Category: Newcastle News

A man has died after being struck by a vehicle in the state’s north today.
Just after 8.30am (Monday 6 September 2021), emergency services responded to reports a pedestrian had been struck by a truck on George Booth Drive at Cameron Park, near Lake Macquarie.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and located the body of a man.
He died at the scene and is yet to be formally identified.
The truck driver – a 52-year-old man – was uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway and anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A large scale coordinated search continues for a child, missing on a rural property in the Hunter region.
Just before 12.30pm yesterday (Friday 3 September 2021), officers from Hunter Valley Police District responded to reports a child was missing at a rural property on Yengo Drive, Putty, about 75km south of Singleton.
Anthony ‘AJ’ Elfalak, aged three, could not be located after he was last seen at a home on the property about 11.45am.
Anthony lives with autism and is non-verbal. He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with short dark hair and believed to be wearing a grey jumper and pants, and sneakers.
Officers commenced a coordinated multi-agency response which includes Trailbike officers, Police Rescue, The Dog Unit, Police divers, and PolAir.
Police are being assisted by NSW Ambulance, State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS), and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA).
The search continued overnight, and more than 100 emergency services volunteers are assisting with the search today (Saturday 4 September 2021).
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Investigators have released images as inquiries continue into unauthorised protest activity at Raymond Terrace last week.
Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation in response to an unauthorised protest on Adelaide Street, Raymond Terrace, about 9.30am last Tuesday (31 August 2021).
Approximately 30 people gathered outside the Port Stephens Council Chambers.
As investigations continue, police have released images of a number of people who may be able to assist with ongoing inquiries.
Descriptions of the individuals depicted in the images are:

• The first man depicted is wearing a grey hooded jacket, dark pants with a black and white face mask. He has grey hair with sunglasses on his head.

• The second man depicted is wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt, with a dark blue vest. He has brown hair, and brown facial hair and wearing sunglasses.

• The third man depicted is wearing black pants, with a yellow high-vis shirt. He is holding a bicycle and wearing a helmet and sunglasses.

• The fourth man depicted is wearing a black hooded jumper and sunglasses on his head.

• The fifth man depicted is described as wearing a blue and white polo shirt with sunglasses on his head. He has brown hair and brown facial hair.

• The sixth man depicted is described as having brown hair and wearing a dark-coloured long-sleeved top.

• The seventh man is described having brown hair and wearing a light and dark grey coloured jumper and sunglasses.

• The first woman is depicted wearing a light grey top with a black jumper, brown belt and black skirt.

• The second woman is depicted as wearing a black long-sleeved top, blue jeans, a long necklace and sunglasses.

• The third woman is depicted as wearing a blue shirt, with a white long-sleeved top over her shoulders and black pants.

• The fourth woman is depicted as wearing a multi-coloured jumper with a grey top.

• The fifth woman is depicted wearing a black long-sleeved top, with blue pants, light-coloured shoes and scarf. She is holding a brown bag and wearing black sunglasses.

Anyone with information about the identity of the individuals – or has mobile phone footage of the protest activity – is urged to contact Crime Stoppers through the online portal or by contacting 1800 333 000.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any public health order or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community by contacting Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Police have issued more than $30,000 in Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to a group of arborists who breached Public Health Orders in the Lake Macquarie area.
Yesterday (Wednesday 1 September 2021), police received reports from members of the public via Crime Stoppers about groups of arborists who have been canvassing the Lake Macquarie area for work.
Police spoke with one of the groups today (Thursday 2 September 2021), who told police they had been working in the region on weekdays and returning to Greater Sydney on weekends, including to LGAs of concern.
Inquiries revealed the 27-year-old company owner’s Service NSW permit to leave Greater Sydney to enter Regional NSW contained untrue and inaccurate information.
Further inquiries revealed that the 25-year-old co-owner of the business did not have a permit to leave Greater Sydney for work purposes in Regional NSW, and that other employees hadn’t had a COVID-19 test prior to leaving Greater Sydney, as required under the Public Health Order.
As a result, police issued seven men – aged between 25 and 61 – PINs totalling $33,000 for the offences of:
* Leave Greater Sydney for prescribed purposes without a permit
* Fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to s 7/8/9 – COVID-19
* Not comply with requirements for testing – workers leaving Greater Sydney
* Not ensure true and accurate information provided to Service NSW
All seven men were directed to return to their homes in Greater Sydney.
Investigations into other reports from the community are ongoing.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

City of Newcastle today welcomed close to 150 new citizens from 39 countries online in a COVID first for the City.
Following advice from the Department of Home Affairs permitting group ceremonies to be held virtually, and due to statewide stay-at-home orders, City of Newcastle pivoted its plans for a face-to-face citizenship ceremony to allow our newest citizens to take the pledge online.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen presided over two ceremonies each via Zoom, meeting people from all cultural backgrounds and walks of life.
Among them was Newcastle resident Dana Fischetti who moved here eight years ago from the United States of America with her husband John as a career and lifestyle choice.
Professor Fischetti, an esteemed Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Newcastle, received his Australian citizenship online last year, and on Wednesday Mrs Fischetti joined him as a proud dual citizen.
The pair have been separated from their children, Justin and Katie, and their extended family and friends in North Carolina since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. Their granddaughter Eva, now two years old, wasn’t yet walking or talking.
“It’s incredibly hard being separated from family during the pandemic; pre-COVID we’d see them three or four times a year, so this is the longest time we’ve spent apart and FaceTime isn’t the same for those important milestones,” Mrs Fischetti said.
“That said, we’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to become Australian citizens. We cherish our Australian friends and the opportunities this amazing country has provided for us. We love our life in Newcastle and have witnessed so much positive change in the city since we moved here in 2013. We’re also proud to be part of such a culturally diverse community.
“At some point in the future, we look forward to being able to co-live in the US and Australia, so that we can spend more time with our family but also enjoy this place we have come to call home.”
Lord Mayor Cr Nelmes congratulated the City’s newest citizens on what was one of the most memorable occasions for many.
“Whilst COVID-19 restrictions prevented us from celebrating in person, through the wonder of technology I am proud to have connected with so many smiling faces today and to have taken the time to welcome and celebrate each and every one of them; our community is all the richer for it.”

Detectives have charged a youth worker following an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a teenage girl on the state’s Central Coast.
Earlier this week, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a 15-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a man while in his care.
Following inquiries, a 26-year-old man attended Belmont Police Station about 11am yesterday (Tuesday 31 August 2021), where he was charged with three counts of intentionally sexually touch child between 10 and 16 years.
Police will allege in court the man sexually touched the girl on numerous occasions between April and August 2021 while she was under the man’s care.
The man, who is a youth worker, was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 1 September 2021).
Investigations are continuing.

A homicide investigation is underway after a man was fatally shot at Port Stephens today.
Emergency services were called to Hideaway Drive, Salt Ash, just before 1.45pm (Sunday 29 August 2021), after reports a vehicle had hit a tree.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics.
The male driver of the Ford Ranger utility was found suffering a gunshot wound. He could not be revived and died at the scene. The man is yet to be formally identified.
A crime scene has been established at Salt Ash and Masonite Road, Heatherbrae, after a second vehicle was located burnt out. Both will be examined by specialist forensic officers.
Detectives – assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad – have established Strike Force Breve to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, which is being treated as suspicious.

City of Newcastle will invest at least $10 million into the local economy to help create new jobs following a Lord Mayoral Minute unanimously supported by the Council.
The Lord Mayoral Minute called for an expanded Community and Economic Resilience Package (CERP) to help combat the economic and social impacts of the current lockdown of the city in response to the Delta strain of COVID-19 that has gripped NSW.

The package builds on last year’s $5.5 million investment and includes rapid response grants aimed at supporting our vulnerable and emerging at-risk community members, business training and mentoring programs, as well as economic development and community grants.
Hardship support will help those under financial strain, while the focus of existing sponsorship programs will be shifted to provide a roadmap to support Newcastle’s recovery out of lockdown.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle has an important role to play in providing targeted responses and building confidence in the city’s ability to rebound from the impacts of COVID-19.
“When the pandemic was declared last year, we moved quickly to deliver social, economic and well-being outcomes that would support our community through the impacts that were still to come. The result was our $5.5 million Community and Economic Resilience Program, which has been formally acknowledged as the best response from a local government anywhere in NSW,” Cr Nelmes said.
“With the latest outbreak of COVID-19 placing further strain on our community, it’s clear our job is far from over. The current stay-at-home orders, as well as Greater Sydney’s and interstate protracted lockdowns, have had a direct impact on our local economy, with hotel occupancy rates plummeting, and local unemployment reversing its downward trend with young people, casual workers and part-time workers seeing significant losses of vital shifts at work, many losing their jobs altogether.
“We’re expanding the Community and Economic Resilience Program with initiatives that will provide our community with what it needs now and create a way forward towards recovery.
“Our resilience package has been informed by experts and seeks to focus on areas where local government has a clear strength and mandate.
“City of Newcastle will also identify projects that could be expedited or re-prioritised to stimulate the local economy through the delivery of new and upgraded community infrastructure.
“Increasing the 2021/22 works program by $10 million would help create more than 100 new jobs in the local government area and increase total economic output by more than $27 million.”
Under the extended CERP, grants will enable the community sector and social services industry to amplify their capacity to support vulnerable and emerging at-risk community members, while economic development grants will provide targeted support to some of the most affected local industries including the arts, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
The City’s Lean in Newy app continues to bolster the small business sector through rebates, with thousands of members taking part in the targeted acts of community kindness to earn points that can be redeemed at more than 100 participating businesses.
City of Newcastle is also funding free or heavily subsidised training courses designed to improve the resilience and adaptability of local businesses, and to assist Novocastrians develop their skills and talent. This includes a range of workshops, self-paced learning, intensive programs and mentoring funded under our NewSkills program, including a new round of our Tourism Product Development Program to support businesses learn more about developing unique and marketable visitor offerings.
There’s also thousands of e-learning courses and video tutorials with real-world industry experts available free from our Libraries. The courses are delivered free via an online learning platform on topics such as resume writing, skills for retraining, and how to start a business.
To find out more about how we’re responding to COVID-19 visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

A man has died after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in the Lake Macquarie area yesterday.
About 3.30pm (Saturday 28 August 2021), emergency services were called to Boundary Street, West Wallsend, after reports a motorcyclist had left the road and crashed.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and found a KTM 450 motorcycle had crashed into trees and bushes, just south of Bridge Street.
Members of the public and NSW Ambulance officers attempted CPR on the rider, an 18-year-old man, however he could not be revived and died at the scene.
A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.