A toddler has died after being hit by a car in a driveway at Lake Macquarie.
Just before 2.30pm today (Monday 15 August 2022), emergency services were called to Rosemary Row, Rathmines, after reports a toddler had been hit by a vehicle in a driveway.
Upon arrival, NSW Ambulance paramedics commenced treating the 22-month-old, however the child died at the scene.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and established a crime scene.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced.
A 38-year-old male driver has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
A man wanted on warrants will face court today following a pursuit in the state’s north last week.
About 2.10pm on Friday (12 August 2022), officers attached to Peel Traffic and Highway Patrol attempted to stop a Mazda 3 on Auburn Vale Road, for the purpose of a random breath test.
The Mazda failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated a short time later after officers lost sight of the vehicle.
Police patrolled the area and the Mazda was located stopped in Oswald Lane, and the male occupant fled on foot.
The 25-year-old man was arrested after a short foot pursuit.
He was taken to Inverell Police Station and charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, custody of knife in public place and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
Five outstanding warrants for property, assault and drug related offences were also executed.
The man was refused bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Saturday (13 August 2022), where he was formerly refused bail to appear at Moree Local Court today (Monday 15 August 2022).
You mightn’t know the meaning of Shralp before going into the Newcastle Museum exhibition, but visitors will certainly leave appreciating the tricks, terrain and talented individuals involved in Newcastle’s skateboarding subculture.
Curated by local skateboarder and academic James Turvey, and named after the act of ‘shredding and ripping simultaneously while on a skateboard, surfboard, or snowboard’, the aptly titled exhibition is an exploration of the Newcastle skateboarding scene from 1985 to today.
Newcastle Councillor Carol Duncan said Shralp, which opens to the public tomorrow,is another fantastic example of Newcastle Museum interpreting and preserving our city’s fascinating history, with a display of photos, magazines and skateboard decks and ephemera from local skating identities including John Bogaerts’ pro-model Bonzer board. In 1988, John became the first Novocastrian skateboarder to turn pro and have his name on a board.
“The exhibition highlights the significant role Newcastle has played in the history of Australian skateboarding and celebrates local skaters who have gone on to national and international success including Rowan Davis and Russell Grundy,” Cr Duncan said.
“Exhibitions such as this provide a vehicle through which we can share our stories and explore our identity.”
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said by collaborating with the community to tell their stories, the free exhibition offered a unique insight into this urban subculture.
“Skateboarding culture has flourished in Newcastle for over 35 years and when Museum Park opened in 2020, skaters flocked to the space to skate and socialise,” Ms Baird said.
“Finding this inclusive subculture on our doorstep inspired Newcastle Museum to collaborate with the community to produce a new exhibition.
“Curated by James Turvey, Shralp uses skateboarding print media as a lens to view the spots, people, and art of the Newcastle skate scene and how it has exposed Newcastle to the world.
“It also explores the role this community plays in documenting the changing nature of Newcastle’s urban environments as our city evolves over the decades.”
James Turvey said skateboarding was more than just a form of transport, it was a subculture with a rich and diverse history in Newcastle.
“Skateboarding as a subculture has always been more than transport. It has its own world, one that seeks to find new terrain, new tricks and new talent. The average bench or steps become a landmark of who’s done what and when,” James said.
“For over thirty-five years Novocastrian skateboarders have been archiving their own history; the city’s stairs, skateparks, benches and backyards have featured in print all over the world.”
The free exhibition opens to the public on 12 August and will run through to 30 October.
About 9.10pm on Friday 8 April 2022, emergency services were called to a carpark on Arnott Street, Edgeworth, following reports of a public place shooting.
A 27-year-old man was found suffering a gunshot wound to the right leg. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
He has since recovered and been released; however, has failed to provide any information as to how he came to be injured.
Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting under Strike Force Undola and have established the man was linked to the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) at the time.
As part of their inquiries, investigators have also established that the man may have been shot near the intersection of Wakefield and Sugarloaf Range Roads, near Freemans Waterhole, just north of Lake Macquarie and will be conducting an extensive search of the area commencing at 10:30am today (Thursday 11 August 2022).
As investigations continue, police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who was in the area on the evening of Friday 8 April 2022 and may have dash cam vision, to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
City of Newcastle’s culture of excellence, transparency and continuous improvement has been recognised amongst its peers at a host of recent industry awards ceremonies.
For the second consecutive year, City of Newcastle’s (CN) Annual Report has won gold at the 2022 Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) for Excellence.
The Awards give organisations an opportunity to benchmark their reports against world’s best practice, with a gold rating recognising a report’s high-quality coverage against criteria such as providing a balanced and reasonable picture of economic, environmental, and social performance, as well as transparency of the organisation’s core business.
Meanwhile, the Masterplan for the future of Hamilton’s historic and much-loved Gregson Park was recognised as a finalist at the Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT Awards.
The Gregson Park Masterplan celebrates the European and Indigenous heritage of the site, while meeting the recreational and accessibility needs of the community. It features a larger inclusive play space with water play, yarning circle, and a planted swale with indigenous plantings, a new community shelter, more shaded seating, and the potential for community gardens and a kiosk.
Finalists in this award are recognised as outstanding examples of strategic planning that have enriched and revitalised a community.
At the Local Government NSW Awards, CN’s Public Art Reference Group (PARG) was a finalist in the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Awards category. This award recognises councils that have excelled in strategic policy, planning, delivery and evaluation in arts and culture.
Established in 2018, the PARG provides advice on the commissioning and development of new public art works in the city that are reflective of Newcastle’s history, culture, and community.
A man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives as part of an ongoing investigation into several alleged armed robberies in the Newcastle area this year.
In July 2022, detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Kulla – with assistance from Newcastle City Police District – to investigate three alleged armed robberies, including:
About 10.25pm on Sunday 3 July 2022, a man – armed with a knife – approached two staff members as they were leaving a licenced premises on Station Street, Waratah. The man demanded the employees reopen the hotel before he allegedly stole cash and fled the scene on foot.
About 3.20am on Friday 8 July 2022, a 21-year-old male employee was leaving a licenced premises on Denison Street, Hamilton, when he was approached by a man armed with a knife. He allegedly threatened the employee and demanded to be let inside the premises, before stealing cash and fleeing the scene south along Beaumont Street.
About 1.20am on Sunday 7 August 2022, two staff members were leaving a licensed premises on Denison Street, Hamilton, via an exit on Steel Street, when they were approached by a man – allegedly armed with a handgun. The armed man threatened the staff members, before stealing cash and fleeing the scene towards Veda Street.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives – with assistance from Newcastle City Police District and the Tactical Operations Unit – attended a home on Everton Street, Hamilton, about 7.30am today (Tuesday 9 August 2022).
Upon police arrival, a 29-year-old man refused to leave the home and a police operation commenced.
Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW attended following reports of a small fire inside the home, however, were not required.
Specialist officers, including negotiators, attended the scene before the man was arrested without incident about 10.30am.
A search warrant was subsequently executed at the Hamilton home, and a second was executed at a home on Scholey Street, Mayfield – where officers seized a number of items for further forensic examination.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, robbery while armed with dangerous weapon.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 10 August 2022).
Investigations under Strike Force Kulla are ongoing.
Newcastle’s Young Professional Engineer of the Year and Project of the Year have been announced at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards – People & Projects Newcastle.
“The Engineers Australia Excellence Awards recognise outstanding engineers who show innovation and resourcefulness in their work and the region’s top engineering projects and the teams behind them,” said Engineers Australia Newcastle Division General Manager Helen Link.
“The Newcastle region is home to some of the globe’s oldest engineering structures, as well as world-class people and projects pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence to provide creative solutions to local problems.”
Project of The Year – Newcastle
Pacific Complete -Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade
Joint Venture between Laing O’Rourke and WSP Australia, in partnership with Transport for NSW
The Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade converted 155km of the Pacific Highway to a four lane, divided carriageway between Hexham and the Queensland border.
The project team navigated two major river catchments, floodplains, soft soil, threatened species habitat, and sensitive heritage areas to provide safer, reduced travel times and better connectivity for local communities.
The size, scale and complex nature of the project provided unique challenges to the project team, who devised innovative solutions to leave an economic, social, and environmental legacy.
Young Professional Engineer of the Year – Newcastle
Steve Adamthwaite, MIEAust
As leader of Arup’s NSW/ACT Water Business Steve Adamthwaite drives sustainable, community-oriented solutions to deliver service and infrastructure excellence to industry and the community.
Adamthwaite represents the next generation of leaders and innovators – driving change, leading projects, and developing skills to underpin a sustainable future for the infrastructure sector, its people and the communities that rely upon it.
He also shapes future strategy through leadership positions with WaterAid NSW (Deputy Chair), Australian Water Association (Vice President NSW) and Engineers Australia (Deputy Chair, National Young Engineers Committee, Shadow Board).
Winners from the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards – People & Projects Newcastle now go into the running for the National Young Engineer of the Year Award and the Sir William Hudson Award – the highest accolade which an engineering project can receive from Engineers Australia.
The national awards will be held at the Sydney Hilton on October 5.
City of Newcastle has set its sights on capturing more of the lucrative leisure tourism market by encouraging visitors to discover the city’s eclectic and unexpected experiences.
Maintaining the colourful ‘Newcastle’ brand with the new tagline and campaign ‘Seek Off Beat’, City of Newcastle (CN) aims to increase awareness of the city’s diverse mix of tourism offerings, driving both day and overnight visitation to Newcastle.
City of Newcastle Acting Manager Major Events & Corporate Affairs Georgia Lazzari said through its Destination Management Plan 2021-2025, CN is strategically focused on positioning the city as a premier tourism destination, with quirky visitor experiences as well as its signature offerings.
“Our new tourism tagline ‘Seek Off Beat’ taps into the curiosity of potential visitors by encouraging them to look beyond their existing perceptions and discover a vibrant, sophisticated city with stimulating culture, history and coastal experiences,” Ms Lazzari said.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said illuminating the City’s visitor economy strengths would provide an important boost to the economy and further support local job creation.
“Newcastle is steeped in heritage, bustling with arts and culture, with a lively night-time economy, and world-class major events,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Prior to COVID-19, Newcastle’s thriving tourism industry contributed more than $945 million to the local economy each year and supported 4,920 jobs, with the city welcoming more than 5.1 million international and domestic visitors.
“As we face the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 in the Hunter region, there is significant opportunity for a tourism-led economic recovery, with initiatives and projects designed to attract new visitors and increase tourist spend.
“We’ve seen the industry show confidence in Newcastle’s leisure tourism potential, investing significantly to deliver our first two five-star hotels in the heart of our city’s cultural precinct.
“From 2024, an expanded Newcastle Airport terminal will welcome more than 250,000 international passengers annually as a result of runway upgrades that will cater to Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s, enabling direct flights to more international destinations.
“To help attract more leisure visitors, a key action in the Newcastle’s Destination Management Plan has been to work with the business sector to increase the number of bookable visitor experiences on offer.
“By continuing to raise awareness of our city’s unique offerings in a way that appeals to visitors from outside the region and abroad, Newcastle’s future as an international tourism and major events destination is bright.”
The new tourism brand will be in market for stage one of a multifaceted campaign on 4 August 2022 for an initial period of eight weeks.
An off-duty police officer has been charged with mid-range drink-driving following a crash on the Central Coast.
About 11.35pm yesterday (Wednesday 3 August 2022), emergency services were called to Geoffrey Road, Chittaway Point, following reports of a crash.
On arrival, officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District found a Suzuki sedan had crashed into a garbage bin and parked car.
The driver – an off-duty senior constable attached to a specialist command – was uninjured and subject to a roadside breath test which returned an alleged reading of 0.167.
She was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station where she was subject to a secondary breath analysis which allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.132.
The 32-year-old woman was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with mid-range PCA, to appear at Wyong Local Court on Monday 15 August 2022.
City of Newcastle (CN) has launched a business support program to help local traders benefit from the influx of visitors to the city centre for the New Annual festival next month.
CN’s flagship arts event will kick off with the world-renowned Van Gogh Alive experience on 22 September followed by a vibrant 10-day program of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and cultural workshops.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a financial incentive program would help local businesses deliver special offers and promotions during New Annual that celebrate Newcastle’s culture, encouraging patrons to spend more time in the city.
“Newcastle is home to a unique range of boutique makers and traders, hospitality venues, and arts and cultural institutions that have been seriously impacted by the ongoing challenges of COVID-19,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Our first New Annual event in 2021 attracted 30,000 people to the city, providing an important economic boost across the arts, hospitality, and tourism sectors, while also celebrating and showcasing our creative city.
“New Annual 2022 presents an opportunity for local businesses to tap into the increased visitation to the city by delivering special offers that entice visitors to shop, dine and experience the best of Newcastle during the festival.
“Supporting our local small businesses through this partnership program will also enhance the experience for New Annual attendees while helping to create a whole-of-city festival atmosphere.”
Expressions of interest to take part in the business support program are open until 5pm, 16 August 2022. A business information webinar will be held from 2pm on 9 August, registration is essential.
New Annual 2022 will feature local and nationally recognised artists delivering a mix of free, ticketed and family-friendly events. The full New Annual program and ticket sales are available online now at www.newannual.com
