Windella community members oppose planned home-estate

 BY HOLLY FISHLOCK

Members of the Windella Residents Community Group are concerned a manufactured home-estate planned for Windella violates planning laws.

Group leader Warren Baldacchino, argues the planned 282 home-estate will be too close to Maitland airport, and is concerned the airport could seek to develop the nearby land later on.

Mr Baldacchino also flagged the potential traffic increases, saying the additional units will bring 400 people to Windella, and will double the number of cars on the road.

Chris Speek from developer Mavid Group, says plans submitted to Maitland City Council are generally compliant with relevant laws. 

He also argues the group have considered the existing neighboring properties and airport when designing the estate.

Maitland City Council has called for public comment on the plan, and will accept submissions until March 4.

Cessnock Council set to clear buildings for community space

BY DARCY MCGAVIN

Cessnock Council is planning for two buildings on the northern edge of Civic Park to be demolished as part of readiness plans made in September.

The plans have been made to keep the space open for future considerations on how the space can be better used by the community. 

While one of the buildings currently has a tenant on a short term lease, the other is a former community centre that has been vacant for several years.

Council will consult the community on how the space should be used.

Council backs plans to rezone remediated Boolaroo smelter site

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The former Pasminco smelter site at Boolaroo could soon be home to commercial developments, new parks, or even a school.

Lake Macquarie Council endorsed a planning proposal on Tuesday night, which would see the now-remediated site rezoned and building heights boosted to 18 metres.

Mayor Kay Fraser says the site's past is behind it.

"The land is probably the cleanest land in the Hunter Region," she said. "It's been cleaned down to bedrock."

"There's no contamination there at all."

Though the State Government is yet to sign off on the planning proposal, it's understood there has already been interest in the site.

The proposal allows for rezoning the land south of Cressy Road to mixed use, while north of the road would be zoned for public recreation and possibly public facilities.

"This site will be a city landmark that will promote Lake Macquarie's leading role in the region," she said. 

"We want to generate excitement. We want to attract visitors, workers and customers from our side of the city."     

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

New planning controls to require Newcastle developments to be electric vehicle ready

BY DAKOTA TAIT

New developments in Newcastle could soon be required to be outfitted to be ready for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, as part of a proposed change to planning rules.

Council is set to discuss the plan at Tuesday night's meeting, with a public exhibition to follow over the next 28 days. 

Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk says it's a small investment, with a big impact.

"We know that in five to ten years, many garages across the city will be home to an electric vehicle, so it's really appropriate that our building standards adapt to allow buildings to be EV ready," Cr Adamczyk said.

"Through really simple actions, we're ensuring that the city is ready for the future."

The planning controls are the first of their kind in the city.

It would mean all new development over $200,000 and any development involving garages and parking will need to have the appropriate cabling and conduits. 

It's estimated to set developers back $50 to $300 per parking space, although it's still considered cheaper than retrofitting properties.

Cr Adamczyk says it's important the city gets ahead of the curve. 

"I think we're definitely leading the way," Cr Adamczyk said. 

"What we've done is look to other best practice cases, like Woollahra in New South Wales, who have had these controls in place for about seven years.

"We know that momentum is building towards an electric future, so it's really time for us to be leading this charge."

New Development Plan Could See Lake Macquarie Building Height Limits Lifted

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Lake Macquarie's latest draft development control plan could see height limits raised and minimum lot sizes reduced to help stop urban sprawl as the city grows.

The draft changes are part of a plan to improve the sustainability and supply of housing for coming generations by nudging developers toward multi-dwelling housing options such as terraces and apartments.

It's hoped reductions to minimum lot sizes and increasing building height limits in some medium density zones will encourage infill development and upward growth around economic centres.

Current proposals include increasing height limits by four metres in parts of Windale and six metres in one part of Charlestown.

Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Integrated Planning Wes Hain says the changes are hoped to improve both housing affordability and environmental sustainability. 

"We expect to our population to grow by about 28,000 people over the next 15 years," Mr Hain said.

"A part of accommodating those extra people in about 13,500 new homes is to have them located closer to shops and jobs and schools." 

The draft changes are on exhibition until November 1, and residents can have their say at https://shape.lakemac.com.au/.

Manager Integrated Planning Wes Hain outside a recently
 completed medium density infill development in Warners Bay

Concerns New Suburb Could Put Pressure on Hunter Infrastructure

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Plans for a new suburb north of Glendale are facing concerns that residents might be left playing catch up for infrastructure.

The rezoning is set to deliver between three and four thousand new homes, almost one thousand of which will be inside the Lake Macquarie area.

But Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says local infrastructure issues need to be dealt with now for the development to work out.

"What we need to consider for the future too of course is how aspects of infrastructure are working so that the people who live and are going to live in that area in the future have future schools, have public transport, have easy access to hospitals and other facilities," Ms Hornery said.

The 592 hectare site, owned by Eden Estates, straddles both Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils along the Newcastle Link Road.

Ms Hornery says while the development will help alleviate the Hunter's housing crisis, existing problems are likely to only get worse as long as schools and roads remain crowded. 

"What we know of particularly around the Blue Gum Hills area is that students are crossing dangerous roads and that schools are over capacity," Ms Hornery said.

"What the department need to start doing is to start building schools ahead of capacity rather than behind it."

"Those factors all need to be considered and they need to be considered deeply with council as well, so that we can ensure that people aren't stuck in areas that they can't get out of or that we have increased traffic jams and problems in the area because traffic already is at capacity." 

Image credit: Eden Estates

$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.

Newcastle Council to Re-Develop Rail Bridge Row

ISABEL EVERETT

Newcastle Council hopes to transform a 155 metre section of the former rail corridor into affordable housing, a new public domain and cycle way along with shops and cafes.

Council has won a tender to proceed with the redevelopment after spending 2-million dollars to purchase the 4-thousand square metre parcel of land know as Rail Bridge Row.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes says the acquisition will support the ongoing revitalization of the city.

Hunter and Central Coast Development corporation, Valentina Mischevka says they are excited to award the project to Newcastle Council.

"We ran an open competitive process it was open to anyone to submit a proposal and it was assesed in line with our criteria. what we were looking to see were proposal that would align closely with the revitalizing Newcastle program," she says.

"Like any development project it will need to go through a planning approval process, and  tendering and construction."

GoGet Car Sharing Services Coming to Newcastle

BY HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

The development company Thirdi Group is teaming up with GoGet to launch it's car sharing services in Newcastle, starting with the company's own Westend Precinct.

Over one hundred cars and vans are set to be scattered over the city centre and fringes in an attempt to assist those who can't afford a vehicle of their own or have no access to parking facilities.

"As a developer this sort of partnership makes complete sense." says Thirdi Group's Director of Sales and Marketing Luke Perry.

"When you think about connectivity and transport, any form of transport that a city explores that's flexible and sustainable will be greater for all residents in Newcastle."

"The platform's been created to give people that may not be able to afford a full-time car or need a secondary car flexibility where you can become a member, and within minutes hire a car you can use to go about your daily business."

The aim of the arrangement is to provide property owners with the chance to access the vehicles for hire, with 'free driving credits' available to cover the basic needs of Westend residents.

"We've worked out the average urban dweller needs about twenty-five kilometres per week and university students or individuals who don't want to carry the cost of owning a car can become a member and take advantage of the GoGet credits and the wavering of the membership fees that we've negotiated for our projects." says Mr Perry.

An estimated ten percent of GoGet's fleet is set to be permanently located in the Westend or in the basements of the Union and Hannel Street Thirdi Developments due for completion in 2020 with the hope of expansion in the future.

Photo belonging to GoGet

New Affordable Housing Development

BY ARIANA GATTI

A new partnership between Newcastle City Council and Compass Housing Group will see the joint contribution of $6-million to fund an affordable housing development within the Newcastle CBD announced today.

The new building, set to start construction no later than the end of the year, will feature 17 one and two bedroom units along Station Street in Wickham.

At least eight units will be completely reserved for key workers around the city, such as teachers and emergency services personnel, typically seeing rents capped at 30% of household incomes.

The remaining nine units in the building will be chartered specifically for social housing tenants.

The infrastructure project will cost up to $7-million to complete, providing it is completely approved by the local council.

The Compass Housing Group's Managing Director, Greg Budworth, has welcomed all support to move ahead with the development as he believes there is still a shortage in available living spaces around Newcastle and the Hunter.

"Every city across Australia is in desperate need for more social and affordable housing to be developed. The need is for about 500,000 properties to be developed over at least 10 years", he says.

"Newcastle is one of the most expensive cities to live in, so more housing available at lower prices are needed".

Image Sourced: Station Street Render - Compass Housing and Newcastle City Council releases

Farmers hit back at Government Proposal

BY: ALEX MURRAY

A public forum was held this morning at the Wine Country Motor Inn with discussions of the government's proposed production and rural development policy and its protections for farmers.

The proposal is aiming to support sustainable agriculture and changes to planning particularly those requiring development consent. 

As Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot Macdonald says, "Primary production and managing rural development is vitally important to the Hunter." 

Although, the NSW Farmers Association is calling on the government to consider the restrictions placed on rural farmers in the development of the proposal and to have an understanding of their working conditions. 

Hunter Regional Manager of NSW Farmers, David Banham says: "The message is loud and clear from the people in the room today that there's still work to be done and it needs to be done properly."

"There was certainly discussion around the fragmentation of agricultural land and the minimum lot size which could be potentially changed or present issues." 

"It's a big change from the existing environmental planning policies we've got...including problems where certain farms won't be requiring development consent to go ahead." 

"We've identified some of the issues early on...but we're always looking for positive outcomes from these changes, we just need to need to ensure the planning department understand farming and the issues around it so they can create the right policies."