Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged following investigations into a public place shooting at Wallsend earlier this week.
Just before 2am on Tuesday 2 February 2021, officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to home on Platt Street, Wallsend, after a shot was fired through the front window.
Police attended and established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.
Three adults and three children were home at the time; however, no injuries have been reported.
About 12.50am yesterday (Wednesday 3 February 2021), officers stopped a stolen Toyota Camry on Lambton Road, Broadmeadow and arrested a 25-year-old male driver and his 22-year-old female passenger.
Officers searched the vehicle and allegedly located a shortened shotgun and ammunition, as well as a small amount cannabis.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority (x2), use unauthorised firearm, not keep firearm safely, intimidate intend fear physical harm (personal), receive property stolen outside NSW, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner (x2), drive motor vehicle during disqualification period – 2nd offence.
He was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 4 February 2021).
The woman was taken to waratah Police Station where she was issued with a cannabis caution and released.

More than forty live music events are set to reinvigorate the local COVID-19-disrupted live music industry, during the inaugural New Annual festival in February.
City of Newcastle is investing $20,000 into the Live Music Grant Program (LMGP), which has seen applications from local venues to host live music events across the city during the New Annual festival period between 12-‑21 February.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City looked forward to providing a significant boost to the live music events industry right across the Local Government Area (LGA) and extending support toward local artists as well as the local hospitality industry.
“The Live Music Grant Program is yet another initiative led by the City of Newcastle, sharply focussed on providing real support and promotion of our amazing, world-renowned live music industry and is delivering directly on key objectives of our Live Music Strategy,” the Lord Mayor said.
“A vibrant local live music scene is vital to ensuring Newcastle continues to offer a bustling arts and culture scene, and a lively, diverse and safe night-time economy.
“With an influx of visitors sure to flock to our local venues for the City’s inaugural New Annual festival, we’re very pleased to provide additionally financial support and encouragement to host live music events right across Newcastle.
Ward 4 Councillor Matt Byrne welcomed the strong support for Newcastle’s live music industry, particularly for popular venues throughout the City’s suburbs.
“The two-pronged approach we’re taking will not only provide a boost to local venues financially hit as a result of COVID-19, but also our city’s local musicians and homegrown artists that rely on live music events for their livelihood,” Cr Byrne said.
“The grant program also ensures that funding extends to venues like the Racecourse Hotel at Wallsend, as it’s important that the festival atmosphere is felt right across the LGA to benefit the entire community.”
Racecourse Hotel Manager Jeremy Lowe said the Live Music Grant Program was well received and hopes the grant will help attract New Annual visitors to his venue at Wallsend for multiple live music events held during the month.
“We are excited to receive this financial boost thanks to the City’s grant program, which allows us to become part of the New Annual festival celebrations with the rest of the city by hosting live music events at our hotel,” Mr Lowe said.
“Our community in Wallsend is set to benefit from experiencing quality, homegrown, live entertainment.
“To see and hear live music performed in a hotel that you frequently patronage, it adds to the rich fabric of our community and ensures we are fostering our local talent.”
Visit the New Annual festival website for a full list of live music events and dates.
BOOST ARTS & CULTURE LIVE MUSIC GRANT PROGRAM RECIPIENTS:
Beach Burrito Co – Cooks Hill
Cambridge Hotel – Newcastle West
Jams Karaoke Bar – Newcastle West
Meet Restaurant – Newcastle East
Oriental Hotel – Cooks Hill
Racecourse Hotel – Wallsend
The Duke of Wellington – New Lambton
The Exchange Hotel – Hamilton
The Kent Hotel – Hamilton
The Lass O’Gowrie Hotel – Wickham
The Lucky Hotel – Newcastle East
The Mark Hotel – Lambton
The Rogue Scholar – Newcastle West
The Stag Inn & Hunter Hotel – Mayfield
Wickham Park Hotel – Wickham
Picture caption (Left to Right): Councillor Matthew Byrne, Publican Holly Bidwell, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Racecourse Hotel manager Jeremy Lowe and local musician’s Dave Javier and Gabe Argiris.

An investigation has commenced following a public place shooting at Wallsend overnight.
Just before 2am (Tuesday 2 February 2021), officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to a home on Platt Street, Wallsend, after a shot was fired through the front window.
Police attended and established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist forensic officers.
Three adults and three children were home at the time; however, no injuries have been reported.
As part of ongoing inquiries, police are urging anyone who may have information about the incident to contact police at Newcastle Police Station.
 

A man has been charged after a firearm, drugs and cash were located during a vehicle stop in the Hunter overnight.
About 11.15pm (Sunday 31 January 2021), police received information from a member of the public about a grey Ford Ranger with Queensland registration plates allegedly driving erratically on the Pacific Highway south of Taree.
The Ford – allegedly stolen from an address in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, last week – later stopped at a service station on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae, where officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and arrested the 44-year-old male driver.
Police conducted a search of the vehicle where they located a loaded shortened rifle underneath the driver’s seat, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cash.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with nine offences, including take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, possess shortened firearm without authority, possess loaded firearm in public place, not keep prohibited firearm safely, possess ammunition without licence, possess prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods in custody.
He was refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Monday 1 February 2021).

Novocastrians need not travel interstate to experience the science-based fun offered by the capital’s most popular science museum. Questacon’s Colour exhibition at Newcastle Museum has been extended due to popular demand until 2 May 2021.
Colour is a special touring exhibition developed by Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra, that explores the science of colour and perception through more than 20 different interactive experiences, ranging from coloured bubbles to iridescent insects to colour illusions.
Visitors can explore how light influences colour and compare their perception of colour with family and friends. See glowing quantum nanomaterials that change their colour with crystal size. The exhibition shows the power colour has on the choices we make every day, and on our responses to the environment.
Set up in a COVID Safe space in the Supernova Gallery, tickets for Colour can be purchased through the Newcastle Museum’s website and cost $10 for adult, $5 for children aged three and over and $7 for concession card holders, while a family pass (two adults and two children) is $25.
Visitors should bring a mobile phone to enter the Museum using a QR code.
For more details on the Colour exhibition, visit the Newcastle Museum website.

A man has been charged over alleged fraud relating to bushfire support recovery grants.
Strike Force Roche was established by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District charged a 28-year-old man with six counts of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception and two counts of attempt dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
Police will allege in court the man fraudulently obtained six NSW Government grants, receiving a total of $60,000 and attempted to obtain a further two NSW Government grants totalling $20,000.
The man is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Friday 29 January 2021.
Investigations under the strike force are ongoing across multiple police districts in the Northern Region.

City of Newcastle’s newest recruit has certainly got her nose to the ground when it comes to educating the community about responsible pet ownership.
Two-year-old golden retriever Bella has been joining the Rangers for patrols along Bathers Way between Merewether and Bar beaches.

She also accompanies her colleagues around Lambton Park and visits the popular fenced off-leash dog park at Acacia Avenue Reserve, North Lambton, which was opened in 2019 following community feedback into the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan.
Newcastle has one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the State, with more than 44,300 registered canines calling the local government area home.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan will guide the provision, improvement and management of dog off-leash areas during the next 10 years.
“We know that dog owners want suitable spaces to exercise their dogs safely, and work is underway to progress the development of strategically located fenced dog parks such as our Acacia Avenue facility,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Another priority action of the Dogs in Open Space Plan is to provide community education and information on responsibilities for dogs in public places, which is why it’s so great to see our Rangers trialling new measures such as using Bella to enhance their interactions with the community.”
Bella’s presence has been well received by both the four-legged friends she meets and their non-canine companions, giving her fellow Rangers more opportunities to engage with the pet owners.
“We have been trialling Ranger dog ‘Bella’ on foot patrols along Bathers Way and City of Newcastle parks and reserves for the past six months,” Senior Ranger Lauren Whitmore said.
“It has been very well received within the community and a considerable amount of positive feedback has been given by members of the public.
“During these patrols Rangers engage with dog owners to educate people about being responsible pet owners.
“When Bella’s with us during patrols we’ve found people are more willing to engage and have a conversation with the Ranger team.”
When Bella’s not on official duty she spends her down time with her owner and colleague Allan, who has been working with the Ranger team for the past nine months.
Lauren said Bella’s trial with the team had been such a success they were looking at making her an official Ranger later this month and were currently finalising her position description and calculating how many dog biscuits per hour her role would entail.

Police have charged a man with high range PCA in Port Stephens after a member of the public reported him for dangerous driving before confiscating his keys when he pulled over, during the Australian Day road-safety operation.
Between 12.01am last Friday (22 January 2021) and 11.59pm last night (Tuesday 26 January 2021), officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with assistance from Police Area Commands and Police Districts conducted Operation Australia 2021 across NSW.
About 6.50am on Sunday (24 January 2021), police received reports from a motorist that the driver of a Nissan Navara was driving dangerously on the Pacific Highway near Heatherbrae, Port Stephens.
Police have been told the man, aged 44, drove onto a median strip and hit a small tree before pulling over on Six Mile Creek Road, Eagleton, where the motorist – a 46-year-old man, also stopped and took the driver’s keys away.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police Area Command arrived a short time later and breath tested the man, who allegedly returned a positive result.
The man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged positive reading of 0.186.
The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range PCA; and is due to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 22 February 2021.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty, said it’s encouraging to see motorists concerned for the safety of others by reporting dangerous driving to police.
“As part of our Four Ds campaign, we’ve been urging all road users to report drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving, when safe to do so,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Hegarty.
“In this instance, the actions of the motorist have helped keep the community safe during the Operation Australia Day 2021 period.”
During the operation, motorists faced double demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, motorcycle helmet and seatbelt offences.
Police conducted more than 96,000 breath tests, with more than 300 drivers charged with drink driving.
In addition to the drink-driving charges, 386 people returned positive results for drug-driving. More than 9200 people were fined for other traffic offences, including not wearing a seatbelt and speeding.
“While the poor behaviour of some drivers is disappointing, we’re overall encouraged by the behaviour of the vast majority of drivers over operation,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Hegarty.
“Sadly, three people lost their lives on NSW roads over this period. We continue to work hard in improving road safety for all road users across our state,” said Mr Hegarty.
Other incidents of note include:
• A man disqualified from driving until 2078 will reappear in court today after allegedly being caught driving dangerously and possessing drugs in Sydney. About 5.20pm on Saturday (23 January 2021), officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting a stationary random breath and drug test on Pitt Street, Chippendale, when they attempted to stop the driver of a Holden Commodore. Police will allege the driver, a 47-year-old man, swapped seats with his front seat passenger, a 36-year-old woman, causing the car to swerve into oncoming traffic. Officers stopped the car and arrested the pair before searching the vehicle and locating a clear vial believed to contain gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Further checks revealed the man was disqualified from driving until 2078. The pair was taken to Surry Hills Police Station. He was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Central Local Court today (Wednesday 27 January 2021). The woman was fined for not complying with P1/P2 high performance vehicle restriction, driver not wear seatbelt, and not comply with P2 licence conditions not display P-Plates.
• About 7.10am yesterday (Tuesday 26 January 2021), Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were conducting stationary random breath testing on Hogbin Drive, Coffs Harbour, when they stopped a Hyundai and spoke with the driver, a 15-year-old boy. He allegedly returned a positive breath test before being taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.054. The boy was charged with low-range drink driving, and driving without licence.
• Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting stationary speed enforcement duties on the north on the M1, Yallah, when they detected a Mitsubishi Lancer allegedly travelling about 185km/h in an 80km/h signposted area, about 2.10am on Sunday (24 January 2021). Police attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated. The driver continued towards Picton before road spikes were deployed and the car stopped a short time later on Maldon Bridge Road. The driver, a 34-year-old woman, was arrested and taken to Camden Police Station, where she was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed, licence expired less than two years before – prior offence, and class exceed speed (more than 45 km/h). She was granted conditional bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday 4 February 2021. Inquiries continue.
• At 11.30am yesterday (Tuesday 26 January 2021), officers from St George Police Area Command were called to the intersection of Princes Highway and Baxter Avenue, Kogarah, after reports of a single-vehicle crash. Police have been told a man was driving a Mazda sedan south on the Princes Highway when the car mounted the kerb and crashed into a no stopping/clearway sign. While officers were speaking to the man, they allegedly noticed an opened cask of wine inside a black bag. The man was subjected to a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive reading, before being taken to Kogarah Police Station, where a further breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.264. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and his licence was suspended. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday 16 February 2021.

A motorcyclist has died after a single-vehicle crash in the Hunter Valley this morning.
Shortly after 4am (Wednesday 27 January 2021), emergency services were called to the intersection of Wollombi Road and Kendall Street, Bellbird, about 6km south-west of Cessnock, after reports a motorcycle had hit with a barrier.
The rider, a man believed to be aged in his 30s, was ejected from the bike and located a short distance away.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced CPR prior to the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics, however he died at the scene.
The man is yet to be formally identified.
A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Newcastle Jets forward Roy O’Donovan has found a permanent home in the region, with the Irish import and his young family set to become Australian citizens at one of City of Newcastle’s online citizenship ceremonies on Tuesday.
O’Donovan and his wife Ellen relocated to Australia in 2015, initially for a change of scenery, but when their son Alfie was born less than 12 months later, the O’Donovans soon fell in love with Newcastle and the unparalleled lifestyle it had to offer.
^{Roy O’Donovan with his wife Ellen and son Alfie at Dixon Park Beach.}
“I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to play in Australia or America because I fancied the change from living in England,” O’Donovan said.
“We came to Newcastle and really felt like we had found a home here. I’d travelled elsewhere for football but never for more than two or three years at a time. You can’t beat the lifestyle here, especially for raising a family, with so many beautiful parks and beaches at your doorstep.
“We’re extremely honoured and proud to become Australian citizens and be part of Newcastle’s future.”
As for Alfie’s favourite thing about Newcastle? “I love swimming at the beaches and also seeing all the dogs walking around,” he said.
The O’Donovans will share their special day with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who is presiding over their citizenship ceremony via Zoom, before tucking into a backyard barbecue, sending their love to family and friends in hard lockdown in Ireland and enjoying some family time before Alfie starts kindergarten later this week.
Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle had adapted its traditional Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony, which in the past has been one of the largest in the state, to allow our newest citizens to take the pledge in a COVID safe environment.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic has meant we have had to do things a little differently to keep the community safe, it’s an historic moment as Lord Mayor to welcome City of Newcastle’s newest citizens in a more intimate, one-on-one setting, joining them virtually in their lounge rooms and kitchens.”
The Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Declan Clausen will preside over simultaneous ceremonies, accompanied by the Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, who will read the Minister’s Message.