With storms relentlessly whipping the coast and city for almost a week images of Newcastle were sent around the country showing flood damage and the now infamous Pasha Bulker cargo ship, which was washed up on Nobbys Beach.
The Pasha Bulker has since been “freed”, while the city is clearly in full swing after localised flooding.
As the Newcastle Visitor & Convention Bureau’s Ruth Appleby explains, while there has been much made in the media of the huge number of tourists coming to Newcastle to look at the stranded Pasha Bulker, they were by and large day trippers from within a two hour radius who drove in to the city, clogged up the streets, took their photos of the ship and then went home again!
“Some restaurants, cafes and retail outlets did extremely well out of this - however, operators of activities and attractions did suffer – reporting losses in trade of 50 to 60 per cent compared to the same period last year.
“Here at the Newcastle Visitor & Convention Bureau we recorded a drop of 57 per cent in the usual rate of enquiries for June - our lowest June enquiry rate for more than nine years – a month that is consistently one of our busiest for enquiries.”
Despite interest from the general public in visiting the city for sightseeing purposes, Newcastle’s usually high hotel occupancy rates remained high, fuelled by the need for accommodation for insurance assessors, emergency workers, and displaced families, whose homes were damaged or flooded.
“It was a different story in Hunter Valley Wine Country where there was a substantial drop in business because of the perception that it was flooded out, when in fact it never was.
“We are proud that most of our operators barely missed a beat.”
Ms Appleby said one of the most ironic incidents was at the Newcastle Travelodge which had just completed a major 18 month internal and external refurbishment. They finished laying their new ground-floor carpet one week before the rain started and found the carpet covered in three feet of water at the height of the storm.
“The restaurant, bar, reception and conference rooms were all off limits, but it continued to operate at 100 per cent occupancy including accommodating the crew of the fateful Pasha Bulker. Their badly damaged conference rooms are now open once more.”
Other venues including the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Crowne Plaza and Jockey Club were also damaged to varying degrees, but are also fully operational again.
Ms Appleby says by way of example that Newcastle is well and truly open for business again is that the city successfully hosted two events. The Enabling Educators conference was held recently and attended by about 130 delegates, and the National Local Roads & Transport Congress was attended by about 400 delegates.
The city is looking forward to playing host to the Australian Tourism Export Council’s annual conference in May 2008.
Soaking rain was heaven sent in Newcastle after an extended dry period until waterways and storm water systems could no longer cope. Fierce winds, a high tide and the deluge that inundated the Hunter became one of the worst catastrophes the region had seen.
Television images, newspaper and radio reports conveyed the grim reality that the region was in serious trouble. Newcastle responded superbly – as it had when the earthquake shook the city in 1989.
The tales of bravery, selflessness and generosity would fill a book. The dramatic days threw the focus onto the courage and organisational preparedness of local emergency services including the SES, police, fire, ambulance, hospitals, and community support agencies.
As the Hunter’s largest registered club, Wests was required to go into overdrive to help accommodate more than 2000 people who had been stranded by the local flooding.
Shortly after the storm peaked and roads began flooding emergency vehicles started dropping off flood victims, mostly dragged from submerged cars and homes. Many had minor injuries; all were soaked and freezing cold. By midnight, Wests had become a central evacuation point, then an emergency food and shelter precinct for the growing number of evacuees.
Wests Group CEO Phillip Gardner, his management team and staff slipped into emergency mode. By Sunday evening, more than 10,000 people had passed through the doors of the club – no-one was turned away.
“On Friday afternoon, things went from business as usual to emergency operations,” said Wests Group business development manager, Kim Simpson.
“We moved fairly smoothly from a normal working day into an emergency evacuation centre. We fed everyone either stranded or evacuated, dried soaked clothes in the laundry and made countless cups of hot drinks. It was quite an event.”
The Wests situation was similar to the emergency services, with staff rostered to work in the afternoon and evening unable to get to work and day-shift staff unable to go home. Wests soon became a hub for emergency services teams to drop off residents, or stop for a meal and a few hours’ sleep.
The four-and-a-half star Executive Inn adjoining the club was packed for the long weekend. The local Clark Rubber retail store shipped in mattresses, allowing for the club’s auditorium to be turned into a make-shift indoor camping ground.
“An example of what was happening was a young man about 17, soaked to the skin, who trudged into the club. All he could say was that he lost his car, his wallet and phone. He was heart-broken,” Ms Simpson said.
There were many frightening stories of people battling to get to safety after being trapped in cars, including one woman stuck in her car on Hobart Road, just outside the club, who abandoned her vehicle and pulled herself along a handrail in neck-deep water to safety and sanctuary in the club.
An after-school facility had to evacuate 12 children arriving at the club at 8pm after being trapped in their schools for more than four hours.
Ms Simpson, like all residents, paid tribute to the SES workers, police, fire and ambulance professionals who limited the loss of life.
“Our staff, too, were selfless and generous with their support for the people we accommodated…it was a remarkable moment for the region and the club to see such outstanding service.”
Many meeting and event planners are unaware of the amazing air access now available to Newcastle.
Newcastle Airport, about half an hour from the city centre, has in recent years been upgraded to cope with its growing flight schedule. And for good reason.
The airport now has up to eight flights a day from Brisbane and Sydney, up to six flights a day from Melbourne, and up to four flights a day from Canberra.
It also has services to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Inverell and Norfolk Island.
All three major domestic airlines service Newcastle – Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar, as well as regional airlines Brindabella and Aeropelican.
There is a fair amount of optimism that Newcastle will also be welcoming direct services to Adelaide by the end of 2007.
In comparison to many regional airports, Newcastle Airport is pretty much state-of-the-art, with plenty of parking, a cafe and restaurant, tour desks and baggage carousels.
ARRIVEDERCI
53 Glebe Road
The Junction
(02) 49631036
Pizza and pasta at their best.
BISTRO TARTINE
52 Cleary Street, Hamilton
(02) 49653648
Fresh local produce combined with the tastes of France.
ENGINE ROOM
Honeysuckle Drive
(02) 49264200
www.engineroom.net.au
Right on the wharf with views of tugs and cargo ships, offerings include wood fired pizzas and a tapas menu.
LIME BAR & RESTAURANT
52 Glebe Road
The Junction
(02) 49692060
Groovy cafe, restaurant and bar, offering great meals, cocktails, beers and coffee.
LONGBENCH
161 Darby Street
Cooks Hill
(02) 49278888
An established favourite that has been pleasing food lovers in Newcastle for many years.
RESTAURANT II
8 Bolton Street
(02) 49291233
Contemporary Australian cuisine.
SCRATCHLEYS
200 Wharf Road
(02) 49291111
Waterfront restaurant with floor to ceiling opening doors and 28 window tables to capture the harbour views. Seafood at its best.
SILO LOUNGE BAR
1 Honeysuckle Drive
www.silolounge.com.au
An award-winning contemporary bar and restaurant, set on the waterfront in Newcastle.
THE BREWERY
150 Wharf Road
(02) 49296333
www.qwb.com.au
Newcastle Panthers is a club with a difference and one that caters wonderfully well to conference groups, large and small. The venue has some of the largest meetings facilities in Newcastle. It has two auditoriums, the largest of which can seat up to 1200 theatre-style. Set over three levels it is said to offer uninterrupted views of the stage area from every point in the room. Many more smaller rooms are also available, ensuring that there is something for everyone. As is typical with club-style venues, the food and beverage offerings at Newcastle Panthers are extremely generous and great value for money. For details telephone (02) 4926 2700 or visit www.panthersworld.com.au.
Since opening a few years ago the Crowne Plaza Newcastle has been one of the most popular CBD hotels for the meetings market. Located directly on the Newcastle foreshore with views of Newcastle Harbour, the Crowne Plaza Newcastle is in the thick of the action. With 175 accommodation suites, the venue features five meeting rooms, the largest of which can comfortably seat up to 160 delegates theatre-style. Its stunning location affords some great outdoor spaces for morning and afternoon tea breaks overlooking Newcastle’s working harbour. The property is also a short walk to the centre of the city, restaurants and cafes and beaches. For details telephone (02) 4907 5000 or visit www.crowneplaza.com.au.
Quality Hotel NOAH’S On The Beach is the only beachfront hotel in Newcastle at the present time, and is less than five minutes walk from the CBD. The property has undergone a refurbishment, and offers 91 rooms, all with views over Newcastle Beach. All rooms have a full-size bath and small balcony from which to enjoy the stunning views. The venue has four meeting rooms, the largest of which can seat up to 300 delegates theatre-style. For further details telephone (02) 4929 5181 or visit www.noahsonthebeach.com.au.
The Civic Precinct Newcastle is within five minutes of more than 700 accommodation rooms and a short walking distance from the city’s major attractions, beaches, harbour foreshore, cafes and restaurants. The Civic Precinct offers a choice of three unique and flexible venues including the City Hall Function Centre, Civic Theatre and Wheeler Place. The City Hall Function Centre has the capacity to seat up to 820 delegates theatre-style as well as six function rooms. The main auditorium of the Civic Theatre can seat just over 1500 delegates, and also offers five function rooms. For details telephone (02) 4974 2996 or visit www.civicprecinctnewcastle.com.au.
Just out of Newcastle in the stunning Port Stephens area, is the Shoal Bay Resort & Spa – a destination that will have your delegates relaxed and ready to get to work in comfortable surroundings. The property offers delegates a variety of team activities - from a sunrise walk to the summit of the Tomaree headland with spectacular views of the surrounding area, through to whale watching, sand dune tours, team-building games, golf, sailing experiences, jet boating, wine tours and more. The four-and-a-half star venue can cater from two to 220 delegates. The stunning $5.5 million Aqua Spa, thalassotherapy pools, four restaurants, three bars, lap pool and heated outdoor pool all provide the perfect setting to inspire your delegates. For further information telephone 1800 181 810 or visit www.shoalbayresort.com.
You would be doing yourself and your group a disservice if you didn’t take time out of your conference schedule to sample some of the Hunter Valley’s fine wines and wineries during your Newcastle stay. About one hour from Newcastle, the Hunter Valley is full to the brim with boutique wineries and larger, serious wine-producers. For those whose time is precious Wyndham Estate is a great option and is not as far as the majority of Hunter Valley vineyards. Set among the historic surroundings of the historic Wyndham Estate winery, the property offers some great spaces for functions and special events as well as the traditional cellar door, and an a la carte restaurant. For details on this magnificent venue that has great experience in catering to groups, telephone (02) 4938 3444 or visit www.wyndhamestate.com.au.
Newcastle is literally surrounded by water so getting on it is a must for visitors. There are plenty of companies to choose from dependent upon your group size and interests.
Shadowfax is an open-style boat designed to provide a tour where the boat trip is an experience in itself while you take one of our exciting cruises. The company offers a variety of tours, including whale watching and dolphin cruises. Telephone (02) 4954 6766 or email shadow_fax@bigpond.com. Nova Cruises specialises in private boat charters catering for conference groups and special events. Nova Cruises’ vessel the Bay Connections 1 is a 16 metre fibreglass semi-hydrofoil planning catamaran. Bay Connections 1 is licensed to carry up to 60 guests. The vessel has two levels consisting of a main saloon with integrated wheelhouse, bar, and an upper sundeck. For details telephone 0400 381 787, email info@novacruises.com.au or visit www.novacruises.com.au. For those who feel like getting out of town a short drive to Nelson Bay and you can board Imagine Cruises, which also offers private charters. For details telephone (02) 4984 9000, email imagine@nelsonbay.com or visit www.imaginecruises.com.au.
If you come from Sydney or Melbourne and you love golf then you’re going to love Newcastle because not only does it offer some great courses but in comparison to more city-based venues they’re cheap, cheap, cheap. The Hunter Valley offers some great courses including Cypress Lakes 4993 1555) and the Greg Norman-designed The Vintage Golf Club (4998 6789). Closer to Newcastle is Horizons Golf Club (4982 0188) in Salamander Bay, and there are some fantastic local courses as well – near enough that you can sneak off for a morning and be back in time for lunch. Newcastle Golf Club (4928 1365) in Fern Bay is a challenging course, and Merewether Golf Club (4963 1128) is sure to challenge those with a love of the game.
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