"It's Awesome": McLaughlin on Newcastle 500 track

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Supercar Championship contender Jamie Whincup has described the Newcastle 500 track as being like "the Gold Coast on steroids".

Drivers had their first real taste of the 2.6 kilometre track yesterday for two 40 minute practice sessions which saw Jamie Whincup take out the fastest time on the first, and Scott McLaughlin bring it home with the fastest lap on the second practice run.

Whincup was almost a full second faster than McLaughlin in the first practice finishing with 1 minute 10.15 seconds. McLaughlin finished the second practice with the fastest time of 1 minute 09.59 seconds.

Both drivers had nothing but praise for the track after yesterday, telling Supercars Australia:

"It's mad. It's awesome," said McLaughlin.

"Exactly what we thought it was going to be, and probably a bit more."

Whincup said it was a bit bumpier than he was anticipating and it certainly is a challenge.

"You're not even in top gear, it's just a short, little, crazy street circuit. [It's the] Gold Coast on steroids in a way."

"The best part of the circuit is the last part of the corners, coming over the hill down the big rollercoaster into that last, second-last corner," said Whincup.

Today and tomorrow the Supercars will hit the track for two 250km races to decide whether Whincup or McLaughlin will be the 2017 Supercars Champion.

There's plenty of entertainment on and off the track, the Touring Car Masters, V8 Utes, Aussie Race Cars, Toyota 86 and the Dunlop Super2 Series take to the track again today.

The lineup to get wristbands this morning for tonight's concert at the Newcastle 500 certainly were long, but it's sure to be worth the wait with Cold Chisel and Spiderbait taking to the stage in the race precinct tonight.

Last night twin sister duo The Veronicas and Delta Goodrem opened the first night of entertainment for the Newcastle 500 with plenty of fans packing into the heart of the race precinct.

Delta Goodrem rocking the Newcastle 500 last night.

Frosty Trading the Track for the Surf Ahead of the Newcastle 500

BY JESSICA ROUSE

2015 Supercars Champion Mark Winterbottom hit the sand in Stockton this morning, racing suit and all, with local surf life-saving kids.

With just three days until the Newcastle 500, drivers are getting keen to take a spin on the track for the first time in their Supercars.

Mark Winterbottom on Stockton Beach this morning.

Mark Winterbottom said it's really quite exhilarating coming to a new track and particularly to Newcastle.

"I think the race is going to be fantastic, you know we've got one of the best backdrops, one of the best tracks, the elevation, it's got everything that a circuit needs. It's a championship decider, it'll be the first ever to win on the track, and your motivation is through the roof," said Mark.

The race has come under some scrutiny from local residents in the East End who just last night held an impromptu rally against the race. They chanted songs and chalked slogans and peace symbols on the tarmac on Scott Street.

Mark said from his perspective, the support far outweighs the nay-sayers.

"Some are concerned about environmental issues and then they go and vandalise their own city. I don't really understand that, that's sort of going against everything they stand for. It is what it is. We'll race anywhere but this city I think really seeing the turn out they've had, the ticket sales, it's the start of something big."

From tomorrow teams and equipment start rolling into the CBD to set up.

The 2.6 kilometre track will be the decider for the championship with 30 points separating Jamie Whincup and Scott McLaughlin. Scott does have some ground to make up and will have to finish several places in front of his rival to take out the 2017 Supercars title.

Mark said even though he's not in contention for the championship, he can't wait to get out on the track.

'We'll race anywhere but we come to towns that get behind it and Newcastle is so important for us, it's such a big region, such a big following and to see kids that haven't see our race firsthand will get that taste on the weekend for the first time and that's what its about, they're excited. They treat you like a rockstar but you're just a normal person!"

Traffic to Keep on Flowing Ahead of the Inaugural Newcastle 500 this Weekend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

With just four days to go until the Newcastle 500, the roads which make up the street circuit are now one way in the race direction.

Team trucks and equipment will start rolling into the CBD from Wednesday to set up ahead of the first practice races on Friday.

Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski said it's important to know where you can and can't drive in the city - among the road changes is Shortland Esplanade which is now re-open in one direction heading east.

"The best way for people coming in the East End is they can come in via King Street if they're going to come into the external parts, anything east of Watt Street, Pacific Street, Scott Street things like that and then as they come back out they'll exit out through Scott Street and then head up either Bolton Street or Wolf Street to get back through the city there," said Kurt.

From Friday (24th November) to Sunday (26th November) the circuit will close off to traffic at 7am in the morning until 7pm at night.

"Anyone who has a car inside we recommend before 6:30, maybe even 6am make your way out to make sure you're outside of the gates because once we hit 7am those gates will be closed off at the exit at Scott Street so it's best that everyone get out,"

"In the afternoons we are saying that by 7pm we will have the gates open again at King Street so people can come back in, whether they live on the circuit or inside the circuit," said Kurt.

Outside of those times pedestrian access to homes, etc. shouldn't be a problem.

For a full list of traffic conditions which can be subject to change head to: http://www.supercars.com/newcastle/community/changed-traffic-conditions/

Parking parking parking... It's always an issue in Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Whether it's dropping the time limit, increasing the fees or just taking them away, car parking is always a hot topic in Newcastle.

A promise from Independent Lord Mayoral Candidate Kath Elliot to fix Newcastle's parking situation could be what puts her over the line on September 9.

She's blaming the state government for removing parking and allowing the construction of new buildings with absolutely no parking at all.

"It's all very well for you to be revitalising the city but if people can't access the city then it's a bit pointless so we need them to come to the table with us if we're elected and work together to find an integrated parking strategy to make it a bit easier for people to access the city."

Only a month ago Newcastle's East End had parking slashed - 90 car spaces went from being 12-hour zone to just two and four-hour zones and eight-hour sections on Moroney Avenue and Scott Street were halved to four hours.

Kath Elliott says she wants to see parking improved for residents around Wickham as the interchange continues to take shape, and take away parks.

"So we're looking at some options in Newcastle West but at this stage, it's a very difficult problem because taking parking away is a very quick thing to do but it takes a long time to put it back."

Image newcastle.nsw.gov.au

Parking in Newcastle's CBD could be getting worse

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The end is near for parking spaces in Newcastle's East End, as near as Monday in fact.

From next week 90 car spots in the East End will be slashed from being 12 hour zones to just two and four hours in a bid to increase the parking turnover and help both residents and businesses in the area find a carpark easier.

The spots set to be impacted include Nobby's Road, Stevenson Place, Telford Street, part of Scott Street and Parnell Place.

Eight-hour sections on Moroney Avenue and Scott Street will also be halved back to four-hour parking, while a 12-hour section of Scott Street will become parking for motorcycles.

Not only are parking hours being slashed, but fees will be in place until 9pm in some places including Parnell Place, parts of Scott Street, Nobbys Road, Stevenson Place and Telford Street. Other areas will be until 5pm.

Council say temporary long term parking will be made available on Wharf Road between Watt Street and Queens Wharf.

Newcastle to receive $175,000 for 'Safe Spaces' within the city

BY JAMES WARD

The NSW Government's investment of $175,000 towards safe spaces within Newcastle's CBD will greatly improve the safety of patrons within Newcastle and create a safer and more vibrant nightlife experience.

Hamilton is one of seven precincts to receive this investment from the State Government as anti-social and criminal behaviour have greatly affected the suburb of Hamilton.

The other precincts include East End, Darby Street, The Junction, West End and Honeysuckle that will all receive a safe space to help prevent anti-social behaviour.

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce President, Nathan Errington, says the investment "is going to improve the nightlife and it's going to make people feel safer in Hamilton." 

Hamilton will receive one safe space that will be situated at the train station end of Hamilton in order to prevent anti-social behaviour that has increased in that part of Hamilton.

"Its 25,000 (how much Hamilton will receive) and its one space in Hamilton and that will be the train station park," Errington said.

This grant comes after popular Hamilton pub, The Sydney Junction Hotel, which is situated at the train station end of Hamilton, was placed on  Liquor and Gaming NSW's violent venues list after a number of alcohol-related incidents occurred at the establishment. 

"The focus is on the train station end of Hamilton where there has been a lot of anti-social behaviour and to upgrade the park so that it defers that anti-social behaviour that has been identified by the police," Errington said.

The safe spaces will be developed across the city and will include better lighting, landscaping, seating and signage to improve the appearance of the areas whilst reducing opportunities for vandalism and criminal and anti-social behaviour.

The safe spaces will act as a far safer refuge for patrons around the area and therefore create a far greater nightlife experience for people going out into town

Sydney Junction Hotel, Trip Advisor