Category: Newcastle News

Five-year-old Mabel Read swapped the playground for a construction site today as she helped officially name the crane being used to deliver the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery.

Mabel earned the chance to crown the crane “Sparkles” after winning a colouring competition run by City of Newcastle in collaboration with the head contractor on the site, Hansen Yuncken.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley with the winner and runners-up in the Name the Crane competition at the Newcastle Art Gallery construction site.

In her entry, Mabel said that she chose the name “because it is cute and girls can build things too”.

While the hammerhead tower crane stands as high as six giraffes stacked on top of each other, Mabel was given a ground-level view of the flag bearing its new name, which now adorns the crane’s counter jib.

Competition runners up George Kimberly, aged four, and three-year-old Luka Tomasevic were also excited to see the crane in action, joining Mabel, Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley and Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at the Art Gallery site for the special occasion.

Cr Nelmes welcomed the collaboration with contractor Hansen Yuncken to connect some of the youngest members of the community to the city’s landmark project.

“Speaking with our project team and our contractor I was interested to hear just how busy Sparkles will be as the construction progresses,” Cr Nelmes told the children.

“Sparkles will move the same weight as around 50 elephants in reinforcing mesh for the concrete floors, beams, columns and walls. 

“It will also lift around 75 hippos worth of structural steel, and 3,000 square metres of roof sheeting, which is as big as around 300,000 ice blocks laid out next to each other.”

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said it was fantastic to meet the next generation of art lovers and be given a sneak peek at how the project is progressing. 

“It’s always good to see cranes above the city – it means progress and the Newcastle Art Gallery is shaping up beautifully,” Minister Catley said.

“This Gallery is an asset to the Hunter and I’m pleased to see it’s connecting with young people even while it’s being renovated.”

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM celebrated the opportunity to spark interest in both the arts and construction amongst Newcastle’s youngest students.

“The Gallery has long partnered with schools and pre-schools in the area to foster connections and creativity, and this remains a real priority for our team, even while our programming has moved off-site,” Ms Morton said.

Following extensive site preparation works, the ground floor slabs for several of the new Gallery spaces have been poured in recent weeks, with work continuing to expand the footprint of the new facility.

Celebrating the official naming of the crane by five-year-old Mabel Read at the Newcastle Art Gallery site.

The Newcastle Art Gallery expansion project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package, as well as $12 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years. A further $1 million is currently being sought through the Foundation’s public fundraising campaign.
 
The Regional Recovery Partnerships initiative seeks to broker connections between all levels of government to increase information flow, share technical expertise and strengthen regional development outcomes.

Sparkles the Crane fast facts:

• The hammerhead tower crane was installed at the Newcastle Art Gallery site late last year.
• Early learning providers across the local government area were invited to take part in a name the crane colouring competition.
• The crane measures around 33m high, which is the equivalent of stacking six adult male giraffes, which are on average 5.5m tall, on top of each other.
• Approximately 260 tonnes of reinforcing mesh will be used for the concrete floors, beams, columns and walls of the Art Gallery expansion, which is the equivalent of around 50 average adult African elephants, weighing 5,200kg each.
• Approximately 112 tonnes of structural steel will be needed for the construction of the façade, the roof and the atrium, which equals the same as 75 male adult hippos, each weighing an average of 1,500kg.
• Approximately 3,000m2 of roof sheeting will be used during construction, which equates to around 300,000 Zooper Doopers laid out next to each other.

Council update: Ordinary Council Meeting Tuesday 26 March 2024 

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 26 March 2024. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Lord Mayoral Minutes  

Acknowledging 50 years of CN service: Sue Ryan

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that awards a Service Medal to Sue Ryan, commemorating her 50 years of service with City of Newcastle. Sue started as a Library Cadet at Newcastle Public Library in 1974. City of Newcastle acknowledges Sue’s many contributions and significant activities in her career.

Winten development application in Minmi 

A Lord Mayoral Minute was supported that reiterated that City of Newcastle does not support the outdated 2013 Concept Plan approved by the NSW Government for Development Application – DA2018/01351 for 858 lots at Woodford Street, Minmi and reiterates that the outdated 2013 Concept Plan approval for this site does not meet community expectations and contemporary planning instruments available in 2024. City of Newcastle calls on the NSW Government to heed community and Council concerns, immediately halt the development assessment process, and revise the proposal in accordance with contemporary planning expectations and instruments.

Mark Hughes Foundation 10 year anniversary 

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that notes that 6 March 2024 marked 10 years since the official launch of the Mark Hughes Foundation and acknowledges its founders, former Newcastle Knight Mark Hughes and his wife Kirralee, for their strength and leadership in starting the foundation in the midst of their own cancer journey, following Mark’s brain cancer diagnosis. City of Newcastle acknowledges that to date, around 1 million MHF Beanies have been sold, raising around $30 million for research, Brain Cancer Care nurses in regional Australia and supporting brain cancer patients, carers and their families.

Newcastle’s high-speed rail station location 

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that noted City of Newcastle’s support for high-speed rail and commits to writing to Chief Executive Officer of the HSRA, Mr Tim Parker regarding Broadmeadow, which is the only viable location in the Greater Newcastle region for consideration as Newcastle’s station location, due to its strategic placement and planned redevelopment.

Ordinary business 

Memorial Drive Bar Beach pedestrian and cyclist movement 

Council unanimously voted to approve pedestrian and cyclist improvements on Memorial Drive, Bar Beach, including upgrading the existing marked crossing on Memorial Drive to a raised marked crossing, with provision for a future priority bicycle crossing.

Adoption of Newcastle City Centre Heritage Conservation Areas Review final report

This motion was laid on the table to be considered at the next Ordinary Council Meeting. The motion proposes council adopts the Newcastle City Centre Heritage Conservations Areas Review Final Report and commence the statutory process to amend the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 for the revised HCA boundaries and development standards as outlined in this report.

Public Art Reference Group (PARG) – Annual Report 2023

Council received the Public Art Reference Group Annual Report, documenting the activities of PARG during 2023.

Executive Monthly Performance Report 

Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for February 2024.

Granting of Easement – Ausgrid-University of Newcastle feeder network upgrade

Council unanimously voted to grant an easement for electricity purposes over Operational Land at 78 Cameron Street, Jesmond.

Notices of Motion 

Skatepark for Merewether/Adamstown 

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to investigate a suitable location for a skatepark in the Merewether/Adamstown area. The proposed skatepark design should have space for bubblers, shaded areas, seating and enough room for multiple people to skate at the same time.

Ending no-grounds evictions in NSW 

Council supported a notice of motion to commend the NSW Government’s 2023 commitment to replace existing ‘no grounds’ eviction provisions through reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, and notes that NSW Labor has been committed to ending ‘no grounds’ eviction for many years. Council will make a submission to the NSW Government to remove all provisions from the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 that allow no grounds evictions (for both periodic and fixed-term leases) and introduce provisions to The Act to ensure that a residential tenancy ends only for fair and reasonable grounds to ensure a safe, secure, stable, and affordable home for all renters.

City of Newcastle is improving access to one of its most popular coastal precincts.

Councillors last night unanimously endorsed plans to upgrade the pedestrian crossing on Memorial Drive, which will make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access Bar Beach.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen navigates Memorial Drive at the current pedestrian crossing, which will be upgraded to provide safer, easier connectivity in this busy coastal precinct.

The new raised crossing will create a safer connection between Empire Park and the busy coastal precinct, increasing visibility of pedestrians and removing confusion caused by the current staged crossing and refuge island.

Councillor Carol Duncan said the upgrade would deliver on City of Newcastle’s commitment to support active transport options.

“We’ve listened to the community and are working to deliver solutions that ensure they are able to safely and easily navigate our footpaths, cycleways and road networks,” Cr Duncan said.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the multi-stage project would improve safety and accessibility in the precinct for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The precinct surrounding Bar Beach is heavily utilised by community members accessing Empire Park, the Cooks Hill Surf Club, Bathers Way and the beach itself,” Cr Clausen said. 

“This upgrade will make the road crossing between these destinations shorter and more accessible for pedestrians.

“It will also enhance the cycling network in the area, with the second stage of the project including a new shared pathway from the Memorial Drive crossing to Bar Beach Avenue, which will create an off-road link that allows cyclists to travel easily between Bathers Way and Parkway Avenue.”

Almost 90 per cent of community members who responded during the public exhibition period were in favour of the upgrade, which also includes landscaped kerb extensions and a new narrow median to create a safer and more streamlined solution for all road users in this area.

Following the Council’s endorsement, the project will move into a detailed design stage ahead of future construction works, with the project to be delivered over two stages.

The NSW Government is continuing to ensure regional communities have essential road infrastructure to allow them to pursue economic development, opportunities and jobs. 

The Hillsborough Road upgrade is moving ahead, with AECOM Australia announced to deliver the detailed design for stage one of the project.

The NSW Government is providing $35 million to construct upgrades to the 1.8-kilometre stretch of road, from the Newcastle Inner City Bypass roundabout to the existing duplication west of Crockett Street.

Stage one involves upgrading Crockett Street intersection, which will include the installation of traffic lights and duplication of 700 metres of the road at this location.

Construction of stage one is expected to start in 2025 and take about 18 months to complete, depending on final staging arrangements.  

This is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to set our regional communities up for the future, improving safety on our regional, rural and remote roads, reducing travel times and increasing productivity after a decade of neglect by the former government.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“This is a huge win for the 36,000 motorists who use Hillsborough Road daily.

“The NSW Government congratulates AECOM Australia for being awarded the tender on this project, which will improve safety, reduce congestion and remove daily bottlenecks.

“Once the upgrade is complete, it’s expected road users will save up to four minutes in travel time during the morning and afternoon peaks.”

Minister for Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

“This is the first step towards making life better for Hunter motorists, cyclists and pedestrians travelling between Charlestown and Warners Bay.

“These are major Hunter communities that deserve the best infrastructure and that’s exactly what the NSW Government is delivering.

“This $35 million total upgrade will mean less time on the road for thousands of drivers every day.”

Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison said:

“This is an important step in getting the Hillsborough Road upgrade signed, sealed and delivered.

“The new upgrade will not only improve local traffic flow, it will also be safer for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

“I know this is something the community has been asking for, so this is a fantastic first step in delivering this very important project.”

Timing for construction of the remaining stages is subject to project approvals and funding. 

For the latest information on the project, visit https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/hillsborough-road-upgrade

City of Newcastle (CN) has stepped in for the second time in as many months to protect the city’s built heritage from being lost to potentially inappropriate developments.

CN has placed an Interim Heritage Order (IHO) over 22 Victoria Street, Mayfield to stop the impending demolition of the home, which is considered likely to have local heritage significance.

It is the second Mayfield property to be saved by CN under IHO provisions, after Council voted in February to halt the redevelopment of 14 Sunderland Street, which is believed to have once been the home of Thomas Braye, a former Mayor of Waratah.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was important to balance the desire for development with the need to protect valuable aspects of Newcastle’s built heritage.

“Our city has a unique mix of heritage conservation areas, archaeological sites, heritage-listed buildings and places that are recognised and protected for their character and significance,” Cr Nelmes said.

“It is important that heritage is given due consideration in city projects and development assessments, in line with our commitment under the 2040 Community Strategic Plan and Heritage Strategy 2020-2030 to celebrate, protect and promote our city’s unique built and cultural heritage.”

Councillor Margaret Wood said it was important to respect and preserve the heritage of the city.

“It’s clear that the community of Mayfield are very engaged with their suburb and really care about its heritage, and that’s something that is important to the elected Council as well,” Cr Wood said.

“Buildings that are at risk of permanent damage are the kinds of circumstances where you have to take urgent action to protect the fabric of the building.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure we do conserve buildings such as these and follow the proper processes to assess their significance to the local community.”

CN Executive Director Planning and Environment Michelle Bisson said the Interim Heritage Orders would allow City of Newcastle to work through the process of assessing both properties without either being at risk of imminent harm.

“The Interim Heritage Order provides a temporary stay on the development of these sites, prohibiting the demolition or alteration of the properties during the next 12 months,” Ms Bisson said.

“This will provide the time needed for City of Newcastle to undertake detailed heritage assessments of both properties, in order to properly consider whether they should be listed as items of local heritage significance under the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan and prepare a planning proposal if necessary.”

A Preliminary Heritage Assessment Report identified that 22 Victoria Street was likely to be of local heritage significance as “a substantially intact example of the Federation Bungalow style of architecture”.

It is also thought to be a “rare example” of the residential work in a local context of prominent Newcastle architect Frederick George Castleden, who designed or contributed to some of Newcastle’s most recognisable buildings including the former David Jones store, Newcastle Ocean Baths pavilion and part of Christ Church Cathedral.’

The mid-Victorian style property at 14 Sundland Street property is thought to be one of the earliest houses constructed in the Mayfield/Waratah area, circa 1880.

It is representative of the evolution of the suburbs from agricultural to industrial settlements and is a relatively intact example of the style of mid-Victorian architecture. 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Hunter.

Charntae Lesslie, aged 17, was last seen at Windale, on Monday 11 March 2024.

When she didn’t return home and was unable to be located, Charntae was reported missing to officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police Command, who commenced inquiries to locate her.

Police hold concerns for Charntae’s welfare due to her age.

Charntae is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, of solid build, approximately 170cm tall, with shoulder length black hair.

She is known to frequent the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Cessnock and Maitland areas.

Anyone with information in relation to Charntae’s whereabouts is urged to contact Port Stephens Hunter Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a wanted man from Taree.

Robert Bungie, aged 20, is wanted on an outstanding warrants in relation to domestic violence offences and escaping lawful custody.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Robert is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 170cm tall, with a medium build, red/ginger hair and brown eyes.

He is known to frequent the Cardiff and Taree areas.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to not to approach him but to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

The community will be given a chance to enjoy one of the city’s best vantage points as City of Newcastle (CN) moves to finalise the renewal of Shepherds Hill Cottage. 

CN has worked with a heritage architect to carefully restore the iconic cottage, which was built atop King Edward Park in the 1890s. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes (centre) with City of Newcastle staff Sheridan Nickalls, Scott Moore, Nick Wells and Bronwyn Lawler outside the restored Shepherds Hill Cottage.

Following the meticulous specialised trade work required to complete this important restoration, CN is now in a position to begin the process of re-opening the site to the public for the first time in decades, activating a long dormant space that sits at the mid-way point of the City’s Bather’s Way coastal walk. 

A development application will now be lodged shortly for the construction of a new commercial kitchen and improved amenities at the King Edward Park site, allowing the historic building to begin a new chapter as a potential food and drink premises. 

In addition, CN will seek expressions of interest from potential operators for the renewed space later this year. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes highlighted the importance of the site’s heritage and the unique possibilities for a potential future operator. 

“The Shepherds Hill site is a focal point of our coastline thanks to its breathtaking location at the top of King Edward Park on the Bathers Way, offering spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific Ocea and the Newcastle coastline,” Cr Nelmes said. 

“We have invested more than $1 million into a significant restoration overseen by a heritage architect, which has revitalised the Heritage-listed cottage inside and out and improved the amenity and accessibility of the site for the community. 

“We’re pleased to be moving towards the final stage of this renewal project, which will identify options for use of the site and allow the community to once again spend time enjoying this historically significant building.” 

Amanda Hinds, representing the National Trust Hunter Branch, said the that the National Trust would like to commend the Council on their efforts with the Shepherds Hill Cottage complex. 

“The repair and restoration works carried out have brought about a quality outcome, which now has the building ready to be adaptively reused and inhabited once again,” Ms Hinds said.

“This is a great result for the people of Newcastle and heritage in general.” 

Aerial shot of the restored Shepherds Hill Cottage at King Edward Park.

Shepherds Hill Cottage has stood watch over the city from King Edward Park since the 1890s and was originally used a mess hall for colonial military officers. 

The military site served as an integral command position up to the end of World War Two and is one of the only coastal defence sites in Australia manned simultaneously during World War Two by the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Royal Australian Air Force.  

From the early 2000s the cottage was leased to Marine Rescue NSW as one of their headquarters, until it sustained severe damage in the 2015 super storm. 

Extensive repairs and restoration work to the Cottage were undertaken in 2021, and engagement with Heritage NSW has informed plans for the adaptive re-use of the cottage as a potential food and drinks premises.

A man will face court over two alleged sexual touching incidents following an investigation by Lake Macquarie Detectives.

In February 2024, police from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation after being notified of the alleged sexual touching incidents.

Police will allege in court that two women, both aged in their 40s, were sexually touched without consent by the man in two separate incidents at Wallsend and Fennel Bay.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 45-year-old man on Mitchell Street, North Rothbury, about 7.50am yesterday (Thursday 21 March 2024).

He was taken to Singleton Police Station where he was charged with two counts of sexually touch another person without consent, and break and enter and commit serious indictable offence.

He was refused bail to appear before Singleton Local Court today (Friday 22 March 2024).