VIDEO: Newcastle Council to Take Over Horseshoe Beach Carpark After Cleanup and Funding Deal

22 July 2025

Updated 10:25pm, 22/7/2025 – Fixed error – changed “Paid Parking” to “Timed Parking”
Updated 2:53pm, 23/7/2025 – Mentioned Cr Callum Pull’s motion at the end of the article

newy.com.au – The NSW government has signalled that management of the Horseshoe Beach carpark in Newcastle East could soon transfer from Transport for NSW to the City of Newcastle, subject to clearing the site of long term campers and finalising a funding agreement.

State MP Tim Crakanthorp said “the City of Newcastle said they wouldn’t come to an agreement until the area was cleaned up and long term campers had moved on.” He added that “this state government transport team has been working very closely with Homes NSW and the police to provide accommodation for as many of those people as we possibly can. If you go down there today you’ll see that the area is very clear. It is very clean in fact, and that’s a sign that we’re moving forward on this.” Mr Crakanthorp confirmed that the gazettal of new signage for time-limited parking and tow-away zones is imminent, and that once it is published there will be a two-week public consultation before installation.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said the council has long been frustrated by antisocial behaviour and rubbish at the carpark. He noted that “the financial aspects of the transfer will be negotiated once the site is secure and cleared of overnight campers.” “Even as we speak it’s a lot better than it was three months ago,” the Lord Mayor added, “and it’s a standing item in my meetings with the CEO.”

The Horseshoe Beach carpark sits at the eastern tip of Newcastle, adjacent to the Nobbys breakwall, and has been owned by Transport for NSW for decades. Since mid-2024 it became one of the most visible rough-sleeping spots in the Newcastle local government area, with a significant increase documented in the 2024 NSW street count, which found 49 people sleeping rough in the LGA, up from six in 2023. Rough sleepers often camped in vehicles or tents among overgrown scrub, prompting local support services to call for a stronger State Government response.

In April 2015, council rangers initiated an education-first crackdown on illegal camping at Horseshoe Beach, issuing warnings and fines to camper-van occupants. Despite these efforts, illegal overnight stays persisted through January 2025, with community members describing caravans taking multiple spaces and the scene as “out of control.” Bureaucratic delays in transferring enforcement powers from Transport for NSW to the council have long hindered effective management.

To address health and safety risks, Newcastle Assertive Outreach, a collaboration between Homes NSW, Hunter New England Health and Matthew Talbot Homeless Services conducts early-morning visits to the site to offer temporary accommodation and support. In recent weeks, Homes NSW has secured housing for a number of former campers, while police have taken firmer action against individuals involved in serious safety incidents, including an alleged speargun and golf-club attack in mid-2025.

Once the consultation period concludes and the new signs are in place, timed parking will begin, with revenue and responsibility shifting to the City of Newcastle. The council and State Government will negotiate the funding arrangement required to manage maintenance, enforcement and community safety. In the meantime, outreach workers continue their efforts to ensure that rough sleepers have access to accommodation and support services, aiming to restore the carpark as a welcoming space for both residents and visitors.

At the council meeting on 22 July 2025, Newcastle councillors unanimously endorsed a motion calling on Transport for NSW to urgently address safety and regulatory issues at the Horseshoe Beach carpark and finalise a long-delayed service agreement with the City of Newcastle. The motion, moved by Councillors Callum Pull and Jenny Barrie, acknowledged the area’s decline following the end of the Newcastle 500 and the absence of formal parking restrictions. It noted the annual cost of cleaning the precinct is approximately $400,000 and expressed concern about safety risks to council staff and the impact on nearby residents. Councillors also reiterated that enforcement cannot resume until Transport for NSW installs appropriate signage and commits to long-term funding and maintenance arrangements.