Category: Newcastle News

A man has died following a fall in Newcastle yesterday.
About 8.40pm (Monday 28 September 2020), emergency services were called to a hotel on Scott Street near Watt Street, Newcastle, following reports a man fallen from the fourth floor of the building.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died soon after.
The man is yet to be formally identified, however, is believed to be aged 37.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene, which was forensically examined by specialist police.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Initial inquiries suggest the incident is not suspicious.

Residential development activity in the Newcastle Local Government Area held strong in the 2019/20 financial year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic occurring throughout the final four months.
Of the 1,168 development applications (DAs) approved by the City of Newcastle in 2019/20, 947 of them were for residential development, valued at more than $271 million, excluding mixed commercial developments. This remained steady from the previous financial year, which saw 1,008 residential DAs approved from 1,281.
The value of residential DAs for new dwellings lodged rose from 33 per cent to 46 per cent as a percentage of the total value of all DAs submitted.
Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment, Michelle Bisson, said development activity had remained strong.
“While no industry has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed, the popularity of new residential dwellings and secondary dwellings continues to grow in the Newcastle LGA,” Ms Bisson said.
“The construction of secondary dwellings provides the community with a choice of more affordable housing, which is a major focus of City of Newcastle’s draft Local Housing Strategy 2020, which was on public exhibition until 21 September.”
Ms Bisson said solid development activity was still also evident within the inner-city.
“The $166 million in developments approved in the CBD alone in the last financial year, plus state government approvals including the University of Newcastle City Campus and ongoing building works, are sustaining many local jobs on the ground and continuing the transformation of our City.”
The diversity of development in the City is reflected in the top-three most valuable DAs approved in the 2019/20 financial year, including a 20-storey mixed use development in Newcastle West ($27.6 million), the adaptive reuse of a building as a boutique hotel ($24.3 million) and an eight-storey commercial development ($18.9 million), both in Newcastle.
While the suburb of Newcastle continues to attract the development dollar ($110 million), other popular suburbs were Fletcher ($49.8 million), Broadmeadow ($47.8 million) and Mayfield West ($40 million).

City of Newcastle has opened two new basketball courts near the corner of National Park and Parry Streets to activate the formerly unused corner of National Park.
The new basketball courts replace the long defunct tennis facilities and sit alongside the recently opened greenspace where the former bowling club building previously stood.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the continued revival of the space within National Park has occurred at the perfect time.
“Following the demolition of the former bowling club building, we created new green space in this inner city park for the community to enjoy,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The addition of the basketball courts makes the location the perfect place for our community to get outdoors to participate in recreation and exercise as the weather continues to warm up.
“I’m pleased to say that the basketball courts have opened just in time for the school holidays and I have no doubt that kids and adults alike will be heading to National Park to shoot hoops over the coming weeks.
“Our outdoor spaces have been coveted by our community during the pandemic and continue to be important contributors to the wellbeing of our people.
The Lord Mayor said the long-term future of the area would be determined through community consultation on the upcoming National Park Plan of Management.
“National Park is a unique site in Newcastle and will play an important part in the liveability of our city centre as the population grows and the CBD moves to the west,” Cr Nelmes said.
“We’re looking forward to working with the community on the future of National Park, with engagement expected to start before the end of the year.”
National Park is one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves, covering over 20 hectares and is currently home to a range of community facilities including sportsgrounds, netball courts, athletics track and high school.
The northwest corner of the park was formerly home to tennis courts and a bowling club, which was later occupied by charity Life Without Barriers until 2017.
In 2019 City of Newcastle commenced a process to provide safe public access to the northwest corner of the park, including demolishing the Life Without Barriers building and turfing the area for passive recreation. Investigations are currently underway for additional basketball courts at the site.
The National Park Plan of Management review is currently underway, with community consultation set to commence in November and a draft plan to be publicly exhibited in early 2021.
Head to the basketball courts map to find a complete listing of basketball courts throughout Newcastle.

Police are investigating after an armed robbery in Lake Macquarie.
About 6.15pm yesterday (Sunday 27 September 2020), a 24-year-old man was working at a bottle shop on Wilsons Road at Mount Hutton, when a man entered the store and threatened him with a firearm.
He demanded cash before fleeing the scene in an easterly direction towards South Street, Windale.
Lake Macquarie Police District officers were called a short time later and established a crime scene.
The man is described as being between 180cm to 185cm tall, wearing dark clothing with his face covered.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area between 6pm and 6.30pm last night, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from nearby is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

A man has been charged following an alleged brawl in Lake Macquarie earlier this month.
Just before 5pm on Saturday (19 September 2020), police were called to a sporting ground on Minnie Street, Dora Creek, after reports of a physical altercation.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended, however, those involved had dispersed.
Following extensive inquiries, a 22-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station about 8.30am today (Monday 28 September 2020) where he was arrested.
He has since been charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court later today.
 

Detectives are appealing for an anonymous caller to come forward as they continue investigations into the suspicious death of a man in the state’s Hunter region nearly two years ago.
Just after 5.30am on Saturday 29 September 2018, emergency services were called to Carrington Street at Glenridding, after a man’s body was located on the side of the road.
The man was later identified as New Zealand firefighter Ian Pullen, aged 43, who had come to the Hunter region to assist with bushfire efforts.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District formed Strike Force Awabakil to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Pullen’s death.
Investigators believe Mr Pullen was struck by a vehicle between 4am and 5.30am that day.
An anonymous call made to police indicated that the vehicle involved returned to the scene, where the occupants exited the car and approached Mr Pullen while he was still alive.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer, reminded the community that a $350,000 reward remained on offer for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Pullen’s death.
“Ian Pullen had come to the region to help the community battle a bushfire threat and to think that someone struck him with their vehicle and left him to die is abhorrent,” Det Insp Zimmer said.
“An anonymous tip-off has led investigators to believe the driver of the vehicle knew they had struck someone, and police are interested in their movements after exiting the car.
“We are appealing for that caller to come forward and speak with investigators so we can continue to piece together exactly what happened on that tragic morning.
“It’s been nearly two years since Mr Pullen’s death, and we want to provide some answers for his heart-broken family. They need to know what happened to their loving son, husband and father,” Det Insp Zimmer said.

A man missing from the state’s Hunter region has been found safe and well.
The 47-year-old man was reported missing to officers from Newcastle City Police District after he had not been seen or heard from by family and friends since Saturday 19 September 2020.
Following inquiries, police located the man at a home in Waratah yesterday (Saturday 26 September 2020).
Police thank the media and the community for their assistance.

A man wanted on an outstanding warrant has been charged with more than 20 offences after he was arrested in the state’s Hunter Region.
Just before 1am today (Sunday 27 September 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District Proactive Crime Team attended Jarrett Street in Kilaben Bay, after reports of males arguing in the street.
A 27-year-old man, wanted on an outstanding revocation of parole warrant, was arrested at the scene and taken to Toronto Police Station.
He was charged with 25 offences including;

• Dishonestly obtain property by deception (x5)
• Drive conveyance taken without consent of owner (x7)
• Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period (x3)
• Police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly (x2)
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle)
• Goods suspected stolen given other not entitled (not motor vehicle)
• Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention
• Not give particulars to other driver
• Custody of knife in public place
• Larceny
• Shoplifting (x2)

The outstanding revocation of parole warrant was also executed.
Police will allege in court that the offences were committed across the Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah Lakes, Brisbane Water and Newcastle City Police Districts since May 2020.
The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Bail Court today (Sunday 27 September 2020).
 

A teenage driver has been charged and police have launched a critical incident following a serious crash that left 11 people injured, one critically, at Lake Macquarie overnight.
Just before 1.15am (Saturday 26 September 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling when they saw a Holden Statesman leave a service station on Main Road, Edgeworth.
Due to the manner of driving, police conducted a U-turn to follow the vehicle.
The Holden continued to travel on Main Road and allegedly collided with a Toyota HiAce van, being operated as a taxi, at the intersection of Garth Street.
Paramedics treated 11 people for various injuries who were all taken to John Hunter Hospital.
The taxi driver, a 46-year-old man, and two female passengers, aged 24 and 42, suffered serious injuries.
The younger woman remains in a critical condition and the driver in a serious but stable condition.
Three further taxi passengers – men, aged 28, 35, and 47 – suffered minor injuries.
Three passengers in the Holden – two 14-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy – suffered serious injuries. The Holden driver and a fourth passenger, both aged 17, suffered minor injuries.
The Holden driver was arrested and subjected to a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive result.
He was taken to hospital, under police guard, where he underwent mandatory testing.
The teen has since been released and taken to Toronto Police Station, where he was charged with 15 offences, including:

• dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm- drive manner dangerous (x3)
• cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle (x8)
• negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm)
• drive motor vehicle during disqualification period
• negligent driving, and
• not stop before lights at red light.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court tomorrow (Sunday 27 September 2020).
A critical incident team will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the crash.
That investigation will be subject to independent review.

School trips to Canberra may have been cancelled due to COVID-19, but you can still get a taste of one of the capital’s most popular experiences when Questacon’s Colour exhibition opens at Newcastle Museum today.
Launched just in time for the start of the school holidays, this special touring exhibition developed by Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre explores the science of colour and perception through more than 20 different interactive experiences.

Set up in a COVID Safe space in the Supernova Gallery, Colour allows visitors to discover how light influences colour and why we all see colour differently, using everything from coloured bubbles and iridescent insects to spectacular fluorescent rocks and colour illusions.
Questacon partnered with the Australian National Insect Collection and Geoscience Australia for this exhibition, which runs from 25 September 2020 to 31 January 2021.
Newcastle Museum will also launch a second new exhibition on 25 September, showcasing the work of Newcastle photographer Luke Kellett. isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 includes around 25 large format photographs taken in the wake of the first COVID-19 Public Health Order closures announced in March 2020.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Colour and isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 represented the amazing calibre of touring and self-curated exhibitions being offered throughout the year by the Museum.
“We’re excited to showcase the Colour exhibition to the Museum’s audience in Newcastle and the Hunter, offering a taste of the science-based fun that both Questacon and our Museum are so well known for,” Cr Clausen said.
“We’re also proud to play a role in recording history for future generations through the pictures and stories of Novocastrians during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our Museum continues to raise its profile nationally by presenting world class exhibitions to our community and I encourage everyone to come along and take a look for themselves.”
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said as part of isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19, Luke wanted to document how the city felt and looked without the usual crowds and to explore togetherness during isolation. Luke photographed different types of households in isolation and recorded his subject’s thoughts, fears and hopes for the future via written responses to questions.
“Through this amazing exhibition visitors can see how other people experienced isolation, and experience how in 100 years’ time Newcastle will remember this momentous period of time,” Ms Baird said.
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. Entry into isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 is free.
Visitors should bring a mobile phone to enter the museum using a QR code and interact with both exhibitions.