The City of Newcastle has taken a significant step toward installing a rainbow pride crossing on Hamilton's bustling Beaumont Street, though the decision sparked debate among councillors about project prioritisation and funding.
Council Vote Sets Stage for Pride Crossing
During their November 11 meeting, councillors voted to include the pride crossing as a planning project within the 2026/27 capital works budget. The proposal, championed by Labor councillor Paige Johnson, will enable detailed investigation, scoping, planning and costing of the colourful pedestrian feature near Hamilton Railway Station.
Cr Johnson, who launched a community petition at the Newcastle Pride fair day, amended her original motion from immediate delivery to planning phase following staff recommendations. "I've had many locals, including my constituents who are part of Hamilton's rainbow community, reach out to me and ask for something like this," she told the council.
Visibility and Belonging Versus Practical Priorities
Supporters emphasised the crossing's symbolic importance for Newcastle's LGBTQIA+ community. Labor councillor Declan Clausen, who witnessed previous attempts to establish pride crossings, highlighted their transformative potential for young people.
"I know firsthand the power that comes through visibility and that seeing symbols that do reaffirm belonging can be transformative, especially for young people that are finding their place in our city," Cr Clausen said.
However, Independent councillor Peter Gittins raised concerns about project prioritisation, pointing to numerous other infrastructure needs across Newcastle's wards. He specifically mentioned the East End precinct, where 11 of 15 crossings earmarked for remediation during the Supercars era remain incomplete, along with safety concerns at Scott Street in Carrington and Hobart Street in New Lambton.
Funding Questions and Historical Context
The debate extended to funding mechanisms, with Cr Gittins questioning whether the Hamilton Business Improvement Association (BIA) could contribute through special business rates. Cr Johnson confirmed her motion identified this as a potential avenue for complementary rainbow pride artwork.
The project has a complicated history in Newcastle. Council adopted resolutions supporting a Beaumont Street rainbow crossing in both July 2015 and December 2022, but previous efforts stalled when police, RMS and council traffic experts deemed it non-compliant with road regulations.
Cr Johnson's motion addresses these historical obstacles by noting that while regulatory pedestrian crossings must be white under Australian standards, artwork on local roads that doesn't function as traffic control may be installed by roads authorities without Transport for NSW approval.
Liberal councillor Callum Pull referenced this history when opposing the motion, suggesting "it's the definition of madness to continue trying to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result." His colleague Jenny Barrie expressed concerns about using limited BIA funds and highlighted other Hamilton issues requiring attention, including crime.
Despite the reservations, the planning motion passed, marking another chapter in Newcastle's ongoing journey toward greater LGBTQIA+ visibility and inclusion in public spaces.
