Category: Newcastle News

Newcastle police have charged a man over the alleged theft of parcels in the Lambton area earlier this month.

On Thursday 11 July 2024, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District received a report that parcels had been stolen from the front of a New Lambton home.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 38-year-old man at a shopping centre on Steel Street, Newcastle, about 11.30am today (Thursday 18 July 2024).

During the arrest police allegedly located methylamphetamine and cannabis on the man. All items were seized for forensic examination.

The 38-year-old was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with larceny, enter inclosed land not prescribed without law excuse and two counts of possess prohibited drug.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 August 2024.

Investigations are continuing.

The past, present and future will be celebrated next month with a family-friendly festival to mark the 150th anniversary of Wallsend being declared a municipality.

City of Newcastle has worked with the local community to create a hallmark event featuring something for all ages including musical and cultural performances, market stalls, rides, children’s activities and storytelling.

Wallsend Business Improvement Association board member Luke Whitby, penny farthing rider Sanjex, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk prepare for the upcoming family-friendly celebrations in Wallsend.

The celebration will run from 1pm to 6pm on 17 August with Wallsend Park to host art workshops and food stalls, while most of the action will take place near the historic rotunda and on Nelson Street.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Wallsend’s significant contribution to our region during the past 150 years deserves a major celebration.

“City of Newcastle has worked hard to prepare for this unique milestone with extensive road resurfacing on Nelson Street, as well as a pressure cleaning campaign on the footpaths and around the 136-year-old rotunda,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Wallsend was once a mining colony that once supported around 7500 workers and their families. The local coal was some of the best in Australia and played a major role in the development of Newcastle as a port city.

“Since then the suburb has become a vibrant home to a unique and close-knit community, emerging as a multicultural hub that attracts young families from all over the world.”

Thousands of people are expected to attend the celebration on 17 August, held in a familiar timeslot to the former Winter Fair, with entertainment throughout the afternoon from an impressive line-up of performers on the main stage.

Visitors will be able to step back in time and into a photo booth wearing historical dress, The Creative Co will keep the kids entertained with messy play and a cake smash, and when the sun goes down, Wallsend’s rich history will be projected onto buildings through a collection of digitised photographs.

Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is aiming for a vibrant, safe, and accessible event for everyone to enjoy.

“Wallsend is a place of inclusivity and belonging so it’s only fitting the 150th anniversary celebration has the same theme,” Cr Nelmes said.

“First Nations artists will kick off proceedings and then to reflect Wallsend’s multicultural diversity other performers with inspiration from across the world will entertain including samba from Brazil, flamenco from Spain and muqam from China.

“Along with a range of community-led activities and markets there will be something for everyone.”

For more information visit https://whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Wallsend150

This event is supported through the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Program.

Monday 15 and Thursday 18 July

• Buses replace the following trains between Scone or Muswellbrook and Maitland:
  – 03:18 Newcastle Interchange to Scone
  – 06:07 Scone to Newcastle Interchange
  – 08:14 Newcastle Interchange to Muswellbrook
  – 10:09 Muswellbrook to Newcastle Interchange
• Trains run between Maitland and Newcastle Interchange.
• Replacement buses may be impacted by driver shortages. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact to your journey and provide a safe service, however cancellations or delays may occur.
• Plan your trip before you travel for up-to-date real time information. You can also subscribe to planned trackwork alerts.

Bus routes10HU Muswellbrook, then Singleton, Maitland and return
15HU Muswellbrook, then all stations to Maitland and return14HU Scone, then all stations to Maitland and return

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from the state’s Hunter region.

Hunter Paton, aged 13, was last seen at Woodberry on Monday 24 June 2024.

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified last Thursday (11 July 2024) and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for his welfare due to his young age.

Hunter is described as being of Caucasian appearance, thin build, about 175cm tall with short dark brown hair.

He was last seen wearing black puffer jacket, long pants and black shoes.

Hunter is known to frequent the Woodberry, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay areas.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to call Raymond Terrace Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Former Newcastle Knight Alex McKinnon and Paralympian Rae Anderson will join forces with City of Newcastle next month to champion the importance of making sport accessible for all.

The high-profile pair will headline the inaugural Inclusive Sports Forum, which is one of five free activities being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s Count Us In Sport program from 8-15 August.

Paralympian Dylan Alcott, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion Liesl Tesch at City of Newcastle’s Count Us In festival last year.

The events were designed in consultation with City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Advisory Committee and community members with lived experience of disability.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Count Us In recognises and celebrates the contributions made by people living with disabilities.

“City of Newcastle prides itself on being a liveable and welcoming community for all people, increasing social inclusion and community connections with events like Count Us In festival in line with our Disability Inclusion Action Plan,” Cr Nelmes said.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion and Paralympian Liesl Tesch said with the world’s attention focussed on the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, now was the perfect time to increase awareness of this important issue.

“Participation in sport provides a wonderful experience of community, enabling a sense of belonging and building friendships while also delivering positive benefits for overall health and wellbeing,” Ms Tesch said.

“It’s fantastic to see City of Newcastle championing the role sport can play to encourage inclusion in our community.”

Access Inclusion Advisory Committee Co-Chair Councillor Margaret Wood Count Us In Sport was a call to action for all sports clubs in Newcastle to take their first, or next steps to becoming a place where all people have a role, belong and everyone can play.

“While almost 20 per cent of people in Australia live with a disability, only one in four of them participate in sport, and three quarters of those who want to take part believe there are limited opportunities to do so,” Cr Wood said.

“With more than 30,000 people living with a disability in Newcastle, this means that many people in our community are missing out on what sport has to offer.

“We want to turn the tide of these statistics in Newcastle. Count Us In Sport provides opportunities for people with disabilities to seek, find and follow their sports journey, whether that is as a competitor, supporter or taking up a role within a sports club or association.”

City of Newcastle will fly the flag for inclusion from 8 August with the installation of a series of banners championing inclusive sports and Paralympic activities.

The Count Us In Sport program will kick on the following day with a Come and Try Inclusive Sports event at No.2 Sportsground and the National Park netball courts, where school students and community members will be invited to participate in a series of sporting activities.

Increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to become involved in grassroots sport will be the focus of the Inclusive Sports Forum at McDonald Jones Stadium on 13 August, where McKinnon and Anderson will share their stories and experiences alongside local clubs already working in this space. Anderson will also speak about her work with Disability Sports Australia including the Accessibility Champions Course available to clubs and associations to support sports inclusion.

Sports clubs, associations and recreational providers with ideas to enhance disability inclusion in Newcastle will have the chance to promote their plans at an Inclusive Sports Pitch night on 15 August, with four grants of up to $2,500 each on offer from City of Newcastle.

The Count Us In Sport program will wrap up with a fun Paralympics Watch Party hosted by Community Disability Alliance Hunter on a date still to be confirmed.

Check out the City of Newcastle website for more information and to book your place at the free events during Count Us In Sport 2024.

The program helping to break down barriers to accessing government payments and services for people experiencing homelessness has expanded to include more locations across Australia.

Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten, has announced 9 new partnerships, including in Newcastle, bringing the total to 27 nationwide.

“I’m pleased to announce BaptistCare HopeStreet has welcomed the opportunity to partner with Services Australia in Newcastle,” Minister Shorten said. 

“In this program, Services Australia Community Partnership Specialist Officers (CPSOs) works alongside community organisations to connect people to government payments and services.

“As Minister for Government Services one of my priorities is simplifying access to government support, and Community Partnerships do just that.

“Working alongside non-government organisations, learning from each other’s expertise, and listening and responding to the needs of people accessing these services, the partnerships have delivered real results.

“We are meeting people where they are, working with them individually to understand their circumstances and tailoring support to connect them to essential government services.”

Since Community Partnerships began as a then pilot in 2022, CPSOs have assisted customers on more than 33,642 occasions.

The majority of these customers had complex barriers to accessing government services, were homeless or experiencing housing instability and just under half were experiencing mental ill health.

Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon, said the Community Partnership will bolster the existing support available for individuals and families in Newcastle.

“This is an important service that is making a huge difference to vulnerable people in need.”

“By continuing and extending this initiative, more people experiencing vulnerability will be able to access and engage with government services, in their local community and get the support they need.

“This will have wide-reaching benefits for many Novocastrians.”

Operations Lead for Community Services with BaptistCare, Elizabeth Hukins welcomed the opportunity to partner with Service Australia.

“BaptistCare HopeStreet is thrilled to be partnering with Services Australia to enable vulnerable people in Newcastle to have better access to federal government services.  We are excited to introduce this program to our locations in Windale and Wallsend.”

For more information about Community Partnerships visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/community-partnership-specialist-officers

Investigations are underway into the potential for affordable housing on a parcel of land owned by City of Newcastle in Hunter Street.

The strategically positioned site, known as Rail Bridge Row, sits as a junction between King Street, Hunter Street and the Foreshore.

It was purchased by City of Newcastle from Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation in 2020 with a vision for a mixed-use development with potential for ground floor retail, affordable housing and commercial uses. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said while the future of the site was still being investigated, affordable housing is central to the discussions.

“With cost of living pressures exacerbating the housing stress being experienced by thousands of Novocastrians, increasing the supply of affordable housing in Newcastle is a key priority,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As part of our vision for the ongoing revitalisation of the CBD, a mixed-use development on this site could help ease the affordable housing shortage, while supporting investment and creating more jobs in Newcastle.

“We are currently working through various investigations and early design options and will soon commence site assessments for the early works and approvals needed to support future development on the site, along with exploring potential partnership opportunities with Community Housing Providers.”  

The 4,125 sqm lot at 280 Hunter Street stretches from Brown Street to near the intersection of Darby and Hunter Street and is opposite the Crown Street light rail stop.

Investigations are also assessing whether the site can also enhance the city’s active transport network. 

“We’re committed to delivering safe, connected and convenient cycleways across the city,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This site could also provide an opportunity to deliver an important east-west commuter cycleway connection, strengthening Newcastle’s cycling infrastructure while enhancing the sustainability and liveability of our city.”

Details

• Trains continue to be affected by an ongoing police operation at various Hunter Line locations.
  
• Nightly from 5.30pm until 7am the next morning, limited buses replace trains between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange.
  Buses will not run to the normal train timetable so please allow plenty of extra travel time, delay overnight or early morning travel if possible or consider using other transport. 
  
• At other times of the day, extended travel time may be experienced, or trains may be replaced by limited buses at short notice.
  
• It is not clear how long this disruption will continue, but we are committed to keeping passengers updated as the situation progresses. 
• Check transport apps, information screens and listen to announcements for service updates.

Bus routes1HU  Telarah, then all stations to Newcastle Interchange and return4HU  Dugong, then all stations to Maitland and return7HU  Warabrook Station to University shuttle bus18HU  Scone, then all stations to Lochinvar, Maitland, Victoria Street, then all stations to Beresfield, Warabrook, then all stations to Newcastle Interchange and return19HU  Dungog, then all stations to Maitland, Victoria Street, then all stations to Beresford, Warabrook, then all stations to Newcastle Interchange and return26HU  Singleton, all stations to Lochinvar, Maitland, Victoria Street, then all stations to Beresfield, Warabrook, then all stations to Newcastle Interchange and return

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July

• Trains may run to a changed timetable due to trackwork between Strathfield and Central.
• Plan your trip before you travel for up-to-date real time information. You can also subscribe to planned trackwork alerts.