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Just a few weeks before the 30th anniversary of the Newcastle earthquake, a modern emergency operations centre proposed for the City’s new Administration Centre will be considered by Councillors at their final meeting of the year.
If approved next Tuesday night, the facility at 12 Stewart Avenue will provide a large, fully equipped space for emergency services and welfare agency personnel to manage responses to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, bushfires, floods, and other major incidents.
City of Newcastle Director of Governance David Clarke said the ageing existing facility at Tighes Hill was unsuitable for emergency operations and there was now an opportunity to build something fit for purpose at the new City Administration Centre.
“It has become clear that the City’s emergency operations centre at Tighes Hill doesn’t comply with modern standards and isn’t compatible with our partnering emergency services’ technologies,” Mr Clarke said.
“The proposed new operations centre would be activated during natural disasters or other emergencies and provide emergency services the best possible facilities to support the people on the ground responding to incidents.
“The sixth floor of our secure City Administration Centre is the best option for the new facility due to its central location, full range of amenities and access to backup power via onsite generators.
“Our City Library had to be used during the recent catastrophic bushfire event because the existing site at Tighes Hill is now 30 years old and lacks the required technology to lead a disaster response from. Equally, the City Library is not a suitable long-term solution due to its insufficient size, lack of emergency power and IT equipment.”
State Emergency Service’s Newcastle Commander, Ian Robinson, said the way emergency services respond to major incidents had evolved with technology and it was important to have the right facilities in place.
“We’ve come a long way from the days of having hard-wired telephones on the desk and using paper-based maps when responding to emergency situations, and the current facilities at Tighes Hill, for not only the Newcastle Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), but also the City of Newcastle SES Headquarters, which co-houses the EOC, are long overdue for modernisation, as neither facility adequately meet the current needs, nor the foreseeable future needs of the community in the face of an emergency situation,” Mr Robinson said.
“The City of Newcastle’s proposed new facility at 12 Stewart Avenue is an important step towards modernising Newcastle’s ability to adequately respond to an emergency situation, providing a modern, technologically advanced centre, from which the Local Emergency Operations Control Centre can oversee critical situations with confidence.”
The co-location of the Local Emergency Operations Control Centre at the City Administration Centre will allow for all necessary IT and audio/visual infrastructure, furniture and support facilities at a central location in Newcastle West.
City of Newcastle is required to provide a Local Emergency Operations Control facility under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act1989.
Fast facts
The emergency operations centre would feature:

• A 16-seat conferencing facility with wireless presentation, TV connectivity for news coverage, weather, traffic cameras, server and four 65-inch screens and mobile 86-inch screen
• An eight-seat, dedicated video conference room with a 65-inch screen, wireless presentation and network connectivity
• Capability to open to one 32-seat room or incorporate other areas, and breakaway spaces
• Eight dedicated workstations, 12-seat elevated bench seating, whiteboards and 86-inch screen
• Power and data including high-speed Wi-Fi access and multi-function devices capable of high-speed printing and scanning
• Kitchen area capable of providing meals during a city-wide blackout
• Two diesel powered-generators capable of indefinitely powering 100 per cent of the building load
• Uninterruptable power supply throughout City Administration Centre levels supplying communications infrastructure
• Onsite parking, secure access and secure toilet and shower facilities.

It is expected to cost $1.8 million to deliver the emergency operations centre, which would be operational by May 2019.

Two men have been charged with Grievous Bodily Harm after an incident in the Newcastle area earlier in the year.
Just after 11.50pm on Saturday 2 February 2019, a 31-year-old man and his friends were in Jefferson Park, Merewether when a group of males, who had been at a function at a licensed premise across the road, approached them.
Two men within the group became aggressive and a physical altercation occurred.
The 31-year-old man was kicked in the head – sustaining a broken jaw.
Following extensive investigations, officers from Newcastle City Police Area Command identified two men who they will allege assaulted man.
About 7pm on Wednesday 27 November 2019, a 24-year-old Wangi Wangi man was arrested and charged with common assault, offensive behaviour and grievous bodily harm including malicious wounding. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 19 December 2019.
About 7pm on Sunday 8 December 2019, a second man was arrested. The 23-year-old man from Toronto was charged with larceny, common assault, affray and recklessly cause grievous bodily harm. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 16 January 2020

Crash investigators remain at the scene of a fatal crash in the state’s Hunter Region today.
About 11am (Sunday 8 December 2019), a head-on crash occurred between a Toyota Corolla and a Holden Astra on Richardson Road, near Benjamin Lee Drive, Raymond Terrace.
The driver of the Holden Astra died at the scene. Two female passengers were taken to John Hunter Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The female driver of the Corolla was also taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory tests.
Officers from Port Stephens – Hunter Police District established a crime scene that will be examined by officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.
Anyone who may have dash-cam vision of the crash is urged to contact police at Raymond Terrace Police Station, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has been charged with firearms and weapons offences after seizing an explosive device from a property in the Lake Macquarie region.
Just after midnight yesterday (Saturday 7 December 2019), officers from Newcastle City Police District attended a property in Edgeworth, following reports a firearm with an expired licence was being stored at the location.
Police spoke with the occupant, a 35-year-old man, who surrendered the firearm, and conducted a safe storage inspection at the property.
During the search, officers allegedly located a gun safe that was not properly secured. They also located ammunition, cannabis, and an improvised explosive device (IED).
The Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit attended and rendered the IED safe.
The 35-year-old man was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
He was charged with eight offences, including:

• two counts of possess or use prohibited weapon without permit,
• manufacture military-style weapon without a permit,
• manufacture firearm without a licence or permit,
• possess unauthorised prohibited firearm,
• possess or use military-style weapon without permit,
• not keep firearm safely, and
• possess prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court today (Sunday 8 December 2019), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court tomorrow (Monday 9 December 2019).

A man has been charged after a pedestrian was killed in an alleged fail to stop crash at Maitland last month.
About 11.30pm on Saturday 30 November 2019, emergency services were called to Flat Road, near the intersection of Paterson Road, Bolwarra, following reports of a crash.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and found a male pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.
The 62-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The vehicle allegedly left the crash scene and was last seen travelling south on Paterson Road.
A short time later, police responding to the collision saw a Mazda BT50 utility travelling south on Belmore Road at Lorn.
Officers from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.
The low-speed pursuit through local streets ended on High Street after the vehicle mounted the footpath.
The 70-year-old driver underwent a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive reading.
He was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.108.
The man was charged with drive with middle range PCA and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.
Following further investigations, a 70-year-old man attended Ryde Police Station where he was arrested.
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – DUI, dangerous driving occasioning death – manner dangerous, negligent driving cause death, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death (Crimes Act) and fail to stop and assist after impact causing death (Road Transport Act).
He was refused bail and is due to appear before Burwood Local Court on Monday 9 December 2019.

A man has been charged with domestic violence-related offences after allegedly strangling and assaulting a woman until she became unconscious in Singleton.
About 5pm on Monday 18 November 2019, a 29-year-old man allegedly threatened and strangled a 25-year-old woman until she was rendered unconscious at a toilet block in Bridgeman Road, Singleton.
It will also be alleged the man then forcibly placed the woman inside his car, assaulted her and threatened her with a hammer before driving to a nearby fast food restaurant.
The woman then jumped out of the moving vehicle and alerted the restaurant’s staff, who, in turn, contacted police.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, police attached to the Northern Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team arrested a 29-year-old man in Hunter Street, Newcastle, just after 7am today (Saturday 7 December 2019).
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with 10 offences, including:

• three counts of possess prohibited drug,
• unlicensed rider for class,
• choke person with intent to commit indictable offence,
• two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear of physical harm (DV),
• assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV),
• intentionally choke person without consent (DV), and
• kidnap with intent to commit serious indictable offence occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).

Police will allege in court that the two were known to each other.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 8 December 2019).

A man will appear in court today charged with intentionally causing a fire and other offences in the Lake Macquarie area.
About 8.15am yesterday (Friday 6 December 2029), a white Ford Falcon Utility was allegedly stolen from Freemans Drive, Freemans Waterhole.
Shortly after 10am, police were alerted to a vehicle, alleged to be the stolen Ford, being driven in a dangerous manner along Renshaw Drive towards Buchanan, north-west of Newcastle.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and observed another car that had allegedly been hit by the Ford on Buchanan Road, however, the driver had failed to stop.
Shortly after, about 10.15am, police located the Ford well alight on a property on Buchanan Road, Buchanan.
Officers attached to the Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the fire in the vehicle, as well as a small grass fire that had started only metres from bushland.
A 32-year-old man was arrested nearby and was taken to Maitland Hospital for assessment and treatment to injuries to his legs.
Upon release from hospital, the man was taken to Cessnock police station and charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, not give particulars to other driver, damage property by fire, intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread and steal motor vehicle.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 7 December 2019).

Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery at Singleton early this morning.
About 4am today (Thursday 5 December 2019), a 32-year-old male employee was inside a newsagency on John Street, Singleton, when two men entered through the rear door armed with a tomahawk and an iron bar.
The men demanded cash before the 32-year-old became involved in a struggle with the pair and forced them out the door.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended a short time later and established a crime scene.
The man was taken to Singleton Hospital for treatment to minor cuts and grazes to his arms and forehead.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have noticed any suspicious behaviour in the area at that time or who may have CCTV or dashcam vision to contact Singleton Police on 6578 7499 or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.