Community News
- intouch Magazine
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Discover what's happening in your local community this April...
SHARED VISION FOR BROADMEADOW REACHES NEW MILESTONE
A once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of Broadmeadow has reached a milestone, with Councillors voting to adopt a 30-year strategy for the 313-hectare precinct late last month.
The Broadmeadow Place Strategy is a key planning document that sets a blueprint for the renewal of this area.
It will create up to 15,000 jobs and 20,000 homes for 40,000 people while retaining Broadmeadow as the region’s premier sport and entertainment destination.
City of Newcastle's Executive Director of Planning and Environment, Michelle Bisson, said the Broadmeadow Place Strategy presented a unique opportunity to help set the vision and guide where key infrastructure and services should be located.
"The NSW Government has been working in partnership with City of Newcastle to develop the Place Strategy. We are the only Council in NSW involved in such a partnership, ensuring early input into the strategic planning for the renewal of the Broadmeadow precinct," Ms Bisson said.
"The Place Strategy provides a blueprint for how the area will change over time, particularly for areas where significant population growth is expected.
"Detailed technical investigations were carried out to inform precinct planning, while extensive feedback was also sought from the community, including the public exhibition, which attracted more than 300 submissions.
"The Place Strategy seeks to balance the needs of housing, employment and public spaces to establish a vibrant place."
The Broadmeadow Place Strategy was developed in response to the NSW Government's Rezoning Pathways Program, which identified Broadmeadow as one of 10 precincts to significantly contribute to housing supply across NSW.
City of Newcastle is also developing a Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan in line with the Broadmeadow Place Strategy. This will outline the rate levied on new developments to contribute toward the cost of local community infrastructure needed to support new residents and growth in this precinct, such as roads, footpaths, sporting facilities, parks and playgrounds.
LAKE MAC COUNCIL SHARES ITS VISION WITH THE COMMUNITY
Lake Macquarie City Council will share its plan for the city with the community after Councillors approved the Delivery Program 2025-2029, Operational Plan 2025-2026 and budget for public exhibition late last month. The Delivery Program will guide Council’s work over the next four years, while the Operational Plan outlines the city’s key projects over the next year.
The operational plan outlines a spend of $388.4 million, including $105.9 million in capital works projects. It proposes to deliver 135 actions, 14 of which are capital works programs.
Mayor Adam Shultz said the plan focused on core business for the next 12 months. “These plans bring our 10-year vision or Lake Macquarie to life, with lots of exciting projects that will boost our local economy, enhance our environment, and make Lake Macquarie an even better place to live, work, and have fun,” he said.
“There is a shift in focus to fundamentals as we look to grow our asset base strategically and sustainably to ensure our residents are front and centre.
“The back-to-basics approach will assist with cost-of-living pressures being experienced by households due to the state of the Australian economy.”
The plan outlines a spend of about $35 million on road works, $10 million on beach, lake and aquatic facilities, $8 million on traffic and transport and $7 million on community and sporting facilities as big ticket items.
Key projects in the plan include:
• Completing the West Wallsend Swim Centre expansion to include a new accessible indoor learn-to-swim pool.
• Finishing restoration works at Awaba House and reopening the historic venue to the community with a new dining operator.
• Commencing construction on an active transport route linking Charlestown to the Fernleigh Track, starting work at Flaggy
Creek. This multi-year project will provide safer and more accessible routes for walking, cycling and mobility in the area.
• Upgrading the Awaba Waste Management Facility to better manage waste from future growth and ensure the facility
can accommodate waste volumes for the foreseeable future.
The Operational Plan went on public exhibition on Tuesday, 25 March, on the Shape Lake Mac website, shape.lakemac.com.au
MAITLAND REGIONAL ART GALLERY TRANSFORMED WITH VIBRANT AUTUMN EXHIBITIONS
This autumn, Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG) presents seven captivating new exhibitions, inviting art lovers to explore the building jam-packed with theatrical artworks, opera, paintings bursting with colour, and stories of survival and resistance.
Showcasing a mix of established and emerging artists, the exhibitions highlight bold abstractions, such as Singing in Harmony by Capper and Cuppaidge, alongside personal narratives from artist Mostafa Azimitabar. These works, along with cutting-edge film creations, provide fresh perspectives on the world of art.
The season commenced with the Autumn Exhibition Opening Celebration on Friday, 28 March, where visitors enjoyed an evening of art and conversation while exploring the exhibitions.
Gallery Director Gerry Bobsien says the autumn exhibitions offer an opportunity to engage with a broad range of artistic expressions.
“One of the things we love about our Gallery is the capacity to put on so many diverse and interesting art exhibitions under one roof. Our autumn season ranges from deeply personal stories to thought-provoking commentary on the world around us.
"Whether you're drawn to bold paintings, intimate and personal artistic stories, or innovative filmmaking, these exhibitions offer something for everyone, making MRAG a must visit destination this autumn."
All exhibitions are free, with varying closing dates. For more details on MRAG’s autumn program, visit mrag.org.au
