Newcastle Council and Worimi Community Work Together to Relocate Stockton Cabins

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle Council will work with the Worimi Land Council to develop a management plan for an Indigenous Heritage site put at risk by emergency works at Stockton.

A number of cabins were relocated from Stockton Caravan Park to Rawson Park near Stockton Pool, due to recent coastal erosion risks - but members of the Worimi community say they were not initially consulted regarding the works.

Worimi Land Council CEO Andrew Smith says the council's lack of initial communication meant the local community couldn't inform them of the site's cultural significance.

"The problem is, with the augering that they've drilled down to put in the pits, they've actually gone through the remnant soil, and they've exposed a lot of occupational evidence and Aboriginal artefacts, objects, and items that are significant and need to be protected," he said.

The cabins are currently relocated atop an Aboriginal midden site - a type of occupation site where people left the remains of meals and other domestic waste.

Smith says artifacts such as stones, foreign materials, fish bones and shells have archaeological significance and indicate the relationships between different Indigenous groups.

"They're important to us, and it's not a renewable resource. We don't have sandstone buildings sitting in the middle of the street that people can stare at and admire."

"Most of our above surface occupational evidence has been destroyed, and we need to make sure that we as all Australians protect what lays that cultural footprint that sits beneath the many tenures in today's environment."

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes says discussions with both Mr Smith and local elder Len Anderson regarding the future of the site have been positive and productive.

"We want to make sure that although Stockton is a natural disaster zone and emergency works have taken place, that they are only done in recognition of this being an Aboriginal place and that any artefacts found are protected and our cultural heritage is preserved."

Newcastle Council will be allowed to anchor the cabins down to manage safety risks in windy weather until they receive approval from Ausgrid regarding power line issues and affected parties reach a resolution regarding the cabins' relocation.

Image credit: Save Stockton Beach

Newcastle Business Improvement Associations Under The Spotlight

BY JARROD MELMETH

Newcastle Business Improvement Associations will come under the spotlight at a City of Newcastle council meeting on Tuesday night.

A report commissioned by the City of Newcastle will be tabled at the meeting which concludes "The proportion of Levy funding allocated towards administration costs also appears to be excessive and at the cost of additional economic development output."

The report also recommended updated the existing funding model for BIAs "to better involve their members, align operations with emerging opportunities and make structural changes that can ensure funding certainty and improved governance."

Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Bath said four of the five BIAs have this year requested Council funding, with 46 per cent of their collective ratepayer funds to go to administration and salaries.

Mr Bath said the AECOM report found that the governance arrangements for BIAs require significant improvement.

"Earlier this year a BIA requested more than $100,000 with no explanation of how the money would be spent.

"Another requested to spend all (and more) of their special rate funding on administration.

"More than $10 million of commercial ratepayers money has been provided to BIAs during the past seven years. During this time, the amount being diverted to administration and salaries has substantially increased.

"Every dollar that is spent on administration and salaries is a dollar that isn't going towards on-the-ground delivery of events and programs that attract people to local shops and businesses," Mr Bath said.

But Newcastle Now Chair Edward Duc said without staff, the association would not be able to provide community events and programs.

"The people who are employed in the office, run the programs. They actually run the events and if we don't have those people then we would have to outsource. Our experience with outsourcing this sort of activity is more expensive than doing it in-house," Mr Duc said.

Councillors will consider the recommendation in a confidential meeting to replace the model of funding agreements with a new framework with an emphasis on events, local projects and infrastructure.

Council CEO Jeremy Bath.

Newcastle City Council Offering 10 Days Paid Domestic Violence Leave As Part Of New Enterprise Agreement

BY JARROD MELMETH

Newcastle City Council have adopted a new enterprise agreement which aims to improve productivity by creating a more flexible workplace.

The newly ratified agreement includes opt-in work arrangements such as unpaid leave, working from home, purchased additional annual leave, working four years out of five and working from home.

It's the first agreement in partnership with the Services Union in more than eight years and will also include 10 days of paid domestic violence leave.

Paid domestic violence is used for victims to seek safe housing; attend related medical and legal appointments or organise alternative care and schooling arrangements for their children while still being able to accumulate all other forms of leave.

Newcastle United Services Union organiser Luke Hutchinson said flexible work arrangements help employees in their work and personal lives.

"The Union is very proud to resolve this matter with Newcastle City Council to provide domestic violence leave for victims and their families to assist with this hideous social matter that we are unfortunately dealing within Australia at the moment.

"This provides some additional support for these victims and their families," Mr Hutchinson said.

The agreement also includes the annual 2.5 per cent minimum pay rise as per the 2017 Local Government Award.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city is committed to providing support to its employees.

Left to right, Ross Warren and Kevin Burgess, City of Newcastle USU delegates,

 Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and United Services

 Union General Secretary Graeme Kelly.

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.

Council on their own over Stockton Beach clean up

BY TYLER FARDELL

Following four days of strong rain and ferocious winds in January this year, an old landfill tip on Stockton Beach was exposed and rubbish began to pour out onto the beach and into the ocean.

Four months on, 8 thousand tonnes of rubbish still remains on the beach awaiting disposal.

Newcastle City Council and Hunter Water are working together to dispose of the rubbish safely but were hoping the Environmental Protection Authority would grant them an exemption from the waste levy.

The levy currently stands at $138.20 per tonne of waste, meaning the cost of the cleanup would jump from $3 million dollars to over $4 million dollars if an exemption was not granted.

The EPA can grant exemptions from paying the hefty levy if rubbish was caused by a severe weather event, something which many residents believe occurred in Janurary when more than 15 metres of sand in some areas was eroded from Stockton Beach.

Council and Hunter Water's request to be granted the levy was refused, with The Office of Emergency Management not declaring the storm a 'natural disaster' and deeming it not severe enough.

The issue has sparked heavy criticism over the state Governments waste levy scheme, with critics accusing the government of using the levy to prop up Government coffers.

According to a statement from Hunter Water which was provided to 2NURFM, all the material will be excavated from the site and disposed of by the end of June.

Stockton Beach
Source; TheNewcastleHerald

Merewether Residents Up In Arms Over Plans For Sprawling Mansion

BY IAN CROUCH

Merewether residents are seeing red over plans for a massive luxury home in the beachside suburb.

A local businessman plans to partially knock down an existing home in Scenic Drive and build a $7.5 million mansion with 7 bedrooms, 2 swimming pools, maids' quarters with 2 bedrooms, a gym, bar, billiard room and rooftop terrace.

Nearby residents have complained about the size and scope of the development, with some saying it's similar in size to a block of flats and should be assessed as such.

If approved, the mansion would become Newcastle's most expensive home.

Council is due to hand down a decision next week.

Artist's Impression Of The Proposed Merewether Mansion Picture Courtesy theherald.com.au

Newcastle City Council Sends in their Liquor Licence Review Submission: Venues with Exemplary Behaviour could be Exempt

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle City Councillors have endorsed a submission to the state government's review of local liquor licenses.

Their submission could see venues with a record of exemplary behaviour exempt from some licensing conditions.

Among the 17 recommendations is the support of a consistent 1:30am lockout and 3:30am shutdown for all premises, expect those designated as low impact.

A low impact venue has been labelled as those with strong, consistent focuses on noise management and responsible service of alcohol as well as a proven track record on alcohol-related and liquor licensing incidents.

Other recommendations included:
- requiring licensed venues to prepare more robust plans of management and to be more closely scrutinised by Liquor and Gaming NSW.
- requiring licensed venues to retain an employee whose sole function is to supervise responsible service of alcohol throughout the premises,
- undertaking new research into how licensing conditions under the current lock-laws affect specific venues and liquor licence categories.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city's night-time economy is now worth $1.4 billion a year and employs more than 12,000 people.

"We need laws that reflect the evolution of that night-time economy, which has been led by strong growth in smaller night-time venues attracting a more sophisticated, responsible crowd."

Newcastle Councillors pay rise or no pay rise?

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle Councillors will tonight debate on whether or not to give themselves a pay rise.

They will decide on a 16 per cent pay rise.

Independent Councillors Kath Elliott, John Church, Allan Robinson and Andrea Rufo put forward a rescission motion saying a 16 per cent pay rise for Councillors and a 24 per cent increase in the Lord Mayor's allowance is "inappropriate" when "council is continuing to burden ratepayers with a consecutive 8% Special Rate Variation increases, supposedly to address its financial challenges".

Before last year's council elections, council voted against a pay rise, even though the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal allowed councils to take a 16 per cent increase if they wanted it.

"It's perplexing as to why it was bought to us again at the end of the year. I don't know what changed. But certainly there was no pay rise going to be granted in June and then we had this turnaround from Labor and voted for it after the election so one has to be a little skeptical about why that was," said Kath Elliott.

She also said, "I don't think it's appropriate for us to be given such a large pay rise when there are people paying high rates, people in the community who can't get a large pay rise. It's out of step with community expectations so I'm hoping Labor votes against it too."

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes. Image dailytelegraph.com.au

Stockton Rubbish Rises to the Surface

BY TYLER FARDELL

The huge swell and strong winds which battered Newcastle's coastline over the past weeks has uncovered a dirty secret in Stockton.

Over the weekend, much of the Stockton sand dunes close to the water were eroded away, revealing a disgusting sight for many locals who visit the area.

Currently, signs are in place to deter away any visitors as representatives from Newcastle City Council, Hunter Water and the Environment Protection Authority met today at the site to discuss the clean-up.

Many community members are worried the situation could get worse if the rubbish isn't cleaned up before another big swell hits and erodes more of the sandbank away, which has already collapsed in some places.

Keiran Smith from Hunter Water says they're looking to fix the situation as quick as they can.

"Today we're meeting with Council and the EPA to get this mess sorted out", he said. "We need to hire a licensed contractor to fix the site.

The site of the rubbish is on the land of Hunter Water so they'll be taking the lead of the cleanup.

"Our immediate focus is to make the site safe so that includes signage and security", Mr Smith said.

Rubbish along Stockton Beach
Photo source; NBN News

Stage Two of the Nobby's Refurbishment Project ready to Get Underway

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The next stage of refurbishment works at Nobby's Beach are about to get underway.

Newcastle City Council announced Stage 2 of the works today for the Nobby's Pavilion area including an assisted-change room with a toilet, shower, basin and bench.

Among the other additions are a new lift and change amenities to better assist those with mobility challenges.

The public domain improvements include three external shower towers with 12 showers on new draining platforms, an access ramp from Bathers Way to the lower promenade and more seats and benches.

Image courtesy NCC.

The change-rooms are gone and will be replaced with more toilets and showers, which despite beachgoer uproar, council says is a better deal.

"The improvements we're seeing down there have been I think quite well accepted  by the community considering we've increased the toilet facilities, more accessible change rooms, so when the works are finished there I think people will be really please like they have been with the whole Bathers Way Project," said Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.

The facilities will house seven female and five male cubicles, plus two urinals for men and two ambulant stalls and external wash basins for passers-by.

Council said they're making sure everything is built for use well into the future.

"We were always planning to make sure that the change rooms that we built met current standards and the current standards, we went over and above current standards. We've been sourcing particularly high-grade steel and metal for the disabled lift," Lord Mayor Nelmes.

It's all part of the $1.7 million improvement project funded by the NSW Government through the Newcastle Port Community Contribution fund, Nobbys Surf Life Saving Club, Newcastle City Council and NSWSLSA and Department of Family and Community Services through the SLSA NSW Community Inclusion Project. 

Image courtesy NCC.

Newcastle Beaches Closed as Powerful Surf Pounds the Coast

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Beaches in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are closed today due to an intense, powerful swell.

The swell caused by a strong southerly and a high and low system coming to meet has created massive waves, rough conditions and unpredictable currents.

"The seas are really really big and are pounding all up and down the coastline creating very dangerous conditions for rock fishers, stay right away from it at the moment. Believe me, the Coop is a much better option at the moment.," said Hunter Surf Life Saving President Henry Scruton.

"Stay away from the ocean at the moment, it looks spectacular but it's certainly not the place to be swimming or surfing in. It's massive swells, lots of wave action and a lot of underwater currents."

Newcastle City Council lifeguards are asking everyone to heed the beach closures and stay out of the water today and until the conditions significantly ease.

"Definitely not swimming weather at the moment, we realise it is school holidays, but those who do need to have a swim, stick to the indoor baths and the pools. The seas at the moment are very large and very very cranky," said Henry Scruton.

He also said it could be three or four more days before the surf clams down.

All Newcastle beaches, including Stockton Beach, as well as Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths, are CLOSED again today due to dangerous conditions and very rough surf. The large swell is even more powerful and dangerous than yesterday's conditions. https://t.co/qxqIraQhdh

— City of Newcastle (@CityNewcastle) January 16, 2018

Blackbutt Welcomes some Scaly new Friends

BY JESSICA ROUSE

While the brazen theft of reptiles from Blackbutt Reserve is still under investigation, today Blackbutt is welcoming some new reptilian residents.

Two olive pythons, a bearded dragon, eastern long-necked turtles and various creepy crawlies will be calling Blackbutt home and feature in new reptile shows starting next month.

Blackbutt Coordinator Brad West said it was tragic to lose the reptiles last September, but it's exciting they can welcome some new ones.

Olive Pythons Image NCC

"This [the theft] was really unfortunate and sad for our visitors and also our staff, it happens I guess and it's unfortunate. But we're back and going to be better than ever so we have the start of our reptiles, we have a few more on site as it is so we are able to start our reptile shows again."

The snakes who are siblings were donated by Wild Life Sydney Zoo and the female central bearded dragon was donated by a private Newcastle reptile keeper.

The reptiles play an important part at the reserve, particularly for educational purposes for children.

"Part of the main reason is for the education, obviously we generate some income for Blackbutt, we're trying to make Blackbutt sustainable for the long term. Council has invested a lot of funds into infrastructure upgrades," said Brad.

Blackbutt Reserve coordinator Brad West.

Last September isn't the first time reptiles were ransacked, so now the reserved has beefed up their security in a bid to stop it happening again.

"We've upgraded our security so now we're hoping that should restrain our animals and keep the public out or whoever would like to break-in and take them. We've got a back-to-base system we always had that, that's what alerted us last time. We've got upgraded security on the windows to slow access down and also CCTV," said Brad.

A competition will be launched next week on the Newcastle City Council and Blackbutt Reserve social media channels with the winner receiving a VIP meet-and-greet with the reptiles they name.

Bearded Dragon Image NCC

$750k for Dixon Park SLSC

BY MATT JOHNSTON

A partnership between the New South Wales government, Newcastle City Council, and the Dixon Park Surf Life Saving Club (DPSLSC) will see a raft of improvements for the club and its amenities on the Bathers Way walk.

Scot MacDonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, announced the $350,000 grant this morning alongside Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who added $250,000 from council. The remaining $150,000 will come from funds raised by the DPSLSC itself.

DPSLSC President Paul Murray said the club has seen a growth in membership and popularity as a venue since the opening of the Bathers Way coastal path. However, the renewed use of the site highlighted the 40-year-old amenities that are on offer.

Updates at the site are limited to the ground floor, where the changerooms and bathrooms will be upgraded and made more accessible for those with disabilities. A kitchen will be installed the increase the range of activities available at the venue.

Council will also be using this as an opportunity to create new storage areas for equipment.

Both Paul Murray and Scot MacDonald were pride to be to revitalising "iconic" elements of Newcastle's coastline. Modernising the facilities is key, given that a women's changeroom was overlooked in the original building plans 40 years ago.

Nuatali Nelmes she's happy to be contributing to new facilities which make sport more accessible and attractive to women.

Picture: Newcastle City Council

Lead and Cyanide found on former Waratah Gasworks site

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's the last thing you'd want to know is in the soil of your property, but dangerous substances including lead and cyanide have been found on properties above the Waratah gasworks.

An 11-month investigation was undertaken by Newcastle City Council with a report based on an "independent cohesive review" is expected to be released in the coming weeks. It will be subject to a review by the Site Auditor, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD).

It's understood about 20 properties bound by Turton, Georgetown and Ellis Roads could be affected.

The investigations were announced earlier this year by council. The plan was to take approximately 200 soil, vapour and groundwater samples which were tested for a wide range of substances associated with the former gasworks.

The Waratah gasworks operated in the late 19th and early 20th century. There isn't thought to be an airborne risk when it comes to the chemicals because the site has been decommissioned since the 1920s.

In the meantime, residents can minimise their risk of coming into contact with the substances by avoiding direct contact with shallow soil.

Image newcastle.nsw.gov.au

Bath No Longer Interim

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Council's Interim CEO, Jeremy Bath can now drop the interim from his job title.

The 41-year-old has been officially appointed to the role on a 5 year contract.

During his tenure as interim CEO over the past 7 months, the former Hunter Water executive has navigated council through divisive battles over the V8 Supercars and the rail corridor rezoning.

Although recent decisions to call for expressions of interest for the future use of Shepherds Hill Cottage and a recommendation to councillors to accept a 16 per cent pay rise has raised eyebrows.

Jeremy Bath says he's willing to make unpopular decisions for the good of the council and the city of Newcastle.

He's been appointed on $390,000 a year contract.

Newcastle Council CEO Jeremy Bath

Newcastle Rail Corridor Rezoning Approved

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle City Council has given the green light to rezoning the former heavy rail corridor.

Greens Councillor, John Mackenzie was the only councillor to speak on the issue at last night's meeting who argued there was no evidence the land would not be needed for future transport needs and questioned the objectivity of 137 submissions in support of the rezoning.

The decision clears the way for a mix of open space, university buildings and residential and commercial buildings along the corridor between Worth Place and Watt Street.

Hunter Development Corporation CEO, Michael Cassel has welcomed the decision.

“Newcastle is undergoing enormous change and Council is embracing this in its decision making to realise its vision of a smart, liveable and sustainable city. These decisions are not always popular and often they are difficult, but they are essential to creating an activated city that attracts people, tourism, jobs and enhances liveability,” he said.

He also stressed that any proposed building on the corridor after it's rezoned would be subject to the usual development approvals process which includes imput from the community.

The rezoning application will now be submitted to the NSW Depart of Planning and Environment for consideration.

The Newcastle Rail Corridor At Market Street Before and After With An Artist's Impression Of What It Could Look Like Picture: the herald.com.au

  

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.

Newcastle Council Making a City-Change

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle City Council is making a city-change, moving its administrative headquarters to a new building in Newcastle West.

Council's 400 admin staff will start to move into the building in 2019 to the new five-level building which will be on the corner of Hunter Street and Stuart Avenue.

It'll cost council $7 million dollars to relocate, but Interim CEO Jeremy Bath said it's going to create long-term savings.

"Council was faced with a $6.3 million bill if we chose to stay in our current location of roundhouse and specifically the Frederick Ash building. We estimate savings will be in the vicinity of up to $14,000 per relocated employee,"

Artist impression of the new Council building Image supplied

"The majority of those savings will come about as a result of substantially improved productivity, reduced absenteeism and also a significant reduction in turnover," said Jeremy Bath.

Council says they'll be making savings by reducing absenteeism within the council staff which has been the case at other councils like Melbourne and Ryde.

"For example seeing a 41 per cent reduction in absenteeism. Absenteeism at Newcastle City Council costs us in the vicinity of about $2.5 million per year so if we're able to bring that down by around 40 per cent, we're looking at savings straight off the bat of $1 million every single year," said Jeremy Bath.

The building will form a part of council's Smart City Plan and will be on lease to council for 15 years.

Where there are savings, there will also be benefits to the nature of the work council does and how they do it.

Interim CEO Jeremy Bath & Lord Mayor
Nuatali Nelmes.

"We're dealing with 1970s technology and 1970s workforce layout. It frankly is too difficult to collaborate and communicate because your own teammates aren't beside you, they're not on the same floor and they're often not in the same building.," said Jeremy Bath.

The decision has also been applauded by the Hunter Business Chamber who see the benefits for council and also the possibilities for what can happen with the buildings council staff are moving out of.

"After such a long period of time the workspace has become difficult to adapt and we're aware council was stretched over a number of buildings in the CBD and that in turn no matter what you do about it does impact productivity," Chamber CEO Bob Hawes.

Queens Wharf "Phallic Symbol" To Be Demolished

BY JESSICA ROUSE AND IAN CROUCH

It's been deemed as embarrassing by Newcastle Council.

Council voted last night to demolish the Queens Wharf Tower by the middle of next year.

Interim CEO, Jeremy Bath says the 30 metre observation tower is an embarrassment to the city due to its unfortunate shape.

"I think we all know that it has become something of an embarrassment to the city, not something that we can be proud of and frankly Newcastle is better than having a 30 metre high phallic symbol down at one of the most prominent parts of the harbour," said Jeremy.

Newcastle's Queens Wharf Tower Set To Be Demolished

He says the tower is expensive to maintain and by demolishing it, ratepayers will be saved $1.6 million over the next four years in repair work.

It also doesn't have wheelchair access, it is constantly the target of vandals and it's also council's most complained-about asset.

The decision has certainly gathered some attention on social media today, with many reliving much-loved jokes and throwing around ideas about what could be done with the tower instead.

"I think those who are questioning it are largely doing it with their tongue certainly in their cheek," said Jeremy.

It's hoped a historical replacement will be an option. The tower was erected in 1988 and opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her bicentenary visit to Australia.

Council adds the tower doesn't have a purpose anymore because it was connected to bridge over the railway tracks which no longer exist.

"You can simply walk across the road to get into the CBD and the tower holds no purpose other than to be a subject of regular amusement to visitors to our city who ask the inevitable question, why?" said Jeremy.

The Interim CEO says you still have time to take one last hike up the tower.

"Certainly for the next six months until council takes the tower down people will have the opportunity, if they're mad enough frankly, to go up one last time but I do stress to people it is quite a hike, it's not particularly safe and once you get up there there's only one way down."