City of Newcastle, Australia

We all have a role to play in shaping what the future of our city looks like. With your feedback, we've updated our long-term strategic plan to ensure we're heading in the right direction towards a city that we can all be proud of. Newcastle 2040 is our 10-year roadmap identifying where we are now, where we want to be in the future, and how we'll get there. Review the plan and have your say today: https://lnkd.in/gZF5akeJ

We are honoured to receive a highly commended award in the Innovation in Planning, Policies, and Decision-Making category at the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Excellence in the Environment Awards 2024 for our Newcastle Environment Strategy.   The LGNSW awards recognise outstanding achievements by NSW Councils in managing and protecting the environment. This highly commended award reflects the collective effort of our staff, Councillors and community in developing the Newcastle Environment Strategy, our 10-year roadmap for achieving a sustainable Newcastle.   By prioritising action on climate change, nature-based solutions, and a circular economy, the Newcastle Environment Strategy provides a strategic framework to help us deliver a future that protects our unique lifestyle and all the places we love - our coastline, our beaches and our bushland, creeks and waterways - and create a net zero future.   Congratulations to all involved and thank you to Local Government NSW for this incredible recognition. #LGNSWEnviro2024 #LGNSWEvents Marnie Kikken Michelle Bisson, (GAICD)

Yesterday, our Gender Equity Network organised Ride for Her, a continuous cycling event across City of Newcastle (CN) offices to raise awareness for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, held annually on 25 November. The response was incredible, with approximately 70 CN staff cycling for over 15 hours and 353 kilometres at 12 Stewart Avenue, The Depot, and Summerhill Waste Management Centre. While riding a bike won't solve gender-based violence, Ride for Her sparked meaningful conversations, raised awareness, and showed visible support for gender equity. A huge thank you to everyone who got involved and kept the wheels turning for change. Pictured: Deborah Moldrich and Clint Thomson.

Help shape the future of affordable housing in Newcastle. The draft Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme is part of City of Newcastle’s plan to address the critical need for affordable housing in our community. It proposes changes to the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 that will allow council to apply conditions on certain new residential and mixed-use developments for affordable housing contributions. This is an important step towards ensuring Newcastle remains a liveable, inclusive city where everyone can find a place to call home.   Find out more and have your say by Sunday 2 February 2025: https://lnkd.in/gS_7_Ab2

Nominations for City of Newcastle's 2025 Citizen of the Year awards are closing soon. Individuals and groups can be nominated across various categories including Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Community Group of the Year and Freeman of the City. Nominees must reside within the Newcastle Local Government Area. This is your chance to tell us about someone you know that's making a positive difference, whether it be a friend, neighbour, colleague or local community group. Nominations are open online until 5.00 pm Friday 6 December 2024 and can be submitted at: https://lnkd.in/gqsyqXyz

We’re honoured to have been awarded not one, but two commendations at the Planning Institute of Australia’s 2024 NSW Awards for Planning Excellence last week. The awards celebrate the outstanding contributions made by planners who have demonstrated a commitment to quality, innovation, and excellence in the realm of planning.   🏅 Stakeholder Engagement Category We were recognised for our proactive efforts in building meaningful partnerships with local First Nations communities and showcasing a commitment to ongoing collaboration, with a culturally responsive approach that integrates traditional knowledge into the planning process. Through a series of case studies, we highlighted how we’ve gone beyond the conventional cultural heritage processes to embrace the broader, intangible aspects of the cultural landscape, demonstrating a deep understanding of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property.   🏅 Climate Change & Resilience Category As our city grows, we identified a gap in existing planning policies regarding external urban spaces and developed specific controls for Newcastle's Development Control Plan (DCP) to tackle the urban heat island effect in Newcastle. This was achieved through collaboration with industry experts and a dedicated working party, resulting in a framework designed to create a more sustainable and cooler city environment. This work is seen as a benchmark for other cities facing similar challenges.   Congratulations to all involved! #PIAACTAWARDS24

We love our coast. We know that the heritage values of Newcastle Ocean Baths are cherished by our community, and we look forward to the proposed inclusion of the site on the State Heritage Register. You can have your say on the Heritage NSW nomination: https://lnkd.in/gGeq9F7s Comments close on 14 January. Pictured: Swimmer from Newcastle Girls High School diving into the Baths, 1951.

An afternoon of inspiration!    We recently had the privilege of hosting a workshop for the successful recipients of our Youth Climate Action grants, funded with support from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund.    The workshop was the first opportunity for our grant recipients to discuss their innovative, youth-led climate action projects, and identify ways in which they could learn from and support each other to drive local climate solutions.    A total of 12 projects were awarded grants, including for a range of events being delivered by young people for young people in November and December 2024. Find out more about the events: https://lnkd.in/gzFPWvXN Lexi Crouch Heather Stevens, PhD.

City of Newcastle is giving the community a chance to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of Novocastrians as part of the 2025 Citizen of the Year awards. Nominations are now open for the annual accolade, which honour locals who have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact in the community during the past 12 months. Individuals and groups can be nominated across various categories including Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Community Group of the Year and Freeman of the City. Nominees must reside within the Newcastle Local Government Area. This is your chance to tell us about someone you know that's making a positive difference, whether it be a friend, neighbour, colleague or local community group. Nominations are open online until 5.00 pm Friday 6 December 2024 and can be submitted at https://lnkd.in/gqsyqXyz

We're making it easier for Novocastrians to save on energy costs while also helping reduce the ongoing impacts of climate change. Expressions of interest are being sought from service providers to deliver a 'bulk buy' community renewables program for homeowners, landlords and small businesses, through the supply and installation of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle chargers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gdxDufvu