News
NEWCASTLE’S HERITAGE – EXPLORED, PROTECTED, CELEBRATED
Member for Newcastle, Jodi McKay, today (Monday 28 June 2010) announced the NSW Government was taking the first steps to ensuring the historic James Fletcher Hospital was protected for generations to come.
Ms McKay joined members of the University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Group to make the announcement and launch the Group’s Time Team’s archaeological expedition to find Newcastle’s foundation stone.
“I am very pleased to be able to launch this amazing expedition and at the same time announce the NSW Government is taking the first steps to have the James Fletcher Hospital site listed on the State Heritage Register,” Ms McKay said.
“The James Fletcher site holds a great deal of historical significance to Newcastle and should be protected for future generations.
“That is why the NSW Government will work with the Hunter New England Area Health Service and the local community to have the site placed on the State Heritage Register.”
Ms McKay said the site had been used for almost 140 years to provide mental health services to Newcastle and the Hunter region.
“It is important that health services continue to be provided on the site by Hunter New England Area Health,” Ms McKay said.
"I believe it's possible to achieve a balance where the site is used for health service delivery and at the same time the historical and heritage significance of the site is recognised and protected.
”I congratulate Newcastle's Coal River Working Group who have worked so hard to see the site's heritage recognised.
“Through discussions with the Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health, Nigel Lyons, we have been able to achieve support for their goal and begin preliminary work to understand what exemptions need to be included in the listing”
Chief Executive of the Hunter New England Area Health Service, Dr Nigel Lyons, said Hunter New England Health was very aware of the heritage significance of the James Fletcher site.
“Much of the site, including most of the main historic buildings and the parade ground, is already heritage listed,” Dr Lyons said.
“We support the nomination for the James Fletcher site to be listed on the State Heritage Register, pending the outcome of a report into a set of exempted works for the site.
“We are also working in partnership with a heritage architect to develop this set of conditions that will allow us to continue to undertake routine maintenance and repair activities on the site."
$94 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR NEWCASTLE'S NEW JUSTICE PRECINCT
Newcastle and the Hunter’s justice facilities have received a much needed boost with the Keneally Government investing $94 million in a modern court complex that will be the centre of a new Justice Precinct.
The new facility will become the state’s largest court complex outside Sydney and will be located on the corner of Hunter and Burwood Streets in the heart of the city.
The location of the court creates an opportunity for other justice agencies to occupy locations surrounding the site, which will support the University of Newcastle’s decision to relocate its Law School to the area in coming years.
The new modern complex will have a floor area in excess of 10,000 square metres, include at least 10 courtrooms with videoconferencing technology and be fully accessible to people with a disability.
Funding the new court complex for the Justice Precinct delivers on one of key catalyst projects from the Hunter Development Corporation’s CBD Renewal Report.
Planning of the Newcastle Courthouse will be completed in 2011-12, with construction to begin the following year with the $94 million complex expected to open in 2014-15.
THE FORMER POST OFFICE IS BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF NEWCASTLE
It's ours! The NSW Government has successfully negotiated the return of this iconic building, which holds great historical significance for our community.
I have always believed that the best outcome for both the community and the former Post Office was to return the building to public ownership.
The decision to purchase the former Post Office is another critical step in renewing our great city of Newcastle, and it reinforces the NSW Government’s commitment to revitalising the CBD.
Unfortunately the building has been subject to attacks by vandals, neglected over many years and left to decay following the disgraceful decision of the former Howard Government to sell the site in a fire-sale, back in 2002.
This once magnificent building has come to symbolise the decline of Newcastle, and while it’s going to take time and investment the NSW Government is committed to restoring this great site to its former glory.