"All life on earth remains in peril". So said the introduction to the 1997 "Newcastle Declaration" - a groundbreaking document that committed cities and towns across the planet to taking local actions to create a sustainable future.
It came at a time when BHP announced the end of steelmaking and the city's post industrial future was unclear. Yet, there was firm resolve among the city's leadership to lay the groundwork to make Newcastle the cleanest and healthiest city in Australia.
