Council urged to consider alternative vision for Civic Lane redevelopment

BY JARROD MELMETH

An artist impression detailing a proposed alternative layout of the recently announced Civic Lane redevelopment has been presented in an open letter to Newcastle councillors by the Newcastle Hunter Urban Planning and Transport Alliance.

The letter addressed to all 12 councillors, the Lord Mayor and Council CEO calls on council to consider its alternative vision for Civic Lane to the one presented by the Hunter Development Corporation.

Last week HDC lodged a development application with council proposing retaining the former Civic Station building, green spaces, paving and better connectivity while only extending its width from 6m to 7m.

However, former Newcastle Councillor and Co-convener of the Alliance Therese Doyle said the lane would need to be widened to 16m to allow for footpaths on each side, parking, a one way westbound traffic lane and a two way cycle lane.

"Those businesses on Hunter Street between Civic Station and Worth Place have suffered pretty catastrophic drops in business since the construction of the light rail began along Hunter Street.

"It appears business is not going to get that much better once the light rail is operational because there will be very severe restrictions on parking and therefore restrict access of their patrons to their businesses.

Ms Doyle believes widening the lane will open up a new north-facing point of access for businesses.

"They should be able to turn their buildings around so that they face north as well as south as they have done traditionally onto Hunter Street," Ms Doyle said.

Hunter Development Corporation plan artist impression.

Newcastle Hunter Urban Planning and Transport Alliance proposal
artist impression.

Newcastle council reveals potential locations for Maritime Museum relocation

BY JARROD MELMETH

Newcastle council have revealed potential new locations for the Maritime Museum's collection following a decision to close its doors by the Museum society on Wednesday.

Council's CEO Jeremy Bath said council is currently in discussions with the board of the maritime museum about inheriting the collection.

"Hunter Development Corporation, who is the landlord for the museum and Newcastle City Council are going to be working together to try and identify ways that we can actually ensure the collection is exhibited, and that it is exhibited in a multitude of ways.

"One obvious way, of course, is for the Newcastle Museum to have a permanent exhibition, but there are other ways that we can make sure that the museums' collection is available for people to touch and feel and really learn from.

"That might be through the Port authority; through the new cruise terminal; it might be through outdoor exhibitions down at Honeysuckle.

"There is a lot of different ways that we can make sure that this collection is still available for the people to really come and learn from," Mr Bath said.

Newcastle Maritime Museum. Photo: MGNSW.

Doma wins tender for 35 Honeysuckle Drive

BY JARROD MELMETH

Doma Group has been unveiled as the winner of a new residential and retail development at 35 Honeysuckle Drive.

The proposal features 92 apartments and 1,533m² of retail space adjacent to another one of Doma's residential developments at 21 Honeysuckle Drive.

The successful proposal by Doma Group beat shortlisted designs from other national developers and was selected by an independent design review panel consisting of members from the Office of the Government Architect NSW, Newcastle City Council and the Newcastle Urban Design Consultation Group.

Hunter Development Corporation Chief Executive Michael Cassel said the proposal offers the community the public spaces they have been asking for.

"To achieve this outcome, we ran a comprehensive design-focused process and it has produced architectural excellence that I am confident the community will value.

HDC expects Doma Group to obtain development approval by the end of 2018 and construction to commence around mid-2019.

Artist impressions supplied.

Artists impressions supplied.