Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle will provide free residential parking permits to key health care workers and emergency services personnel to help them respond faster to emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Essential Services Temporary Parking Permit will allow doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics who live in commercial zones – in the city centre, Hamilton and Darby Street – to park close to home for free and for an unlimited time.
Similarly, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics who live in residential zones but are ineligible for a permit for certain reasons, such as having an onsite parking space, will be able to apply for the temporary concession to help them get to work as quickly as possible.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the parking concession was a practical way for the City to support those on the front line of the public health crisis.
“Health care workers are facing great challenges and pressures during this pandemic, so we’re making parking one less thing they have to worry about,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“The temporary permits are for those healthcare workers who typically have a 30-minute window to respond in the event of an emergency.
“On behalf of the City of Newcastle, we are extremely grateful for these frontline workers and their efforts during this unprecedent public health crisis and we extend our thanks to them.”
The City will implement a fast-track service to process permit applications, with an anticipated turnaround of 24 hours.
All permits will remain valid until 30 June 2020, with the expiry date to be extended or brought forward according to the COVID-19 situation.
Applications for an Essential Services Temporary Parking Permit should include contact details, residential address, vehicle details and proof of occupation.
Health care workers and emergency services personnel can apply by emailing parkingservices@ncc.nsw.gov.au
For the latest on City of Newcastle’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19   

Police have charged a man allegedly found with drugs and an axe, while not complying with a public health order, during proactive patrols in Lake Macquarie yesterday.
About 7.25am (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Police Transport Command spoke to a 30-year-old man in the driver’s seat of a parked car on Prosperity Drive, Morisset.
Police allege the man did not give a reasonable excuse for being there and upon searching him and the vehicle they found methamphetamine and a throwing axe.
The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, fail to comply with requirement of public health order, have custody of an offensive implement, and breaching his bail conditions.
The man was refused bail and appeared via video link at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Thursday 9 April 2020). He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Toronto Local Court on Friday 8 May 2020.

Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell APM, will address Hunter media this afternoon as Operation Tortoise is launched state-wide over the Easter long weekend.
NSW Police is reminding the community that, while travelling for holidays is not considered ‘essential’ travel, officers will continue to be out in force over the Easter long weekend. Operation Tortoise, a state-wide road safety operation over the Easter long weekend, will see officers targeting speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences; all of which will attract double demerit points.
Double demerit points which will be in place from midnight tomorrow (Thursday 9 April 2020) until 11.59pm on Monday 13 April 2020 across NSW.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has put out a call for Newcastle kids to sign up for ‘Sharon’s Pen Pal Club’ and write letters to an older Novocastrian living in aged care.
Ms Claydon said she had launched the program to benefit young and old Novocastrians in the face of increased restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Residents in aged care are becoming increasingly isolated and vulnerable, while many kids are home from school and at a loose end,” Ms Claydon said.
“The aim of the program is to unite aged care residents who may be feeling less connected than usual and children who are in need of stimulation and writing practice.”
Ms Claydon said families could register children to take part in the program by sending an email to Sharon.Claydon.MP@aph.gov.au or calling her office on 4926 1555.
“I’ve already got a growing list of seniors who have signed up to help children practice their writing and build new friendships.
“I’d encourage all families who want to help their kids learn and get a new perspective on life to get in touch with me today.”
Ms Claydon said the restrictions of social distancing and enforced isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic are leading people across the globe to find innovative ways to connect.
“While we can’t come together in person like we used to, I have great faith in the power of community to get us through these difficult times,” Ms Claydon said.
“By signing up to my Pen Pal Club, you can be part of a community effort to help keep older Novocastrians connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. No Novocastrian should be left feeling alone right now, so take a moment to sign up and become a pen-pal today.”

A man will face court today charged after allegedly threatening several shop attendants in Lake Macquarie overnight.
Police will allege about 5.30pm on Monday (6 April 2020), a 35-year-old man entered a newsagency on The Boulevard, Toronto, and demanded cash from the shop attendant.
He left the store empty-handed before entering a takeaway shop and demanding cash from another employee. After the attendant refused, the 35-year-old allegedly threatened him with a nearby chair and left.
A short time later, the man entered a bottle shop and demanded cash from the shop attendant.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling the nearby area and entered the bottle shop where they arrested the 35-year-old.
He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with three counts of demand money with menaces.
He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 7 April 2020).

In line with advice from the Australian Government to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, my electorate office has ceased face-to-face interactions until restrictions are lifted.
Rest assured, myself and my staff are not going anywhere. If you need help, we’re here for you.
You can contact us on Sharon.Claydon.MP@aph.gov.au or you can call my office on (02) 4926 1555 between 10am to 4pm on weekdays, if you don’t have access to email.
This measure is necessary to protect the health of my staff, so that we can keep helping you through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.

A crime scene has been established after a fire at a vacant Newcastle hotel overnight.
About 5.30pm (Sunday 5 April 2020), emergency services were called to King Street, Newcastle, following reports of an explosion at an unoccupied licensed premises.
They arrived to find the building well alight; crews from Fire and Rescue NSW took several hours to extinguish the blaze.
More than 100 people from nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District have commenced investigations into the cause of the blaze.
Hunter Street remains closed between Auckland Street and Worth Place; local diversions are in place.

A man has been charged following an alleged aggravated home invasion at a motel in Raymond Terrace.
About 12.30am today (Monday 6 April 2020), two men and a woman attended a hotel on the intersection of William and Port Stephens streets, Raymond Terrace, with one armed with a piece of wood.
Police will allege the trio entered a room and threatened a 23-year-old man before demanding his key card and cash and assaulting him.
The two men and woman continued to threaten the 23-year-old to open two other rooms.
A 26-year-old man and 28-year-old woman were in the third room when the door opened, and the trio allegedly demanded cash and assaulted both of them.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived at the scene a short time later and attempted to stop a blue Mitsubishi Magna leaving a nearby shopping centre carpark.
The vehicle drove off at speed and a police pursuit was initiated; it was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home on Cambridge Street, Raymond Terrace, and arrested an 18-year-old man about 7.30am.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with two counts of special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence with a weapon, armed aggravated break and enter with intent and larceny.
He was refused bail to face Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Monday 6 April 2020), where he was granted conditional bail to face the same court on Tuesday 9 June 2020.
Inquiries are continuing to locate the other man and woman.

A man has been charged over an alleged stabbing in the state’s Hunter region today.
Just before 2.20am (Sunday 5 April 2020), emergency services were called to a house on Shoreline Drive, Fingal Bay, after reports of an assault.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived to find a 27-year-old man suffering multiple stab wounds to his back.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a stable condition following surgery.
A 28-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident commenced.
Following inquiries, the older man was charged with wound person intend to cause grievous bodily harm (DV) and affray.
Police will allege in court that the two men – who are known to each other – were fighting, before the younger man was stabbed in the lower back.
The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court via AVL tomorrow (Monday 6 April 2020).
 

A man will appear in court today charged after allegedly assaulting two police officers in the Hunter Valley region overnight.
About 8.30pm (Friday 3 April 2020), officers from Hunter Valley Police District stopped a Ford Laser sedan on Heddon Street, Kurri Kurri, and spoke with the driver, a 38-year-old man.
The driver allegedly resisted officers while they conducted a search. As he was being arrested, the man allegedly punched a senior constable in the head before OC spray was deployed.
The man allegedly fled the area and, following a short foot pursuit, he was arrested again.
Police will allege in court that during this arrest, the man punched a second female senior constable in the head.
He was taken to Cessnock Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, and three counts of assault police officer in execution of duty.
The Waratah man has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 4 April 2020).