Proposed Policy Changes For The Port Of Newcastle

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW Government have proposed changes to the Environmental Planning Policy at three Ports across the state.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts announced yesterday policy changes for NSW's three largest seaports, Newcastle, Botany and Kembla, to streamline their operations.

Mr Roberts said the amendments give the port operators and their tenants the ability to undertake essential, day-to-day development on land within the lease areas more efficiently, subject to compliance with standards.

"Essential maintenance, installation of pollution control measures and other requirements of a working port will be able to be built under the exempt and complying development pathways.

"In addition, we are also protecting our ports from incompatible land-use encroaching on their sites and making it harder to go about their business," Mr Roberts said.

A container terminal at the Port of Newcastle has been a point of contention after it was revealed earlier this year the NSW Government had entered into an agreement meaning that if Newcastle was to build a container terminal, it would have to compensate Port Botany for any containers it handled above a limit of 30,000 a year.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the proposed changes would ensure Port land is protected for potential future expansion but does not set out provision for the possibility of a container port.

"It will protect the future of the Port of Newcastle. It is the primary bulk commodity port. It is already allowed to move a certain amount of containers as part of the agreement. In the future it means that those uses can continue," Mr MacDonald said.

The Department of Planning is calling on anyone interested in the amendments to review and comment on the proposed changes.

The Port of Newcastle. Image: NSW Mining.

MP Labels Mambo Wetlands Buy-Back Plans "A Flop"

BY JARROD MELMETH

It has been two years since the NSW Government sold the Mambo Wetlands at Salamander Bay and six months since the Premier wrote to Port Stephens Council indicating that the government would explore its options for purchasing the site back.

In her letter, the Premier said the government was looking to purchase the land through the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme which is used to bring coastal lands into public ownership. The Department of Planning administers the scheme, which receives an annual budget allocation of $3 million for strategic acquisitions.

In Parliamentary question time, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington asked the Minister for Planning when the Department will make a determination on the application to repurchase the Mambo Wetlands site at Salamander Bay using the funding from the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme.

Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts responded saying the Department of Planning has offered to purchase the land but "at this point in time the owner of the Mambo Wetlands site has not accepted the offer."

Ms Washington said if the owner is not willing to sell it back, the government must use its powers to compulsorily acquire the land.

"The government could have already acquired the land. The government knew when they sold it off, how precious this land was. Once they did it they said it was a mistake. They are responsible for fixing their mistake and they have the power to do it," Ms Washington said.

In March, the NSW Labor opposition committed to buying back the land if it forms government in the March 2019 state election.

Mambo Wetlands Site at Salamander Bay.
Photo: Port Stephens Examiner.

No More Open-Cut Mining Plans for Drayton South in the Upper Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An amendment to a state mining and planning policy means no open-cut mining will be allowed on Drayton South.

The NSW Government announced the change today, which they say brings certainty to both the industry and the community in the Upper Hunter.

Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts announced the amendment which will "protect the valuable and world-renowned horse studs in the area".

The State Government has approved underground mining for the site though, which looks to be getting undertaken by Malabar Coal.

The company expects to finalise their purchase of the project for exploration on the site in the coming months and say they've already surrendered part of the previous license that had extended south of the Golden Highway encroaching on horse studs.

But Georgina Woods from Lock the Gate Alliance believes it falls far short of what's needed in the area.

"It's good to see this formalised but really we are disappointed with the narrowness of the decision. It's actually condemning the farming and horse breeding industries of the Hunter Valley to have to continue to fight for their survival against the government who seems to have ears only for the coal industry."

Image theaustralian.com.au

Newcastle Cruise Ship Terminal To Drive Tourism Growth

BY IAN CROUCH

Work is well under way on the much anticipated $13.5 million cruise ship terminal at Carrington.

New mooring bollards are being installed which will allow for much larger cruise ships to berth at the facility than is currently possible.

Cruise liners carrying up to 3,900 passengers will start arriving in early 2019, with Royal Carribean vessel, Explorer Of  The Seas booked to make two visits in February 2019.

The Explorer Of The Seas

The current mooring facility can accommodate ships carrying 2,900 passengers.

The state and federal governments have contributed $800,000 towards construction of the new bollards.

One Of The New Mooring Bollards At Carrington.

 NSW Planning Minister, Anthony Roberts says the terminal will be an important piece of tourism infrastructure for the region.

"The potential here to bring in an additional cruise ships up to almost 4,000 people which on average inject about a million dollars into the local economy, (this) is critical not just for Newcastle but for the region," he said.

Port of Newcastle CEO, Jeff Crowe says they hope to release concept designs for the new terminal later this year with construction to start in early 2018 and finishing by the end of next year.

"There is potential for bigger ships, but certainly the Explorer of the Seas will be the biggest vessel we've had to date," he said.

Newcastle Port CEO, Jeff Crowe, NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts and Senator Arthur Sinodinos Inspect Work on the new mooring bollards at the Carrington Cruise Terminal Site

Planning Minister lets slip Mayor Peter Blackmore's retirement

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore was taken by surprise yesterday when Planning Minister Anthony Roberts let slip he won't be running for Mayor in the September elections.

Anthony Roberts let the cat out of the bag during the opening of the new 1,100 seat grandstand at Maitland's No.1 Sportsground and took the opportunity to pay tribute to Councillor Blackmore who's served on council for 22 years and was also the state member for Maitland for eight years.

Whether it was the right time and place for the announcement, Councillor Blackmore simply replied "yes" when Anthony Roberts asked him to confirm whether he'd been considering retiring from public life.

"I had been thinking along these lines for all of this term bearing in mind that I am 72 years of age and the fact that I'd had 22 enjoyable years as the Mayor of the City of Maitland and also almost 8 years as the member for Maitland. I have just enjoyed so much representing the people of our city."

He will step down ahead of the September council elections, leaving the door open the next Mayor of Maitland.

"Now is the time after September 9th, that I can devote my spare time with my family and with my grand kids and most particularly with my wife Robyn who has been the Mayoress, who has been with me throughout and turning up at functions and its been a wonderful time."

Affordable housing for former rail corridor

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The state government has unveiled plans to use part of the former rail corridor in Newcastle for public use, and specifically for affordable housing.

Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts was joined by Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance in Newcastle this morning to make the announcement.

NSW Government program Revitalising Newcastle put forward the plan which would see 30 homes built between Mereweather Street and the former Civic Station, for low to middle income earners.

The proposal allows for one, two and three-bedroom family affordable homes for moderate income workers from emergency services, to youth workers.

Anthony Roberts says it gives hard workers a go and gives those, "on low to moderate incomes a leg up and helps them to work towards their housing goals, be it home ownership or ongoing private rental".

The concept was put to the council's Building Better Cities (BBC) Committee to use $3 million dollars allocated by the government some time ago and put it towards something extremely beneficial.

At this stage, the housing proposal project will be funded through pooling of government resources by combining Hunter Development Corporation and the Newcastle City Council's affordable housing funding, which is waiting on approval from council, which should be decided at the next general meeting.

"Newcastle isn't going to be the place it was 10 years ago. Newcastle is moving towards a new and vibrant city. A city with professionals, trades people, and different types of individuals," said Anthony Roberts.

"We're already seeing the reformation of Newcastle, we're already seeing it rake great bold new steps  from where it was a decade ago and there's a lot more to do."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald also joined the ministers for the announcement this morning, and is in full support of the plan which he believes will create more diversity within the city centre.

He says, "from my perspective it's delivering on what Minister Stokes said we were going to do last year (when the rail corridor was closed), that it was gonig to be a mix of private, public and green space and this very much delivers".