June 2020 – Page 14

Community invited to have their say on Newcastle Harbour Foreshore

The community is invited to play a part in the revitalisation of the Newcastle Harbour Foreshore, which envelops Foreshore Park and the Joy Cummings Promenade in Newcastle’s iconic East End.
City of Newcastle today commenced community engagement on the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan, which will help shape the blueprint to reinvigorate this important community hub with an inclusive playspace and improved recreation opportunities between Merewether Street, Newcastle and Foreshore Park.
In addition to having their say through online information sessions and workshops, surveys and an online mapping tool, Novocastrians are encouraged to submit an application to join the Community Reference Group (CRG). The role of this group is to provide input on the project and achieve a shared, community-owned vision that respects the foreshore’s history and paves its future.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in the CRG were now open, marking a significant milestone.
“The Community Reference Group will play an important, collaborative role in shaping and informing community outcomes, offering valuable insights into how this space might be used,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Together we can transform the Harbour Foreshore into an even more liveable and accessible recreational space to enjoy all that our picturesque coastline has to offer, which is paramount as our City grows.”
The CRG will consist of community members and stakeholders, including, but not limited to:

Residents;
Families;
Students;
Businesses;
Government bodies;
Indigenous groups; and
Accessibility advisories.

In conjunction with the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan, the City is working on the design of a ‘Variety Livvi’s Place’ inclusive playspace, for which Variety – The Children’s Charity has provided grant funding and will play a key part in its delivery.
“At Variety we believe that all kids deserve a fair go, including the ability to play,” Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT Inclusive Play Manager, Kim Becherand, said.
“Variety is proud to work alongside the City of Newcastle to create a truly inclusive playspace in the heart of Newcastle that will engage all children, parents, grandparents and friends in play. Variety Livvi’s Place playspaces are a key element of our broader mission to make sure no child misses out on what they need to join in and attain their full potential.”
Expressions of Interest in the Community Reference Group can be submitted via the City of Newcastle website. Submissions close on 26 June 2020.

LIBERALS HONOURED FOR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY

The outstanding contributions to our community by NSW Liberal Party members were recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The Hon Tony Abbott has been recognised with the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, and his significant contributions to trade, border control, and to the Indigenous community.
Tony represented the people of Warringah for a quarter of a century, and has contributed to Australian public debate and discourse for even longer. Whether as the Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister in the Howard Government, Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and the 28th Prime Minister of Australia, Tony’s deep commitment to public service and his determination to protect and advance the Australian way of life were unwavering.
The Hon Mike Baird has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to the people and Parliament of New South Wales, particularly as Premier, and to the community. Following his election as Member for Manly in 2007, Mike was appointed to the Shadow Ministry, serving in a number of portfolios including Finance and Treasury. After the 2011 landslide election victory, he served as the Treasurer before being elected Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and sworn in as the 44th Premier of New South Wales in 2014. Mike led the Liberal Party to victory at the 2015 state election, and served as Premier until his retirement from parliament in 2017. He was made a Life Member of the Liberal Party of Australia the same year.
The Hon Bronwyn Bishop has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, to the people of New South Wales, and to women in politics. Bronwyn is one of only a few people to have represented the people of this state in the Senate and the House of Representatives, as the Member for Mackellar. In her parliamentary career spanning almost three decades, Bronwyn served as a Shadow Minister, a Minister in the Howard Government and as Speaker of the House Representatives. A Member of the Liberal Party for some 60 years, Bronwyn has served in a range of elected positions, including as Metropolitan Vice-President from 1982 to 1985 and State President of our Division from 1985 to 1987.
The Hon Philip Ruddock has also been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to the people and Parliament of Australia, and to local government. During a parliamentary career of more than four decades, Philip served as a Shadow Minister, a Cabinet Minister in the Howard Government and later, as Chief Government Whip in the Abbott Government. At the time of his retirement from federal politics, Philip was the ‘Father of the Parliament’ and remains the second longest serving Member of the Australian Parliament since Federation.
Philip has continued to serve his local community, as the popularly elected Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council. Also a Member of the Liberal Party for some 60 years, Philip was President of the NSW Young Liberal Movement, Federal Chair of the Young Liberal Movement of Australia, and has been the State President of the NSW Division since 2018.
The work of NSW Liberal Party’s Country Vice President Aileen MacDonald was also recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the community of Guyra. Her award recognises years of dedicated service to her local community, organisations like the Rotary Club and the local Chamber of Commerce, and for the Liberal Party.
NSW Liberal Party State Director, Chris Stone, congratulated the recipients on behalf of all Party members.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Tony, Mike, Bronwyn, Philip and Aileen for their service. Their membership of our great Party, and immeasurable contribution to its continued success, is a particular point of pride for all of us,” said Mr Stone.
“We would like to offer our sincere congratulations to them and all other Australians whose outstanding service to our state and our nation have earned them recognition in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.”

Charges laid over alleged online threats – Belmont

Detectives have charged a man in the state’s Lake Macquarie region following investigations into alleged threats made online.
On Sunday (7 June 2020), detectives from the Fixated Persons Investigated Unit commenced an investigation, following reports a 49-year-old man had received threatening messages online.
Following inquiries, investigators executed a search warrant at a home at Belmont about 3.30pm yesterday (Monday 8 June 2020).
During the search, detectives located cannabis, medication without a prescription, two gel blasters and ammunition.
These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
A 25-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with use carriage service to threaten to kill, possess prohibited drug, possess prescribed restricted substance, possess unauthorised firearm, and possess unauthorised prohibited firearm.
The man was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Monday 20 July 2020.

City’s libraries set to reopen

Plans for a staged reopening of Newcastle’s libraries will progress from 15 June after home library services resumed last week.
“The City has developed a staged approach to reopening our libraries’ doors to its members that prioritises public and employee safety,” Manager Libraries and Learning Suzie Gately said.
“We’ll start with reopening the Newcastle and Wallsend branches to library members on 15 June, limiting the number of customers inside to allow for social distancing and we will monitor browsing and attendance time using a ‘Library Express’ model.”
“We have modified our opening schedule to allow for adequate cleaning of the facilities. The City’s libraries have also expanded their online offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to an increase in downloads of the Library app of 233 per cent. Our expanded online program will continue.”
The Libraries’ membership has increased by more than 1,000 during the pandemic to 93,640 after the City invested $60,000 in 5,800 additional e-book and audiobook titles, plus a new video streaming platform ‘Medici TV’.
This follows a 213 per cent increase in usage of an online learning package offered through Newcastle Libraries, with 2,291 sessions streamed free of charge in April alone.
The Library has continued to engage its audience through 52 online programs such as Facebook Live story times, stop motion Lego clubs, kids online crafternoons, podcasts, author talks and creative workshops.
In May, almost nine hours of video content was published and more than four hours of Facebook Live kids’ programs were delivered receiving 11,433 views during the month.
Newcastle Museum will reopen to the public on 23 June, however the facility’s interactive attractions will remain closed for safety in line with State guidelines.
Blackbutt Reserve’s animal exhibit boardwalk reopened last week.

Major Reforms To Australia’s Foreign Investment Framework

The Morrison Government is today announcing the most significant reforms to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 since its introduction.
These reforms will ensure that our foreign investment framework keeps pace with emerging risks and global developments, including similar changes to foreign investment regimes in comparable countries.
Foreign investment drives economic growth, creates skilled jobs, improves access to overseas markets and enhances productivity. Without foreign investment, production, employment and income would all be lower. Australian firms with foreign direct investment support 1 in 10 jobs in Australia. They also make a significant contribution to the one in five jobs that are trade-related.
The comprehensive changes being announced today deal with national security risks, strengthening compliance measures, streamlining approval processes and administrative enhancements.
Importantly, these reforms preserve the underlying principles of our system: that Australia welcomes foreign investment for the significant benefits it provides but also ensures that investments are not contrary to the national interest. Australia’s foreign investment framework will remain non-discriminatory and applications will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis.
Key elements of the reform package include:

A new national security test for foreign investors who will be required to seek approval to start or acquire a direct interest in a ‘sensitive national security business’ – regardless of the value of the investment.
A time-bound ‘call in’ power enabling the Treasurer to review acquisitions that raise national security risks outside of proposed acquisitions relating to a ‘sensitive national security business’.
A national security last resort power that provides the ability to impose or vary conditions and in extraordinary circumstances order disposal on national security grounds.
Stronger and more flexible enforcement options including the expansion of infringement notices and higher civil and criminal penalties.
Measures to streamline approval for passive investors and investments into non-sensitive businesses.

The Government will release exposure draft legislation for consultation in July, with the reforms scheduled to commence on 1 January 2021.
Additional details about the reforms will be available on the Treasury website.

Three charged following investigation into ram raids – Lake Macquarie

Three men have been charged following an investigation into petrol station ram raids in the lower Hunter Region earlier this year.
Strike Force Emirs was established by the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad to investigate ram raids on two petrol stations in the Lake Macquarie area in March.
About 3.30am on Tuesday 3 March 2020, a car was used to force entry into a service station at Wyee, where a safe containing cash and $25,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen. The car was abandoned at the scene.
A short time later, a utility smashed into a second petroleum nearby at Fennel Bay, where several unsuccessful attempts were made to remove an ATM.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives, assisted by Operations Support Group, executed search warrants at three properties at Cessnock from 7.45am yesterday (Thursday 4 June 2020).
During the searches, police seized a number of items relevant to the investigation.
Two men – aged 18 and 23 – were arrested during the warrants and taken to Maitland Police Station.
The younger man was charged with three counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, three counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, never licensed person drive vehicle on road and enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence.
The second man was charged with four counts of drive while licence cancelled, three counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, two counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed, two counts drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence, take & drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, steal motor vehicle, aggravated robbery and destroy etc property in company use fire etc.
A third man, aged 25, was arrested at a correctional facility and taken to Maitland Police Station.
He was charged with three counts of aggravated break, enter and steal, two counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive conveyance without consent of owner, two counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence.
Police will allege in court that the group stole three vehicles before using the cars to force entry into two service stations and steal cash and goods.
They were all refused bail and appeared at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 4 June 2020).
The 18-year-old and 25-year-old were both formally refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Thursday 11 June 2020.
The 23-year-old man was also refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 5 August 2020.

Australia and India Sign Defence Arrangements

As part of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today, two landmark Defence Arrangements between Australia and India have been established.
The Australia-India Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and the Defence Science and Technology Implementing Arrangement provide a framework to deepen defence cooperation between the two countries.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said India is a significant security partner for Australia.
“We have a strong shared interest in working together to support a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Minister Reynolds said.
The Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement will enhance military interoperability, enabling increasingly complex military engagement, and greater combined responsiveness to regional humanitarian disasters.
This arrangement paves the way for greater cross-service military activity, building on the success of our most complex exercise to date, AUSINDEX 2019, which focused on anti-submarine warfare.
The Science and Technology Implementing Arrangement will facilitate improved collaboration between our defence science and technology research organisations, both of whom have made important contributions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We now have a solid framework for Indian and Australian defence organisations to enhance our research collaboration and develop defence capabilities that help maintain our technological edge in this era of rapid change and increasing threats,” Minister Reynolds said.
“These arrangements reflect India and Australia’s strong commitment to practical global cooperation. We look forward to being able to recommence engagement in person as soon as circumstances permit.”

Australia and India Sign Critical Minerals Agreement

Australia has taken a significant step towards establishing itself as a reliable supplier of the critical minerals needed to grow India’s manufacturing sector and its defence and space capabilities.
Australia and India today announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on critical minerals.
The announcement was a key outcome of the virtual meeting between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to elevate the relationship between the two nations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said India was a key potential market for Australia’s critical minerals.
“My department has worked closely with the Ministry of Mines to develop the MoU, which focuses on avenues to increase trade, investment and R&D in critical minerals between our two countries,” Minister Pitt said.
“The MoU identifies specific areas where Australia and India will work together to meet the raw material demands of the future economy, particularly the increased global demand for critical minerals.
“India presents growing opportunities for Australia’s critical minerals, especially as the nation looks to build its manufacturing sector, defence and space capabilities.”
Australia has the potential to be one of the top suppliers of cobalt and zircon to India, being in the top 3 for global production of these minerals. Australia also has reserves to supply many other critical minerals to India, including antimony, lithium, rare earth elements and tantalum.
“Indian Government policies such as the Make in India program, and its goal of moving to full electric mobility by 2030, are expected to increase Indian demand for critical minerals.”

‘Homebuilder’ Program To Drive Economic Activity Across The Residential Construction Sector

The Morrison Government is supporting jobs in the residential construction sector with the introduction of the new HomeBuilder program.
From today until 31 December 2020, HomeBuilder will provide all eligible owner-occupiers (not just first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. Construction must be contracted to commence within three months of the contract date.
HomeBuilder applicants will be subject to eligibility criteria, including income caps of $125,000 for singles and $200,000 for couples based on their latest assessable income. A national dwelling price cap of $750,000 will apply for new home builds, and a renovation price range of $150,000 up to $750,000 will apply to renovating an existing home with a current value of no more than $1.5 million.
The program is expected to provide around 27,000 grants at a total cost of around $680 million.
This increase in residential construction will help to fill the gap in construction activity expected in the second half of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In doing so, HomeBuilder will help to support the 140,000 direct jobs and another 1,000,000 related jobs in the residential construction sector including businesses and sole-trader builders, contractors, property developers, construction materials manufacturers, engineers, designers and architects.
HomeBuilder complements existing state and territory First Home Owner Grant programs, stamp duty concessions and other grant schemes, as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.
This year, the Government delivered the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme to help eligible first home buyers to purchase their first home with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent, allowing them to get into the market sooner. HomeBuilder will create even more opportunities for first home buyers to enter the property market, as well as support other eligible Australians to build a new home or renovate an existing home.
The HomeBuilder program will be implemented via a National Partnership Agreement, signed by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.
More information on HomeBuilder, including eligibility, can be found on the Treasury Coronavirus Economic Response website.

City to prioritise upgrades to Newcastle Ocean Baths' pools

City of Newcastle will begin upgrading Newcastle Ocean Baths from early next year to improve the safety and accessibility of its two pools while community consultation continues on future improvements to the site’s historic pavilions.
Remediation of the 1920s-era facility’s swimming pools, promenades and pump house are among the first stage works presented to the Newcastle Ocean Baths Community Reference Group (CRG) this week.

“Newcastle Ocean Baths is treasured by our community and we know how important it is to get on with the upgrades to the pools while at the same time ensuring the community has a role in co-designing improvements to the iconic pavilions,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“That’s why we’re prioritising a refurbishment of the pools and their surrounds to improve safety and accessibility while ensuring adequate time to work with the community on a plan for the pavilion that respects the heritage and integrity of the site.
“The City will work with the Newcastle Ocean Baths Community Reference Group over the coming year to develop concept designs for the future pavilion upgrades, which will then be available for further community feedback.”
The CRG was formed to help plan the renewal through discussions and co-design workshops.
Concept designs for the upcoming upgrade to the pavilions and surrounds will be developed with CRG input and be presented to the broader community for comment prior to final concept design being placed on public exhibition.
The elected Council will then consider the plan before the project progresses to detailed design.

Preliminary engagement was carried out for the future use of Newcastle Ocean Baths from November 2019 to March 2020 to capture the community’s wishes.
The engagement activities were promoted right across Newcastle to ensure the broadest number of people had a chance to comment, and included:

An online ideas wall that drew 840 comments on Newcastle Ocean Baths
898 telephone surveys
129 intercept face-to-face surveys for Newcastle Ocean Baths at locations across the LGA

Results included support for improving shade and access, maintaining the aesthetic of the existing site and enhancing the kiosk offering. The full engagement report can be downloaded here.