Elton John concerts and ocean baths rejuvenation among Newcastle’s annual highlights

The City of Newcastle has highlighted some of Council’s achievements from 2022/23 with Elton John's 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' concerts, the rejuvenation of the Newcastle Ocean Baths and enhanced playground facilities among those spotlighted:

• Elton John's 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' concerts had an estimated economic impact of more than $12 million, attracting more than 50,000 fans for the two performances.

• The eagerly anticipated rejuvenation of the Newcastle Ocean Baths got underway in 2022 with Stage One renovations geared towards enhancing safety, water quality and accessibility ahead of a return to swimming this summer.

• Wallsend is now home to the city’s largest playground, complete with a bike pump track, climbing walls, basketball court, tennis hitting wall and fitness equipment, following the completion of the $2 million Wallsend Active Hub in October 2022. Other playgrounds were also enhanced including Vera Wilson Park in Beresfield, Avon Street Reserve in Mayfield, Harold Myers Park in Birmingham Gardens, Loch Ness Drive Park in Fletcher, Waratah Park in Waratah and the Beresfield Swimming Centre playground.

• Work progressed to finalise the Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) and CN secured NSW Government funding of $21 million to deliver mass sand nourishment to Stockton Beach.

• The award-winning rehabilitation of Ironbark Creek is continuing with the latest stage now complete, focusing on 350 metres of creek line from Croudace Road, Elermore Vale to Lewis Street Oval, Wallsend.

• Nearly 40,000 people attended the 2022 'New Annual' cultural festival, featuring more than 530 artists and over 400 dedicated staff, crew and volunteers, across 32 city venues.

• Newcastle was hailed as NSW’s ‘Top Tourism Town’ by Business NSW at the Local Government NSW Destination & Visitor Economy Conference in recognition of its strategic initiatives to increase visitation and support tourism development for local operators.

The 2022-23 Annual Report was adopted at November’s Ordinary Council meeting and is the first annual report that aligns to the Newcastle 2040 community strategic plan, which is designed to turn a strategic vision of a liveable, sustainable, and inclusive city into reality for all Novocastrians.

The city's continued financial sustainability is highlighted in the Annual Report with Council spending $376.5 million this year to provide services and facilities to more than 169,000 residents, while recording a modest surplus of $7.8 million and an unqualified audit by the Audit Office of NSW.

Council advises of a record $117.8 million spent on key infrastructure projects with the following achievements highlighted:

• Lugar Park amenities upgrade in Kotara

• Drainage upgrades at Smith Street, Merewether

• Multipurpose sports and community hub at Myer Park, Adamstown

• Pavement rehabilitation at Allowah Street, Waratah West

• Road pavement stabilisation works at Kinta Drive, Beresfield

• Traffic control signals at Chinchen Street, Islington

City of Newcastle Annual Reports have won three consecutive gold awards at the Australasian Reporting Awards.

The 2022/2023 Annual Report is now available online.

Images. Credit: City of Newcastle