Category: Newcastle News

More than $10 million is being invested into facility upgrades at Newcastle’s largest recreational reserve, with four new basketball courts the latest project to be completed at National Park.

Work to increase the number of basketball courts and continue the re-activation of the former tennis court site near the corner of National Park and Parry Streets recently wrapped up, with a free community celebration to be held at the courts on Sunday 24 April.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said National Park holds an important place in Newcastle’s recreation and sporting landscape and the upgrades to facilities are being provided to enhance the usability of the precinct.

“National Park has long been used for a variety of sports and activities, and each weekend hundreds of players flock to the park to participate in community sport and passive recreation activities, so it’s important that the facilities are upgraded to meet modern standards,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle is committed to delivering an even better sporting experience for players and spectators alike by investing in the facilities located throughout the National Park precinct.

“Based on the popularity of the two existing basketball courts, we’ve now increased the offering for local basketballers, installed seating for spectators and expanded greenspace at the site for all to enjoy.

“I look forward to seeing our community come together as we officially open the additional courts next month, and until then enjoy the renewed space.”

Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the addition of basketball courts, seating and greenspace are among the projects currently underway or recently completed within the National Park precinct.

“Stage one of an extensive redevelopment of the iconic and historic No.1 Sportsground is nearing completion and planning is underway for a potential second stage subject to a NSW Government funding application, which will help solidify Newcastle’s position as a world-class events city by attracting elite AFL and cricket matches,” Cr Clausen said.

“We’re also upgrading the playing fields at No. 5 and No. 6 Sportsgrounds to improve the playing surface for local football fixtures, refurbishing the grandstand at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Track and Cooks Hill Football Club has resurfaced the field located within the Athletics Track grounds.”

Work began in December to upgrade the 30 competition netball courts at National Park as part of a project being funded by Newcastle Netball Association and delivered with support from City of Newcastle.

National Park is one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves, covering over 20 hectares and is currently home to a range of community facilities, parklands and sportsgrounds.

To find out more about all of the projects underway to deliver a better sporting experience at National Park visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au.

The free community event at National Park basketball courts, featuring family-friendly activities, will be held between 10am and midday on Sunday 24 April.

Projects underway or recently completed at National Park:

• Stage one of a major redevelopment of No. 1 Sportsground including re-built playing surface, new wickets, new irrigation, bleacher seating and lighting upgrade
• Playing field upgrade at No. 5 and No. 6 Sportsgrounds
• Construction of four basketball courts and seating, and creation of additional greenspace on the former tennis court site
• Grandstand refurbishment at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Track
• Centre field improvements at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Track
• Netball courts upgrade

Travelling around Newcastle on public transport will be faster and easier with new timetables adding more than 160 services from Sunday, 3 April 2022.
 
Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said additional services will improve journey times and increase service frequency outside of peak periods and on weekends.
 
“We are excited to be improving services across all Newcastle Transport modes including bus, ferry, light rail and on demand to encourage people back on to public transport,” Mr Elliott said.
 
“The new express route, the 10X, is a game-changer and will take about 20 minutes to travel between Charlestown and Newcastle Interchange during the morning and afternoon peaks.
 
“It will take the same time as an individual car trip travelling along City Road – without the stress of finding a park.
 
“We have also extended the operating hours of the on demand service until 6pm on weekdays, connecting in with the new express route.
 
“Extra light rail services have been added to weekends, with services now every 15 minutes from 7am to 1am on Saturday and Sunday, and there are more ferry services across weekdays and Saturdays.”
 
Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Emmanuel Genlot said details on the improvements including the new network map and timetables could be found on the Newcastle Transport website.
 
“Bus timetables, including some school bus services, have had their timings tweaked to improve reliability of the network for our customers,” Mr Genlot said.
 
“I encourage our customers to head to newcastletransport.info or their favourite travel app to plan their new trip.
 
“Our Customer Service Officers can also provide personalised assistance, to help both existing customers and those new to public transport via our virtual travel concierge or at the Newcastle Interchange.”
 
Customers can plan their trip, find out more about the improvements or get in touch with the Newcastle Transport team at http://newcastletransport.info
 
Service improvements from 3 April 2022 will include:
 

• Introduction of a new express route, the 10X, between Charlestown and Newcastle CBD – an additional 90 bus services each week
• Extending the On Demand hours from 4pm to 6pm on weekdays – an additional 10 hours of services each week
• Improving the frequency on the light rail on weekends to 15 minutes between 7am and 1am – over 20 additional trips each week
• Improving the frequency on the ferry from Monday to Saturday – over 50 additional trips each week.

An impressive 830 people from the Hunter community and beyond turned out to show their support on Sunday 27 March at Dementia Australia’s returning Memory Walk & Jog.

The fundraising event was hosted at Speers Point Park, and participants raised a total of over $80,000.

Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM said it was a fantastic day and extended her gratitude to our Ambassadors and all who participated, raised funds, spread the word, or donated.

“We are delighted to have enjoyed such an outstanding show of support from the Hunter community, who turned out in such large numbers,” Ms McCabe said.

“So many people impacted by dementia find these events a great way to connect with other local people in similar circumstances. And from what we witnessed at the Hunter event, that was certainly the case!”

Ms McCabe also acknowledged everyone who volunteered at the Hunter Memory Walk & Jog.

“Our many volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure it ran safely and smoothly, and was enjoyable for all,” she said.

“The success of this event simply would not have been possible without their support. Thank you!”

The event saw attendees walk, jog or run 2km, 5km or timed 5km courses. The money raised will help provide invaluable support, education and resources for people impacted by dementia in Hunter and across Australia.

There are an estimated 487,500 people living with all forms of dementia. Without a major medical breakthrough this figure is projected to increase to 1,076,000 people by 2058. Events like Memory Walk & Jog play an important role not only in funding support, but also in raising awareness of dementia.

The Hunter event was one of 19 scheduled at various locations around the country in 2022. Details on the remaining events in the series can be found at www.memorywalk.com.au

Dementia Australia is encouraging Hunter locals who were unable to participate at this event to consider organising their own group or individual walk or jog, with a My Way or Walk & Jog Impossible Challenge? More details can be found at www.memorywalk.com.au

Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated half a million Australians living with dementia, and the almost 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.    

For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available and the Helpline is open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au     

A man has been charged following the death of a woman at Mayfield on Friday night.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were called to Crebert Street, Mayfield, about 10.40pm (Friday 25 March 2022), responding to reports that an armed man had broken into a home unit.

Police arrived and found a 21-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds lying outside her home.

The police and NSW Ambulance paramedics rendered assistance, but the woman died at the scene.

A 22-year-old man was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment to a hand injury.

Detectives established Strike Force Slant to conduct inquiries into the incident.

Following those inquiries, detectives today (Sunday 27 March 2022) charged the man with murder; aggravated enter dwelling with intent; and breach ADVO.

The Mayfield man was refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 28 March 2022).

A woman has died and a man is in custody following an alleged domestic violence-related stabbing at Newcastle overnight.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were called to a home unit on Crebert Street, Mayfield, about 10.40pm (Friday 25 March 2022), responding to reports a man had broken into the unit.

Police arrived to find a 21-year-old woman critically injured lying outside her home. Police and NSW Ambulance paramedics rendered assistance but the woman died at the scene. She had suffered a number of stab wounds.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is currently in police custody.

A crime scene was established and is being examined by specialist officers.

Inquiries are continuing.

After two significant weather events impacted Stockton Beach in recent weeks, City of Newcastle is implementing a program of remedial work to address safety issues that forced the closure of several beach accessways and to manage debris that washed onto Stockton Beach.

The accessway alongside beachside café, Lexie’s, will be repaired as a priority. The work on the Lexie’s Café accessway will require a temporary closure of the carpark and the informal outdoor dining area at Lexie’s on Tuesday 29 March.

The recent large seas exposed historical building waste along the Dalby Oval section of the coast, which will also be managed as part of this program of work. The accessway at Dalby Oval will be repaired so it can be reopened to the public after work at this location is complete. This work will also allow work crews access onto the beach to manage the debris on the beach adjacent to the Stockton Beach Holiday Park.

Scheduled beach scraping in front of the Stockton Beach Holiday Park was unable to take place in early March due to the impact of the two east coast low weather events. Beach scraping is scheduled again for late April as suitable tide windows allow.

Temporary fencing and a work compound, for the contractor undertaking this work will be established at Dalby Oval by late March, weather permitting. It is expected that this remedial work program will require two weeks to complete.

City of Newcastle reminds the community to follow safety warnings and to adhere to any accessway closures or hazard notices that impact use of the beach while this work is completed.

55 years ago, the nation backed-in the 1967 Referendum to change the Constitution so that the Commonwealth could make laws in respect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and included them in the census. Now we have the chance to make good on the unfinished business that remains.  

The Uluru Statement from the Heart represents an overwhelming consensus of First Nations peoples on a proposal for a Voice to Parliament and the establishment of a Makarrata Commission to oversee truth-telling and treaty-making.   

The Uluru Statement is a generous gift to the nation – inviting us to walk together with First Nations people in a movement to build a better future.  

Last night I had the privilege of hosting Thomas Mayor, a Torres Strait Island man born on Larrakia country in Darwin and author of Finding The Heart of The Nation: The journey of the Uluru Statement towards Voice, Treaty and Truth in Newcastle.  

Thomas Mayor was entrusted to carry the sacred canvas of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He embarked on an eighteen-month journey around the country to garner support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice, and a Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making or treaties.  

Labor has repeatedly called for the Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in our Constitution, and if we form government at the next election, we will progress a referendum as a matter of priority in consultation with First Nations. 

Labor is the only party committed to implementing the Uluru Statement of the Heart in full. 

Along with truth and treaty, a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament will be a momentous step towards unifying our nation and creating a shared future. 

It’s time we attended to the unfinished business of this nation. That’s why I’m calling on the Newcastle community to get involved with the campaign to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.  

It’s been a long journey and there is still much work to be done.  

After 55 years of unfinished business – the time for a referendum on a First Nations Voice is now.  

A third man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives investigating the armed robbery of a hotel in the state’s Hunter region earlier this year.

About 12.20am on Tuesday 25 January 2022, two masked men – one armed with a handgun and the other with a meat clever – entered a licensed premises on Main Road at Cardiff and threatened two employees before taking a cash register and fleeing.

Police were told they left in a blue Ford Falcon sedan, last seen heading east on Main Street.

Although shaken, the employees – a 52-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman – were not physically injured and contacted police.

Initial inquiries were conducted by officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District before the matter was referred to detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Hawksview.

So far during the investigation, strike force detectives have charged two men – aged 32 and 33 – over their alleged roles in the incident. They remain before the courts.

Following further inquiries, strike force detectives – assisted by officers attached to Waratah Target Action Group (TAG) – attended a home at Edgeworth just before 1pm yesterday (Wednesday 23 March 2022).

On arrival, a 27-year-old man led police on a short foot pursuit and attempted to evade them by swimming through a nearby creek.

He was located hiding in nearby bushland a short time later, then arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.

The man has since been charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon and four counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.

Police will allege in court that the man was one of three responsible for the robbery of a hotel at Cardiff earlier this year.

The man has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today.

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving following a crash in the state’s Hunter region overnight.

About 10.30pm (Wednesday 23 March 2022), a grey SUV exited a service centre on the Pacific Highway at North Arm Cove to travel north.

A short time later, the northbound SUV and a southbound van collided in the southbound lane, with both vehicles coming to a rest in a nearby nature strip.

Emergency services were called and attended a short time later.

The driver of the van – a 51-year-old man – and a 55-year-old female passenger were treated at the scene; the woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment and has since been released.

The driver of the SUV – a 42-year-old man – was assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District conducted a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he underwent a secondary breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.157.

He has been issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for high-range PCA; he is due to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 11 April 2022.

Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash are continuing.

Police remain at the scene of a double fatal crash near Port Stephens this afternoon.

Shortly before 1.40pm (Thursday 24 March 2022), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway at Tea Gardens, near Viney Creek Road West, after reports of a crash involving two cars and a motorcycle.

Police have been told an Isuzu D-Max utility travelling southbound collided with a motorcycle and a Toyota station wagon, both travelling northbound.

The male motorcyclist died at the scene.

The female driver of the Toyota was trapped by confinement; however, she died at the scene a short time later.

The man and the woman have not yet been formally identified.

A female passenger of the Toyota was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

The male driver of the Isuzu suffered minor injuries and has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.

Northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway are closed, with a contraflow in place in one of the two southbound lanes. The northbound lanes are expected to be closed for a significant period of time.

Drivers are urged to expect delays and to drive to the conditions, with a large amount of water across the roads from wet weather today.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway.