Month: October 2026

The NSW Government has extended the Newcastle Integrated Services Contract until mid-2028 with Keolis Newcastle Transport, ensuring continued bus services for customers across the Newcastle region while Transport for NSW develops future service arrangements.

Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said the extension provides certainty for passengers and operators while work continues on the next phase of bus service contracting.

“This extension gives us additional time to develop service contracts that are better suited to the needs of the community while responding to recommendations from the Bus Industry Taskforce and feedback from the industry,” Mr Collins said.

“We want to ensure future contracts support reliable and efficient public transport services while providing a sustainable framework for operators.”

The extension will align the Newcastle contract with the expiry dates of other passenger service contracts across NSW, supporting Transport for NSW’s broader procurement program.

“We will continue to work closely with operators and industry stakeholders to ensure future arrangements deliver the best possible outcomes for customers and the bus industry,” Mr Collins said. 

Transport for NSW will continue developing its future delivery model, including ongoing consultation with industry and the community as work progresses.

The driver of a car that allegedly struck ten people in the state’s Hunter region has been charged.

About 9.30am today (Saturday 3 October 2026), emergency services were called to Newcastle Link Road, at the Transfield Drive roundabout, Wallsend, following reports a vehicle had allegedly struck multiple people.

The persons struck were part of a large crowd that were in attendance to support a local sporting team.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended, alongside Traffic and Highway Patrol officers and NSW Ambulance paramedics.

A crime scene was established that was later examined by specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit.

The vehicle was seized by police and will undergo forensic examination.

Ten people were injured and were treated on the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

A five-year-old girl remains in a critical but now stable condition.

The 67-year-old man who was initially in a critical condition is currently reported to be in a serious but stable condition.

Four other people – a second 5-year-old girl, a 2-year-old girl, a 31-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man – remain hospitalized in stable conditions.

Three men – aged 24, 25 and 27 – along with a 63-year-old woman have since been discharged from hospital.

The P1 Provisional licence holder of the vehicle – an 18-year-old man – was arrested and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Two male passengers in the vehicle – aged 18 and 19 – were not injured.

The driver was later released from hospital and taken to a police station where he was charged with nine offences including:
3 x Dangerous driving occ GBH- drive manner dangerous
3 x Negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm)
3 x Cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle

He has been refused bail to appear at Bail Division – Court 2 tomorrow (Sunday 4 October 2026).

The man’s licence has also been suspended.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Officers will continue to coordinate a high-visibility police operation across the Newcastle and Hunter areas following the conclusion of the NRL Grand Final this evening.
The operation – which commenced on Friday 2 October 2026 – will continue to run today (Sunday 4 October 2026) and well into the evening as the Newcastle Knights travel back to the Hunter from Sydney after tonight’s NRL Grand Final.
As the team returns to Newcastle, police are asking the public not to congregate on major motorways as no fan engagements are planned after the game this evening.
The public is also asked to engage in a safe and respectful manner regardless of tonight’s grand final outcome.
Police will be patrolling the Newcastle and Hunter areas, targeting antisocial behaviour and any actions that put community safety at risk.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District are continuing to be supported by specialist resources including Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Northern Region support resources, the Public Order and Riot Squad, Police Transport Command, Marine Area Command and other specialist police units to help maintain public safety and ensure celebrations remain safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Police are reminding spectators and patrons to:
· Plan their journey and allow extra travel time.
· Use public transport where possible.
· Organise a safe way home before attending events.
· Follow directions from police, security and event staff.
· Look out for friends, family and other members of the community.
· Never drive if affected by alcohol or drugs.
For public transport information and trip planning, visit the Transport for NSW website: https://transportnsw.info/
For traffic information, including road closures, special event clearways and live traffic reports, visit www.livetraffic.com: http://www.livetraffic.com/
Anyone requiring emergency assistance should call Triple Zero (000). For non-urgent police assistance, contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

Ten people have been injured after being struck by a vehicle near Wallsend this morning.

About 9.30am today (Saturday 3 October 2026), emergency services were called to Newcastle Link Road, at the Transfield Drive roundabout, following reports a vehicle had struck multiple people in a crowd.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended, alongside Traffic and Highway Patrol officers and NSW Ambulance paramedics.

Ten people were injured and were treated on the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

Two people – a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man – remain in a critical condition.

The other eight people all remain in a stable condition:

• A second five-year-old girl
• A two-year-old girl
• A 31-year-old woman
• A 48-year-old man
• A 24-year-old man
• A 63-year-old woman
• A 25-year-old man
• A 57-year-old man

The p-plate driver of the vehicle – an 18-year-old man – was arrested and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with initial inquiries indicating it is not believed to be terror related.

Newcastle Link Road has been closed in both directions and is expected to remain closed for some time while inquiries continue.

Police thank the community for their patience, cooperation and assistance.

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.”