Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged following an investigation into a fatal crash at Lake Macquarie last month.
Emergency services were called to Wakefield Road, Ryhope, just before 7.30am on Sunday 29 November 2020, after a Toyota Corolla and a Hyundai Getz collided head-on, trapping both drivers.
The Hyundai driver, a 42year-old man, died at the scene
The Toyota driver, a 38-year-old man, was freed and taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering leg injuries. He also underwent mandatory testing.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene with the Crash Investigation Unit commencing an investigation.
Following inquiries, the 38-year-old man was arrested at Waratah Police Station today (Monday 14 December 2020).
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), and not keep left of dividing line.
The Jesmond man was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 4 February 2021.

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly being caught almost six times the legal limit at Port Stephens.
About 4.30pm yesterday (Sunday 13 December 2020), police were alerted to a Izuzu D-Max utility allegedly being driven erratically throughout the Tanilba Bay area.
A member of the public approached the vehicle after it mounted the kerb in a carpark on President Wilson Walk and stopped atop a garden bed. The keys were removed from the ignition and police were notified.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended a short time later and spoke with the driver, a 49-year-old Mallabula man.
The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where he underwent a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.288.
He was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for the offence of high-range PCA. His licence was also suspended.
The man is due to face Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 11 January 2021.

Police are renewing an appeal to help locate a missing man in Lake Macquarie.
Patrick Thaidy, aged 60, was last seen at his home on Delasala Drive in Macquarie Hills about 12am on Sunday 6 December 2020.
Family members reported him missing to police later that day and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have conducted several searches in bushland in Macquarie Hills, with assistance from several emergency service resources.
Police and family members hold grave concerns for Patrick’s welfare due to medical conditions and he’s never gone missing this long.
As they continue their inquiries, police have released CCTV images of Patrick on the day he was last seen.
The first image and video is taken about 9.25am on Macquarie Road at Cardiff, the second image is about half an hour later from Macquarie Road at Warners Bay.
Police are asking members of the public who may have driven down Macquarie Road or Hillsborough Road on Sunday 6 December between 9am and 12-midday and who may have dashcam footage, or anyone who may have CCTV along either of these roads to check their footage for Patrick.
He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 175cm tall, with a medium build, short black hair, scruffy facial hair and brown eyes. He is not currently wearing his dentures.
He was last seen wearing a dark coloured long sleeve shirt, light-grey tracksuit pants tucked into black socks, and white slides
Anyone who may have seen Patrick or knows his whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A search will continue today for a man missing from Lake Macquarie since last week.
Patrick Thaidy, aged 60, was last seen at his home on Delasala Drive in Macquarie Hills about 12am on Sunday 6 December 2020.
Family members reported him missing to police later that day and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District will this morning (Saturday 12 December) search bushland in Macquarie Hills, with assistance from Police Rescue, the Dog Unit, Westpac Helicopter and the SES.
Police and family members hold grave concerns for Patrick’s welfare due to medical conditions and he’s never gone missing this long.
Patrick is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 175cm tall, with a medium build, short black hair, scruffy facial hair and brown eyes. He is not currently wearing his dentures.
He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, light-grey tracksuit pants tucked into black socks, and white slides
Anyone who may have seen Patrick or knows his whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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 information via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has been charged with murder following the death of another man in Newcastle overnight.
Shortly after 8pm (Saturday 12 December 2020), a 24-year-old man entered a service station on Sandgate Road, Shortland, allegedly armed with a knife.
He allegedly threatened an employee before running to a second service station, also on Sandgate Road, where he became involved in an argument with a 54-year-old man, who was walking his dog.
Witnesses have told police the argument became physical with the older man sustaining a stab wound to his abdomen; he died at the scene.
Following information received, officers from Newcastle City Police District attended a home on Sandgate Road where they attempted to speak with 24-year-old man without success, and the man was arrested after being Tasered.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he has now been charged with murder; he’s been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court later today (Sunday 13 December 2020).
Crime scenes have been established at both service stations on Sandgate Road, as well as the home where the man was arrested.
Initial inquiries suggest the two men were not know to each other.

The driver of a utility is facing six charges after his passenger died in a crash in the Hunter region last month.
Emergency services were called to Anambah Road at Rutherford, 8km north-east of Maitland, shortly after 9pm on Saturday 7 November 2020, after a Ford utility left the roadway and hit a guard rail.
The front-seat passenger, a 29-year-old man, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and commenced inquiries with assistance from the Crash Investigation Unit.
The driver, a 33-year-old man, was arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing, before
being taken to Maitland Police Station.
Following iinquiries by the Crash Investigation Unit, the man has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – influence drugs, dangerous driving occasioning death – drive under influence, drive vehicle (while) illicit drug present in blood, and drive with middle range PCA.
He is due to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 17 February 2021.

The City of Newcastle realised a former Novocastrian’s long-held ambition to become an ambassador for the city today, awarding a Key to the City to Her Excellency the Honourable Patricia Forsythe AM, in recognition of her lifelong service to democracy, diplomacy and business.
Appointed as the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue in March 2019, Mrs Forsythe began her remarkable career in public service in Newcastle as a secondary history teacher at Jesmond High School and Newcastle Grammar School, before being elected to the NSW Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council in May 1991.
As a Member of the NSW Upper House, Mrs Forsythe also served on the Opposition Frontbench in prominent roles such as the Shadow Minister for Education and Women’s Affairs.
In her maiden parliamentary speech, Mrs Forsythe paid homage to her hometown.
“Newcastle, a city I will be proud to serve,” Mrs Forsythe said. “In my vision for the future, I want to see an outlook not of them and us, but a shared outlook, where the economic potential of the Hunter is realised.”
“I look forward to being an ambassador for the city… Newcastle has given me much.”
Mrs Forsythe acknowledged the unwavering support of the Forsythe and Wingrove families, some of whom were present for the Key to the City ceremony and Mrs Forsythe’s induction to the City of Newcastle Ambassador Program, almost three decades later.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes was delighted to present Mrs Forsythe with a Key to the City during a diplomatic visit to Newcastle.
^{Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes presents the Key to the City to the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue, Her Excellency the Honourable Patricia Forsythe AM.}
“It was a pleasure to conduct such a special ceremony on behalf of the City with the company of Mrs Forsythe’s closest family members,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Some of the most significant advancements of Newcastle institutions are owed to Mrs Forsythe’s advocacy work, including the establishment of the University of Newcastle’s medical faculty in the early 1970s, for which she was a major champion. Mrs Forsythe also helped lobby for a taxation office in Newcastle in the 1980s.
“The City of Newcastle looks forward to continuing to work with Mrs Forsythe as a city ambassador in her current capacity as High Commissioner, as she continues to take an interest in Newcastle and advocate for the city, not least of which through the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mrs Forsythe is the ninth individual or organisation to receive a Key to the City of Newcastle since the Ambassador Program’s inception in 2017.
She joins the ranks with Director of the National Gallery of Australia Nick Mitzevich, Naval Officer Anita Sellick, former University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Caroline McMillen, Breast Cancer Trials, Newcastle Eye Hospital Foundation, the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG, Youth With a Mission medical vessel The Ruach, and businesswoman and media personality Jackie Gillies.
An official biography for the Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM, Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue, is available at the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website here.

A man will face court today charged over an alleged aggravated break and enter in Newcastle at the weekend.
About 3am on Sunday (6 December 2020), an 84-year-old woman was asleep at a home on Marsden Street, Shortland, when she was woken by an unknown man standing in her room.
The man spoke to the elderly woman before she called to family members for assistance and the man left the home.
The elderly woman wasn’t injured.
Later that morning, police were called and officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended a separate home on Marsden Street and arrested a 19-year-old man on Wednesday (9 December 2020)
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence with people there.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Thursday 10 December), where he was formally bail refused to reappear at the same court today (Friday 11 December 2020).

More than $10 million will be invested into priority community projects throughout the remainder of this financial year as contributions continue to flow from the city’s development boom.
Council this week adopted the updated the 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan, which allows for the collection of development levies across the City and nominates how they will be spent.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the updated Contributions Plan will allow the City of Newcastle to invest development contributions back into the community through new and upgraded social infrastructure, which is essential for the health, well-being and economic prosperity of communities and the liveability of our City.
“Newcastle’s unprecedented development boom is not only helping to transform the city on the back of our progressive, future-focussed vision, it’s also contributing to the vital infrastructure needed to support our growing population,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Our population is forecast to increase by 20% to 200,000 residents by 2041, which in turn requires the provision of additional public facilities to meet increasing demand over time.”
Cr Nelmes said the list of projects to be funded had been updated in line with the City’s adopted capital works budget priorities and includes projects such as the next stages of Bathers Way, the delivery of the National Park Plan of Management, local centre upgrades in Stockton, Wallsend and Shortland, and the Throsby Creek shared pathway.
“This Contributions Plan provides an essential mechanism through which we can collect funds from approved developments to provide for new or enhanced community infrastructure such as roads, shared paths and cycleways, parks, playgrounds and many other public places to support our City,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Funding mechanisms such as this support our capital works program, which plays a major role in creating jobs and increasing the economic output of the local area, which has become even more important in the wake of COVID-19.”
City of Newcastle approved 1,171 development applications in 2020 with a value of $568 million across the city.

City of Newcastle welcomes the NSW Government’s move to apply for an offshore exploration licence that will allow for the investigation of a suitable sand source to put sand back on the beach at Stockton.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro chaired a Stockton Beach Taskforce meeting at City of Newcastle’s Administration Centre today and discussed how the exploration licence would allow for the examination a potential source of sand needed to remediate Stockton Beach.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Deputy Premier Barilaro’s announcement was a significant win for the Stockton community, with the NSW Government prioritising a viable solution to coastal erosion.
“If approved, the licence will allow exploration work to be carried out by geologists to determine if an identified source of sand off the coast of Stockton is suitable,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The NSW Government’s commitment to identifying a suitable sand source is meaningful progress toward ensuring our community can once again enjoy the amenity of a sandy beach, where coastal assets are protected.
“Since the Stockton Taskforce had its inaugural meeting in June we have seen a genuine and cooperative approach to reaching a solution to ongoing coastal erosion.
“The Taskforce has cut red tape and overcome regulatory hurdles across various government departments to enable a path to source suitable sand to replenish the beach.
“The Stockton Coastal Management Program was informed by our community and has mass sand nourishment as its cornerstone, so this news shows how collaboration between Local and State Government can achieve positive outcomes for the environment and community.”
“I thank the Deputy Premier for his leadership in resolving the complex erosion issues at Stockton with both short and long-term solutions.
The Taskforce meeting was also informed that City of Newcastle has completed the first comprehensive scientific study of how sand moves in and around the Stockton Bight.
The Stockton Bight Sand Movement Study will contribute to the 2021 review of the Stockton Coastal Management Program, which is being updated to include the area north of Meredith Street to the Local Government Boundary. Previous studies have been confined to the southern section of the Bight.
This investigation fills an important missing piece in understanding the beach’s complex coastal processes.
Cr Nelmes said the Sand Movement Study is key to developing management actions that complement the mass sand nourishment strategy for Stockton Beach.
“The study provides City of Newcastle and Stockton Bight’s various landholders with the critical information and understanding needed to make evidence-based decisions on coastal management options for the area to the north of Meredith Street,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Next year City of Newcastle, in consultation with stakeholders, will update the Stockton CMP to include coastal management options for the area of the beach north of Meredith Street to the Port Stephens Local Government Area boundary.
“The Stockton CMP 2021 key actions will complement the mass sand nourishment proposed for Stockton Beach and will be assessed in terms of their economic and technical feasibility, to obtain agreement on a suitable strategy from all affected northern landholders.
“The actions outlined in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020 will not change and will be incorporated into the expanded 2021 Stockton CMP.
“The work completed to date, in partnership with the community, has determined what we need to do now and in the long-term to ensure we can manage Stockton Beach for future generations.
“We will continue to work with the NSW Government to deliver a mechanism to get sand onto Stockton Beach.”
City of Newcastle Manager of Assets and Projects Joanne Rigby said the study provides the first full analysis of the Bight’s ‘sand budget’, which maps historical sand volume changes from Nobbys Headland to Birubi Headland to show the rates and direction of sand movement.
“This is essential to assessing how each potential coastal management option will impact the behaviour of the entire Bight,” Ms Rigby said.
“The study confirms that the natural pattern of erosion experienced by Stockton Beach is exacerbated by the Newcastle Harbour breakwaters and navigational channel, which combine to create a physical barrier to natural sand movement.
“Presently an average of 34,000 cubic metres per year is restored to Stockton Beach by the dredging of sand from the entrance channel and 36,500 cubic metres per year is accumulated at Nobbys.
“The Port of Newcastle’s David Allan dredge picks sand up in the harbour entrance and deposits it offshore from Stockton Beach.
“Currently the rate of loss along the southern section of the Beach is estimated at 112,000 cubic metres  per year. Prior to the formalisation of river entrance, it is estimated that 100,000 cubic metres of sand passed Nobbys Headland.
“As a result, the overall northerly loss of sand is a key management consideration of the Stockton CMP.”
City of Newcastle will work with landowners and the community in the new year regarding management actions. The Stockton Sand Movement Study can be accessed here.