Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public assistance as investigations continue into an assault that occurred in the front yard of a home in Muswellbrook last night.
About 7.30pm (Saturday 13 June 2020), a 28-year-old man was standing in the front yard of a home on Tindale Street, when he was reportedly assaulted.
He suffered a fractured skull and lacerations to his face and arms. He was treated at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
A crime scene was established at the Tindale Street home as investigations continue by officers from Hunter Valley Police District.
At this stage, the circumstances as to how the man suffered his injuries are unclear. Detectives are now calling for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted at a licensed premise in Newcastle yesterday.
About 7pm (Saturday 14 June 2020), a 31-year-old man was at a licensed premise on Darby Street, Cooks Hill, with a group of friends, when they were approached and spoken to by a group of unknown men.
Police have been told the man was slapped and punched in the face by one of the unknown men, causing him to fall and lose consciousness.
The other members of the groups were then involved in a fight before security intervened.
Emergency services were called, and the 31-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation.
Detectives would like to speak to two men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
They are both described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 25-35 years old, of muscular build, average height, with neck tattoos. One was wearing a white t-shirt and the other was wearing a green short-sleeved shirt.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Newcastle Police: 02 4929 0999 or Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.

The future use for one of Newcastle’s oldest parks, Gregson Park, is set for further community consultation.
Situated in the heart of Hamilton, the 131-year-old park will be the subject of a masterplan process, including a community-wide engagement program that will help guide recreation opportunities and identify key uses for its future.
Starting Monday, the City will undertake a site analysis of the former Hamilton Bowling Club, investigating options for it to be converted into a temporary shade structure. Long term, through the development of the masterplan, this area will provide a space for re-adaptive use for community purposes.
Gregson Park gardens will be included in the park’s future consultation process
The masterplan will include design options and concepts captured during the initial consultation phase and will include community priorities for other facilities such as the playground, tennis courts, memorial, gardens and pathways, greenhouse and amenities block. Opportunities for further feedback will be available to the community once detailed plans are developed.
Newcastle Councillor Carol Duncan said she was thrilled to see an important parcel of our City’s past being recognised as an integral asset for the future.
“I’ve met with many Hamilton residents at Gregson Park and I’ve been heartened by their passionate calls for the City to reinvigorate this wonderful community asset that dates back to the late 1880s when it was gifted to the community by the then Hamilton Council,” Councillor Duncan said.
“Their ideas and input will be used as a catalyst to drive engagement on the park’s future, the importance of which stretches beyond Hamilton and across the City.
“We hope that by working together with the community, Gregson Park will remain a wonderful community asset for all of Newcastle for many decades to come.”
Chair of Hamilton Business Association Janice Musumeci welcomed the opportunity for the community to participate in developing a masterplan for the park.
“Gregson Park is an integral part of the Hamilton and wider city landscape. It is important that local businesses and the wider community have the opportunity to assist in creating a space that will meet our community’s needs now and into the future,” she said
The overall aim of the masterplan is to develop a flexible multi-use space that retains important botanical and heritage elements. This includes the park’s large fig trees and entrance gates that commemorate the first councillors of the historic Hamilton Council.
Other upgrades to be considered will be safety improvements – such as increased lighting – and better accessibly such as improved pedestrian and cycleway connectivity.
It is proposed that the masterplan process including community consultation and engagement will commence in the second half of 2020. The community will be informed of the consultation and engagement process and the City will be seeking input from all sections of the Hamilton community.

A man has been charged over the alleged use of an alias to gain financial advantage in the Lake Macquarie region.
In November 2019, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District established Strike Force Corymbia to investigate alleged fraudulent offences committed by a 53-year-old man.
After extensive inquiries, police executed a search warrant at a home on Watson Street, Ellalong, about 15km south of Cessnock, where they arrested a 53-year-old man.
During the search, police located and seized a number of items including laptops and mobile phones.
He was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception, not specialist health practitioner take/use title as such and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court later today (Friday 12 June 2020).
Police will allege the man used an alias and business to receive monies from clients and fraudulently obtained over $10,000.
Police will further allege the man promoted himself as a specialist doctor to clients.
Investigations under Strike Force Corymbia are ongoing. Anyone who may have information which could assist investigators is urged to come forward.

City of Newcastle’s proposal for mass-offshore sand nourishment and immediate minimal buried seawall extension works in the draft Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) has received broad support through public exhibition, with 162 community and 19 agency submissions in total.
The City completed the 28-day public exhibition period on Tuesday. Seventy four percent of submissions were supportive of the Stockton CMP.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the high number of submissions showed how important a positive outcome for Stockton Beach was to the community.
“The level of feedback on the draft Stockton CMP is appreciated given the community engagement occurred during COVID-19 restrictions,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Staff had to work around typical face-to-face engagement activities in order to ensure the community’s voice was heard in the review of the CMP.
“Within days of the draft Stockton CMP going on public exhibition, more than 2,000 information packs including a summary of the plan, frequently asked questions and a reply paid feedback form and envelope were sent to each property in Stockton to ensure everyone had a chance to have their say,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The City also presented comprehensive information on the draft CMP on its website, including an animation, videos featuring Stockton Community Liaison Group Members, and the full report, together attracting more than 3,000 visitors and 436 downloads of the report over the exhibition period.
“The response from the community has been truly impressive and widely supportive, including well-informed, constructive feedback on the draft CMP and its recommendations.
“Two thirds of the total feedback received was from Stockton residents, while other submissions were received from as far afield as North Narrabeen.
“Half of all submissions showed specific support for mass, offshore sand nourishment as the preferred option for beach amenity and coastal protection, while other key points included identifying other sand sources and options for fast tracking the process.”
Stockton Community Liaison Group (CLG) Chair Barbara Whitcher said the CLG was supportive of City of Newcastle’s management actions detailed in the CMP.
“City of Newcastle has worked closely with our CLG and delivered an outcome which we broadly support, being mass sand nourishment and minimal buried seawalls,” Ms Whitcher said.
“While we remain vitally interested in exploring in more detail the causal effect of Stockton’s erosion, and funding sources, we generally support the Stockton CMP.”
City of Newcastle’s CMP team will now review the community feedback as well as that from industry stakeholders, and finalise the document including a summary of the issues raised during the public exhibition period, for Council consideration on 23 June 2020. It will then be submitted to the NSW State Government for certification review.
Coastal Councils across NSW are developing CMP’s in line with the Coastal Management Act 2016 with a deadline of December 2021.

MEETING OF THE CITY TASKFORCE
The City Taskforce, a collaboration of 17 leading organisations and employers, chaired by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes City of Newcastle, held its fourth meeting today via Zoom. The Taskforce was formed to develop a collaborative approach to the City’s response to COVID-19, from crisis to recovery and beyond. City leaders focused their discussion on the first edition of The Newcastle Response, which highlights the challenges facing the community sector, as well as the forecasted impacts of the end of Government supplements, such as JobSeeker and JobKeeper, legislated to 27 September 2020. The Taskforce was also briefed on the Affected Industries Roundtable, facilitated by City of Newcastle on 4 June 2020, at which representatives from industries such as retail and hospitality, tourism, live music and arts and culture shared their experiences and local insights.
The Newcastle Response – Community Sector
City leaders endorsed the first Newcastle Response, forging their support as joint signatories to this powerful advocacy framework. The document presents case studies of the hardship and disadvantage Novocastrians have faced as a result of COVID-19, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and temporary visa holders, with many turning to emergency relief services for the first time during the COVID-19 crisis. The community sector is bracing for further demand if Federal Government social security payments fall back to an inadequate level. The Newcastle Response calls upon State and Federal decision-makers, to whom it is addressed, to develop policy measures that support the financial sustainability of the community sector and establish dedicated engagement with First Nations and disability organisations.
In addition to The Newcastle Response being circulated to State and Federal decision-makers, Director Regional NSW, Ms Alison McGaffin, will act as a conduit between the City Taskforce and State Government Taskforces to facilitate discussions and form recommendations.
Future issues of The Newcastle Response will cover the tourism sector, affordable housing, arts sector, mental health and international student advocacy. An immediate need to support the containerisation work of the Port, and its subsequent impact on other sectors across the city, was also identified.
Affected Industries Roundtable
Among the industries that participated in City of Newcastle’s Affected Industries Roundtable, including retail and hospitality, hotels, live music, tourism, arts and culture, and Business Improvement Associations, there was a strong appetite to use the City Taskforce’s joint advocacy as a springboard for collaboration and policy action.
City leaders heard how these industries expressed concerns for what lay beyond September, when support measures end. For example, licensed venues, if still unable to operate at full capacity by then, anticipate a second jobs crisis, which would have a flow-on effect to local supply chains. With the retail and hospitality industry being a large employer of young people in the region, and the youth unemployment rate for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie climbing to 18.7% as a direct result of the pandemic, this has the potential to impact young workers at the start of their careers for years to come.
Industry Response Program
City leaders received an update on City of Newcastle’s Industry Response Program, which opened today. Expressions of interest are being sought from industry groups, businesses, community organisations and collaboratives for funding that will enable city-shaping outcomes that target the hardest-hit industries and population groups.
The University of Newcastle and the Hunter Business Chamber, both of which have representatives on the City Taskforce in Professor Alex Zelinsky and Mr Bob Hawes, have volunteered to sit on the Assessment Panel.
Infrastructure remains a priority
Infrastructure projects remain a key priority and focus of the Taskforce, not only in terms of job retention, but also job creation. Collective support exists for a large and diverse range of infrastructure projects across the City, as indicated in The Newcastle Response. This includes the Newcastle Airport expansion, complementing the recent announcement of a Special Activation Precinct at Williamtown; Newcastle Art Gallery expansion; as well as the containerisation of the Port of Newcastle to unlock trade and retail opportunities.

A woman who allegedly refused a police breath test has been charged after being arrested while attempting to pick up a young girl from a school in the Port Stephens area.
About 3.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 10 June 2020), a 60-year-old woman driving a Peugeot attended a school in the Port Stephens area to collect a nine-year-old girl who is known to her.
It’s alleged she hit bushes and small trees when parking, before exiting the vehicle to meet the girl.
School staff noticed the woman and attempted to stop her from driving away.
It’s further alleged she became aggressive and verbally abusive towards staff and police were called.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and requested the woman undergo a breath test.
When she allegedly refused, the woman was arrested and while being placed in the police vehicle, she kicked out towards a male senior constable. He was not injured.
The woman was taken to Nelson Bay Police Station, where she refused to submit to a further breath analysis.
She was charged with harass/intimidate school staff member attending school, refuse or fail to submit to breath analysis and assault police.
The Nelson Bay woman was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 31 August 2020.

Three men have been arrested following an investigation into the supply of firearms and drugs in the Newcastle region.
In May 2020, detectives from Newcastle City Police District and the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Bassy to investigate the supply of methamphetamine and firearms in Newcastle.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators and Newcastle City detectives – with the assistance of officers attached to Operation Utah – executed five search warrants in New Lambton, Mayfield, Hamilton and Sandgate from about 8.30am yesterday (Wednesday 10 June 2020).
During the search warrants, police seized almost $30,000 cash, cannabis, LSD, MDMA, prescription medication, a laptop, mobile phones and other items.
A 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Turton Road, New Lambton, and was taken to Waratah Police Station. He was charged with possess unauthorised firearm and deal with the proceeds of crime.
A 49-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Beaumont Street, Hamilton, and was taken to Waratah Police Station. He was charged with possess unauthorised firearm and deal with the proceeds of crime.
A 49-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Carrington Street, Mayfield, and was taken to Newcastle Police Station. He was charged with supply prohibited drug.
All three were refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 11 June 2020).
Newcastle City Police District Commander, Detective Superintendent Brett Greentree, said this is a fantastic example of a joint operation between local police and State Crime Command.
“The collaborative effort between our detectives and the Drugs and Firearm Squad has been exceptional – working together to remove a large number of drugs and firearms off the streets.
“These arrests will dismantle some of the local supply chains throughout the Newcastle area.
“Newcastle City officers will continue to target those offenders who are determined to disrupt our community,” Det Supt Greentree said.
Investigations into Strike Force Bassy are continuing with more arrests expected.

The parliamentary committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has adopted a new inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia.
Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP, who will Deputy Chair the inquiry, said it was an important step towards ensuring survivors have their voices heard on an issue that shows no sign of improving.
“It is heartbreaking that, despite so much genuine commitment and ongoing efforts to stop this scourge, rates of domestic violence aren’t going down,” Ms Claydon said.
“Every two minutes, police are called to a domestic and family violence matter and every nine days, a woman is killed by a current or former partner. This can’t go on.”
Ms Claydon said the inquiry would examine local and international evidence to assess both immediate and long-term measures to prevent violence against women and children.
“We’ll be looking at all forms of violence again women including coercive control and technology-facilitated abuse,” Ms Claydon said.
“We’ll also consider the broader context including the role of government, business and the community sector; as well how health, housing, access to services, and women’s economic independence impact on women’s ability to escape.
“We’ve also expanded the terms of reference to include consideration of access to family law support services, Legal Aid and legal assistance providers.”
Ms Claydon said the Committee would also review the increase in the incidence of domestic violence as social restrictions were implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the brutal reality that for many women home is not a safe place to be,” Ms Claydon said.
“This incredibly stressful time has led to many women and children being trapped at home with their abusers, with little opportunity to seek help or access services or support to escape.”
Ms Claydon encouraged Novocastrians to participate in the inquiry.
“For the best results, we’re going to need to look at the scourge of domestic violence from new and different perspectives with fresh eyes.
“We want to consider the experiences of women, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, LGBTQI women, CALD women, rural women, women on temporary visas, and women with disabilities.
“I encourage people with insights into this diabolical problem to have their say by making a submission to the inquiry.”
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 24 July 2020. For more information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference, and to find out how to contribute, please visit: www.aph.gov.au/familyviolence

A man will face court today after he allegedly attempted to throw prohibited drugs over the fence of a correctional facility in the Hunter.
Police will allege a 31-year-old man and another man were riding on an unregistered Yamaha motorcycle – believed to be stolen from a Dora Creek property in May – when they approached the outer wall of a correctional facility at Cessnock and attempted to throw an object over the wall about 2pm on Sunday (31 May 2020).
Officers from Corrective Services NSW’s Security Operations Group were conducting targeted surveillance at the complex when they sighted the two men.
When they approached the pair, they fled at speed on the motorcycle before colliding with a nearby tree. Neither rider was injured.
The CSNSW officers restrained the 31-year-old man while the other man fled into nearby bushland.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended a short time later and arrested the 31-year-old.
Police seized a tennis ball which he was holding at the time of his arrest, which they will allege contained small amounts of methylamphetamine, and other illicit substances. These items will be subject to further testing.
The man was taken to Maitland Hospital before being conveyed to Maitland Police Station.
He has since been charged with eight offences including:

• Supply prohibited drug (x2)
• Bring etc prohibited drug/plant into place of detention
• Possess prohibited drug
• Goods in custody
• Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse
• Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
• Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Monday (1 June 2020), where he was formally refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court today (Wednesday 10 June 2020).
Inquiries are continuing.