Private landholders are being supported to restore 200 hectares of koala habitat in the Northern Rivers through a new initiative that is planting 250,000 tree seedlings, backed by the NSW Koala Strategy.
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the landmark program is restoring koala habitat on private land, increasing biodiversity and providing an additional revenue stream for landholders through carbon farming.
“We know that more than 50 per cent of koala habitat is on private land in NSW, which is why private landholders are a big part of the solution when it comes to conserving and protecting koalas,” Mr Griffin said.
“Through the Koala Friendly Carbon Farming Project, we’re helping landholders plant hundreds of thousands of koala food and shelter trees to restore koala habitat and create corridors for them to move safely through areas.
“Landholders will be able to diversify their income through carbon farming, while creating new habitat for koalas and other native species on their properties.
“This is part of our NSW Koala Strategy, which delivers the biggest commitment by any government to a single species in Australia, and it will help us reach our target of doubling the number of koalas in NSW by 2050.”
The NSW Government is working in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, and Climate Friendly to deliver the project.
The project is working to kick-start carbon farming in koala habitats by developing carbon farming projects that deliver Australian Carbon Credit Units.
WWF-Australia Landscape Restoration Project Manager Tanya Pritchard said the project is addressing some of the major threats facing koalas.
“We can’t turn around the decline of east coast koalas without bold actions to tackle habitat loss and fragmentation,” Ms Pritchard said.
“This project provides incentives for landowners to be part of the solution and will help us to restore and connect large areas of koala habitat.”
Climate Friendly Co-CEO Skye Glenday said the initiative demonstrates how rural land managers can sustainably manage their environment while benefiting native species.
“Our partnership with landowners, WWF-Australia and the NSW Government will replenish important feeding and safe living areas for koalas and potentially attract other wildlife such as greater gliders, while building biodiversity and flood impact mitigation,” Ms Glenday said.
“The new trees will also provide benefits in capturing carbon to help Australia meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets.”
The NSW Koala Strategy is backed by more than $190 million and delivers a range of targeted conservation actions to secure more habitat, support community conservation, address threats to koala safety and health, and utilise science and research to build our knowledge.
Landholders can apply for a property assessment to determine if there are koalas close by and if their land is suitable.
For more information, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/koala.
Month: September 2022
FIRST MEETINGS OF REFERENDUM WORKING GROUP & REFERENDUM ENGAGEMENT GROUP
The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.
The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.
The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.
They will provide advice to the Government on how best to ensure a successful Referendum and focus on the key questions that need to be considered in the coming months, including:
- The timing to conduct a successful referendum;
- Refining the proposed constitutional amendment and question;
- The information on the Voice necessary for a successful referendum
A second meeting will be held with the Referendum Engagement Group, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from the across the country, including: land councils, local governments and community controlled organisations.
They will provide advice about building community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.
Today’s meetings follow the Prime Minister’s landmark speech at the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land, where he released the possible wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and question on the Voice to be put to the Australian people.
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:
“The constitution is our nation’s birth certificate.
“It should be a source of pride that all Australians share this continent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, the oldest continuous civilisation on earth.
“This should be recognised with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.”
Minister Linda Burney said:
“This is an important next step on the road to the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
“The work of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are front and centre in the decision making leading up to the Referendum.
“They will provide us with advice about how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community on this important nation building project.
Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus said:
“This Uluru Statement is an extraordinary act of generosity, friendship and reconciliation.
“The Referendum Working Group will work closely in partnership with government on the road forward.
Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Senator Patrick Dodson said:
“This Group is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to go out and consult as we work to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.
We’ve got a clear plan to get us from Garma to referendum day.
The first step on that road is to listen to Indigenous Australians on how best to ensure we deliver a successful referendum.”
REFERENDUM WORKING GROUP
| Mr Dale Agius | SA Commissioner for First Nations Voice |
| Ms Pat Anderson AO | Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue |
| Ms Geraldine Atkinson | Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Professor Tom Calma AO | Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups Chancellor, University of Canberra Co-chair, Reconciliation Australia |
| Professor Megan Davis | Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW |
| Mr Rodney Dillon | Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Community Alliance |
| Mr Sean Gordon | Managing Director, Gingee Group Councillor, University of Newcastle |
| Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA | Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee Co-chair, National Apology Foundation |
| Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO | Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups Associate Provost, University of Melbourne |
| Mr Thomas Mayor | From the Heart |
| Mr Tony McAvoy SC | NT Treaty Commissioner Barrister |
| June Oscar AO (ex officio) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner |
| Mr Dean Parkin | From the Heart |
| Mr Noel Pearson | Founder of Cape York Institute From the Heart Advisory Group Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups |
| Ms Sally Scales | Uluru Dialogue member APY Artist |
| Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM | Chairperson, Torres Strait Regional Authority |
| Mr Marcus Stewart | Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Ms Pat Turner AM | Convenor of Coalition of Peaks Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups CEO of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
| The Hon Ken Wyatt AM | Former Minister for Indigenous Australians |
| Professor Peter Yu AM | Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups Vice President, First Nations at ANU |
| Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM | Chairman, Yothu Yindi Foundation |
REFERENDUM ENGAGEMENT GROUP
Membership of the Referendum Engagement Group will include those on the Working Group and additional people including:
| Mr Thomas Amagula | Deputy Chair, Anindilyakwa Land Council |
| Cr Ross Andrews | Mayor, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Australian Local Government Association representative |
| Mr Nathan Appo | Institute of Urban Indigenous Health |
| Professor Muriel Bamblett AO | CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Coalition of Peaks representative |
| Ms Jennifer Beale | Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation |
| Professor Jack Beetson | Australian Centre for Agriculture & Law – University of New England |
| Mr Dameyon Bonson | Founder, Black Rainbow Living Well |
| Ms Wendy Brabham | Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative |
| Mr Paul Briggs OAM | Executive Chair, Kaiela Institute |
| Mr Gavin Brown | CEO PwC Indigenous Consulting |
| Mr Selwyn Button | Chair, The Lowitja Institute |
| Mr Nicholas Cameron | Chair, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance |
| Ms Shirleen Campbell | Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group |
| Cr Danny Chapman | Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council |
| Ms Fiona Cornforth | CEO, Healing Foundation |
| Dr Josie Douglas | Executive Director of Policy, Central Land Council |
| Ms Katrina Fanning PSM | Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Mr Tyronne Garstone | CEO, Kimberley Land Council |
| Mr Mick Gooda | Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Mr Damian Griffis | CEO of First Peoples Disability Network Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups |
| Ms Tanya Hosch | Executive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy, AFL |
| Mr Paul House | Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Mr Gibson Farmer Illortaminni | Chairman, Tiwi Land Council |
| Ms Deborah Katona | Senior Manager Policy, Northern Land Council |
| Cr Esma Livermore | Deputy Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Australian Local Government Association representative |
| Mr Jamie Lowe | National Native Title Tribunal Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Dr Hannah McGlade | Curtin Law School |
| Mr Wayne Miller | Chair, Far West Community Leadership Group Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups |
| Cr Phillemon Mosby | Mayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council Australian Local Government Association representative |
| Mr Kado Muir | Activist & Impact Entrepreneur at Dilji Social Anthropologist |
| Ms Karen Mundine | CEO, Reconciliation Australia |
| Ms Teela Reid | Uluru Dialogue Group University of Sydney |
| Cr Matthew Ryan | Mayor, West Arnhem Regional Council Australian Local Government Association representative |
| Mr Shane Sturgiss | BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation |
| Mr Ian Trust AO | National Chair, Empowered Communities Chairman, Wunan |
| Mr Les Turner | CEO, Central Land Council |
| Dr Tracy Westerman AM | Founding Director, Indigenous Psychological Services |
| Mr Richard Weston | Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People (NSW) Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups |
| Mr Sammy Wilson | Traditional Owner, Uluru Former Chair, Central Land Council |
| Mr Scott Wilson | Lead Convenor of SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Network Coalition of Peaks representative |
| Professor Asmi Wood | Professor, ANU College of Law |
81 charges laid by Hunter Valley Rural Crime Investigators
Five people have been charged with more than 80 offences following investigations into multiple rural crime-related incidents in the state’s Hunter Region earlier this year.
During March and April 2022, multiple illegal hunting and malicious damage offences were reported to police in Hunter Valley Police District.
Investigators from the Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced an investigation and were assisted by NSW DPI Hunting.
Following inquiries, officers attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team in Hunter Valley Police District to date have issued five future court attendance notices.
Three men – two aged 23 and one 29 – and a 17-year-old boy, have been charged with a total of 81 offences relating to alleged trespass and hunting offences.
Charges include enter agricultural land with hunting dog – aggravated, enter private land to hunt animal without owner consent, and destroy or damage property-related offences.
The 17-year-old boy will appear at a children’s court today (Wednesday 28 September 2022).
The 23-year-old man will appear at Singleton Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 29 September 2022).
The second 23-year-old man will appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 18 October 2022.
The 29-year-old man will appear at Scone Local Court on Wednesday 16 November 2022.
A 25-year-old woman has also been issued a future court attendance notice for two counts of owner not disclose identity of driver/passenger. She will appear at Singleton Local Court on Wednesday 9 November 2022.
Greens to table stop-AUKUS petition in the Senate
Greens Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Peace and Nuclear Disarmament will accept IPAN’s petition and table it in the Australian Senate today.
Senator Jordon Steele-John said:
“I am proud to receive and table in the Senate Independent and Peaceful Australia Network’s petition which has been signed by 26,700 members of the community.”
“The petition represents the view of many in our community who want Australia to withdraw from the AUKUS agreement, and want Australia to stop being at the beck and call of the United State of America and their military ambitions.
“The world is facing an unprecedented climate crisis and rapidly expanding wealth inequality. The solutions to these things will take global cooperation. The AUKUS pact escalates tensions in the Asia-Pacific and significantly increases the likelihood of nuclear arms proliferation among non-nuclear armed states.
“Our community has broadly rejected AUKUS and no one wants nuclear submarines to be floating off the coast near Brisbane or near my hometown of Rockingham in WA.
“Instead of investing billions of dollars into submarines that no one needs or asked for, we must reallocate funding from the military to services our community actually needs; things like free dental care included under Medicare, properly funding the NDIS, or building more affordable and accessible homes.”
Annette Brownlie, Chairperson of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) said:
“Community opposition to the secret deal of AUKUS dropped on the Australian people one year ago, is evidenced by this petition being tabled today in the Senate by Senator Jordon Steele-John signed by 26,700 Australians.
“The large number of Australians who have signed these public calls for peace with priority being directed to healthcare not warfare is an indication of the depth of concern in the community about the defence and foreign policy directions of the Australian Government.
“The financial blowout for Australians in this era of war talk and preparations is absurd with costs of over $170B estimated for the nuclear-propelled submarines alone.
“Around the world, people are speaking up opposing the war preparation economy and we in Australia need to build the public voice for independent peacebuilding policies, an end to the AUKUS pact and calling on the current government to urgently sign the United Nations Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).”
Greens call on Labor to back National Energy Transition Authority Bill
The Greens have called on Labor to support its bill to establish a National Energy Transition Authority, which was introduced in the Senate today by Gladstone-based Queensland Senator Penny Allman-Payne.
The National Energy Transition Authority Bill 2022 establishes a new independent public authority to guide Australia’s shift from an economy powered by polluting coal and gas to one powered by reliable, secure and low-cost renewable energy.
By providing national coordination, expert advice and funding, the National Energy Transition Authority will work with communities, workers, unions, energy companies and governments at all levels to plan the pipeline of clean energy projects, creating good, secure jobs and opening up new export markets while pushing down power prices for homes and businesses.
During negotiations on the Climate Change Bill the government agreed to consider the Greens’ proposal for a transition authority, a body that has the support of coal and gas workers and communities, unions, climate and energy experts, businesses and rank and file Labor members.
From next week Senator Allman-Payne will host a series of roundtables and public forums in the Latrobe Valley, Hunter region and Gladstone to discuss the bill with stakeholders and community members.
Greens spokesperson for Industry, Transition and Regional Development, Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:
“The climate crisis is happening before our eyes. In the past few months we’ve seen record flooding on Australia’s east coast; apocalyptic fires throughout Europe; and a third of the land mass of Pakistan submerged by torrential rains and fast-melting Himalayan glaciers.
“The biggest contributor to the climate crisis is the extraction and burning of coal and gas, which is why the IPCC, the International Energy Agency, climate scientists and environmental groups all say we must open no more coal and gas projects.
“To keep global heating below 1.5 degrees we also have to phase out existing coal and gas and transition rapidly to a zero emissions economy – and the good news is that this is already starting to happen. The global market for coal is drying up and renewable energy is taking off across the country.
“But what’s missing is a plan for a fair and equitable transition that ensures we are able to rapidly and responsibly exit coal and gas while securing the futures of the workers and communities who are at risk of being left behind.
“We know from similar energy transition bodies in Europe that if you plan the transition, workers can move into new well-paid jobs, be redeployed through industry-wide pooling or benefit from early retirement. But it needs government leadership.
“The only thing standing in the way of the creation of a National Energy Transition Authority is the Labor Party. Labor has said they will consider the Greens’ proposal, but we think they should listen to what workers, unions, businesses and their own members are saying and commit to backing our bill.
“If the government and Greens are able to work together to make this authority a reality during the life of this parliament, we will blunt the Coalition’s climate scare campaigns and render them even more irrelevant than they already are, while securing the futures of tens of thousands of workers across the country.”
About the bill:
The core functions of the NETA are:
- to support communities and workers affected by the closure of coal and gas extraction and power generation to adapt, including by helping to attract new public and private investment in job-creating industries and social infrastructure to affected areas, and ensuring ongoing equivalent employment or social services are provided;
- working with employers in relevant industries to encourage workforce pooling, to enable workers to shift between employers where skills are transferable; and
- planning with workers and relevant agencies to assist workers nearing retirement age to transition to a voluntary, financially secure retirement.
The Authority will draw on a Diversifying Coal Communities Fund of $2.8 billion over 10 years, which will approve and fund local plans across the nation, developed by regionally based transition bodies in partnership with the Authority.
The NETA’s board will be composed of experts in energy, workplace planning and engineering, along with worker representatives, and will be responsible for developing strategic plans to manage the energy transition. The Authority will be independent of government but guided by government policy and decision-making that may overlap with the Authority’s work.
Childcare changes should be strengthened and brought forward
Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the government’s Cheaper Childcare Bill, introduced to parliament today, doesn’t go far enough, and should make early education and care universal and free.
Senator Faruqi said:
“We have an opportunity here to deliver universal and free childcare. This bill does not go anywhere near far enough.
“Expensive and inaccessible childcare has held women and families back for too long.
“Rather than spending $243 billion on the obscene Stage 3 Tax Cuts, we could have free childcare for a fraction of the cost.
“Making early childhood education and care free for all would be so beneficial for children, families and the whole community.
“This bill does not tackle the workforce crisis in early education. Educators must receive better pay and conditions that reflect the skill and responsibility of the work they do every day.
“At the very least, the bill should scrap the Activity Test that restricts access to subsidised childcare, and the new subsidy rates should be brought forward to commence at the start of next year rather than waiting until July. People need support now.”
Greens move for abortion access Senate inquiry
In the wake of Roe v Wade, the Australian Greens will today establish a Senate inquiry into abortion access in Australia.
This inquiry will identify what can be done federally to alleviate the physical and financial barriers to accessing contraceptives, sexual and reproductive healthcare and termination services, as well as options to improve the quality and availability services, particularly in regional and remote Australia.
Greens leader in the senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Abortion remains expensive and inaccessible for many, especially those who already face massive healthcare barriers, including First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“In the wake of Roe v Wade, the federal government should look at what it can do to eliminate Australia’s barriers to accessible and affordable abortion.
“Access to safe, legal abortion remains a postcode lottery in Australia, with different rules, costs and availability depending on where you live. Some people are having to travel for hours at significant expense to access this basic healthcare service.
“In remote and regional areas, like Townsville and Mackay, many women are forced to travel long distances, at significant expense, to access to sexual and reproductive health services including long-acting contraception, medical and surgical abortions and counselling.
“The Greens support calls for national consistency on abortion laws, provided they are best practice, which would be ascertained through the inquiry.
“The Greens will resist any attempt in Australia to wind back reproductive rights. And we’ll continue to work to ensure people have access to legal, free and safe pregnancy termination services and a full range of contraception options, including unbiased counselling, no matter where they live.
“The impacts of poor sexual health literacy, lack of access to contraceptives and quality reproductive healthcare are clear. This inquiry will provide an invaluable insight into the barriers people are facing and how the federal government can intervene to fix them.”
Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, spokesperson for Health said:
“Improper access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion, is a serious healthcare issue and must be addressed as such.
“Too often women, trans, and non-binary folks, are left behind by our state and federal governments when it comes to healthcare.
“The Australian Greens will continue to demand better support and care for those who need any reproductive services whenever, wherever, and however they want to access it.
“This inquiry would champion every single person’s human right to accessing the services and care that they need in a timely, accurate, and culturally appropriate manner.”
Newcastle development application times cut by 25 per cent
A streamlined solution set to slash determination times for low-impact, decision-ready development applications will be considered by Councillors at tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting following a three-month trial.
City of Newcastle (CN) has developed an Accelerated Development Application (DA) pathway for applicants, which starts with an online triaging tool to assess developments against eligibility criteria. Suitable applications are then fast-tracked and determined within five to 15 days.
Ninety six low-risk DAs were determined during the three-month trial with an average processing time of just 5.8 days, which reduced CN’s overall processing times by 25 per cent from 50 days to 37 days.
More than 1,650 applications were determined by City of Newcastle during the past 12 months. Over 30 per cent of these would have been suitable to be determined under the Accelerated DA pathway.
Eligible developments that are deemed low-risk and do not require a notification period can include residential and ancillary developments, demolition, secondary dwellings, change of use, torrens and strata title subdivisions, signage, modifications and industrial and commercial developments.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the service was a game-changer for processing times and congratulated City of Newcastle’s Planning team for their ingenuity and commitment to streamlining the development application pathway for applicants.
“Newcastle is in the midst of a development boom. Significant levels of residential and commercial development continue to unfold right across our city and there are no signs of this slowing anytime soon,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle’s Accelerated DA pathway presents an innovative approach to facilitating timely development outcomes, with some of the onus on the applicant to provide a quality submission that reduces the double-handling of information and speeds up the process.
“City of Newcastle’s fast, streamlined development pathway will ensure our city is a more attractive place to invest in bricks and mortar compared to other locations.”
CN’s Planning and Environment Executive Director Michelle Bisson said applicants can still expect the same standard of professional review for each application seen by the CN assessment team.
“By identifying low-impact applications for CN’s Accelerated DA pathway, simple applications won’t get slowed down by more complex DAs that our team are assessing,” Ms Bisson said.
“Our customers can get on with building their developments much faster this way and our assessors can process significantly more applications with greater efficiency.
“It is hoped the process is supported by the elected Council tonight and potentially gain interest state-wide.”
Ordinary Council Meeting Tuesday 27 September 2022
Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 27 September 2022. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
Honouring the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
A Lord Mayoral Minute (LMM) was unanimously supported that acknowledged the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, and honoured Her Majesty’s service to the Commonwealth as the longest serving British monarch.
The LMM acknowledged City of Newcastle’s connection with the throne, following approval in 1947 by King George VI of its elevation to Lord Mayor, the first Australian non-capital city to receive the honour. In addition, the LMM noted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the City of Newcastle on four occasions, in 1954, 1970, 1977 and 1988.
Council supported writing to King Charles III expressing sincere condolences on behalf of the community of Newcastle and to congratulate him on his ascension to the throne.
NRLW Lord Mayoral Challenge
A Lord Mayoral Minute (LMM) was unanimously supported that congratulated the Newcastle Knights Women’s NRL team for progressing to the Grand Final on Sunday 2 October and wishes them the best of luck as they take on the Parramatta Eels.
Council supported hosting a celebratory Civic Reception for the Newcastle Knights NRLW Team at City Hall and accepts the challenge from Cr Donna Davis, Lord Mayor of the City of Parramatta to wear the winning NRL team’s jersey in the Council Chambers at the next Ordinary Council Meeting following the NRLW match.
Ordinary business
Public Exhibition of Our Sustainable Waste Strategy
Council unanimously voted to place the draft Our Sustainable Waste Strategy – Strategic Framework, White Paper and Delivery Plan on public exhibition for 42 days.
Public Exhibition of the draft Harbour Foreshore Masterplan
Council unanimously voted to place the draft Harbour Foreshore Masterplan on public exhibition for a period of four weeks.
Accelerated Development Application System
Council unanimously voted to endorse the Accelerated Development Application System.
Adoption of amendments to the Newcastle Development Control Plan (DCP) 2012
Council voted to adopt amendments to Section 4.02 Bush Fire Protection, Section 4.03 Mine Subsidence, Section 4.04 Safety and Security and Section 7.03 Traffic, Parking and Access of Newcastle DCP. The amendments will become operational from 1 November 2022.
Public Exhibition of draft Planning Agreement for 10 Dangar Street, Wickham
Council unanimously voted to place the draft Planning Agreement and Explanatory Note for 10 Dangar Street, Wickham on public exhibition for 28 days.
Public Exhibition of draft Local Social Strategy
Council voted to place the draft Local Social Strategy 2030 on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days.
Public Exhibition of the draft Social Infrastructure Strategy
Council unanimously voted to place the draft Social Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2026 on public exhibition for a minimum 28 days.
Wilkinson Avenue, Birmingham Gardens – raised pedestrian crossing between Blue Gum Road and King Street
Council unanimously voted to approve the installation of a raised pedestrian crossing with kerb extensions and associated footpath connections on Wilkinson Avenue Birmingham Gardens.
Newcastle Light Rail – Transport Asset Holding Entity land transfer to City of Newcastle
Council voted to approve the transfer of four parcels of land in Hunter, Scott and Merewether Streets, from Transport Asset Holding Entity, allowing for the land to be dedicated as public road.
In addition, Council granted authority to the Chief Executive Officer or his delegate to execute all relevant documentation to affect the transaction.
Executive Monthly Performance Report
Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for August 2022.
Hunter And Central Coast Regional Planning Panel Alternative Memberships
Council unanimously voted to authorise City of Newcastle’s CEO in consultation with the Lord Mayor and Councillor representatives to the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel (HCCRPP) to determine staff or independent alternative representatives to the HCCRPP when Councillor appointed representatives or alternative representatives have declared a conflict of interest or conflict of duties or where they are otherwise unavailable to represent CN on the HCCRPP.
Notices of Motion
Residential EV charging
Councillors supported a notice of motion that noted the rapid increase in electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Australia and noted that the NSW and Commonwealth Governments have announced electric vehicle strategies to increase EV ownership.
The motion also notes that a number of Australian local councils are developing strategies to enable at-home charging for properties without off-street parking and that some of these initiatives are being funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to trial EV charging points on power poles.
Council supported an action to develop an EV policy framework for Newcastle to include within the upcoming Environment Strategy.
EV charging – Adamstown Local Centre
Councillors supported a notice of motion that noted the rapid increase in electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Australia and reiterated Council’s commitment to the upgrade of the Adamstown Local Centre at Brunker Road within CN’s popular local centre upgrade program.
Council supported requesting that public EV charging infrastructure be included as part of the Adamstown Local Centre future upgrade.
Recognition of carers and national carers week
Councillors supported a notice of motion that acknowledged the important role that carers play in our local community and supports the greater recognition and community inclusion of carers in the lead up to National Carers Week (16 to 22 October 2022).
Councillors supported writing to the NSW Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services, the Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, and the Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington MP, calling upon the NSW Government to include local government in the next Action Plan (2023-2025) by consulting with Local Government NSW and local councils to develop actions and measurable outcomes aligned to the priorities of the NSW Carers Strategy.
Councillors also supported writing to the Federal Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, and the Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP, advising of the City’s support for action by the Federal Government.
Fossil fuel ad ban
Councillors supported the director’s recommendation.
Get back to sport with Active Kids this summer
Summer sport registrations are officially open and families are being encouraged to take advantage of the State’s enormously successful Active Kids Voucher program, so children can get back to playing sport without breaking the family budget.
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said there is an exciting summer ahead and families are being reminded to use these excellent NSW Government cost-saving measures.
“Getting kids out of the house to be active is vitally important for health and wellbeing. Signing your child up for sports allows for them to make new friends, learn important skills and stay healthy,” Mr Henskens said.
“Whether it’s, tennis, dance, cricket or nippers there are over 11,000 Active Kids providers across the State, so now is the perfect time to download your voucher and register your child in their favourite sport or active recreation activity.”
School-enrolled children in NSW can access two $100 Active Kids vouchers each year towards the cost of sport and active recreation fees.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said NSW families have embraced the Active Kids program, and is one of more than 70 Government savings to help ease cost of living and boost household budgets.
“We are improving the application and redemption process for parents and providers, with a digital version of the voucher on the Service NSW app now available,” Mr Dominello said.
“Active Kids has been an overwhelming success, with almost 100 per cent of parents giving it the thumbs up.”
Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said the program offered greater opportunities for kids to play sport.
“Our Cricket NSW purpose is to inspire everyone to play and love cricket and the Active Kids Voucher program makes it easier for families to do that,” Mr Germon said.
“Anything we can do to provide greater access to the game is a positive, particularly in that 5-12 year old age group that we are focused on, so our thanks go to the NSW Government for this program.”
More information about Active Kids is available online.