Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Boolaroo, about 20kms west of Newcastle.

Allan Fielding, aged 83, was last seen on Guest Street, Boolaroo, about 11.50am today (Monday 23 December 2024).

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced an investigation into his whereabouts.

Family and police hold concerns for his welfare as he lives with dementia.

Allan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build, grey/white hair and unshaven. He has a large tattoo of popeye on his outer left forearm.

He was last seen wearing dark grey shorts, blue striped shirt and blue shoes.

Allan may be driving a white 2019 Subaru Impreza with NSW registration plates CS11EE.

He is known to frequent the Boolaroo, Cardiff and Valentine areas.

A body has been found in the search for a 37-year-old man reported missing to officers at Lake Macquarie Police District

The body is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be that of the 37-year-old man.

Initial inquiries suggest the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police will prepare a report for the information of the coroner.

A man has been charged with animal cruelty offences alleged to have occurred in the Hunter region. 

On Tuesday 8 October 2024, 98 dead kangaroos were found on Commonwealth land, along with an ammunition box and two cartridges.

These items were seized as officers from Hunter Valley Police District Rural Crime Prevention Team (RCPT) investigators commenced an investigation into the incident.

Following inquiries, officers attached to the Hunter Valley PD Rural Crime Prevention Team – assisted by officers from Port Stephens-Hunter PD – executed a Commonwealth Search Warrant about 8am Friday (20 December 2024), at a property in Williamtown.

Three firearms were seized from the Williamtown property and a 43-year-old man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with six offences,

• Commit an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal
• Discharge firearm upon/over Commonwealth prohibited area
• Trespass onto commonwealth land
• Not keep firearm safely – not pistol/prohibited firearm
• Harm or attempt to harm a protected animal, and
• Holder of Category A or B licence not have approved storage.

Police have since seized a number of firearms from a second Hunter region property. A Firearms Suspension Notice has been issued.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 13 January 2025.

Record infrastructure investment, major sustainability milestones and significant cultural and community projects have capped off a successful year of collaboration and commitment to the community by City of Newcastle. 

Essential upgrades were rolled out across the community with a record $143.4 million capital works program, delivered on the back of a commitment to financial sustainability, ensuring long-term benefits for Newcastle residents. 

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge and City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath celebrate the end of another successful year with City of Newcastle staff.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath commended City of Newcastle staff and members of the community for their hard work, valuable feedback and dedication to delivering projects that enhance the city’s liveability, sustainability, and vibrancy. 

“This year has been an outstanding success, with transformative projects that are making a genuine difference in the lives of Novocastrians,” Mr Bath said. 

“From road resurfacing, footpath upgrades and stormwater improvements to new playgrounds, enhanced sportsgrounds and delivering incredible cultural experiences, these achievements reflect the hard work and passion of our team.

“This result is a testament to the exceptional people working at City of Newcastle and their shared pride in serving the Newcastle community.

“We’ve also appreciated the incredible contributions Novocastrians have made to our city, from their strategic input on consultative committees and community reference groups to their valuable feedback through the public exhibition process on key projects we’re delivering for our community. 

“This is just a snapshot of what we’ve delivered in 2024, but it highlights what’s possible when we work together and support each other.

“I want to thank everyone who played a role in reaching these milestones, and I look forward to continuing along this exciting journey next year.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Newcastle will continue to ride the momentum built during the past 12 months, with major projects like the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion and the western corridor road upgrades set to deliver transformational benefits for Newcastle residents and visitors alike. 

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge acknowledged the progress made this year and the positive outcomes delivered for the Newcastle community. 

“These achievements reflect the dedication of City of Newcastle staff, and I look forward to seeing continued efforts to deliver for the people of Newcastle in the year ahead,” Cr Kerridge said. 

“While I’m sure we’re all looking forward to a well-earned break and time with loved ones over the festive season, this is a great opportunity to reflect on everything staff achieved this year.” 

As with other Hunter councils, the opening hours and operation times of some City of Newcastle services and facilities will run on an updated schedule during the Christmas and New Year period.

The City Administration Centre will close at midday on Friday 20 December 2024 and reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025.

There will be no kerbside bin collections on Christmas Day. All services between Wednesday 25 December and Friday 27 December 2024 will take place one day later than usual.

All regular bin services will resume from Monday 30 December, with collections undertaken as usual on New Year’s Day.

Summerhill Waste Management Centre will be closed on Christmas Day only. Check out what can and can’t be recycled at Christmas time in this handy online guide.

City of Newcastle libraries will close at 12pm on Friday 20 December and regular hours will resume from Thursday 2 January. Returns chutes will be closed at all branches except Lambton, however, due dates will be extended beyond the closure period.

Lambton Library’s Open+ technology will provide access for library members aged 16 and up (and those aged under 16 accompanied by an adult or carer) anytime between 7am and 9pm, seven days a week through the holiday period.

Newcastle Museum will be closed on 20, 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January, but is open every other day during school holidays from 10am-5pm.

City of Newcastle lifeguards will maintain their regular patrol hours during the holiday period and will be on duty from 7am to 5.30pm at Bar, Dixon Park, Merewether, Newcastle, Nobbys and Stockton beaches. 

Swimmers are encouraged to stay between the red and yellow flags, read the safety signs before entering the water and ask a lifeguard if they are unsure about the conditions.

Lifeguard patrols will also operate at Merewether and Newcastle Ocean Baths from 9am to 5.30pm. The Baths will be closed on Wednesday at Newcastle and Thursday at Merewether for weekly cleaning.

For more information about CN’s services during this time, visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au. 

The Albanese Labor Government is restoring the Hunter Estuary Wetlands in Newcastle thanks to a $556,095 investment.

The funding is part of the Government’s $200 million Urban Rivers and Catchments Program which is restoring rivers and waterways in our suburbs to better protect communities and native species.

This project will address threats including hydrology and water quality impacts on threatened ecological communities and migratory shorebirds.

Important on-ground works to be delivered by the project include:

• Restoring a degraded freshwater wetland into an estuarine (saltwater) wetland, to improve habitat diversity and climate resilience.
• Improving water quality in two significant ponds at the Hunter Wetlands Centre, by increasing water circulation and aeration.
• Bush regeneration and vegetation management, which will be carried out over three years to improve the vegetation on site, tackle invasive weeds, and improve native vegetation.

The project will be delivered by Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia in partnership with City of Newcastle and support from Hunter Local Land Services and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Hunter Estuary Wetlands are internationally significant, recognised under the Ramsar convention for their importance to wetland conservation. The project will address significant threats impacting a sub-site within the wetlands.

Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

“We want to leave nature better off for our kids and grandkids – and that’s why we’re restoring rivers and waterways in our suburbs with a $200 million investment.

“Nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants are in urban areas, home to 96 per cent of Australia’s population.

“And with so many native plants and animals reliant on our rivers, creeks, wetlands, and estuaries, protecting and restoring the health of our waterways is essential.

“This critical funding is good news for native wildlife and the community – improving the quality of the urban spaces that we all share and love.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

“This funding is crucial to the restoration of significant sites within the Hunter Wetlands Centre and supporting the community’s efforts to protect the waterway and its habitats for the native species that depend on it.

“The $556,095 in grant funding from the Albanese Labor Government will help protect these internationally recognised wetlands, making sure our kids and future generations can continue to enjoy our unique plants, animals, habitats and places.”

Hunter Wetlands Centre General Manager James Willson:

“This grant represents a significant opportunity for the Hunter Wetlands Centre, with this funding we will be able to improve the native vegetation on site, improve the water quality and help show how wetlands can adapt to climate change and rising sea levels.

“This will directly impact the thousands of students who visit us each year to learn about our unique biodiversity.

“By restoring critical habitats and improving site resilience, we’re ensuring the Centre remains a thriving educational and ecological resource for future generations.

Partnerships like this demonstrate how collaborative efforts can secure the long-term health of our natural spaces.”

The final section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass – Rankin Park to Jesmond project has marked a significant milestone this week, with traffic switched on to the new alignment at the Jesmond roundabout.

From Tuesday 17 December, motorists will be switched from the Jesmond roundabout at Newcastle Road to a signalised intersection beneath the future bypass.

The traffic switch will form part of the final road alignment as part of the Rankin Park to Jesmond project, which will improve safety and traffic flow and reduce travel times.

The traffic switch will be carried out in stages to allow the community to experience these changes in smaller stages rather than one sweeping change. The changes will take place throughout December 2024 and then into January 2025.

Motorists should follow directional signage when moving through the new signalised intersection with various speed restrictions in place during the adjustment period.

This fifth section of the project is a key route connecting the western suburbs of Newcastle. It has a total project cost of $488.2 million with $390.56 million from the Albanese Labor Government and $97.64 million from the Minns Labor Government.

Once complete, the bypass will provide faster and more reliable journeys for motorists while improving safety on the surrounding road network with the number of crashes predicted to fall by about 30 per cent.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

“This is an exciting day for Newcastle motorists and future visitors as we move closer to the completion of a project that will transform the way people travel to, from and around the region. 

“The switch from a roundabout to a signalised intersection at Jesmond will improve the safety and efficiency of this intersection, as well as significantly reduce travel times for the 40,000 to 60,000 motorists which use this route daily.

“I know Novocastrians will be so pleased to see this milestone reached and I look forward to the entire project being completed by the end of next year.

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery:

“The Newcastle Inner City Bypass will provide traffic relief for the local community by removing up to 30,000 vehicles each day from the existing route of Lookout Road, Croudace Street and Newcastle Road.

“These roads are currently being used by about 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles each day so once complete, local motorists, commuters and the freight industry will experience safer and smoother journeys.”

Newcastle Art Gallery is extremely fortunate to be the custodian of one of the most significant art collections in Australia.  

But with this great honour comes great responsibility, especially when you’re creating a new home for more than 7,000 works of art valued at $126 million. 

Since the current building opened in 1977 our collection has grown by over 500 per cent, but until now, the Gallery’s physical space hasn’t grown with it.  

For the last two decades, City of Newcastle staff, Councillors and associated stakeholders, as well as countless art lovers from our community and beyond, have contributed their time, expertise, advocacy and financial support in securing the much-needed expansion of our Art Gallery. 

And during the past 12 months it’s been incredible to see the Gallery’s expanded footprint rise out of the ground, to see walls go up, the roof take shape and the shell of our new exhibition spaces form as we more than double our size. This will enable more of our incredible collection and much-loved icons to be on permanent display. 

But just as a house isn’t really a home until you put your own personal touch on it, so too will our finishing touches take time to transform our expanded building into the dynamic, engaging Art Gallery our community and city deserves. 

There are important considerations for getting the building ready, not just for our collection but for major touring exhibitions as well. 

The long-term presentation of works of art requires very specific international standard gallery environmental conditions.  

Gallery lighting as well as humidity and temperature control systems must be installed and tested to provide the optimum environment for the protection and preservation of our collection.  

Lighting also has to be tightly controlled – managing both natural and artificial light levels to ensure the preservation of works of art. 

We need to consider the necessary preparation of Gallery spaces. Freshly painted walls require time to ‘off-gas’ to prevent air quality risks to works of art. We then need to deep clean the Gallery to remove any remaining construction and atmospheric dust. 

All of this must be carefully considered and put into place – not just to protect our incredible collection – but to make sure that we fully meet international standards and art insurance cover requirements.    

Only once all of this is achieved can we bring our collection home. 

Think about the last time you moved house – the task of getting everything safely packed, into the truck, making sure items fit through the doors. Every work of art’s movement needs to be planned to the finest detail to ensure they are safely moved and appropriately secured for display. 

Multiply that by 7,000 works of art worth $126 million and you would have some idea of the logistical challenge and responsibility we’re managing. When received through our international standard loading dock, works of art must be checked, condition reported and registered in our new collection management system. 

Each work of art must also acclimatise inside the Gallery for at least 48 hours before installation can take place. 

While we’re busy planning the big tasks, we’re turning our attention to the finer details as well – the fixings, hanging systems, cabinetry, exhibition walls and display plinths.  

Some of our works of art such as our much-loved John Olsen ceiling The sea sun of 5 bells 1964 (the only one installed permanently as a ceiling in the world) and two new commissions will be suspended with custom-built, ceiling-mounted armatures. 

All of this is done with extreme attention to detail, care and expertise. 

When it comes to opening our doors, there is also a lot to plan and do so that we can create a wonderful experience for our visitors.  

Market research tells us that when visitors attend cultural institutions, they expect much more than simply seeing art on the walls.  

They want a more enriching, meaningful experience. They expect somewhere to take a break, enjoy a meal, and they want to be able to take a memento of their experience home with them – a catalogue or keepsake to remember their visit.  

The expanded Art Gallery will meet these new expectations, providing a welcoming place for our community to return again and again with their friends and families. It will be an unmissable highlight for visitors to the Hunter and a tourism destination for visitors from afar. 

To facilitate this, we are establishing and testing new IT systems, developing and sourcing bespoke, locally made retail merchandise, while planning our exhibition and events programming. 

We are developing wayfinding signage, designing and printing visitor guides, developing training programs for our dedicated volunteers and staff. 

The list may seem long, but we’re making great progress. 

It’s a historic time for our Gallery and we can’t wait to welcome our community back into the reimagined Newcastle Art Gallery next year as we deliver a once-in-a-generation project we can all be truly proud of.

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM

Netball NSW is delighted to announce that 2024 has reached the largest number of participant registrations in the organisation’s near 100-year history.

In the past 12 months over 120,000 players, coaches and officials have registered to be part of one of the largest sporting movements not just in NSW, but nationwide.

With the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball competition becoming the most attended female domestic league in Australian sporting history, and grassroots participation at record levels, Netball NSW Chair Sallianne Faulkner said the sport was in a wonderful position.

“Numbers like these do not come about by accident, and I thank the entire netball ecosystem – from the community game to the elite – as well as our staff for all playing a huge role in these successes,” she said.

“We are so excited because these numbers mean that more people of all ages, genders, backgrounds and abilities are giving netball a go, and we want to give as many people as possible the chance to take part.

“We should take time to celebrate and champion our game when we reach new milestones. No sport in NSW has the community impact that netball does, especially for women and young girls.

“It is a staple of every metro and regional community across NSW, while at the elite level we have had numerous sellouts at Ken Rosewall Arena, especially when the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball do battle.

“With the Netball World Cup heading to Sydney in 2027 we have golden opportunity to further elevate netball’s position and we look forward to working closely with all commercial, government and community stakeholders continue this upward trajectory.”

Tim Fava, Netball NSW Executive General Manager – Community & Pathways, said many of the successes could be attributed to new ways of delivering the game.

“We saw growth across all categories this year, while our Spring Season has been a huge hit in bringing both teenagers and older participants back to the game,” he said.

“Associations and clubs are providing more social, flexible and fun playing experiences with options for mixed teams, juniors, seniors and men’s netball.

“While representative netball is still a key focus for us and many in our community, I would like to take a moment to really thank the Associations who have embraced new ways to deliver our game to cater for a much wider audience.

“The proof is in the pudding and these numbers are a testament to the hard work being done to foster a love of the game, and to keep communities fit and active.

“This number should not be our Everest and we are already looking at new ways to build on the success of 2024 to harness better health and wellbeing benefits for everyone in our netball family.”

Muswellbrook Shire Council has been fined $8,000 and issued with an official caution after a leak of ferric sulphate at its Muswellbrook Water Treatment Plant earlier this year in March.

Between 2500 and 3000 litres of the corrosive liquid, which is used as a coagulant, leaked from a hole in the ferric sulphate storage tank and spilled into a contained (bunded) area.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigation found that a temporary pump was left on, following a regular floor cleaning of the bund. This resulted in ferric sulphate inadvertently pumping into an onsite evaporative pond that stores waste lime, a by-product of the drinking water process.

EPA Director Operations David Gathercole said the incident was a reminder to always ensure that equipment is operated in a proper and efficient manner.

“Fortunately, this was contained onsite and did not result in any actual harm to the environment or human health,” Mr Gathercole said.

“Any situation where equipment is not operated properly runs the risk of potentially serious environmental impacts.

“It is also particularly important when working with chemicals to ensure that all processes and safety precautions are followed to prevent any potential harm or pollution of waters, as has occurred in this incident.”

Muswellbrook Shire Council has now implemented onsite measures to prevent future incidents.

OneSchool Global Maitland teacher Andra Rensburg has remarkably seen one of her students top the state in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) Financial Services subject for a fifth straight year.

In the 2024 HSC, OneSchool Global student Rory Wallace followed in the footsteps of four prior OneSchool winners.

The 18-year-old from Orange in Central West NSW was able to pursue his passion for Financial Services through OneSchool Global’s innovative remote learning platform, which allows students to access courses delivered from the school’s campuses across the state.

Rory said he was pleased to receive the first-place award after seizing the opportunity to study Financial Services.

“At OneSchool Global, our teachers and the school community provide us with outstanding support to achieve,” Rory said.

“To come first in the State is really exciting, and I am thankful for the effort our teacher Mrs Rensburg puts into teaching this program. I am glad I could add to the list of OneSchool Global’s students who have achieved this result with Mrs Rensburg’s support.”

With five students consecutively placing first in the State in five years, Mrs Rensburg congratulated Rory on his achievement as well as the prior OSG State students who topped the state.

“Rory has worked really hard this year, and this result is reflective of his outstanding effort. Rory and the OneSchool students who have preceded him continue to prove that commitment and hard work are the foundations to achievement and success. I look forward to seeing Rory apply this in his undoubtedly bright future,” she said.

OneSchool Global Regional Principal Kath Merritt congratulated Andra, Rory and OneSchool Global’s prior state-topping students, saying that the results are a positive reflection of the school’s vision to develop life-ready students, who learn how to learn and achieve.

“OneSchool Global congratulates Andra and Rory on this outstanding achievement. Andra’s continued success with students in this subject is a strong demonstration of how our school’s learning framework and facilities support our students and teachers to thrive.”

OneSchool Global has 31 campuses across Australia in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia.

OneSchool Global Australia provides innovative learning and teaching to more than 2,450 students with more than 340 staff.

For more information about OneSchool Global, go to https://www.oneschoolglobal.com/