Category: Newcastle News

A woman reported missing from the Cessnock area has been located safe and well.

A 43-year-old woman was reported missing after she was last seen at a home in Nulkaba, about 6.30pm on Sunday (20 August 2023). 

When she was unable to be located or contacted, she was reported missing to officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, who commenced inquiries into her whereabouts. 

Following inquiries, including a public appeal, the woman was located safe and well in Byron Bay today.

Police wish to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

Cyclists are set to benefit from the installation of Newcastle’s first public bike repair station as City of Newcastle (CN) gears up to invest more than $3.6 million into cycleways during the next 12 months.

Located at Islington Park, the multi-function station features all the tools needed to get cyclists back on their bikes including screwdrivers, wrenches, and tyre levers, as well as a stand to make repairs easier, and a bike pump and gauge. Bike parking racks are also planned for future installation.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the new bike repair station demonstrates City of Newcastle’s commitment to promoting cycling and encouraging greater participation in active modes of transport throughout the city.

“More and more Novocastrians are riding and have told us they want more cycle friendly facilities and connections across the city,” Cr Clausen said.

“By prioritising our investment in Newcastle’s cycleway infrastructure, we hope to enable cycling to play an even larger role within the city’s active transport mix.

“During the 2023/24 financial year, we will invest more than $3.6 million into cycleways infrastructure, as part of CN’s largest annual capital works program to date.

“Safer cycle routes are critical. We are prioritising improving several challenging intersections on cycle routes around the city, such as Maud Street in Waratah with signalised crossings for cyclists.

“Recently we’ve completed new signals at the intersection of Chinchen Street and Clyde Street in Islington, at an important node between two key cycle routes, providing a safer connection joining Mayfield to the city, as well as improving connections to the TAFE and nearby schools.

“We will also soon be talking with the community about a range of new cycleway projects, including a significant new connection joining Broadmeadow into Hamilton East and onwards towards the Newcastle Interchange, and an improved connection through Jesmond.”

City of Newcastle (CN) is empowering residents to join the war on waste with a new series of free workshops designed to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

Almost 30 face-to-face and online events are being delivered as part of the Low Waste Living Program, arming residents with information on how to reduce household waste and manage the rising cost of living.

The workshops will be presented by experts in their field and cover a diverse range of topics including the benefits of cloth nappies, easy green cleaning, seed saving, composting, keeping backyard chickens and how to make your own natural skincare products.

CN’s popular Repair Café at Lambton Library is also going on the road to reach more residents, with events planned at Wallsend Library and Hamilton South Community Centre, while tours of Summerhill Waste Management Centre and the Wallsend Op-Shop Trail are also included in the program.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the workshops are designed to give people the knowledge to take action, and aligns with the commitments made under City of Newcastle’s 20-year Sustainable Waste Strategy.

“Every year, Australians send more than 6.2 million tonnes of organic waste and 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste to landfill, and spend between $2,200 and $3,800 on food that ends up being thrown out,” Cr Clausen said.

“Our Sustainable Waste Strategy is focussed on reducing unnecessary waste going to landfill and changing the way we return, reuse, repair and recycle resources.

“City of Newcastle is making a significant investment towards this goal through our planned material recovery facility and organics processing facility at Summerhill, which will provide the infrastructure needed for residents to easily increase their recycling rates.

“This investment is complemented by initiatives such as this Low Waste Living Program, which inspire changes in community attitudes and behaviours around general environmental sustainability, waste reduction, avoidance and recycling while continuing to promote local repair and reuse initiatives.

“Our Libraries and Waste Services teams are collaborating with community partners Catholic Care Social Services, Wallsend Town Business Association and Hunter Multicultural Communities to ensure these free workshops reach as many people as possible within our community so that we can encourage and empower them with practical ways to reduce waste around their home.”

The program was launched with the Newcastle Repair Café and Seed Library Workshop at the Hunter Multicultural Communities in Waratah earlier this month and will continue next week with online workshops including Get into Cloth – Reusable Nappies on 22 August.

To find out more about these and other sessions visit https://whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/blog/low-waste-living

City of Newcastle (CN) has opened applications for its City Centre and Darby Street Special Business Rates (SBR) program, with $900,000 in funding available for projects designed to promote, beautify and develop the precinct.

The opening of the City Centre/ Darby Street program follows the recent awarding of $150,000 in funding for seven projects in the Hamilton, New Lambton and Wallsend precincts, with successful projects ranging from a street art festival to an op-shop trail.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the SBR program provided invaluable support for City Centre and suburban business precincts, with economic outcomes that flowed through to the wider Newcastle area.

“SBR initiatives such as West Best Bloc Fest, which will see 80 local music artists perform in venues across the city, and the Small Walls beautification project, are proven to not only attract an influx of visitors but also drive new and expanded economic opportunities for our local hospitality venues, arts and cultural sector,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what creative applications come through from this next City Centre and Darby Street SBR round and also congratulate the successful applicants from Hamilton, New Lambton and Wallsend, as we continue to create vibrant, activated spaces for the community and visitors to enjoy.”

SBR recipient and Newcastle Pride president Lee-Anne McDougall said the funding will help deliver a diverse range of LGBTIQ+ free and ticketed events throughout Hamilton during the Newcastle Pride Festival in October.

“We’ve developed a program of LGBTIQ+ community events aimed to delight and entertain the Hamilton community and visitors with ‘Roving Real Queens of Hamilton’, drag bingo, a dance party and much more thanks to SBR support,” Ms McDougall said.

Councillor Carol Duncan said initiatives like the SBR program provide a great way to involve local businesses and the community in the development and promotion of their own business precincts.

“The SBR suburban program will this year support seven truly innovative projects, which I can’t wait to see come to life in Hamilton, New Lambton and Wallsend,” Cr Duncan said.

“Beaumont Street is set to come alive in October with LGBTIQ+ community events delivered by Newcastle Pride, bringing visitors to the area and building on the recent success of the Hamilton Night Noodle Markets.”

Expressions of interest for the City Centre and Darby Street SBR funding round close on Friday 15 September.

For more information about the Special Business Rate program visit City of Newcastle website.

Hamilton SBR projects:

• Newcastle Fringe 2024
  The project will build on the Fringe Festival’s existing presence on Beaumont Street by expanding the number of shows with more family-friendly events and micro-performances in local businesses.
• Newcastle Pride Festival 2023 – Hamilton
  Newcastle Pride has developed a diverse range of free and ticketed events to be delivered throughout Hamilton during the Newcastle Pride Festival in October. The project incorporates daytime and evening events for all ages, including ‘Roving Real Queens of Hamilton’, drag bingo, cocktails and a dance party.

New Lambton SBR projects:

• Little Festival New Lambton
  A whimsical street art festival walking trail featuring live street art painting on temporary and permanent structures, miniature installations, sculptures, stencils, chalk artworks, paste ups, yarn bombs, repurposed found objects, workshops, pop-up exhibitions and activations throughout the business precinct.
• Joan’s Inner Power Creative Program
  A four-day cultural and creative program set to activate the New Lambton precinct during New Annual festival. With a focus on the voices of women and gender diverse artists, this program will connect communities, celebrate stories and inspire social change through art and creative dialogue.

Wallsend SBR projects:

• Wallsend Op Shop Trail
  In collaboration with Wallsend Town Business Association, Samaritans, and the other four op shops on Nelson Street, the Wallsend Op Shop Trail is designed to encourage visitors to visit Wallsend on weekends.
• Streets Alive Wallsend!
  A series of all-inclusive two-hour pop-up events will be held in the Wallsend business precinct, providing entertainment and activities that encourage the local community and visitors to inhabit their public spaces with a sense of play, wonder and connection.
• Up&Up Inspirations ArtScape Community Festival
  UP&UP Inspirations will transform Wallsend Skate Park into a vibrant hub of creativity, catering to youth and families, featuring street art workshops, DJs, live music performances, and live street art painting exhibitions.

A man has been charged with firearms and domestic violence offences in the Hunter Valley region.

About 7.30pm on Wednesday 16 August 2023, a 59-year-old man allegedly threatened a 56-year-old woman with a firearm before firing a shot on the property at Pyne Way, Mount View.

The woman was able to escape and notify police attached to the Hunter Valley Police District, who commenced an investigation into the incident.

With assistance from PolAir, the man was tracked to an address on Short Street, Speers Point, where he was arrested by specialist police attached to the Tactical Operations Unit about 1am on Thursday 17 August 2023.

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence, fire firearm manner likely injure persons/property, possess loaded firearm endanger life not public, common assault, and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm.

Following the arrest, at 2.20pm, a search warrant was executed at the home on Pyne Way, where police seized firearms, ammunition and prohibited drugs.

The man was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Tuesday 12 September 2023.

Inquiries are ongoing.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted on outstanding arrest warrants in Newcastle.

Randolph Convery, aged 49, is wanted by virtue of outstanding arrest warrants.

He was last seen on Hunter Street, Newcastle, about 3pm Wednesday (16 August 2023).

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 170cm to 175cm tall, of a large build with brown hair and brown eyes.

Randolph was last seen wearing a green shirt and green pants.

He may be driving a 1999 white Toyota Sedan with the NSW registration AHJ70U.

He is known to frequent the Newcastle and Tarro areas.

Anyone with information about Randolph’s whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle City police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

City of Newcastle (CN) is ready to welcome swimmers back to its public pools after undertaking a significant program of improvements over the Winter break.

Lambton Swimming Centre will be the first to reopen its doors for the traditional early swimming season on Monday 21 August, while the pools at Stockton, Mayfield, Wallsend and Beresfield will be back in action during the September school holidays.

Swimmers will be greeted with refreshed and upgraded facilities, with works completed across all five swimming centres during the closure period including safety upgrades, extensive re-painting, and maintenance of the pool tiles and promenades.

Visitors to Lambton will notice significant progress on the construction of a new grandstand, which is expected to be completed by November, while three smaller grandstands have been installed adjacent to the diving pool.

Permanent tiered seating structures have also gone in at Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend Swimming Centres, giving schools, sporting groups and spectators more shaded seating options when those facilities reopen next month.

A range of other works have also been delivered across the facilities to enhance the comfort, safety and enjoyment of our community both in and out of the water, including pump replacements for improved water quality, new lane ropes, upgraded play equipment at Beresfield and a new shade sail over the playground at Mayfield Swimming Centre.

City of Newcastle Executive Manager Community and Recreation Lynn Duffy said City of Newcastle maximised the period during Winter that the pools were closed as part of its commitment under our Inland Pools Strategy 2043.

“City of Newcastle has invested more than $5 million upgrading and $2 million maintaining the city’s public pool network during the past few years to ensure they continue to meet the expectations and evolving needs of more than 320,000 people who visit them each year,” Ms Duffy said.

“Our team has completed an extensive program of capital and maintenance works during the past few months to ensure the comfort, safety and enjoyment of our community when they visit these valued community facilities.”

Ms Duffy said the pools would continue to be operated by BlueFit while new lease arrangements are finalised. City of Newcastle is currently preparing a report for the Minister for Local Government following the recent public notice of the proposed lease.

“In the meantime, City of Newcastle has granted an extension of the current lease with BlueFit to ensure these important community assets can open for the upcoming swimming season. BlueFit will also provide day-to-day management of Beresfield Swimming Centre as it is included in the tender that has been awarded,” Ms Duffy said.

Work will recommence on the upgrade of Bathers Way at South Newcastle Beach following the appointment of a new head contractor by City of Newcastle (CN).

The Newcastle project was one of hundreds across New South Wales and Victoria impacted when building contractor Lloyd Group entered voluntary administration in March.

Executive Manager Project Management Office Robert Dudgeon said while the on-site performance and eventual departure of Lloyd Group put CN in a difficult position, the upgrade to Bathers Way will now be completed with the appointment of Daracon Group.

“City of Newcastle has been frustrated and disappointed by Lloyd Group’s project delivery at Bathers Way South Newcastle and the disruption caused by the firm’s ultimate collapse earlier this year,” Mr Dudgeon said.

“We’ve seen the tale of two projects on our coastline, with Newcastle Ocean Baths’ upgrade delivered by local company Daracon running on time and on budget, while just 500 metres away down the beach the Lloyd Group was well behind schedule.

“Daracon was ranked second when the tender for this stage of Bathers Way was awarded in 2020. The Lloyd Group was selected primarily on the price competitiveness of their bid.

“On the basis that the Lloyd Group is now unable to finish the project, CN is able to appoint Daracon as the new head contractor to complete the work without having to go back out to tender. Doing this would delay the project by at least a further four months.”

Daracon has brought on additional staff to ensure both the Bathers Way upgrade and Newcastle Ocean Baths project are resourced appropriately and delivered successfully, with the Baths on track to re-open for swimming in Summer while South Newcastle is planned for completion in May.

The Bathers Way, South Newcastle Beach upgrade features a shared path from Shortland Esplanade to King Edward Park, improvements to parking, landscaping, lighting and accessibility, the installation of fitness equipment, shade, seating and viewing areas, as well as a new café/kiosk and accessible amenities.

The project also includes a $1.6 million upgrade to the skate park with wheelchair-accessible skate bowl and terrain park, which will complement the advanced-level facilities at Empire Park and provide a unique drawcard to promote ongoing visitation and activation of this area.

Around $8.6 million has been invested to date into this project, delivering new sea walls, expanded promenade and kiosk, as well as the preservation of the site’s 115-year-old stone arches in consultation with the National Trust.

While the departure of Lloyd Group and escalating labour and material costs have unavoidably impacted the overall budget and timing of this project, Mr Dudgeon said CN was committed to completing this upgrade as quickly and efficiently so that this stage of the Bathers Way walk can be completed as soon as possible for the community to enjoy.

“The estimated cost for Daracon to complete the project is just under $11.5 million, which reflects the increased cost of labour and materials experienced nationwide since Lloyd Group commenced on site in 2020, and follows the work Daracon have already delivered to address defective works left by Lloyd Group,” Mr Dudgeon said.

“We know that the community are keen to see this project completed, as are we, and with Daracon already established on site, we look forward to seeing it progress as quickly as possible, with expectations of the lower promenade being re-opened prior to Christmas and the rest of the project to follow by May next year.”

As cost-of-living pressures continue to rise, City of Newcastle is encouraging people experiencing hardship to reach out for help with their rates.

City of Newcastle offers a range of support for residents and business owners experiencing financial difficulties, including waiving of interest on any overdue rates and the deferral of rates against their estate.

Ratepayers can enter into a flexible payment option including weekly, fortnightly and monthly instalments as well as other tailored plans.

Executive Director Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer David Clarke said in the past financial year City of Newcastle had assisted around 800 ratepayers to enter into payment arrangements, while an additional 250 people were supported through our rates voucher scheme.

“We understand that many people and small businesses in our community are facing an extremely challenging time,” Mr Clarke said.

“City of Newcastle will continue to offer hardship support to residents and business owners experiencing financial hardship for the 2023/24 Rates Notice period.

“We encourage those experiencing difficulties to reach out and contact City of Newcastle to discuss a payment plan before the next rates instalment is due on 31 August.”

Financial planning and counselling assistance through one of City of Newcastle’s appointed community welfare agencies is also available to ratepayers experiencing hardship.

Mr Clarke said while City of Newcastle was happy to work with people in need, it is disappointing that there are those within the community who chose to exploit this support.

“Unfortunately, there are a small number of people in the community who, despite having the means, choose not to pay their rates,” Mr Clarke said.

“This includes one customer who has amassed more than $130,000 in unpaid rates as a debt.

“While this behaviour is not common, it is a disappointing outcome to the detriment of our wider ratepayers .”

Ratepayers experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to seek assistance by contacting City of Newcastle’s Rates Team on 02 4974 2307 or rates@ncc.nsw.gov.au

For more information, visit City of Newcastle’s Pay Your Rates webpage.

Lawyers are urging witnesses to alleged historical child sexual abuse at Worimi Shelter in Newcastle to come forward with any information that may assist several survivors of the alleged abuse. 

Slater and Gordon Associate in Abuse Law, Selva Dankha said the firm was investigating the alleged sexual abuse of children by a higher-ranking officer who had a presence at the facility between October 1995 to December 2002.   

“We currently hold instructions from several clients who say they suffered sexual abuse at the hands of this officer, who is said to be a celebrated figure in the community.  

“It has had a devastating impact on their lives, which is why we’re seeking witnesses and any other victims to come forward to help us get them the justice, closure and compensation they need and deserve,” Ms Dankha said. 

“To date there have been known offenders who have held high ranking positions at similar facilities who managed to continue to attend the centers and abuse victims even after their employment had ceased.

“We believe this officer continued to have access to Worimi following his employment and continued to abuse detainees, which is why we’re also calling for witnesses,” Ms Dankha said.  

The shelter was established at Broadmeadow, near Newcastle, by the former Child Welfare Department in June 1966. The shelter was for the reception of children from the courts and held 23 boys and girls up to the age of 18 years.

Under NSW law, there is no longer a time limit on when child sex abuse compensation claims can be made, meaning victims can pursue a claim for damages regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. 

In addition, legislation was passed in 2021 that allows unfair settlements previously reached with churches and other institutions, to be set aside by the court. Gag orders, which survivors were previously forced to sign, preventing them from speaking publicly about what they endured can now also be lifted.

“We believe there could be potential witnesses living in New South Wales or interstate. If you suffered abuse by an officer who held a higher ranking at Worimi Shelter, or any others, or if you are aware of the abuse of other children, please do not hesitate to reach out to Slater and Gordon Lawyers,” Ms Dankha said.

Ms Dankha said any information received would be treated confidentially.