Hunter Valley Wine on the Waterfront - Hope Estate to Redevelop Honeysuckle's Former Maritime Museum

BY ISABEL EVERETT

The former Maritime Museum at Honeysuckle will be home to a new Hunter Valley wine experience.

Hunter Valley winery, Hope Estate have been granted a 50-year-lease on the building by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC).

HCCDC took The Wharf building to market in late 2019 with the aim of attracting a drawcard destination.

Owner of Hope Estate, Michael Hope says it will allow new people to enjoy the offerings of the Hunter Valley.

"'One of the biggest challenges we face, the feedback we get, is people say we'd love to come up and try some of your beers but we'd need to organise a bus."

"Where as if we're actually in Newcastle, I think there'll be a lot of locals who say that's a nice afternoon or evening that we can spend going to taste beer and wine."

"We also think as a tourist destination, especially if you're looking at cruise ships or people travelling to Newcastle, it gives them a Hunter Valley Wine experience, if they're short of time and can't come all the way up the valley."

30 of Hope Estates own beers will be on tap at the venue, showcasing a wider range of local brews, with 12 on tap at the Pokolbin Estate.

A cellar door and function space is also included in the building design, as well as a casual dining kitchen.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack said that Hope Estate will create another great reason to visit the precinct.

“I’m looking forward to the vibrancy, activity and culture that this will bring to the area,” said Ms Cusack.

Mr Hope is hoping to have the building plans approved by Newcastle Council by April next year, and ideally open the doors by September 2021.

Hope at Honeysuckle follows HCCDC’s recent $4.7 million restoration works to repair the heritage fabric of the building, including significant underwater works to the substructure and reinstatement of an 817 square metre outdoor deck over the water.

Michael Hope and team will work with HCCDC on final designs and will apply for DA approval from City of Newcastle before works commence.

Works To Expand John Hunter's Emergency Department Brought Forward To Begin Next Week

BY KEELY JOHNSON 

Construction work on the John Hunter Hospital Emergency Department has been fast-tracked to begin next week, with an additional 12 beds and new procedure room to provided. 

The  works are expected to take 2 months to complete and aim to ensure the hospital is prepared to deal with an expected spike in patients due to the flu, coming into the Winter months, and Covid-19. 

Hunter New England Chief Executive, Michael DiRienzo is welcoming the additional capacity.

“The additional beds and procedure room will be segregated from the current Department.  We are planning to use this for the treatment of paediatric patients and allow the existing ED more options and beds for managing expected surge with winter and COVID-19 response.”

“One of the key benefits to these works is that they are able to be completed without any operational impact to the existing ED,” Mr DiRienzo said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack has welcomed the project being brought forward.

"John Hunter Hospital is one of the most important hospitals in Australia, it already has the busiest emergency departments in the State... and bringing forward the Emergency Department work will see an increase in capacity up to 40%, in response to the current health emergency," she said. 

"It will involve improving procedures, improving out and in patient services, and improving internal operations. So it's not just an increase in ED capacity, it's a significant increase in productivity and a very significant improvement in the quality of work place, for staff and patients."

The project,  part of John Hunter's $780 million Health and Innovation Precinct project is also set to  boost the local economy and provide work in a 'critical time' as the Hunter faces an economic crisis and severe job loss. 

"The record infrastructure investment program is critical to maintaining employment and people's well-being across the state... this infrastructure spend is incredibly well timed to not only give construction workers employment but will keep the economy running" said Catherine Cusack. 

The NSW Government’s $780 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct will also deliver improvements to clinical services and facilities including a new expanded ED, critical care services including in operating theatres and intensive care, increased interventional and imaging services, expanded inpatient units and enhanced ambulatory care services.

John Hunter Hospital Main Entrance.

State Government Back Flips On Fingal Bay Link Road Promise

BY IAN CROUCH

The newly re-elected Berejiklian government has abandoned an election promise to build the Fingal Bay Link Road at Port Stephens.

Duty MLC, Catherine Cusack told the Fairfax the project won't be going ahead because voters re-elected Kate Washington, who ran on a platform of opposing the road and therefore voters wishes need to be respected.

Roads Minister, Melinda Pavey joined Liberal candidate Jaime Abbott, Catherine Cusack and Port Stephens mayor, Ryan Palmer for the $188 million announcement on March 5, promising to work with Roads and Maritime Services to come up with designs by the end of the year.

At the time, sitting Labor MP, Kate Washington described the promise as a fantasy and said it amounted to $140,000 for each of the town's residents, saying it would be cheaper to hire helicopters for everyone to get in and out of Fingal Bay every day.

Port Stephens mayor, Ryan Palmer says he's surprised by the back-flip and hopes the $188 million dollars can be redirected to other projects in the shire.

Port Stephens mayor Ryan Palmer with Jaime Abbott, Melinda Pavey and Catherine Cusack at the March 5 announcement Picture: therherald.com.au