Newcastle councillor Jenny Barrie wants to clean up graffiti and vandalism problems in CBD

There’s a “feral” problem plaguing the streets of Newcastle including Hunter Street Mall, and one councillor is behind a major push to clean it up. Find out the details.

Newcastle City councillor Jennie Barrie is hoping to clean Hunter Street Mall and the wider CBD.

Newcastle may be in the midst of building massive developments set to transform the city, but there’s also an ugly side with increased construction creating a “hotspot” for vandals and an escalation of crime.

A once-pleasant walk down Hunter Street Mall has turned into a dirty, uninviting and grubby experience, sprawled with graffiti tags, with residents “embarrassed and despondent” because of its decline.

“It’s been noticeable for quite some time off and on, it’s got worse since the retailers left because of the Iris Capital development,” Newcastle City councillor Jenny Barrie said.

“Property owners, businesses, Telstra, Ausgrid, all the utilities have been tagged.

“There’s empty buildings with spider webs all over them, there’s footpaths that look feral, there’s a lot of leaves around, just needs a really good tidy up because unfortunately there’s a lot of vacant shops and the foot traffic won’t go there because if it looks terrible.”

Newcastle councillor Jenny Barrie wants Newcastle’s CBD to be cleaned.

Some of the graffiti in the Hunter Street Mall.

Newcastle East Residents’ Group president Joan Browning agrees it’s an “absolute disgrace”.

“Consequently we avoid it, it just turns people off going there,” she said.

“I don’t know how people are managing to run a business that end of Hunter St at all. It’s not a good area.

“Council has other things on their mind at the moment. It has different priorities.”

Business owners and residents are looking at a three-year construction for major developments, as the once vibrant area continues to gather more dust, dirt and debris.

Graffiti tags are unsightly.

“The place is pretty filthy,” Ann Macpherson, owner of Porky’s Nest, a shop just outside the mall, said.

“It’s an eyesore, weeds are growing through the pavers.

“It’s not inviting for people to come into town, not maintained by council and graffiti is getting worse.”

That’s why Cr Barrie is leading a major push to clean the streets of Newcastle and prevent “retail leakage”.

She has asked property owners, businesses and organisations which have property that have been attacked to help lead the charge.

“It is everybody’s problem, it is collaborative and collection push because it will just get worse before it gets better,” she said.

Shop fronts are being victim to vandalism in Hunter St.

The Business Improvement Association is also staging discussions with developer Iris Capital on recent vandalism of buildings which are set to be demolished, as well as the issues of squatters.

“(There’s a) meeting in June with Newcastle Police Local Area commander to discuss a Business Beats crime prevention strategy as has been operating in Hamilton and Hamilton South,’’ Cr Barrie said.

“Just police being present sometimes deters crime.”

Police said were appealing for public assistance while an investigation continues into acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Newcastle.

“Throughout February 2023 and March 2023, numerous buildings and infrastructure have been vandalised with graffiti along Hunter St, Newcastle,” Superintendent Kylie Endemi said.

“Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District have been investigating the incidents, and have increased high-visibility patrols and taskings of the area.

“A high-visibility police operation focused on community engagement has been held in surrounding suburbs with a view to expand this across the city.”

A notice of motion to combat the issue will be presented at the Newcastle Council meeting Tuesday night.

Newcastle Council staff are also reviewing opportunities to focus resources specifically on development of the Hunter St public domain to not only bring forward beautification, but bring forward the economic benefits for retailers in preparation for completion of Iris Capital‘s future stage three and four developments.

This publication also contacted Iris Capital for comment.