Council is currently preparing discussion papers to support the development of the Social Plan (2011-2016).  This will follow on from the previous Community Plan (2006-2010) and expand on community priorities identified in the 10-year Newcastle Community Strategic Plan. 

Find out more about the 10-year  Newcastle Community Strategic Plan (2.83 mb). 

Council developed the Community Plan (2006-2010) to cover cultural, recreational and social issues in Newcastle.

The purpose of the Community Plan was to:

• Describe the local community in Newcastle
• Summarise the key issues facing the community
• Outline strategies that could be implemented by Council or other community and Government organisations
• Inform Council’s strategic planning processes.

 Community Plan 2006 - 2010 (580 kb)

2005 Discussion Papers

As part of the development of the Community Plan discussion papers were developed to describe community issues as they were at October 2005. The papers were based on demographic analysis, the 2004 Community Plan Survey outcomes, literature review and one to one interviews with Council staff, service providers and community representatives. 

Issues

•    Complex needs (62.5 kb) 
•    Cultural issues (49.0 kb) 
•    Funding (99.9 kb)
•    Housing (48.4 kb)
•    Information Communication Technology (ICT) (35.4 kb) 
•    Recreation (60.3 kb) 
•    Public domain (68.6 kb)
•    Public transport (57.7 kb)
•    Community facilities (42.6 kb)  
•    Unemployment (45.6 kb)
•    Lifelong learning (50.2 kb)  
•    Community safety (50.0 kb) 
•    Events (50.7 kb) 
•    Social capital (44.2 kb) 

Planning districts

•    Blue Gum Hills Planning District (36.9 kb)
•    Berotarwood Planning District (73.2 kb) 
•    Jesmond Planning District (41.0 kb)
•    Mayfield and Inner North Districts (71.1 kb)
•    Inner City Planning District (38.6 kb)

Target groups

•    Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Discussion Paper (49.0 kb) 
•    Aboriginal community (39.8 kb)
•    Youth (56.8 kb) 
•    Men (35.8 kb) 
•    Disability (52.6 kb)  
•    Senior Novocastrians (51.0 kb) 
•    Children and families (43.0 kb) 
•    Women (54.5 kb) 
•    Gay and lesbian community (45.0 kb) 

2005 Workshop reports

•    Berotarwood Planning District workshop (423.3 kb)  
•    Complex needs workshop  (297.8 kb)  
•    Unemployment workshop (229.4 kb)  
•    Volunteering workshop (395.7 kb) 
•    Being a compassionate community workshop (321.1 kb) 
•    Funding workshop (325.2 kb) 
•    Community connectedness workshop (396.9 kb) 
•    Jesmond Planning District workshop (336.7 kb)  
•    Public domain workshop (434.2 kb)  

2004 Community Plan Survey

Hunter Valley Research Foundation conducted a telephone survey of over 1,400 Newcastle households.

  Community Plan Survey

Consultation and development

The following process was followed to prepare the Community Plan:

• Community Plan Survey - Telephone interviews were held with 1,414 randomly selected residents in the Newcastle LGA. The survey was held between 14 July and 9 August 2004.
• 28 Discussion Papers Developed - The discussion papers were based on demographic analysis, Community Plan Survey outcomes, literature review and one to one interviews with Council staff, service providers and community representatives.
• 11 Community Workshops - The workshops further clarified key issues that arose from across all of the discussion papers.
• Development - Development of a draft Community Plan 2006-2010. Presented to Council on 16 August 2005.
• Public Exhibition - The draft Community Plan 2006-2010 was on public exhibition for a period of six weeks from 22 August 2005 to 3 October 2005.
• Finalisation of Draft Discussion Papers - The finalisation of the draft Discussion Papers incorporated feedback from the outcomes of the community workshops and submissions made during the exhibition period.
• Development of the final document - Development of the final Community Plan 2006-2010.
• Adoption - Final report to Council for adoption of the Community Plan 2006-2010 on 13 December 2005.

Further information

If you have any queries or comments contact Council on 02 4974 2856 or email mail@ncc.nsw.gov.au