Category: Newcastle News

Police are investigating a suspicious building fire at a fast food restaurant in the Hunter region.
About 3.30am today (Sunday 19 July 2020), emergency services were called to the business on Allandale road, Cessnock, following reports of a fire.
Upon arrival, an external playground and dining area was found to be well alight and the blaze was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.
The restaurant was closed at the time and no one was injured, however, the fire caused significant damage to the outdoor area and roof.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire which is being treated as suspicious.
Inquiries are continuing.

A man has been charged following the alleged online grooming of a child in the Newcastle region.
On Thursday (16 July 2020), police attached to Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation following reports a 15-year-old girl had been sent messages of a sexual nature by a man who was known to her.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 45-year-old man at a home in Windale about 7.20pm yesterday (Friday 17 July 2020).
Police seized two mobile phones at the home which will undergo forensic examination.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with use carriage service to menace/harass/offend, groom child for unlawful sexual activity and use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 18 July 2020).

Newcastle Art Gallery will reveal the winner of the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 via a livestreamed announcement by Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes on Friday 31 July 2020 at 3pm.
To comply with the latest advice from NSW Health and ensure social distancing is practiced, the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 winner announcement will be strictly limited to KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 finalist artists, invited guests and media. The livestream will be available to audiences on the Art Gallery’s Facebook and Instagram.
One of Australia’s major art prizes, the KILGOUR PRIZE awards $50,000 for the most outstanding work of art selected by Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton and invited judges, who this year comprise Rachel Arndt – Gallery Programs and Touring Exhibitions Manager, Museums and Galleries of NSW and Stephen Gilchrist – Curator and Lecturer Art History, The University of Sydney.
The KILGOUR PRIZE also awards a People’s Choice of $5,000 to the painting voted most popular by the general public.
This year’s 30 finalists were selected from more than 350 entries received from across the country. The 2020 finalists include artists from the ACT, NSW, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The list also features two local artists, Michael Bell and Peter Gardiner, who have both been regular entrants to the KILGOUR PRIZE, with the latter winning the prize in 2016.
“Every year the KILGOUR PRIZE presents some of the best contemporary Australian portrait and figurative painting. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian arts sector, the KILGOUR PRIZE has been an incredible opportunity to encourage and support artists to continue producing and creating works of art. This year’s selected artists present diverse interpretations of the brief, resulting in a very dynamic exhibition,” Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said.
Funded by a bequest from artist Jack Noel Kilgour, the KILGOUR PRIZE has encouraged innovation within portrait and figurative painting since 2006.
The KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 will be on display from 1 August – 15 November 2020.
For information on the 2020 Finalists and Judges visit- www.nag.org.au/Exhibitions/Future/KILGOUR-PRIZE-2020
ABOUT THE KILGOUR PRIZE
Jack Noel Kilgour (1900–1987) was an Australian artist well-known for his academic approach to landscape and portrait painting. In 1987 Kilgour bequeathed funds for the creation of a major figurative and portrait art competition to be run in perpetuity. As one of Australia’s major art prizes, Newcastle Art Gallery is proud to be the home of the KILGOUR PRIZE.
More information:
https://www.nag.org.au/Kilgour-Prize

A man will face court today after allegedly sexually touching a child at a Newcastle shopping centre earlier this week.
About 2.20pm on Monday (13 July 2020), an 11-year-old girl was with a family member at a Newcastle West supermarket, when it is alleged a 49-year-old man sexually touched the child whilst inside the store.
The man fled and officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified, commencing an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, a 49-year-old man attended St Mary’s Police Station and was placed under arrest.
He was charged with intentional sexual touching of a child and was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today (Thursday 16 July 2020).

A man has been charged after an alleged brawl and glassing at a Newcastle pub at the weekend.
About 11.45pm on Saturday (11 July 2020), two groups of men were inside a licensed premises on Croudace Road, Elermore Vale, when they became involved in a verbal altercation.
It escalated into a physical altercation between two men – aged 26 and 38 – before a 24-year-old man allegedly hit the 38-year-old in the face with a schooner glass which shattered on impact, before a larger brawl ensued.
The older man suffered a deep laceration to the right side of his face, he was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were called and commenced an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home on Nott Street, Edgeworth, and arrested a 24-year-old man about 8.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 July 2020).
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 16 July 2020).

Police are appealing for information from the community to locate a man wanted on an arrest warrant for breaching his reporting obligations.
Fakatou Lokuvalu Heitonga, aged 41, is wanted for failing to comply with his reporting obligations as a registrable person on the Child Protection Register.
Mr Heitonga was last seen in the Mayfield area in March 2018.
He is described as being of Pacific Islander appearance, with an olive complexion, shaved black hair, a medium build and approximately 170cm tall.
Mr Heitonga has family in the Mayfield area and has previously held employment in the Thornton and Chester Hill areas.
Police have conducted numerous inquiries and so far, been unable to locate him.

A woman will face court today charged with alleged ongoing drug supply in the Hunter region.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Lirki to investigate the death of a 36-year-old man at Cessnock on 25 September 2018.
A 34-year-old man was charged over the death and remains before the courts.
During the course of the investigation, detectives received information about the ongoing supply of methylamphetamine and cannabis in the Hunter region.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 33-year-old woman at a facility at Silverwater about 12pm on Thursday (2 July 2020).
She was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis and one count of supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug.
The woman was remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 15 July 2020).
 

A missing Lake Macquarie man has been located safe and well.
The 59-year-old Macquarie Hills man was reported missing this morning by members of his family.
About 5pm today (Wednesday 15 July 2020), the man was located in Cronulla.
Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

A bird’s eye view of all development applications in Newcastle is now available online via an interactive aerial map on the City’s website.
The map makes it easy for residents and interested parties to access information about current development applications (DAs), modifications, reviews and complying development certificates (CDCs), as well as all development determinations made in the 12 months prior.
Development locations are marked on a Google Earth-style map with a pin showing properties, street names, suburbs and local landmarks.
The coloured markers represent applications on exhibition (yellow), pending applications (blue) and those approved (green) or refused (red) in the past 12 months.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the map was a great way to see what development was underway in any part of the city.
“The map is a great convenience for residents and customers who previously had to search individual properties or streets on our website to obtain a list of proposed or approved developments,” the Lord Mayor said.
“For the first time, Novocastrians can, from the convenience of their phone or computer, scroll through an aerial map of developments across the city and see what’s happening and where.
“Users can also link to our development application tracker via the “more info” option when they scroll down in the pop-up box, which links to relevant documents, plans and application details.”
The map’s launch comes amid marginally increased development activity across Newcastle, despite the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City received six more development applications in the three months from March (332) than it did during the corresponding period last year (326).
“The number of development applications being lodged with the City of Newcastle this year is consistent with last year, including through the period since COVID-19 started to impact the economy,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Development applications for the three months were worth $141 million, which is estimated to sustain up to 830 local jobs.
“This indicates that there continues to be opportunities in the construction sector in Newcastle with a mix of development types – the majority on existing sites or home improvements.
“The HomeBuilder program, which is offering $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing one, may create further opportunities for the construction industry in Newcastle over the coming six to 12 months.”

City of Newcastle has implemented safety precautions ahead of an east coast low forecast to build today and tomorrow.
The low-pressure system is expected to linger off the coast Tuesday and Wednesday with potential for heavy rain, strong winds and large waves which will pose risks along Newcastle’s coastline.
Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for swimming, surfing and rock fishing for all beaches and both ocean baths starting Tuesday until Friday.
City of Newcastle will prepare and monitor its coastal facilities and assets along the Newcastle coastline including areas in Stockton which may be impacted by coastal erosion.
Beach accessways in Stockton will be closed and current traffic controls in place at Barrie Crescent and Mitchell Street will be reinforced. Road closures at Barrie Crescent, Mitchell Street, Stone Street Corner and Griffiths Road may be implemented depending on weather conditions.
The City of Newcastle asks the community to follow all safety warnings, to abide by all road closures and to drive safely in the forecast extreme weather conditions.
Coastal erosion can change beach conditions dramatically and quickly. This can lead to sand cliff collapses without warning.
To stay up to date on the weather warnings, please follow the Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au, and for emergencies, the State Emergency Service at www.ses.nsw.gov.au  or phone 13 25 00.