Newcastle Council Seeks Community Feedback On Ocean Baths

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Council is encouraging residents to have their say on the revitalisation of the city's ocean baths.

The final stage of the upgrade to the baths is already underway, however council wants to hear from the community on preferred options for the pavilion buildings.

Among the ideas being put forward is a plan for a second story, as well as options for a cafe and kiosk to operate alongside community spaces and change facilities.

Residents can head to council's website and view the preliminary options and provide feedback until June 12.

Newcastle Ocean Baths Picture: City Of Newcastle

Newcastle Council says City's Parking Problems Due to Management, Not Supply

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A nine-year parking plan was adopted at Newcastle Council's Tuesday night meeting, which is unlikely to see the creation of new spaces. 

The Council says parking problems across the city are a result of how the spaces are managed, not a lack of supply.

The plan rules out adding any more parking meters in the city, however could see parking costs increased in high demand areas, and lowered in underutilized spots, as well as reduced parking where strong public transport links exist. 

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen says building just one new carpark in Newcastle costs between $50,000 and $126,000. 

"They're phenomenal sums of money and it means we need to think very carefully about our investment decisions, and try to better utilise the parking which is already available before we rush into new expensive operations which will cost rate-payers millions of dollars." 

"Overall there remains quite a number of vacant spots, especially at places like the No.2 Sportsground located a five-minute walk from the CBD, which as of yesterday only had about a 20% occupancy."

The proposal also suggests reviewing time restrictions in central business and shopping districts to ensure turn over, and prevent people parking in front of shops and restaurants for excessive amounts of time. 

The locations where changes will be implemented are yet to be determined, but Mr Clausen says it's not about making rushed decisions. 

However, Cooks Hill, The Hill, Newcastle East, City East, The Foreshore and Hamilton were all identified as often passing 85 per cent capacity, and were likely locations where time limits and paid parking, or increased fees for existing paid parking could be introduced. 

The Council is also looking at how the proceeds of parking meters can be directly re-invested into the areas they are located. 

"I think that will make a huge difference in people's perception of paying for parking, I don't think any Novacastrian likes paying for parking, but I think it's a real innovation to see the money re-invested in local precincts, rather than into some sort of consolidated revenue."  

The proposal also looks at ways to decrease the number of people driving into town on their own, by promoting ride-sharing, cycling and working from home, as well promoting the continued use of the easy-park app.

Image Credit: Newcastle Herald 

Newcastle Seeks Slice Of Government Bus Contract

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes is leading the charge to have the city become the NSW hub for the manufacture and maintenance of electric government buses.

The NSW government has resolved to convert the state's 8000 buses to electric by 2030.

As part of the commitment, the government will buy 120 new electric buses this year.

Australian bus manufacturer, Bus Tech has been awarded the contract but is looking for a NSW manufacturing hub.

Councillors supported a mayoral minute at Tuesday night's meeting to write to the company to discuss the manufacturing opportunities in Newcastle.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes

Construction Underway on Cycleway Connecting City Centre with Merewether Beach

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

Newcastle Council has started construction on the first stage of a cycleway linking the City Centre to Merewether Beach. 

The first stage is the Merewether to The Junction project, which is a 2.5m-wide, bi-directional path along the eastern side of Watkins Street and northern side of Coane Street, between Watkins and John Parade

The first section will include new and upgraded raised-crossings for pedestrians and cyclists and associated intersection improvements.     

This 1.1-kilometre, $3.1 million project is also set to improve stormwater drainage systems and capture water for re-use in new garden beds. 

City of Newcastle received $600,000 from the NSW Government’s 2020/21 Walking and Cycling Program to assist with the construction of this stage of the project. 

A 30-kilometre per hour speed limit could be implemented for motorists driving alongside the path. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said investment in cycleway infrastructure would enable cycling to play an even larger role within Newcastle’s transport mix in the future. 

 

“We are committed to promoting cycling as a safe and attractive transport option for residents, families, commuters and recreational users, which is why expansion and improvement of the cycleway network is one of the City’s priority projects,” she said. 

 

“The start of construction is an important step towards the completion of the overall City Centre to Merewether Beach cycleway project, which will provide a first-class route between the inner city and one of our most popular beaches” 

 

 Councillor Carol Duncan and Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes celebrate the start of the cycleway’s construction with workers at the site.

Newcastle Councillor Faces Code of Conduct Investigation After Allegedly "Leaking" Information to the Press

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

An Independent Newcastle Councillor faced a censure motion at Tuesday nights Council meeting after being subjected to a independent Code of Conduct investigation.

The Council received the report on Tuesday night, which allegedly found Councillor Kath Elliott leaked "inflated" and confidential information about an office space at 12 Stewart Avenue leased by Newcastle Council, during a media interview in 2019. 

The investigator reportedly found Cr Elliott had “quoted a figure higher than the actual amount”, when speaking about the cost of the lease, inflating it by 45 per cent, knowing that it “had the potential to cause harm to Council’s reputation and mislead the constituency”.

It also reportedly found Cr Elliot had a “knowing disregarding of her obligations as a Councillor with respect to the protection, use and maintenance of confidential information”.

 Councillor Elliot says claims she inflated the figure are false. 

"The new premises on Stewart Avenue are the largest liability we have on our books, and I believe people had a right to know where their money was being spent and what the amount was."

"I have not inflated the figures, I have a copy of the lease. I said it was about $3 million per year, the lease is slightly less than $3 million per year, in black and white, and with C.P.I (consumer price index) I was not wrong, and I did not lie." 

"The 45% percent inflation of the figure, I do not know where they got this figure from." 

The full details of the lease were made public in October 2019, after the Lord Mayor sought permission from the building’s landlord to waive their commercial confidentiality, and correct the public record.

A statement on Newcastle Council's website says the Council pays the following amounts to lease the office space per annum; 

• Rent - $2.080 million
• Outgoings - $482,509
• 99 car spaces - $272,250
• Forecast rental income from the sublease of one floor with 20 car spaces - $500,000.
• Net expense - $2.335m

Labor Councillor Matt Bryne says leaking the confidential and "infalted" information could of had serious implications for Council. 

"It could affect our commercial operations, if Councillor Elliot isn't prepared to comply with our code of conduct it makes it very hard for Council to run an organisation, when it's having to constantly look over its shoulder at the conduct and behavior of one Councillor." 

“The advice of the independent investigator was that a censure is the only mechanism available to address Cr Elliott’s continued poor conduct."

“In short, the independent investigation found Cr Elliott to be a leaker and a liar and she can't be trusted by journalists because she makes up figures as she goes in order to score cheap political points."

 Cr Elliot is calling on Cr Bryne to retract the statement she is a liar.

"If he doesn't I will be consulting my lawyers, and I will continue to work for the people of Newcastle and be open and transparent, and unlike Labor when I say open and transparent I mean it." 

Stewart Avenue Building, Image: Core Project Group