$12.6 Million Dollar Upgrades Kick Off At South Newcastle Beach

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Construction of a $12.6 million extension of the landmark Bathers Way Coastal Pathway has begun at Newcastle Beach.

The project will take around two years to complete and aims to re-activate South Newcastle Beach with a kiosk, new public amenities, accessible skate bowl, landscaping, shade and seating, exercise equipment and viewing areas.

“Completed sections of the Bathers Way have seen usage increase by more than 50 per cent, with Merewether one of the busiest due to its additional facilities, and we expect to see a similar lift from this project," Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

“Increased foot and cycling traffic will increase activation and provide a welcome boost for local businesses in Newcastle East.”

The project has been guided by the Bathers Way Community Reference Group.

Community feedback in 2018 on the original concept plan prompted modifications to move the skate bowl within the existing promenade footprint, garnering majority support in further community engagement last year.

The NSW Government has contributed $5 million through its Restart NSW program, specifically under its Resources for Regions Fund.

The Bathers Way is a seven-stage capital works program spanning six kilometres of coastline that began at Merewether in 2012.

It was followed by the completion of the Bar Beach, Dixon Park and Nobbys to Newcastle sections.

Newcastle Beach, King Edward Park and Memorial Drive are the final legs.

$120 Million Merewether Golf Club and Seniors Living Redevelopment Hits Major Milestone

BY EL FITCHETT

Merewether Golf Club reached a major milestone today in it's bid to develop an $120-million Golf Club and Seniors Living precinct, with the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel unanimously signing off on a Site Compatibility Certificate.

The approval will allow Merewether Golf Club and partner Thirdi Group to submit a Development Application to Newcastle City Council by late-May or June this year, before community consultation begins.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this outcome. We started this process close to 4 years ago and the Site Compatibility Certificate is the strongest indication yet our shared vision of a creating a world class golfing facility and seniors living precinct is now on track to become a reality,” Aaron Spalding of Merewether Golf Club's board said.

If Newcastle Council green lights the project, Merewether Golf Club will be transformed, with a new clubhouse featuring a restaurant, sports bar, pro shop and conference center.

In addition, the project will see 148 serviced, self-care seniors living units built on the grounds within a multi-story tower development, including a wellness center, basement parking and associated facilities.

"Not only will this development help secure our clubs future, it also paves the way for significant investment to take place," Aaron Spalding said.

The Thirdi Group estimates construction on the project will create over 1000 jobs across the Hunter Region, as well as ongoing employment for 100 once the precinct is operational.

"If we can get support from Newcastle Council and community for the project, we could potentially have construction in ground by this time next year. It's a two year project so it would be on track for completion in mid 2023," Director of Thirdi Group, Luke Berry said.

"In the current Covid-19 crisis, what's been identified as our most vulnerable members of the community is the ageing population, and there's simply not enough housing that's designed for our seniors living," Mr Berry said.

"This development will not only create a home for seniors, but the investments going to create new facilities that all the community can come and benefit from."

Robert Huxley from the Thirdi Group says, "We now look forward to working with Newcastle City Council to deliver on our promise to create one of the best Golf Clubs & Seniors Living precincts ever seen in the Newcastle & Hunter Region."

     Artist's impression of Merewether Golf Club redevelopment, courtesy of Thirdi Group

Newcastle City Council to Fund Ocean Baths Restoration

BY SAMANTHA COOKE

City of Newcastle has agreed to fully fund the restoration projects for the Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths, following an unsuccessful attempt to gain viable private investors during an Expression of Interest.

Ninety-eight years after first being built, construction is anticipated to commence early 2021, with no completion date set yet.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the lack of interest from private investors came as no surprise to Council with copious restrictions on the land.

"It's a very constrained site and we had a lot of conditions around public access, free entry and the protection of the heritage facade," Ms Nelmes said.

"The crown land legislation that governs that site has actually limited the lease time available. So, the type of investment needed was always going to make it very difficult for any private investment to stack up on that site."

Going forward into the drafting stage, City of Newcastle will continue to hold public surveys of visitors and users at the baths until the end of February while initial planning continues.

Here, they'll gather valuable information about the structure condition, the level of rectification required and public expectations to help guide the design.

A community reference group will also be formed in February to help lead the restoration efforts, giving voices to a diverse range of residents, local businesses, and user groups.

With already a large amount of involvement from the public through surveys and Facebook, the feedback will be reviewed in aims to make restoration successful and sustainable.

"Over the last couple of months of community engagement, the themes are obviously the protection of the heritage on the site, the upgrade of the change room facilities, the upgrade of the cafe kiosk facilities, as well as request for shade, seating, yoga rooms and things like that," Ms Nelmes said.

"We also need to take in consideration sea level rise, climate change, inundation... So, it is obviously a beautiful, iconic site but it has a lot of constraints and it's also going to be exceptionally labor intensive and cost intensive to do those upgrades in a sympathetic way."

Coming up to the centenary, there have been suggestions to do a grand opening on the 100th birthday of the baths however, with the quantity of work needed, Ms Nelmes believes it may take a little longer to re-open.

"I think it would be amazing but maybe slightly optimistic. The work that is required is in the tens of millions of dollars but it's not impossible, but we do need to make sure we are doing the right work. A lot of that is actually going through this consultation process, making sure there is broad engagement and then support after the final concept and the designs that will go in there.

The Lord Mayor ensured development would follow strict heritage guidelines with a range of experts to be involved.

"We will be talking to architects with heritage expertise, as well as again talking to the community later in the year around any proposed concepts."

       Current Facade of the Newcastle Ocean Baths
        Image Credit: ABC News

Merewether Surf Club Update

BY GRACE LANCASTER

The Hunter's beloved Merewether surf life-saving club is in line to receive an upgrade as a boost in members and outdated facilities push for refurbishments.

The proposed $3 million dollar update will join another six surf clubs across the coast including Dixon Park and Cooks Hill pushing to upgrade their premises with a bigger clubhouse, new toilets, change rooms and showers and an improvement to disabled facilities.

Hunter Surf Life Saving Chief Executive, Rhonda Scruton, says the refurbishment is well deserved.

"Nothing has been done to these for forty-fifty years and they need to be upgraded to service the community because Newcastle is a beach culture and these beaches are packed every weekend," she says. 

The upgrade is part of the council's Coastal Buildings Implementation Plan awaiting 'green-light' approval.

"It's time to be up to with other councils along the coast that are getting their buildings beautiful," says Rhonda. 

Picture: Newcastle City Council