Delivering for our community

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley, Newcastle Councillors, City of Newcastle staff and community members at the reopened Newcastle Ocean Baths.

Message from the Lord Mayor

We’re celebrating the start of the new year with a number of milestone moments in major projects across the city.

We’ve welcomed swimmers back into the water at the Newcastle Ocean Baths and officially opened the multimillion-dollar grandstand at Lambton War Memorial Swimming Centre, providing plenty of options for people looking to beat the heat this summer.

We’ve also seen the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery move into the next stage of construction, with the 33 metre high hammerhead tower crane installed and working on site.

Plans for a number of major projects will come to fruition this year, with two major road widening upgrades in Wallsend progressing towards implementation, while work will get underway soon on a new inclusive playspace at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park.

We’re investing $19.7 million into new and improved parks, playgrounds, sporting and aquatic facilities, while also making it easier for people to get around Newcastle with $3.6 million for new cycleways and $1.2 million to extend our city’s footpath network.

These projects will enhance the way our communities work and live, as well as ensuring we continue to be an attractive destination for visitors and investment.

Nuatali Nelmes
Lord Mayor of Newcastle

Diving back into the Newcastle Ocean Baths

Community members turned out in force for the first day of swimming at the Newcastle Ocean Baths.

Swimmers are back in the water at the Newcastle Ocean Baths as the Stage 1 upgrade of the pool and lower promenade areas reaches its final stage.

Key features include additional shade and seating, accessibility improvements including ramp access and handrail support into the pool, and a new pump system to significantly improve water quality. Unique aspects such as the timber boardwalk, sandy pool floor, circular stairs, butcher’s block and bleachers have all been retained and restored to align with community preferences.

The existing amenities and change facilities have been reopened for use, while work continues to prepare concepts for the future upgrade of the pavilion buildings.

Wallsend dual-lane road upgrades move forward

Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk at Longworth Avenue Wallsend.

Construction of two planned road upgrades designed to reduce traffic congestion in the western corridor will get underway in late 2024 following strong support from the community.

Work will now begin on detailed designs for the projects, which will create two lanes of traffic in each direction along Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road at Wallsend to reduce traffic congestion and bottlenecks.

Traffic flow will improve through removal of some tricky right turns with dedicated turning lanes being added where possible, with the multi-year upgrades also delivering safer, enhanced cycling and pedestrian connections.

Grand opening at Lambton pool

Newcastle Councillors and the project team celebrate the opening of the new grandstand at Lambton pool.

We’ve splashed out to deliver enhanced facilities for spectators at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre with the completion of a new $2.2 million grandstand.

The structure is capable of hosting 800 people and includes much-needed storage space for operational requirements including equipment for school and sporting groups, while also including upgraded accessibility considerations.

It’s the first time the grandstand has been replaced since the Lambton pool was officially opened in 1963.


New inclusive playspace for Hamilton *An artist's impression of the Gregson Park playspace.* Construction is set to kick off this year on a new inclusive playspace at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park. We’re investing more than $3 million into this project, which will include a variety of traditional play equipment, accessible and nature-based play options, as well as Indigenous elements including a yarning circle and bush tucker garden. Additional shade, water play, seating, and footbridges will be complemented by an upgraded, accessible amenities building and new covered picnic area, with construction continuing throughout 2024.	Plans to get Novocastrians on their bikes *A cyclist makes use of the separated cycling lane in the first stage of the Hunter Street cycleway.* We’re moving ahead with an extension of the separated cycleway along Hunter Street, which will create a 2km-long connection between Islington, Tighes Hill and the city. It will be constructed on both sides of Hunter Street between National Park Street, Newcastle West and Ivy Street, Islington. Detailed designs are due to be completed by April, with construction to start shortly after. We’re also progressing cycleway improvements between Broadmeadow and Hamilton, as well as the first stage of the Jesmond Cycleway.

New inclusive playspace for
Hamilton

An artist's impression of the Gregson Park playspace.

Construction is set to kick off this year on a new inclusive playspace at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park.

We’re investing more than $3 million into this project, which will include a variety of traditional play equipment, accessible and nature-based play options, as well as Indigenous elements including a yarning circle and bush tucker garden.

Additional shade, water play, seating, and footbridges will be complemented by an upgraded, accessible amenities building and new covered picnic area, with construction continuing throughout 2024.

Plans to get Novocastrians on their bikes

A cyclist makes use of the separated cycling lane in the first stage of the Hunter Street cycleway.

We’re moving ahead with an extension of the separated cycleway along Hunter Street, which will create a 2km-long connection between Islington, Tighes Hill and the city.

It will be constructed on both sides of Hunter Street between National Park Street, Newcastle West and Ivy Street, Islington.

Detailed designs are due to be completed by April, with construction to start shortly after.

We’re also progressing cycleway improvements between Broadmeadow and Hamilton, as well as the first stage of the Jesmond Cycleway.

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