Category: Newcastle News

Newcastle City Hall’s iconic balcony will be transformed into a stage this September as renowned First Nations singer Mitch Tambo officially kicks off the 10-day New Annual festival.

City of Newcastle’s flagship cultural event will return on 27 September with a vibrant mix of immersive dance, music, visual art and theatre.

New Annual Senior Producer and Curator Adrian Burnett, Jeremy Goldstein (Truth to Power Café), Gambirra Illume (Tower Divas), Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Megan Cope (Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House) and Jacob Cummins (Rising from the Ashes: An Orchestral Suite and Matricide) at the launch of the 2024 New Annual program.

An inaugural First Night street party will set the scene for New Annual’s 2024 program, filling the precinct around City Hall with a free, all ages opening night celebration. 

King Street will be temporarily closed off for the signature event of the festival headlined by Tambo, a proud Gamilaraay man who blends traditional Aboriginal sounds and language with contemporary beats. 

Captivating street performances, including the visually and sonically spectacular Tower Divas, will keep the party going while digital projections by Big Picture Fest and gourmet food trucks will ensure First Night delivers a feast for all the senses.

Music fans will be in for another treat the following night, when popular Australian indie rock band Middle Kids take to the stage at the iconic Civic Theatre on 28 September, while a bumper opening weekend program will offer a range of fantastic performances, exhibitions and events across the city.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said New Annual is the catalyst for Newcastle’s cultural events sector to take centre stage alongside national events. 

“Since launching New Annual in 2021, we’ve invested around $3 million into developing and delivering this flagship festival for Newcastle as part of our wider commitment to arts and culture in our city,” Cr Nelmes said.

“In that time, and on the back of its diverse and ambitious programs, New Annual has cemented its place in the events calendar, attracting 95,000 visitors to Newcastle across its first three years.

“The festival continues to strengthen Newcastle’s position as a cultural tourism destination, which generates an economic boost for local businesses through hotel stays and increased visitor spending in the city.”

The Civic precinct will play host to a range of events during the festival, including the return of one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies, Dancenorth Australia, whose Wayfinder production will explode onto the Civic Theatre stage in a kaleidoscopic fusion of dance, music, and visual art.

Internationally acclaimed live performance and digital theatre event Truth to Power Café will harness local stories to deliver a profound reflection on the dynamics of power at Newcastle City Hall, while the immersive installation Belongings at the Watt Space Gallery will share stories of displacement, resilience and hope from six refugees who took asylum in the greater Newcastle region.

Community engagement will also be at the heart of a temporary pavilion known as Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House, which will be purpose-built in Honeysuckle’s Harbour Square. Presented by Newcastle Art Gallery, Quandamooka artist Megan Cope will use the space to deliver a 10-day participatory project celebrating local oysters, collaboration and environmental stewardship.

Honeysuckle won’t be the only new performance space popping up in this year’s program, with local family favourite Curious Legends drawing audiences down to the sand at Newcastle Beach for their immersive oceanic experience Whale Song, which fuses large-scale puppetry, community art and singing.

Harold Lobb Concert Hall at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music provides the acoustically-rich setting for a number of performances, including Rising from the Ashes: An Orchestral Suite and Matricide created by local Indigenous composer Jacob Cummins and performed by the Newcastle Youth Orchestra.

The Youth Orchestra was one of four local creative organisations included on the New Annual bill thanks to City of Newcastle’s “Made New” expressions of interest process, with a total of $94,500 offered under the program as part of a five-year plan to support the region’s arts industry.

Other Made New program highlights include WonderCity, a participatory wayfinding art adventure through the city brought to life by Tantrum Youth Arts and The Cord, a provocative new contemporary dance work by acclaimed First Nations choreographer Jasmin Sheppard, commissioned by Newcastle-based dance company Catapult Choreographic Hub. Inter Human x Intra Digital offers an immersive visual art experience delivered by Art Thinking, while Morphology will see Built In-Kind and Everett Creative collaborate with members of the public through a series of workshops to create a single sculptural piece, which will be displayed in Wheeler Place, adjacent to the Civic Theatre.

Wheeler Place will also play host to the high energy, all-ages 10-Minute Dance Parties featuring one of Australia’s most exciting artists, Joseph O’Farrell (JOF), while two shows presented under Civic Theatre’s UpStage at the Playhouse program will take to the Playhouse stage during New Annual, Romeo & Juliet: A Reimagining and the locally-inspired Karma Kafe. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with performers, Councillors and City of Newcastle staff at the New Annual program launch.

Councillor Carol Duncan, chair of City of Newcastle’s Community and Culture Advisory Committee and Public Art Reference Group, said New Annual highlights Newcastle’s identity as a creative hub.

“With local artists and performers accounting for more than 50 per cent of this year’s programming, New Annual provides a platform to showcase talented Novocastrians alongside national and internationally renowned practitioners,” Cr Duncan said.

“Supporting events such as Big Picture Fest as part of New Annual also adds to the city’s history of cultural expression, with the creation of six new large-scale murals during the festival set to enhance Newcastle’s public art scene whilst creating an artistic legacy for the community.

“I can’t wait to explore everything on offer in this fantastic program when New Annual returns in September.”

New Annual is supported by NSW Government grants under the Multicultural NSW “Stronger Together” program, Transport for NSW “Open Streets” program and Create NSW, as well as presenting partner University of Newcastle.

New Annual will run from 27 September to 6 October with a program of free and low-cost events. Visit www.newannual.com for more details about the program and to secure your tickets, which go on sale at 10am tomorrow. Book by 31 July to receive a 15 per cent early bird discount on eligible shows. 

Keep an eye out for a second program announcement in coming months.

A significant incident occurred yesterday at City of Newcastle’s facility, Newcastle Museum. 

All staff and community members in the building at the time remained safe and unharmed.

We thank our staff for their professionalism and bravery and NSW Police for their quick response.

The wellbeing of staff is of the upmost importance to City of Newcastle, and we are providing support to all those who need it in the wake of the incident.

A man will appear in court today as the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) Sydney continues to investigate an incident in an office in Newcastle yesterday.

About 12.30 yesterday (Wednesday 26 June, 2024), officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended premise in Workshop Way and arrested a 19-year-old man.

A number of items were seized when the man was searched and these have been taken for further analysis.

The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and has now been charged with one count of Other acts done in preparation for, or planning, for terrorist act, contrary to section 101.6 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

Following further inquiries, police have become aware of the existence of a document that had been circulated to a number of public figures and media outlets.

The man, from Raymond Terrace, has been refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 27 June, 2024).

There is no ongoing threat to the community relation to this investigation.

Inquiries are continuing.

A 19-year-old male has been arrested by Newcastle Police District after allegedly being found in possession of knives and tactical equipment.

About 12.30 today (Wednesday 26 June 2024) police received a concern for welfare report regarding a 19-year-old male.

Following inquiries officers attached to Newcastle Police District attended a premises on Workshop Way where they arrested the man.

Following a subsequent search police located a number of items which have now been seized.

The teenager was taken to Newcastle Police Station.

Following further inquiries officers became aware of the existence of a document that had been circulated to a number of public figures and media outlets.

The male is currently assisting police and there is no ongoing threat to the community relating to this investigation.

Investigations continue by Newcastle Police District with specialist investigators attending to assist.

Newcastle’s heritage is set for a triple win this week with City of Newcastle to pave the way for added protections for architectural sites in Hamilton, Broadmeadow and Mayfield.

Council will vote on whether to back the creation of a new Heritage Conservation Area for Cameron’s Hill, a 13.73 hectare parcel of land known for its Victorian and Federation-era homes that takes in areas of Hamilton and Broadmeadow.

Council will also vote to progress the potential listing of two residential dwellings in Mayfield, 22 Victoria Street and 14 Sunderland Street, as items of local heritage significance under the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan.

City of Newcastle will then seek gateway determination from the NSW Government for planning proposals on all three sites, which would then be placed on public exhibition for community feedback.

City of Newcastle Councillor Carol Duncan said creating a new heritage conservation area for Cameron’s Hill would be a fitting recognition of its place in history.

 “Our city has a unique mix of heritage conservation areas, archaeological sites, heritage-listed buildings and places that are recognised and protected for their character and significance,” Cr Duncan said.

 “The creation of a heritage conservation area for Cameron’s Hill will preserve this unique piece of Newcastle’s history for future generations of Novocastrians.”

Councillor Margaret Wood praised City of Newcastle’s approach to the city’s built heritage.

 “City of Newcastle has a clear commitment to celebrate, protect and promote our city’s unique heritage under the 2040 Community Strategic Plan and Heritage Strategy 2020-2030.”

Cameron’s Hill follows Denison and Everton streets, from Blackall Street, east towards Steel Street. It is dotted with federation houses that were home to mine managers and government officials of the mid-1800s.

Denison Street was once Hamilton’s main street and had several hotels that were incubators of friendship, commerce and sporting clubs. The blocks in Cameron’s Hill are among the largest in Hamilton, allowing for grand homes built mainly from the 1840s to the 1930s.

The area is named after James Cameron, publican of the Queen’s Arms Hotel. It is also home to the 1840s Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager’s House, of State Heritage significance to the city’s industrial, social and economic past.

It would become the city’s seventh designated heritage conservation area.

City of Newcastle placed interim heritage orders on the two Mayfield dwellings earlier this year to prohibit the demolition or alteration of the properties while their significance was being assessed.

Since then, an in-depth heritage assessment found that 22 Victoria Street is historically significant as one of the only houses constructed on the Scholey subdivision designed by the prominent architect Frederick George Castleden.

Castleden designed or contributed to some of Newcastle’s most recognisable buildings including the former David Jones store, Newcastle Ocean Baths pavilion and part of Christ Church Cathedral.

The Victoria Street dwelling represents an early example of one of the core architectural phases of Newcastle and the growth and development of Mayfield as an attractive residential area in the early 20th century.

The assessment of 14 Sunderland Street found the late Victorian dwelling represents the residential development of the suburb of Mayfield and is one of few comparable places in the local area dating from the earliest phase of the Houghton Le Spring Subdivision. 

The dwelling was purchased, occupied and likely constructed by the Braye family during Thomas Braye’s first tenure as Mayor of Waratah. Thomas Braye was a well-known Waratah resident, from an early local family, known for being one of the youngest aldermen to be elected to council.

City of Newcastle is set to deliver a modest surplus for the third consecutive year as part of its $415 million Budget adopted by Councillors last night.

The 2024/25 Budget balances service delivery and outcomes for the community with fiscal responsibility through a modest $4.1 million Budget surplus forecast alongside an investment of almost $140 million into infrastructure throughout the Local Government Area. 

Through its Budget and Delivery Program, City of Newcastle will invest $415 million across 60 services and more than 280 projects in the coming financial year, including marquee projects such as the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion and essential infrastructure such as roads, parks and sports facilities. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle’s sound economic management is key to achieving the community’s vision of Newcastle as a liveable, sustainable, inclusive global city. 

“We’ve achieved financial strength through years of stability and responsible local government, which allows us to support Novocastrians in their everyday lives and deliver the infrastructure and legacy projects our state’s second-largest city deserves,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Our infrastructure investment will improve people’s lives, with $38.1 million for local roads, bridges, footpaths and community buildings, $7.7 million on stormwater upgrades to address flooding to property and businesses and $6 million for improving Newcastle’s cycleway network and transport. 

“We’re also giving back through our Community Grants, which for a fourth year will provide more than half a million dollars for initiatives to help vulnerable members of our community and reinforce the social, cultural, environmental and economic life of the city.” 

Highlights of the 2024/25 Budget include:

• $17.9 million on roads, footpaths and cycleways across the city
• $11 million on recreation and sports improvements, including Gregson Park Playground
• $5 million for Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road, Wallsend Road renewal$4.5 million on coastal management including Stockton coastline protection work
• $4.1 million on Memorial Drive Road embankment 
• $2.8 million on improving bushland and watercourses
• $2.4 million on Local Centre upgrades such as Orchardtown Road at New Lambton and Georgetown
• $2.4 million on resources and improvements for Libraries, Civic Theatre and City Hall
• $1.3 million on renewable energy projects including climate action and EV charging.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said City of Newcastle’s economic bottom line is a credit to the elected council and staff.

“I’m proud to be part of a council delivering this record investment that will be felt in every single community across our city and I’m proud of every single person at City of Newcastle whose hard work has made this happen.”

Acting CEO David Clarke said City of Newcastle will keep working hard to balance the needs and expectations of a growing community with fiscal responsibility and sustainability. 

“An operating surplus of more than $4 million is a sign of good economic management, despite ongoing inflation and rising construction costs,” Mr Clarke said.

“By investing in our community through this Budget, we’re meeting the needs of our residents while also helping to support local jobs and businesses, with estimates that our infrastructure program in 2024/25 will create 735 local jobs and increase total economic output in the LGA by up to $305 million.”

Novocastrians are being invited to have their say on a 10-year plan designed to increase pedestrian activity in Newcastle by building and supporting walkable neighbourhoods.

Council voted last night to place City of Newcastle’s draft Walking and Mobility Plan on public exhibition for six weeks.

Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk and Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen using pedestrian infrastructure at New Lambton.The plan aims to make walking and active transport the natural choice for short trips for every member of the community, by prioritising pedestrians in all infrastructure upgrades across the city.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said walking and active transport have a range of benefits for residents, visitors, and the environment.

“Walking and riding are efficient ways to travel short distances, reduce congestion, lower emissions and increase the vibrancy of local places,” Cr Nelmes said.

“When we refer to walking, we include all pedestrian movements, including skateboards, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and prams. Walking presents an opportunity for everyone in our community to enjoy Newcastle while also providing significant health benefits from more active lifestyles.

“Newcastle is already highly walkable city, and by enhancing the walkability of our neighbourhoods we will support our community, businesses and visitors to embrace walking, including options to connect with public transport as a better way to explore the city and its surrounds.”

The draft plan has been developed through consultation with the community and other relevant stakeholders, utilising surveys, interactive maps, and the establishment and coordination of the Walking and Mobility Working Party.

Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk, Chair of the Walking and Mobility Working Party said the 10-year plan contains four main themes.

“In order to achieve our goals, we need to promote safety and the prioritisation of pedestrians, build and maintain walkable neighbourhoods, support walking trips and celebrate walking in our communities, for all people, of all abilities,” Cr Adamczyk said.

“Surveys have shown 70 per cent of people in Newcastle walk at least 30 minutes every day, but it’s mainly for recreational purposes, not for transport.

“To change those statistics, we need to guide development to take pedestrians into greater consideration while also encourage pedestrian-friendly drivers by introducing traffic calming measures and advocating for lower speed limits.

“By 2034, City of Newcastle aims to be a place where all pedestrians, of all ages, abilities, and mobilities, feel safe and prioritised within the public road space.”

The Walking and Mobility Plan aligns with the main objectives of the Newcastle 2040 Community Strategic Plan, helping to make our city a more liveable, sustainable and creative place.

The plan will be on public exhibition from 27 June to 8 August 2024.

To find out more and have your say visit haveyoursay.newcastle.nsw.gov.au

A man has died after being hit by a car at Lake Macquarie.

About 3:15am today (Wednesday 26 June 2024), emergency services were called to Alhambra Avenue, Cardiff, following reports a man had been hit by a car.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and were told a man had been laying on the road and was hit by a utility.

NSW Ambulance paramedics attended; however, the man died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified.

The male driver, aged 45, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

A crime scene was established, and an investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A woman has been charged following an alleged child approach at a Lake Macquarie shopping centre over the weekend.

About 12.30pm on Sunday 23 June 2024, a couple and their two children aged 2 and 10 months were in a shopping centre at Glendale, when a woman, who was not known to the couple, allegedly took hold of the pram containing the two-year-old girl.

The woman attempted to push the pram containing the child away but was stopped by the mother and other members of the public. She then left the shopping centre.

The mother and the children were shaken but not otherwise hurt during the incident.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into the incident.

Following inquiries, police arrested a 41-year-old woman at a unit in Windale about 12.50pm yesterday (Monday 24 June 2024). During the arrest, the woman allegedly resisted police officers’ attempts to effect the arrest.

She was taken to Belmont police station where she was charged with three offences – stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal), affray and hinder police.

The woman was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 17 July 2024.

A survey of public school teachers and principals in Newcastle and the Hunter reveals how the combined impact of the $1.9 billion funding shortfall and teacher shortage is leading to merged classes, poorer student wellbeing and unsustainable workloads, the NSW Teachers Federation has warned.

NSW Teachers Federation President Henry Rajendra will hold a doorstop with local teachers at Newcastle High School at 8:15am on Wednesday, 26 June

The survey of 664 principals and teachers across Newcastle and the Hunter found:

● 46% have taught merged/split classes regularly or always;
● 91% agree that “schools as a whole currently have difficulty in retaining teachers in the profession”;
● 14% are committed to staying in the profession until retirement;
● Only 3% of teachers say their school is well-resourced;
● 72% reported a decline or significant decline in student wellbeing and engagement in past 18 months;
● 91% reported a decline or significant decline in teacher wellbeing and morale;
● Only 11% say counsellor support is adequate.

NSW Teachers Federation President Henry Rajendra said Newcastle and Hunter public schools were facing immense challenges due to the funding shortfall.

“Amazing things happen in our public schools every day, but the Government is exploiting the goodwill of teachers to maintain standards. This is not sustainable.

“The challenges facing our schools are too great, and the cost of inaction too high. We need the state and federal governments to step up and deliver the funding our schools so urgently need.

“The Federal Government must lift its share of funding to 25% by 2028, while the NSW Government must ensure that public schools are genuinely funded at 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard.

“Providing a quality education for every child is not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic necessity. Today’s students are the lifeblood of tomorrow’s workforce. Shortchanging their education now will have consequences for decades to come.”

Mr Rajendra said it was time for federal MPs to fight for their local public schools, pointing out that public schools educate the overwhelming bulk of the region’s students.

Electorate Number of public school students Percentage of total students

Shortland
16,554
73.8 per cent

Newcastle
17,742
68.3 per cent

Hunter
17,135
66.2 per cent

Paterson
18,754
67.5 per cent

“Our schools and our students need champions in Parliament who will stand up and demand fair funding,” he said.

“It’s time to stop the excuses and start investing in our children’s future. Every student in Newcastle and the Hunter deserves the resources and support they need to thrive.”

Mr Rajendra said fully funding public schools was the only way to ensure every child in Newcastle and the Hunter got the support they needed to succeed.