New Honeysuckle Hotel Gains DA Approval

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A $41 million hotel is set to undergo construction on Honeysuckle Drive, following the approval of Doma Group's development application.

The Little National Hotel on 42 Honeysuckle Drive will have a capacity of 140 rooms, with 50 residential apartments attached and 250 parking spaces.

It's hoped to create 60 ongoing jobs and others during the building process.

The Hunter Development Corporation is welcoming the milestone as proof of growing confidence in a revitalised Newcastle CBD.

Chief Operating Officer, Valentina Misevska said the city is in need of more accommodation options.

"Newcastle does need more hotel rooms, and if HDC can create these development opportunities, we're helping the city attract more visitors and business," Ms Misevska said, "ultimately that means we're supporting more jobs."

The hotel comes alongside public domain works near Cottage Creek and the western Honeysuckle area.

Not bare for long: 42 Honeysuckle Drive will be home to an impressive hotel. 

DA Lodged for University Honeysuckle Campus

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The University of Newcastle is one step closer to realising its CBD dream, with a development application now lodged for its planned Honeysuckle campus.

Newcastle Council and the Hunter Development Corporation have welcomed the progress, with Council financing part of the planned Hunter Innovation Partnership's (HIP) Innovation Hub, in partnership with the University and the NSW Government.

The University's School of Creative Industries has also been brought closer with DA lodgement.

The first stage of development, the design process, is now underway for the Innovation Hub, with construction to begin in 2019 and delivery in 2020.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city campus will create more jobs and bring hundreds of students to the CBD.

"This masterplan project is four times the size of New Space," the Lord Mayor said.

"It's a game changer for the city of Newcastle...in having the University in our city centre, the economic benefits and flow-on effects for local business is phenomenal," she concluded.

HDC Chief Executive Michael Cassel said, "we've got the transport component to support the movement of people through this precinct - this is what will bring the life back to the city.

"This will be the nucleus for job growth, which is the second phase [of the Revitalising Newcastle program."

University of Newcastle Chief Operating Officer Nat McGregor said the Honeysuckle campus is an integral part of the institution's strategic plan for 2016-2025.

"We'll bring the best minds together and harness the creative talent in the region...thanks to this collaboration," Mr McGregor said.

He's referring to the agreement struck between HDC and the University of Newcastle, announced by NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian in late 2016.

Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes addresses the media in Honeysuckle today. 

Push For Civic Lane Expansion

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Hunter street business owners struggling through light rail construction are calling for a lane running behind 24 buildings on the strip to be widened.

They hope the expansion of Civic Lane will allow for parking and greater accessibility in the wake of the University of Newcastle's Honeysuckle redevelopment.

It comes as Newcastle City Council assesses a Hunter Development Corporation proposal to subdivide part of the former rail corridor neighbouring Wright Lane to make way for the new city campus and affordable housing.

HDC want to see Civic Lane widened by one metre, however, the Newcastle Hunter Urban Planning and Transport Alliance are pushing for a much larger, 10-metre expansion.

Businessman Steve Dick has moved his real estate firm from Hunter Street to Cooks Hill and says businesses in the CBD are currently operating at a major disadvantage.

"They've taken away all the parking on Hunter Street in front of these businesses," he explained.

"You've got a three-metre carriageway for cars against a curb and gutter where the vehicles are travelling 40 km/h, and then and tram line so there's no stopping...

"Where are you going to get your goods and services in? Whether you're an office who needs reams of paper or you're a bottle shop that needs liquor supplies," he questioned.

Mr Dick said he is a supporter of the University's redevelopment but is worried about the way it's being mapped out.

"People just don't understand the level of suffering that's going on and the number of people who are going broke down Hunter Street," he said.

"[Newcastle City Council] come out and say 'we want to give some rate assistance'...yeah but having the tenant there is one thing, but if the tenant's not paying rent, the landlord can't pay the mortgage," he concluded.

 

Seawall works to get underway soon at Honeysuckle

BY ARIANA GATTI and LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Seawall works are set to commence along Honeysuckle in the coming weeks as the Hunter Development Corporation moves ahead with future city plans for Newcastle.

The works will see changes occurring along the shoreline at Lee 4 and Lee 5 wharves, with the input of around 27,000 tonnes of rock, resulting in at least 250 metres of shoreline to be built for the future.

Chief Executive of the Hunter Development Corporation, Michael Cassel said the works will ensure the promenade continues to be safely enjoyed by Novocastrians.

"We all know that locals enjoy walking along the popular promenade and that cyclists use it as a key transport route," he said, "so we hope that improvements will only make it more attractive and more inviting for people to use."

Michael Cassel said the Development Corporation aims to bring more people to the CBD.

"We see the walkway from Honeysuckle through to Newcastle City Council's Bathers Way as an exciting opportunity to create a must-visit destination.

"In the near future, I believe we can rival other well-known coastal walks like Bondi to Bronte in [Sydney's] Eastern Beaches."

The new works are expected to take around five months to complete which will see temporary diversions for walkers and cyclists.

The public is being urged to follow safety signs being put up around the area.