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The first ever driverless vehicle to mix with traffic on Newcastle’s roads has started ferrying passengers along Wharf Road as part of a three-month trial.
Novocastrians and visitors to the city can now ride the free shuttle service between the Watt Street and Nobbys Beach roundabouts on weekdays between 10am and 2pm.
Running at a speed of just 20km/hr, the vehicle uses an array of sophisticated technology, including 360-degree cameras and input sensors, to avoid cars and objects.
The operation is overseen by an onboard chaperone – a local bus driver who is greeting passengers and answering questions after undergoing training to control the vehicle via a control pad should any issues arise.
^{Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen at today’s launch.}
Newcastle’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen, welcomed the first passengers this morning as they ushered in the pilot project.
“I’m delighted to see the trial underway and people riding the city’s first driverless vehicle,” Councillor Clausen said.
“This is another milestone in Newcastle’s smart city journey as we trial the future of automated transport as part of the city’s ‘living lab’ experiment. With the help of Federal Government funding, the project will assess driverless vehicles in mixed traffic conditions and the role they can play in multimodal transport systems.
“Tourists will now be to be able to take in our magnificent harbour and foreshore and return home telling people they were among the first passengers in Australia on a shuttle with nobody at the wheel, or with no steering wheel at all in fact.”
COVID-19 has limited the number of passengers who can ride the shuttle to three at a time; and surface cleaning is being carried out across the day to keep everyone safe.
^{On the road.}
One of the first passengers to ride, Tania Papasotiriou, was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
“It was fantastic,” she said. “I was expecting it to be more bumpy or more slow but it was great, the sensors worked perfectly and it was very smooth and the space is very comfortable inside.
“I’m hoping the community embrace this technology and then we can have more of them in the streets.”
Shuttle operator Keolis Downer invited other Novocastrians to take part in the trial by boarding on Wharf Road just east of the Watt Street roundabout or at Nobbys Beach.
“We encourage Novocastrians to come to Wharf Road and take a ride to experience the future of transportation using this technology,” Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Mark Dunlop said.
“It’s only a short walk from the light rail on Scott Street and frequent bus services to Customs House.
“We are very interested in the public perception around this technology and will be asking for further feedback after receiving a large number of responses to a survey last November when the shuttle was on show during the Newcastle 500.
“Passengers can be assured of the safety of the vehicle and the training of our onboard chaperones who have additional qualifications to their skills as bus drivers.”
The shuttle completed rigorous safety planning and testing before approval was given to operate on public roads.
The trial is being funded through a $5 million grant awarded to the City under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
Find out more or take part in a survey at http://newcastlesdriverlessshuttle.com.au
Tech enticed bus driver to chaperone shuttle
State-of-the-art automation technology on the City’s new driverless shuttle prompted Keolis Downer bus driver Glenn Matthews to put his hand up to become a Chaperone.
To upskill for his pioneering career change over the next three months, Glenn and colleagues undertook specialist training in Sydney and at the Hamilton bus depot before applying their newfound knowledge on the shuttle’s Wharf Road loop.

^{Glenn Mathews (right) with a trainer from the company that made the driverless shuttle.}
“It looked like a great project to be a part of and I was interested to see how this tech could be utilised in the transport industry,” said the bus driver of two years.
“Driving a bus and monitoring the driverless shuttle in autonomous mode is very similar in the fact that you need to have situational awareness of other road users at all times.
“The only difference is the steering wheel.
“It has been exciting to learn a new technology and learn how it interacts with pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
“It’s been fantastic to be a part of this project and I can’t wait to have customers on board.”

City of Newcastle is ready to welcome families back to some of its recently reopened facilities these school holidays while providing a range of online opportunities to be creative, experiment with science, or make something memorable.
With COVID-19 restrictions still affecting regular school holiday programming, the City’s cultural venues are getting creative to deliver a digital-led calendar of events sure to keep the kids busy.
These activities will complement the growing list of places reopening their doors to the public, with families also invited to get out and about – from a safe distance – and visit some of their favourite Newcastle destinations including Blackbutt Reserve, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle Museum and our Libraries.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the creativity of City of Newcastle’s dedicated staff would ensure families had plenty of options to keep themselves entertained.
“It’s been wonderful to welcome the public back into many of our much-loved facilities in recent weeks, with our art gallery, museum, and a number of library branches now open across the local government area,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Fort Scratchley has reopened for visitors, while Novocastrians can once again enjoy getting back to nature with our ever-popular walking trails, open spaces and animal attractions at Blackbutt Reserve.
“The reopened spaces have all adapted their operations in line with COVID-19 restrictions to protect the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff, and we look forward to families making the most of these venues during the school holidays.
“We’re also offering a range of interactive online experiences which will provide children with plenty of options for home-based fun.
“From live-streamed science experiments and webinar-facilitated art workshops, to digital art classes and an exciting online youth music concert featuring rising local stars, the variety of free events and activities includes something for all interests.”
While entry to the art gallery and museum is free, online bookings for the scheduled daily sessions at each venue are essential to assist in managing numbers in line with our COVID Safe plans.
Families can find their perfect balance of school holidays inspiration at www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/School-Holidays, with information about all our face-to-face and digital activities now available.

Strike Force Nargal has been formed to investigate the death of a man at a rubbish tip at Cessnock.
Emergency services were called to the waste management facility on Old Maitland Road just after 5pm (Sunday 5 July 2020), after the 54-year-old man was found critically injured. He died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and detectives are now investigating the circumstances of the man’s death.
As this is an unexplained death, it is currently being treated as suspicious.
If anyone was at the tip between 4.30pm and 5pm they should contact Cessnock Police or Crime Stoppers.

A driver has died after a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 2.20am (Sunday 5 July 2020), emergency services were called to Wine Country Drive, North Rothbury, following reports a car had caught fire after leaving the road and hitting a tree.
The driver and sole occupant died at the scene, however they have not been formally identified.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District along with Fire and Rescue NSW attended scene and commenced investigations.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Winter sports return today after City of Newcastle staff worked with sporting associations, clubs and neighbouring councils to support the resumption of competition and ensure a safe and consistent approach.
Around 140 sportsgrounds are hosting players in adherence to each sporting association’s COVID-19 safety plan.
Maryland Fletcher FC come back to two vastly improved fields at Kurraka Reserve, thanks to new turf and a $160,000 irrigation and drainage upgrade delivered by the City with the help of a $100,000 Federal sporting grant.
Regeneration of the two playing surfaces also included relevelling, top dressing and over sowing with ryegrass.
^{Federal member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon with Maryland Fletcher FC President Dave Carter and City of Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne on Kurraka Reserve’s new playing surface.}
“We are delighted to welcome all sports back from this weekend and especially happy for the young Maryland-Fletcher players returning to a picture-perfect playing surface,” City of Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne said.
“The new drainage system will prevent Kurraka becoming waterlogged in winter while the irrigation system will dramatically improve the turf quality and playability for both soccer and cricket year-round.
“The past summer’s drought and water restrictions, which turned many sporting grounds into dust bowls around the country, underline the importance of efficient irrigation systems.
“Better grounds encourage greater participation while minimising labour and maintenance costs, and the City’s parks and recreation staff do a fantastic job maintaining and upgrading fields.”

Maryland Fletcher FC President Dave Carter said the club’s youngsters were eager to play on the newly improved fields.
“The result of the upgrade is a vastly improved and sustainable playing surface that’s going to save us hundreds of volunteer hours and ongoing maintenance costs every year,” Carter said.
“It’s been a great example of what can be achieved with cross-government and local community cooperation. We’re grateful for Council for managing the installation and the support of our Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon MP in obtaining a Federal grant.”
Where sporting activities involve more than 20 participants, organisers must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan. The City will continue to liaise with clubs to ensure they meet requirements.