Blueprint for the Future of Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A blueprint for the next 20 years of living in Newcastle has been created with everything from transport needs to housing.

The Draft Greater Metropolitan Plan has been released this morning looking forward to what the region should look like in 2036 and what challenges it presents.

Gary White, the NSW Chief Planner was in Newcastle this morning to announce the plan and said the city is a great example of one that has completely transformed from being just an industrial town.

"It's all about telling a story, a very exciting story about a city transforming itself from an industrial base into a new world economy over the next 30 years, it's a city which I believe will be talked about around the world as being an exemplary example of how a community transforms itself."

"When you start to hear things about cruise boats coming into your harbour when you start to hear about the strength that's coming out of the education sector, the strength that's coming out of health, your starting to see the front end of the very exciting process of the transformation of Newcastle," said Gary White.

The plan includes plans for the continued revitalisation of Newcastle, the growth of and our use of aerospace, and being strategic about the delivery of housing and jobs.

Local Mayors, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald and
NSW Chief Planner Gary White at Fort Scratchley this morning.

Gary White says looking forward it's important to think strategically particularly when it comes to jobs.

"We need to create jobs in the right sectors, the sectors such as education, the sectors such as health an also recognising that there's a creative economy and a creative manufacturing economy. There are sectors associated with defence, they're all emerging, they're all opportunities that are presenting themselves for our future community as we go forward."

Greater Newcastle is expected to grow to 700,000 people in 2036 with the potential to continue growing well past that date.

"I believe in 10, 15, 20 years time people will be very proud to say they've come from Newcastle because I think it will be an exemplary example of a city that has transformed itself into a modern economy," said Gary White.

The plan is on exhibition until February 28 next year
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/Greater-Newcastle-metropolitan-planning 

Cessnock Want 'More Police on the Beat'

BY NIKOLA JOLANOVIC and JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock City Council is urging the state Government to lend further support and resources to the area's police command under their 'More Police on the Beat' campaign.

Issues of low staff numbers and ageing infrastructure have prompted concerns from both residents and Councilors about the ability of local Police to continue protecting the growing Cessnock region.

"The people generally don't feel safe. The number of police officers who've been allocated to the Central Hunter Command, particularly in Cessnock, is really not enough," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

The 'More Police on the Beat' campaign is urging residents to sign a petition addressed to the NSW Government calling for more police to be allocated to the Cessnock area to match the growth - which is only going to continue to grow.

"The community is really alarmed that there's not enough police physical presence and they're calling on the Police Minister to increase the allocation of police in the Cessnock Local Government Area,"

"Well I think the community if they really feel that they're insufficient police numbers, they should join us and sign the petition and let's make a real voice of the people of Cessnock to look for increased police numbers," said Mayor Pynsent. 

Image cessnockadvertiser.com.au

Major Changes Announced for Hunter Tafe

BY GABRIEL PARKER

Hunter TAFE will be folded into a single statewide institution as part of a plan to save on administration costs.

It follows an April report which found TAFE NSW spends up to 60 cents per dollar on administration and backroom tasks.

It's unclear what this will mean for Hunter jobs, but Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says it's a positive step.

"I think this is long overdue, TAFE of twenty, thirty years ago the people are comparing with doesn't exist anymore. The workforce is very very different, we all understand that. It is very much a services growth economy these days. That means different courses, that means different modes of delivery.  I think we should look on the positive side of this. I think we can have an a lot more nimble, a lot more competitive TAFE going forward" he said.

Scot MacDonald