Future plans

The Newcastle Art Gallery closed its doors in January 2022 to allow for its long-awaited $40 million expansion project to occur. The project will deliver an additional 1,600m2 of exhibition space with dedicated areas for the Gallery’s significant collection on the lower level, while the upper level will cater for a variety of temporary exhibitions, showcasing local, national and international artists. The project includes a new café and retail shop, a multi-purpose and educational program space, and a secure international standard loading dock.

CN, together with Iris Capital, has unveiled the winning designs of an architectural design competition to complete the $880 million redevelopment of its award-winning East End development.

The winning design features 235 dwellings across 5 buildings, as well as 1,731m2 of retail floorspace and approximately 300 parking spaces, with an estimated overall construction cost in excess of $150 million. A Development Application for the site will be lodged by Iris Capital by the end of 2022.

A proposed major refurbishment of Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground grandstand will transform the facility into a modern venue able to cater for the needs of local, regional and elite-level sporting fixtures.

CN has applied for a $5 million grant from the NSW Government to complete the project, which will increase the footprint of the existing grandstand with a two-storey addition at the rear of the building to provide upgraded amenities for players, officials and spectators.

Stage 1 works included increasing the size of the playing field to achieve the minimum standard required for a first grade AFL match, constructing 7 new cricket wickets and rebuilding the entire playing surface with a new sub-soil irrigation and drainage system.

The installation of 6 new 40-metre light poles has upgraded the lighting to 750 lux, with increased electrical conduit to allow for a further increase in lux level if required for televised night-time fixtures. New sight screens, player dugout benches and oval fencing will also improve the playing experience.

Bathers Way, South Newcastle is the stretch of Bathers Way from Shortland Esplanade to King Edward Park, also known as the Newcastle Beach Community Infrastructure Renewal Project. The project is part of CN’s Coastal Revitalisation Program and is part funded by a $5 million grant from the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Resources for Regions program.

The project is designed to cater for a broad range of users by providing a wider accessible shared path, new kiosk and exercise equipment, a skate bowl and terrain park, improved beach access and accessible amenities, and places to sit and enjoy the views.

The wheelchair-accessible skate bowl and terrain park will complement the advanced-level facilities at Empire Park and have been designed to both withstand coastal impacts and minimise impacts to the surrounding environment.

Features of Bathers Way, South Newcastle will include:

• Construction of the Bathers Way shared path from Shortland Esplanade to King Edward Park • Improved access to South Newcastle Beach and

King Edward Park • New skatepark and bowl

• Parking, landscaping, lighting and accessibility improvements • New fitness equipment, shade, seating and viewing areas • New café/kiosk and accessible amenities. The Newcastle Coastal Revitalisation Master Plan and the Bathers Way Public Domain Plan project at South Newcastle is expected to be completed early in 2023.

The long-awaited revitalisation of the Newcastle Ocean Baths commenced in 2022 with Stage One works to improve the safety, water quality and accessibility of the much-loved community facility. The $14.5 million first phase will focus on the pools, lower promenade and pumping system, addressing key issues identified through detailed community engagement and engineering advice. The Ocean Baths will be closed for the duration of the work, which is expected to be completed by mid-2023.

The upgrade of the popular local business centre is being delivered in 5 phases for a total duration of 20 months. Phases 1 and 2 have been completed; Phase 3 began in early August 2022 and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Phases 4 and 5 will be completed during 2023.

Wallsend will soon be home to a new $2 million recreation facility, with construction on the city’s second Active Hub to be completed by the end of 2022. Wallsend Active Hub will transform Federal Park into a vibrant hive of active recreation opportunities including a new play space featuring equipment for a variety of ages, pump track for bikes, scooters and skateboards, multi-sports courts allowing for basketball and futsal, rebound wall, climbing wall and fitness stations. Wallsend Active Hub will cater for community members with accessibility requirements, with a new connecting pathway and an all-abilities spinning carousel in the play space. A barbecue area and toilets will also be delivered as part of Phase 2 in 2023.

Foreshore Park will become home to the city’s largest playground under a draft masterplan for Newcastle’s iconic harbourside precinct. The flagship Livvi’s Place inclusive regional playground and waterplay area is designed to create new connections between the city and the harbour’s edge around Foreshore Park and along the Joy Cummings Promenade. The fully fenced space will feature a distinctly Newcastle character and include junior and toddler areas, water-based play, an industrial-themed elevated playground structure, maritime-inspired swing sets, accessible flying fox and natured-based play areas, connected via a series of accessible paths, seating, gardens and lawns.

It will be developed in collaboration with Variety, the Children’s Charity, who have provided $50,000 towards the design phase of the playground. CN has also secured more than $1 million from the NSW Government to assist with its construction, including $730,000 from 2 rounds of the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund and $300,000 from Everyone Can Play and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.