Newcastle News – Page 178

Officer charged – Northern Region

An officer has been charged with further offences following an investigation in the state’s north.
In November last year, an off-duty probationary constable attached to the Northern Region was charged following an alleged traffic-related incident.
Following further inquiries, the 39-year-old man was charged today (Wednesday 12 January 2022) with not keep firearm safely–not pistol/prohibited firearm and handle/use firearm under the influence of alcohol/drug.
He is due to appear before Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 18 January 2022.
The officer’s duty status is currently under review.

Man charged with murder – Jesmond

A man will appear in court today charged following an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a man in the state’s Hunter Region last week.
About 3.45pm last Thursday (6 January 2022), emergency services were called to a home on Michael Street, Jesmond, following reports a man had been stabbed.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and located a 34-year-old man suffering a stab wound to his chest.
The injured man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died.
Local police established Strike Force Mantillus to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Following extensive inquiries, a 37-year-old man was arrested at Newcastle Police Station about 4pm yesterday (Wednesday 12 January 2022), where he was charged with murder.
Police will allege in court that the two men were involved in a physical altercation, before the younger man was stabbed.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 13 January 2022).

Surge in development to inject $1.8 billion into local economy

Newcastle’s revitalisation and transformation continues with a record $1.8 billion of development approved over the past 12 months set to generate approximately 3,500 direct jobs and buoy the local economy.
City of Newcastle recorded a 20% increase in the number of development applications (DAs) lodged during 2021, in addition to state significant projects.
Development in Newcastle is showing no signs of slowing, with over 1600 DAs lodged with City of Newcastle in 2021 (compared to 1361 in 2020). The value of lodged DAs increased by a staggering 89% highlighting the significant nature of development unfolding in the city, including The Store redevelopment ($118 million), former Dairy Farmer’s site ($100 million), and a 133-lot industrial subdivision at Black Hill ($33 million).
City of Newcastle Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment Michelle Bisson said low interest rates and a booming property market is helping to drive development activity in the city.
“Newcastle is surging ahead when it comes to injecting cash into bricks and mortar, despite the pandemic, reflecting high levels of optimism amongst homeowners, investors and developers,” Ms Bisson said.
“The highest value DAs are predominantly in Newcastle West, Adamstown, Beresfield, and Merewether but we’ve also seen a surge in residential development in the suburbs such as Wallsend, Fletcher and New Lambton for residential alterations, additions and single dwellings.
“The construction associated with this level of development generates approximately 3,500 direct jobs and buoys Newcastle’s economy which is a positive as we come up against the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and look to the future.”
Newcastle recently announced a design competition for the $100m redevelopment of the former ‘Spotlight and Anaconda’ site at 711 Hunter Street in the city’s revitalised West-end, meaning the pipeline of significant future development applications expected in 2022 is strong.
“Newcastle is transforming into a modern metropolitan city with significant large redevelopments in the pipeline, showing developer confidence in our city is at an all-time high,” Ms Bisson said.
“Ongoing revitalisation and development is continuing to transform Newcastle, and 2022 is set to be another exciting and busy year for our city.”

Four rescued after ute swept into flooded creek – Hunter Valley

Four people have been rescued after a ute was swept into a flooded creek 20km north of Muswellbrook overnight.
Emergency services were called to Wells Gully Road at McCulleys Gap about 10pm (Tuesday 11 January 2022), after a utility was swept off the spillway into Sandy Creek.
A 49-year-old man, a 16-year-old boy, and two girls aged 14, were forced to climb onto the roof of the utility after it began to sink in strongly-flowing floodwaters.
A multi-agency rescue operation was coordinated by officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, and involved Fire and Rescue NSW and members from NSW Rural Fire Service and SES, with all four retrieved safely.
There were no injuries; and the ute will be recovered when safe.

Man charged with alleged child grooming offences – Hunter region

A man has been charged over the alleged grooming of two teenage girls in the Hunter Region.
Officers from Newcastle City and Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts commenced an investigation following reports a man was allegedly grooming two girls, aged 15 and 16.
Folllowing extensive inquiries, detectives attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a vehicle on Clarence Town Rd, Glen Oak about 12.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 11 January 2022).
A 51-year-old man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
A short time later, officers executed a search warrant at a home in Glen Oak, where police seized electronic items, drugs, firearms and ammunition, which will undergo forensic examination.
Following inquiries, the man was charged with groom child for unlawful sexual activity, possess child abuse material, three counts of possess prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and six counts of holder of Category A or B licence not have approved storage.
He was refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 12 January 2022).

Appeal to locate wanted man – Newcastle

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.
Kevin Smith, aged 37, is wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant for murder.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District and specialist units have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 180cm to 185cm tall, of thin build, with green eyes, brown hair, a beard and a moustache. He has a distinctive tattoo on the right side of his face.
He is known to frequent the Newcastle area, but has ties to several locations including Sydney and Northern NSW.
Anyone who may have seen Mr Smith is urged not to approach him and to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Driver allegedly caught almost six times over the legal limit – Cessnock

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly being caught almost six times over the legal limit in the Hunter region today.
About 1.30pm (Thursday 6 January 2022), officers attached to Hunter Valley Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped the driver of a Mitsubishi SUV on Wollombi Road at Bellbird, for the purpose of a random breath test.
Police spoke to the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle – a 41-year-old man – before he was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result.
The Cessnock man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.297.
He was charged with high-range PCA, his driver’s licence was confiscated and immediately suspended, and his vehicle was seized.
The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 9 February 2022.

Investigation underway into fatal stabbing – Jesmond

An investigation is underway after a man was fatally stabbed in the Hunter Region yesterday.
About 3.45pm (Thursday 6 January 2022), emergency services were called to a home on Michael Street, Jesmond, following reports a man had been stabbed.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and located a 34-year-old man suffering a stab wound to his chest.
Police have been told the man attended the home and was injured during an altercation with a male occupant, who then fled.
The injured man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, the man died in hospital.
Newcastle City Detectives have established Strike Force Mantillus to investigate the circumstances of the man’s death.
As part of their inquiries, a large-scale search is also underway to locate the male occupant.

Man charged following pursuit – Hexham

A man has been charged following a pursuit in the state’s Hunter region yesterday.
About 5.30pm on Wednesday (5 January 2022), officers attached to the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command were travelling north on Stewart Avenue, Hamilton South, when they observed a white Ford Falcon driving in a dangerous manner.
A short time later, police sighted the vehicle travelling on Wallsend and Maitland Road, Sandgate.
Police have attempted to stop the vehicle however the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed by police, and a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle has crashed into another vehicle travelling in the same direction before stopping about 20 meters into marshland.
When the vehicle stopped, the driver has fled the scene of foot before he was arrested at Hexham. He was taken to the Mater Hospital for testing before being taken to Waratah police station.
The driver – a 25-year-old man – was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, not obey direction of police/authorised person, negligent driving, use unregistered registrable class A motor vehicle on road, use uninsured motor vehicle, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and not give particulars to other driver (2).
No one was injured in the crash.
The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 6 January 2020.

Labor to Make Fast Rail Between Sydney and the Hunter a Reality

Labor will provide a $500 million down payment in our first budget to start corridor acquisition, planning and early works. We will work closely with the New South Wales Government that has already identified this project as a key priority.
Labor is the party of nation building and during our last period in Government we invested more in rail projects than all previous governments combined. The Phase 2 study report into high-speed rail commissioned by Anthony Albanese as Infrastructure Minister identified Sydney to Newcastle as forming the first component of an eventual line to Brisbane.
An Albanese Labor government will establish the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) as a statutory agency and issue a clear statement of expectations to the HSRA to begin work on the Sydney to Newcastle corridor as a matter of priority. The line would include stops in the Central Coast, with Wyong and Gosford as obvious possibilities.
We recognise the potential of our regions and the vibrant jobs and lifestyle options they offer all Australians. And with the population of the Hunter Valley and Central Coast forecast grow by close to 200,000 people by 2040, Labor knows that planning for our medium to long term future requires vision, dedication and a commitment to work cooperatively with the states and territories.
That’s why only an Albanese Labor Government can be trusted to build the infrastructure Australians deserve.

What’s the problem?

The NSW Government’s projections show the population of the Central Coast and the Hunter Valley growing by some 200,000 by 2040, making better transport connections a necessity.
Labor shares the NSW government’s vision of a brighter future for our regions, with fast rail connections offering people more choice of where to live and work.
The Morrison-Joyce government has for too long seen infrastructure investment as a political plaything – only Labor has been the party of nation building with a vision for our nation’s long-term future.

Labor’s Plan.

An Albanese Labor Government will ensure the new High-Speed Rail Authority works on the Sydney to Newcastle corridor as its first priority. This will be backed by a $500 million down payment to begin corridor acquisition, planning and early works.
This project will be a signature element of Labor’s plan for smart regionalisation – recognising our regions’ prosperity can be improved by better connectivity between regional centres and from the major population centres and international gateways.
An Albanese Labor government will work closely with the NSW Government on this nation-building project. We expect the High-Speed Rail Authority to identify and acquire a corridor of land that would accommodate either an initial fast rail line that could eventually be upgraded to high-speed rail, or move directly to build high-speed rail itself. And as with all our infrastructure projects, we will look build as much of our fast and high-speed rail future in Australia as is possible.

Cost of our plan

Fast and High-Speed Rail connections are not short-term political fixes, they are the kind of significant nation-building projects visionary governments invest in.
We will ensure a down-payment of $500 million is set aside in our first budget to begin work on this project, with further investment options identified between the Federal and NSW Governments once detailed planning work has been completed.

How fast will the trains go?

This line will be built with the capacity for trains to run up to and over 250kmh.
This would slash journey times from Sydney to Newcastle from over 2 and a half hours to just 45 minutes. From Sydney to Gosford would take only half an hour.
Given that this is a staged project with a long-term focus, the new High-Speed Rail Authority would work collaboratively with the NSW Government to determine the best way of delivering the project, whether that be a phased faster rail approach or an immediate provision of High Speed Rail services.
Either way, it will deliver shorter journey times to the people of Newcastle and the Central Coast.

What sections will come next?

The Phase 2 report commissioned by the last Labor government identified this Sydney-Newcastle route as the first stage of the eventual Sydney to Brisbane line.
We will take that advice and make this a priority for the new High-Speed Rail Authority.
While this route is a priority, the High-Speed Rail Authority would continue work on advancing other sections of the line, eventually connecting Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.