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.

Leading Team for Newcastle Greens

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

The Newcastle Greens are announcing their leading team for the 2017 September local elections, putting forward Therese Doyle as their Lord Mayoral candidate.

Ms. Doyle will also re-contest her position as councillor of Ward 2, with Dr. John Mackenzie standing as councillor of Ward 1.

If elected, the Lord Mayoral candidate plans to tackle the issues of poor planning and state interference which led to the loss of the city’s rail-line and the hosting of the V8 Supercars race in a residential area.

Therese Doyle says there’s much to be done in Newcastle and some of the issues can only be addressed by the Greens.

Newcastle Greens Lord Mayoral candidate
Therese Doyle [Image: Newcastle Herald]

“I would use the influence of the Lord Mayoral’s position to ensure that the Newcastle community, [and] its elected council is properly consulted before decisions are made by the state government such as the removal of our railway service long before they happen.”

She says the ‘lack of planning’ around these issues is something she’d like to address as Lord Mayor.

“The lack of planning about what’s going [on], how we’re going to protect the health and amenity of people who live in that area - that’s where we need much improved consultation [and] communication between council and the people of Newcastle.”

The remainder of the Greens leading team including candidates for Wards 3 and 4 will soon be announced.

Factionalism in the Greens party once again

BY TYLER FARDELL

Less than a year after long serving Newcastle Greens Councillor John Sutton lashed out at his own party, accusing it of being filled with 'factionalism' and 'unprecedented division', it appears Councillor Therese Doyle has been the victim of factionalism within her own party.

Cr Doyle has been a Greens activist in Newcastle for a lengthy time but it appears that didn't stop a group of her party members from voting against her.

She received a 26 percent vote of no support, meaning there's little chance she will still remain sitting on the council after the September elections.

So why the backstabbing? Who stands to make the most out of the situation?

The fingers are being pointed at Dr John MacKenzie, who ran against Councillor Doyle in the same ward, and who is now guaranteed a spot on the council.

However it appears Councillor Doyle hasn't lost all her support just yet, in fact, several of her supporters are calling for Dr Mackenzie to step down and allow Doyle to run opposed.

But along with Councillor Doyle's likely omission from the September elections, the only other sitting Councillor for the Greens, Michael Osborne has stated his intentions to walk away after 13 years on the Council.

After so much 'factionalism' and shake ups, the Greens will be hoping to restore some faith in the voters when they meet tomorrow and try to sort out this messy situation.

Greens motion fails to stop V8's

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A motion by Newcastle Greens councillors overnight to withdraw support for the V8 Supercars event in Newcastle has been defeated.

Councillor Therese Doyle argued the sport was a "highly destructive event" at council's meeting last night, and said it would cause harm to the community.

She also argued the race would cause excessive and dangerous emissions and noise pollution.

However, the motion was slapped down by every councillor except the Greens.

The Herald reports East End residents packed the public gallery and shouted down the council when the motion was defeated.

New Plans to Preserve Newcastle Rail Corridor

BY BRIDGET GUNN AND JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle Greens Councillors are set to put forward a motion at tonight's council meeting to zone the entire railway corridor as Special Purposes Transport Infrastructure.

The proposal will include allowances for open space transport modes such as pedestrian crossings and cycleways as well as pop up installations and cafes.

Councillor Therese Doyle says the imminent council amalgamations will take the zoning decision out of elected councillors hands.

"The problem with UrbanGrowth's proposal is that it puts development right across the corridor that can be used for public transport purposes, and if we go ahead with UrbanGrowth's proposal, there will be no turning back for Newcastle to have an efficient transport system," says Doyle.

"Premier Mike Baird promised that the decision on the re-zoning of the railway corridor would be up to Council, and we want to keep him at his word, but if we are sacked the only representative of Council that will be making that decision will be an un-elected administrator."

Councillor Therese Doyle and Greens MCL David Shoebridge
discussing the rail corridor plans
Source: The Newcastle Herald