Community brings change to Supercar circuit

By SARAH BARONOWSKI

Organisers of the Coates Hire Newcastle 500 have made changes to the 2.6 kilometre Supercar circuit following community feedback.

The revised track no longer includes Pacific Park or the Fort but instead runs down WATT street and winds around the Shortland Esplanade.

Despite these changes, the circuit is still set to run through Newcastle's East which has left residents worried about the disruptions the race will bring.

Revised Circuit. [Image from Newcastle Herald]

Newcastle East resident and business owner Maria Charlton said there are more people in the area against the race than for it.

"There are 10 to 20 percent that are for it and they're not affected by the route," she said. "However 80 percent of the residents of Newcastle East are against this.

"It's a majority of residents opposing a race that is targeted at 20 percent of the population."

NSW Premier Mike Baird said those opposed to the race should consider the upside.

"Let me tell you they can rent their places out for a fortune," he said.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said council and Supercars will continue their dialogue with residents to ensure the best outcome for all.

"Newcastle City Council thanks the community for their feedback to date," she said. "Consultation will continue to minimise any disruption will ensuring the track highlights the best of Newcastle including its famous coastline."

To discuss the next stages of planning with the community, information sessions will be held at the Crown Plaza, Newcastle today between 4:30pm and 8:30pm and tomorrow between 8am and 12pm.

Strata law changes set to benefit investors in the Hunter

BY JARROD MELMETH

More than 90 of the proposed changes to strata laws by the State Government come into full force throughout the State including the Hunter today, with investors set to benefit.

Strata title or Strata laws is the system for owning units and townhouses, which generally have a combination of private residences as well as communal spaces

Under the new laws, cigarette smoking will now be considered a 'nuisance', meaning people who only smoke inside their own units can be ordered to stop if it affects other residents. 

A limit to the number of adults who can live in an apartment will now be in place, with fines for overcrowding to be raised to $5500.

Owners corporations will also have the power to invite local council parking inspectors into their car parks, in an effort to penalize "parking thieves."

The most controversial of the changes means that 75 per cent of owners in older residences will have the power to dictate the selling of the entire building to developers, regardless of objections from the 25 percent minority.

Minister for Innovation and Swansea MP Yasmin Catley says the changes are a direct attack on people's property rights.

"The fact that somebody can come in and compulsory acquire another persons home reducing their property rights is just fundamentally wrong.

"The fact that the government is enabling developers to do that shows very poor judgment on their behalf and it shows that they are not in touch with the people of NSW and people living in strata.

"As of today, developers in New South Wales got their early Christmas present thanks to Premier Mike Baird, and I've no doubt they'll all be popping champagne corks." Ms. Catley said.

Hunter councils still face uncertain future

BY JARROD MELMETH

Uncertainty about the proposed council mergers in the Hunter will continue to be drawn out with local council elections possibly being pushed back to 2020 if something isn't done soon.

The office of local government has written to the four hunter councils facing amalgamation, warning them that unless mergers are finalized by August next year, they could be waiting until 2020 for an election.

New councils not created before August 2017, would not be able to hold elections before September 2019 to prevent an overlap with the 2019 state election.

The state opposition is demanding the minister for local government move urgently to determine council mergers in the Hunter to avoid a four-year wait for the next election.

Leader of the Opposition Luke Foley says democracy delayed is democracy denied.

"In Orange, constituents have demonstrated how unpopular forced mergers are. The Government needs to listen - not delay local elections," he said.

Councils that are still subject to merger proposals are being told they need to have an election date set.

The electoral commission or the local government office have not confirmed whether these councils would have elections within their existing boundaries.

Shadow Minister for Local Councils Peter Primrose is accusing the Baird government of making this up as they go along.

"The gun is still being held at the head of local councils and their local communities.

"This is just an ongoing dog's breakfast of a process. People aren't being consulted and now they're being told they may not have elections until September 2020, that is just a crazy thing in terms of local democracy

"Mike Baird can be sure that the communities that have been denied democracy will send a message come 2019," Mr. Primrose said.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole says "the minister is considering all proposals following the receipt of all the Delegates reports and comments from the Boundaries Commission."

NSW Premier Mike Baird was not available for comment.

Shadow Minister for Local Government
Peter Primrose

NSW Leader of the Opposition
Luke Foley.

The Hunter reacts as greyhound ban lifted

BY JACINTA LEE

There have been mixed reactions in the Hunter to news the greyhound racing ban has been lifted statewide.

It follows from Premier Mike Baird's announcement yesterday he "got it wrong," after signing off on a plan to reverse the decision.

Local trainer Bob Whitelaw said he welcomes the backflip, but he claims the government's image has been tarnished.

"I think he's done himself a lot of damage and done the government a lot of damage. I've got no doubt about that," he said.

"It's good to see that the Premier has admitted he was wrong."

Meanwhile, Scot Macdonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, says the NSW government intends to take a hard line with the industry from here on out.

"This is not a free hand for the industry," he said. "There are very, very high expectations about the greyhound industry and how it conducts itself going forward."

Permanent Cruise Ship Terminal Announced For Newcastle

BY IAN CROUCH

 After years of lobbying, the Port Of Newcastle will finally get it's own cruise ship terminal.

Premier Mike Baird has announced $12.7 million dollar will be spent on building a multi-purpose cruise ship terminal at the Channel Birth at Carrington, the site of the current temporary terminal.

A further $800,000 in joint state and federal funding will be used to build new mooring ballards.

Work on the 3000 square metre terminal is due to start in mid 2017 and will be completed the following year.

The Hunter economy currently receives around $11 million dollars from the state's $2.3 billion cruise ship industry, with more than 17,000 passengers expected to visit during the 2015/16 cruise season.

Construction of the terminal building and flow on effects are expected to inject around $26.7 million into the Hunter's economy and create an additional 76 jobs.

The Cruise Ship Terminal Concept

 

Premier Mike Baird Announces Newcastle Cruise Terminal Photo: Ian Crouch

Digital Innovation Precinct For Newcastle CBD

BY IAN CROUCH

Premier Mike Baird is in town today to announce plans to turn the Newcastle C.B.D into a digital precinct.

There will be free Wi Fi, high speed broadband, cutting edge smart parking as well as a dedicated innovation hub to be built at the corner of Auckland and King Streets aimed at attracting new industries and jobs to the region.

The state government is putting almost $10 million dollars into the project, with a further $8 million coming from Newcastle City Council and the University of Newcastle.

The Hunter Innovation Hub Proposed For The Corner of King & Auckland Streets