Category: Newcastle News

A man will appear in court today charged over the alleged possession of child abuse material at Lake Macquarie.
Following an investigation, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District executed a search warrant at a Wangi Wangi home yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020).
During the search, officers allegedly seized a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material. These items will be forensically examined.
A 46-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Toronto Police Station.
He was charged with use carriage service to access child abuse material, possess child abuse material using carriage service, and possess child abuse material.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Friday 14 February 2020).

A man has been charged following an investigation into an alleged act of animal cruelty in the state’s Hunter region.
On Monday 23 December 2019, police will allege that a 37-year-old man became aware of heifers grazing on his property that were not his.
It’s alleged he got into his vehicle and deliberately drove into one of the heifers – breaking its leg – before slitting its throat and releasing his dogs.
The heifer’s owner discovered the injured animal and was forced to euthanise it. He then reported the matter to officers from Hunter Valley Police District.
Investigations commenced by Hunter Valley Rural Crime Investigators, with the assistance of Dungog police and local government authorities.
About 2pm yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020), the 37-year-old man attended Gosford Police Station, where he was arrested and charged with:
• torture, beat and seriously injure animal,
• torture, beat and cause prolonged suffering to animal,
• dog attack animal due to owner’s reckless act, and
• two counts of fail to prevent dog from escaping.
He was given strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Dungog Local Court on Wednesday 11 March 2020.
State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said this investigation highlighted the teamwork and coordination that is ever present between police, the Rural Crime Prevention Team, RSPCA, local government and Local Land Services.
“This is just one example of a great team coming together, sharing expertise and tackling animal cruelty head-on,” Det Insp Whiteside said.
“I would also like to remind the community they can report matters of animal cruelty to their local police, Crime Stoppers, the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League.”

Work to fight against severe erosion at Stockton beach exacerbated by extreme weather over the weekend has received desperately needed support, with the NSW Government declaring Newcastle a natural disaster area.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has welcomed the news that the NSW Government listened to City of Newcastle’s urgent request to declare a Natural Disaster at Stockton.
“This declaration means that City of Newcastle is eligible for assistance through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Fund to assist with the cost of cleaning up and restoring our damaged essential public assets at Stockton.
“An enormous thank you goes to our amazing City of Newcastle staff who have been undertaking emergency works to protect the Stockton community and our public assets from this erosion catastrophe.
“We’re pleased that this declaration enables us to deal with the short-term impact, but we will continue to call for urgent support from the Premier, Deputy Premier, Environment and Local Government Ministers to deliver a viable long-term solution.
The support offered through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements assists local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets.
“Our immediate priorities are to ensure public safety along the coastal area and to protect public and private assets and property,” Councillor Nelmes said.
Meanwhile, emergency works will continue today at Stockton following significant beach erosion as the City prepares for another storm front and large swells in coming days.
City of Newcastle has completed the relocation of 3 cabins, and we continue the relocation of all ocean edge cabins at Stockton Holiday Park at risk of collapse into the ocean in the face of a low-pressure system predicted to batter the coast in the coming days. To facilitate emergency works, traffic management is in place.
In the interest of public safety, all accessways along Stockton Beach have been closed until further notice and the community is advised to keep away from the top and bottom of sand cliffs as they may be unstable and collapse without warning.
Erosion has exposed significant amounts of historic material and debris which poses public safety risks. Please avoid the beach and this debris. Arrangements are being made to clean up the debris as weather conditions permit.
City of Newcastle requests all residents and visitors be aware of changed conditions and follow directional signage, warnings notices and instructions of City of Newcastle staff and other authorities.

A man will face court later this month charged with alleged fraud offences in Lake Macquarie.
About 10am yesterday (Wednesday 12 February 2020), officers attached to the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group executed a search warrant at a home on Cassia Crescent, Gateshead, where they spoke with a 25-year-old man.
During the search warrant, police located and seized a number of items believed to be purchased with fraudulent funds, including batteries, spray paints and household goods.
The 25-year-old was arrested at the scene; a short time later, the man suffered a medical episode and NSW Ambulance paramedics were called for an assessment.
He was treated at the scene before being taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with five counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception and two counts of receive stolen property.
Police will allege he purchased goods from several Newcastle and Lake Macquarie building supplies stores using stolen purchase cards attached to a Charlestown business.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 26 February 2020.

A respite carer has been charged following an investigation into the alleged indecent assaults of two children near Newcastle.
In October 2018, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports two young girls had been indecently assaulted by a man while they were in his care.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 69-year-old man at a home in Newcastle just before 1pm yesterday (Wednesday 12 February 2020).
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with six counts of indecent assault person under 16 years of age.
Police will allege in court that the man indecently assaulted the girls – then aged six and 11 – on several occasions while they were in his care in October 2018.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 13 February 2020).
 

Two men have been charged over the alleged supply of MDMA and cocaine across Newcastle.
In October 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad, established Strike Force Pallamana to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs, including MDMA and cocaine, in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, with assistance from Strike Force Raptor North, executed two search warrants at homes in Elermore Vale and Macquarie Hills from 7.30am today (Thursday 13 February 2020).
During the searches, officers seized 28g of MDMA, steroids, $15,000 cash, mobile phones, documents and other items relevant to the investigation.
Two men – aged 24 and 28 – were arrested during the operation and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The 24-year-old Macquarie Hills man was charged with 32 offences, including supply prohibited drug (between indictable and commercial quantity x9), supply prohibited drug (between small and indictable quantity x20), supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis (x2) and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
The 28-year-old Elermore Vale man was charged with supply prohibited drug (between indictable and commercial quantity x2), supply prohibited drug (between small and indictable quantity x3), and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.
Police will allege in court that the younger man was involved in the supply of 37g of MDMA and 35.5g of cocaine on several occasions between November 2019 and January 2020.
It will be further alleged that the older man was involved in the supply of 27.5g of cocaine between November 2019 and January 2020.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Friday 14 February 2020).
Investigations under Strike Force Pallamana are continuing.

A man will appear in court today after police located drugs and more than $80,000 cash in Newcastle.
In November 2019, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District commenced Strike Force Chufa to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine in the Newcastle area.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended an apartment on King Street, Newcastle, where they spoke with a 39-year-old man.
During a subsequent search of his motor vehicle, police seized a small quantity of methylamphetamine, an electrical stun device similar to a taser, and more than $80,000 in cash.
He was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with:

• Supply prohibited drug (22 counts)
• Supply commercial quantity prohibited drug
• Deal in proceeds of crime
• Possess prohibited weapon

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 12 February 2020).

How do we maintain green spaces, buildings with character, access to transport and shops and a sense of community over the next 20 years with an additional 35,000 residents?
This is the question dealt with through the City of Newcastle’s draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), a legislated plan outlining the vision for land use along with the character and values of our growing city.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the draft LSPS had been developed on the back of a comprehensive community engagement program and is now on public exhibition for feedback.
“City of Newcastle’s Local Strategic Planning Statement will shape our land-use planning priorities to meet community needs and will set out how we should manage greenfield sites, community land and potential development areas over the next two decades,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The opinions and wishes of our residents are essential to the City’s planning process.
“Surveys, face-to-face drop-in sessions and a young person’s drawing activity were just some of the ways we gathered feedback on how to best shape the way our City will look and feel in 2040.
“Over 500 people participated in a survey which canvassed our community’s vision for land-use and neighbourhood character with questions relating to transport, environment, housing and jobs.
“In 20 years the picture of our city will look much different, with 19,500 new dwellings and 35,000 additional residents projected for Newcastle.
“It’s fantastic that the largest demographic to engage with us on this draft plan was the 16-19-year age group, ensuring the desires of our future ratepayers are reflected in our vision and plans for the future.
“The ‘Big Picture’ Newcastle 2040 drawing activity provided primary school aged young people an opportunity to offer ideas on what they love about their City, how improvements can be made and what needs to be maintained to ensure the City of Newcastle remains an incredible place to live.
“Our residents value a sense of community and opportunities for people to connect and
engage in their streets and neighbourhoods, as well as special places centred on our natural environment and open space.
“It’s now time for the broader community to have their say on how Newcastle should look in 2040 by reviewing the draft Local Strategic Planning Statement before it’s finalised and put to Council for endorsement.”
The Local Strategic Planning Statement is on public exhibition until Monday, 9 March. To view or make a submission, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Have-Your-Say/Projects/Planning-Newcastle-2040

A woman will face court next month after allegedly defrauding a Lake Macquarie business of more than $200,000 over a five-year period.
In June 2019, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation into anomalies concerning the administration of a Lake Macquarie business’ account allegedly controlled by an accountant.
Following extensive inquiries, yesterday (Sunday 9 February 2020), police attended a home at Cameron Park, and arrested a 50-year-old woman.
She was taken to Toronto Police Station where she was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and one count of destroy/conceal accounting record to obtain financial advantage.
Police will allege the woman – who was an accountant at a firm at the time – transferred $201,000 into several personal accounts between 2011 and 2016.
She was granted conditional bail to face Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 10 March 2020.
Investigations are ongoing.

City of Newcastle is taking precautionary actions ahead of predicted large ocean swells and high tides with heavy rainfall predicted for Saturday and Sunday (7 and 8 February 2020).
The east coast low like conditions and a predicted 2-metre high tide on Sunday 9 February increases the likelihood of erosion at Stockton Beach, and potentially create dangerous conditions for coastal activities, increase potential for localised flooding and risk of fallen trees.
City of Newcastle will be undertaking proactive reinforcement of the sand-bag wall at north Stockton near Griffith Street and Stone Street using additional one-tonne sandbags.
The following traffic and pedestrian arrangements will be in place for Stockton from Friday 7 February to facilitate these works:

• Barrie Crescent in Stockton will be open for one-way traffic only
• No parking zones will be established in Barrie Crescent Stockton

The Stockton Beach accessways along the Mitchell Street seawall and the northern access at Stone Street will be closed and the accessways at the Stockton Surf Life Saving Club and near Lexie’s Café will be monitored and may be closed subject to conditions.
Other locations across Newcastle that may be affected by hazardous conditions include:

• Shortland Esplanade and promenades along City beaches, including the Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths
• All beaches in the Newcastle Local Government Area (LGA)
• Low-lying roads
• Local roads across the Newcastle LGA.

In addition, the City has also made the decision to close all of its sportsgrounds for competition games and training. Sportsgrounds will be reassessed on Monday and a further update will be provided regarding their suitability for use.
City of Newcastle requests all residents and visitors to be aware of changing conditions and potential road closures and follow directional signage, warnings notices and instructions of City of Newcastle staff and other authorities.
Please stay safe when moving in and around the City in the predicted weather event.
To stay up to date on the most current weather warnings, please follow the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/
For emergency advice contact State Emergency Service www.ses.nsw.gov.au Phone 132 500