A strategic and collaborative approach to advocacy for the city and region is crucial to ensuring that Newcastle is properly recognised in policy and funding decisions by State and Federal Governments. Advocacy demonstrated by the City Taskforce in response to the COVID-19 economic crisis provides a solid foundation from which to build. Advocacy was united across the city, looked to provide local stories of both impact and how we were contributing, and offered a partnership approach to enable change.
Local Government has an important leadership role to play. We are connected to our communities, connected to local experts and stakeholders, and are seeking to make a significant and positive difference for our local residents. Our advocacy is driven by three main objectives:
- Growth - To improve the liveability and attraction of Newcastle through targeted Government investments.
- Equity - To ensure Newcastle receives equity in State and Federal Government decision-making based on population size and economic contribution.
- Accountability - To keep the State and Federal Government to account for their existing investment commitments in Newcastle and drive local opportunities wherever possible.
City of Newcastle Advocacy State Election 2023
This submission has been prepared in partnership with key local stakeholders to ensure that a consistent message is being received by government from the Newcastle community. Our asks utilise the latest local evidence and we are seeking to work with our representatives to deliver for our community – we are part of the solution.
Our State Election 2023 Advocacy document initially focuses on three key Catalyst Areas, identified in the Metropolitan Plan, that require further Government focus and investment over the coming year(s). Furthermore, we have unpacked significant economic and social problems like Affordable Housing and how Government could work with us to enact change at a local level. Finally, we have identified a suite of local projects that could drive local jobs and provide the enabling infrastructure for the advancement of out city.
City of Newcastle has a proven track record of working collaboratively with all levels of government to deliver the current and future needs of our community, including infrastructure, social programs, financial and environmental sustainability. Such collaboration ensures our City continues to grow as a global gateway city and provide liveability and prosperity for the community.
We welcome you to partner with City of Newcastle. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Melanie Hill, Policy Advisor, on mhill@ncc.nsw.gov.au.
We will embrace a new approach to advocacy for key policy recommendations and funding requests to State and Federal Governments. We will develop Advocacy Action Plans for key city-shaping initiatives, which acknowledges their complexity and addresses the challenges through incremental staging and evidence-based progression.
Renewed support for regional collaboration initiatives. Regional collaboration is at the heart of the Greater Newcastle Metro Plan, and many challenges facing the city do not start and stop with local government area boundaries. Pressing regional challenges like transportation and environmental planning require collaboration across borders, and between sectors.
Strategic policy pressure alongside peer cities nationally through the Gateway Cities Alliance. The Alliance is seeking to influence key decision-makers on the strategic and economic value of investing in mid-tier cities or Gateway Cities (like Newcastle), particularly in a post COVID-19 world.