Month: October 2026

A teenage boy has been charged following an investigation into a serious crash at Ashtonfield earlier this week.

About 5.30am on Tuesday (29 September 2026), police were called to South Seas Drive following reports of a crash.

At the scene, police were told a sedan allegedly lost control and crashed into the kerb, before becoming airborne, rolling, and landing outside a home.

The driver allegedly ran from the scene, while a passenger – a 14-year-old boy – was arrested at the location.

He was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to the hospital, under police guard, with injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

Following inquiries, police established that the sedan was allegedly stolen from a home on Coromandel Close, Ashtonfield, about 4.30am the same day.

During a search of the sedan, officers allegedly located and seized a mobile phone and balaclava. The vehicle as towed for forensic examination.

The 14-year-old boy was later charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 19 October 2026.

Following further inquiries under Operation Soteria, police arrested a second 14-year-old boy near Beresfield this morning (Thursday 1 October 2026).

He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with nine offences,
Affray
Attempted aggravated enter dwelling in company intent to steal <=$60000
Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal <=$60000
Face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence (two counts)
Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
Drive furiously in motor vehicle do/cause bodily harm
Fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury, and
Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous.

He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Thursday 1 October 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Tuesday 6 October 2026.

The Mining and Energy Union has welcomed the NSW Independent Planning Commission’s approval of the Hunter Valley Operations Continuation Project, saying it gives more than 1,500 workers and their families greater certainty about their future.

MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams said workers had made a powerful case for what HVO means to them and the wider Hunter.

This is an enormous relief for HVO workers and their families. They stood up and told the Commission what these jobs mean to them, to local businesses and to towns across the Hunter,” Mr Williams said.

After a long period of uncertainty, workers deserve clear information from HVO about the approval and what happens next.”

MEU General President Grahame Kelly said the Commission had made the right decision and thanked the Minns government for their support of the project.

HVO is an established mine supporting more than 1,500 jobs. Its workers produce coal that customers want to buy, and those jobs support families, local businesses and the NSW economy. This project deserved approval, and the Commission has made the right call,” Mr Kelly said.

Coal remains a backbone of the NSW economy. It and the people who work in the industry are critical to the state. As long as there is demand for our coal, we should be selling it and making sure the workers and communities who produce it share in the benefits.

Workers have waited a long time for this decision. Today they can finally look ahead with more confidence.”