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
State Dockyard, Newcastle dock was scrapped in 1977. In 2007 the outline of the painted "STATE DOCKYARD" sign on southern roof of the former dockyard building could still be viewed from above. As of 2014, the surviving State Dockyard built ships are "Cape Don", a lighthouse tender built in 1962 for the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service which is now a museum ship at Balls Head Bay, Waverton. The ferries "Lady Herron", "Freshwater", "Queenscliff", "Narrabeen" and "Collaroy" continue to operate for Harbour City Ferries, while former Sydney Harbour ferries "Lady Cutler" and "Lady McKell" operate as cruise boats on Port Phillip. State Dockyard, Newcastle The