Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public assistance as they investigate an alleged indecent assault in Newcastle last year.
On Saturday 23 November 2019, police have been told a 34-year-old woman was at a hotel with friends at the intersection of Watt and Scott Streets, Newcastle, when an unknown male approached her and touched her inappropriately.
The woman left shortly after and notified police.
Detectives from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation into the alleged incident.
As a part of their inquiries, investigators have released a CCTV image of a man that may be able to assist with their inquiries.
He’s described as being of Caucasian appearance with blond hair.
Newcastle City PD Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Scott Parker, said on that weekend in November, tens of thousands of visitors were in town for a major sporting event.
“There were thousands of people here during the Newcastle 500 weekend, all visiting our popular pubs and clubs in the Newcastle CBD.
“We believe there are several people who may have been visiting the Newcastle area that weekend that can assist us with our investigation.
“Anyone who was at that venue on Saturday 23 November, please cast your mind back and see if you have any information which may assist Newcastle detectives,” Det Ch Insp Parker said.

Two men will reappear at court today over the alleged supply and manufacture of a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine in Northern NSW.
Strike Force Delisle was established in May 2020 by detectives from the Coffs/Clarence Police District’s Firearm and Drug Unit to investigate the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs in the Coffs Coast and Hunter Valley regions.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives – assisted by Traffic and Highway Patrol – stopped a white Nissan utility on Waterfall Way at Ebor about 5pm on Friday 14 August 2020.
Police spoke with two men – aged 45 and 47 – before conducting a search of the vehicle, where they allegedly located methylamphetamine, ammunition and chemicals used in the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
The men were arrested and taken to Armidale Police Station.
The 45-year-old Murrurundi man was charged with manufacture a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, while the 47-year-old Billys Creek man was charged with manufacture and supply a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.
Both men were refused bail and appeared before Tamworth Local Court on Monday 17 August, where they were formally refused bail. They will next appear at Armidale Local Court today (Monday 24 August 2020).
At the same time, police executed a search warrant at a home at Murrurundi, where they located an inactive clandestine lab. A crime scene was established and underwent a forensic examination.
Following further inquiries, about 5pm on Saturday 15 August 2020, a 42-year-old Aberdeen man was arrested at Muswellbrook Police Station.
He was charged with manufacture a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs and refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Sunday 16 August 2020, where he was formally refused bail to next appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 19 October 2020.
On Thursday 20 August 2020, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Coffs/Clarence Target Action Group, Northern and Western Region Operational Support Group officers and AFP officers – executed a search warrant at two properties at Billys Creek.
During the searches, police located and seized glassware used in the manufacture of prohibited drugs, a kilogram of dried cannabis and approximately 10 litres of chemicals believed to be either prohibited drugs or precursors used in their manufacture. The liquids have been sent for further forensic analysis.
Coffs/Clarence Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty, said these arrests will disrupt the local supply network of methylamphetamine across several regions.
“We will be alleging this illegal activity not only affected the Coffs Coast area, their connections also stemmed into our Hunter Valley and New England regions.
“Through fantastic collaborative work and information sharing with our neighbouring police districts, we have been able to interrupt a cross-region drug network of both manufacture and supply.
“Strike Force Delisle remains ongoing with further investigation and arrests expected,” Det Ch Insp Flaherty said.

A man wanted by police has been arrested and charged with additional ammunition offences in the Port Stephens-Hunter region yesterday.
About 9.30pm (Sunday 23 August 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended an address on Blackett Close, East Maitland, to speak to a man wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for a break and enter offence in Wickham during November 2019.
Upon arrival, police observed a man running from the rear of the premises, and after a short foot pursuit, a 35-year-old man was arrested on nearby Mitchell Drive.
Following a search of the area, police located a black satchel bag, allegedly containing 40 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition, a spent shell casing and three air rifle pellets.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority. The warrant was also executed for the offence of special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-weapon.
He was refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today (Monday 24 August 2020).

A man and a teenage girl are in a critical condition after a crash in the Lake Macquarie region today.
About 1.40pm (Sunday 23 August 2020), emergency services were called to Wangi Road, Dora Creek, following reports of a crash involving a Hyundai hatchback towing a box trailer and a Holden Kruse sedan.
Police have been told the Hyundai stopped on the side of the road and the occupants – an 84-year-old man, a 57-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl – were out of the vehicle when the crash occurred.
The man and teenage girl were taken to John Hunter Hospital where they are both reported to be in a critical condition.
The woman sustained abrasions and was also taken to John Hunter Hospital.
The Holden driver, an 87-year-old woman, was not injured, however, she has also been taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Police are urging any witnesses, or those with dashcam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers.

A woman will face court today charged over an alleged hoax kidnapping in the Hunter overnight.
Police will allege in court about 10.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 18 August 2020), a 20-year-old woman was on a video call with relatives when she was handcuffed and appearing to be held against her will by a man.
Relatives contacted police shortly after the call was terminated.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter and Newcastle City Police Districts commenced inquiries into the whereabouts of the woman.
About 1.30am (Wednesday 19 August 2020), police attended a hotel on High Street, Maitland, and located the 20-year-old and another woman.
She was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with conveying false information that a person/property is in danger.
She was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 19 August 2020).
Police are conducting inquiries into the whereabouts of the man.
He’s described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 160cm to 170cm tall, with a solid build, brown hair and brown eyes.

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a man at a rubbish tip in the Hunter Valley last month.
About 5pm on Sunday 5 July 2020, emergency services were called to a waste management facility on Old Maitland Road, after a 54-year-old man was found critically injured. He died at the scene.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Nargal to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
On Wednesday 8 July 2020, officers attended a property at Lovedale where they arrested a 30-year-old man and seized a Toyota Landcruiser.
Police will allege in court that the man was driving the Toyota Landcruiser when he struck the 54-year-old – who is known to him – at the waste facility.
At that time, the man was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-driver manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death and driver not disclose identity of driver/passenger as required.
Yesterday (Thursday 20 August 2020), the same man was served with two additional charges at a correctional facility in Parklea, including murder and aggravated break/enter, and commit serious indictable offence.
The Aberdare man will next appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 26 August 2020.
Investigations continue.

Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have charged two people after dismantling 12 large-scale industrial grow houses in the state’s Hunter Region and seizing cannabis with a street value of nearly $8 million.
In November last year, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Harthouse to investigate the cultivation and supply of cannabis across NSW.
Their inquiries uncovered a remote property near Muswellbrook being used for the large-scale cultivation of cannabis.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant at a property on the Golden Highway at Gungal, about 58km south-east of Muswellbrook, from 9am yesterday (Thursday 20 August 2020).
During the search, investigators seized 2628 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $7.8 million.
Officers also located equipment consistent with the cultivation of cannabis within 12 large-scale industrial grow houses, which were subsequently dismantled.
Two men – aged 24 and 29 – were arrested at the property and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
The Cabramatta men were both charged with cultivate prohibited plant (large commercial quantity).
Both men were refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Friday 21 August 2020).
Investigations by the Drug and Firearms Squad are continuing.

A man has been charged after several alleged arson attacks at a Wallsend home earlier this year.
Detectives attached to Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation in relation to three separate arson incidents at a home on Metcalfe Street, Wallsend, on Wednesday 24 June, Saturday 18 and Thursday 30 July 2020.
During these incidents, a house, carport and vehicle were damaged.
An elderly woman was inside the home at the time of all three incidents, but she was uninjured.
Following a public appeal for information and ongoing inquiries, officers arrested a 37-year-old man on Harriet Street, Waratah, and took him to Waratah Police Station.
He was charged with three counts of destroy/damage property with intent to endanger life, two counts of destroy or damage property and one count of common assault.
Police will allege in court the man had an ongoing dispute with a former resident of the property and assaulted him at the home on Sunday 21 June.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 21 August 2020).

A record capital works program has seen more than $93.7 million invested in projects across the Newcastle local government area (LGA) in the past 12 months, according to preliminary figures.
Mid-year additions to the works program saw the City’s expenditure increase by around 16 per cent on the adopted capital works budget for last year, while also surpassing the previous year’s record investment by more than $2.1 million.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the capital works spend has risen by almost 200 per cent during the past decade, demonstrating the City’s commitment to supporting our growing population with key infrastructure renewal and revitalisation projects.
“Newcastle’s population has grown substantially during the past decade and we have responded to that growth with our own significantly increased investment in infrastructure projects,” Cr Clausen said.
“This program of works will continue to enhance our city now and into the future, ensuring Newcastle remains a wonderful place in which to live, work and visit.”
Key projects delivered during the past 12 months have included the $3.3 million replacement of the Tyrrell Street bridge to help address flooding in Wallsend, the next stage of rehabilitation works at Ironbark Creek and the replacement of the Brickworks Park and Carrington Reserve playgrounds, as well as the $3 million renewal of the Beresfield Local Centre.
Completing the five-megawatt solar farm at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre has also proved to be a huge success, generating almost twice the revenue it was expected to make annually in just its first six months of operation.
Cr Clausen said the record capital works program was testament to the hard work and commitment of the City’s employees.
“Delivering these projects has required an immense effort from everyone involved and is an achievement to be celebrated, especially when you consider the additional challenges we have all faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“Our investment will hit new heights this year as we bring forward further capital projects to provide a stimulus to our recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19.”
Cr Clausen said prudent financial management has given the City the capacity to fund a record $116 million COVID-19 stimulus budget from its existing reserves, without the need for borrowing.
“Governments at all levels have a responsibility to accelerate investment to help keep people employed and uplift economic activity during major economic downturns,” Cr Clausen said.
“Our record $116 million local infrastructure works program forms the centrepiece of our efforts to stimulate the local economy in the wake of the unprecedented effects of COVID-19.
“It is projected to create up to 700 local jobs and increase total economic output in our local government area by up to $275 million during the next 12 months.”

Construction of a $12.6 million extension of the landmark Bathers Way Coastal Pathway has begun at Newcastle Beach.
The project will take around two years to complete and aims to re-activate South Newcastle Beach with a kiosk, new public amenities, accessible skate bowl, landscaping, shade and seating, exercise equipment and viewing areas.
“It’s wonderful to see work begin on transforming a long-dormant part of Newcastle’s coastline,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“By renewing infrastructure and building new facilities, we will revive South Newcastle Beach as a vibrant and attractive place for locals and tourists alike as part of our wider coastal revitalisation program.
“Completed sections of the Bathers Way have seen usage increase by more than 50 per cent, with Merewether one of the busiest due to its additional facilities, and we expect to see a similar lift from this project.
“Increased foot and cycling traffic will increase activation and provide a welcome boost for local businesses in Newcastle East.”
Preceding the final Bathers Way sections through the park and along Memorial Drive, the project has been guided by the Bathers Way Community Reference Group.
Community feedback in 2018 on the original concept plan prompted modifications to move the skate bowl within the existing promenade footprint, garnering majority support in further community engagement last year.
The NSW Government has contributed $5 million through its Restart NSW program, specifically under its Resources for Regions Fund.
The NSW Government was proud to support such an important community project said Catherine Cusack, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter.
“Extending the landmark Bathers Way Coastal Walk is a significant project for the local community, providing much needed recreational facilities and amenities along this stretch of the coast,” Ms Cusack said.
“The Resources for Regions Fund provides funding to projects across NSW to increase the attractiveness of regional NSW as a place to live and do business. We’re pleased to see the start of works for this project today and look forward to its completion.”
The coastal revitalisation project will better connect the East End with King Edward Park, where the most challenging section of the Bathers Way will soon be the subject of a concept and detail design process informed by engagement with the community.
The Bathers Way is a seven-stage capital works program spanning six kilometres of coastline that began at Merewether in 2012.
It was followed by the completion of the Bar Beach, Dixon Park and Nobbys to Newcastle sections.
Newcastle Beach, King Edward Park and Memorial Drive are the final legs.