NEWCASTLE lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes will be added to a new ‘‘transformation steering group’’ that will include UrbanGrowth NSW, Newcastle council planning director Peter Chrystal and general manager Ken Gouldthorp.
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Newcastle council plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UrbanGrowth NSW that acknowledges the council’s role in the city’s urban renewal process.
The agreement defines how the two parties will work together to implement and deliver the state government’s Newcastle Urban Transformation and Transport Program.
A number of changes to the MOU were floated by several councillors at Tuesday night’s meeting, with the majority agreeing to the lord mayor’s plan to include herself in the steering group.
Councillor Therese Doyle said the MOU ‘‘set off alarm bells’’, and she was concerned about the lack of detail in the document.
Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the MOU ensured the council was involved in consultation period of the city’s renewal.
She said the council had a significant amount of money on the table from the state government and now the city was able to have a say in how it was being spent.
‘‘It is important that we work together to achieve the best outcomes for Newcastle, particularly encouraging investment and jobs in the city,’’ she said. ‘‘Council has been very clear that building heights are to be within LEP limits and Newcastle’s heritage character must be preserved together with upgrading public spaces in our city for everyone’s benefit.’’
Council general manager Ken Gouldthorp said even though the council voted in favour of adding Cr Nelmes to the group, UrbanGrowth NSW was not required to agree to it.
However, UrbanGrowth NSW has welcomed the council’s decision to join it at the table for planning the city’s renewal.