Category: Newcastle News

Another record year has been registered on Newcastle’s development front with the total value of building approvals topping $1.2 billion.
City of Newcastle (CN) approved $1.02 billion in development applications in the 12 months to July this year, with another $94.8 million in complying development certificates* issued by both CN and private certifiers.
Projects worth another $98 million, including two mixed-use Honeysuckle developments, were approved by the State Government to see the yearly total top $1.2 billion.
“The results for the 2017/18 financial year are a fantastic outcome with Newcastle continuing to attract strong development and investment activity,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Our enduring building boom is clear to see on the CBD’s skyline as clouds gather elsewhere around the country, while other indicators and new efficiencies we’re introducing point towards a sustained period of growth.
“Following a successful trial of development applications by email, we hope to make this a permanent convenience for builders and developers in the very near future.”
Other projects in the local pipeline, such as the Store’s transformation into mixed-use towers, promise to keep the annual total buoyant despite a national downturn in the residential market.
Amid sustained strong development locally, the City continues to balance infrastructure renewal with revitalisation projects to meet the higher service expectations that accompany the growth.
The 2018/19 budget features a record $100 million civil works program focused on addressing the city’s infrastructure backlog but also supports the clear strategy to create a smart, liveable and sustainable global city.
“Our budget includes a works program for 2018/19 that strikes a balance between essential asset renewal and new and upgraded services to the community,” the Lord Mayor added.
“It includes more than $23.5 million on roads and footpaths, $13 million to renew buildings, structures and places and $8.2 million to implement our Smart City Strategy.”
* Complying development is a fast-track approval process for straightforward residential, commercial and industrial development. If the application meets specific criteria, it can be determined by a council or accredited certifier.

City of Newcastle is reminding small businesses in the CBD of more than $400,000 still on offer as part of its rates relief scheme for those impacted by the light rail construction.
To date more than 102 applications have been received, with Council paying out more than $37,000 in rate relief.
To be eligible for rate relief, a CBD business needs the property owner to have paid their first quarterly rates, which were due at the end of August this year.
Rebates have been returned to 95 applicants in the first 10 weeks of the program, which is open for the duration of the 2018/19 financial year.
Eligible properties are entitled to financial assistance amounting to half the special rate historically passed onto business improvement association Newcastle Now, which in turn used the funds to promote the CBD.
“Council took this decision to provide direct rate relief to those businesses suffering from the disruption that the construction of light rail has brought about,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“We understand that for many small businesses their bottom line has been impacted, and this rate relief was a way Council could play a role in minimising the impact of light rail. Once it became clear that the State Government wasn’t going to provide rent relief, it was important that City of Newcastle looked for a way of supporting these businesses that didn’t come at the expense of our existing $100 million works program.
“There are hundreds of local small businesses that are yet to apply for rate relief. Clearly many are unaware that the funding exists or that they only need pay their first quarterly rates notice to be eligible. The process of application is straight forward, and businesses can apply at any time throughout the current financial year.”
The helping hand was extended in July following the Lord Mayor’ successful amendment to Council’s 2018-19 budget.
Financial assistance is available:

• to the tenant(s) of the property, or

• to the property owner – providing the property is solely owner occupied and no part is leased out

Property owners are eligible for the relief after paying their first quarterly rates instalment for 2018/19.
They should complete an application form together with details of tenants (with their signature) where applicable.
If more than one tenant occupies the property, a separate form is required for each tenant.
Council will then provide half of the amount they would have paid for the 2018/19 City Centre Special Rate in to the bank account nominated on the application form.
Both property owner and tenant(s) will be notified by email once Council makes the financial assistance payment is made.

Novocastrians can declutter their homes and offload unwanted items by signing up for this month’s Garage Sale Trail (GST) to help promote environmental sustainability.
The free national weekend of garage sales on 20-21 October is a popular way for people to connect with neighbours, find new homes for superfluous items and hunt for second-hand treasures while helping divert waste from landfill.

^{Members of Upcycle Newcastle, who have registered for Garage Sale Trail (left to right) are: Samantha Wells, Cathy Stuart and Melanie McKinnon.} 
 
Sellers can host a sale as a household, street or community group to make money individually or fundraise for a cause.
“City of Newcastle is proud to support Garage Sale Trail and the positive impacts it enables in communities right across Australia,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“It’s a simple, fun way for everyone to re-use, reduce waste and minimise their impact on the environment while also getting to know their neighbours and others in the community.
“I encourage everyone to get involved, clear out some clutter and maybe even make a few dollars in the process.”
Last year, nearly 3,000 Newcastle buyers scooped up pre-loved items from around 89 Newcastle households and groups who opened up their garages or held stalls.
More than 15,000 sales were held in neighbourhoods across the country with over 1.6 million treasures changing hands.
It’s easy to find the best treasure in our region over the GST weekend. Just search online for sales by postcode or suburb or, if you’re on the hunt for something specific, search by item or category.
Register your garage sale online or have a look at registered sales in Newcastle.
If you’re hosting a sale and plan to dispose of unsold items, pre-book a bulk waste pick-up or Summerhill Waste Management Centre voucher to minimise wait time.
To use these services, complete a waste request form on our website or phone 4974 2000 weekdays during business hours.

A man who escaped custody from a minimum-security correctional facility in Muswellbrook has been arrested and charged.
The 41-year-old man allegedly escaped the facility in Muswellbrook, about 6am on Wednesday 10 October 2018.
Following a wide scale search, about 7am today (Thursday 11 October 2018), police attended a carpark on Byng Street, Orange, and arrested the 41-year-old man without incident.
He was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with inmate escape/attempt to escape from lawful custody.
He was refused bail to appear at Orange Local Court today (Thursday 11 October 2018).

Police are asking for help from the community as they try to find a prisoner who has escaped from Muswellbrook’s minimum-security jail.
About 6am today officers were told Robert Grover, 41, had escaped from the correctional facility on St Heliers Road.

A man has been arrested as inquiries continue into the death of a woman at Bellambi last week.
About 4pm today (Monday 8 October 2018), detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrested a 29-year-old man at Maitland.
He has been taken to Maitland Police Station where he remains in custody.
Officers from Wollongong Police District commenced an investigation, assisted by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, after the body of 39-year-old Kristie Powell was found at a home on Lorking Street on Friday (5 October 2018).
Kristie’s five-month-old son was found uninjured inside the home.
A man has been charged with murder over the death of a woman at Bellambi last week.
About 4pm yesterday (Monday 8 October 2018), detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrested a 29-year-old man in a building near Maitland Railway Station.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station where detectives from Wollongong Police District have now charged him with one count of murder.
He has been refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today (Tuesday 9 October 2018).
Wollongong detectives, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, formed Strike Force Renehan to investigate the death of 39-year-old Kristie Powell, after her body was found at her home on Lorking Street, Bellambi, last Friday (5 October 2018).

A man has been charged following a serious crash at Myuna Bay, in the state’s Lake Macquarie region.
About 9.30am on Sunday 29 April 2018, emergency services were called to Wangi Road after a Holden Commodore and Mitsubishi wagon collided head-on.
The driver and sole occupant of the Holden, a 46-year-old man, was taken to John Hunter Hospital with a neck injury.
The female driver of the Mitsubishi, a 43-year-old woman and her 12-year-old passenger were taken to John Hunter Hospital with hip, leg and internal injuries. Both required surgery and have since been released from hospital.
Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit, with the assistance from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Following inquiries, a 46-year-old Bonnells Bay man, was served with Future Court Attendance Notices for the following offences:

• Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – driver under the influence (x2)
• Dangerous driving occasion grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous (x2)
• Cause bodily harm by misconduct (x2)
• Negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm
• Negligent Driving
• Drive with illicit drug in blood

He is due to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 11 December 2018. His driver’s licence was also suspended.

A teenage girl remains in a critical condition in hospital following a single-vehicle crash on a rural property in Buckaroo today.
Police were told a Toyota Prado containing nine people had travelled to the property off Edgell Lane, near Ulan Road, Buckaroo, shortly after 1pm (Sunday 7 October 2018).
Concerns were raised for their welfare this afternoon after they failed to return.
The car was located by a neighbouring landowner in a paddock about 3.15pm, and appeared to have rolled a number of times.
All nine occupants of the vehicle were teenaged girls. One was ejected from the vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries and was found lying near the vehicle. The other eight occupants managed to escape from the vehicle when it came to rest and all have suffered varying degrees of injuries, none of which are life threatening.
A 14-year-old girl was airlifted to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where she remains in a critical condition.
Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Inquiries into the cause of the crash are ongoing with examination of the scene expected to continue for some hours.