Newcastle Council Assesses Coastal Damage From Huge Seas

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Council says many of the city's southern beaches have been severely impacted by the huge seas over the long weekend.

Bar Beach in particular has been significantly stripped of sand leaving a large drop-off between the sea wall and the promenade, while beach access ways at Merewether, Bar Beach and Dixon Park have been closed for safety reasons.

Council says Stockton Beach has been overtopped by waves in some sections and several beach access ways are closed as a result.

But there's been no reports of private property damage in the area.

Newcastle beaches have been left stripped of sand by huge seas Picture the herald.com.au

Summerhill Waste Management Facility to receive $40 million expansion

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Summer Hill Waste Management Facility at Wallsend is set to undergo a $40 million expansion to include a recycling facility.

The federal and state governments have provided $2.5million each, while industry has contributed a further $38.5 million to the project.

Currently there is no local council-owned recycling facility in the Hunter and it's hoped once the facility is operational it will be used by councils around the region.

The new facility will enable Newcastle Council to recycle waste glass, plastic, tyres, paper and cardboard in the local area. Currently the councils recycling is sent to the Central Coast for processing, while Lake Macquarie and Maitland both send their recycling to Sydney.

Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen says it will create a stream of income for the city and savings for rate payers.

"Not only does recycling save the council and therefore our rate payers a significant amount of money each year. 

"There is a landfill tax which exists in NSW which is about $80 a tonne and so every tonne of waste that isn't sent to landfill but instead is recycled saves rate payers that $80.

"On top of that we are able to sell the high value commodities that are separated via recycling, things like aluminum cans which come through the recycling stream are quiet valuable. That separation process means we are able to sell those into the international waste market which ensures we are able to recycle a higher portion of the waste that comes in through the council," Cr Clausen said.

The investment from the federal and state governments is part of the $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund which is expected to generate more than $600 million in recycling infrastructure. 

Patron Senator for the Hunter Hollie Hughes says it's about easing pressure on the environment and taking responsibility for our waste by recycling more materials, creating jobs and driving economic investment.

Pictured: Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Image: City of Newcastle.

Report highlights impacts of COVID-19 on Hunter creatives

BY JARROD MELMETH

A creative collective in the Hunter have released a report highlighting the impacts of COVID-19 on the arts and culture sector in the region.

The research was undertaken by the University of Newcastle and funded by the City of Newcastle through the Special Business Rate program.

The research found 71 per cent of surveyed people aged 18 to 35 felt increased isolation and loneliness while 80 per cent cited concerns about future employment, almost double that of their older counterparts.

Also concerning is 11 per cent of respondents indicated they were still fully unemployed in April 2021, which is more than double the overall Newcastle and Lake Macquarie unemployment rate.

Hunter Creative Alliance Chair Rosemarie Milsom says lack of employment stability is affecting peoples mental health.

"I think this age group its really important, I mean this would be early career, mid career artists who are just trying to get their foot in the door.

"We don't want to lose artists. We don't want people to walk away from their practice because of the ongoing impact of COVID-19," Ms Milsom said. 

It has been widely reported, artists were unable to apply for JobKeeper or JobSeeker as a lot of their employment is not traditional in the sense that they don't have a direct employer or they have other lines of employment. The report highlight this issue, finding 44 per cent of artists who lost income were not eligible for government assistance. 

Ms Milsom says she hopes the report will be able to be used as leverage for government support which is often overlooks the regions.

"I think the report could help raise awareness about the impact on regional areas.

"There is so much focus, justifiably so, on the metropolitan areas where the capital cities are, but I think it is really important the regions don't get overlooked in terms of the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

"We will be making submissions to all levels of government in an effort to keep a spotlight on regional areas," Ms Milsom said.

Artists and arts workers who are struggling are being urged to visit the Hunter Creative Alliance website for information about mental health support.

Pictured: HCA Chair Rosemarie Milsom
Source: Australia Council

Council orders shut down of community food cupboard

BY JARROD MELMETH

Newcastle City Council has ordered the shut down of the community food cupboard at Hamilton Train Station saying it has a regulatory responsibility to manage the use of the public land.

The community led initiative which provides food and clothing for disadvantaged and vulnerable locals was born during the first COVID-19 lockdown, in response to the hardships it created.

A petition has been launched, which as of Thursday had 1,400 signatures in just over 12 hours. It is calling for the council to reverse its decision.

Community member Elena Pavlou Kirri says closing down the cupboard will have a detrimental effect on our most vulnerable.

"The pantry was put in place by community members and maintained by community members. 

"It shares with not only people who are struggling with homelessness, food insecurity and financial insecurity but also just broadly members of the community engaging in a mutual sharing network, giving what you can and taking what you need.

"I think the communities self-sustainability, the ability for members of the community to feel self-sufficient, to feel a sense of efficacy is really important and for the council to undermine that by suggesting that their aide is central and the only legitimate or valid aide is really undermining this community as a whole," Ms Pavlou Kirri said.

In a statement, City of Newcastle says it has a responsibility to do everything that it reasonably can to ensure that the community can access our public spaces safely.

"The City is working with the NSW Police as well as state government agencies, and local community welfare providers to connect people with support ahead of the planned removal of an unlicensed community pantry operating in a park.

"Over the coming weeks, NSW Police, City of Newcastle rangers and the Department of Community and Justice will attend the park to connect community members with alternate support if required prior to the pantry being removed," The statement said.

The petition can be found here.

Pictured: The community food cupboard at Hamilton Station.
Source: Food Not Bombs Newcastle.