Category: Newcastle News

Novocastrians are bearing the brunt of ongoing cuts at Centrelink, with many being forced to wait for up to six months for applications for pensions or income support to be processed.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the number of Novocastrians contacting her for help after going months without income was distressing.
“My office takes too many calls from desperate constituents forced to live on nothing and navigate a system that seems rigged to demoralise and delay,” Ms Claydon said.
“With well over 35,000 Novocastrians on income support or pensions, the impact of these cuts has been felt widely across our community.
“Staff morale is also an all-time low with department jobs being cut and outsourced to labour hire firms.”
Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services Linda Burney said the Federal Government had cut and outsourced 2,500 Centrelink jobs in the past three years.
“Centrelink is in crisis under the Liberals. It’s under-staffed and under-resourced,” Ms Burney said.
“We have heard shocking stories of people waiting hours to speak to someone on the phone, or waiting months for their allowances or pensions.”
“The only winners of the cuts are labour hire firms who charge the taxpayer more, but pay their staff less.”
Labor has committed to invest in Centrelink’s workforce with 1,200 permanent, full-time, properly trained staff, who are best able to deal with the complex issues facing income support recipients.

Following is a summary of the Ordinary Council meeting for Tuesday 11 December 2018.
NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minute – City of Newcastle ‘Buy Local’ Procurement Policy
This supported LMM will see the City examine the benefits of purchasing goods, services and works from suppliers/contractors within the Greater Newcastle region and develop a draft policy for Council’s consideration.
Lord Mayoral Minute – Richmond Vale Rail Trail Working Party
A LMM was supported to establish a Richmond Vale Rail Trail Working Party comprising Councillors, Council officers and community members from Newcastle, Cessnock and Lake Macquarie.
Code of Conduct complaints statistics report
The report was received and noted.
Adoption of revised Privacy Management Plan
Council adopted the revised plan.
Adoption of Effective Communication between Councillors and Staff Policy
The policy was adopted.
Report on Review of Advisory Committees and Adoption of Advisory Committee Charters
Council adopted a new advisory committee structure and appointed Councillor members to strategic advisory committees for Infrastructure, Strategy and Innovation, Community and Culture, and Liveable Cities.
Determination of PAYG taxation for Councillors
The motion was carried, however it was required to be unanimous in order for Councillors to be eligible for PAYG tax withholding and superannuation. A substantive foreshadowed motion was instead carried that the City write to Federal and State Ministers and Shadow Ministers for Local Government in support of legislation requiring councillors to be paid compulsory superannuation.
Sanctuary Estate, Fletcher – Adoption of Amendment to Newcastle LEP 2012
Council endorsed the Planning Proposal for forwarding to the Department of Planning and Environment.
Cooks Hill, The Hill and Hamilton South Heritage Conservation Areas boundary adjustments – Endorsement of Amendment to Newcastle LEP 2012
Council endorsed the Planning Proposal for forwarding to the Minister for Planning for gateway determination.
Adoption of Hamilton Residential Precinct Heritage Conservation Area – Amendment to Newcastle LEP 2012
Council endorsed the Planning Proposal to create a Heritage Conservation Area for the Hamilton residential precinct and to forward the proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment.
Temporary suspension of alcohol-free zones for upcoming events 2019
The temporary suspension of alcohol-free zones was approved.
Management of parking within the Local Government Area
Council resolved to authorise the Chief Executive Officer to establish and operate or remove parking schemes as provided under the Road Transport (General) Regulation 2013 within the Newcastle Local Government Area.
Land acquisition – Part 12 Albert Street, Wickham – Roundabout and associated works
Council authorised the acquisition of part of the property at 12 Albert St, Wickham to enable the City to complete a shared pathway and roundabout works on the corner of Railway and Albert Streets.
Notices of Motion (NOM) 
Minimising disruption
A NOM was supported to note the temporary inconvenience caused to residents by the continued unprecedented construction boom underway in the City and to consider opportunities for Newcastle to replicate and build upon reforms for road construction works that have been introduced by the Victorian Government.
Health burden of coal-fired electricity generation in NSW
A NOM was supported to note a report investigating serious health damage caused by NSW’s five coal-fired power stations and to write to the Environment Minister and Shadow Environment Minister to seek commitments for air quality monitoring.
Paris Climate Agreement
A NOM was supported for City of Newcastle to commit formally to the principles and targets of the Paris Climate Agreement and develop a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the update of the Newcastle 2020 Carbon and Water Management Action Plan.

Moving snaps of local legend Kurt Fearnley with children in a Palestinian refugee camp and a rare cross-aisle celebration of last year’s marriage equality bill are among scores of stunning photographs on display at Newcastle Region Library until the end of the summer school holidays.
Two exhibitions, Home, Dignity, Justice and the 2018 Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Awards, showcase the power of photographic imagery in communicating human struggle, dignity and joy.

Newcastle Cr Carol Duncan said it was a pleasure for Newcastle Region Library and the City to present these two exhibitions to the community.
“Home, Dignity, Justice is a photographic retrospective of the Australian Human Rights Commission that celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and raises awareness of human rights issues through beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking images,” Cr Duncan said.
“The Nikon-Walkley exhibition shows the biggest news stories of the past year through the lenses of Australia’s best press photographers. Images are included across a wide range of genres, from news and sport to portraiture and photographic essays.”

Home, Dignity, Justice Exhibition
Home, Dignity, Justice celebrates stories from Australia and around the world in a retrospective exhibition of entries by children and adults to the Human Rights Commission’s photography competitions.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which emerged in response to the horrors of the Second World War, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948.
The Library’s program of activation events, developed in collaboration with the community, includes author talks, film and discussion forums, and workshops for various age groups with a focus on human rights and encouragement for everyone to #standup4humanrights.
Home Dignity Justice is a community collaboration that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
2018 Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition
The biggest stories of the past year seen through the lenses of Australia’s best press photographers are on show in the 2018 Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition at Wallsend Library.
Highlights include “Linda Burney Airborne” by AAP photographer Lukas Coch, which won the 2018 Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year prize. It captures a moment of celebration after the passing of the Marriage Amendment Bill, when Labor MP Linda Burney crossed party lines to be hoisted aloft by Liberal MP Warren Entsch on the floor of Parliament.
Dean Lewins was named the 2018 Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year at the Walkley Awards on 22 November. His body of work of news and sports images also appears alongside all this year’s Walkley-winning photographs and finalists.
As the highest honour in Australian journalism, the Walkley Awards celebrate excellence across all media.
The Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence in Photojournalism recognise the work of photographers across a range of genres – from news and sport to portraiture and photographic essays.
Home, Dignity, Justice Exhibition
Newcastle Library, Lovett Gallery
On until 25 January 2019
2018 Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition
Wallsend Library
10 December 2018 to 28 January 2019
Image captions:
Top: Inspirational, 2011 by Denise McArthur
Novocastrian Kurt Fearnley, world champion and Paralympian, visited Yarmouk Palestinian Refugee Camp in Damascus, Syria.
Featured in the Home, Dignity, Justice Exhibition
Above: Linda Burney Airborne, 2017, by Lukas Coch AAP, Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year
Liberal MP Warren Entsch lifts up Labor MP Linda Burney as they celebrate the passing of the Marriage Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, December 7 2017.
Featured in the 2018 Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition

A man will appear in court today after being charged with numerous drug and traffic offences in Newcastle overnight.
About 1.15am (Wednesday 12 December 2018), patrolling police observed two motorcycles, without registration plates, travelling at high speed along Lambton Road at Broadmeadow.
Due to the speed of the motorcycles police lost sight of them, but continued to patrol the area.
One motorcycle was later detected travelling west on Lambton Road where it turned into Chilcott Street.
When officers turned into Pride Avenue they observed a man standing alongside a black and yellow motorcycle.
Police from Newcastle City Police District will allege that the man threw the bike to the ground and attempted to run away.
He was arrested and searched, with officers alleging they located $17,000 cash, and quantities of Cannabis and Ice in a bum bag.
The 27-year-old man was conveyed for mandatory blood and urine tests before he was taken to Newcastle Police Station.
He was later charged with drive recklessly/furiously, use unregistered vehicle, use uninsured vehicle, drive with license expired, deal with the proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug (x3).
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 12 December 2018).
Inquiries into the incident continue.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have charged a man after he allegedly threatened two officers with knives at his Muswellbrook home overnight.
About 8.30pm (Monday 11 December 2018), officers were called to a unit on Skellatar Street after receiving a noise complaint.
On arrival two officers were confronted by a man, aged 44, who police will allege was heavily intoxicated and armed with two knives.
Police will allege the man threatened to stab the officers while walking towards them.
The officers retreated from the unit as they called for urgent assistance and commenced negotiations with the armed man.
Following short negotiations, the 44-year-old man dropped his weapons and was arrested without incident.
He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with assault police, armed with intent to commit indictable offence and use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
The man was refused bail and will appear in Muswellbrook Local Court today (Tuesday 11 December 2018).

Council will consider a recommendation to introduce competition for funding among local business improvement associations, to generate more events and initiatives throughout the city, tomorrow night.
More than $10 million has been paid since 2012 to the business improvement associations (BIAs) of the City Centre’s Newcastle Now, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the Wallsend Town Business Association, the Mayfield Business Association and the New Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
This funding is made available from a special rate paid by commercial ratepayers to fund additional promotion and marketing of their local business area.
Four of the five BIAs have this year requested Council funding. Collectively, they propose to this year spend 46 per cent of their ratepayer funds on administration and salaries.
An annual contestable process for the $1.345 million in ratepayer funding is recommended following the finalisation of a report by AECOM (below). The report, which will be considered at the Council meeting tomorrow night, lists 34 issues relating to governance that require addressing by the BIAs.
Council will also consider a recommendation to replace the current model of funding agreements with a new framework that ensures funding is directed to events, local projects and infrastructure. BIAs will not be able to request funds from the City of Newcastle for administrative costs and staff salaries.
A separate, independent report by the Centium Group into funding provided to Newcastle Now will also be shared with Councillors Tuesday evening. This report was prompted by the discovery that around $7 million has been paid to Newcastle Now without a business plan submitted or approved, a requirement stipulated in the association’s funding agreement signed by its then and current Chairman Edward Duc in November 2011.
City of Newcastle’s Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Bath said the AECOM report found that the governance arrangements for BIAs require significant improvement.
“Earlier this year a BIA requested more than $100,000 with no explanation of how the money would be spent,” Mr Bath said.
“Another requested to spend all (and more) of their special rate funding on administration.
“More than $10 million of commercial ratepayers’ money has been provided to BIAs during the past seven years. During this time, the amount that is being diverted to administration and salaries has substantially increased.
“For example, every year for the past five years, Newcastle Now has spent at least 43 per cent of its funding on administrative costs and salaries. In 2016, this figure exceeded $600,000 out of total funding of $1,161,596. And in 2017, 56 per cent of Newcastle Now’s funding was diverted to administration and salaries, a record percentage.
“Every dollar that is spent on administration and salaries is a dollar that isn’t going towards on-the-ground delivery of events and programs that attract people to local shops and businesses.
“AECOM recommend that administration expenses instead be managed by a single independent third party on behalf of all five BIAs. Through economies of scale, this will ensure an estimated half a million dollars more is invested into local business areas in the form of events and programs rather than in red tape and bureaucracy.
“The City needs more events, and more focus on tourism and economic development. BIAs can play a critical role in achieving this.
“Significantly, Council will also introduce a more open and contestable process for at least a portion of the annual $1.345 million that is currently exclusively available to the BIAs.
“Competition will bring about a lift in the quality of events and projects that ratepayers’ money is spent on. It will encourage fresh, dynamic ideas for how we drive better visitation and spend in our local business areas.
“Wallsend and Hamilton BIAs have done an outstanding job cultivating events that draw large numbers to their areas and positively promote local shops. Going forward, successful events like the Wallsend Winter Fair, Hamilton Carnivale and China Week will be able to apply for funding in three-year blocks to ensure events have certainty from year to year.
“City of Newcastle is contacted every week regarding inspiring new ideas for events or activations that could promote Newcastle and increase economic activity. BIAs will now compete with these groups for the funds that commercial property owners pay annually in the CBD, Darby Street, Hamilton, Mayfield, Wallsend and New Lambton.
“To further improve governance, any funding request will now include KPIs that explain how the success of an event or program is measured.
“The proposed framework includes improved transparency around the boards of the five BIAs and a clear process for recruitment and selection to a board. A number of property owners who pay the special levy have indicated a view that BIA boards are a closed shop with limited turnover and visibility of how decisions are made.
“A vision and purpose must also be better articulated to ensure consistency in the evaluation of a BIA’s performance. For example, Newcastle Now has a goal to “help and encourage the city (of Newcastle) to live up to its name as Newcastle Business Improvement Association”.
“This goal is at best ambiguous, and at worst makes no sense. Either way, evaluating its performance in meeting its goals is impossible.
“Council will separately review the geographical boundaries of the BIAs. It’s clear that the City’s rapid transformation in recent years which has seen improved establishment of local business areas in Honeysuckle, Carrington, Waratah and the Junction, is an opportunity for the creation of new or expanded BIAs,” Mr Bath said.
Download the AECOM report (pdf)

A man has been charged following a stabbing in the state’s Central West today.
About 4pm (Monday 10 December 2018), police were called to a home on Brian Heber Grove, Mudgee, following reports a man had been stabbed.
On arrival officers found a 19-year-old man suffering a stab wound to his chest.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Mudgee Base Hospital, then flown to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District arrested a 24-year-old man at the scene.
He was taken to Mudgee Police Station where he was charged with reckless wounding.
He was refused bail and will appear in Mudgee Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 11 December 2018).
The two men are known to each other.

Police are continuing to appeal for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Hunter region.
Graeme Lambert-Smith, aged 61, was last seen leaving a hospital on Hospital Road, Dungog, about 7.10am yesterday (Saturday 8 December 2018).
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified and commenced an investigation.
Police and family have concerns for his welfare as he suffers from a medical condition and may appear disorientated.
Mr Lambert-Smith is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 178cm tall, of thin build, with a fair complexion, silver short hair, and wearing glasses.
He was last seen wearing a blue jumper, black tracksuit pants, and no shoes.
A search for the man is ongoing in Dungog and the surrounding areas. The search involves officers from Port Stephens/Hunter Police District, PolAir, and SES personnel.
The search will continue tomorrow (Monday 10 December 2018) with the assistance of police Dog Squad and Northern Region Operational Support Group (OSG).
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately.

A man has been arrested following a fatal shooting in Newcastle yesterday.
Just after 4pm (Saturday 8 December 2018), police were called to a home on Beauford Avenue, Maryland, after reports of a shooting.
A man, believed to be 38-years-old, was found with fatal injuries inside an attached garage.
He is yet to be formally identified.
A crime scene was established, and officers from Newcastle City Police District, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, commenced inquiries.
About 1am today (Sunday 9 December 2018), specialist police and negotiators attended a home on Raglan Street, Wallsend, and established a perimeter.
Following negotiations, about 3.45am, 10 people – including a 30-year-old man and children – inside the home exited without incident.
The 30-year-old man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
The men are known to each other and police are treating the incident as targeted.
Inquiries are continuing.

A motorcyclist has died following a crash near Scone, in the state’s Hunter Region.
Just after 10am today (Saturday 8 December 2018), a motorcycle and truck collided on the New England Highway at Parkville, approximately 10km north of Scone.
The rider, a 66-year-old man, died at the scene.
The truck driver, a man believed to be aged in his 50s, wasn’t injured and has undergone mandatory blood and urine testing.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have established a crime scene and an investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Crash Investigation Unit.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or the events leading up to it, is urged to contact police.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
The highway is expected to remain closed for a number of hours and motorists are advised to avoid the area.