Category: Newcastle News

At Waratah Station Lift 1 between the footbridge and Platform 1 is temporarily out of service. 02 4962 9495

At Waratah Station Lift 1 between the footbridge and Platform 1 is temporarily out of service. 02 4962 9495

Three Newcastle sports fields will share in more than $3.3 million worth of upgrades aimed at encouraging increased female participation while also catering for predicted population growth.

Funded by City of Newcastle and the NSW Government’s Level the Playing Field Program, the projects will see Tarro Reserve and Johnson Park at Lambton receive new amenities buildings with female friendly change rooms, an accessible toilet, canteen, referees’ room and storage.

New LED floodlighting that meets modern standards for training and matches will be installed at Johnson Park and Pat Jordan Oval at Carrington.

Additional improvements to Johnson Park will include drainage, as well as the relocation and replacement of the existing playground.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the projects are all about planning for the future.

As part of City of Newcastle’s 10-year Strategic Sports Plan we want to renew and upgrade existing sportsgrounds to improve their functionality in order to meet the current and future needs of the community,” Cr Nelmes said.

“These upgrades will deliver benefits for our communities, and help prepare for the population increases forecast under the new housing targets set by the NSW Government and draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy.”

Preliminary work has begun on the project at Lambton, with the upgrade at Carrington expected to start in September.

Construction of the new amenities at Tarro will take place in 2025.

Newcastle City Junior AFL Club President Jon Clarke said the upgrade to Pat Jordan Oval will help to grow the game.

“This will create a safer, more welcoming environment for all of our players, but particularly for women who train at the ground,” Mr Clarke said.

“It will facilitate more training sessions and competition opportunities and cater to the growing female participant demand.”

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery welcomed the upgrades at Johnson Park and Tarro Reserve, which she said would make the grounds more inclusive for female players.

“I’m very pleased that Tarro Reserve and Johnson Park will receive these improvements, which will enable female players to have greater access to sport and recreational facilities,” Ms Hornery said.

“We’ve seen the immense success of our Newcastle Knights women locally, and on a larger stage the brilliance of our Matildas football team. These successes have inspired many young women to participate in sport. I thank the NSW Government for providing this funding.”

State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said the upgrades at Pat Jordan Oval will be well received by the local sporting community.

“Newcastle has some fantastic sports programs for women and girls,” Mr Crakanthorp said. 

“It is crucial that we encourage those programs to continue and grow so more local women and girls develop a lifelong love of sport and enjoy the benefits that it brings.”

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July

• Trains run to a changed timetable and make extra stops at all stations between Ashfield and Macdonaldtown.
  
• Saturday from 9pm to 2am, buses replace trains from Ashfield to Central, in that direction only.
• Trains run to a changed timetable between Hornsby and Ashfield.
• Change at Strathfield for express buses to Central or change at Ashfield for buses stopping all-stations towards Central.
• Trains continue to run from the City to Hornsby via Strathfield, in that direction only.
  
• Replacement buses may be impacted by driver shortages. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact to your journey and provide a safe service, however cancellations or delays may occur.
• Plan your trip before you travel for up-to-date real time information. You can also subscribe to planned trackwork alerts.

Bus routes
40T2 Strathfield, then express to Central and return
42T2 Ashfield, then all stations to Stanmore, then express to Central
46T2 Ashfield, then all stations to Central

At Cardiff Station Lift 2 between the footbridge and Mary St is temporarily out of service. If you need help, ask staff or phone 02 4962 9437.

Newcastle police have charged a man over the alleged theft of parcels in the Lambton area earlier this month.

On Thursday 11 July 2024, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District received a report that parcels had been stolen from the front of a New Lambton home.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 38-year-old man at a shopping centre on Steel Street, Newcastle, about 11.30am today (Thursday 18 July 2024).

During the arrest police allegedly located methylamphetamine and cannabis on the man. All items were seized for forensic examination.

The 38-year-old was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with larceny, enter inclosed land not prescribed without law excuse and two counts of possess prohibited drug.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 August 2024.

Investigations are continuing.

The past, present and future will be celebrated next month with a family-friendly festival to mark the 150th anniversary of Wallsend being declared a municipality.

City of Newcastle has worked with the local community to create a hallmark event featuring something for all ages including musical and cultural performances, market stalls, rides, children’s activities and storytelling.

Wallsend Business Improvement Association board member Luke Whitby, penny farthing rider Sanjex, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk prepare for the upcoming family-friendly celebrations in Wallsend.

The celebration will run from 1pm to 6pm on 17 August with Wallsend Park to host art workshops and food stalls, while most of the action will take place near the historic rotunda and on Nelson Street.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Wallsend’s significant contribution to our region during the past 150 years deserves a major celebration.

“City of Newcastle has worked hard to prepare for this unique milestone with extensive road resurfacing on Nelson Street, as well as a pressure cleaning campaign on the footpaths and around the 136-year-old rotunda,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Wallsend was once a mining colony that once supported around 7500 workers and their families. The local coal was some of the best in Australia and played a major role in the development of Newcastle as a port city.

“Since then the suburb has become a vibrant home to a unique and close-knit community, emerging as a multicultural hub that attracts young families from all over the world.”

Thousands of people are expected to attend the celebration on 17 August, held in a familiar timeslot to the former Winter Fair, with entertainment throughout the afternoon from an impressive line-up of performers on the main stage.

Visitors will be able to step back in time and into a photo booth wearing historical dress, The Creative Co will keep the kids entertained with messy play and a cake smash, and when the sun goes down, Wallsend’s rich history will be projected onto buildings through a collection of digitised photographs.

Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is aiming for a vibrant, safe, and accessible event for everyone to enjoy.

“Wallsend is a place of inclusivity and belonging so it’s only fitting the 150th anniversary celebration has the same theme,” Cr Nelmes said.

“First Nations artists will kick off proceedings and then to reflect Wallsend’s multicultural diversity other performers with inspiration from across the world will entertain including samba from Brazil, flamenco from Spain and muqam from China.

“Along with a range of community-led activities and markets there will be something for everyone.”

For more information visit https://whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Wallsend150

This event is supported through the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Program.

Monday 15 and Thursday 18 July

• Buses replace the following trains between Scone or Muswellbrook and Maitland:
  – 03:18 Newcastle Interchange to Scone
  – 06:07 Scone to Newcastle Interchange
  – 08:14 Newcastle Interchange to Muswellbrook
  – 10:09 Muswellbrook to Newcastle Interchange
• Trains run between Maitland and Newcastle Interchange.
• Replacement buses may be impacted by driver shortages. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact to your journey and provide a safe service, however cancellations or delays may occur.
• Plan your trip before you travel for up-to-date real time information. You can also subscribe to planned trackwork alerts.

Bus routes10HU Muswellbrook, then Singleton, Maitland and return
15HU Muswellbrook, then all stations to Maitland and return14HU Scone, then all stations to Maitland and return

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from the state’s Hunter region.

Hunter Paton, aged 13, was last seen at Woodberry on Monday 24 June 2024.

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified last Thursday (11 July 2024) and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for his welfare due to his young age.

Hunter is described as being of Caucasian appearance, thin build, about 175cm tall with short dark brown hair.

He was last seen wearing black puffer jacket, long pants and black shoes.

Hunter is known to frequent the Woodberry, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay areas.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to call Raymond Terrace Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Former Newcastle Knight Alex McKinnon and Paralympian Rae Anderson will join forces with City of Newcastle next month to champion the importance of making sport accessible for all.

The high-profile pair will headline the inaugural Inclusive Sports Forum, which is one of five free activities being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s Count Us In Sport program from 8-15 August.

Paralympian Dylan Alcott, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion Liesl Tesch at City of Newcastle’s Count Us In festival last year.

The events were designed in consultation with City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Advisory Committee and community members with lived experience of disability.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Count Us In recognises and celebrates the contributions made by people living with disabilities.

“City of Newcastle prides itself on being a liveable and welcoming community for all people, increasing social inclusion and community connections with events like Count Us In festival in line with our Disability Inclusion Action Plan,” Cr Nelmes said.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion and Paralympian Liesl Tesch said with the world’s attention focussed on the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, now was the perfect time to increase awareness of this important issue.

“Participation in sport provides a wonderful experience of community, enabling a sense of belonging and building friendships while also delivering positive benefits for overall health and wellbeing,” Ms Tesch said.

“It’s fantastic to see City of Newcastle championing the role sport can play to encourage inclusion in our community.”

Access Inclusion Advisory Committee Co-Chair Councillor Margaret Wood Count Us In Sport was a call to action for all sports clubs in Newcastle to take their first, or next steps to becoming a place where all people have a role, belong and everyone can play.

“While almost 20 per cent of people in Australia live with a disability, only one in four of them participate in sport, and three quarters of those who want to take part believe there are limited opportunities to do so,” Cr Wood said.

“With more than 30,000 people living with a disability in Newcastle, this means that many people in our community are missing out on what sport has to offer.

“We want to turn the tide of these statistics in Newcastle. Count Us In Sport provides opportunities for people with disabilities to seek, find and follow their sports journey, whether that is as a competitor, supporter or taking up a role within a sports club or association.”

City of Newcastle will fly the flag for inclusion from 8 August with the installation of a series of banners championing inclusive sports and Paralympic activities.

The Count Us In Sport program will kick on the following day with a Come and Try Inclusive Sports event at No.2 Sportsground and the National Park netball courts, where school students and community members will be invited to participate in a series of sporting activities.

Increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to become involved in grassroots sport will be the focus of the Inclusive Sports Forum at McDonald Jones Stadium on 13 August, where McKinnon and Anderson will share their stories and experiences alongside local clubs already working in this space. Anderson will also speak about her work with Disability Sports Australia including the Accessibility Champions Course available to clubs and associations to support sports inclusion.

Sports clubs, associations and recreational providers with ideas to enhance disability inclusion in Newcastle will have the chance to promote their plans at an Inclusive Sports Pitch night on 15 August, with four grants of up to $2,500 each on offer from City of Newcastle.

The Count Us In Sport program will wrap up with a fun Paralympics Watch Party hosted by Community Disability Alliance Hunter on a date still to be confirmed.

Check out the City of Newcastle website for more information and to book your place at the free events during Count Us In Sport 2024.