Category: Newcastle News

The Albanese and Minns Governments are forging ahead with one of the Hunter’s most significant infrastructure projects, with the final girders now in place on the new northbound bridge over Ironbark Creek (Toohrnbing) on the Hexham Straight Widening.
A total of 65 girders have been lifted into place by a 400-tonne crane. Each girder weighs around 20 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of 10 family cars – and forms the foundation of the new three-lane northbound bridge.
The Hexham Straight upgrade is a key part of the $2.2 billion M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
With around 50,000 vehicles using this stretch of road each day, the project aims to relieve congestion, improve safety and provide more reliable travel for both commuters and freight operators.
Transport for NSW and its delivery partners – an alliance of Georgiou, Daracon Contractors and SMEC – are now focused on completing the bridge deck, installing barriers and progressing final road surfacing.
The new northbound bridge is expected to open to traffic by early 2026, weather permitting.
This six-kilometre upgrade between the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge will see the current two-lane dual carriageway widened to three lanes in each direction, removing a well-known bottleneck and helping to future-proof the region’s road network.
Motorists are already seeing the transformation take shape, and more changes will become visible as construction continues. Some temporary lane closures and speed reductions will be required at times, with updates available through Live Traffic NSW.
The M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace includes the Hexham Straight Widening and is being delivered with $1.8 billion from the Australian Government and $448 million from the NSW Government. The entire upgrade is expected to open to traffic in 2026.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison:
“There will be no sub-par work on this project. This is one of the most important road corridors in the Hunter, and we are building infrastructure that will last – not just for today, but for decades to come.
“In the 1870’s, the first timber truss bridge was opened over Ironbark Creek, connecting Newcastle to Maitland.
“Now we’re seeing the final girder placed on a brand new, modern bridge that will carry this connection forward for generations.”
Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon:
“This is an exciting step forward on one of Newcastle and the Hunter’s most critical road projects.
“Once complete, this upgrade will make trips faster, safer, and more reliable for the more than 50,000 motorists who use this stretch every day.
“We’re delivering real progress on this long-awaited project, and this milestone brings us another step closer to the finish line.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson:
“The final girder lift is a major step forward for the Hexham Straight upgrade – a project that will ease congestion, improve safety, and support local jobs right here in our region.
“I’m proud to see this progress delivered thanks to a strong collaboration between the Australian and NSW Governments. With $1.8 billion in federal funding, the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace project is a major investment in our region’s future – and the Hexham Straight Widening is a critical step towards its completion.
“A big thank you to all the commuters for your patience during construction, and to the incredible roadworkers and project teams for their hard work in making the Hexham Straight Widening a reality.”
Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp:
“It’s fantastic to see the Hexham Straight Widening project ticking off another significant milestone.
“Motorists will be able to see the bridge come together before their very eyes over the next few months as our teams continue carrying out this important upgrade.”
Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery:
“A big well done to the Hexham Straight Widening team who have worked tirelessly on upgrading this important stretch of the Pacific Highway.
“Once complete, this project will improve traffic flow for motorists and freight which mean safer journeys and more reliable travel times.”

A man will face court over alleged child sex offences committed almost 50 years ago.

In late 2023 Detectives from Northern Beaches Police Area Command commenced investigations into allegations that two teenage girls had been sexually assaulted during the 1970’s.

It will be alleged that a man sexually assaulted the girls – both aged 13 at the time – who were known to him, on separate occasions between 1976 and 1977 at an address in Collaroy.

Following extensive inquiries on Wednesday 30 July 2025 a 74-year-old man was served with a Future Service Court Attendance notice at a home in Kurri Kurri

He was charged with five counts of rape, and commit act of indecency on female, under 16 years.

The man is due to appear at Manly Local Court today (Wednesday 17 September 2025).

Swansea will gain an additional drop off location under the NSW Government’s successful embedded batteries trial, allowing the community to safely dispose of items with built-in batteries for free.

Gadgets with embedded lithium-ion batteries are increasingly common in our homes, such as vapes, headphones, speakers, electric toothbrushes, e-scooters and smart watches.

Battery-powered items contain valuable recoverable materials but are also highly combustible. The waste industry says these items are causing thousands of hard-to-extinguish fires in trucks and landfills each year.

Nearly 200 battery fires have been attended by Fire and Rescue NSW so far in 2025, reflecting a serious risk to the community, households and waste workers.

The embedded batteries trial was first launched in September 2024, with 21 councils across NSW initially taking part to safely collect and recycle items with built-in batteries at Community Recycling Centres.

To date, more than 9,000 kilograms of this problem waste has been dropped off at centres and safely disposed of, reducing pressures on landfill and driving circular solutions.

The Belmont North Community Recycling Centre is one of more than 13 additional community recycling centres joining the trial, which is set to run until September 2026.

Swansea locals are encouraged to look at what unwanted battery-powered items they have in their home, and head down to their local Community Recycling Centre to drop them off.

For a full list of accepted items and locations, go to: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Recycling-and-reuse/household-recycling-overview/Embedded-batteries

For more information on loose battery recycling, go to: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Recycling-and-reuse/household-recycling-overview/Safe-battery-recycling

Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:

“No battery should end up in the bin. Batteries that can be removed from a product should be taped and dropped off to a local recycling point and now we can do the same with embedded batteries.

“Swansea locals are now able to safely drop off embedded battery products at their local community recycling centre to reduce the risks of battery fires and contribute to a safer, more sustainable future for all.”

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“New South Wales is leading the way to combat the risks of battery fires and making sure battery-powered items are being managed at the end of their usable life.

“Thanks to the success of the embedded batteries trial, we are making it easier for people to keep batteries out of the bin, so we can protect our environment, recycle more and keep our communities safe.”

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man missing from Toronto, in the Lake Macquarie district.

Jason Zammit, aged 36, was last seen on Anzac Parade about 1am on Thursday 11 September 2025.

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

Jason is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of muscular build, with light brown hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on his neck.

Jason may be in the East Maitland area.

Anyone with information on Jason’s whereabouts is urged to come forward and contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man reported missing from Morisset yesterday has been found safe.

The 65-year-old was was last seen in Morisset yesterday (12 September 2025).

When he was unable to be contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Following inquiries, he was found safe in Ballina this morning (Saturday 13 September 2025).

Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate an elderly woman missing from Wallsend.

Eileen Roberti, aged 72, was last seen walking along Cowper Street about 4.10pm this afternoon (Thursday 11 September 2025).

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified when she could not be located or contacted, and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Concerns are held for Eileen’s welfare as she is unfamiliar with the area.

Eileen is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall with slim build and short brown hair.

She was last seen wearing black long pants, black shoes and a green and brown jumper.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

City of Newcastle acknowledges the ongoing impact to residents in the area affected by the New Lambton landslip, which occurred in May 2025. We recognise the hardship faced by both residents who have had to leave their homes and those who are living nearby.

We remain committed to working with the impacted residents and neighbours as recovery efforts continue. We understand how distressing the uncertainty is, and will continue to provide clear and timely updates, and maintain individual contact with impacted residents and near neighbours.

Site status

Following last night’s intense rainfall, further structural damage to several properties on Baker Street has been observed this morning. We acknowledge that this is upsetting news for impacted residents, and the residents of these specific properties have been briefed this morning on the current status and offered support services to help them process this news.

Communication with residents

Since the incident on 23 May 2025, residents have received regular updates through phone calls, text messages and emails, as well as via a dedicated incident web page on the City of Newcastle website. In the early emergency response phase, community meetings were convened by Police in the role of the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON).

Since transitioning to the recovery phase, City of Newcastle has appointed an experienced Recovery Coordinator and established the Local Recovery Committee. A community meeting was held on Wednesday night, where residents received detailed updates on emergency works, the geotechnical investigations, and input and updates from relevant agencies. Residents also had the opportunity to ask questions of all agencies and raise any concerns.  

Geotechnical investigations are ongoing, with findings subject to peer review by the NSW Government’s Public Works Authority and Transport for NSW. These studies will play an important part in guiding decisions about the site’s future. However, this work will take time, and it’s too early to determine recovery timeframes or outcomes at this stage. 

Representatives from Hunter Water and the NSW Red Cross also attended the meeting, providing information and offering support services to residents. Impacted residents were briefed on the role of the Local Recovery Committee and were invited to nominate themselves as community representatives on the Committee. 

The Committee’s approach for meetings and consultation follows the NSW Recovery Plan, under the NSW State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989, and aligns with the NSW State Emergency Management Plan.

Clarity on responsibilities

City of Newcastle is responsible for public infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and stormwater systems.

Responsibility for privately owned land and property rests with individual landowners and their insurers. City of Newcastle does not fund works or repairs on private land, unless required to do so under specific laws or supported by state or federal disaster recovery programs.

Conversations with the NSW Government regarding this will commence once the geotechnical investigations are complete and the size and complexity of the situation is better understood. 

Safety

Site safety remains a concern for City of Newcastle, with unauthorised people breaching the security measures in place and accessing the site. 

Given the instability of the land and the likelihood of further movement, we cannot stress enough the importance for all residents and members of the community to remain outside the danger area unless their visit is authorised.

Authorised access to the site, such as for the removal of any remaining items or make-safe works to buildings, has been and will continue to be managed based on a task-specific basis including risk assessment on the proposed activity, duration of stay, and the status of the site and/or structures at that point in time. Given the unpredictability of the site, an assessment and clearance given on one day may not be applicable the next.

We continue to actively monitor the site closely and assess the ground conditions.

We appreciate that the uncertainty for residents about whether they can repair or rebuild and return home is distressing. We will continue to work on getting information to residents as quickly as possible to help them make decisions about their future. 

Visit our dedicated Landslip incident webpage for more information.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing from the state’s north.

Lilian Hyde, aged 13, was last seen at a home on Morecambe Circuit, Thornton, about 10pm on Tuesday 9 September 2025.

Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Alyssa’s welfare due to her age.

Alyssa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall, of thin build, with long brown hair and brown eyes.

She is believed to frequent the Port Macquarie and Gold Coast areas.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl reported missing from the Hunter region.

Nicole Beckett, aged 17, was last seen at Central Railway Station, Haymarket, on Saturday 6 September 2025.

When she could not be contacted or located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified today (Wednesday 10 September 2025) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Initial inquiries indicate she may have been in the Hamilton, Newcastle area sometime today (Wednesday 10 September 2025).

Police and family have concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Nicole is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with slim build and dyed red hair.

She was last seen wearing a red and black jumper and shorts.

She is known to frequent the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.

She may be using the public transport network to travel.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Toronto Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.