A member of the audience at a recent public meeting in Merewether cheekily referred to Newcastle as being run by the Property Council, not the city council.
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Others are starting to make similar observations.
Plans to move Newcastle City Council offices into a new tower in Newcastle West, the rezoning of Newcastle’s former transport corridor, the demolition of The Store and so many other changes leaves many people wondering about where Newcastle and the region are headed.
It seems that planners directing change think that community engagement involves listening just long enough to tick the consultation box or to denounce critics as nay-sayers.
Reluctance to genuinely consult limits the region’s potential to construct creative solutions out of healthy, respectful, but sharp debate.
Planners need to maintain a dialogue with the community during periods of significant change.
Key decisions that require wide public input are being made around public transport, revitalisation and renewal, heritage, major events and the future of public assets, such as the showgrounds.
The views of the people affected by these changes needs to be central to the process.
Take light rail, for example. Even before the first Opal has been swiped, the cut the rail lobby has declared that the Newcastle light rail is so successful it should be extended to Broadmeadow.
Some of this enthusiasm for light rail is based on the state government’s compulsion to sell off vast swathes of public land in order to pay for stadiums and tollways in Sydney.
The next extension to light rail in Newcastle should be to places where it would meet public need, such as the university and John Hunter Hospital.
Despite the assurances that were given about improved services once the interchange was opened, rail passengers from Sydney have to wait over half an hour at Wickham Interchange at times for a 110 bus to arrive and complete the journey to the former Newcastle Station.
Those getting off the 11.18am from Central on November 3 waited for 40 minutes without seating or shelter in very hot weather.
If you need to go to Raymond Terrace or New Lambton from Newcastle East you now need three buses, and to hope that none of them is late.
Compared with what we had previously, public transport in the region is going backwards.
Planners want to discourage cars in Newcastle, yet millions of dollars are paid to a private racing car company that glorifies the car and blocks roads all over the East End and the foreshore for months.
Planners want to discourage cars in Newcastle, yet millions of dollars are paid to a private racing car company that glorifies the car and blocks roads all over the East End and the foreshore for months.
Supercars is another example of promises to the community not being fulfilled.
While Supercars can legally, if not morally, act as it sees fit, it would be very good public relations if their community relations team actually answered their telephone after hours so that problems caused by the race infrastructure can be resolved.
But then the region’s own research foundation has found that Supercars has economic benefits, especially if you downplay the many costs that Newcastle people will be paying for years to come.
The figures used to calculate the benefits were based on crowd numbers supplied by the organisers.
The figures require detailed independent review and contradict those gathered by residents.
While Supercars gets massive support, a traditional community event, the Newcastle Show, has an uncertain future due to plans to build high rise on the showgrounds site.
This is a significant change in community asset that requires real community consultation.
The showgrounds is an example of the need for people focused planning.
Councils and planners who really consult with their residents will have the strong support of their communities and will make better decisions for the present and for a more sustainable future.
Given strong concerns of many in the community about this city’s future, the Newcastle Hunter Urban Planning and Transport Alliance is holding a public forum on People and Planning: Where to for Newcastle and the Hunter? at Newcastle City Hall, 6.30pm-8.30pm on Wednesday, November 7.
