Category: Newcastle News

The City of Newcastle has become a major sponsor of the Newcastle Jets W-League team for the second consecutive year, celebrating the partnership at the team’s season launch tonight.
The $20,000 sponsorship of the local W-League team, which narrowly missed out on making the premiership decider last year, will see the squad one again promoting the city throughout the 2018-19 season.

^{Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna}
The deal, approved under an annual application process, will once again see the iconic “Newcastle – See Change” tourism logo on the back of players’ jerseys and the team act as ambassadors for the city.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said she was thrilled that the City would again partner with the Jets after they were instrumental in showcasing our City last season.
“The performance of the women’s team during last year’s competition was amazing,” the Lord Mayor said.
“On the back of this, they are brilliant ambassadors for Newcastle through the work the players and coaches are doing off the field. As well as promoting the city around the country, they’re helping to activate the inner city through matches at No.2 Sportsground and making for double celebrations at McDonald Jones Stadium when they play ahead of the men’s A-League team.
“Their successes are also helping cultivate home-grown talent, with youngsters also finding inspiration in guest appearances by Matildas representative Emily van Egmond.”

The Jets W-league team will play four home matches at No.2 Sportsground, with two double-header matches before the Jets A-League team at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The W-League team will kick off their 2018-19 season against Melbourne Victory away this Thursday.
Westfield W-League Coach Craig Deans said the partnership with City of Newcastle proved invaluable in the 2017-18 season.
“To have City of Newcastle back on board is really important for us,” Deans said.
“Their overall support and the access they’ve provided to No.2 Sportsground has given us a training base we can call our own.
“It’s had a massive impact, we love playing and training there – I can’t thank them enough for their support.”
Since announcing the inaugural partnership deal with the Jets last year, the City has welcomed a number of major football announcements including the Matildas’ 2019 World Cup qualifier against Chile at McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday 13 November.
“Newcastle is beginning to boast a very strong track record for supporting elite women’s sport,” Cr Nelmes added.
“First we welcomed the Matildas, who hosted football giants Brazil on Newcastle soil, then we had the Australian women’s netball team play against England last month, and of course we have been selected as Australia’s bid for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“We are a healthy, active and vibrant city undergoing major revitalisation and our continuing sponsorship with clubs like the Jets will open new doors for Newcastle as a major tourism destination.”

Two prisoners who escaped from a minimum security correctional facility in the state’s Northern Tablelands yesterday have been located.
The two men aged 49 and 32, were reported missing from the facility on the Gwydir Highway, near Glen Innes, about 4.30pm yesterday (Friday 26 October 2018).
About 10am today (Saturday 27 October 2018), officers attached to the New England Police District were involved in a short pursuit with a car on the New England Highway at Armidale.
The pursuit was terminated and the car was abandoned in Beardy Street. Police searched the area and located the two men in a nearby house. They were arrested without incident and taken to Armidale Police Station.
The 49-year-old man was charged with inmate escape lawful custody, take and drive conveyance, police pursuit – not stop, larceny, enter enclosed lands and drive unregistered and uninsured car.
The 32-year-old man was charged with inmate escape lawful custody, being carried in a conveyance and enter enclosed lands.
The men will appear in Armidale Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 28 October 2018).

Inquiries are continuing to identify the driver of a truck which hit a toddler on the Central Coast yesterday.
Emergency services were called to Pacific Highway at Ourimbah about 3.45pm (Thursday 25 October 2018), after a two-year-old boy was struck by a white pantech truck as it was driven out of a service station.
The child was treated at the scene by paramedics and flown by Westpac Rescue helicopter to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police have been told the child was placed into an induced coma as a precaution; however, it appears he’s escaped with only superficial cuts and grazes.
The truck driver did not stop and was last seen driving north along the highway.
Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, are investigating and believe the driver may not be aware he’d struck the boy, who had wandered away from a home nearby.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed or have any dashcam vision in that area around that time or has any information about this incident to contact Wyong Police on 4356 6099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A proud, Australian family-owned company of 160 years, Tyrrell’s Wines continued its wine show success in 2018 at the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards. We were the recipients of 2 trophies for our 2013 Belford Semillon, for Best Semillon and Best Mature Wine. We also won the Consistency of Excellence Medal for Vat 1 Semillon (vintages 2005, 2009, 2013). This award is given when the same label receives a gold medal in the same class three years in a row.
The Belford vineyard, planted on very fine talcum-powder soils in 1933, is isolated and tucked away down a secluded off-road track, like a secret garden, and produces Semillon with an intense flavour profile. The 2013 vintage has been one of the best vintages from this vineyard in recent years and, in addition to the above trophies, the wine has also won The Finlaysons Trophy for Best Semillon in Show at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show and a Gold medal at the NSW Wine Awards.
This is further endorsement in the Tyrrell’s unwavering belief that the Hunter Valley produces wines which are unique to their microclimate and show a true sense of place.
In addition to the 2 trophies and Consistency of Excellence medal in Melbourne, Tyrrell’s also received 3 Gold, 7 Silver and 10 Bronze.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR 2018 ROYAL MELBOURNE WINE AWARDS
Trophies: Trophy for Best Semillon – 2013 Belford Semillon
Trophy for Best Mature Wine – 2013 Belford Semillon
Consistency of Excellence Medal – Vat 1 Semillon (2005, 2009, 2013)

City of Newcastle will review and finalise a coastal engineering report to ensure a skate bowl proposed for South Newcastle Beach doesn’t negatively impact the coastal environment and natural sand renourishment processes.
Following deliberation at Tuesday’s October Council meeting, a plan for broader community consultation will also be developed before the project goes ahead.

^{Updated render of the project.}
“At this stage the City of Newcastle is comfortable with the data that has informed the engineering reports on this fantastic project to activate a long-dormant part of our coastline,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Throughout the delivery of coastal renewal and our iconic Bathers Way project, at each stage we have listened to concerns, raised similarly to those about South Newcastle, and we want to make sure they’re addressed before we move ahead.”
The bowl and skate plaza are part of the Newcastle Beach Infrastructure Renewal Project to transform the public domain between Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club and King Edward Park.
^{Updated render.}
The project will reactivate the stretch of coast by widening the Bathers Way to between four and six metres and extending the shared path to ultimately connect King Edward Park and Nobbys.
The project involves renewal of severely deteriorated coastal infrastructure, including stairs, ramps, retaining walls and beach access, and will provide:

• new community assets including an accessible skate park and bowl modern kiosk and amenities
• an outdoor gym
• tiered seating and shade shelters

The coastal engineering report was prepared during the initial stages of design for South Newcastle to determine the level of risk involved in placing infrastructure east of the existing seawall.
It considered the impacts on sand and wave movement, compounding impacts of coastal processes on adjoining infrastructure, the maximum foreseeable water level and wave impact forces.
The report used wave data collected over 25 years and included storm surge factors, tides, wave run-up and predicted sea-level rise in its assessment.
This was then used to determine the structural design required to withstand wave impact in severe weather events, as well as the final shape  to minimise impacts on the beach, maximise safety, amenity and structural integrity, and minimise maintenance.
The collection of water and sand in the bowl during severe weather events was accounted for through appropriate drainage in the design.
The City will work with the skate boarding community, as we have done at Empire Park for many years, to ensure that the facilities remain safe for all to enjoy.

Where can you take a seat in the Lord Mayor’s chair, fight off a giant tyrannosaurus rex and have your mugshot taken as Newcastle’s ‘most wanted’ – all in the same day?
Only in Newcastle.
Our city’s iconic street art, including Trevor Dickinson’s Instagram-ready photo murals at Newcastle Museum, provide visitors and Novocastrians alike with fun, interactive experiences.
But few know exactly where all these amazing artworks live – and that’s where the ‘Pin the City’ project comes in.

It’s a new, interactive online mapping tool that uses people power to pin the locations of their favourite works to a virtual map and create conversation around it.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Pin the City project was part of Council’s aim to showcase the city’s most prized public assets – our people and their talents – to the world.
“Public art is an important part of the city’s changing landscape,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It tells a story, brings life to our streets and creates a thriving, inclusive and happy community where people are able to express themselves and their creative licenses.”
“So the next time you’re posing in front of a life-size painting or passing a brightly emblazoned mural or mosaic, make sure you stop, snap and send it to the Pin the City board for the whole world to see.”
Once you upload an image of an artwork and it’s live, a pin will appear showing users where it lives, and you will have made a great contribution to the city’s ever-evolving art scene.

Thanks to your efforts and those of others, users can then not only locate the work and see it for themselves but also leave comments and start an online discussion.
The information that is added and verified by City of Newcastle staff will ensure that future generations will know who the artist was and when the work was commissioned.
For more information or to make a start on the mapping process, head online to https://newcastle.mysocialpinpoint.com/art-mapping#/ and being pinning your personal favourites to the board.

Following is a summary of the Ordinary Council meeting for Tuesday 23 October 2018. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minute – Recognition of Jill Emberson
Council recognised Jill Emberson, ABC Newcastle broadcaster, for her contribution to raising awareness of ovarian cancer in our community.
Lord Mayoral Minute – Smart parking app success 
Council noted the success of the Easy Park pay by phone application with over 5,000 unique user downloads since March 2018 and will look to incentivise increased usage of the app in future.
Executive monthly performance report
The report was received.
Adoption of 2017/18 annual financial statements
Council received and adopted the annual financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2018.
Tabling of Pecuniary Interest Returns – Annual Report
Council noted the tabling of the report.
Internal reporting – Public Interest Disclosures Policy
The policy was adopted.
Draft Section 6.03 Wickham of Newcastle Development Control Plan 2012
Council resolved to adopt draft Section 6.03 Wickham for inclusion into the DCP.
Supercars 2017 Impact Assessment Report
Council received the report.
City Marketing and Engagement Policy
The 2018-2021 City Marketing and Engagement Strategy was adopted.
Planning Agreement – 5 Hall Street, Maryville
Council endorsed the Planning Agreement and authorised the CEO to execute the agreement. The approved plans include a protection zone to ensure the existing mangroves are retained and protected.
Stevenson Park Concept Landscape Masterplan
Council resolved to place the Stevenson Park Masterplan on public exhibition for 21 days and to receive a further report back to Council following the public exhibition.
Notices of Motion (NOM)
Verge gardens
A NOM was supported noting the approach adopted by a number of major Australian local authorities allowing residents to establish verge gardens, and to develop a draft Verge Garden Policy for Council’s consideration.
Skate bowl on South Newcastle Beach
An amended NOM was supported commiting to a review and finalisation of the coastal engineering report to ensure the proposed skate bowl does not negatively impact on the beach and coastline, and to engage in broader community consultation on the project.
Works program financial details
An amended NOM was supported for the City to provide a quarterly update of the 2019/20 works program to Council and the community via its website.

Newcastle’s public schools will benefit from a massive $14 billion investment in school funding promised by Federal Labor today.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the funding would repair the damage done by cuts to Newcastle schools levied under the Turnbull Government.
“The Federal Government abandoned signed contracts with the New South Wales Government. This resulted in $14.5 million worth of cuts to Newcastle schools – or an average of $350,000 per school over 2017 and 2018,” Ms Claydon said.
“These cuts have meant fewer teachers, less individual attention and less support to help kids achieve their potential.
“Labor’s record investment is equivalent to hiring 13,000 extra teachers or 23,000 more teachers’ aides across the country.”
Ms Claydon said that two-thirds of students in Australia attend public schools.
“Public schools have borne the burden of the vast majority of the Government’s ideological cuts, despite the fact they educate the majority of our disadvantaged kids,” Ms Claydon said.
“All kids deserve a great education regardless of their background or their family’s finances.”
Ms Claydon said that investment in education is one of the best ways of driving future prosperity.
“Education is transformative – for individual kids, for communities and for the wider society,” Ms Claydon said.
“While the Government is focusing on backing in tax breaks that disproportionately benefit wealthy investors, Labor is investing in the future through our children.”

Victims of immoral or illegal conduct by financial services institutions are invited to tell their stories at a banking roundtable in Newcastle on Friday.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said she called the roundtable to shine a light on how the misconduct of banks and big finance is affecting people in the Newcastle-Hunter region.
“I’m aware of a number of shocking cases of misconduct that have had dire impacts on people and their families in our community,” Ms Claydon said.
“The roundtable will bring together banking victims and representatives from community organisations who see the impacts of banking misconduct in their work every day.”
Ms Claydon said she expected stories from the roundtable would help support the case for the Banking Royal Commission to visit regional communities like Newcastle.
“The Banking Royal Commission is doing great work bringing shocking evidence of appalling misconduct to light – from fees for no service, to predatory lending, contempt for regulators and straight-up breaches of the law,” Ms Claydon said.
“But the Commission has only been able to hear evidence from 27 victims, despite receiving over 9,000 submissions. This isn’t good enough. Australians right across the country deserve their chance to be heard.”
Ms Claydon said Morrison Government had repeatedly tried to block or diminish the scope of the Banking Royal Commission.
“Scott Morrison never wanted this Royal Commission. He ran a protection racket for the big banks for 600 days and voted against it 26 times. He called it a ‘populist whinge’ and a ‘reckless distraction’. And then he spent his last year as Treasurer trying to reward the big banks with a $17 billion tax cut.
“Labor called for this Royal Commission, Labor fought for this Royal Commission, Labor will allow victims to have their say, and Labor will work day and night to protect Australian businesses and consumers from this appalling misconduct.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has seconded Shadow Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese’s push to again get high speed rail off the ground.
Ms Claydon said Newcastle was one of the cities that stood to benefit the most from an east coast high speed rail connection.
“High speed rail has the potential to be an absolute game changer for Newcastle,” Ms Claydon said.
“It will revolutionise travel, create a wealth of jobs and turbocharge the local economy.”
Ms Claydon said it is the fifth time Labor has introduced the Bill to the Parliament because the Government refused to schedule previous bills for debate.
“This Bill would re-establish the High Speed Rail Authority so it can get on with the critical work of planning and securing the land for the rail corridor before it’s built out by urban sprawl,” Ms Claydon said.
“A study done by the former Labor Government showed that high speed rail would return $2.50 for every $1 invested, but we need to get moving on it quickly.”
Ms Claydon said the Abbott Government scrapped the High Speed Rail Planning Authority when it came to power, and no progress has been made under Malcolm Turnbull or Scott Morrison.
“To date, the Liberals have shown a staggering lack of vision about Australia’s future infrastructure needs,” Ms Claydon said.
“The Government says it supports high speed rail but blocks any actual opportunity for progress, but this legislation offers a chance to turn things around.
“We need to heed Infrastructure Australia’s warning about moving fast or we’ll add hundreds of millions to the cost of securing the corridor.
“The Government is on notice. It’s time they stepped up to put the national interest above their own internal chaos.”