NEWCASTLE COUNCIL – Proposed Meeting Reforms Welcomed

Proposed State Government reforms to Council meeting standards are being welcomed by local Councillors.

The new rules, if passed, would require more community forums and rowdy councilors could be thrown out of meetings by Mayors for bad behavior.

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge says he welcomes the new rules.

“The Minister [Ron Hoenig] has had huge experience in local council, and has been concerned for sometime about the dysfunctionality of some councils.

“We had problems in Newcastle… with meetings that go on for extraordinary long lengths of time,” he said.

Golden Retriever Bella the Latest Employee to Join the Ranks at Newcastle Council

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A Two-year-old golden retriever has become Newcastle Council's newest recruit, aiming to educate the community about responsible pet ownership.

Bella has been joining the Rangers for patrols along Bathers Way between Merewether and Bar beaches, and Lambton Park.

She's also visited the popular fenced off-leash dog park at Acacia Avenue Reserve, North Lambton, which was opened in 2019 following community feedback.

“During these patrols Rangers engage with dog owners to educate people about being responsible pet owners.,” Senior Ranger Lauren Whitmore said.

“When Bella’s with us during patrols we’ve found people are more willing to engage and have a conversation with the Ranger team.”

Newcastle has one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the State, with more than 44,300 registered canines calling the local government area home.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan will guide the management of dog off-leash areas during the next 10 years.

“We know that dog owners want suitable spaces to exercise their dogs safely, and work is underway to progress the development of strategically located fenced dog parks such as our Acacia Avenue facility,” Cr Nelmes said.

When Bella’s not on official duty she spends her down time with her owner and colleague Allan, who has been working with the Ranger team for the past nine months.

Lauren said Bella’s trial with the team had been such a success they were looking at making her an official Ranger later this month and were currently finalising her position description and calculating how many dog biscuits per hour her role would entail.

Hunter Residents Pause for Remembrance Day Commemoration at Civic Park

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

The Hunter paused to remember those who've served the nation at a special service in Civic Park on Wednesday.

The ceremony which commemorates the armistice which ended the first World War, was attended by fewer people than usual this year, with Covid restrictions limiting spaces.

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes as well as Newcastle RSL Sub-Branch President, Ken Fayle attended. 

Sub-Branch Vice president, Peter Green, recently retired from the army after 33 years of service.

Speaking at the event, he said after spending a majority of his life in uniform he now truly understands the importance of days like today.

"They provide us as a nation an opportunity to share the experiences of those who have gone before us, and by sharing their stories we breathe new life into the story of their sacrifice." 

"Although it wasn't why I signed up as a teenager, I have felt later in life that I was following in the footsteps of my Great Grandfather, who was served in France in World War I."

"As well as my Grandfather who served in New Guinea in World War II, and my Father who served as a National Servicemen in the 1950's." 

This Novacastrian attending the event said his family also had a strong connection to the War. 

"My father was in the second world war on the HMAS Hobart, he served in the Battle of the Coral Sea."

"He was also a coast watcher on New Britain in the latter part of the War, and was dropped behind enemy lines for six months and had to survive there."

The New Britain campaign was a World War II campaign fought between Allied and Imperial Japanese forces. 

"Its just one of those iconic days which should be celebrated in Australia, and around the World. I had the chance to bring my Grandson in today, and after ANZAC day, It's been great to be able to have people come in."

The minute's silence concluded with a formation flyover of RAAF aircraft.

This Novacastrian and his Grandson pause for the minutes silence 

Newcastle RSL Sub-Branch Vice President, Peter Green

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