Category: Newcastle News

Police have charged a man after he was allegedly found to be in possession of a firearm in Lake Macquarie yesterday.
Shortly before 12pm (Thursday 1 October 2020), officers attached to Northern Region Operation Utah observed a grey Volkswagen Golf allegedly accelerating away from police on Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle.
A short time later, police from the Hunter Regional Enforcement Squad and Northern High-Visibility Policing Unit located the car at a carpark of a licensed premises on the Pacific Highway, Gateshead, with a female passenger inside.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located a sawn-off firearm that was wrapped in clothing and a plastic bag containing ammunition.
The items were seized for forensic examination.
Following further inquiries, two men – aged 24 and 32 – were arrested inside the venue and taken to Belmont Police Station
The 24-year-old was charged with seven offences including:

• Possess unauthorised prohibited firearm;
• Possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm;
• Possess loaded firearm public place;
• Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority;
• Possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority;
• Not keep firearm safe; and
• Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.

The 32-year-old was charged with a breach of bail offence.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Friday 2 October 2020).
Investigations are ongoing, anyone who may have witnessed a grey Volkswagen Golf between 11am and 12.30pm in the Newcastle area or who may have dashcam footage from the nearby area during these times is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Today marks the beginning of a trial which aims to provide a lift to the local economy through the extension of trading hours at 23 low impact small bars and restaurants in Newcastle.
The NSW Government-led trial sees trading hours of restaurants in the city extended until midnight and 2am for small bars.
City of Newcastle is supporting the trial in line with its endorsed After Dark Strategy and is leading a data collection project which includes a baseline community survey which has attracted close to 1,000 responses.
The project also includes a survey of patrons visiting the participating bars and restaurants, and an app for venues to log information about business performance.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the trial was a positive step as one of the key recommendations in City of Newcastle’s After Dark Strategy to create a safe a vibrant night time economy.
“City of Newcastle’s Newcastle After Dark Strategy was unanimously supported by Council in 2018 and is a plan for creating a safe, vibrant and diverse night-time economy,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This trial offers people an opportunity to enjoy Newcastle’s emerging small venue culture, support local business and help unlock our night-time economy.
“It is an important measure to support the local hospitality and entertainment industry’s recovery from the impact of COVID-19 related restrictions which have caused a dramatic decrease in revenue for venues.
“We expect the 23 participating small bars and restaurants will see a positive outcome through increased patronage and activation in the city.”
The community is encouraged to enjoy the extended hours responsibly and to provide feedback to City of Newcastle on their experiences of Newcastle’s stimulated nightlife.
“Community feedback is an important component of the trial as it provides invaluable local data to evaluate its impact,” Cr Nelmes said.
“During the trial period, we are gathering a range of data to determine the social and economic benefit of the relaxed restrictions. One of these data sources is an in-venue patron survey.
“The online survey will be accessible via a QR code scanned in participating venues allowing patrons to have their say on their experiences in Newcastle after dark.
“These insights are in addition to feedback provided in the Newcastle After Dark Survey which has helped form a baseline understanding of the night time economy ahead of the trial.”

City of Newcastle is celebrating the opening of the Big Picture Fest which will see the western wall of Civic Theatre painted with a vintage mural, as 14 street art activations are installed across the City centre.
The Festival is brought to Newcastle through the City’s Special Business Rates (SBR) funding program, and brings together local, national and international artists to transform Newcastle’s streetscapes.
Award winning mural artist Bronte Naylor has been selected to create a mural called ‘Mirror Ocean’ which draws on themes and colours from an iconic vintage seaside painting on display within the Civic Theatre.
A 2019 Lord Mayoral Minute to bring local and internationally renowned artists to Newcastle in a celebration of art in public spaces was the catalyst for the Big Picture Fest being hosted in Newcastle.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the $169,750 investment from Special Business Rate funding has brought world class street art to some of the City’s most prominent locations for the local community and visitors to appreciate.
“City of Newcastle is proud to be the major sponsor of Newcastle’s Big Picture Fest delivering the support and financial backing to our artists during a time when the arts sector has been decimated by COVID-19.
“Street Art is an important component of Newcastle’s changing landscape, documenting our rich industrial, social and cultural history, and playing a significant role in fostering a dynamic and vibrant creative arts sector.”
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the festival contributes to the vibrancy of Newcastle and creates an ongoing artistic legacy for the community and local business.
“The Big Picture Fest is a major international street art activation that celebrates Newcastle’s history and creative culture, and sees some of our amazing local talent produce large scale murals in the city.
“The official opening of the festival today will showcase our vibrant local art scene with 11 of the 14 artists hailing from the Hunter region.
“It has been a captivating sight to watch the amazing pieces of street art emerge from walls throughout the City.
“There will be plenty for people to see over the long weekend with murals popping up at places such as Museum Park, Foghorn Brewery, Civic Theatre and the corner of King and Union Streets.”
The Big Picture Fest runs 2-4 October and is free for the community to attend. For more information and the mural map, visit thebigpicturefest.com
Picture caption: Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen join artist Bronte Naylor as she begins work on her mural ‘Mirror Ocean’ on the western wall of Civic Theatre.

A man will face court today charged over an alleged public place shooting in the Hunter region yesterday.
About 12.15pm (Wednesday 30 September 2020), police were called to Lang Street, Kurri Kurri, following reports of shots fired.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a perimeter, assisted by Port Stephens-Hunter Police District.
A large-scale search of the area was conducted with the assistance of PolAir and Operation Utah officers and a 40-year-old man was arrested on Lang Street about 1.40pm.
Police attended a nearby residence and located the rifle in a vehicle. It was seized along with 16 other registered firearms and ammunition.
The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with use unauthorised firearm, steal firearm, not keep firearm safely-not prohibited firearm/pistol, use intimidation/violence to unlawfully influence person, and fire firearm in or near public place.
Police will allege in court that the man, armed with a rifle, confronted trail bike riders in nearby bushland before discharging the firearm into the air.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 1 October 2020).

A teenager has died in a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Valley yesterday.
About 8pm (Wednesday 30 September 2020), emergency services were called to Mount View Road, Mount View, following reports a Ford Falcon had left the roadway and crashed into a tree.
The male driver – and sole occupant of the vehicle – suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified, however is believed to be an 18-year-old.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Newcastle City police have suspended a search for a surfer reported to have been in difficulties off Newcastle Beach overnight.
About 6.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 30 September 2020), emergency services responded to reports a surfer appeared to be struggling in the water at Newcastle Beach.
The female witness told police that she saw what she believed was a surfer having some difficulties during choppy surf conditions about 100m offshore.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District conducted a search of the beach and water, with the assistance of a rescue helicopter, Police Rescue and NSW Ambulance.
The search continued this morning (Thursday 1 October 2020) – with the assistance of the Marine Area Command and NSW Surf Lifesaving – with nothing adverse located.
As no missing persons have been reported in the area, the search has been suspended.
Police would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance.

A man has been charged after a suspicious item was located in the Hunter yesterday.
About 1.40pm (Wednesday 30 September 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a defence facility at Williamtown after a suspicious item was located.
An exclusion zone was established and with the assistance of specialist resources, the scene was declared safe about 4pm.
Officers launched an investigation into the incident and following extensive inquiries, a 60-year-old man was arrested at a Lake Macquarie home later that afternoon.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with leave/send substance/article create false belief of danger.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 19 October 2020.
Investigations are ongoing.

Fifteen local businesses will learn how to create new or expanded tourism offerings as part of a City of Newcastle program designed to grow the visitor economy.
The Product Development Mentoring Program is connecting local operators with professional mentors, who will teach them how to develop, promote and sell their tourism products and experiences to a wider market.
The initiative forms part of the City’s commitment to helping the local tourism industry survive and recover from the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the quality of the applicants and the diversity of their offerings would start to fill the gap of bookable tourism products on offer in Newcastle, while also aligning with the city’s key experience pillars of coastal and aquatic assets, active and outdoor lifestyle, arts, heritage and culture, culinary destinations and ‘after dark’ activities.
“This program will support and empower tourism operators to optimise their business and showcase the city’s best assets to a wider tourism audience,” Cr Nelmes said.
“From cruises that make the most of our stunning coastline and waterways to land-based guided tours that unearth the hidden gems within our city, these tourism operators are passionate about sharing those elements that make Newcastle such an exciting and enticing destination.
“It’s also great to see some additions to the tourism mix among the successful applicants, including new businesses launching into the market and established business dipping their toes into the tourism sector to enhance their core offering.
“Expanding the suite of bookable options on offer across Newcastle will also have a flow-on effect that will benefit the local hospitality, accommodation and retail sectors by helping to grow visitation, length of stay and expenditure in Newcastle when travel restrictions ease.”
Applications were invited for the new program in August, with 15 local operators chosen by a panel of assessors to take part in the mentoring process, which kicked off this month and will continue until February next year.
The 15 participants are: Baked Uprising, Blackbutt Reserve, Christ Church Cathedral, CoastXP, Earp Distilling Co, Mitch Revs Gallery, Newcastle Afoot, Newcastle Backroad Tours, Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Newcastle Ghost Tours, Newy Rides, Nova Cruises Pty Ltd, The Lock-Up, Underground Epicureans and Urban Hum.
The Product Development Mentoring Program is being funded as part of the City’s Community and Economic Resilience Package and builds on other industry-based support including more than $500,000 in Industry Response Program grants developed in collaboration with the City Taskforce.

A man has died following a fall in Newcastle yesterday.
About 8.40pm (Monday 28 September 2020), emergency services were called to a hotel on Scott Street near Watt Street, Newcastle, following reports a man fallen from the fourth floor of the building.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died soon after.
The man is yet to be formally identified, however, is believed to be aged 37.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene, which was forensically examined by specialist police.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Initial inquiries suggest the incident is not suspicious.

Residential development activity in the Newcastle Local Government Area held strong in the 2019/20 financial year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic occurring throughout the final four months.
Of the 1,168 development applications (DAs) approved by the City of Newcastle in 2019/20, 947 of them were for residential development, valued at more than $271 million, excluding mixed commercial developments. This remained steady from the previous financial year, which saw 1,008 residential DAs approved from 1,281.
The value of residential DAs for new dwellings lodged rose from 33 per cent to 46 per cent as a percentage of the total value of all DAs submitted.
Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment, Michelle Bisson, said development activity had remained strong.
“While no industry has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed, the popularity of new residential dwellings and secondary dwellings continues to grow in the Newcastle LGA,” Ms Bisson said.
“The construction of secondary dwellings provides the community with a choice of more affordable housing, which is a major focus of City of Newcastle’s draft Local Housing Strategy 2020, which was on public exhibition until 21 September.”
Ms Bisson said solid development activity was still also evident within the inner-city.
“The $166 million in developments approved in the CBD alone in the last financial year, plus state government approvals including the University of Newcastle City Campus and ongoing building works, are sustaining many local jobs on the ground and continuing the transformation of our City.”
The diversity of development in the City is reflected in the top-three most valuable DAs approved in the 2019/20 financial year, including a 20-storey mixed use development in Newcastle West ($27.6 million), the adaptive reuse of a building as a boutique hotel ($24.3 million) and an eight-storey commercial development ($18.9 million), both in Newcastle.
While the suburb of Newcastle continues to attract the development dollar ($110 million), other popular suburbs were Fletcher ($49.8 million), Broadmeadow ($47.8 million) and Mayfield West ($40 million).