Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for information after reports of a child approach in the Hunter region yesterday.
About 5.40pm (Thursday 23 October 2020), a seven-year-old boy was walking in Willow Close, Medowie, when a man riding an orange and black motorbike pulled up beside him.
Police have been told the male rider asked the boy to get on the bike. He refused and walked away. The man then conducted a U-turn and drove out of Willow Close in an unknown direction.
The incident was reported to officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District who commenced an investigation.
As inquiries continue, police would like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The man is only described as having greyish coloured hair and wearing a khaki-coloured back-pack.
Police are appealing to anyone who might have been in the Medowie area yesterday and either saw the motorbike or has dash-cam footage, to come forward.
Inquiries are continuing.

City of Newcastle’s confirmed 2019/20 financials show it delivered a record investment in capital works of $92.5 million while running the first deficit in seven years of $3.6 million due to the impacts of COVID-19.
The financial statements show the City remains in a strong financial position with net assets of $1.72 billion and total cash reserves of $353 million, including unrestricted reserves of $22.6 million.
The Audit Office of NSW’s assessment has shown the City outperformed in all audited financial key performance ratios for 2019/20 reflecting the high standards of governance of the City’s finances, including oversight by the independent Audit and Risk Committee.
Acting CEO Ken Liddell said the latest financial statements demonstrate City of Newcastle’s capacity to respond to rising service expectations and unforeseen events.
“The prudent financial management of City of Newcastle means we have weathered the impacts of COVID-19 well and are in a position to deliver a stimulus budget for 2020/21 from existing reserves, without borrowing money.
“Because of our robust financial position, City of Newcastle was able to respond quickly to the social and economic disruption of COVID-19 including a $5 million community and economic resilience package and additional community infrastructure investment to support 700 local jobs.
“The total financial impact of COVID-19 reduced City of Newcastle’s operating position for 2019/20 by $9.9 million, including a reduction in user charges of $5 million, interest revenue of $2.9 million and additional expenditure of $2 million.
“Despite this impact, the City delivered a net operating deficit of just $3.6 million, less than the forecast deficit predicted in March of $8.3 million.
“The fact City of Newcastle has produced net operating surpluses for the last six financial years reflects a positive pattern of financial performance and a commitment to long-term financial sustainability.
“The Audit Office’s assessment of City of Newcastle’s financial statement shows a clean bill of health across all performance ratios which is further evidence of the City’s strong financial management.
“When it comes to major economic downturns through global crises such as COVID-19, governments at all levels have a responsibility to accelerate investment to both keep people employed and uplift economic activity.
“We have continued to deliver high-quality services and projects in a financially responsible way.”
The City of Newcastle delivered a record investment in works across the Local Government Area in 2019/20, including:

• $16.6 million on waste management, incorporating the expansion of Cell 9 at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre
• $14.1 million on infrastructure and property investment including the newly opened Local Emergency Operations Centre
• $9.9 million on renewal and maintenance of the City’s roads
• $7.8 million on renewal and maintenance of the City’s stormwater network
• $7.6 million for fleet renewal
• $6.5 million on IT modernisation
• $5 million on Smart City initiatives including the city’s large-scale solar farm
• $3.7 million for City Hall façade upgrades and the new Visitor Information Centre
• $3.5 million on parks, facilities and open space including the playground replacement program
• $2.4 million on Libraries including the new Digital Library.

Meanwhile, City of Newcastle is bringing its method of calculating infrastructure in need of renewal in line with best practice to ensure ratepayers’ money is spent where it is needed most.
All NSW councils are required to estimate the total cost of bringing existing assets up to a satisfactory standard, however the methods for calculating this cost vary and the results are not audited by the Audit Office of NSW unlike other financial key performance ratios.
The condition of the City’s roads, stormwater drainage, footpaths, bridges, buildings and recreational assets are measured against an Office of Local Government (OLG) five-point scale, which rates infrastructure condition from excellent, to very poor.
Following a change to the Local Government Code of Accounting Practice, City of Newcastle now considers assets rated 3 out of 5 on the OLG key to be satisfactory and therefore these assets are no longer included as infrastructure in need of renewal, also known as a ‘backlog’.
City of Newcastle Interim Chief Financial Officer Scott Moore said other leading NSW councils, including City of Sydney, factor in assets rated in poor and very poor condition when calculating their ratio whereas City of Newcastle previously also included assets rated as satisfactory.
“Allocating personnel and expenditure to renew infrastructure in satisfactory condition takes away from City of Newcastle’s ability to deliver a works program that meets the community’s needs,” Mr Moore said.
“Infrastructure rated as satisfactory is fit for purpose and therefore does not need replacing.
“By using this best practice model, we are freeing up funds to be used where they deliver the best value for our community, including key renewal projects such as the Newcastle Ocean Baths.
“Our infrastructure in need of renewal is calculated at only $37 million using this best practice OLG method, which is much more accurate than the $126 million recorded last year as it also including $101 million related to assets rated as satisfactory.

A police officer has been charged over alleged off-duty assaults in the state’s Hunter Region.
In February, an investigation commenced after a physical altercation between neighbours was reported, which involved an off-duty male police officer.
Their inquiries also uncovered another physical altercation between the off-duty officer and the neighbour’s son, which occurred in December 2019.
Following extensive investigations, the 39-year-old detective senior constable – who is attached to Northern Region – was served a Future Court Attendance Notice yesterday (Tuesday 20 October 2020), for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.
He is due to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 1 December 2020.
His employment status is currently under review.

Detectives have charged two men over the alleged sexual assaults of two teenage girls in the Hunter region earlier this month.
Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports two girls, aged 14 and 17, had been physically and sexually assaulted by two unknown men at Glendale on Friday 2 October 2020.
Investigators were told the girls were walking along Frederick Street with two other friends when they were approached by the men, who made threats toward the group before allegedly sexually touching the girls and then allegedly sexually assaulting them.
The girl’s friends went to get help before the 17-year-old girl was able to run to a nearby shop and returned with staff members who assisted the younger girl.
Emergency services were contacted, and the men fled the scene.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives executed two search warrants at homes at Argenton and Williamtown about 6am yesterday (Tuesday 20 October 2020).
During the searches, police seized a number of items relevant to the investigation, as well as cannabis and a cannabis plant, which was located at the Williamtown property.
Two men – aged 19 and 24 – were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
The 24-year-old Williamtown man was charged with sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated sex assault-victim under the age of 16 years, aggravated sexual intercourse child aged 14-16 years, assault child aged 14-16 with intent to commit sexual offence, intentionally sexually touch child aged 10-16, aggravated intentionally do sexual act with child aged 10-16, two counts of incite another to sexually touch them without consent, cultivate prohibited plant and possess prohibited drug.
The 19-year-old Argenton man was charged with aggravated sex assault-victim under the age of 16 years, assault child aged 14-16 with intent to commit sexual offence, and three counts of intentionally sexually touch child aged 10-16.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 21 October 2020).

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after a serious crash at Lake Macquarie this morning.
About 6.15am (Wednesday 21 October 2020), emergency services were called to the M1 at Morisset, following reports a Toyota Hi-Ace van had left the roadway and crashed.
Police were told the Toyota and a Kenworth B-double prime mover were both travelling north when the truck has attempted to change lanes. The Toyota attempted to take evasive action and has lost control causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and roll.
The Toyota driver, a 36-year-old woman, was trapped for a short time before being released by Fire and Rescue NSW.
She was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital where she underwent surgery for a fractured arm and head injuries.
The truck driver, a 34-year-old man, was uninjured.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and commenced inquiries into the cause of the crash.
Police are urging anyone who may have dashcam footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.

Local business embraced the benefits of new connections and sharing ideas at City of Newcastle’s Special Business Rate (SBR) Collaboration Forum.
City of Newcastle brought together the recipients of its latest $935,000 round of SBR funding for the City Centre Darby Street precincts on Thursday at the event, designed to foster business-to-business collaboration and the opportunity to partner and strengthen project concepts.

Special Business Rates are collected by City of Newcastle for the promotion, beautification and development of Newcastle’s business precincts.
The SBR program provides funding for unique and engaging events, activities and creative projects that breathe life into the city centre and encourage people to spend locally.
The forum encouraged cooperation and provided Newcastle’s small business community the opportunity to network and make connections with City of Newcastle staff.
SBR funding recipients shared their project concepts designed to activate public spaces and strengthen the city’s reputation as a destination for tourism, business and events.
Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Newcastle’s business and creative community adapted and is developing resilience building solutions to ensure the local economy thrives.

Fort Scratchley will reopen to the public six days a week, between 10am and 4pm, from Sunday 1 November.
The community can enjoy a COVIDSafe historical experience with tunnel and gun emplacement tours, daily gun firings at 1pm, and access to external grounds, galleries and static exhibitions each day except Tuesday.
Bookings are not required for free general admission; however, visitors will need to scan a QR code on entry for contact tracing purposes.
Prepaid bookings can be made online for tunnel tours with a maximum of six people per group.
Visit the Fort Scratchley or City of Newcastle websites to learn more about how we are keeping you safe while welcoming you back to the Fort.

Community members are being encouraged to share their visions of how Newcastle Libraries’ spaces and services might be made even better in the future.
City of Newcastle is conducting early engagement to inform the development of a Contemporary Libraries Infrastructure Plan (CLIP) to meet the community’s evolving needs and expectations for libraries for the future.
The Library Satisfaction and Infrastructure Survey opened today and aims to measure current satisfaction levels with the Libraries’ online and branch services, understand expectations around access to help and expert advice, as well as how the community accesses library services both now and into the future, including ideas for co-location and pop-up venues across the city.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said libraries were no longer a place to simply borrow items, but a place to gather and exchange ideas and information, foster lifelong learning and preserve information and culture for future generations.
“Our Libraries are multi-functional community spaces where you can research a history project, borrow the latest books and DVDs on-the-go, and access cutting-edge technology like the 3D printer and digital story wall available at the City’s newest Digital Library at the City Administration Centre,” Cr Nelmes said.
“In addition, the City’s expansive e-Library collection and large range of information and learning databases complement the Newcastle Libraries App and Home Library Service, which means your library is available 24/7 – anytime, anywhere.
“Feedback from this survey will help guide future projects and initiatives in line with Newcastle Libraries’ adopted 10-year strategic plan to 2029, which identifies the need for new and refreshed infrastructure to support the Libraries’ evolution.”
Manager Libraries and Learning, Suzie Gately, said the survey would also identify factors that would encourage people to use library services more often.
“Our aim is to better understand the needs, experiences and behaviours of those who currently use our libraries, as well as those who currently do not but who might in the future,” Ms Gately said.
“This aligns with our strategic plan to create vibrant, safe and active public places for all. So, tell us, what does your library of the future look like?”
The Library Satisfaction and Infrastructure Survey is open until Tuesday 3 November. Visit the website to have your say.

The land surrounding McDonald Jones Stadium will be protected from unchecked residential and commercial hotel development, after NSW Labor successfully amended the Sporting Venues Authority Bill in the NSW Upper House.
The legislation brings together a range of sporting and entertainment venues throughout NSW under a single board, including Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Newcastle Showground.
It also would have allowed the Minister for Sport to single-handedly approve widespread residential and commercial development on Venues NSW land such as the Hunter Sports and Entertainment Precinct.
With support from the crossbench, Labor successfully removed this provision. Any proposal for these developments will now need to be approved by the Parliament.
“This poor attempt by the NSW Government to slip changes through the Parliament under guise of their Venues Bill has been rightly rejected,” Shadow Minister for Sport Lynda Voltz said.
“These changes will ensure sport and the community’s interests will always come first in our sporting precincts.”
State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said that parliamentary oversight of future development was necessary to ensure the process remained transparent.
“It’s important that a balance is achieved when the Hunter Sports and Entertainment Precinct redevelopment goes ahead,” he said.
“The last thing anyone wants to see is widespread residential development at the expense of providing the world-class sporting facilities New South Wales’ second-largest city deserves.”
Labor was also successful in securing the establishment of a Hunter advisory committee and the mandated appointment of a Hunter representative on the new Venues NSW board, in critical steps to ensuring the progressing the Hunter Sports and Entertainment Precinct is a top priority for Venues NSW.

A woman was arrested and charged with murder following the suspicious death of 43-year-old New Zealand man, Ian Pullen, two years ago in the Hunter region.
Just after 5.30am on Saturday 29 September 2018, emergency services were called to Carrington Street, Glenridding, after a man’s body was located on the side of the road.
The man was later identified as 43-year-old New Zealand firefighter, Ian Pullen, who had arrived in the Hunter region to assist with bushfire efforts.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Awabakil to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Pullen’s death.
Following extensive inquiries and numerous public appeals, a 29-year-old man was arrested last week; he was charged and remains before the courts.
After further inquiries, police attended a home on Dominion Avenue, Singleton, and arrested a 30-year-old woman about 9am yesterday (Monday 16 October 2020).
She was taken to Singleton Police Station before being taken to Singleton Hospital under police guard for an existing injury. She later returned to Singleton Police Station and was charged with murder.
Police will allege in court the 29-year-old man was driving a white Toyota Hilux utility when Mr Pullen was struck in the early hours of Saturday 29 September before leaving the scene.
It will be further alleged that the vehicle returned a short time later, with the man and woman exiting the utility and striking Mr Pullen in the head with an object.
The woman was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Tuesday 20 October 2020).
Investigations under Strike Force Awabakil are ongoing.