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What's Happening in Your Local Community?
CITY'S VISION LOCKED IN FOLLOWING RECORD COMMUNITY INPUT
An ambitious long-term vision for Newcastle shaped by more than 5,000 community members has been unanimously endorsed by City of Newcastle, with a record number of people contributing their thoughts on achieving a liveable, sustainable, inclusive global city as part of extensive community consultation undertaken over 12 months for Newcastle's new Community Strategic Plan, Newcastle 2040.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle 2040 reflected the community's values and vision for Newcastle and will guide City of Newcastle's planning, projects and policies in future years.
"Newcastle 2040 has been developed with the input of more residents than ever before with an engagement program, which met people where they were through outreach at events, schools and community facilities in addition to surveys," Cr Nelmes said.
"We were committed to ensuring a true representation of our community was reflected through consultation by listening to people from all stages and walks of life regarding their ideas and priorities for our city's future.
"Although Newcastle is already incredible, we must continue to plan and implement actions to maintain the city's liveability while managing population growth, providing opportunities for economic development and diversification and making Newcastle a place for all as we become a global city."
Community collaboration undertaken to inform Newcastle's updated vision included thousands of interactions such as face-to-face conversations, workshops, surveys, online feedback, advisory committees and stakeholder engagement. Priorities and objectives set out in Newcastle 2040 focus on four key themes, including Liveable Newcastle, Sustainable Newcastle, Creative Newcastle and Achieving Together.
A commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture, our planet, inclusion, supporting local, innovation, and social justice principles underpin Newcastle 2040 and informs the actions City of Newcastle undertakes. To view the city's shared vision for the future, Newcastle 2040, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au
EARLY WORKS TO COMMENCE UNDERNEATH NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY AHEAD OF EXPANSION
Crucial mine remediation work will soon commence beneath the Newcastle Art Gallery to prepare for the $40 million expansion of one of the city's most loved cultural assets.
"An interesting and little-known fact about Newcastle Art Gallery is that it sits atop abandoned mine workings, so we must ensure the site is safe for construction of the expanded gallery to commence later this year," Cr Nelmes said.
"The mine remediation is a significant step forward to prepare the site, while work continues inside the gallery to decant and prepare the extensive collection for offsite storage."
The work will target the Borehole Coal Seam, which sits around 75 metres below ground level, and Dudley Coal Seam, around 27 metres below ground.
The remediation is scheduled to commence in June. It will require approximately 15,000 cubic metres of grout deployed into the seams through over 100 individual bores, which will be drilled throughout the site.
With the Gallery's collection currently being decanted, a temporary photography studio has been set up on-site, enabling the digitisation and condition reporting of the works of art before being placed into offsite storage.
The community can access the collection online during the Gallery's construction period, and outreach programs will commence within local schools this month. Other special activations include events in conjunction with New Annual to introduce local and national audiences to a new programming direction for Newcastle Art Gallery. A Gallery podcast is also
due to be released later this year.
Newcastle Art Gallery closed for expansion in January this year. The expansion project includes an additional 1,600 square metres of exhibition space with dedicated areas for the Gallery's collection on the lower level, while the upper level will cater for a variety of travelling exhibitions, including international shows.
The project will deliver a new café and retail shop, multi-purpose and educational program space, a secure international standard loading dock, and extend the building's footprint east along Darby Street and Queen Street. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2024. The $40 million project has been supported by a $10 million grant from the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments, a $10 million bequest from Valerie Ryan and $500,000 in funding from the Margaret Olley Art Trust through the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation.
To stay up to date with behind the scenes content on the decanting process and collection highlights, visit the Newcastle Art Gallery Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NewcastleArtGalleryAustralia.
CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON WINDALE'S MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR HUB
Construction is well underway on a $10.5 million creative hub at Windale that will transform the town centre and offer a space where locals can gather to learn, connect and collaborate.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser said the new hub would help build a strong community that is inclusive, meaningful and supportive of everyone.
"This state-of-the-art building will breathe new life into Windale and offer a space for everyone, including creatives, academics and students, to use in their own backyard," Cr Fraser said.
"Windale and surrounding suburbs are growing quickly, and facilities like this ensure we can keep up with community needs."
The hub will sit near the Lake and South Street intersection and boast a library filled with lounge and study areas, a kid-friendly reading area and spaces for workshops and events. Other features include soundproof meeting rooms, office spaces, a commercial kitchen, outdoor sitting spaces and a new car park.
The project is funded entirely through Council's development contributions and proceeds from the sale of Council land at Bennetts Green. The project is expected to be completed early next year. You can stay up to date with the project at lakemac.com.au/Projects/Windale-Hub
KIDS LAUNCH INTO LAKE MAC’S MILLIONDOLLAR LEARN-TO-SWIM CENTRE
Charlestown Swim Centre’s $1.1 million learn to swim pool has officially opened, offering a first-class indoor facility providing children further opportunities to learn vital swimming skills year-round.
Lake Macquarie Council Swim Centre Team Leader Christopher Wilson said it was the first purpose-built teaching facility operated by Council.
“Every parent should have peace of mind that their child will be safe in and around the water. This indoor facility has allowed us to expand our learn-to-swim program, ensuring more families have access to classes,” Mr Wilson said.
With a depth ranging from 60 centimetres to one metre, the heated pool provides young swimmers with a comfortable, modern environment in which to learn.
Children from six months of age upwards can book into classes Monday to Saturday. With up to six classes able to run simultaneously in the 16m pool, it has enabled more children to participate in the learn to swim program Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said it was critical children have basic swimming and water safety skills at an early age and that dedicated learn to swim centres are also proposed for West Wallsend, Speers Point and Swansea in Council’s Draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy. More information can be found at www.lakemac.com.au
