Council backs interim storage pathway for Newcastle Maritime Museum collection

newy.com.au – The NSW Government has indicated support in principle for a temporary storage solution for the Newcastle Maritime Museum Society collection.

Alternate Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the current lease for the collection’s storage at the Newcastle Showground expires on 20 March 2026, leaving the collection without a lawful storage location from 21 March unless a new arrangement is secured.

The collection has been in ratepayer-funded storage for more than eight years since the museum closed in 2018.

Clausen said he met with Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe and formally sought State assistance to secure an interim storage pathway.

He said the Minister had confirmed the NSW Government supports, in principle, a temporary storage solution at the Newcastle Logistics Precinct and had directed EnergyCo to urgently assess availability, subject to operational and contractual requirements.

Following that development, councillors unanimously agreed on Tuesday night to revisit the council’s earlier position and ask the chief executive officer to urgently engage with Venues NSW to secure a short-term extension of the existing Showground lease beyond 20 March on current terms while the State assessment is carried out.

Clausen said the Newcastle Maritime Museum Society had also agreed in principle to fund the costs of the short-term extension, meaning there would be no additional cost to ratepayers from the decision.

The council has provided $1.46 million in support since 1998, including $167,670 since the museum closed in 2018.

Clausen said there had also been renewed engagement from the society, with newly elected president Stephen Busteed agreeing to publicly brief councillors later this month.

The collection comprises more than 8,500 items assembled over 50 years and has been assessed as being of State and national significance. Clausen said the latest decision provided short-term stability while longer-term arrangements were developed to return the items to public display.