Following is a summary of the Ordinary Council meeting for Tuesday 26 February 2019. NB: It is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
A Lord Mayoral Minute to raise awareness of ovarian cancer through Jill Emberson, a journalist and research advocate and Newcastle’s current Citizen of the Year, and recognise Wednesday 27 February as Teal Ribbon Day, was supported.
A Lord Mayoral Minute to host a Newcastle Earthquake 30th Anniversary Commemoration Service at City Hall on Saturday 28 December was supported.
A Lord Mayoral Minute congratulating the Merewether Boardriders Club on their recent victory in the Australian Boardriders Battle at Newcastle Beach was unanimously supported.
Another Lord Mayoral Minute was supported to develop a Street Art Festival to produce street art pieces across the City of Newcastle, culminating in a celebration of art in public places.
Ordinary business
Quarterly budget review – December 2018
The report was received and noted.
Executive monthly performance report
The report was received and noted.
Audit and Risk Committee and Internal Audit Annual Report
Council received the Audit and Risk Committee’s Annual Report for the 2017/2018 financial year and noted the 2018/2019 Forward Internal Audit Plan.
Administration of 2020 council elections
Council resolved to enter into a contract with the Electoral Commission for it to administer the 2020 Council elections.
Tabling of pecuniary interest returns
Council noted the tabling of the pecuniary interest returns (for the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019).
Endorsement of planning agreement – 464-470 King Street
Councillors endorsed a planning agreement to enable construction of a $1.47 million pedestrian and cycle link between King Street and Hunter Street as part of a residential development. The link will run along Cottage Creek to Honeysuckle, consistent with the Honeysuckle Foreshore Public Domain Plan.
Endorsement of planning agreement – 5 Hall Street, Maryville
Councillors endorsed another planning agreement that will see the developer of town houses at 5 Hall Street Maryville demolish the existing pathway tracing Throsby Creek and replace it with a wider path along the length of the site.
Public exhibition of West End Stage Two streetscape plan
The West End Streetscape – Stage 2, which includes a variety of projects to improve the city’s newly emerging CBD, was endorsed for public exhibition.
Union Street Cooks Hill – upgrade of the pedestrian facilities between Laman and Bull Streets
Proposed upgrades to pedestrian safety at Union, Laman and Bull streets in Cooks Hill, through the installation of wombat (raised) pedestrian crossings, have been approved.
Acceptance of offer – gas relocation – Council Street, Cooks Hill
Council endorsed Jemena Gas Networks to undertake the required works to relocate gas mains in Council Street, Cooks Hill, as part of the street’s upgrades.
Vista Parade, Kotara – Installation of raised pedestrian crossing and traffic calming devices
Council approved the installation of a children’s crossing and a road hump to slow traffic, improve pedestrian safety and reduce the risk to cyclists at Vista Parade, Kotara.
Public Exhibition of the Draft Library Strategy
Council voted to place the Draft Library Strategy on Public Exhibition for 28 days.
Stevenson Park Masterplan
The Draft Stevenson Park Masterplan, which outlines strategies to improve the parks amenities and facilities, was endorsed by Councillors to be placed on public exhibition for a period of 30 days.
Notices of Motion
Commitment to high quality pools
An NOM to advocate for a year-round aquatic facility as part of the Broadmeadow Sports and Entertainment Precinct was supported.
LGNSW Save our Recycling
Another NOM to support Local Government NSW in its advocacy to have 100 per cent of the waste levy re-invested in waste management, recycling and resource recovery in NSW, was supported.
On-street bike and car share parking
An NOM to encourage more active transport, facilitate options for car sharing companies to increase their presence in Newcastle and to develop a policy for this purpose, was supported.
ICan cities appeal – supporting the United Nations treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons
An NOM to re-inforce the City’s commitment to supporting a 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was supported.
Adamstown Concept Plan
An amended NOM to prioritise the development of public domains across the local government area, and continue discussions with Adamstown businesses about establishing a business improvement association, was supported.
Right to the Night project
An amended NOM to crowd source data on local experiences of safety by women and girls through the Newcastle After Dark Night-time Economy Strategy 2018-2022 was supported.
City of Newcastle VIP event
An NOM calling for the cancellation of the City’s Supercars VIP charity lunches at Fort Scratchley was defeated.
Clean Seas Initiative
An NOM to endorse the UN Environmental Clean Seas campaign and commit to phasing out all single use plastic from City-managed enterprises was supported unanimously.
Climate-related financial and risk disclosure
An NOM to better consider the financial risk of climate change was supported.
$80,000 grant for library digitisation lab
City of Newcastle today welcomed an $80,000 Metropolitan Public Library Grant to help build Newcastle Region Library’s first DX Digitisation Lab.
To be known as the DXDigilab, a dedicated heritage collections digitisation space within Newcastle Library will house robotic and 3D scanning instruments capable of quickly converting hard-copy items into digital information.
City Manager of Community Programs and Partnerships Alex Mills with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Library
staff at Newcastle Library.
Thanks to the grant, which will bolster the City’s own $120,000 contribution, robotic page turners capable of digitising 2,890 pages an hour will eliminate the need for countless hours of manual labour to preserve the collection.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said having a dedicated lab – and the tools available – to digitise the City’s archives and heritage collections would ensure troves of information were preserved for lifelong learning and future generations.
“Through the creation of the DXDigilab, we’ll be able to preserve the hundreds of thousands of archival records, photographs, maps, pictures, newspapers and rare books which document the story of Newcastle and the Hunter Region,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The Library History and Heritage Collection Development Plan encompasses a collection of more than 440,000 items, with almost 75 per cent at risk of deterioration due to age.
“Some of these collections date back to the early 1800’s and feature rare, unique and notable items. Many items have come through the generous donations of local business, organisations and members of the community.”
“With the aid of this grant, the library’s goal will now be to have 100 per cent of its collection digitised within the next four years.”
Alex Mills and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes inspect the library catalogues which will be restored in digital form.
Following community consultation from The Library Strategy 2019-2023, which revealed that Newcastle Stories were a key priority for the people of our City, the Library remains committed to collecting, preserving and sharing local history and cultural identity.
Five permanent full-time staff members will help resource the ongoing digitsation process.
The DXDigilab will also boast a Memory Lab component with new and retro equipment to capture and convert library members’ own artefacts and records into digital formats.
Future plans include interactive digital exhibition capabilities, featuring digitised map projection and virtual exhibitions in both augmented reality and virtual reality, that will also help engage new audiences across all library sites.
The City will stage the roll-out of the DXDigilab in phases, with a view to having the project complete by June 2020.
To be known as the DXDigilab, a dedicated heritage collections digitisation space within Newcastle Library will house robotic and 3D scanning instruments capable of quickly converting hard-copy items into digital information.
City Manager of Community Programs and Partnerships Alex Mills with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Librarystaff at Newcastle Library.
Thanks to the grant, which will bolster the City’s own $120,000 contribution, robotic page turners capable of digitising 2,890 pages an hour will eliminate the need for countless hours of manual labour to preserve the collection.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said having a dedicated lab – and the tools available – to digitise the City’s archives and heritage collections would ensure troves of information were preserved for lifelong learning and future generations.
“Through the creation of the DXDigilab, we’ll be able to preserve the hundreds of thousands of archival records, photographs, maps, pictures, newspapers and rare books which document the story of Newcastle and the Hunter Region,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The Library History and Heritage Collection Development Plan encompasses a collection of more than 440,000 items, with almost 75 per cent at risk of deterioration due to age.
“Some of these collections date back to the early 1800’s and feature rare, unique and notable items. Many items have come through the generous donations of local business, organisations and members of the community.”
“With the aid of this grant, the library’s goal will now be to have 100 per cent of its collection digitised within the next four years.”
Alex Mills and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes inspect the library catalogues which will be restored in digital form.Following community consultation from The Library Strategy 2019-2023, which revealed that Newcastle Stories were a key priority for the people of our City, the Library remains committed to collecting, preserving and sharing local history and cultural identity.
Five permanent full-time staff members will help resource the ongoing digitsation process.
The DXDigilab will also boast a Memory Lab component with new and retro equipment to capture and convert library members’ own artefacts and records into digital formats.
Future plans include interactive digital exhibition capabilities, featuring digitised map projection and virtual exhibitions in both augmented reality and virtual reality, that will also help engage new audiences across all library sites.
The City will stage the roll-out of the DXDigilab in phases, with a view to having the project complete by June 2020.
Meeting Our Climate Commitments Without Wrecking the Economy
Australia will meet its international climate targets without wrecking the economy and driving power prices sky high.
The Morrison Government today announced a $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package.
Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, said Australians recognise climate change and the importance of protecting the environment.
“We will meet our global commitments, and do what is right for our environment, without taking a wrecking ball to the economy.
“We have an obligation to preserve the environment for our children. We also have an obligation to hand over a strong economy, where our kids and grandkids can get jobs.
“We will meet our commitments in practical ways by working with land holders, farmers, businesses and indigenous communities.
“There will be further announcements ahead but as part of the $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package, we will invest a further $2 billion in the Climate Solutions Fund.”
The Climate Solutions Fund will build on the success of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) which has contracted 193 million tonnes in emission reductions.
The Minister for the Environment, the Hon Melissa Price MP, said that Climate Solutions Fund will ensure the ERF delivers a further 103 million tonnes in emission reductions to 2030. This will make a key contribution to us meeting our 26% emissions reduction target under the Paris agreement.
“We are working with people on the ground to reduce emissions and lead real environmental change.
“The ERF is investing in our farmers to help them revegetate degraded land, to protect existing forest areas and to increase habitats for our native species.
“We are working with businesses to invest in the adoption of energy efficient business practices that are reducing costs and working with waste managers and with recyclers to reduce waste emissions.
“We are working with indigenous communities in projects such a savannah burning where traditional land care practice is blended with modern environmental science.”
For more information visit: http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/gover…
Historic Snowy 2.0 Plan Approved
The Government has approved Snowy 2.0 as part of its plan to support new renewable energy for Australia’s future energy mix to deliver affordable, reliable power.
The historic deal will see a high-tech expansion of the iconic Snowy Mountains Scheme and will help make renewables reliable, reduce volatility and drive affordability in energy markets and provide other services critical to the security and stability of the NEM.
The Government is pleased to announce shareholder approval has been given for Snowy Hydro Limited (Snowy Hydro) to proceed with Snowy 2.0.
Following Snowy Hydro Board’s final investment decision on 12 December 2018, the Government has reviewed the project’s business case and is satisfied that the project stacks up and will benefit energy consumers and the Snowy Mountains region.
The Government will commit up to $1.38 billion in an equity investment for Snowy 2.0, with the remainder of the project to be financed by Snowy Hydro Limited.
Snowy 2.0 will increase generation capacity by 2,000 megawatts and provide 175 hours of energy storage – enough to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes during peak demand. Importantly, this will also put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices.
Snowy 2.0 will create up to 2,400 jobs in construction and support up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across the Snowy Mountains region, providing opportunities for local businesses, improvements in local infrastructure and increased economic activity.
Planning for the Snowy 2.0 project is well advanced. The Government’s decision green lights the project to progress to the early works stage.
This decision builds on the our investment in Snowy Hydro following the acquisition from the New South Wales and Victorian governments on 29 June 2018 and our work to back electricity supplies in Tasmania and Victoria with a new $56 million investment in the Marinus Link to support Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation project.
More information about Snowy 2.0 is online at https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-scheme/snowy20/
The Hon John Herron AO
The Hon John Herron AO is remembered as a man who dedicated himself to others as a parliamentarian, surgeon and humanitarian.
John Herron was a Senator for Queensland from 1990 to 2002. He was Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 1996 until 2001.
After leaving the Senate, he served as Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See from 2002 to 2006.
The great theme of John Herron’s life was medicine. It was tremendous life experience he brought into the Parliament.
John Herron served in the Royal Australian Medical Corps Reserve and the RAAF Reserve for thirty years.
Following the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, John Herron volunteered to go to Rwanda as a medic. He saw things that were unimaginable. He suffered for seeing them.
Prior to entering the Senate and near the end of his Parliamentary career, John Herron served as President of the Liberal Party in Queensland (1980 – 1984 and 2001 – 2002). This reflected the great trust that members across the Party had in him.
In retirement, Dr Herron continued his active support of medical causes including serving as Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs, and Chairman of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation.
On behalf of the Liberal Party and the Government I extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Jan and their many children and descendants.
Scott Morrison
Snowy 2.0 isn’t enough: Greens
Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today responded to the Snowy Hydro 2.0 announcement, noting that if the government was serious about energy storage, it would put in place a national storage target and incentives for storage across the electricity network.
“Snowy Hydro is not enough,” said Mr Bandt.
“Not only do we need to force coal out of New South Wales, so that an expanded Snowy Hydro doesn’t give it a leg up overnight, but we need to establish a Commonwealth Large Scale Energy Storage Scheme to legislate a target of 20 GW of storage across the NEM and the WA and NT networks.
“We can’t afford to wait for one big hydro project that will require billions in transmission upgrades.
“We need to fast-track other small-scale pumped hydro projects at a grid-level to complement Snowy and provide enough storage to underpin a 100% renewable energy system.
“One pumped hydro project does not a storage system make. We need a comprehensive nation-wide plan to deliver storage that the old parties don’t appear to have.”
Greens say ERF funding better spent on coal communities
Scott Morrison’s Emissions Reduction Fund is nothing more than a rort designed to funnel taxpayers’ money to his big coal mates and the funding would be better spent helping coal communities to transition, said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“Coal is the world’s biggest driver of climate change and Australia is the world’s biggest exporter of coal. Without a plan to shift away from coal, this government has no plan to fight climate change, ”said Senator Di Natale.
“Instead of wasting $2 billion reheating Tony Abbott’s failed policy to pay polluters out of your pocket, the government would be better off helping coal communities prepare for the future.”
“A transition away from coal is urgent and necessary but the Greens want to ensure that it doesn’t leave workers and communities stranded.
“A responsible and caring government would have already been investing in a transition plan for the coal workers and communities who will be impacted by this significant structural shift.”
Man dies when tractor rolls – Lake Macquarie region
A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the death of a man in the state’s Lake Macquarie region.
Emergency services were called to a property on Mandalong Road, Mandalong, about 26km south west of Toronto, just after 12pm today (Tuesday 26 February 2019), following reports a tractor had rolled down an embankment.
Police have been told the man was conducting maintenance on the property at the time.
The 77-year-old man could not be revived.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It is not being treated as suspicious.
Five new police puppies to be named by sick children
The NSW Police Force have welcomed five new crime-fighting canines at 
the Dog Unit, whose names will be chosen by chronically ill children.
The five German Shepherd pups – three females and two males – were born on Christmas Eve last year (Monday 24 December 2018) and will be trained as General Purpose dogs.
Dog Unit Commander, Superintendent Steve Egginton, said the puppies are a welcome addition to the NSW Police Force.
“Since 2004, our breeding program has seen 34 litters of German Shepherd pups join the ranks of the Dog Unit, and these five new recruits have just started their journey in the pack,” Supt Egginton said.
“Keeping with canine recruit tradition, these puppies will be given names starting with the letter ‘Z’ and will form part of the ‘Z’ litter.
“We are encouraging everyone to help suggest names for the dogs before they start sniffing out crime,” Supt Egginton said added.
Patron of the NSW Police Dog Unit, Mrs Andrea Fuller, said the naming process has proven to be an excellent way to engage with the community and allow members of the public to take part.
“This year, we are delighted to be working with Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick to give some of the children in their care a chance to help choose the names of our new crime-fighting canines,” Mrs Fuller said.
“A list of suggested names will be provided to the hospital, then the children will research the names and hold a vote, with the most popular names chosen.
“The pups will then be assigned a name and taken to the hospital, so the children have a chance to meet them,” Mrs Fuller said.
Director of Nursing at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Ms Verity Luckey says the patients of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick are thrilled to join forces with the NSW Police Force Dog Unit.
“The children are armed and ready to help to with the im-paw-tant job of naming the newest recruits, and also really looking forward to shaking paws with our new furry-friends when they are old enough to stop by for a visit,” Ms Luckey said.
Police Minister Troy Grant welcomed the puppy naming partnership with Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
“This is a great way for the children to engage with the Dog Unit, which does some of the most extraordinary behind-the-scenes work helping to solve crime in our community,” Mr Grant said.
“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for the unit to bring a little cheer to the kids at the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick. This is an incredibly worthy initiative that we’re proud to be a part of, and I look forward to hearing the names suggested for our latest four-legged crime fighters,” he added.
The five pups will stay at the Dog Unit until they are about 12 weeks old and will then be placed into the foster carer program until they are old enough to begin training.
The NSW Police Force Dog Unit was formed in 1932 and currently forms part of the NSW Police Force Police Transport and Public Safety Command.
It is the largest police dog unit in Australia and its canine police officers include German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, Labradors, Border Collies and English Springer Spaniels.
The Dog Unit’s breeding program has been running since 2004, and has bred 34 litters of German Shepherd pups, two litters of Labrador pups and two litters of English Springer Spaniels and one litter of Belgian Malinois.
NEW 250,000 JOBS TARGET TO BOOST OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS AND PROMOTE TRADES ACROSS NSW
NSW will remain the economic powerhouse of Australia with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announcing the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will create 250,000 new jobs in the next four years.
With NSW boasting the lowest unemployment rate on record of just 3.9 percent, Western Sydney and regional NSW will be a key focus of the new jobs target. Two vocational high schools and two additional Productivity Bootcamps will be established to help young people build skills and kick-start careers.
“We have created more than 600,000 jobs since 2011 – more than any other state – and smashed our last four year jobs target of 150,000 by adding more than 420,000 new jobs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are prioritising young people trying to get in to a trade with the bootcamp program and at the same time giving those whose ambition is to learn a trade the opportunity to do so through new vocational high schools.”
The vocational high schools will be located in Western Sydney and on the North Coast. Up to $17 million is earmarked for each site to fund construction of specialist training facilities at two existing schools.
The two schools will train students in skills in demand by local employers and industry requirements and allow them to study a trade while completing the HSC. Courses may include construction, electro-technology, hospitality, metal and engineering and primary industries.
The successful Productivity Bootcamp program will also expand to two more locations in Western Sydney and the South Coast.
Already operating at Quakers Hill and Penrith, the program provides fully-subsidised skills training to help young people secure a career in the construction industry.
Over an intensive eight-week program Productivity Bootcamp participants work on-site of a major NSW infrastructure project. Essentials life skills such as effective communications, work ethic and time management are also honed at TAFE NSW.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills John Barilaro said, that as a former tradie, he knew first-hand many of the pressures faced by students considering a trade.
“We are doing more to support our young people to assure them that a trade is both a credible and rewarding career option,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The concept is truly exciting because it brings together the best of traditional learning associated with the HSC and the hands-on skills that will allow our tradies of tomorrow to kick-start their careers.”
Ms Berejiklian said the key to creating 250,000 more jobs was an ironclad guarantee by the Liberals & Nationals to complete all employment-generating infrastructure projects such the F6 extension, Western Harbour Tunnel, Metro West, Metro South West and WestConnex.
“Our record infrastructure pipeline has been the key driver for this jobs growth and we simply cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said only the sound economic management of the Liberals & Nationals would ensure NSW continues to prosper and grow.
“We have managed to get NSW back on track after Labor consistently delivered an unemployment rate higher than the national average,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Now Labor’s failed former Finance Minister Michael Daley is threatening to cancel this Government’s vital job creation infrastructure projects.
“One of the few costed policies they have released is their promise to abandon our payroll tax cuts. The consequence of that are higher cost to small business and fewer jobs as a result. Labor doesn’t have a plan for NSW – only a hit list.”