A fierce community debate has erupted in Newcastle over council plans that could see alcohol served at the iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths, with critics accusing the local authority of obscuring its intentions and "kicking the beer can down the road".
Council's 'Food and Drink' Proposal Sparks Outrage
The controversy stems from City of Newcastle advertising a statutory lease for a "food and drink premises" at the historic baths facility. Within the NSW planning system, this term legally includes the option to serve alcohol. However, the council's public notice failed to explicitly mention the potential for a licensed venue.
Peter Wickham, president of the Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths, has slammed the council's approach. He argues the community is being kept in the dark, unable to provide informed feedback while critical details are withheld. Development Application documents reportedly show anticipation of late-night trading, further fuelling concerns about transforming the family-oriented swimming spot.
"Council continues to claim it has 'no position' on alcohol," Wickham stated, "yet it has already advertised a lease for a 'food and drink premises' - a legal term that expressly includes the option to serve alcohol." He accused the CEO of testing public reaction while implying no final decision had been made.
Heritage Baths 'Not a Bar Precinct'
The Newcastle Ocean Baths are a state-heritage listed public swimming facility, cherished by families, school groups, and swimmers for generations. The council has suggested a potential venue could be "similar to Merewether Surfhouse," a privately owned bar-restaurant on a headland roughly 200 metres from Merewether Ocean Baths.
Wickham dismissed this comparison as fundamentally flawed. "Comparing the two is like saying a pub is the same thing as a playground," he said. He emphasised that the baths are a public swimming place, not a bar precinct, and any proposals for licensed use should be presented openly, not "slipped in by stealth."
This sentiment was echoed by other letter writers to the Newcastle Herald. John Sylvester of Barnsley called for "common-sense," noting the baths are for swimming, not fine dining, and that numerous other eateries are available nearby. The debate taps into broader concerns about the commercialisation of cherished public spaces.
Broader Community Concerns in Letters
The letters page also featured strong opinions on other national and local issues. Several writers criticised politicians' entitlements, following revelations some had charged taxpayers for private family travel. Ian King of Warners Bay argued any politicians caught "rorting the system should be made to pay back at least double the amount charged."
The complex issue of lone-wolf terrorism was also addressed, with Don Owers of Whitebridge pointing to the Global Terrorism Index 2025 report, which found 93 per cent of fatal attacks in the West were executed by lone actors, often radicalised online. He warned that groups like ISIS, having lost territorial control, now promote such attacks targeting broad enemies.
Meanwhile, the proposed federal royal commission into anti-Semitism drew criticism from Ruth Burrell of Merewether, who argued the money would be better spent on immediate legislative action rather than a lengthy inquiry. She linked the rise in anti-Semitism directly to the conflict in Gaza.
The collection of letters underscores a community actively engaged on issues ranging from hyper-local council decisions to global security challenges, all while holding its representatives to account.
