Newcastle News – Page 270

Business areas to get boost from events funding

Businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community groups are invited to apply for around $900,000 in funding as part of a program designed to attract more people into the City’s business areas.
Funding will be provided through an Expression of Interest process for projects or events in or surrounding the City Centre, Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
Funding of up to $500,000 for a single project or event in the Newcastle CBD is possible under the new program, with smaller grants of up to $15,000 available for events that are staged in Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see what the new funding program generates in terms of ideas for new projects and events in the City CBD and some of our smaller commercial areas,” City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said.
“Newcastle has long been considered the creative capital of Australia, and now we are putting money on the table to turn these ideas into events that activate local business areas.
“The funding is drawn from a special levy that commercial ratepayers in the city and parts of Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton pay. For the past decade the community had limited visibility of how the money was being spent.
“Now, instead of money being frittered away on administration and employee costs, it will be invested directly into events and projects that will attract people to local business districts.”
From 2011 to last month, the City provided more than $8 million funded via the special levy to three Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and two local chambers of commerce.
A review last year revealed major problems with the model, resulting in one BIA voluntarily suspending itself and City of Newcastle terminating the funding agreements of Newcastle Now and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce due to significant governance breaches.
A new model was adopted by Council in May after it decided that BIAs in Newcastle, Mayfield, Hamilton and Wallsend should receive no more than $100,000 annually.
The City is now working with local businesses in Mayfield, Hamilton and the City Centre to form new BIAs, with the aim of entering into 12-month service agreements.
The Wallsend BIA will continue to operate without change.
Council also voted in May to ban special rates from being used by BIAs on employee and administration costs, stipulating that funds should go towards events and projects that activate and promote the business areas.
A new shared resource to manage the administration responsibilities will be appointed in July to ensure previous governance issues within BIAs won’t re-occur.
Expressions of Interest applications for the new funding are open now and close on Friday 9 August 2019.

Two women charged after Strike Force Raptor seize drugs and cash – New Lambton

Strike Force Raptor have charged two women with alleged drug supply offences following a vehicle stop near Newcastle yesterday.
About 1pm (Tuesday 16 July 2019), officers from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North, with assistance from Newcastle City Target Action Group, stopped a Holden Astra on Monash Road, New Lambton, and spoke with the driver, a 35-year-old woman, and her 24-year-old passenger.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and allegedly located 8.66g of methylamphetamine, a prescribed restricted substance, several goods suspected of being stolen and cash.
Both women were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The 35-year-old Adamstown woman was charged with driving while disqualified- second offence, possess prohibited drug (x3), and supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 17 July 2019).
The 24-year-old Lambton woman was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess prohibited drug (x4), deal with property proceeds of crime, goods in custody (x3) and possess prescribed restricted substance.
She was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 August 2019.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.

Breakthrough in finding a car park in the CBD

In an Australian first, motorists can now access new digital parking technology that guides them to available parking spaces within the Newcastle CBD.
The Find & Park function is the latest addition to City of Newcastle’s popular EasyPark app, which allows users to pay for parking and top up any additional time needed, remotely, using just their smart phone.
Find & Park has helped revolutionise parking in several European cities, and now Newcastle has been selected as the first city in Australia.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Find & Park was a game changer for parking in the city and would build on the success of the EasyPark app, which has now surpassed cash payments as the second most popular way to pay for parking behind credit card transactions.
“Find & Park takes the stress out of driving by providing motorists with clear, concise information on where best to find a park,” he said.
“It is an incredibly intelligent form of technology that has been adopted by some of the world’s smartest and most technologically savvy cities, such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Rome, Milan and Barcelona.”

To use Find & Park, motorists just need to open the EasyPark app and click ‘Find’, then enter their destination.
An in-built map then guides them to the best parking area which is closest to their destination.
The Find & Park map provides motorists with colour-coded ‘easy’, ‘moderate’ or ‘difficult’ options for on-street parking closest to their destination.
Data collected from a survey of parking spaces available in the city across a six-week period will initially inform the app, which will be refined and improved with the parking data generated by users.
Cr Clausen said the new Park and Find function would play a major role in easing congestion caused by motorists searching for parks.
“Information provided by EasyPark shows about 30 per cent of traffic in congested European cities, where the technology originates, is caused by people searching for parking,” he said.
“The technology will allow motorists to make better informed parking decisions, just like red and green parking indicators have done for drivers accessing car parks at major shopping centres in Newcastle and elsewhere.”
Currently, the Find & Park service is only available within the Newcastle CBD. City of Newcastle is currently working on expanding the footprint to other parts of the LGA.
Last month, City of Newcastle recorded 45,517 EasyPark transactions, close to 8,000 more than the 37,528 transactions recorded for cash payments.
The popularity of digital payments has been attributed to the City’s 25 per cent discount on parking rates introduced in January and extended to the end of 2019.
Separately, free parking at the mall parking station on Saturdays has also been extended until the end of 2019 to help free up on-street parking in the CBD.
The EasyPark app can be downloaded via the Apple app store by typing EasyPark or at Google Play for Android users. Just look for the bright pink square with the white ‘e’ in it
Motorists can also call EasyPark on 1300 734 070 for assistance with the app.
Drivers are reminded to adhere to NSW laws governing correct phone use while driving, such as using a fixed phone cradle only to make and take calls. For further information on this, visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/mobilephones/know-the-rules.html

Medical histories key to Stockton death inquiries

Police will be reviewing the medical histories of a husband and wife whose bodies were found at Stockton today.
About 6am (Friday 12 July 2019), emergency services were called to a home in Newcastle Street after concerns were raised for the welfare of the occupants.
Once inside, police found the body of a 75-year-old woman.
A short time later, emergency services retrieved the body of a 76–year-old man from the surf at Stockton Beach.
Crime scenes were established at both locations, which are being examined by specialist forensic officers.
Newcastle City detectives have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Initial inquiries suggest no third parties are being sought.
Detectives will await the outcome of post mortem examinations to determine the direction of further inquiries.

Man dies after falling off bicycle – Newcastle East

A man has died after falling off his bicycle at Newcastle East last night.
About 10.30pm (Wednesday 10 July 2019), emergency services were called to the intersection of Pacific and Scott Street, after reports a cyclist was injured.
Police have been told the 51-year-old male cyclist came off his bicycle after attempting to cross the tram lines, falling and sustaining head injuries.
Numerous members of the public rendered assistance to the man while emergency services were contacted, before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he later died.
A crime scene was established by officers from Newcastle City Police District, and inquiries into the incident are continuing.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Three dead, two rescued after catamaran capsized – Newcastle

Three people have died and two have been rescued after a catamaran overturned off the coast of Newcastle this morning.
About 10.10am (Thursday 11 July 2019) an emergency beacon was activated from a 11.7m catamaran that had overturned approximately 7 nautical miles off the coast at Stockton Beach.
Officers from Marine Area Command are responding, together with Marine Rescue Association and the RAAF, and coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC).
At this stage two people, believed to be a girl and a man, have been winched from the water and taken to John Hunter Hospital.
Three bodies have been found in the water and have been retrieved by Marine Rescue.
The operation continues.

International honours for Smart City success

A brace of awards at the IDC Smart Cities Asia-Pacific Awards has confirmed City of Newcastle’s standing as a leading smart city.
The Smart City Infrastructure component of the Hunter Innovation Project (HIP) was announced outright winner of the ‘Land Use and Planning’ category among an illustrious field of contenders including Singapore.
The City’s Smart Moves Newcastle – Mobility Projects also shared top honours in the ‘Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Public Transit and Rideshare’ category with Chinese tech powerhouse Shenzhen.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the twin wins, which follow the Smart City of the Year Metropolitan prize in May, proved Newcastle’s modernisation wasn’t going unnoticed internationally.
“Of the seven Australian projects nominated as finalists in the 2019 round of the IDC Smart City awards, Newcastle was the only city to come away with wins,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It speaks volumes to our growing stature that we are mixing it with, and beating, established Asia-Pacific smart cities like Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Busan, Auckland, Taipei and Singapore.”
Now in its fifth year, the IDC smart cities awards honour the initiatives implemented by Asia-Pac cities to use technology to improve operations and better serve citizens. The awards are judged by IDC experts, an international advisory panel and a public vote.
This $7 million three-year HIP project forms part of the broader $17 million collaboration of smart city ideas, facilities and infrastructure by City of Newcastle, the NSW Government, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Now and Hunter DiGiT.
HIP has introduced smart city technology into the city’s public spaces, including communications networks connecting Australia’s largest installation of smart poles, smart lighting, free public WiFi and a soon-to-launch environmental sensor network, and Internet of Things (IoT) lab.
“The digital technologies and sensor capabilities enabled through the Hunter Innovation Project’s smart city infrastructure are a game-changer for the City,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This technology forms infrastructure capable of powering intelligent economic growth.
“It’ll help us manage our city based on data, and attract innovators, businesses and industries who want to be part of our digital revolution.”
The Smart Moves Newcastle – Mobility Project is using technology-enabled infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, smart bus stops and bike sharing programs, while introducing new modes of transport, including a driverless vehicle.
The project is funded by a $5 million grant though the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program and delivered with Transport for NSW, Keolis Downer Hunter, Bykko, and research programs by the University of Newcastle studying behaviours and prototyping new sensor technology.
For more information on the IDC Smart Cities Asia-Pacific Award, visit https://www.idc.com/ap/smartcities/

City wheels out first driverless vehicle

The future of automated transport has arrived in Newcastle with the City’s brand-new driverless shuttle bus unveiled today.
Wrapped in City of Newcastle’s branding, the 11-seater vehicle was revealed for the first time by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at Keolis Downer’s Hamilton depot, where rigorous safety testing will soon commence before passengers can enjoy the unique service along the harbour foreshore.

^{KD Hunter General Manager Mark Dunlop with the Lord Mayor and KD’s Sue Wiblin.}
The Lord Mayor said it was fascinating to inspect the driverless vehicle ahead of its initial 12-month trial.
“This is a major milestone for the city’s smart city journey, and I look forward to working with Transport for NSW and partners Keolis Downer on this unique opportunity to make the future of automated transport in Newcastle a reality as we transform the city into a living lab,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“The City’s vision for a smart, integrated transport network begins in earnest with the arrival of this new driverless vehicle, which we propose connecting with Newcastle’s integrated public transport network.”
“We are planning for passengers to be able to take in views of the City’s harbour along the proposed 2km loop service, from Watt Street along Wharf Road to Nobbys and back, making it very appealing to tourists. A larger circuit will include some of Newcastle’s other beachside destinations after a couple of months.”

^{KD Hunter General Manager Mark Dunlop with the Lord Mayor and KD’s Sue Wiblin}.

Keolis Downer New Mobilities Manager Sue Wiblin confirmed the trial was being developed in accordance with national and state legislation and regulations to ensure it met all safety standards.
“Over the next month, we will complete a rigorous safety testing program, on road and off road, to prepare the vehicle for customer services,” Ms Wiblin said.
“In-built computers and sensing systems capable of detecting obstacles, anticipating movement and evaluating risk of collision, are what sets this vehicle apart from the risks associated with human-controlled cars.
“These systems are capable of detecting vehicle movement and are also able determine the travel route, make decisions to slow down, brake and alternate the vehicle’s path if required.”
While the vehicle is fully automated, a chaperone, who will always be onboard during operations, will be able to stop the vehicle via an override system if required.
Testing will be carried out before the service is launched.
When launched, the trial will help gauge demand for driverless vehicle operations and assess their suitability in mixed traffic and transport scenarios in Newcastle.

Aggravated break, enter and steal and firearms offences; man charged – Hunter region

A man has been charged with break, enter and steal and firearms offences in the state’s Hunter region.
Police have been told a 44-year-old man entered the front yard of a home on Cecily Close, East Maitland, and threatened an occupant about 7.30pm yesterday (Sunday 7 July 2019).
He left the premises and later returned allegedly armed with a rifle, before being involved in a struggle with the resident.
He returned to his home and was later seen leaving on foot.
Police from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called and commenced a search but were unable to find him.
About three hours later, police were called to Redbill Drive, Woodberry, where the man allegedly forced entry to a home, threatened and assaulted a 72-year-old woman.
After a short foot pursuit the man was arrested with the assistance of the NSW Police Dog Unit at Swallow Close, Woodberry, and was taken to Maitland Police Station.
No one was injured; it’s believed the man knew both the alleged victims.
Officers later executed a search warrant at a home on Cecily Close, East Maitland, where they seized a rifle.
The man was charged with aggravated enter dwelling with intent, common assault, steal property in dwelling, destroy/damage property (x2), possess unregistered firearm and not keep firearm safely.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Monday 8 July 2019).

Youth group leader charged over alleged aggravated sexual assault of 15-year-old girl near Newcastle

A youth group leader has been charged over the alleged aggravated sexual assault and sexual touching of a teenage girl near Newcastle.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation, following reports a 15-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a man known to her.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 22-year-old man in Beresfield about 7.20am yesterday (Friday 5 July 2019).
Shortly after, detectives executed a search warrant at a home near Belmont and two vehicles have been seized for forensic examination.
The man, who is a youth group leader, was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with two counts of intentionally sexually touch child (under 16 years), and seven counts of aggravated sexual intercourse child (under 16 years).
Police will allege in court that the man sexually touched and sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions between April and May 2019.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 6 July 2019).
The man was stood down from his role as youth group leader during the investigation.