City of Newcastle, Australia

The annual City of Newcastle Citizen of the Year awards formally recognise the outstanding contributions of extraordinary Novocastrians over the past year. Join us in congratulating 2025's award winners! 🏅 Bailey Myers: 2025 Citizen of the Year. Bailey completed a solo 4,500km walking journey from Western Australia to Newcastle, raising nearly $16,000 in donations for The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Bailey is a passionate Worimi man, dedicated to providing academic support to First Nations communities, particularly in remote areas. 🏅 Khuslen Batmandakh: 2025 Young Citizen of the Year. Khuslen is celebrated for her dedication to improving literacy and community engagement. After learning her neighbourhood of Jesmond had one of the lowest literacy rates in the country, the high school student established the book nook at her local shopping centre, providing access to free books for local families. Since then she has launched multiple initiatives and programs through the Leos Club at Merewether High School including 'Love from Leos' and Bus Driver Recognition Day. 🏅 Evelyn Collins: 2025 Senior Citizen of the Year. Evelyn is clinical nurse deeply committed to the welfare of patients with Parkinson's disease. Evelyn has played a key role in establishing and continues to coordinate essential services for the Hunter region including the Hunter Deep Brain Stimulation service and DBS support group. 🏅 The Unforgettables Dementia Choir: 2025 Community Group of the Year. Co-founded by Dr Helen English, the choir is dedicated to supporting people living with dementia and their carers. The group meet every Saturday afternoon at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, providing a welcoming space where participants can engage with music and socially connect. Pictured: From L-R Khuslen Batmandakh, Dr. Helen English, Associate Professor Michelle Kelly, Dr Ross Kerridge - Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Evelyn Collins and Bailey Myers accept their award at City of Newcastle Citizen of the Year awards ceremony.

We Love Our Coast. Last year we asked the community for feedback on designs for the renewal of the pavilion buildings at Newcastle Ocean Baths.   A huge thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts with us. Some of you like the design, and some of you suggested changes. Based on your feedback we are exploring a different layout for the change rooms, more seating and spaces for picnics, and ways to deliver the feeling of open air with ventilation and natural lighting through the changeroom roof design.   Read our consultation report online to find out more: https://lnkd.in/g7aiApBM

Councillor and former Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has formally advised City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath of her resignation from Council.   The resignation brings to a close Nuatali's more than 16-year career with Newcastle City Council, having been elected as a Ward 3 Councillor in August 2008, before being elected as Lord Mayor in November 2014 until October 2024.   The Council unanimously resolved in October that should a councillor resign in the first 18 months of the four-year term, a countback election would take place.   This election does not require voters of Ward 3 to return to the polls and therefore a by-election is not required. Instead, the NSW Electoral Commission will now contact all unelected Ward 3 candidates to confirm their interest in being elected to Council.   If there is only one eligible candidate, that candidate is elected. If there are multiple eligible candidates, a countback election is conducted based on votes from the election in Ward 3 in September 2024.   CEO Jeremy Bath said he wished Nuatali all the best.   "On behalf of the City of Newcastle's 1,400 employees, I'd like to thank Nuatali for her dedication as a councillor and as the former Lord Mayor," Mr Bath said.   "Nuatali was not only a passionate supporter of Newcastle, but also for our staff and the incredible work they do in the community.   "Only 15 people have served in the role of Lord Mayor of Newcastle. It's a seven-day-a-week role and for Nuatali it commenced the minute she woke each morning and didn’t pause until very late at night.   "I especially appreciated Nuatali's advice and effort during the pandemic. Under Nuatali's leadership our Council took on a very visible support role for the community, injecting tens of millions of dollars into the community to support those that had either lost their job or who were suffering from the health impacts of the multiple lock downs.   "Nuatali's 16 years on Council has coincided with a significant transformation of Newcastle, nowhere more evident than in the Newcastle CBD itself." Read more: https://lnkd.in/gvsXR3cq

City of Newcastle is seeking a development partner for its landmark affordable housing project located on vacant land in the Newcastle CBD. Known as Rail Bridge Row, the site on Hunter Street, which is part of the former heavy rail corridor, is set to play a key role in increasing affordable housing supply in the city. A national invitation for expressions of interest (EOI) has been issued to find suitable partners with the capabilities and expertise to deliver the project in collaboration with the City. Submissions will be accepted via Tenderlink and will close Friday, 7 March 2025 at 4pm (AEDT): https://lnkd.in/gkzNjFpT

Following a rigorous selection process, we're thrilled to announce that Newcastle has been selected as one of seven host cities for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. We can’t wait to see the city come alive with team colours and welcome visitors from across the globe. A huge congratulations to Venues NSW for securing this world-class event.

Learn how to make your home cooler and more energy-efficient at our Cool and Efficient Homes workshop. This session will provide practical advice on reducing energy usage and mitigating heat. Join expert Dr. John Shiel for a presentation and Q&A session. When: 19 February 2025, 5:30pm – 6:30pm Where: Wallsend Library Cost: Free Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/g-ee6e3A Before the workshop, sign up for one of our free 20 minute 'home heat and energy consultations' with an expert, to explore solutions relevant to your home in more detail. When: 19 February 2025. 3pm- 5pm Where: Wallsend Library Cost: Free Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gujeiDN9 Open to Newcastle residents, renters and home owners. Registrations essential as spaces are limited.

Welcome to the team, Tory Loudon! Tory joins City of Newcastle as Festival Director for our flagship cultural festival, New Annual. The search for local talent is already underway, with Newcastle-based or affiliated artists invited to apply for up to $40,000 in funding to present their work during New Annual, which will be held from 26 September to 5 October. Local artists working across interdisciplinary art forms, visual arts, dance, theatre, music, and multimedia have until Friday 21 February to submit an expression of interest (EOI). Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gTZPNFrZ

Don't forget - you can help shape Newcastle’s future as a liveable, sustainable, and inclusive global city by joining one of our eight standing & strategic advisory committees. These committees provide advice and guidance on the development of strategies, and identification of challenges and opportunities for Newcastle. Find out more and complete your application before 24 January 2025: https://lnkd.in/gHh5tGuD

Share your knowledge and expertise to help make Newcastle a liveable, sustainable, inclusive global city by joining one of our eight standing and strategic advisory committees. These committees provide advice and guidance on the development of strategies, and identification of challenges and opportunities for Newcastle. Find out more and complete your application before 24 January 2024: https://lnkd.in/g4xsd-sE

Our Walking and Mobility Plan has been adopted! Developed through an extensive consultation process with the community and other relevant stakeholders, the 10-year plan is a commitment to ensuring Newcastle is a city where walking is safe, accessible, and convenient for everyone. It is structured around four key themes of promoting safety and prioritisation of pedestrians, building and maintaining walkable neighbourhoods, supporting walking trips and destinations, and fostering and celebrating walking in our communities. It also includes a framework for determining how projects will be identified, prioritised, and scheduled. For more details and to read the plan, visit: https://lnkd.in/ejhji_ah