City of Newcastle Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal found that Newcastle City Council was not "fit for the future", it was recommended that the City of Newcastle merge with Lake Macquarie City Council. However, the Minister for Local Government subsequently proposed that Newcastle City Council instead merge with Port Stephens Council to form a new council with an area of and support a population of approximately 230,000. The outcome of an independent review was completed by mid–2016. On 14 February 2017, the NSW Government announced it would not be proceeding with further regional council mergers, including the Newcastle City Council and Port
Newcastle City Centre Express uses Newcastle Coach Station on St James Boulevard, and Megabus stop outside Central Station. Newcastle, known locally as Central, is the city's mainline railway station and a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line From there, local, regional and national destinations served directly. Manors is the only other station in the city, but it has a very limited service. Newcastle City Centre Newcastle City Centre, is the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Newcastle city centre is the historical heart of the city and the main cultural and commercial centre of North East England. Along with nearby