Newcastle Council CEO Jeremy Bath on future of city growth

Newcastle Council CEO Jeremy Bath gives an insight into the investment being poured into Newcastle and what direction the city might take in the years ahead.

Jeremy Bath has been the CEO of Newcastle Council for five years — he’s been the part of the team behind Newcastle’s ongoing transformation and he knows the future pipeline for where the city is headed.

Making decisions regarding the Newcastle’s day to day business is important but looking down the track is even more paramount for future success.

Investment has been constant in recent years with projects such as Newcastle’s first five-star hotel, the Crystalbrook Kingsley, the footprint the University of Newcastle is making in the top-end of town and construction of various high-rise building which now tower over the city. But for Newcastle Council, it’s all about building on what it already has.

The recent state and federal injection of $10 million into the art gallery expansion, with total budget now close to $40 million, was a welcome investment with works now underway.

Newcastle Council CEO Jeremy Bath

A $20 million refurbishment of the Newcastle Baths kicks off next month, sporting facility upgrades in the National Park precinct are progressing, while the skate park build is underway on the Newcastle Beach promenade, just to name a few of the big ticket items.

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges in Australia but it has had a silver lining for many regional areas, including Newcastle.

With people starting to look for places to live and work outside of the capital cities, Newcastle’s population has seen a growth rate unprecedented in recent times.

The federal government committed $66 million in last year’s budget to expand the runway of Newcastle Airport and bring the facility up to international standards, and means an estimated 800,000 people a year could be on the doorstep and a percentage of those people may choose the area to settle. Bath told Newcastle News that prospect is both exciting and scary.

“It’s challenging as an increase of population puts pressures on roads, public transport, parks _ we know we’re looking anywhere up to about 40,000 more people just living in Newcastle alone,” he said.

Construction of the new Newcastle Beach skate park

“(That’s) over the next 20 years and the likelihood is that number should probably be far greater than that should the Newcastle Airport be successful in attracting international flights, which it will.

“I’ve lost count how many people have told me they came here for a holiday and next thing they’re living here permanently,” Bath added.

In the last two years the council has spent over $100 million on infrastructure, a huge increase on the $40 to $50 million it spent in the preceding seven years.

Upgrades of the Newcastle Ocean Baths, the Art Gallery, Newcastle No.1 and No.2 Sportsgrounds, the renovation of the athletics track at National Park are just a few items that have benefitted from the decision to spend more. Making the call to acquire the finances wasn’t an easy decision.

“We’ve been playing catchup after years of under investment. Rate increases aren’t popular but the council made a very brave decision. They had to bring rates up to what the city actually required to address the backlog of under investment,” Bath said.

“Look at the Newcastle Ocean Baths. That’s a minimum of $20 million to bring that asset up to where it should be. That’s a project that should have happened a couple of decades ago.”

“We will invest in what we think will benefit. Look at sport for example. The Wallabies and the Matildas both played in Newcastle recently. For the first time Newcastle hosted a round of the world surfing league, and then there’s the V8 supercars.

NIHON University campus in Newcastle on the site of the old courthouse

“The NSW government and council working together have got them over the line and we hope the No.1 Sportsground will attract Sheffield Shield cricket and host the Sydney Swans for trial matches down the track.” Blackbutt Reserve has been a premier facility and its 182 hectares of natural bushland and free wildlife exhibits are something few can find anywhere else. Bath hinted council could increase its investment for tourist potential through accommodation facilities.

“When people think of accommodation they think of the built form. That’s only something we will do after significant community consultation,” he said. “(But) there might be opportunities for ‘glamping’. We might be able to do that. Giving people the chance to sleep out is something which definitely would appeal to a few. Again, there’s a process involved.”

Education is another big ticket item in Newcastle.

The University of Newcastle’s $25 million “Q Building” last week was recognised for its international design and build rating system. The building opened in June last year and is the first stage of its new Honeysuckle City campus plans, while an international player has also come to town, just up the road.

More people could be enjoying Blackbutt Reserve after the sun goes down.

Japan’s NIHON University campus is setting up digs in the top of town in the old court house which is set to provide plenty of options for students. The Tokyo-based university has built accommodation for 109 beds to host its international exchange program and language classes, while putting the old court rooms to good use for its Faculty of Law program.

Spreading the love for the ever growing population in the western suburbs of Newcastle has also been notable.

Phase one of the $1.5 million ‘Wallsend Active Hub’, which was also helped along by the $500,000 state government grant at Federal Park, will be completed in July.

Bath says it will be Newcastle’s largest playground and a game changer for the recreational scene in the west.

“That’s a brilliant project. Basketball courts, tennis courts a bike pump track. We know there’s a huge youth population in the west and they need new facilities,” he said.