Category: Newcastle News

Novocastrians will be able to ring in the New Year at a series of localised events designed to safely bring the community together to celebrate the end of 2020.
Family-friendly picnics in the park, pool parties, food trucks and food-focused market stalls will be on offer around the city on 31 December and 1 January.

Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the community events would provide a vibrant alternative to the usual Foreshore fireworks display and concert, which was put on hold this year due to COVID-19.
“In a year that’s been very different from what anyone would have expected, we’ve decided to do things a little differently when it comes to our New Year’s celebrations,” Cr Clausen said.
“After making the difficult decision to cancel our traditional fireworks event this year, we’ve been working on ways to bring the party to the people and allow Novocastrians to celebrate closer to home.
“To that end, we’re putting on seven localised events on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day that will provide festive opportunities for our community to reconnect, reflect, and refresh heading into 2021.
“You can pack a picnic blanket, bring a basket and stock up on your favourite goodies from local food providers before settling back with family and friends to enjoy a picnic in the park.
“Our swimming centres will also allow you to splash into 2021 at festive pool parties where you can make a day of it with water-based inflatables, roving entertainment and a selection of food trucks.”

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes Nelmes said the fireworks display planned for 2020 would be deferred until 2021 when festivities would return to the Newcastle Foreshore, subject to any public health orders in place at that time.
“2020 has been a year like no other, but what it has shown above all is our community’s ability to work together for the benefit of all,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The city deserves the chance to celebrate what we have achieved together this year and everything we’re looking forward to in 2021.
“I encourage Novocastrians to enjoy the New Year’s period in a COVID Safe way, whether they attend one of our events, support our local restaurants and bars, or gather with friends and family at home.”

The New Year’s program will include:

• Food Markets at Lambton Park and Dixon Park on New Year’s Eve (3pm to 8pm), including roving entertainment and children’s activities.
• Activations at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend pools on New Year’s Day (10am to 4pm), including inflatables, food trucks and roving entertainment.
• Food Markets at Richley Reserve on New Year’s Day (10am to 4pm), including roving entertainment, children’s activities and a ‘sensory zone’ for people with disabilities and their families.

Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/NYE for more information.

An investigation is underway following a stabbing in the Lake Macquarie area yesterday.
About 7.10pm (Sunday 6 December 2020), emergency services were called to a service station on Lowry Street near Main Road, Cardiff, after reports of a group of men fighting.
The group left the scene prior to police arrival.
A 23-year-old man suffering stab wounds to his face and back was located at a house nearby and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment in a stable condition.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic police.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue, however initial inquiries suggest the men are known to each other.

Novocastrians will be able to ring in the New Year at a series of localised events designed to safely bring the community together to celebrate the end of 2020.
Family-friendly picnics in the park, pool parties, food trucks and food-focused market stalls will be on offer around the city on 31 December and 1 January.

Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the community events would provide a vibrant alternative to the usual Foreshore fireworks display and concert, which was put on hold this year due to COVID-19.
“In a year that’s been very different from what anyone would have expected, we’ve decided to do things a little differently when it comes to our New Year’s celebrations,” Cr Clausen said.
“After making the difficult decision to cancel our traditional fireworks event this year, we’ve been working on ways to bring the party to the people and allow Novocastrians to celebrate closer to home.
“To that end, we’re putting on seven localised events on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day that will provide festive opportunities for our community to reconnect, reflect, and refresh heading into 2021.
“You can pack a picnic blanket, bring a basket and stock up on your favourite goodies from local food providers before settling back with family and friends to enjoy a picnic in the park.
“Our swimming centres will also allow you to splash into 2021 at festive pool parties where you can make a day of it with water-based inflatables, roving entertainment and a selection of food trucks.”

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes Nelmes said the fireworks display planned for 2020 would be deferred until 2021 when festivities would return to the Newcastle Foreshore, subject to any public health orders in place at that time.
“2020 has been a year like no other, but what it has shown above all is our community’s ability to work together for the benefit of all,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The city deserves the chance to celebrate what we have achieved together this year and everything we’re looking forward to in 2021.
“I encourage Novocastrians to enjoy the New Year’s period in a COVID Safe way, whether they attend one of our events, support our local restaurants and bars, or gather with friends and family at home.”

The New Year’s program will include:

• Food Markets at Lambton Park and Dixon Park on New Year’s Eve (3pm to 8pm), including roving entertainment and children’s activities.
• Activations at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend pools on New Year’s Day (10am to 4pm), including inflatables, food trucks and roving entertainment.
• Food Markets at Richley Reserve on New Year’s Day (10am to 4pm), including roving entertainment, children’s activities and a ‘sensory zone’ for people with disabilities and their families.

Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/NYE for more information.

A driver has been charged after allegedly deliberately hitting a cyclist and assaulting emergency services personnel at Newcastle last night.
About 7pm (Saturday 5 December 2020), a 23-year-old woman was riding her bike on Heaton Street, Jesmond, when she was allegedly deliberately hit by a man driving a Subaru Forster.
The woman was dragged by the vehicle, before it stopped.
Members of the public provided assistance to the woman before emergency services arrived.
The driver, a 25-year-old man, exited the Subaru and allegedly tried to enter a NSW Ambulance vehicle, before assaulting a female paramedic. She sustained bruising, swelling and abrasions after being pushed to the ground.
The injured cyclist was taken to John Hunter Hospital where she remains in a critical condition.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and arrested the driver.
As police were attempting to breath test him, it’s alleged he tried to bite the hands of a male senior constable, before kicking him. He was subsequently taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
The officer did not require medical treatment.
Upon release, the Jesmond man was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, attempt to take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Sunday 6 December 2020).

A family-friendly line-up of free festive activities will spread Christmas cheer across the city throughout December, encouraging Novocastrians into the City Centre whilst supporting local businesses.
To herald the start of the festive season, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes officially lit the City’s signature 11-metre Christmas tree, taking pride of place on Market Street Lawn, adjacent to the Signal Box café.
Funded by City of Newcastle’s Special Business Rate program, in collaboration with local businesses, A Very Newy Christmas presents a sleigh-full of free festive activities for families to enjoy.
One hundred and twenty full-sized Christmas trees will form a pop-up maze at Civic Park from Thursday 3 December until Friday 12 December.  Entry is free for the whole family between the hours of 7am and 7pm.
Hunter Street Mall and Darby Street will host free beach themed Santa photo sessions.  Families are encouraged to make their way to 153 Darby Street from 10 -15 December and 145 Hunter Street from 17 – 22 December, between the hours of 9am and 5pm weekdays, and 9am and 1pm Saturdays.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Christmas is about welcoming the community to the City Centre to enjoy the festive spirit and free activities on offer, whilst supporting local businesses.
“Without a doubt, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. Our City’s Christmas tree and A Very Newy Christmas programming is about spreading the joy of Christmas amongst families, whilst welcoming visitors back into the City Centre,” said Cr Nelmes.
“COVID-19 has caused major disruption to our City’s events calendar in 2020, with unprecedented economic and social impacts on our community and businesses.
“By activating the City Centre and Darby Street, our goal is to attract people back in a COVID Safe way and to financially inject into local businesses, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors.
“There is no better time than the lead-up to Christmas to shop locally and support Newcastle businesses impacted by COVID-19.
“Come and join in the spirit of Christmas by heading into our City Centre this festive season.”
For the City’s full Christmas programme visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Christmas

Supercars will return to the city in 2022 when Newcastle hosts the season opener of the Repco Supercars Championship series.
The major motorsport event will be back on the Newcastle street circuit after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, shifting from its previous position as the final race of the series to become the much-anticipated season opener.
The Newcastle 500 will also mark the start of what is expected to be a fierce racing rivalry between the Chevrolet Camaro and a new-look Ford Mustang, which will be adapted to suit a new ‘Gen3’ control chassis.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the return of the biggest event on Newcastle’s annual calendar, which provides a multi-million fiscal injection into the local economy and helps put the city on the world stage.
“The Newcastle 500 has been shown through independent research to benefit Newcastle’s economy by more than $30 million over the three-day event, contributing to up to 124 full-time jobs,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As part of the Supercars Australia Championship series, the Newcastle 500 also brings widespread exposure for our city. The 2019 event weekend recorded 344 media stories, reaching a domestic audience of more than 14 million people, with an estimated value of over $2 million.
“Our wider community also recognises the benefits of hosting such a landmark event, with 81 per cent of respondents previously indicating in a Hunter Research Foundation Centre survey that they believe Newcastle and the region benefit from hosting the Supercars Newcastle 500.
“We look forward to welcoming Supercars and their fans back to Newcastle in 2022.”
While the dates for the event are still to be finalised, it is expected to take place in early March 2022. As a result of the new timing, no road closures will take place prior to February 2022. City of Newcastle has also stipulated there will be a shortened timeframe for the dismantling and removal of event-related structures and equipment.
Cr Nelmes said the new timing of the Newcastle 500 was a boon for the city’s major events calendar.
“Moving the Newcastle 500 from November/December to March will diversify our major events calendar, drawing new visitors to the city in autumn while freeing up the CBD during the busy Christmas shopping period,” she said.
“The return of the Newcastle 500 cements our city’s reputation as a destination known for hosting major Australian and international events.
“No city anywhere in Australia offers what Newcastle does in terms of providing stunning aerial pictures of some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches. The Newcastle 500 street circuit traces both the City’s coastline as well as its working harbour.
“In recent years the shots of Supercars racing in the foreground while our working harbour operates in the background are images that are embedded into the minds of tens of millions of motor racing fans around the world.”
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the five-year agreement to host the Newcastle 500 comes to an end next year.
“The City has varied its agreements with Supercars Australia and the NSW Government to host the 2022 event, with discussions around a longer-term arrangement to be finalised mid 2022,” Mr Bath said.
“As part of the agreement, Supercars has committed to providing a locally based community engagement manager for the event.
“City of Newcastle’s commercial terms with Destination NSW remain unchanged.”

A motorcyclist has died following a crash in the Lake Macquarie District earlier today.
About 2.35pm (Thursday 3 December 2020), emergency services were called to Caves Beach Road, Caves Beach, after reports a motorcycle had left the road and hit a fence after colliding with a turning vehicle.
The rider, believed to be an 18-year-old man, was treated by Ambulance paramedics, however he died at the scene.
The female driver of a Ford Territory wagon involved in the crash was taken to Belmont Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police Distrct have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash-cam footage or CCTV footage which might assist police with their investigation is asked to call Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are at the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Lake Macquarie.
About 2.35pm today (Thursday 3 December 2020), emergency services were called to Caves Beach Road, Caves Beach, after reports a motorcycle had left the road and hit a fence.
The rider died at the scene.
Local traffic diversions are in place, as police commence inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
No further information is available at this stage.

Police are investigating an aggravated break and enter at a Newcastle home overnight.
About 3.45am (Thursday 3 December 2020), officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to a home on Moore Street, Birmingham Gardens, after reports the home had been ransacked.
Police have been told a 20-year-old male resident was asleep in his room when he was woken by a man armed with a knife.
The armed man threatened him before taking several items from the room.
The man left through a back door.
It’s believed a mobile phone, a wallet and a silver Nissan Pulsar with NSW registration plates DAT 46B were taken.
Police established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation into the incident.
The man is described as being aged in his mid to late-20s, with a medium build and an olive complexion. He was last seen wearing dark clothing and a cap.
As police continue their inquiries, police are urging anyone in the nearby area who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of surrounding streets or who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 3.30am and 4.30am today (Thursday 3 December 2020) to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Detectives have charged a woman over alleged fraud relating to bushfire support recovery grants.
Strike Force Roche was established in April 2020 by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.
It’s alleged that between April and August 2020, a 27-year-old woman fraudulently applied for four Bushfire and COVID-19 Government Grants.
The woman received almost $21,000 in grants.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested the woman at Belmont Police Station about 3pm today (Wednesday 2 December 2020).
The Warners Bay woman was charged with two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and two counts of attempt dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
She was given conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 20 January 2021.