Newcastle Liberals announce election team

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Newcastle Liberal Councillor Callum Pull will be running for Lord mayor as well as in Ward Four at the September Council Election.

Miss Rochelle Manning will stand in Ward One, Jenny Barrie in Ward Two, and Mr Matt Bailey in Ward Three.

Current Ward Four Councillor Callum Pull says "the city needs new leadership and that is what the Newcastle Liberals are promising at this election.

We've seen over the past decade under Labor's leadership our suburbs ignored, money poured into inner city vanity projects and not put into the critical infrastructure  that our growing city needs going forward".

Meanwhile, Newcastle Greens have announced Rebecca Watkins as their candidate for Ward Four.

She says she's "looking forward to delivering on the Greens' aims for a more accountable council, a better deal for those struggling to afford housing and achieving a clean green future in Newcastle".

The elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday 14 September.

Liberal candidates contesting the Newcastle Council Election

Push to restore Australia Day citizenship ceremonies

BY PETER HYSLOP

Two Liberal councillors are campaigning for citizenship ceremonies to be held on Australia Day.

Newcastle Council made the decision to move the ceremony to January 25 in 2022, arguing the change reflected community sentiment.

Councillors Jenny Barrie and Callum Pull say they support the re-introduction of Federal laws, which mandated holding the ceremonies on the national holiday.

Councillor Pull argues that debates around this issue should not interfere with the rights of new citizens.

"I've spoken to a number of people who have come to this country and they tell me how important this day is."

"The January 26 debate will continue no matter when Newcastle Council holds its citizenship ceremonies."

Newcastle Councillor Jenny Barrie Picture Novo News

 

Newcastle Councillors Speak On Pool Saga

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The Member for Wallsend has hit back at claims of bullying by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle.  

It follows Tuesday night's council meeting where councillors discussed the management contracts for the city's five inland pools. 

When seven Labor councillors declared a conflict of interest over the issue, Liberal councillors were unable to form a quorum and the matter was delegated to Council's CEO Jeremy Bath. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes says Sonia Hornery instructed her on how to vote on the matter and in turn, created a conflict of interest. 

Sonia Hornery, who's been a long-time critic of privatisation, says the claims are false and misleading, and she won't back down from advocating for her constituents. 

Meanwhile, Liberal councillor Callum Pull says he's disappointed with how the meeting played out. 

He and Cr Jenny Barrie issued a statement today noting Council's responsibility to reach a democratic decision on issues of public interest. 

Cr Pull said although councillors are within their rights to declare a conflict, personal or political views do not constitute a private interest. 

"There's nothing wrong with having a political view... and as far as I can tell, it's never been specifically about a tender, it's always been about opposing the privatisation of the pools, which the Labor party ran a very public campaign on nine years ago when this issue first arose. 

They were not excluded from decisions then, and again, having a political view does not exclude you from assessing a tender," he said.   

In relation to the bullying allegations against Sonia Horney, Cr Pull said he's had no such experience with the Wallsend MP. 

"I have never seen anything that could be described as bullying behaviour by Sonia Hornery." 

Newcastle residents offered opportunity to provide feedback on local government elections

BY JORDAN REGNIS

An amendment put forward by Liberal councillor Callum Pull, will allow members of the Newcastle community to provide feedback on local government elections.

It comes after a number of key issues were identified from the 2021 local government election, where issues like accessibility affected both residents and candidates.

Councillor Pull says, "just having a ramp at places like king street pre-poll, which is one of the biggest pre-polls in the city,

"In other elections, they have had that, I think there was a federal election as well recently where it wasn't accessible". 

The councilor added accessibility issues particularly affected older and less mobile residents throughout the election.

The amendment was moved and carried unanimously by council, asking for the electoral commission to offer a response to the issues brought forward.

The feedback can be viewed on City of Newcastle's 'Have Your Say' page on their website and is available until 5:00pm on 24th May. 

Calls to Prevent Flooding in Wallsend

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Councillors, MP's and local advocates are calling on the NSW Government to help reduce the impact of future flood events in Wallsend. 

The call comes after the region recently acknowledged the anniversary of the Pasha Bulka storm. 

Newcastle Liberal Ward 4 Councillor Callum Pull, said fifteen years on, flooding is still the biggest concern for Wallsend businesses and residents. 

"The Wallsend CBD has some pretty unique risks because it's built on a flood plain. The water builds up from a critical pinch point at Federal Park and the current canal just doesn't have the capacity to carry all the water it needs to," Cr Pull said. 

Cr Pull recently acknowledged the loss of businesses, livelihoods, and homes caused by the 2007 and 2011 storms in a motion to this month's Newcastle Council meeting.

He said collaboration with Hunter Water and the NSW government will be vital in protecting the suburb from flood damage in the future.  

"The canal itself is an asset of Hunter Water. The Council has done it's bit and is in the process of doing it's bit; it's delivered mitigation works, bridge upgrades and things like the flash flood alert system. The critical next step is the widening of the canal which is an asset of Hunter Water," Cr Pull said. 

"I'm calling on all the relevant stakeholders to come to the table and deliver these critical upgrades."  

Wallsend residents are concerned about the suburb's risk of flooding.