September 2019 – Page 2

Lifeguard patrols kick off as beach season begins

City of Newcastle lifeguards are prepped and ready to go as soaring spring temperatures pave the way for another busy beach season.
Seasonal beach patrols will begin on Saturday at Dixon Park, Newcastle and Stockton beaches, as well as Merewether Ocean Baths.
Newcastle-Lord-Mayor-Nautali-Nelmes-with-City-of-Newcastle-lifeguards-web.jpg

Newcastle-Lord-Mayor-Nautali-Nelmes-with-City-of-Newcastle-lifeguards-web.jpg

While lifeguards patrol year-round at Nobbys, Bar and Merewether beaches and Newcastle Ocean Baths, the seasonal patrols run over a 30-week period that kicks off annually during the September/October school holidays.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes joined the City’s team of aquatics staff at Nobbys Beach this morning as they were put through their final paces in preparation for the season-opening weekend.
“Newcastle beaches attract more than one million swimmers and sun-seekers to our picturesque coastline each year,” the Lord Mayor said.
“But behind the stunning beauty of our beaches lies the inherent risks that they can present. Last season was one of the busiest on record, with our lifeguards saving more than 100 people in significant rescues and completing 15,000 preventative actions.
“We have an amazing team of lifeguards and aquatics staff who carry out this important service every year with great courage and skill, protecting tourists and locals from the potential perils of the sea.
“With more than 1.2 million beachgoers to keep watch of throughout the season this is no easy feat, and I encourage everyone to take appropriate care and exercise sun and water safety when visiting our beaches in the coming months.”
As part of today’s final pre-season preparations, aquatics staff were required to undertake a demanding “lifeguard mission” that included a 600m ocean swim, 600m board paddle, two 800m runs and a simulated board rescue scenario.
Councillor Nelmes was also on hand this morning to unveil one of the City’s rough terrain vehicle (RTV), part of the fleet of RTVs and jet skis used by the lifeguards during patrols and rescue missions.
“These vehicles play a crucial role in our patrols, allowing our lifeguards to respond to situations faster, provide lifesaving transport to beachgoers requiring emergency attention, and also help move equipment around the beach to where it is needed most,” the Lord Mayor said.

Newcastle’s first disability inclusion festival launched to break down barriers

Newcastle’s first disability inclusion festival has today been launched to increase engagement in the community of people with disabilities and break down long-held barriers and stigmas.
The month-long festival includes a range of events held throughout the local government area, including everything from inclusive games to educational opportunities.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Festival, which takes place between 26 September and 25 October would focus on engagement and highlight the benefits of inclusion in our community.
“City of Newcastle prides itself on accessibility and inclusion. Our community is warm, supportive and values diversity,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The Count Us In Festival effectively and respectfully links people with disabilities with the broader community and breaks down the barriers to inclusion.
“We can all think about the role we play to help create a City that includes all people socially, culturally and in the workplace.”
Diversity is reflected in the broad range of activities in the program, which have been curated to establish Newcastle as an inclusive community for people with disability, their families, carers and significant others.
“From inclusive skateboarding, surfing, barbecues and comedy shows to board games, documentary screenings, low sensory museum experiences and picnics, there are plenty of opportunities for people of all ages and walks of life to get involved,” the Lord Mayor said.
Activations focus on education and awareness, such as the role local business can play in creating employment opportunities and making their workplaces more inclusive for people with disability, positive parenting sessions and workshops that focus on support networks for carers.
The Lord Mayor said there was no shortage of positive reasons to develop accessibility within our social and built environment.
“Recent research into the ‘accessible tourism’ dollar shows businesses are missing out on potential spending if their services and business spaces are not inclusive of people with disabilities.
“With the likelihood of disability increasing with age and with an ageing population, more of our residents, visitors and workers will require more inclusive services.
“What’s key is that attitudes and behaviours are reported as significant barriers to inclusion, often much greater than any physical barrier,” the Lord Mayor said.
For full details about the program of events and how to get involved, visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/count-us-in

Stockton Safety Update

Students are being warned about the dangers of sand cliffs due to the erosion on Stockton Beach, ahead of the school holidays.
A warning has been issued for people not to stand too close the top or bottom of sand cliffs, as they have the potential for sudden collapse under zero weight loads, without warning.
Coastal engineers have identified the most dangerous area as the zone 4m back from the top of the sand cliff and anywhere around the base, City of Newcastle staff have marked the danger area at Barrie Crescent, to help to alert locals of the danger.
High tides and swell are expected this weekend (28/09/19) and this could lead to further erosion. If this occurs City of Newcastle will remark the 4m danger exclusion zone.
The beachfront north and south of the rock seawalls and at the Caravan Park have also been identified as a dangerous zone, people are encouraged to exercise caution when visiting the beach.

Officer charged – Maitland

A serving NSW Police officer has been charged with multiple domestic violence related charges.
Yesterday (Thursday 26 September 2019), about 11.50am, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attended a property in South Maitland and arrested a 60-year-old man.
The senior constable, attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station. He was charged with three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of common assault, three counts of intimidation and illegal access to computer system.
The alleged domestic violence offences relate to multiple incidents dating back to 2015.
The unlawful access to police records system allegedly occurred in May 2018.
The man was granted conditional bail which includes no contact with his alleged victims. He will appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 16 October 2019.
The officer’s employment is under review.

Woman dies following head-on crash – Maitland

A woman has died following a head-on crash in Maitland this morning.
About 2.30am today (Friday 27 September 2019), emergency services were called to Cessnock Road, Maitland, following reports a Kia Rio and a Ford Falcon sedan have collided head-on.
The female driver and sole occupant of the Kia Rio, believed to be aged in her 50s, died at the scene and is yet to be formally identified.
The male driver and sole occupant of the Ford Falcon sedan, believed to be aged in his 50s, sustained a back injury. He was taken to hospital for treatment and will also undergo mandatory blood and urine testing.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District with assistance by officers from the Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Cessnock Road is closed between the New England Highway and Gillieston Road while the scene is being examined.
Motorists are advised to visit www.livetraffic.com for the latest traffic information.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Australian Greens Senators Welcome NSW Abortion Decriminalisation

Greens Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi and Greens Spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters, have welcomed the decriminalisation of abortion in New South Wales.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is an absolutely incredible moment and I am escstatic that, after over a century, abortion is out of the Crimes Act.
This is a victory for women who for too long have been denied their bodily autonomy as the law considered them criminals for exercising their reproductive rights. It is a credit to the community and campaigners for their work in demanding change to end patriarchal laws.
“I am so proud of the role the Greens have played in progressing this reform. Two years ago, my bill to decriminalise abortion was debated and the campaign has continued. Now we must fight for expanded access to abortion for all women across the state”.
Senator Waters said:
“History has been made with abortion finally decriminalised in NSW today.
“Congratulations to all the women, pro-choice advocates, feminist activists, my Greens colleagues and everyone who has fought long and hard for this momentous change helping women make better, safer decisions about their body.
“Decriminalisation of abortion is a significant first step, now need to make abortion affordable and accessible for all women across Australia, especially in regional areas. Access to abortion is part of every woman’s right to make decisions about her own body.”

Detectives release CCTV as inquiries continue into Newcastle aggravated break-in and assault

Police will address the media to appeal for information relating to an aggravated break-in and assault in Newcastle earlier this year.
About 12pm on Thursday 11 July 2019, two men gained access to a unit block on the corner of Young Road and Market Street, Broadmeadow, and forced entry to a unit.
The occupant, a 31-year-old man, was assaulted, before the two men fled.
The injured man presented at John Hunter Hospital with head injuries later the same day and police were notified. He has since been released from hospital.
Detectives from the Criminal Groups Squad Strike Force Raptor North are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As the investigation continues, detectives have released CCTV and are appealing for assistance from the community to identify two men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

Greens call for more support for low income renters following shocking Productivity Commission report

Greens Spokesperson for Housing, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to a new Productivity Commission report showing that two thirds of low income renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent, the commonly used benchmark for identifying rental stress. Half of those remain ‘stuck’ in stress four years on.
Senator Faruqi has called for the Federal Government to review and increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Senator Faruqi said:
“When even the Productivity Commission concludes that rent assistance hasn’t kept up with rising rents, you know we have a problem. The Federal Government needs to step in and commit to increasing rent assistance.
“It is unacceptable that so many people already on low incomes are falling into financial stress just to put a roof over their head. Everyone has the right to a safe, secure and permanent home.
“We know the situation is getting worse. We need urgent interventions, coupled with significant financial resources and reform of the housing system, or more and more people will be without a home.
“The Productivity Commission has also pointed out wide disparities around the country in conditions for renters. That’s why the Greens have consistently called for a national standard to protect renters”, she concluded.

Opinion Piece – Absence of Planning Bound to Cost Australia Dearly in the Future – Monday, 23 September 2019

A popular genre of computer game allows players to design and create civilisations from the ground up.
Players build roads, water supplies and industrial precincts. As their cities grow, they attract workers whose taxes fund further building, allowing the player to build wealth, raise armies and conquer the world.
The heart of these games is planning. Players have to make sure their civilisations have the infrastructure necessary to sustain development.
High speed rail down the east coast would completely transform the economies of the regional cities along its route, as it has done in Europe.CREDIT:RAIL EUROPE
If they skimp on roads and water supplies, for example, community sentiment goes sour, residents leave, the civilisation collapses and the player has to start all over again.
Of course, in the real world, it’s not that simple. We can’t just start the game again if we get it wrong.
That’s why it is critical governments ensure that they respond to population growth with commensurate infrastructure investment or risk real damage to our quality of life.
The simple lesson from those computer games is that government must invest adequately to meet the demands of growth with the investment required to deal with its effects.
The current federal government is failing in this task.
Over the five years to 2018, total annual infrastructure investment in this country was down by 17 per cent compared with average levels during the period of the former Labor government.
In the same period, the national population, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, increased by 1.5 million, or 6.5 per cent.
The outcomes of this under-investment are manifest across our big cities, most notably with traffic congestion.
According to the recently released Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, the average daily commuting time for Sydney workers climbed from 61 minutes in 2002 to 71 minutes in 2017.
It is a tragedy that traffic congestion means many Australian workers spend more time driving to and from work each day than they spend at home with their children.
One of the first decisions of the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison government was the cancellation of all federal investment in public transport projects that were not already under construction.
Tony Abbott set out the reason for this approach in his book, Battlelines.
“Mostly, there just aren’t enough people wanting to go from a particular place to a particular destination at a particular time to justify any vehicle larger than a car and cars need roads,” he said.
The cuts and delays to urban rail projects has had an ongoing negative impact. Australians are paying by having to waste more time stuck in traffic.
Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison changed the rhetoric on public transport, but they have failed to restore Mr Abbott’s cuts, instead leaving the heavy lifting to states.
While the government announced an Urban Congestion Fund in its May 2018 Budget, not a single project has begun.
Indeed, only about 30 per cent of all money allocated to rail and road investment in the 2019 Budget will be invested within the next four years.
The government should bring some of this investment forward. In Sydney, it could speed up work on the Western Sydney Rail line and also get behind the proposed Western Metro to Parramatta and beyond.
This investment would also satisfy the Reserve Bank’s ongoing calls for increased infrastructure investment to stimulate the economy, creating jobs and economic activity in the short term, while boosting productivity over the medium to long term.
Infrastructure investment as an essential component of economic and social policy.
It’s about giving Australians the services they are paying for through their taxes, but also driving economic growth that will benefit their children and grandchildren.
It can also boost regional development.
High speed rail down the east coast would completely transform the economies of the regional cities along its route.
It would make regional cities more attractive as places to set up new enterprises and create new jobs, which would take pressure off the capital cities.
Anthony Albanese

Vera Deacon given City’s highest honour

Writer, philanthropist and passionate historian Vera Deacon has been named a Freeman of the City in recognition of her contribution to Newcastle’s heritage, conservation and local history at a special ceremony at City Hall today.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Vera was a well-deserved recipient who would join an esteemed list of 13 other Novocastrians to be awarded the City’s highest honour.

“The City of Newcastle deeply appreciates Vera’s immense contribution to the ongoing preservation and interpretation of our rich local history,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Steadfastly involved in progressive social and political movements, Vera is a trailblazer for women and has a keen sense of social justice and equality.
“We thank Vera for her many contributions to our community and know that while she may shy away from being singled out in this way, there are none more deserving of this wonderful honour.”
Vera was born in Mayfield and raised on two of the Newcastle’s original estuary islands on the Hunter River – Dempsey Island and Mosquito Island (also known as Moscheto).
During her childhood, she developed a deep and enduring connection with the waterway that continues to this day through her conservation and literary works.
After spending most of her married life in Sydney Vera returned to Newcastle in 1997 following the death of her husband Stanley.
Moving to Stockton where she could remain close to her beloved Hunter River, she joined the local historical society and began to piece together the history of the estuary islands, sharing the fruits of her research and the memories of other former residents in a series of award-winning stories.
She has dedicated countless hours to restoring the health of the estuary, volunteering as part of the Kooragang wetlands rehabilitation project on Ash Island.
Preserving the city’s history and heritage continues to drive the Stockton resident, who has made regular donations to the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections during the past 18 years. The Vera Deacon Regional History Fund was set up by the university and named in her honour to recognise and build on her generosity, with donations, including Vera’s, used to collect, document and digitise regional history archives.
“Through her generosity and passion, Vera has ensured that current and future generations of Novocastrians will be able to access the records and accounts of those who have come before them,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The stories of our past play an important role in weaving the fabric of our society, both now and in the years to come.
“Newcastle’s stories will continue to be remembered and passed on, thanks in part to the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund and the altruism of its namesake.”