Your Newcastle

City of Newcastle’s Local Centres Program paves the way for neighbourhood centre upgrades near you, delivering footpath upgrades, tree planting, street furniture and stormwater infrastructure to activate community hubs. Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz, Senior Project Planner Sarah Horan and Project Manager Chris Merlo unpack the latest upgrade to Shortland Local Centre and preview those nearing completion at Mitchell Street, Stockton, and Orchardtown Road, New Lambton, exploring the concept of a 20-minute neighbourhood and the importance of connecting parks, traffic and cycleways to create safer, more accessible public spaces. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Greening Newcastle’s streets has never been more important as we face the challenges of urban heat island effect, population growth and the impacts of climate change. Street gardens are a simple yet powerful way to transform the nature strip between your footpath and the road to bring climate, social, biodiversity and stormwater drainage benefits. So, who is eligible to plant one, and what are the criteria? Find out with Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Declan Clausen and Environmental Education Officer Elise Budden how you can get involved in City of Newcastle’s street garden program. Visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/streetgardens for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Market volatility and the threat of climate change are driving a national energy crisis. Could widespread electrification in the suburbs be the next frontier in reducing emissions? Inventor, author, founder, scientist and former climate advisor to the US White House, Dr Saul Griffith, explains how replacing our cars, kitchen appliances and heating and cooling systems with energy efficient alternatives can have a significant impact, and the government policy and incentives needed to get us there to invest in a greener future. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

In anticipation of Newcastle Art Gallery’s $40 million expansion, the gallery’s entire collection of more than 7,000 artworks was revalued at $126 million, an $11 million increase. Newcastle Art Gallery Curator, Lisa Kirkpatrick, and Newcastle Art Gallery Society President, Prue Viggers OAM, distil their thoughts on some of the most valuable works, making Newcastle’s collection the most valuable in Australia outside of the capital cities. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Newcastle Art Gallery’s long awaited $40 million expansion is underway, with the gallery set to double in size with an additional 1,600sqm of exhibition space, extending its footprint east along Darby and Queen streets. This will allow a far greater portion of the gallery’s $126 million collection to be permanently displayed. Gallery Director Lauretta Morton and Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation Chair Suzie Galwey join Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes to unpack the project. Lauretta and Suzie reveal their favourite artworks in the collection. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.