Solar Panels Blown Off University Building At Honeysuckle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Strong winds from an East Coast Low lashing the Hunter have blown two solar panels off the roof on the University of Newcastle's Q Building at Honeysuckle.

The Police rescue and Firefighters were called to the building at the corner of Honeysuckle Drove and Worth Place just before midday on Friday to find two solar panels had been dislodged and lying on the ground next to the building.

Newcastle Fire Command says no-one's been injured and a restricted access zone has been set up.

Maintenance staff from the university's Callaghan have been called into to isolate the electricity supply.

The westbound lanes of Honeysuckle Drive are closed as crews use a Fire Brigade Ladder platform to inspect the remaining solar panels on the roof.

Two Men Charged Over Alleged Drug-Smuggling Incident at the Port of Newcastle

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two men have been charged over an alleged attempt to retrieve cocaine off a ship in the Port of Newcastle. 

Police allege the two Norwegian nationals, Johan-Martinius Halversen and Jon Birger Karlsen, were seen in the water at the Port at around 4am on Wednesday wearing scuba diving gear. 

It's believed they were attempting to retrieve 82kgs of cocaine off a visiting ship. 

They were arrested at Honeysuckle that afternoon by organised crime squad detectives and federal police. 

Newcastle Bail Court heard yesterday, the pair were a part of a sophisticated international crime syndicate, which both men deny. 

They are facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and will face local court today. 

Call for Wickham School of Arts to be Included in Final Honeysuckle Plans

BY OLIVIA DILLON

State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp is calling on the NSW Government to ensure the former Wickham School of Arts building is included in the final development plans for Honeysuckle. 

The call follows a lengthy campaign from Mr Crakanthorp, council and community groups, which has already resulted in many repairs to the building's plumbing and exterior. 

The site stands on a section of land adjacent to the light rail stabling yard, and is part of the final three hectares of land open for expressions of interest from development partners. 

The 1882 building's local claim to fame includes its housing of 16-year-old bush poet Henry Lawson during his time working for Hudson Brothers in Wickham. 

However, no commitment has been made by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC), to feature the building in their final precinct plans. 

Mr Crakanthorp continues to headline the campaign, and said the community clearly wants to see the building honoured. 

"The former Wickham School of Arts has local heritage significance and the community has been very clear that they want to see this heritage retained and honoured," he said. 

Image: Hunter Living Histories

BREAKING! Firefighters Called To Honeysuckle Restaurant

 BY IAN CROUCH

A dozen residents have been evacuated after a fire broke out at a Honeysuckle restaurant early Wednesday morning.

Fire crews from Newcastle and Carrington responded to an automatic fire alarm on Honeysuckle Drive just before 4.00am, arriving to find smoke inside The Kingfish restaurant on the ground floor.

Crews located the source of the fire in a fridge and quickly extinguished the flames with a CO2 extinguisher.

Residents living in apartments above the restaurant were evacuated as a precaution while crews ventilated the restaurant with a high pressure fan. 

No-one's been injured and the residents have been allowed to return to their apartments.

$44 Million Hotel and Office Development Approved for Honeysuckle Precinct

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The NSW Government has approved a $44 million hotel and office development along the Newcastle waterfront in the Honeysuckle Precinct.

The site at 42 Honeysuckle Drive is set to be transformed into a nine storey mixed-use development including an office tower and a 187-room boutique hotel with a café, bar, gym, and car parking.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes says the development will meet the demands of the rising popularity of domestic travel.

“The Honeysuckle Precinct has undergone a major facelift in recent years as more than 50 hectares of former industrial and maritime land has been transformed into a centre for entertainment, tourism, employment and recreation,” Mr Stokes said.

The project is also set to create 1,000 new jobs in construction and support 60 ongoing jobs after completion.

Construction will begin later this year and is expected to be completed by 2023.

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.

$59 Million Honeysuckle Complex One of Next 24 Projects to be Fast Tracked by State Government

BY ISABEL EVERETT

The construction of a $59 million multi-storey apartment and commercial complex in Honeysuckle, has been earmarked as one of the next 2 dozen projects to be fast-tracked by the State Government. 

The NSW Government today announcing another 24 priority projects, which will have their planning assessments fast tracked, aiming to inject more than $5.37 billion into the State’s economy and created thousands of new jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Honeysuckle complex will hold 105 apartments, with multiple ground floor commercial premises and basement car parking, from the proponent, Trustee for Horizon Newcastle Unit Trust.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the second batch of projects could provide more than 15,000 jobs, more than 3,600 new homes and enhance NSW’s status as this country’s economic powerhouse.

“NSW is streets – and roads and homes and hospitals and schools – ahead of every other State in providing new jobs, economic growth, infrastructure and services for our people,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This health crisis only sharpens our focus and energy as we bring forward the NSW Government’s unprecedented infrastructure spend and create an environment where private and government investment combine to help us rebound from the pandemic together.”

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said it's important to recognize these are just the prioritised projects.

“During the same period we also approved  – through our normal process – 42 projects worth $2.4 billion, creating opportunities for more than 4,600 jobs and 399 new homes.

“We’re creating great places to live, work and play while also showing the world that NSW is ready to not only recover but thrive,” Mr Stokes said.

A determination is to be made on every project in the tranche within four weeks, with decisions to be made by 18 June 2020. 

Honeysuckle Renewal Project Begins Final Stages

BY TIM MOORE

Work has begun on the $55 million public domain project in Honeysuckle, the final stage of an almost 30-year long transformation.

Plans include essential infrastructure upgrades, as well as developing new parks and waterfront promenades which will complete Newcastle's coastal walk.

Safety upgrades will also be implemented, with 160 000 tonnes of rock to be used to stabilised the wharf in Honeysuckle west, in addition to building new seawalls and straightening Honeysuckle Drive.

Tree of Knowledge Park will be expanded, with 150 trees to be planted over two hectares.

CEO of the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation Valentina Misevska said the project will be significant for the Honeysuckle area.

"These public domain works are actually going to be quite high quality. It's going to be something different to what we've got in Honeysuckle already... there'll be more landscapes and lots of opportunities."

Residents should be aware of some pathway diversions from the waterfront, which will now pass through Throsby carpark to connect Honeysuckle to the marina while construction of the seawall is underway.

Ms Misevska

"We'll be keeping the community up to date with what we're doing... [through] our website where more information is available as well as following our social media."

https://www.hccdc.nsw.gov.au/

Image: HCCDC

Ambulance Paramedics Threatened At Honeysuckle

BY IAN CROUCH

Two paramedics have been threatened and shoved while trying to treat a man at Honeysuckle.

They were called to Honeysuckle Drive at about 6.30 last night to reports of a man lying unconscious outside a food outlet.

It's alleged when the male paramedics tried to treat him, he became violent and tried to punch one of them before shoving the other backwards.

Police arrested a 29-year-old man at apartment nearby a short time later.

He's been charged with two counts of intimidation and common assault and has been granted bail to face Newcastle Local Court on October 25.

The paramedics were shaken but uninjured.

Honeysuckle units hit market

BY TARA LOUIS

Doma Group's latest residential development will see 52 new apartments in Honeysuckle on the market this week.

The Halycon units will offer one, two, three and four bedroom options in the heart of the city.

154 of the units have already been sold by Collier's International due to pre-registration and advertising.

Collier's Residential Director, Dane Crawford, is expecting the units to sell quickly due to popularity and demand in the Newcastle area.

"The honeysuckle precinct has proved to be popular with buyers wanting to be really close to that working harbour.

"With the light rail and large infrastructure projects, we've seen a lot of developments take place and developers have more confidence investing their money in the city," Mr Crawford says.

The Halcyon units will be placed on the market this Friday, August 3rd.

Proposed Halcyon apartments. Photo: Newcastle Herald

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. 

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.