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
2015 Newcastle City Council election Pat Hillicks winning the seat with a 1,319 majority over the Labour Party candidate. In West Gosforth, the Conservative candidate Steve Kyte came close to victory, the last such occasion being 1992, coming 17 votes short. UKIP candidates attracted more support on average than in any previous year, coming second in Byker and in Lemington. The electoral division results are listed below: 2015 Newcastle City Council election The 2015 Newcastle City Council Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect one third of the members of Newcastle City Council in England. The elections took place on the same