Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for the public’s help to locate a man as they investigate an alleged child approach at Scone yesterday.
About 8.40am (Thursday 6 February 2020), police have been told that a 10-year-old boy was riding his bicycle eastbound on Liverpool Street, Scone, on his way to school when a man sitting on the side of the footpath has spoken to the child for a short time.
The boy left shortly after and rode to school and reported the incident to a teacher.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified later in the afternoon and commenced an investigation.
As inquiries continue, investigators would like to speak to a man who may be able to assist.
He’s described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 70-years-old and with brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue and white cap, a t-shirt, shorts and thongs.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from the nearby area to contact Scone Police on 02 6544 0199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Two people have been charged with alleged fraud offences in the Newcastle area.
About 7.20am yesterday (Wednesday 5 February 2020), officers attached to Newcastle City Police District executed a search warrant at a home on Watkins Street, Merewether, where they spoke with a 27-year-old woman.
During the search warrant, police allegedly located and seized a large quantity of property believed to be stolen, including credit cards, driver’s licences, jewellery, and medication.
The 27-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
Following further inquiries, police attended a home on Callen Street, Stockton, and arrested a 24-year-old man.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with six counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception, and one count each of larceny and destroy/damage property. He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 5 February 2020), where he was granted conditional bail to face the same court on Thursday 13 February 2020.
The woman was charged with two counts of larceny. She was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 5 January 2020), where she was again refused bail to face the same court on Thursday 12 March 2020.

A surfer has been rescued after getting into trouble at a Lake Macquarie beach tonight.
About 6pm (Tuesday 4 February 2020), two 17-year-old boys went surfing at Redhead Beach, Redhead, and were separated in the large swell.
One of the teens returned to shore, while the second was heard by witnesses calling for help after losing his surfboard and being swept to sea.
Emergency Services were notified about 6.20pm and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District, along with NSW Ambulance paramedics and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended. Surf Lifesavers were also recalled.
The teen was located floating about 100m from shore and winched aboard the helicopter.
He was returned to the Redhead Beach carpark and treated by paramedics for exhaustion before being taken to John Hunter Hospital as a precaution.
“Had it not been for the swift response of emergency services, we could have had an extremely tragic event here today,” said Inspector Cheryl Day from Lake Macquarie Police District.

A third man has been charged following an investigation into a public place shooting in the Hunter Valley last month.
About 3am on Wednesday 29 January 2020, police were called to Mills Crescent, Cessnock, following reports of shots fired.
A short time later, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District stopped a Holden Commodore sedan on Doyle Street, Cessnock.
Four men got out of the vehicle, with two allegedly fleeing.
The two remaining men were arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station before later being released, pending further inquiries.
Following inquiries, two men – aged 27 and 21 – were charged last week and remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at a Gorokan home by officers attached to Strike Force Raptor North about 3.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 4 February 2020).
He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, fire firearm manner likely injure persons/property, possess loaded firearm public place, and destroy or damage property.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Wyong local Court today (Wednesday 5 February 2020).

Officers attached to the Newcastle Police Transport Command have arrested a man following an investigation into the alleged theft of power tools in the Newcastle area.
On Wednesday 22 January 2020, police commenced an investigation into property offences after a man was located and charged on Glebe Street, The Junction.
Police allege the 50-year-old man was in possession of a bicycle that was identified as being stolen from a break and enter in Lawson Street, Hamilton.
He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for goods in custody.
Following forensic analysis of the scene of a separate break and enter on Friday 17 January 2020 in Frederick Street, Merewether, police will allege the same 50-year-old man was involved in both incidents.
About 8am today (Tuesday 4 February 2020), police searched a unit in Patrick Street, Merewether and allegedly located power tools and other items also believed to be stolen from the break and enter in Merewether in January.
A short time later, police arrested the 50-year-old man at a building site on Ring Road, Newcastle.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with break, enter and steal, goods in custody, dispose of stolen property (x2), and make false statement tom pawnbroker (x3).
He was refused bail and is expected to appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 5 February 2020).

City of Newcastle has committed to funding the restoration of both Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths following an unsuccessful expressions of interest (EOI) process.
With no EOI submissions progressing beyond an initial panel review, City of Newcastle will form a community reference group by the end of the month to guide the restoration of Newcastle Ocean Baths and commence further engagement on the Merewether pavilion later this year.

The current round of community engagement is due to conclude at the end of February while initial planning continues, including detailed site investigations to further understand the condition of Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths and the level of rectification required.
“I’m determined to see the Newcastle Ocean Baths become an asset all Novocastrians can be proud of,” Cr Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This means converting feedback from the current community engagement process into the preliminary design that once costed, can be further tested with the community to ensure the Newcastle Ocean Baths receives an appropriate restoration 98 years after it was first built.
“We’ve made a great start on understanding what the community want from the Baths with more than 600 comments already logged on the City’s ideas wall. Intercept surveys are taking place at the Baths and other city locations before the end of February.
“We’ll now progress with forming a community reference group that represents user groups, the local business community and broader ratepayer base with the aim of holding our first meeting next month.
“The Baths are a treasured part of Newcastle’s history. Developed responsibly and with respect to its local heritage, we will deliver public baths that remain appealing to people throughout our city and one of our key tourism drawcards. This includes protection of its facade, the blue-stepped bleaches and its free entry to swim all year round.”
The Newcastle Coastal Plan of Management, adopted by Council in 2015, prescribed an expression of interest (EOI) for the pavilions and identified cafes, kiosks and restaurants as potential future uses, with the stipulation that revenue be re-invested in coastal upgrades and maintenance.
The City invited EOIs in November 2019 before bringing forward engagement following incorrect claims that the Newcastle and Merewether Baths would be privatised.
Under the EOI, the City committed to retaining Newcastle Ocean Baths’ iconic art-deco façade and bleacher seating, while providing renewed public change rooms with hot water showers and improving shading, car parking, disability access and seating in line with previous engagement results.
City of Newcastle Director of Infrastructure Ken Liddell said the City would review the community engagement results before preparing draft concept plans.
“Community consultation will be maintained through a reference group, while information sessions and a public exhibition will be held to present concept plans to the broader community before Councillors review and approve any restoration,” Mr Liddell said.
“I expect the concept plan will be completed this year with detailed design works to follow in preparation for construction work to start in 2021.”
City of Newcastle will form its Newcastle Ocean Baths community reference group in February with invitations to user groups and stakeholders along with an EOI for broader community involvement.
Community reference group 
The stakeholder groups to be invited to be part of the community reference group (CRG) will include, but not be limited to:

• Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths
• Pirates swimming club
• Local business
• Indigenous (Guraki / Awabakal)
• Coal River Working Party
• Newcastle East Residents Group
• Australian Institute of Architects

For expressions of interest to the community, City of Newcastle will aim for broad representation from across the four wards and, include but not be limited to, youth, people with disability, Indigenous representation and pensioners.
The Newcastle Ocean Baths Community Reference Group will have terms of reference based on the existing CRG for the Bathers Way. The CRG will be independently facilitated.

Police districts within the Hunter Basin have once again joined together to proactively target offenders during a high-visibility operation at the weekend.
Between 4pm on Saturday 1 February and 4am on Sunday 2 February 2020, more than 100 officers from the four Hunter Basin police districts – Newcastle City, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens-Hunter and Hunter Valley, with assistance from Traffic & Highway Patrol, the Police Dog Unit, Strike Force Utah, PolAir and Police Transport Command – were deployed to several suburbs across the region in a high-saturation operation, capturing areas such as Newcastle, Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Cessnock.
The aim of Operation Surge is to manoeuvre resources where they are needed in a fluid, reactive environment, with the assistance of real-time intelligence from a single control base.
Preliminary results from Operation Surge show:

• 11 people arrested
• 17 charges laid
• 10 possess/supply drug
• 145 RBT conducted
• 4 PCA charges
• 40 traffic infringements issued
• 74 licensed premises checks
• 11 juvenile cautions

Of note, a 20-year-old man was arrested at a licensed premises on Hunter Street, Newcastle West, after allegedly being in possession of 69 MDMA capsules. He was charged with supply prohibited drug and granted conditional bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 27 February 2020.
Operation Surge Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan APM said the second roll-out of Operation Surge was a great success, with officers able to respond in numbers across the wider community, regardless of their home police district.
“Operation Surge was created to merge police resources across several Hunter suburbs, being able to move freely and deploy to wherever the demand and need is at any given time.
“This operation allows police to engage with the public in highly visible areas and in vast numbers – reinforcing that the Hunter’s police are there to protect the community all day, every day.
“For the second deployment of Operation Surge, we wanted to focus on utilising the real-time intelligence from our analysts to target repeat offenders within each police district.
“Police will continue to put operations like ‘Surge’ into practice; those in the community who wish to cause trouble need to know we will be there, and we will be there in large numbers.
“The public should continue to feel confident that their local police are out in force, protecting their neighbourhoods and families,” Supt Sullivan said.
Operation Surge will be continually rolled-out through various deployments in 2020.

A woman reported missing from the Lake Macquarie region has been located deceased.
The 54-year-old woman was reported missing after last being seen at Teralba on Saturday 1 February 2020.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and conducted an extensive search for the woman and her car.
With the assistance of Polair, a body was located near a car on a fire trail at Wakefield, just after 12.15pm today (Monday 3 February 2020).
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing woman.
Inquiries into the incident continue, however her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man will face court today charged after allegedly demanding money and cigarettes from four stores in the Lake Macquarie area yesterday.
About 7.45pm (Monday 3 February 2020), a man entered a pizza restaurant on Main Road, Edgeworth, and allegedly demanded staff open the register.
When they refused, the man left and walked to a nearby shopping centre where he entered a second store and allegedly demanded staff open the register.
The man grabbed hold of a charity can on the counter and attempted to pull it from its chain before running from the store empty-handed.
Shortly after, the man entered a chicken store on Main Road, and allegedly demanded money from the register.
A store manager approached the man who left the store and entered a nearby service station, demanding staff give him cigarettes.
Staff refused, and the man was sighted in the store by police patrolling nearby.
The 18-year-old was arrested by officers from Lake Macquarie Police District and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with three counts of demand with menaces intend obtain gain/cause loss.
He has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Tuesday 4 February 2020).

An unlicensed driver will face court today charged over two alleged police pursuits through the Lake Macquarie region.
About 11.50pm yesterday (Friday 31 January 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were conducting proactive patrols in Chisholm, following reports a construction site in the area had been broken into several times between Monday (27 January 2020) and Thursday (30 January 2020).
During their patrols, officers pulled over a Holden Commodore SS utility and approached the vehicle to talk with the driver, when the utility allegedly sped off.
A police pursuit commenced through several suburbs – including Hexham, Charlestown, and Belmont – before it was terminated in Summerland Point – Gwandalan.
Just before 1am today (Saturday 1 February 2020), the utility was spotted again in Kanangra Road, Summerland Point – Gwandalan, and allegedly failed to stop for officers.
A second police pursuit commenced but was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns.
The utility was later found dumped in Murrays Beach. During a search of the vehicle, officers seized several items, including bolt cutters, screw drivers, hammers and gloves, to undergo forensic examination.
Following a search of nearby bushland, police arrested a 42-year-old Fern Bay man about 1.20am.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, possess prohibited drug, and possess housebreaking implements.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
Investigations are continuing.