Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged after police allegedly located a kilogram of cocaine in his pants during an arrest in the Hunter region yesterday.
On Saturday (5 September 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a home at East Maitland following reports of a domestic-related incident.
Upon arrival, police spoke with a 30-year-old woman.
During a subsequent search of the home, police allegedly located and seized cannabis, methylamphetamine, steroids, cocaine, and more than $20,000 cash.
As part of further inquiries, about 12.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 9 September 2020) officers from the Northern Region Domestic Violence High-Risk Offender team and the Port Stephens-Hunter Proactive Crime Team attended an industrial shed on Giggins Road, Heatherbrae, when a man jumped out a side window and attempted to evade police.
The 31-year-old man was arrested a short time later when police noticed a large package hidden inside the man’s shorts.
The package was removed and found to contain 1kg of cocaine. It was seized for forensic examination.
A crime scene was established and a search warrant was executed at the industrial property, where police located and seized motorcycles, a car, methylamphetamine, cash, mobile phones and knuckle dusters.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with five offences including supply large commercial quantity prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm (domestic) and deal with proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 10 September 2020).
Investigations are continuing and further charges are expected to be laid.

City of Newcastle is renewing its parking and cycling plans in response to the many changes that are currently occurring as part of the unprecedented development happening across the city and changing travel patterns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent community engagement on cycling in Newcastle heard from almost 2,500 people, highlighting a continued strong interest in the development of infrastructure to support a safe, accessible and connected cycling network in the City.

City of Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor, Cr Declan Clausen, said the refreshed plans will respond to the ongoing transformation of the city and the potential Newcastle has to continue the shift to active transport, including walking and cycling.
“Our community’s vision is for Newcastle to have safe transport networks and services that are well connected and convenient, and where walking, cycling and public transport are viable options for the majority of our trips.
“Research consistently shows that walking, cycling and public transport are better for the environment, better for our physical and mental health, and better for revitalising our local centres.
“We have a track record of delivering quality transport infrastructure, including new cycleway that connecting missing links within the City, the operation of the popular Park and Ride shuttle service from Hunter Stadium prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the delivery of improved parking as part of our local centre upgrades across the City.
“Newcastle has some great facilities, but we know there is more that needs to be done to make riding and walking our preferred transport choice. We want walking, cycling and public transport to be viable options when planning trips, particularly the short trips we take which are close to home,” Cr Clausen said.
City of Newcastle Director Governance, David Clarke said the updated plans would be grounded in community consultation and include a joint focus on both cycling infrastructure and parking.
“Early engagement with key stakeholders will commence this week.
“We know that parking is a key component of the transport picture and is also an important part of our streetscapes.
“Properly planned and implemented parking arrangements help us achieve the aspiration for more active transport as well as contribute to the revitalisation of both our city centre and local suburban centres.” Mr Clarke said.
The City’s existing cycling and parking plans were created more than five years ago. Since that time there have been substantial changes beyond the City’s control, including the removal of inner-city parking and changes to the region’s public transport system.
Through its updated plans, the City of Newcastle will prioritise the delivery of quality transport infrastructure within its area of responsibility, while continuing to advocate for the best possible integrated transport outcomes, recognising that a number of actions are outside the City’s control.
Draft plans are intended to be publicly exhibited during November.

With a theme of illumination and a tantalising “We Are New” tagline, City of Newcastle has revealed the first details of its flagship arts festival – New Annual.
To be held from 12-21 February 2021, the inaugural event will celebrate the depth of talent in Newcastle’s thriving cultural and arts sector.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said New Annual would become a dynamic addition to Newcastle’s social calendar.
“Supporting and delivering cultural and community programs, events and live music is key to progressing our vision of Newcastle as a smart, liveable and sustainable global city,” Cr Nelmes said.
“A strong arts community feeds into a healthy economy, helps to revitalise and activate public spaces, creates vibrant night life, and spurs growth in cultural tourism.
“It is also a vehicle through which we can tell our city’s story, share our histories and understand our identity.
“The name ‘New Annual’ itself represents our commitment to the city and its broader audience – that we will offer both surprise and continuity through this hallmark annual cultural event, with a uniquely Newcastle character that can be embraced by locals and visitors alike.”

New Annual’s 10-day program will include dance, live music, art displays, exhibitions, presentations, talks, and activation events.
Designed with the flexibility to operate as a COVID Safe event depending on Public Health Orders, it will be held at a variety of locations with the ability to help keep crowd numbers dispersed, utilising City of Newcastle facilities, public spaces, private venues, community hubs and performance spaces.
Cr Nelmes said New Annual will also allow City of Newcastle to continue its support for some of those worst affected by the global pandemic.
“The arts and cultural sectors were among the earliest and hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Organisations such as Live Performance Australia, Music NSW and the National Association for the Visual Arts have valued the income loss for artists and entertainers across the country in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Planning for this event has allowed us to keep important funds and support flowing into the sector by engaging more than 40 local artists for the event so far, and this number will continue to grow as the festival approaches.
“We’ve also been fortunate to secure support for the event from the NSW Government, with two grants from the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
“I look forward to revealing more details about the New Annual at the official program launch next month.”

A former tennis coach will face court today charged following an investigation into alleged child indecent assault offences in the Hunter region.
In June 2017, detectives from Hunter Valley Police District commenced an investigation into alleged indecent assault offences committed against a teenage girl in the late 1990s and the early 2000s.
Following extensive inquiries, a 57-year-old man, was issued with a Court Attendance Notice on Thursday 30 July 2020 for the offences of:

• Indecent assault
• Incite aggravated indecency victim under 16 and under authority (three counts)
• Incite aggravated indecency victim over 16 and under authority (two counts)

Police will allege in court that the man, who was a tennis coach, indecently assaulted a girl he was coaching – aged between 13 and 17 at the time – on multiple occasions in the East Maitland and Hunter region.
He is due to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 9 September 2020).

A man has been charged after allegedly threatening a man with a tomahawk in Newcastle overnight.
About 7.40pm yesterday (Monday 7 September 2020), police will allege in court that a 39-year-old man was involved in a verbal altercation with a man on Sandgate Road at Shortland.
The 39-year-old left and returned a short time later allegedly armed with a tomahawk and confronted the man.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and arrested him at the scene.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with affray and armed with intent to commit indictable offence.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 8 September 2020).
As investigations continue, police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Waratah Police or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police have released CCTV images and are appealing for public assistance following an aggravated robbery in Newcastle at the weekend.
About 3pm on Saturday (5 September 2020), a 45-year-old man parked a blue BMW M2 coupe on Lloyd Street, Merewether, and sat down on a nearby bench.
A short time later, three unknown men arrived in a Toyota Kluger 4WD – believed to have been stolen from an Islington address the day before (Friday 4 September 2020) – when they approached the man and punched him before taking his keys, wallet and phone.
All three men drove away in the BMW and were last seen heading west towards Scenic Drive.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were called and commenced an investigation.
As inquiries continue, police have released CCTV images of three men they wish to speak to who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
They are all described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance and aged in their mid-20s.
One man is also described as being of a solid build, with mohawk-style hair and a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie.
A second man is described as being of slim build, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.
Police are also appealing for anyone who may have seen a blue BMW M2 coupe with NSW registration DSS 71W, to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The most digitally advanced library in NSW is set to open Monday on the ground floor of the City of Newcastle’s new Customer Service Centre in Newcastle West.
The Digital Library offers visitors a range of state-of-the-art digital technologies including a podcasting studio, a 4.5m x 1.6m interactive digital wall that tells the story of local suburbs, as well as videos promoting the city, Google Earth, various live streams and a host of other learning materials.
The Digital Library also includes an industrial 3D printer, a programable robot, and only the second digital multimedia ‘Magic Box’ anywhere in the world, which provides a hands-free way of reading the more than 400,000 items in the City’s Heritage Collections, including about 1,500 rare books.
^{Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Pepper the programmable robot.}
The Digital Library also breaks new ground in terms of the collection on offer. Rather than offer up a single copy of every book as done in a traditional library, the Digital Library stocks up to 10 copies of the latest and most popular books, CDs and DVDs. Older books can be ordered and delivered to the Digital Library for pick-up.
The process of borrowing and returning an item is also fully automated, allowing library staff to dedicate time to enabling digital learning rather than being behind a desk.
Large touch screens offer up digitised copies of more than 6,000 newspapers and magazines from 123 countries around the world.
Tablets and personal computers are available free of charge, as well as free Wi-Fi and online games inspired by literary classics. The entire Newcastle Libraries’ collection is also available for download to your personal device, enabling people to read books from their phones or tablets rather than the traditional approach of borrowing a physical book to carry home.
The Library has been designed so that the space can be quickly converted to a Council Chamber for the twice monthly evening meeting of Councillors.
The ground floor of the Council Administration Centre also features a new Customer Service Centre for residents who need to meet with staff for matters such as development applications. Return visitors will immediately notice the introduction of a concierge service, inspired by Service NSW’s popular one stop shops throughout the state.
The total cost of the Digital Library is $2.8 million and was approved by Council in 2019.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the considered, flexible layout of the CAC’s ground floor made it a brilliant space in which to learn and master new digital technologies that are now available free to everyone young and old alike.
“I’m very pleased to be able to invite the community into this digital space, which completes our transition from the Roundhouse, the old Council administration building which was sold in 2018 and is now just months from becoming the city’s first five-star hotel,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Whether you need to enquire about a DA, speak with a member of the Customer Service team or access the hundreds of thousands of items in the City’s e-Library catalogue, the City Administration Centre offers a seamless experience for you to get the most out of your visit.”
^{(L-R): Manager Libraries and Learning Suzie Gately, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Manager Customer Experience Deborah Moldrich inside the new Digital Library and Customer Service Centre.}
Manager Customer Experience, Deborah Moldrich, said the Customer Experience team was looking forward to sharing the new space with the public.
“We are the first point of contact for the community and we think they’ll love the new, modern digital amenities just as much as we do,” Ms Moldrich said.
Manager Libraries and Learning, Suzie Gately, said the Digital Library space was an innovative exchange for City and Library services.
“The Digital Library forms part of Council’s unanimously supported 2019-2029 Library Strategy to create contemporary and connected library facilities to support lifelong learning, and that’s precisely what we’ve delivered here at 12 Stewart Avenue.
“We are extremely proud to be able to promote our city as having the most digital advanced library in NSW for learning, whether it be for children or adults. Technologies such as the free podcasting studio are about ensuring our community have the digital skills required to secure jobs over the coming years,” Ms Gately said.
Due to COVID-19, customers are encouraged to continue to use phone and digital channels to access support from the Customer Service team and make cashless payments where possible.
Funding of $2,128,835 towards the cost of the project was provided via the 2015 sale of the former Newcastle School of Arts that was dedicated to be used for a new library.
Untimed parking exists within 250 metres of the Digital Library along Parry, Dennison, Station and Warrah Streets.

A motorcyclist has died following a crash near Cessnock yesterday.
About 10.50am (Saturday 5 September 2020), emergency services were called to Great North Road, Wollombi, following reports a motorcyclist and KIA sedan collided.
The rider, a 52 -year-old man, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however he died at the scene.
The driver, a 74-year-old man was taken to Cessnock Hospital for mandatory blood and alcohol testing.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and have commenced inquiries into the cause of the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man has been charged after the stolen car he was allegedly driving was involved in a pursuit through the Lake Macquarie area yesterday.
About 7.20am (Saturday 5 September 2020), officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were alerted to a white Volkswagen Caddy driving in a dangerous manner in Windale.
Police observed the Volkswagen in Merrigum Street and as they approached the vehicle, the driver allegedly accelerated and a pursuit commenced through South and Lake streets, Windale.
The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.
A short time later, the Volkswagen was sighted in Honeyeater Close, Tingira Heights, where the driver again allegedly accelerated from police down McElwee Drive and onto Violet Town Road, before exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot.
The driver, an 18-year-old man from Gateshed, was located under a vehicle on McElwee Drive and arrested.
Upon searching the man, police allegedly located a hunting knife in his pants.
The man was also breath tested, allegedly returning a positive result.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.071.
The man was charged with never licensed person drive vehicle on road, low-range drink driving, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed, and custody of knife in public place.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 23 September 2020.
Police will allege the car was stolen from a Warners Bay address in the hours before the incident.