Category: Newcastle News

The Hunter Joint Organisation and its ten member councils are refreshing their Regional Code of Conduct Panel and are inviting Expression of Interest. The Hunter JO represents the ten councils in the Hunter region;

• Cessnock City Council
• Dungog Shire Council
• Lake Macquarie City Council
• Maitland City Council
• MidCoast Council
• Muswellbrook Shire Council
• Newcastle City Council
• Port Stephens Council
• Singleton Council
• Upper Hunter Shire Council.

Under the Local Government Act 1993 and the Code of Conduct framework, Councils are required to establish a Panel of Conduct Reviewers, to inquire into complaints alleging breaches of the Code by the Mayor, Councillors or General Manager.

Councils may enter into an arrangement with one or more other Councils to share a Regional Panel. Hunter JO Member Councils have agreed to establish a Regional Panel of Conduct Reviewers for a period of up to four years commencing 13 August 2020.

The Hunter Joint Organisation (Hunter JO) invites Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons for appointment to a Regional Code of Conduct Review Panel. Persons seeking appointment must satisfy the criteria specified in the EOI and nominate their schedule of fees.

To complete an Expression of Interest, please use the following link to access the documentation through Tenderlink: https://www.tenderlink.com/regionalprocurement/

 select ‘All Current Tenders’ and Notice Number: REGPRO-918363.

For any questions on the EOI process, please contact the Hunter JO Chief Executive Officer on 02 4978 4040, or by email to admin@hunterjo.com.au.

Expressions of Interest close at 5 pm on Friday 19 June 2020.

Hazardous conditions are expected for coastal activities, such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing along Newcastle’s coastline.
Numerous accessways to Stockton Beach will remain closed over the weekend with the possibility of further coastal erosion in Stockton due to the impact of the weather. King Street and Little Beach access is likely to remain open but conditions will be monitored and access may change.
Please stay safe when moving around coastal areas, and adhere to warning signs. 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 http://www.bom.gov.au/, and for emergencies, the State Emergency Service https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/  13 25 00.

An investigation is underway following an armed robbery at a service station near Newcastle overnight.
About 1.45am (Friday 22 May 2020), emergency services were called to a service station on Maitland Road, Sandgate, after reports of an armed robbery.
Police have been told two unknown men entered the station and approached the counter, threatening the employee – a 24-year-old man – with a samurai sword and baseball bat, while demanding money.
The men stole cash, before fleeing the scene on foot towards Mangrove Road.
The employee was not physically injured.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic police.
As inquiries continue, anyone who may have dashcam vision or CCTV from the surrounding area, or who may have noticed suspicious activity, are urged to contact detectives at Newcastle Police Station on (02) 4929 0999.

A man has died after a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 10.35am (Friday 22 May 2020), emergency services were called to John Renshaw Drive, Buchanan, after an Isuzu utility left the roadway and crashed into a tree.
The driver and sole occupant, a 61-year-old man, was found trapped in the vehicle before being released a short time later.
Emergency services attempted to revive the man, however he died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A man wanted on five outstanding warrants has been arrested by police following a vehicle stop near Muswellbrook.
An extensive police operation was conducted in the Nundle area yesterday (Wednesday 20 May 2020), involving officers from Hunter Valley Police District, Oxley Police District, and other specialist commands.
Just after 6.30pm, a 34-year-old man was arrested following a vehicle stop on the New England Highway at Muswellbrook.
He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station before being transferred to Muswellbrook and Maitland Hospitals.
Upon his release from hospital, he was conveyed back to Muswellbrook Police Station.
The man has been charged with five outstanding warrants relating to traffic, property, judicial and revocation of parole offences.
He was also charged with three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), two counts of common assault (DV) and one count of intentionally or recklessly destroy/damage property (DV related).
The Muswellbrook man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Friday 22 May 2020).
Inquiries are continuing.

A third man has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into the death of another man at Newcastle last year.
About 3.30am on Friday 8 March 2019, police were called to Donald Street, Hamilton, following reports of men fighting in the street.
When police arrived, they were told the men had left the area.
A short time later, officers were called to a unit on Coady Street, Hamilton South, where they found the body of a 51-year-old man, and a 23-year-old man unconscious, suffering head injuries.
The injured man was treated at the scene by paramedics before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced inquiries into the incident under Strike Force Delline.
So far during the investigation, two men – aged 25 and 26 – have been charged and remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, a 32-year-old man was arrested at a unit at Hamilton South about 4.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 20 May 2020).
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 21 May 2020).
Inquiries under Strike Force Delline are continuing.

City of Newcastle has teamed up with Port of Newcastle to deliver a new electric vehicle charging station on Wharf Road to add to the city’s growing network.
Two new 22-kilowatt chargers in the carpark next to Harry’s Café de Wheels follow three others installed by the City outside No.2 Sportsground and another smaller charging station on Laman St, Cooks Hill, last year.
Thanks to City of Newcastle’s 100 per cent renewable electricity contract, motorists can now power up using renewable energy from four parking bays either side of the two new chargers.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Novocastrians were increasingly embracing sustainable transport and that the new installation had been strategically located.
^{Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor with Port of Newcastle’s Simon Byrnes at today’s opening.} 
 
“This third charging hub is part of readying Newcastle for a future in which Australians dramatically reduce their transport emissions by driving renewable energy-powered EVs,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“There are now 19 different EV models available in Australia with a typical range of 480km, and we’re seeing more and more on local streets.
“We’ve located this facility close to inner-city businesses and tourist attractions in the hope that, like chargers installed in Wallsend’s town centre, they draw motorists from the M1 Motorway.
“We are delighted to partner with the Port of Newcastle in leading this transition to more sustainable transport, which we outlined in our own 2017 Smart City Strategy.”
The new chargers will initially be free before user-pay fees are later introduced.
Port of Newcastle Chief Commercial Officer Simon Byrnes said partnerships were critical to achieving the Port’s diversification and sustainability goals.
“It is a pleasure to partner with the City of Newcastle to help expand its electric vehicle charging network and promote renewable energy and sustainable transport options in the region,” Mr Byrnes said.
“Today I am excited to unveil the first four electric vehicles in our Port of Newcastle fleet. We expect to complete the transition to an electric fleet by the end of 2021, saving more than 48 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
^{One of four new Port of Newcastle electric vehicles.} 
“Port of Newcastle is serious about its commitment to the environment and creating a prosperous future for the communities it supports. Ultimately, we are striving to create a safe, sustainable and socially responsible Port for the future.”
Australian sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars more than tripled in 2019 to 6,718 units, according to the Electric Vehicle Council, as sales of petrol and diesel vehicles fell eight per cent.
NSW is now well covered with around 300 public charging stations, which the City will add to with another site in Cooks Hill’s Queen Street carpark later in 2020.
Last year a 50-kilowatt fast charger and two 22-kilowatt chargers were installed at No.2 Sportsground.
^{One of the No.2 Sportsground chargers.} 
The fast charger can charge an average vehicle to around 80 per cent capacity in 30-40 minutes, while the smaller chargers take around two hours.
“Our EV charger network has now recorded 1,000 charging sessions, 800 hours of charging time and 15,000-kilowatt hours of 100 per cent renewable energy,” the Lord Mayor said.
The roll out of EV infrastructure is part of the $13 million Smart Moves Newcastle project, which received $5 million under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program in 2017.
The City has also begun transitioning its fleet with the purchase of electric vehicles and investigations into electric waste trucks.
 

A man reported missing from the Lake Macquarie area has been found safe and well.
The 72-year-old was last seen about 1.30pm yesterday (Monday 18 May 2020), in Garden Suburb.
Following extensive inquiries, the man was found at about 6.50am today (Tuesday 19 May 2020), at New Lambton.
Police would like to thank the community and media for their assistance.

A man will appear in court today after allegedly biting a police officer near Maitland yesterday.
About 3.45pm (Tuesday 19 May 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a man on Thursby Street, Tenambit, and observed him holding something in the front of his jumper.
When police asked him to show them what he was holding, the man was observed placing a small plastic bag into his mouth before chewing it, swallowing it and attempting to leave the scene.
The 38-year-old man was arrested when he allegedly became violent, resisting police and biting one Senior Constable on his right arm.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, and rider not wear approved bicycle helmet/fitted/fastened.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 20 May 2020).
The Senior Constable was taken to Maitland Hospital for treatment.

Nominations have now opened for the 2020 Newcastle Volunteer Service Awards and Novocastrians are encouraged to nominate a special volunteer for recognition.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon, who delivers the awards, said volunteers had made a huge difference to the Newcastle community during the coronavirus crisis.
“Despite the many challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown at us, I have been incredibly heartened by the surge in community volunteering efforts to ensure that no one in Newcastle is left feeling isolated and alone,” Ms Claydon said.
“The spontaneous creation of neighbourhood groups and the overnight transformation of local cafes into community kitchens and corner stores has been life-saving for many. Novocastrians demonstrated that, when the going gets really tough, we come together to support each other.”
Ms Claydon said that nominating an exceptional volunteer only takes ten minutes.
“If you want to nominate a volunteer for recognition just visit www.sharonclaydon.com/volunteerawards2020 and follow the link to the online nomination form.
“Nominations close on Friday 7 August 2020.”
Ms Claydon said that the nominated volunteers would be recognised at a special awards event.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community, but too often they don’t get the recognition they deserve,” Ms Claydon said.
“As always, at the end of the selection process, I will host a presentation ceremony to celebrate the incredible contribution of these dedicated volunteers to our community. While the final shape of this ceremony will necessarily be determined by the health orders of the day, all Award recipients, and those that nominated them, will be invited to participate.”