06-08-2025
Change of plans: Rising Tide asks to move protestival ahead of council decision
CLIMATE action group Rising Tide has asked Newcastle council to move its event application from Richardson Park back to Foreshore Park.
Newcastle councillors are set to make a decision on the controversial application at an extraordinary meeting next week called by independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge.
"After carefully considering the safety concerns raised by NSW Police, reading council submissions and listening to feedback from many and varied stakeholders, we feel that Foreshore Park would mitigate many concerns," Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart said.
"Foreshore Park was the site for the successful 2024 event and would centralise activities to one area, significantly improving many aspects of the event management, most importantly, traffic, parking and pedestrian safety.
"We have been working cooperatively with council staff and councillors for months, and are doing everything in our power to achieve the best outcome for this major event.
"We believe this amendment is an important part of that cooperation and negotiation."
The climate concert would remain at Camp Shortland as previously advertised.
An overwhelming majority threw their support behind Rising Tide's application to City of Newcastle to host its controversial protestival across Hamilton North's Richardson Park and Camp Shortland in November.
Among supportive submissions, Newcastle East Residents Group (NERG) said the event saw an influx of visitors to the city.
"It was characterised by a happy and peaceful atmosphere," NERG said.
"The message calling for climate justice was delivered in a festive and family-friendly way.
"Many Newcastle East residents participated or attended the festival, taking advantage of the live music, food stalls and community get-together."
The proposed amendment follows the release of City of Newcastle's Public Notice Report, which revealed 1,855 public submissions had been received, with 86 per cent supporting Rising Tide's application.
Ms Stuart said many Newcastle East residents participated in the 2024 festival.
She said Rising Tide is hopeful the council will "listen to the wishes of the Newcastle community" and vote in support of its application for the 2025 People's Blockade.
The council will vote on the event licence application on August 12.
While the vast majority backed climate activist group Rising Tide's application to host its protestival in Newcastle later this year, warnings from industry, transport and business leaders have escalated.
Last year's blockade ended in 170 arrests as activists defied police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel.
CLIMATE action group Rising Tide has asked Newcastle council to move its event application from Richardson Park back to Foreshore Park.
Newcastle councillors are set to make a decision on the controversial application at an extraordinary meeting next week called by independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge.
"After carefully considering the safety concerns raised by NSW Police, reading council submissions and listening to feedback from many and varied stakeholders, we feel that Foreshore Park would mitigate many concerns," Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart said.
"Foreshore Park was the site for the successful 2024 event and would centralise activities to one area, significantly improving many aspects of the event management, most importantly, traffic, parking and pedestrian safety.
"We have been working cooperatively with council staff and councillors for months, and are doing everything in our power to achieve the best outcome for this major event.
"We believe this amendment is an important part of that cooperation and negotiation."
The climate concert would remain at Camp Shortland as previously advertised.
An overwhelming majority threw their support behind Rising Tide's application to City of Newcastle to host its controversial protestival across Hamilton North's Richardson Park and Camp Shortland in November.
Among supportive submissions, Newcastle East Residents Group (NERG) said the event saw an influx of visitors to the city.
"It was characterised by a happy and peaceful atmosphere," NERG said.
"The message calling for climate justice was delivered in a festive and family-friendly way.
"Many Newcastle East residents participated or attended the festival, taking advantage of the live music, food stalls and community get-together."
The proposed amendment follows the release of City of Newcastle's Public Notice Report, which revealed 1,855 public submissions had been received, with 86 per cent supporting Rising Tide's application.
Ms Stuart said many Newcastle East residents participated in the 2024 festival.
She said Rising Tide is hopeful the council will "listen to the wishes of the Newcastle community" and vote in support of its application for the 2025 People's Blockade.
The council will vote on the event licence application on August 12.
While the vast majority backed climate activist group Rising Tide's application to host its protestival in Newcastle later this year, warnings from industry, transport and business leaders have escalated.
Last year's blockade ended in 170 arrests as activists defied police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel.
CLIMATE action group Rising Tide has asked Newcastle council to move its event application from Richardson Park back to Foreshore Park.
Newcastle councillors are set to make a decision on the controversial application at an extraordinary meeting next week called by independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge.
"After carefully considering the safety concerns raised by NSW Police, reading council submissions and listening to feedback from many and varied stakeholders, we feel that Foreshore Park would mitigate many concerns," Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart said.
"Foreshore Park was the site for the successful 2024 event and would centralise activities to one area, significantly improving many aspects of the event management, most importantly, traffic, parking and pedestrian safety.
"We have been working cooperatively with council staff and councillors for months, and are doing everything in our power to achieve the best outcome for this major event.
"We believe this amendment is an important part of that cooperation and negotiation."
The climate concert would remain at Camp Shortland as previously advertised.
An overwhelming majority threw their support behind Rising Tide's application to City of Newcastle to host its controversial protestival across Hamilton North's Richardson Park and Camp Shortland in November.
Among supportive submissions, Newcastle East Residents Group (NERG) said the event saw an influx of visitors to the city.
"It was characterised by a happy and peaceful atmosphere," NERG said.
"The message calling for climate justice was delivered in a festive and family-friendly way.
"Many Newcastle East residents participated or attended the festival, taking advantage of the live music, food stalls and community get-together."
The proposed amendment follows the release of City of Newcastle's Public Notice Report, which revealed 1,855 public submissions had been received, with 86 per cent supporting Rising Tide's application.
Ms Stuart said many Newcastle East residents participated in the 2024 festival.
She said Rising Tide is hopeful the council will "listen to the wishes of the Newcastle community" and vote in support of its application for the 2025 People's Blockade.
The council will vote on the event licence application on August 12.
While the vast majority backed climate activist group Rising Tide's application to host its protestival in Newcastle later this year, warnings from industry, transport and business leaders have escalated.
Last year's blockade ended in 170 arrests as activists defied police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel.
CLIMATE action group Rising Tide has asked Newcastle council to move its event application from Richardson Park back to Foreshore Park.
Newcastle councillors are set to make a decision on the controversial application at an extraordinary meeting next week called by independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge.
"After carefully considering the safety concerns raised by NSW Police, reading council submissions and listening to feedback from many and varied stakeholders, we feel that Foreshore Park would mitigate many concerns," Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart said.
"Foreshore Park was the site for the successful 2024 event and would centralise activities to one area, significantly improving many aspects of the event management, most importantly, traffic, parking and pedestrian safety.
"We have been working cooperatively with council staff and councillors for months, and are doing everything in our power to achieve the best outcome for this major event.
"We believe this amendment is an important part of that cooperation and negotiation."
The climate concert would remain at Camp Shortland as previously advertised.
An overwhelming majority threw their support behind Rising Tide's application to City of Newcastle to host its controversial protestival across Hamilton North's Richardson Park and Camp Shortland in November.
Among supportive submissions, Newcastle East Residents Group (NERG) said the event saw an influx of visitors to the city.
"It was characterised by a happy and peaceful atmosphere," NERG said.
"The message calling for climate justice was delivered in a festive and family-friendly way.
"Many Newcastle East residents participated or attended the festival, taking advantage of the live music, food stalls and community get-together."
The proposed amendment follows the release of City of Newcastle's Public Notice Report, which revealed 1,855 public submissions had been received, with 86 per cent supporting Rising Tide's application.
Ms Stuart said many Newcastle East residents participated in the 2024 festival.
She said Rising Tide is hopeful the council will "listen to the wishes of the Newcastle community" and vote in support of its application for the 2025 People's Blockade.
The council will vote on the event licence application on August 12.
While the vast majority backed climate activist group Rising Tide's application to host its protestival in Newcastle later this year, warnings from industry, transport and business leaders have escalated.
Last year's blockade ended in 170 arrests as activists defied police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel.
