Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Port Stephens area.
Daniel Skinner, aged 45, was last seen swimming with a friend at Fingal Spit, Fingal Bay, about 5pm yesterday (Tuesday 26 May 2020).
Both men exited the water with assistance from NSW Surf Life Saving members before Daniel left the area.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced a search for the man however he could not be located.
Police and friends hold serious concerns for his welfare.
A search is currently underway at Fingal Bay with Nelson Bay Police being assisted by the Marine Area Command, Police Rescue and SES volunteers.
Daniel is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, with a medium build and brown hair.
He is known to frequent the Fingal Bay, Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay areas, and currently has no fixed place of abode.
Anyone with information about Daniel’s whereabouts is urged to contact police.

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 26 May 2020. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
A Lord Mayoral Minute to extend condolences to the wife and family of former Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor and union leader Denis Nichols upon his passing was supported.
Another Lord Mayoral Minute endorsing the formation of the Climate Emergency Australia Council and continued advocacy and collaboration on climate change was supported.
A Lord Mayoral for City of Newcastle to make a submission to draft determination on prices for Hunter Water Corporation from 1 July 2020 was supported.
Ordinary business
Adoption of Local Strategic Planning Statement
Council resolved to adopt the Local Strategic Planning Statement.
Exhibition of draft heritage strategy
Council voted to place the draft Heritage Strategy 2020-30 on public exhibition for 28 days.
Amendment to Newcastle LEP 2012 – Create new heritage item for Parkway Avenue, Newcastle
Council has endorsed a proposal to amend the Newcastle LEP 2012 to create a new heritage item for Parkway Avenue and will have the  proposal forwarded to the Department of Planning for formal recognition.
Adoption of the updated East End Stage One Streetscape Plan
Council has adopted traffic changes to the Hunter Street Newcastle East End Stage One Streetscape Plan, which now includes works between Perkins Street and Brown Street after the block wasn’t upgraded during the Light Rail project.
Crown Reserves Management – devolved land
Council has endorsed an application to Crown Lands to change the status of three Crown Reserves -Federal Park, Wallsend, Waratah Park and West Park Adamstown – to ensure their ongoing use for sport and recreation Plans of Managements.
March quarterly review budget review statement
Council received the March Quarterly Budget Review Statement.
Executive monthly performance report
Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report.
Notices of Motions
City of Newcastle rating policy
Council supported a Notice of Motion to apply $2.6 million from a standard rate peg in 2020/21 to hardship measures targeted at individual rate payers experiencing financial hardship, including due to COVID-19 pandemic. 
Skilled work regional visa (491) and changes impacting City of Newcastle
Another NOM was supported to write to the Premier, Deputy Premier and NSW Ministers requesting Newcastle and Wollongong be considered ‘regional’ for the purposes of the 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa, as per the Commonwealth definition.

Newcastle sporting fans craving top-class cricket and AFL matches will soon have it delivered on their doorstep as the City prepares for a major redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground.
The multi-million-dollar refurbishment will commence in September this year and deliver a major economic boost for the city. The extent of the works, which include an increase to the field size and additional seating, will ensure the ground is capable of hosting pre-season AFL matches and ‘Big Bash’-style cricket fixtures right in the heart of the city.
“This important redevelopment will now give our City the opportunity to extend our sporting reach on the main stage beyond NRL, Super Rugby and Supercars to also include elite-level cricket and AFL,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
No.1 Sportsground could again host first-class cricket and AFL matches 
“No.1 Sportsground has not seen a significant redevelopment such as this since it was constructed in 1922. The upgrades include an upsized playing field, seven new cricket wickets, a new sight screen and an additional 390 new seats.
“Not only will our investment in this project attract top-class sporting codes, it will also benefit those playing at regional and grassroots levels who use No.1 Sportsground year-in, year-out.”
City of Newcastle is now inviting tenders for the multi-million reconstruction of the ground, expected to take up to 12 months to complete.
Plans to relocate clubs affected by the ground’s closure throughout the 2020/21 summer and 2021 winter sporting seasons have already been prearranged.
Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon welcomed the upgrade and said it was a step in the right direction for both regional and high-level cricket codes.
“We have received advice from Council on their plans to upgrade the playing surface of No. 1 Sportsground and are pleased they intend to upgrade it to a top tier standard,” Mr Germon said.
“It should provide excellent quality for Newcastle cricketers and is an important step towards meeting the required standards for high level cricket.”
Chairman of Newcastle Cricket District Association Paul Marjoribanks said the renovations would help meet the day-night scheduling demands of the modern cricket era.
“The proposed upgrades will provide significant benefits to both local and regional cricket and also give Newcastle the opportunity to again host first-class cricket matches,” Mr Marjoribanks said.
“In particular the upgrades to the lighting will allow cricket to be played at night – which will bring it into line with modern-day cricket scheduling.”
As well as an increase in the size of the playing surface, improvements will be made to the drainage, irrigation, sub soil material and the turf.
A new perimeter fence will also be installed with new access gates, and the ground’s lighting will also be upgraded to support elite level sport.
Bleacher-style seating will also be installed, which will almost double the seating capacity of the ground from 400 to 790 people.

A man missing from the Hunter region has been located safe and well.
The 62-year-old man was last seen at a BMX trail on Metford Road, Tenambit, at about 1.30pm yesterday (Monday 26 May 2020). After he failed to return home that evening, he was reported missing to police.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
The man was located about 8.15am today (Tuesday 26 May 2020).
Police would like to thank members of the public and media for their assistance.

Police are appealing for assistance from the community after a man impersonated a police officer during a robbery in the Hunter region earlier this month.
About 10.45pm on Friday 8 May 2020, a 20-year-old male delivery driver attended Oakfield Road, Woodberry, to meet up with a pre-arranged online customer.
As he arrived, another car pulled up behind his vehicle, before a man approached the driver’s side claiming to be a police officer.
The man reached into the vehicle and attempted to remove the keys from the ignition, before assaulting the male driver.
He then stole a package from the back seat and ran back to the other vehicle before it drove off at speed.
The 20-year-old driver called Triple Zero (000) during the incident and later attended Maitland Police Station to report the incident.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have since commenced inquiries into the incident.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 30s, with a tattoo on the front of his neck, wearing a grey hooded jumper and dark trackpants.
Detectives are urging anyone who may live in the nearby area with CCTV or dashcam footage between 10pm and 11.30pm on Friday 8 May 2020, or who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to contact Maitland Police Station on 4934 0200 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are investigating an armed robbery in the Hunter early this morning.
About 3.30am today (Tuesday 26 May 2020), a 32-year-old male employee was inside a service station on Lavis Lane, Williamtown, when two men entered the store armed with a baseball bat and a machete.
The men threatened the attendant before one of the men hit him with the baseball bat and removed cash from the till.
A 38-year-old male customer then entered the store and was chased by the pair before they fled the scene, running north towards Nelson Bay Road.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter PD attended and established a crime scene and have commenced inquiries.
Anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam vision from the nearby area between 3am and 4am today (Tuesday 26 May 2020) or who may have seen or heard anything suspicious is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man will face court today after two pursuits through the Hunter at the weekend.
Shortly before 3pm on Friday 22 May 2020, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a Toyota Corolla on Adelaide Street, Raymond Terrace, and spoke with the driver before he accelerated away and fled.
A pursuit was initiated, travelling through Raymond Terrace with the Toyota allegedly reaching an estimated speed of 140km/h in a sign-posted 50km/h zone.
The Toyota stopped on Charles Street and the driver fled on foot, pursued by officers; however, the man could not be located.
In a second incident, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter PD were patrolling Raymond Terrace Road, Chisholm, when they attempted to stop a Hyundai Santa Fe for a random breath test about 11pm yesterday (Sunday 24 May 2020).
When the Hyundai failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated travelling through Thornton and Millers Forest, allegedly reaching estimated speeds of 140km/h in a sign-posted 80km/h zone.
The Hyundai continued through several streets before stopping at a home on Waterbush Crescent, Woodberry, where the driver, a 54-year-old man and a female passenger, aged 42, were arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station
The driver underwent an oral fluid test which was positive for methylamphetamine and cannabis. A secondary test which also returned a positive result, has been sent for analysis.
He was charged with 10 offences, including police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, police pursuit – not stop – drive speed dangerous, drive whilst disqualified, possess prohibited drug, driver provide false name, exceed speed over 45km/hr and goods in custody.
Police will allege in court that the man was the driver of both vehicles at the time of the pursuits with police.
The Telarah man was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Monday 25 May 2020).
The female passenger was released without charge.

A man will face court today charged over an alleged attempted child abduction in Newcastle West yesterday.
About 5.10pm (Sunday 24 May 2020) officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were called to a shopping centre on Steel Street, after reports of a child approach.
Police have been told an unknown man approached a father and his two-year-old son inside the shopping centre and allegedly asked if he could talk to the child, before he started to hug him and pull him away from his father.
The father, aged 46, pulled the child back from the man, before the man allegedly became aggressive and continued to grab the child.
With assistance from witnesses, the child was returned to his father and the man was secured until the arrival of police.
The man and child were not physically injured during the incident.
A 46-year-old man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with two counts of take/detain child with intent to remove from parental control, and two counts of common assault.
The Fletcher man was bail refused to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Monday 25 May 2020).

Almost $1 million in household and commercial rate payments have been deferred and substantial rent relief has been extended to small businesses and community organisations under City of Newcastle’s COVID-19 support package.
The $965,000 in rate deferrals have been made under 410 separate payment plans set up by both residents and businesses in consultation with the City as part of the $5.5 million Community and Economic Resilience Package adopted by Council in March.
Fifty per cent rent reductions on City-owned buildings have eased the total burden on tenants by $28,000 a week, while around $450,000 has been allocated in grants to enable the community sector to support the most vulnerable in our city.
^{Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Craig Budden at Baptist CareHopeStreet’s Wallsend Centre, which received $25,000 in support through the City’s Rapid Response grants last month.}
Free online training, a $100,000 e-Library expansion and firm commitment to a record capital works program, with an emphasis on local procurement and quick payments, are also part of the package.
“In supporting the city, we are focusing on areas where local government has a clear strength and mandate, and it’s pleasing to see the take up has been strong to date,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“As well as the interest-free rate deferrals for up to 15 months, we have rolled out an $800,000 grants program to boost the community sector and halved rents to provide much-needed relief for small businesses in City-owned buildings.
“We understand that every business is suffering enormously right now and have provided as much support as possible as a local council.
“Many in in our community are now unemployed and the elderly and those without family may become more vulnerable as they stay isolated, so we will further promote the City’s existing financial hardship policies and support the taskforce of City leaders to map out the local economic recovery.”
Council will help small business owners and staff undertake professional development training and accreditation as part of a $500,000 education package.
This follows a 213 per cent increase in usage of an online learning package offered through Newcastle Libraries, with 2,291 sessions streamed free of charge in April.
The Libraries’ membership has increased by more than 1,000 during the pandemic after the City invested $60,000 in 5,800 additional e-book and audiobook titles, plus new video streaming platform ‘Medici TV’.
For the latest updates on the City of Newcastle’s response to the COVID-19 and changes to services, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

A man wanted on three outstanding warrants has been charged in the state’s Hunter Region.
About 4pm yesterday (Saturday 23 May 2020), officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District’s Target Action Group attended a home on Edward Street, Kurri Kurri, after receiving information about a man wanted on outstanding warrants.
Upon arrival, officers spoke to an occupant, before they noticed a man running from the backyard of the house.
Following a foot pursuit, police arrested the 25-year-old man.
During the arrest, it’s alleged the man assaulted a male senior constable who sustained a knee injury.
The man was taken to Maitland Hospital under police guard for treatment of minor injuries.
Upon release from hospital, he was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with resist officer in execution of duty (x2), assault police officer in execution of duty (x2), enter enclosed lands (x2) and malicious damage
The man was also charged with three outstanding warrants relating to traffic, weapons, firearms and assault offences.
The Kurri Kurri man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Sunday 24 May 2020).