Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle has re-named Shortland’s Tuxford Oval Number One as ‘Bob Palmer Oval’ in honour of Robert ‘Bob’ Palmer’s incredible contribution to Shortland, the Shortland Devils RLFC and to local Rugby League.
On 12 December last year, Mr Palmer was killed in his beloved suburb of Shortland leading to an outpouring of grief from the local community.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the renaming of the Oval was in response to a request from many people in the community to honour Mr Palmer’s lifelong commitment to the Shortland Community, and to the Shortland Devils RLFC.
“The death of Bob Palmer in 2020 saw the entire Shortland community and many people across the entire City, grieve his tragic loss, and the senseless circumstances which sadly cut his life short,” Cr Nelmes said.
“We have worked with Shortland Devils Rugby League Committee and Bob’s family to make sure Bob’s legacy as ‘Mr Shorty’ is commemorated at Tuxford Park in perpetuity.”
Mr Palmer’s daughter Mollie Palmer said the renaming of the Oval was a special gesture that was proudly welcomed by his family.
“He is sadly missed by all who were fortunate to have him as a part of their lives. Our family has great pride in the legacy he has left at the Football Club and in the Shortland community,” Ms Palmer said.
The Shortland Devils Rugby League Football Club, Mr Palmer’s family and wider community will come together on Old Boys on Saturday for a special ceremony held at 2.45pm to dedicate the ground.
President of the Shortland Devils Rugby League Football Club, Brock Johnson said the renaming of the Oval was a fitting tribute for a man who gave countless hours over many years to his beloved rugby league club.
“It is with great pride that we will officially unveil the signage for Bob Palmer Oval on our Old Boys Day,” Mr Johnson said.
“Robert “Bobby” Palmer was an extremely special member of our club, and the greater Shortland community. Bobby was and shall remain one of the true legends of Shortland.
“Bobby’s involvement in our club extends back to the 70s when he first began playing junior footy for the Devils. He continued all the way through to his passing in many different capacities.
“Bobby was passionate about our club and donated countless hours to his beloved Devils marking lines, mowing the fields, cooking barbecues, running water, coaching and time keeping.
“Bob was a stalwart of the Club and has made such an immense contribution to not only rugby league but the wider community. We are proud to keep his memory alive through this tribute.”

A dance teacher will appear in court today charged over the alleged sexual abuse of students in the Port Stephens area.
In March this year, detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established Strike Force Wairakei to investigate reports of inappropriate behaviour by the dance teacher towards a number of students.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 27-year-old man at Nelson Bay about 8.30am yesterday (Wednesday 23 June 2021).
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with 12 offences, including three counts of aggravated indecent assault- victim under authority of offender, three counts of indecent assault person under 16 years of age, aggravated sex assault- victim under the age of 16 years, aggravated sex assault- victim under authority of offender, assault with act of indecency, common assault, sexual intercourse reckless as to consent (ACT not NSW) and sexual intercourse with person under care (aged between 17 and 18).
Police will allege in court that the man, who is a dance teacher, sexually abused four students and a girl – aged between 12 and 17 – who were known to him between 2013 and 2019.
The man, from Corlette, was refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Thursday 24 June 2021).
 

City of Newcastle has welcomed funding for a significant urban renewal proposal that would transform 63 hectares surrounding McDonald Jones Stadium, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Newcastle Showground, into a world-class lifestyle precinct.
The NSW Government will allocate $6.7 million from today’s Budget to prepare a full business case for the Hunter Park project, which is designed to create a thriving entertainment, sporting, commercial and residential destination of national and international significance.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this would be a truly transformative project for Newcastle and the Hunter Region that would deliver on a key element in the NSW Government’s Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036.
“Hunter Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create 8,000 jobs during construction, with more than 1,000 ongoing following its completion. In turn, transforming a much-loved but aging and underutilised space into a contemporary mixed used precinct located at the geographical heart of Newcastle at Broadmeadow, just five kilometres from the Newcastle CBD,” Cr Nelmes said.
“A key benefit for the region of Hunter Park is jobs. Once complete, the project would support new jobs in sporting and entertainment related industries including medical, educational, tourism and retailing as part of a new health and education and innovation ecosystem.
“It is a significant urban regeneration proposal, the size and scale of which has never been seen outside of Sydney, incorporating 50 hectares of exceptional public open and green spaces, state-of-the-art sporting facilities, leisure and entertainment zones, 13,000sqm of commercial space and more than 2,600 new homes, including much-needed social and affordable housing.
“I acknowledge support of all Hunter Councils and my fellows Mayors, together with the national significance of Hunter Park being recognised by the Federal Government’s infrastructure advisor, Infrastructure Australia.
“City of Newcastle has been advocating for this as part of a genuine collaboration with NSW Government agencies, and I thank the Board and CEO of Venues NSW, and the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation for their work in securing this funding.”
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said Hunter Park is the next big step in Newcastle’s transformation, providing a world-class sporting and entertainment hub with transport links, which local and visitors would be able to enjoy day and night, all year round.
“Delivering an international-quality destination for sporting events and entertainment, with improved connectivity for public and active transport, it is expected to attract 1.8 million annual visitors and become home to around 6,000 residents, delivering exceptional liveability, sustainability and place outcomes,” Mr Bath said.
“In what would likely be a multi-stage construction process over more than 10 years, Hunter Park will provide an opportunity to attract major private market investment into Newcastle, including an estimated $3.7 billion in economic output during construction and attracting almost $55 million annually from the NSW Government.
“City of Newcastle welcomes the NSW Government’s funding commitment and thanks Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes and Minister for Sport Natalie Ward for their support for the Hunter Park concept.”

A Corrective Services NSW officer has been charged following an investigation into an alleged sexual offence and common assault of a female employee in the state’s Hunter region.
In May this year, detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad’s Corrective Services Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by a male correctional officer, following a referral from a correctional facility in the state’s Hunter region.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 59-year-old man at a home near Lake Macquarie about 8.40am on Friday 4 June 2021.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with two counts of common assault and incite other to do sexual act with them without consent.
Police will allege in court that the man attempted to instigate sexual activity with a female employee at a correctional facility in the state’s Hunter region in April this year.
It will be further alleged the man inappropriately touched the women on a number of occasions.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court today (Wednesday 23 June 2021).
The man has been suspended by Corrective Services NSW.

Lambton locals are set to be given a sneak peek at the restoration of the city’s oldest library building as part of a celebration of Lambton’s 150^th anniversary occurring this week.
Lambton Library was constructed in 1887 and was initially used as the Lambton Council Chamber before being converted into a library in 1950.

The century-old heritage protected building has been undergoing a significant facelift during the past 18 months and has been closed to the public since COVID-19 restrictions came into force in March 2020.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the community would be given a sneak peek of the ongoing works during this week’s community-led “Love Lambton” event, with the library also delivering a series of activities that will help bring the suburb’s history to life.
Lambton Library will temporarily re-open to the public on June 21, 26 and 27, before closing again for the finishing touches to the building to be completed.
“This much-loved community building has been a focal point for Lambton residents for more than 100 years as first a council chamber and for the past 71 years a public library,” Cr Nelmes said.
“While the passing of time has taken its toll on the building, City of Newcastle is prioritising essential improvements to deliver an improved space to the community.
“The roof restoration and an internal fitout including new equipment and self-service technology are now complete, however we still need to construct a bullnose verandah and entry, which will restore the building’s original heritage façade and create a fully accessible library entrance for the community.
“Once finished, Lambton Library’s refurbishment will have completely re-imagined the internal space to create a user-centric, modern experience that will allow extended community access and new activities in the library.
“While we look forward to permanently welcoming everyone back into the library later in the year, the Love Lambton celebration provides an ideal opportunity to show the results of this transformation so far while also helping to celebrate Lambton’s 150^th anniversary.”
Queen Victoria signed the papers to designate Lambton as a municipality on 26 June 1871. To commemorate the anniversary, a community-led Love Lambton 150 Years committee is delivering 150 hours of events, entertainment and community activations from 21-27 June, with City of Newcastle providing $12,000 through the Event Sponsorship Program.
Newcastle Libraries’ Local History team, in partnership with Curious Legends, have curated a collection of historic images showing the people and places around Lambton that will be projected onto the side of Lambton Library from 5.30pm – 10pm throughout the event. Historic images will also be used for an augmented reality experience in three sites around Lambton Park, which can be accessed via the City of Newcastle app.
Lambton Library will display rare documents including original minute books of Lambton Council, photographs of the first Lambton Councillors, early Lambton maps and plans, and samples of the first rates notices, while a podcast series with local historian Julie Keating is also being developed.

A teenage boy was hurt after falling down a lift shaft at a power station in the Lake Macquarie area today.
Just before 2pm (Sunday 20 June 2021), emergency services were called to a decommissioned power station on Summerhill Drive, Wangi Wangi, after reports a teenager had fallen down a lift shaft.
A multi-agency search and rescue operation commenced to locate the teenager, involving Lake Macquarie Police District, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance Specialist Operations Team and Special Casualty Access Team.
About 2.30pm, the boy was located inside the lift shaft and a vertical rescue was conducted by Fire and Rescue NSW.
He was treated at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition with non life-threatening injuries.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident are underway.

A man has been charged with 80 offences as part of an investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs in the state’s Hunter region.
In February 2021, officers from Hunter Region Enforcement Squad established Strike Force Hanging to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine throughout the Newcastle and Port Stephens regions.
As part of investigations, a search warrant was executed at a house on Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle, on Tuesday 13 April 2021.
Police seized more than $240,000 cash that was found in a handbag and book safe, and 14grams of methylamphetamine hidden in a microwave.
A 34-year-old woman who was home at the time of the search was arrested and charged with supply prohibited drug and two counts of deal with proceeds of crime. She remains before the courts.
Following inquiries, a 36-year-old man was arrested at Maitland Police Station yesterday (Friday 18 June 2021).
He was charged with 80 offences including supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, possess prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime.
The Newcastle man was refused bail and appeared before Maitland Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to reappear before the same court on Thursday 24 June 2021.

Police are investigating after a suspicious fire at a pub near Newcastle overnight.
About 4.40am (Friday 18 June 2021), emergency services were called to a hotel on Elder Street, Lambton, after reports part of the building was alight.
A neighbour extinguished the blaze prior to Fire and Rescue NSW arrival, with minimal damage sustained to the building.
Fire crews attended a short time later to fully extinguish the flames, while police extinguished a small grass fire a short distance away in Lambton Park.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District have established a crime scene, which is in the process of being forensically examined.
Police have been told three men were seen running from the scene a short time after.
The blaze is being treated as suspicious and police are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the nearby vicinity between 4.30am and 4.45am to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.