A 'Cool' Result for Newcastle East Public School

BY XANTHE GREGORY

Newcastle East Public School is celebrating today, after securing air-conditioning units for the new classrooms being built at the school.

Original plans for the new classrooms did not allocate funding for cooling units.

Parents from the school contacted State Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp, who pushed for the government to reprioritise funding towards installing air-conditioning in NSW classrooms.

"A future Labor Government will prioritise air conditioning our local schools over knocking down and rebuilding stadiums in Sydney," said Mr Crakanthorp.

The MP is referring to Labor's $300 million election pledge to 'Cool Schools,' which was adopted, and raised, by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrotet's 2018 Budget, offering a $500 million package in force now.

As a result, the Newcastle East Public case was reviewed by Education Minister Rob Stokes, who agreed to install the units in the new classrooms.

Mr Crakanthorp said "this is a win for common sense, the Government should not be building new classrooms and not providing the basic services associated."

New Affordable Housing Development

BY ARIANA GATTI

A new partnership between Newcastle City Council and Compass Housing Group will see the joint contribution of $6-million to fund an affordable housing development within the Newcastle CBD announced today.

The new building, set to start construction no later than the end of the year, will feature 17 one and two bedroom units along Station Street in Wickham.

At least eight units will be completely reserved for key workers around the city, such as teachers and emergency services personnel, typically seeing rents capped at 30% of household incomes.

The remaining nine units in the building will be chartered specifically for social housing tenants.

The infrastructure project will cost up to $7-million to complete, providing it is completely approved by the local council.

The Compass Housing Group's Managing Director, Greg Budworth, has welcomed all support to move ahead with the development as he believes there is still a shortage in available living spaces around Newcastle and the Hunter.

"Every city across Australia is in desperate need for more social and affordable housing to be developed. The need is for about 500,000 properties to be developed over at least 10 years", he says.

"Newcastle is one of the most expensive cities to live in, so more housing available at lower prices are needed".

Image Sourced: Station Street Render - Compass Housing and Newcastle City Council releases

World Oceans Ceremony

BY ARIANA GATTI

In honour and celebration of World Oceans Week, a ceremony open to the public will be held tonight along Merewether Beach.

The ceremony and in conjunction with World Oceans Day aims to bring awareness and support against the continual seismic testing and offshore drilling planned off Newcastle and the Central Coast.

With oil and gas companies still trying to test off the coastline of Newcastle, marine life such as whales and dolphins passing through are being affected by the constant stream of chemicals.

Countless amounts of peer-reviewed research articles have shown that underwater blasting is partly the cause of injury and death to surrounding marine life, while also impairing communicative abilities between dolphins and whales in particular.

The World Oceans Day get-together will be held between 5:00pm and 6:30pm, outlining the event as a twilight lantern ceremony, bringing the community together in support of the peaceful future of our marine life and that physical state of the coast.

All attendees have the chance to make their own lanterns by decorating their own paper bag, which will become available with a candle following a gold coin donation.

Earlier on in the evening, face-painting will be on offer for the kids, ocean-themed of course, and the opportunity to wander through eucalyptus-scented smoke following a traditional fire ceremony.

Image Sourced: 2NURFM News Director - Ian Crouch - 2017 Protest

Tomaree Coastal Walk Upgrade

BY ARIANA GATTI

Port Stephen's iconic Tomaree Coastal Walk is set to receive a large upgrade, expanding the walkway to allow for 23-kilometres of stretch to be open for all the public to enjoy.

The 2018 NSW State Budget has allocated around $7-million, which is aimed at improving the generation of tourism to the area, incorporating more leisure-based activity to get the community involved in outdoor recreations.

Other upgrades involve the input of whale watching and interpretative facilities, as well as other elements for people to appreciate the Indigenous Australian and World-War-Two history of the area.

The upgrade and future developments will be carried out in stages over a four-year period, with completion set for 2022.

The project is running as a part of a $40-million investment allocation plan generated by the State Government, in order to reinforce NSWs' position as a key tourist destination, staying in the minds of national and international visitors.

Some specific features of what will be involved in the revamp have been released:

• Improved access, visitor amenities and walking tracks around the Tomaree Headland, with selected sites showcasing World-War-Two fortifications including gun emplacements, command post and radar site.
• Another looped walking track with a new access point and elevated vistas at Box and Wreck Headlands
• New links connecting Birubi Point to surround walking tracks and trails

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, is adamant the money being spent on the site's upgrades are worth the allocation.

"We certainly think it's worthwhile investing the $7-million as it's one of the most popular parks in the State and we believe this can be improved even more", he says.

"There is a market now for eco-tourism including these walking experiences, and to get that attraction there has to be a decent length of walkway, which should become very appealing to those of domestic and international markets".

Image Sourced: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/tomaree-head-summit-walk

 

Labor Slam Federal Budget: What does it mean for the Hunter?

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Hunter's Federal Labor MPs have been left underwhelmed by the Turnbull government's 2018 Budget.

ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Of primary concern to Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon was the lack of spending on key infrastructure projects which he says have been put on the back-burner for too long.

Mr Fitzgibbon was hoping to see funding commitments for the Glendale Transport Interchange, M1 Link to Raymond Terrace, Singleton and Muswellbrook Bypasses and the proposed Cessnock Ring Road to link the town to the Hunter Expressway.

It looks as though the Hunter may, however, receive a slice of the $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance Initiative, marking $10 million across 10 years.

Federal Member for Lyne, David Gillespie (Nationals) said a bypass going into Coffs Harbour which will bypass the Big Banana is a win for Hunter motorists who'll be directly connected to Brisbane.

But Joel Fitzgibbon believes Mr Gillespie is kidding himself, labelling the lack of local road spends as disappointing.

"David Gillespie obviously doesn't know his geography very well if he thinks a bypass in Coffs Harbour is going to help our region..." he said.

PENSIONERS, AGED CARE AND WELFARE

Treasurer Scott Morrison touted benefits for elderly people staying in the workforce, with David Gillespie claiming there's plenty on the table for the Hunter's ageing residents.

Employers are set to receive a $10,000 wage subsidy if they employ seniors to work for them, while pensioners will be allowed to earn $300 a fortnight before they lose their benefits.

However Shortland MP, Pat Conroy said its all "spin," citing a $700 million cut to hospitals among the disappointments.

"There are 22,000 pensioners in Shortland, we've got one of the oldest populations on average in the country," Mr Conroy said, "and if you're a new pensioner you're going to miss out on the energy supplement which is worth $500 per couple; you're going to have to work longer to the age of 70 and, if heaven forbid you get sick, there's going to be a longer wait list at hospitals."

The budget unveiled more than 14,000 extra home care places across the nation to be rolled out over the next four years at a cost of $1.6 billion dollars; but with 170,000 Australians living in aged care facilities, a Newcastle-based Elder Care Lawyer believes it's too little, too late.

Catherine Henry fears clinical standards are worsening, with mandated staff-to-patient ratios the only way to tackle the "woefully inadequate staffing arrangements" operating within the industry.

Meanwhile, Pat Conroy can't believe Scott Morrison didn't see fit to increase the NewStart allowance, saying unemployed people cannot get by on what is being offered.

NewStart is available for people aged over 22 and less than pension age who are seeking paid work and who meet an income and assets test.

Most people under the scheme can receive $269 a week, or $39 a day.

In the lead up to last night's budget revelation, pressure had mounted on the government to increase the allowance, after infamous comments were made by Liberal MP Julia Banks, who said she would be able to live off the amount.

However the Shortland MP believes current welfare arrangements are completely unrealistic given modern housing and utility costs.

"I met with a 62-year-old woman who gets $750 a fortnight from Centrelink as she's had a knee operation and can't work," Mr Conroy explained, "her rent is $700 a fortnight - how can you survive on that?"

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The University of Newcastle has missed out on key funding which will benefit 5000 regional universities.

$24.7 million each year, for the next five years, will go to Commonwealth Assisted places at the educational institutions, with Coffs Harbour once again coming ahead of the Hunter along with campuses at Moreton Bay and Launceston.

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, has slammed the move as unbelievable, and claims modelling shows the Callaghan campus is set to lose $69 million in funding by 2021.

"I think this is part of a deal that the National Parties have done with the government around certain universities in the Murray Darling region," she said.

"The notion that you would not regard Newcastle University as a standout regional university is astonishing."

It comes at a time when caps to HECS loans and their earlier repayment is being stalled in the Senate.

Joel Fitzgibbon joined the chorus of opposition, saying the Hunter is facing a future skills shortage given the lack of money being spent on TAFE.