms.
The Stewart Avenue building is located across from the former Store site where construction is set to start later this year on a $200 million residential and commercial site as well as bus interchange. In addition to access to nearby public transport including train and light rail, several large spaces have been allocated within the building to encourage staff to ride to work.
The two buildings are the foundation of the City’s new CBD which has attracted more than half a billion dollars in development during the past two years. The NSW Government recently confirmed it had entered a 10-year agreement to be the anchor tenant at the new office development to be built on the site of the former Store building.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the full fit out contract would be brought to Council in April for consideration.
“The estimated cost is $8.5 million, which is more than the $7 million we predicted 18 months ago. That’s an estimate which hopefully will come in lower due to the competitive tender process,” Mr Bath said.
“It’s worth also noting the Council made the decision late last year to relocate the Chamber to the new building, freeing up the existing one to be used by school and community groups. The Chamber in its current location at City Hall is closed to the public because of the need to protect the audio-visual equipment used to record and webcast Council meetings.
“The move to the Stewart Avenue building also provides City of Newcastle the opportunity to re-invent the way our staff work. We will be using an activity-based work model, which has been successfully introduced in many corporate offices in Sydney including Macquarie Bank, Blacktown Hospital, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Staff workshops are currently underway to finalise the layout of each floor with more than 100 staff volunteering to be part of the process.
“The advice of the Commonwealth Bank and many others is that activity-based working improves staff communication, collaboration and interaction, which in turn delivers better decision making.
“The building will largely be free of traditional IT infrastructure, with the City last year commencing the process of relocating its servers to the Cloud. By relocating data and software applications to the Cloud, security is significantly enhanced.
“Critically, it also allows staff to access information anywhere and at any time. Under the IT model employed until recently, staff had to be seated at their allocated desk to access information and undertake their job.”
Mr Bath said the FAB was pulled from sale last year when it became apparent that the likely buyer of the Roundhouse was going to convert it to a five-star hotel.
“The decision was made to pull the sale of the second building late last year to ensure we captured the increase in property value that comes from being located next to a five-star hotel,” he said.
“The community’s response to the imminent arrival of a five-star hotel and the initial concept designs has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s wonderful to know our exit from the Roundhouse has created arguably the most significant opportunity in our city’s tourism industry since the closure of BHP more than 20 years ago.”

Novocastrians with family heirlooms or trinkets dating back generations can find out if they’re sitting on a million-dollar fortune at Newcastle Museum this Saturday.
The museum is hosting its annual Valuation Day from 10am-4pm, offering members of the community 15-minute, one-on-one consultations with expert auctioneers and valuators, who will also bring along some priceless Kelly Gang memorabilia.
Akin to the popular British TV show Antiques Roadshow, auctioneers Alex Renwick and Tom Thompson will delve into the history and heritage of individual heirlooms and collector items, before estimating their value.
Museum Director Julie Baird said the day offers the community a cheap and accessible opportunity to turn that tangible treasure into cash.
“You never know what that collector’s item or heirloom which has been stored away in safe keeping might be worth to you or a loved one,” Ms Baird said.
“Alex and Tom have more than 50 years auctioneering and valuation experience between them, so they’ll certainly be useful in either making or breaking someone’s day.
“Either way, you’ve really got nothing to lose so book in for a 15-minute discussion about your most cherished treasures and discover the history and potential value of them for just $15.”
The auctioneers will bring an original gun used by the Kelly gang and a photo of the infamous bushranger and his family taken at Euroa in Victoria.
The photo features Ned, his brother and his cousin, all unmasked and wearing the clothes they had just stolen when they took over the town in 1878.
Ms Baird said the photo was extremely rare.
“It’s estimated to be one of only two original images world-wide featuring an image of the Kelly gang unmasked,” she said.
“I’d be very surprised to know what it would be worth, but I really don’t think you could put a price on such an iconic and rare piece of Australian history. It truly is priceless.”
Bookings are essential and can be made at http://newcastlemuseum.com.au/Whats-On/Events/Valuation-Day
            ^{A rare image of the Kelly Gang will be on display Saturday}

Police have launched a critical incident investigation following the shooting death of a man in the Lake Macquarie region today.
As part of inquiries into the death of a 27-year-old woman, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a home in Vena Street, Glendale, just before 9am (Thursday 14 March 2019).
When officers confronted a 21-year-old man at the property, he allegedly threatened them with a knife before he was shot by police.
The man died at the scene.
A Critical Incident Team will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm.
Inquiries are continuing.

Police are urging people in the Newcastle area to celebrate safely and responsibly this weekend, with several large-scale events, including three music festivals taking place across the region.
Two music festivals will take place on Saturday 16 March 2019 – ‘The Drop’ Festival at King Edward Park and ‘Live at the Foreshore’ at the Newcastle Foreshore. While ‘Up-Down’ Festival will also take place at the Newcastle Foreshore on Sunday 17 March 2019.
A high-visibility police operation will be in place at each of these festivals including officers from Newcastle City Police District, with assistance from specialist units including the Dog Unit, Licencing Police, and Police Transport Command.
These events fall on the same weekend as three big sporting events in Newcastle – the Newcastle Knights will play their first game of the 2019 NRL season against the Cronulla Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday 15 March 2019. While the Newcastle Jets will play in the F3 Derby against the Central Coast Mariners at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday 16 March 2019, and thousands are in town for the finals weekend of Surfest at Merewether Beach (Friday 15 March – Sunday 17 March 2019).
Newcastle City Police District Superintendent, Brett Greentree, says officers will maintain a strong presence at these events, targeting anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.
“Thousands of people are expected to attend all these events across three busy days in Newcastle, and police from both general duties and specialist units will be patrolling the venues, targeting anti-social behaviour, and the supply and possession of illegal drugs,”
“It’s great to see Newcastle as a busy spot for sporting and music events, but we want people to enjoy these events safely. We’re regularly reminded of the negative effects alcohol and drugs can have on people’s health and behaviour, we will be targeting those intent on bringing any illegal substance into the events.” Superintendent Greentree said.
Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who feels unwell, is urged to seek professional medical attention.
“The weather is forecast to be wet all weekend, so revellers are encouraged to look after one another, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water – not alcohol, and keep safe and dry in the weather conditions.” Superintendent Greentree said.
Anyone attending these events is asked to utilise public transport and plan your trip ahead of time. Visit www.transport.nsw.info for the latest timetable and ticketing information for trains, buses, ferries, light rail and taxi ranks.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing from Waratah.
Maddison Sawka Finn, aged 13, was last seen by family members in Newcastle on Tuesday 5 March 2019.
She was reported missing to officers from Newcastle City Police District on Tuesday 12 March 2019.
Concerns are held for her welfare due to her age.
Maddison is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm tall, of a slim build, with long black hair and a mole above her left eyebrow.
It’s believed she may be in the Newcastle, Raymond Terrace or Taree areas.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Maddison is urged to come forward.

Strike Force Trawler detectives have charged a man over the alleged online grooming of a child.
In January 2018, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Newcastle area.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations and sent indecent material to the child.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 22-year-old man at a home in Lambton about 8.40am yesterday (Tuesday 12 March 2019).
A search warrant was executed at the property, where investigators seized a computer, a video game console, a mobile phone, USB drives, and other electronic devices. These items will undergo forensic examination.
The man was taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged using a carriage service to groom persons under 16 years of age.
He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 11 April 2019.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
 
 

A woman will face court next month after being charged with high-range drink driving when she attended a Hunter region primary school to collect her children.
About 4.35pm on Monday 11 March, police from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a Salamander Bay school after a teacher became concerned for the welfare of a parent who had arrived at the school to collect her six-year-old daughter.
The woman’s two-year-old son was in the car at the time it arrived at the school.
A roadside breath test returned a positive reading.
The woman was arrested and taken to Nelson Bay Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.252
Her licence was suspended, and a Child at Risk Notification has been lodged.
The 30-year-old Nelson Bay woman was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 1 April 2019.

As investigations continue into the death of a woman in the Lake Macquarie area today, police are now searching for a man, who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiry, and a vehicle he may be driving.
Officers were called to a home on Stephens Avenue about 11.30am (Wednesday 13 March 2019), after a woman was found suffering stab wounds.
She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital where she died.
A crime scene was established at the woman’s house and detectives are now searching for a man known as Tafari Walton, who is described as having a dark complexion, aged in his early 20s with a long black ponytail, and wearing a grey top with black short.
It’s believed he may be driving a 2008 white Mitsubishi Outlander with NSW registration AW67VV.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of this man or the vehicle please do not approach but contact Triple Zero.