Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for the Arts Don Harwin today announced that Richard Crookes Constructions has been selected as the contractor to build the Art Gallery of NSW’s Sydney Modern Project, which remains firmly on track to be delivered within its $344 million budget.
“The Sydney Modern Project will offer outstanding arts and cultural experiences to the community and visitors from across the world,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The Sydney Modern Project will almost double the current gallery space to show more of the State’s art collection, including more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks, as well as hosting major international exhibitions.”
Mr Harwin said the Sydney Modern Project, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects SANAA, is expected to increase gallery visitation to two million people a year and inject more than $1 billion into the NSW economy over 25 years.
“The project will create a series of interlocked pavilions that step down towards Woolloomooloo and Sydney Harbour, following the natural topography of the land,” Mr Harwin said.
A decommissioned WWII naval oil tank, underground next to the Eastern Distributor, will be transformed into a unique contemporary art space.
The Sydney Modern Project will also include an outdoor Art Garden to connect the new and existing gallery buildings, a new entry plaza, rooftop art terraces and space for research and education.
“The NSW Government sincerely thanks the generous philanthropists who have raised more than $100 million to make this project possible,” Mr Harwin said.
President of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Board of Trustees, David Gonski AC said: “This is an exciting time for the state’s leading art museum as we move closer to realising our compelling vision for the future.”
“We are truly grateful for the NSW Government’s foresight in making such a significant public investment in the arts, and the very generous donors who have pledged support for the new building.”
Art Gallery of New South Wales director Dr Michael Brand said: “I welcome the announcement of Richard Crookes Constructions as the selected contractor for the Sydney Modern Project.”
“We look forward to the next stage of the project that will bring physical form to SANAA’s magnificent design. We are creating an extraordinary building that will transform our institution and the way visitors engage with art.”
Construction of the Sydney Modern Project is expected to commence in the coming months and be complete in 2022.
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Police appeal for assistance with investigation into death of woman near Newcastle
Police will address the media to appeal for public assistance after a 
woman’s body was found in a creek near Newcastle at the weekend.
About 10.30am on Saturday (31 August 2019), police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road, Killingworth, after members of the public saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water.
The plastic, containing a woman’s body, was removed from the water.
The woman has since been formally identified as 29-year-old, Danielle Easey.
Ms Easey lived in Booragul with family, but more recently she was staying at multiple locations around the area.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District have established Strike Force Furzer to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and are appealing for public assistance to establish her last movements.
Firearms and ammunition stolen from rural property – Hunter Valley
Police are appealing for information after firearms and ammunition were stolen from a rural property in the Hunter Valley overnight.
Between 11pm on Friday 30 August 2019 and 8.30am on Saturday 31 August 2019, it is alleged seven registered firearms and 500 rounds of ammunition were stolen from a gun safe inside a shipping container located on a rural property on Bell Road, Lower Belford.
Detectives attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified of the theft today (Saturday 31 August 2019) and commenced enquiries.
The stolen firearms include: a Remington 223 calibre, a Winchester lever 22 calibre, a Marlin 3333, a Remington 222 calibre, a Rossi double barrel shotgun, a Gamo 177 air rifle and a Pardus 12 gauge shotgun.
Anyone who has been offered these firearms for sale, or is aware of them being advertised, needs to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Investigations are ongoing.
Police appeal after body located in creek near Newcastle
Police are investigating following the discovery of a body by members of the public in a creek near Newcastle yesterday.
Police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road at Killingworth about 10.30am (Saturday 31 August 2019), after members of the public reportedly saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water while driving past.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and removed the item from the water.
The item, believed to be a body, will be subject to forensic examination by specialist police.
A crime scene was established at the creek and emergency services remain at the scene.
Strike Force Furzer has been established as officers from Lake Macquarie Police District and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
No further information is currently available.
Police appeal following ram raid – Hunter region
Police are appealing for the public’s help following a ram raid in the state’s Hunter region this morning.
About 4.10am (Saturday 31 August 2019), a manager attended a general store on Wollombi Road, Broke, after a security alarm was activated, and saw that the glass front doors had been smashed.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were notified who attended and commenced inquiries.
A small amount of cigarettes and lighters were allegedly stolen.
Anyone who may have been driving through the area at the time and have captured dashcam footage is urged to come forward.
Labor is in climate chaos. Where's Albo?
The ALP is melting down over climate policy, and Anthony Albanese is missing in action.
“The Government’s climate policy is shockingly weak, and rather than showing leadership, Labor looks like they’re about to join them. At a time when we need to be declaring a climate emergency, WA Labor is declaring climate surrender,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“WA Labor’s decision to dump the emissions targets that Labor just took to the federal election and replace them with the Coalition’s shockingly weak targets follows Queensland Labor’s support for Adani and full throated attack on climate protesters. Anthony Albanese’s inability to reign them in shows just how adrift the Labor Party has become and why the Greens are now the real opposition.
“Labor has changed their climate policy half a dozen times in recent years and with every change its got weaker. With big donations from the coal, oil and gas lobby continuing to flow, Albo out to lunch and the ALP adrift at sea, it’s only the Greens who are prepared to take the fight up to this rotten government.
“Where is Albo, and when is he going to tell us what Labor’s climate policy is?”
“It looks like Labor and the Liberals are now on a unity ticket in backing Tony Abbott’s measly emissions targets, which are not consistent with global warming staying below two degrees,” said Greens Climate Change Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.
“The Greens are fighting the Liberals’ climate denialism, but it looks like Labor won’t be with us.
“Anthony Albanese needs to get his colleagues on the same page, override the WA Labor party and help the Greens fight for emissions cuts consistent with the Paris ‘two degree’ goals, because otherwise we’re on track for climate disaster and Labor’s climate credibility is shot.
Code Red for Reef on Morrison’s watch
The Morrison Government will be responsible for the death of the Great Barrier Reef unless it takes urgent action on climate change, the Greens say.
“Today’s report is a Code Red on the survival of the Great Barrier Reef,” Greens Environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Today’s report confirms that things are getting much worse for the Great Barrier Reef under the Morrison government. We must have immediate and comprehensive climate action if we are to save it.
“The future of the Reef, the 64,000 jobs that depend on it, and its value as a World Heritage Area are all in peril because of the fossil-fuel loving Coalition.
“It’s not the Greens saying this, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has again clearly said climate change is the biggest threat to the Reef and without national and global action, it won’t be ‘Great’ for much longer.
“Meanwhile, Matt Canavan is in India courting coal barons and putting the future of the Reef and the climate in further danger.
“If the PM and the Environment Minister insist on keeping their heads in the sand on climate change they’ll be to blame for the death of the Great Barrier Reef. Time to stop shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Greens Oceans spokesperson and chair of the Senate Inquiry into the $444m grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said: “It’s official, the Great Barrier Reef, the planet’s biggest living organism, has been admitted to the emergency ward.”
“No amount of cosmetic surgery will save it from its inevitable total decline. The life support it needs is urgent and requires drastic climate action.
“Collectively, the world needs to reduce emissions. As custodian of this natural wonder, Australia must lead from the front and it isn’t doing that.”
Biloela family must be allowed to stay
The Biloela family must be allowed to stay in Australia, Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Nick McKim says.
“Trying to deport a family, including Australian born children, in the dead of night is emblematic of this government’s heartlessness,” Senator McKim said.
“Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton and David Coleman must listen to the community and allow Priya, Nades and their children to stay in Australia.”
“With the stroke of a ministerial pen they could be released from detention and allowed to get on with their lives.”
“This is their home. They are beloved members of the Biloela community.”
“The advocates and community who have tirelessly rallied behind this family have done a fantastic job.”
Pioneering civic leader to be immortalised in bronze
A bronze statue paying homage to Australia’s first female Lord Mayor will take pride of place in front of the former Civic Station in the heart of Newcastle as part of ongoing revitalisation works.
The late Joy Cummings OAM will become one of the only women in NSW to be immortalised in bronze, and the first person in Newcastle to be bestowed the honour.
The statue is currently being developed by Mudgee sculptor Margot Stephens, who was selected by the City of Newcastle following a call to the artistic community to design a statue of the former Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the statue was a fitting piece of public art for Newcastle’s civic heart.
“I’m proud to announce that City of Newcastle will immortalise the progressive and transformational leader Joy Cummings OAM through the city’s first true-to-scale, bronze statue,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Joy was a trailblazer for women in leadership and inspired Novocastrians through her community spirit and love for our great city and our people.
“It’s fitting that Joy’s pioneering legacy will be able to be showcased in such an amazing and enduring way.”
Speaking on behalf of the family, daughter Margaret Badger echoed the Lord Mayor’s sentiments and said if Joy were alive today, she’d be proud of the City that Newcastle has become.
“I think she’ll enjoy looking over what’s happening throughout the City,” Margaret said.
“This statue captures everything about her, her smile, the determined line between her brows, her outward reaching hand and the other hand close to her heart. It’s very symbolic of all that she was, an outward looking, proud, caring person.
“We’ll always be proud of mum’s achievements. It’s easy to forget today that Newcastle was a heavy industry town, a BHP town. We had the state dockyard and abattoirs, we were quite an industrious place, but mum still had a passion for greening projects and parks.
“She was also very big on heritage, liked the concept of light rail, and would be very supportive of any activity that brought people to live and work in the City.”
She also said Joy would have been proud to be looking back over to the Civic Theatre, which she helped save for live performances.
Margot Stephens said she was honoured to be selected to create the sculpture.
“Being selected to create the final piece has been an incredible privilege,” she said. “To work on the portrait of such an intelligent, courageous and determined woman has been inspirational.”
The latest tribute to Joy Cummings will be delivered to the forecourt of the new ‘Museum Place’ by the end of the year.
Joy served as Lord Mayor between 1974 and 1984 and was aged 79 when she died in July 2003.
LEAD SINGER OF NEWCASTLE BAND CHARGED WITH SEXUAL OFFENCES – Newcastle
A man has been charged with multiple sexual assault offences following a five-month investigation.
In March 2019, detectives from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation following reports of alleged sexual and indecent assaults occurring between 2008 and 2014.
Following extensive inquiries, on Tuesday 27 August 2019 a 32-year-old man was arrested on Darby Street, Cooks Hill and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
He was charged with 10 offences, including:
· Indecent assault (x2)
· Incite person 16 years and over to commit indecent act
· Aggravated sexual assault (x4)
· Common assault (x3)
He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 28 August 2019, where he was refused bail again to face the same court on Thursday 24 October 2019.
Investigations are continuing.