‘The City of Newcastle’ or ‘The City of Greater Newcastle’ is lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes’ preference and she will ask the state government to adopt either.

The move angered Port Stephens councillor Peter Kafer.

“They’re already flexing their muscle,” he said.

“They’re already saying ‘this is how it’s going to be’.”

Port Stephens Council takes its name from Sir Philip Stephens, first secretary of Admiralty and mentor to Captain James Cook.

Cook named the area after him on May 11, 1770.  

“We can’t effectively let the name Port Stephens go, there’s too much history there,” Cr Kafer said.

“Newcastle’s pretending like their our big brother but Port Stephens was put on the map 34 years before them.”

Cr Nelmes brought the names to Newcastle council on Tuesday night as a mayoral minute.

There, she gained support to reject the merger delegate’s recommendation, ‘Hunter Coast’.

Newcastle councillor Brad Luke spoke against the motion. He argued a name like Hunter Coast was a more collaborative approach that was respectful of the partner council in the merger.

Cr Kafer rejected ‘Hunter Coast’ and suggested ‘New-Port’ was a more appropriate name in a written submission to Premier Mike Baird. 

“It would have been nice for Nuatali to include us in these discussions,” he said.