Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle is a step closer in delivering a range of projects to help mitigate flooding in Wallsend with a preferred tenderer for the upgrade of stormwater infrastructure at Cowper Street to be considered at tonight’s Council meeting.
The planned upgrade includes installing a stormwater bypass across from Cowper Street bridge which helps Ironbark Creek to manage heavy rain events which historically affect Wallsend Town Centre.
These works also include widening and realigning the upstream section of the creek, which will be flanked by sandstone to renew the existing concrete-walled channel.
The improvements at Cowper Street will follow the recently commenced demolition of a vacant building next to Nelson Street bridge, which was acquired by the City of Newcastle in 2018 to facilitate the future widening of Hunter Water Corporation’s Ironbark Creek stormwater channel.
Widening the Hunter Water channel and replacing the Tyrrell Street, Nelson Street and Boscawen Street bridges are key elements of the Ironbark Creek Flood Mitigation Plan.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City was continuing to deliver on its commitment to improving Wallsend for current and future generations.
“We’re getting on with our $20.7 million, Council-endorsed work as part of the Ironbark Creek Flood Mitigation Plan along with traffic improvements and public amenity upgrades to Wallsend Town Centre, which will support businesses and residents.
“The installation of the Cowper Street Bridge bypass culvert is a critical first step before the City can proceed with upgrades to the nearby intersection of Cowper and Kokera Street, replacing the roundabout with traffic signals.
“Further traffic improvements in Wallsend are planned under the Wallsend Local Centres Program, with detailed design for the upgrade of existing traffic signals at the intersection of Cowper and Nelson Streets to commence later in 2021, including blackspot funding from Transport for NSW.”
A new Tyrrell Street Bridge was opened in April last year following the City’s $3.3 million replacement of the original 1930 built structure.
Detailed design of the replacement and raising of the Nelson and Boscawen Street bridges is scheduled to commence later this year.

A woman has died after she was struck by a truck at Lake Macquarie overnight.
Emergency services were called to the M1 at Cameron Park, near the Newcastle Link Road, just after 9pm (Thursday 22 April 2021), following reports a pedestrian had been hit by a truck.
Witnesses performed CPR; however, the female pedestrian died at the scene. She is yet to be formally identified.
Officers from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City Police Districts attended and established a crime scene, which has since been forensically examined.
The truck driver, a 23-year-old man, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
An investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A dedicated program aimed at supporting veterans to pursue a career in local government has been launched by the City of Newcastle.
The City of Newcastle Veterans Employment Program, developed in collaboration with the NSW Office for Veterans Affairs and United Services Union, provides dedicated advice and guidance to both veterans and employing managers about matching skill sets, supporting veterans throughout the entire recruitment process, as well as providing tailored feedback to ex-service personnel.
Lillian Tiddy Executive Manager, Member Services at LGNSW, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Craig Delaney from the Office for Veterans Affairs and Stephen Hughes, Northern Region Manager, United Services Union.
Resources include a detailed ‘Local Government Rank to Grade Guide’, aimed at helping veterans and hiring managers understand how Australian Defence Force skills and experience align with local government roles, a dedicated guide to preparing job applications and resources to assist throughout each stage of the recruitment process.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was proud to partner with the Office for Veterans Affairs and United Services Union to support veterans to consider pursuing a career in the local government sector.
“City of Newcastle has an enormously diverse workforce, catering to a wide range of skills and backgrounds making local government a great career opportunity for ex-service personnel, no matter their rank or experience”, said the Lord Mayor.
Office for Veterans Affairs Manager Craig ‘Dallas’ Delaney, a veteran Lieutenant Colonel with 30 years service in the Australian Defence Force, who leads the Veterans Employment Program for the NSW Government, welcomed City of Newcastle’s support for veterans through the implementation of a dedicated resource to assist ex-service men and women find employment in local government.
“The Veterans Employment Program aims to support our ex-service personnel into public sector jobs across New South Wales, and City of Newcastle’s commitment to this program will be warmly welcomed by the men and women of our veteran community,” Mr Delaney said.
“The Office for Veterans Affairs, working closely with City of Newcastle, can provide strong support and assistance throughout the entire recruitment process. From helping to match existing skill sets with the right jobs in the public sector, to providing tailored feedback on their application if a veteran has the courage to request it, we’re working together with the City of Newcastle to ensure our ex-service personnel are adequately supported when taking the next steps in their career.”
United Services Union Northern Region Manager Stephen Hughes, a Veteran who served as an infantry soldier in the 3^rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, and assisted with the development of the Veterans Employment Program, said the union was proud to work with City of Newcastle to support veterans employment initiatives.
“The United Services Union welcomes City of Newcastle’s commitment to supporting our veterans into meaningful employment in the local government sector,” Mr Hughes said.
“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Council on initiatives to ensure a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities they support, including our ex-service men and women who have sacrificed so much for our nation.”
City of Newcastle Infrastructure Director Ken Liddell, a veteran with 20 years of service in the Royal Australian Air Force, said the diverse skills he learned during his career in the Air Force enabled for a successful transfer into the public sector, including senior leadership roles in State and Local Government.
“The skills I learned in the Australian Defence Force have been invaluable for my post-service career in the public sector. Strong and decisive decision making, collaboration and team work as well as leadership and mentoring are all skills encouraged in the services, that readily transfer into local council jobs”, said Mr Liddell.
“The ability to continue to serve your community is just one reason why I would strongly encourage any veteran to consider a career in Local Government as a great post-service career choice.”

Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have arrested two men and a woman after seizing a shortened rifle, ammunition, prohibited drugs and $8000 cash in the state’s Hunter Region.
In February this year, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Drail to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs and firearms across the state.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives executed four search warrants at properties at Cessnock today (Thursday 22 April 2021).
During the searches, detectives seized a shortened rifle, prohibited drugs, mobile phones, ammunition and $8000 cash.
About 6.20am (Thursday 22 April 2021), detectives attended a home at Cessnock, where they located prohibited drugs, cash, and phones. A 34-year-old man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station.
A second search warrant was executed simultaneously at a nearby property, where police seized prohibited drugs, a firearm, ammunition and an electronic control device.
About 6.35am, investigators stopped vehicle on Alexander Street, Cessnock, and spoke to 26-year-old man.
During a subsequent search of the car, police a located prohibited drug, a knife, and cash. The man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station.
A short time later, detectives attended another home at Cessnock, where they seized a phone, cash, and cannabis.
About 6.40am, another search warrant was executed at a fourth Cessnock home, where police they seized cash, prohibited drugs and capsicum spray. A 27-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station.
All seized items will be forensically examined.
Charges are expected to be laid later today, and inquiries continue.

Police have released CCTV footage as they continue to investigate a break and enter at a Raymond Terrace business last month.
About 1.20am on Thursday 4 March 2021, two men approached an automotive business on Port Stephens Street, Raymond Terrace, and walked around the perimeter before leaving on foot.
The pair returned about 20 minutes later, before one of the men climbed under a fence and entered the premises.
They left a short time later and returned with a third man about 2.20amand again entered the premises before leaving on foot along Kangaroo Street.
No items were taken from the business during the incident.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified later that day and commenced an investigation into the incident.
As police continue their inquiries, they have released CCTV footage of three men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The first man is described as being of a slim build, between 175cm to 180cm tall, with a light-coloured hat, a jumper, long pants and a backpack.
The second man is described as being of a medium build, between 175cm to 180cm tall, wearing a hat, a jumper and shorts.
The third man is described as being of a medium build, wearing a jumper and long pants.
Anyone who may have information about this incident which could assist investigators is urged to contact Raymond Terrace Police or to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Unsolved Homicide Squad detectives and Police Divers have returned to the state’s Hunter Region as inquiries continue into the murder of Melissa Hunt nearly 27 years ago.
The body of Melissa Hunt, then aged 22, was found near the weir wall of Burrenjim Dam, Bluegum Creek via Stockrington, on Monday 25 April 1994.
A post mortem examination revealed she died from severe head injuries.
Strike Force Impey, comprised of detectives from the Lake Macquarie Police District and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, was formed to investigate her death; however, no arrests have been made.
Following a Coronial Inquest in 1998, the matter was sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for review and referred to the Unsolved Homicide Unit.
A formal review of the investigation was conducted under the new unsolved framework and is now under re-investigation by detectives attached to Strike Force Circulo.
In December last year, the NSW Government, together with the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, announced a $1 million reward for information and renewed their appeal to the community to come forward with any information that may assist detectives.
Following the reward announcement, police received information relating to the investigation and have subsequently returned to the state’s Hunter Region today (Tuesday 20 April 2021).
Unsolved Homicide Squad detectives, assisted by the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command (FETS), executed a crime scene warrant at a home at Lambton Road, Waratah, while Police Divers conduct a secondary search of the Burrenjim Dam.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said Strike Force Circulo detectives are specifically looking to locate any remaining forensic evidence that could assist the investigation.
“This Sunday marks the 27^th anniversary of Melissa’s murder and detectives are hopeful that the new information we have received, together with today’s searches, will progress the investigation,” Det Supt Doherty said.
“Police are exploring a number of new lines of inquiry, including whether Melissa regularly attended a home at Waratah and if a domestic incident took place at the residence prior to her death.
“Detectives are also continuing to liaise with interstate law enforcement partners to make contact with associates and witnesses, who are now residing in other states – including South Australia, Queensland and Victoria – to ensure no stone is left unturned.
“As our investigations into Melissa’s death continue, we are urging anyone with information to contact police so we may provide much-needed answers to Melissa’s family,” Det Supt Doherty said.
Investigations under Strike Force Circulo are continuing.

Police are appealing for assistance as they investigate an attempted armed robbery in the Hunter overnight.
About 7.50pm yesterday (Sunday 18 April 2021), a man entered a service station on Metford Road, Metford, where he threatened a male attendant with a knife.
He demanded cash before the attendant refused and the man left the store; he was last seen running towards Turton Road.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and established a crime scene.
The man was seen wearing a hooded jumper, a red baseball cap, dark pants and shoes with his face covered.
As inquiries continue, anyone who may have information which could assist detectives is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam vision as investigations continue into a crash in Maitland last week.
About 6.55pm on Wednesday 14 April 2021, a collision has occurred involving a, white Husqvarna dirt bike, a blue Mitsubishi Pajero and a marked police vehicle on the New England Highway, Maitland.
The 19-year-old male rider and police officer were treated at the scene by paramedics from NSW Ambulance before the police officer was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The rider was conveyed by road to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The driver of the Pajero was not injured.
Officers from Crash Investigations Unit (CIU) attended the scene and established a crime scene.
As investigations continue, police are appealing to the public, for anyone that may have witnessed the crash to come forward.