Category: Newcastle News

In a major boost for the region the Prime Minister today announced the Albanese Labor Government will save the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium “Reef HQ” with an extra $100 million investment after the Liberals left it underfunded and doomed to fail.

The project is expected to create more than one thousand jobs and give an enormous economic boost to Townsville.

Bringing total Albanese Government funding to $180 million, work can now begin on rebuilding Australia’s most cherished living coral reef exhibit to educate visitors about the world’s most iconic reef ecosystem and how to protect it.

The additional investment will enable the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to deliver a new purpose-built facility that will deliver global excellence in tropical reef education and provide immersive experiences attracting domestic and international visitors.

Opened in 1987 by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, the Townsville landmark has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors, many of which are passionate local advocates, or visitors from neighbouring regions.

The announcement comes a week after the Townsville City Council voted to allocate funding to the aquarium from the Townsville City Deal, a commitment between the Commonwealth Government, Queensland Government and Townsville City Council to create jobs, increase economic growth and revitalise the city.

Anthony Albanese Prime Minister

“Reef HQ is an icon in this region and my Government is proud to continue the legacy established by Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1987. Like Bob we want to create the Great Barrier Reef on land, making the Reef accessible and affordable while spreading the Reef conservation message and inspiring action to protect this spectacular natural icon.

“This funding announcement is an investment in the future of our precious Great Barrier Reef, as well as an investment in our regional and remote communities – demonstrating our commitment to creating jobs, building opportunities and unlocking growth, ensuring our regions remain great places to live, work and play.”

Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment

“Queensland is home to one of the most extraordinary places on earth – the Great Barrier Reef. We’re determined to protect it, so it can continue to be enjoyed by Australians and visitors from around the world, and marine life can continue to thrive.

“That’s why Labor is investing a record $1.2 billion to protect and restore the Reef.

“And it’s why we are building a new globally recognised, marine science and education facility that showcases our commitment to managing and protecting this natural wonder.

“Labor will always protect Australia’s special places and the jobs that rely on them.”

Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government

“All three levels of Government have come together to get right outcome for Townsville with the commitment to deliver a first class Great Barrier Reef Aquarium that generates economic activity, jobs and tourism, while celebrating our exquisite natural environment.

“We look forward to working with Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government to get this investment moving.”

Kristy McBain Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

“We’re engaging extensively with Townsville City Deal partners to finalise the deal’s unallocated funding, with Townsville City Council confirming last week that redirecting this $100 million towards Reef HQ would have significant benefits for their local community.

“Our additional investment in Reef HQ provides the community with certainty that a new aquarium will be built – supporting local jobs and unlocking a range of economic opportunities into the future – and ensuring that people from around the globe can fully immerse themselves in world’s largest coral reef ecosystem.

“This builds on over $192 million in Australian Government funding that’s already flowed to projects under the $1 billion Townsville City Deal.

“We’ll continue working with the Queensland Government, Townsville City Council on their future infrastructure priorities.”

Senator Nita Green Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef

“Delivering this project is an excellent opportunity for the city. It will create $725.3 million in economic benefit for Townsville over 30 years and 1313 jobs.

“The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is not just an Aquarium, it is a much-loved tourism attraction and vital source of Reef education, which has welcomed millions of people from around the world for more than three decades and is a pillar of the North Queensland community.

“I want to thank Townsville City Council for recognising the importance of this project to the city.”

The 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the Hunter today raises serious questions about the Liberal National Party’s plans for nuclear reactors in the region, Solutions for Climate Australia said.

The earthquake’s epicentre was very close to the Liddell power station where the Liberal National Party aims to build at least one nuclear reactor. Solutions for Climate Australia Senior Campaigner Elly Baxter said the Liberal Nationals needed to answer serious questions about safety, emergency response, radioactive waste and water availability at the site.

“The Liberal Nationals need to tell local residents how an emergency at a nuclear reactor would be handled and who would handle it,” Baxter said.

“Even without the added risk of a local nuclear reactor, school children had to be evacuated in Muswellbrook today. What would happen with a nuclear reactor nearby?

“Would local firefighting volunteers handle the nuclear material? What training would local firefighting volunteers receive in handling nuclear radiation? Who would train them? Would the army come in to help?

“How would iodine tablets be distributed to locals to try to reduce cancer risk? What would be the fallout zone and where would the local emergency staging area be? Where would nuclear refugees be accommodated?

“Would the Federal Government be responsible for the emergency management given under the Liberal National policy, the Federal Government would own the nuclear reactor?

“What would happen to the radioactive waste and who would be responsible for that? Where would the enormous volume of water come from to deal with the toxic, radioactive emergency?

“These safety issues only compound our concerns that nuclear reactors will take too long to build to protect Australians from the worst impacts of climate change.

“We need to have a mature conversation about the safety and security of nuclear reactors. The risk of a nuclear meltdown due to an earthquake is real and the consequences would be very serious for local families and children.”

Raptor Squad officers have charged a woman with multiple driving offences after an alleged pursuit through the state’s Hunter Region yesterday.

About 11.30am yesterday (Thursday 22 August 2024), officers attached State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad attempted to stop an allegedly stolen Subaru sedan travelling on Government Road, Weston.

When the driver failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated during which it allegedly reached speeds of 130km/h in 60km/h speed zones.

The vehicle came to a stop when one of its tyres became flat and it hit a gutter on Swanson Street.

Officers arrested the driver of the car, a 48-year-old woman, after she allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot.

She was taken to Cessnock Police Station where she was charged with:

• drive conveyance taken without consent of owner,
• goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen motor vehicle,
• police pursuit not stop drive dangerously,
• drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous,
• goods in custody suspected of being stolen not motor vehicle,
• use unregistered registrable class A motor vehicle on road and,
• use class A vehicle displaying misleading.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear before Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 11 September 2024.

Emergency services have received multiple reports of an earthquake in the Hunter Valley Region today (Friday 23 August 2024).

The earthquake recorded a magnitude of 5.0 at 12:01pm in Denman, NSW.

NSW Police have been advised that NSW SES crews are responding to reports of minor infrastructure damage.

There have been no reports of major damage to infrastructure or buildings, and no reports of injury.

Dam owners in the region are urged to ensure that dam integrity has not been affected.

Any reports of damage or injury should be made to local relevant authorities.

nternationally renowned artist Fayen d’Evie has been commissioned to create two groundbreaking sculptures to help improve the accessibility of the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery.

The works of art will create a sculptural solution to the floating staircases on the ground level of the original 1977-built Art Gallery, which have been retained as part of the expansion project but no longer adhere to modern building code standards for visitors who are blind or visually impaired.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with artist Fayen d’Evie and Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM at the Feather Edge studio where the sculptures are being created.Fayen’s sculptures will creatively fill the space under the staircases and provide an important buffer to allow visitors to safely move around the structures.

The multi-faceted sculptures will be made primarily from steel and incorporate tactile versions of key works of art from the Art Gallery’s collection, using a variety of raised textures to allow visitors to interpret the painting through touch.

The sculptures will also feature core samples from the bedrock and former mine shafts located underneath the Gallery, which were stabilised through grouting during the construction process.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this commission is a world-leading example of an artist and disability-led solution to modern building compliance within historic architecture.

“City of Newcastle was the first council in NSW to adopt a Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which defines how we will undertake specific actions to reduce potential barriers faced by people with disabilities when living in, working in and visiting our city,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We are committed to ensuring the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery is an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community and are thrilled to be working with Fayen d’Evie to achieve this aim.”

Born in Malaysia, Fayen was raised in New Zealand and now lives and works in Melbourne.

The artist, academic and publisher, who is low vision, has worked all over the world, including a residency at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art where she collaborated with conservators to initiate sensory encounters with artworks.

Fayen d’Evie sculpture render. Fayen said the site-specific Newcastle Art Gallery sculptures are intended to invite conversation, particularly between blind and sighted people.

“It was important the sculpture was connected to Newcastle, which is why we chose steel as the foundational material,” Ms d’Evie said.

Ms d’Evie is also working closely with local Newcastle creative business Feather Edge on the fabrication of the sculptures.

“We’ll also feature braille that will come from a community workshop where people will be invited to consider, reflect and describe some of the works that are being added to the sculpture.

“A lot of the stories that are included in this work are pointing to people and forms that have been excluded from conventional art historical narratives.”

Access Inclusion Advisory Committee Chairperson Councillor Margaret Wood said City of Newcastle is aiming to remove barriers for people with a disability.

“We want to provide opportunities for people of all ages, ability levels and backgrounds to engage fully in civic, economic and social life,” Cr Wood said.

“Creating liveable communities is about creating opportunities for social participation, improving the quality of personal and commercial interactions and ensuring equivalent access to places such as Newcastle Art Gallery.”

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM said these works of art will ensure access requirements are met as part of the expansion of the existing 1977 architecture.

“We invited Fayen to develop a project that was both a work of art and a performance solution capable of meeting safety and accessibility standards for the staircases,” Ms Morton said.

“Improving accessibility is yet another way to ensure our nationally significant collection can be appreciated by as many people in the community as possible.”

The sculptures are supported by a $50,000 grant from Creative Australia, and $50,000 from the NSW Government Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grants program.

The Newcastle Art Gallery expansion project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package, as well as $12 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years. 

A further $1 million is currently being sought through the Foundation’s public fundraising campaign.

More than 1,500 Novocastrians have plugged into the Hunter’s renewable energy future after being given front-row access by City of Newcastle to key thinkers, stakeholders and decision-makers.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe at City Hall for the Empowering Newcastle series

The three-part Empowering Newcastle event series, which wrapped up on Saturday with a keynote address by NSW Climate Change and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, has been a lightning rod for ideas and dialogue about renewables, electrification and the road to net zero.

Earlier events included an Electrify Everything presentation by world renowned entrepreneur Saul Griffith and a stakeholder roundtable discussing a transition to electric vehicles and low emissions transport in Newcastle.  

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the series has been a hit with Novocastrians seeking to take an active part in a more sustainable future for their city.

“There’s been a buzz around Empowering Newcastle from the opening event with Dr Griffth. It was fantastic to be in a room engaging in practical electrification solutions that align perfectly with our city’s climate goals,” Cr Nelmes said.

“When you add the invaluable engagement with Minister Sharpe in a wide-ranging energy discussion I was proud to take part in, City of Newcastle has delivered a fantastic series that’s put the community into the policy and delivery conversation with all levels of government.

“I was also thrilled to launch City of Newcastle’s Empowering Newcastle community climate action program, which will support more residents, businesses, and community groups to create a net zero future.”

The first phase of this new community climate action program will offer a range of online resources to help participants become more energy efficient, switch to renewable energy and electrify. 

This will be followed by a free Climate Champions training program to run early next year, which will equip emerging local climate leaders with the knowledge and skills to deliver community-led electrification campaigns and projects. 

Applications for this training program will open soon, with a community information session to be held at City Hall on 19 September.

Empowering Newcastle is a key action of City of Newcastle’s Environment Strategy, which sets out a 10-year environmental roadmap around the priority areas of climate change, nature-based solutions and the circular economy.

A man will appear in court today after being charged over alleged firearm offences near Newcastle.

About 6:30am yesterday (Tuesday 20 August 2024), officers attached to the Proactive Crime Team Port Stephens Hunter Police District, assisted by Federal Environmental Officers attended a property on Nelson Bay Road, Williamtown, to execute a search warrant in relation to the exportation of native birds.

A 40-year-old man allegedly attempted to flee the property and was stopped and searched, with police allegedly locating and seizing a firearm.

During a subsequent search of the property, officers allegedly located and seized 49 unregistered handguns, 14 unregistered rifles/shotguns, ammunition, firearm parts, drugs, chemicals consistent with the manufacture of gun powder, silver bullion and cash.

The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with 96 offences, including possess unauthorised pistol, not keep firearm safely-pistol, goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not motor vehicle) and possess unregistered firearm-not pistol/prohibited firearm.

He was refused bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 21 August 2024).

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from Port Stephens.

Jasmine Anderson, aged 14, was last seen at a bus stop on Gan Gan Road, Anna Bay, about 11:30am Sunday (18 August 2024).

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Jasmine is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall, of thin build and with brown hair and blue eyes.

She is known to frequent the Newcastle Interchange, Dora Creek and Nowra areas.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call Port Stephens Hunter Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has echoed her community’s concerns around under resourcing at Wallsend Post Office.

Residents have reported having to wait over half an hour to be served and some turned away because staff don’t have time or capacity to respond to increased customer needs.

Ms Claydon has this week taken those concerns to Canberra, where she has spoken in the Parliament on the issue.

“I have received several complaints about long queues and customer wait times at Wallsend post office. Residents say they’re waiting over half an hour to be served. Some have even been turned away because Australia Post staff do not have the time or capacity to respond to increased customer needs.

“One resident told me that she often leaves work early if she wants to be served at the Wallsend post office before 5 pm. Another noted that it’s very common for there to be only three employees working during peak times, and they seem to be overwhelmed by the amount of foot traffic coming into the store.

Wallsend post office serves a large region, including the rapidly growing suburbs of Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi. Postal services are essential, providing access to vital services connecting people and communities right across the country and the globe.

“This lack of resourcing is causing considerable stress to people of all ages in my community. I really appreciate the time and effort taken by those who have contacted my office to share their concerns and personal experiences with me.

“I stand with the people of Wallsend and support their calls for a properly resourced post office that meets customer and community needs not just now but into the future, and I call on Australia Post to invest in their workforce and postal services in Wallsend. They deserve nothing less.”