Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public information following an armed robbery in the state’s Hunter region last month.

About 4.45pm on Thursday 18 May 2023, a man entered a retail business on Maitland Road, Mayfield, and threatened a female employee with a firearm and a machete, before he fled with cash and jewellery.

The female employee was not physically injured and notified police.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene, which has been examined by specialist forensic police.

As inquiries continue, police have released images of a man who may be able to assist with the investigation.

The man depicted is described as being 180cm tall, and of solid build. He is shown wearing blue overalls, a fluoro yellow vest, black full face road bike helmet, and black/yellow gloves.

A woman has been charged following an unauthorised protest on a rail corridor in the Newcastle area today. 

About 7.15am today (Monday 19 June 2023), emergency services were called to a rail line on Wagtail Way Kooragang, following reports a group had gathered at the location, including a woman who had suspended herself from a pole.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended, and with assistance from Police Rescue, the woman was removed safely from the structure and arrested about 10.40am.

The 22-year-old was taken to Waratah Police Station, where she was charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive and enter inclosed lands give rise to serious risk to safety.

The woman was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 20 June 2023).

Investigations into the incident continue.

A critical incident investigation is underway after a man died in the state’s Hunter region overnight.

Just after 9pm (Sunday 18 June 2023), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a home in Sproule Crescent, Thornton, over concerns for a man’s welfare.

Police were told the 36-year-old man, who was armed with a firearm, had left the property in a vehicle.

Following inquiries, the vehicle was located travelling on Newline Road, Seaham, a short time later.

When the vehicle did not stop, a police pursuit was initiated.

The vehicle came to a stop near Stockton Beach, Williamtown, and the man ran onto the beach.

He was located deceased suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A crime scene was established and a critical incident team from Tuggerah Lakes Police District will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.

That investigation will be subject to an independent review.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man has died following a single vehicle crash in the Lake Macquarie area today.

About 10.30am (Friday 16 June 2023), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway at Blacksmiths, about 24km south of Newcastle, following reports of a crash.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were told a hatchback left the roadway and crashed into bushland down an embankment.

The driver and sole occupant was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however he died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 90s. 

Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash are underway and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region.

About 3.20pm today (Friday 16 June 2023), emergency services were called to Robert Connell Close near Frost Road, Anna Bay, after reports a car had struck a telegraph pole.

The driver and sole occupant of a Mitsubishi was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged 29.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A $6.2 million grant from the Federal Government to place sand on Stockton Beach, that was at risk of being lost, has been saved following the intervention of the Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty.

The Stockton Beach Taskforce met today for the first time in more than a year with Minister Moriarty as Chair of the group tasked with delivering a long-term solution to the coastal erosion that currently removes, on average, 146,000 cubic metres of sand from the beach annually.

The Taskforce received confirmation that Department of Regional NSW and NSW Public Works will coordinate and deliver the works funded by a $6.2 million grant awarded to the NSW Government last October. The grant included $4.7 million from the Federal Government’s Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program, and $1.5 million from City of Newcastle.

“We welcome the reconvening of the Taskforce under the leadership of Minister Moriarty, and the collaborative approach demonstrated at today’s meeting,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

“With the Department of Regional NSW on board as coordinator and NSW Public Works as the delivery agency for the work funded by the grant, I expect to see continued progress to provide long-term protection to the beach, surf club, local roads and parkland.”

City of Newcastle’s Executive Director Planning and Environment, Michelle Bisson, said mass sand nourishment remained the long-term solution to protecting the NSW Government-owned Stockton Beach, and the work to develop the draft Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) is well underway.

“The Extended Stockton CMP is critical for realising the long-term vision for the Stockton coastline. It has been informed by extensive consultation with the community, as well as the findings of additional studies and investigations undertaken since the development of the 2020 CMP,” Ms Bisson said.

“Delivering the CMP is a complex process, and each management action outlined in the plan needs to be championed and funded by the appropriate agency.

“Through the Taskforce we are drawing closer to confirming which NSW Government agencies will fund and own the mass sand nourishment implementation actions in the CMP for managing erosion in Stockton.

“Once this is confirmed we can finalise the draft CMP and place it on public exhibition later this year.”

A man has been charged with multiple driving and firearm offences following a carjacking incident on Monday.

About 4pm Monday (12 June 2023), police were called to a shopping centre carpark in Charlestown, following reports a man had allegedly threatened three people with a firearm before stealing their vehicle.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District arrived and conducted a search of the area, however, were unable to locate the vehicle.

Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident.

Following extensive inquires police arrested a 32-year-old man in North Lambton, yesterday (14 June 2023). During the arrest the man allegedly aimed a firearm at police.

Tactical Operations Unit police assisted in the arrest. The man was conveyed to hospital in a stable condition.

Police also executed a search warrant on a home in North Lambton. During the search police found clothing and items believed to be illicit substances which have been sent of for further forensic examination.

The 32-year-old man was then taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with:

• Acquire prohibited firearm subject prohibition order
• Acquire unregistered firearm prohibited firearm
• Possess loaded firearm public place
• Not keep firearm safely prohibited firearm
• Armed with intention to commit indictable offence
• Police pursuit not stop drive recklessly
• Threaten injury to person with intention to prevent lawful detention
• Possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place
• Not keep firearm safely pistol
• Robbery while armed with dangerous weapon
• Acquire pistol subject to firearms prohibition order
• Possess ammunition without holding license/permit/authority
• Acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen

Police will allege in court the man also threatened another man in Edgeworth with a firearm before fleeing the scene.

The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 15 June 2023).

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the state’s Hunter Region.

Ashley McKellar, aged 43, was last seen at a home at Bolton Point, about 8.30am yesterday (Wednesday 14 June 2023).

When he could not be contacted or located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for his welfare as his disappearance is out of character.

Ashley is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 185cm tall with medium build and has short brown hair, and wears dark-rimmed glasses.

Police believe Ashley may have a launched his boat, a Telewater 4.8 metre Aluminium Runabout with registration plates VK844N, from lake access at Bolton Point, about 10.30am yesterday (Wednesday 14 June 2023).

A multi-agency search is now underway, including resources from PolAir, Marine Area Command, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to call Lake Macquarie police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty and Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp today announced the first 100,000 cubic metres of sand will be sourced from shipping channels within Newcastle Harbour as part of a $6.2 million project to fix coastal erosion at Stockton Beach.

Ms Moriarty said NSW Public Works – which is managing the project – had identified a site in the navigation channel beyond the break wall entrance which could be accessed within the existing Port of Newcastle dredging approvals.

NSW Public Works has advised tenders for dredging and sand placement closed this month and submissions are currently being reviewed. A contract is expected to be awarded in September, with works to commence after the necessary approvals for sand placement are secured.  

As part of the contract, a dredging vessel, will remove the equivalent of about 40 Olympic swimming pools of sand, before redistributing it on Stockton Beach.

This update will be among items discussed when the Stockton Beach Taskforce meets today for the first time since my appointment as Chair and the Department of Regional NSW took charge.

The Taskforce will also look to develop an action plan with community consultation to drive the project forward.

“This work will create a blueprint for the Department of Planning and Environment to rollout the NSW Government’s $21 million election commitment for mass sand nourishment,” Minister Moriarty said.

Minister for the Hunter and Newcastle MP, Tim Crakanthorp welcomed Minister Moriarty and the action being taken by the NSW Government.

“I’d like to thank Minister Moriarty for taking the reins and listening to the concerns of the Stockton community,” said Minister Crakanthorp.

“Labor committed to getting the Taskforce meeting again and today, after stalling under the former government, that commences.

“There’s been a lot of work happening over the last couple of months and we are getting closer to having sand back on Stockton Beach.”

NSW Public Works continues to work with the City of Newcastle and Port of Newcastle to coordinate the necessary approvals while investigations into longer term solutions continue.

The Stockton Beach Taskforce, chaired by Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, includes representatives from the City of Newcastle, the Minister for the Hunter Tim Crakanthorp, the NSW Coastal Council, the Worimi Local Aboriginal Lands Council, and the Stockton Community Liaison Group.

The project is funded by a $4.7 million Commonwealth grant and a $1.5 million contribution from the City of Newcastle.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Lake Macquarie area.

Angelina Tofaeono, aged 36, was last seen at a shopping centre at Glendale, near Cardiff, about 1.00pm on Wednesday 14 June 2023.

She was reported missing to officers from Lake Macquarie Police District yesterday (Wednesday 14 June 2023), who commenced an investigation into her whereabouts.

Angelina is described as being of Pacific Islander appearance, about 165-175cm tall, large build, with black hair. She was wearing a green jacket and black shorts.

Angelina lives with a number of medical conditions for which she needs regular medication.

She is known to frequent the areas of Burwood, Cameron Park and Farley.

Anyone who may have seen her or has information is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.