Category: Newcastle News

Three people have been charged following after a stolen vehicle was involved in police pursuit at Newcastle last night.
About 11pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Newcastle Police District noticed a Holden Commodore traveling at speed on Minmi Road, Minmi.
The vehicle had been reported stolen from an Ashtonfield home on Tuesday 7 April 2020.
A pursuit was initiated after the Holden failed to stop; however, it was terminated due to safety concerns.
With the assistance of Polair, the vehicle was monitored and was seen to stop on Hall Crescent in Tarro. The three occupants were seen to get out and run, hiding under a nearby house.
Officers located and arrested the trio before taking them to Waratah Police Station.
The driver, a man aged 21 from Broadmeadow, was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously and take and drive conveyance.
A 19-year-old passenger, from Evans Head, was charged with being carried in a conveyance and breaching his bail.
Both men will appear in Newcastle Bail Court today (Friday 10 April 2020).
A 16-year-old male passenger, from Blackalls Park, was also charged with being carried in a conveyance and breaching his bail.
He will appear in a children’s court today (Friday 10 April 2020).

City of Newcastle is urging anyone tempted out by this long weekend’s forecast sunshine to heed the advice of police and health officials and stay home instead.
The NSW Government Public Health Order on Gathering and Movement, gazetted 30 March 2020, makes it illegal to congregate in groups of more than two and states people must remain in the home unless they have a reasonable excuse to be out.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the upcoming Easter long weekend was not the time to slip up on social distancing.
“Novocastrians have embraced the need for social distancing and are staying home to protect themselves and others from the spread of COVID-19,” the Lord Mayor said.
“With forecast warm and sunny weather over the Easter long weekend, we are stressing how important it is at this critical point of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for people to continue to stay home.”
The Lord Mayor echoed the message from NSW Police that unless people were going to the supermarket or pharmacy, going to or from work if they cannot work from home, going to medical appointments, or getting some exercise in their own neighbourhood, they should be at home.
“To help contain and slow the spread of COVID-19, we all have to work together and that means staying in our homes and our neighbourhoods for the time being.
“By working together as a community, we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect each other and be back enjoying ourselves with friends and family as soon as possible.”
City of Newcastle has installed signage at beaches, parks and playgrounds across the local government area advising that the spaces are closed.
Outdoor facilities like BBQs, shelters and picnic tables are also closed, while NSW Police have the power to issue on-the-spot fines to people not complying with social distancing rules.
For the latest on City of Newcastle’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 

City of Newcastle has made available grants of up to $30,000 to non-government organisations, not-for-profits, charities and for-profit service providers that directly support community health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Boost Our City Community Sector Grants, which opened on Wednesday, unlock immediate cashflow for eligible projects delivered by organisations already well positioned to provide practical support to those who need it most.
The grants program sits under phase one of the COVID-19 Community and Economic Development Resilience Package, through which the City has pledged $650,000 of financial and in-kind support to the community sector to respond to needs arising from COVID-19.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the grants would enable organisations to develop creative, innovative solutions to COVID-19 challenges faced by the most vulnerable and emerging at-risk groups in our community.
“The aim of our community grants program is to scale and fit the needs identified by the community sector to soften the social impact of COVID-19,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It could make all the difference, for instance, to someone with complex health needs but limited access to technology to ensure continuity of care, or to someone who has lost their job or is struggling with mental health and turns to a charity or service provider for the first time.
“The effects of this pandemic will be far-reaching and felt for some time to come.”
The City has already assisted in the first wave of impact felt by the pandemic, providing urgent Rapid Response Funding to existing service providers, such as OzHarvest, to cope with increased demand for food, welfare, supported living, community transport and more.
Applications for Boost Our City Community Sector Grants are open until 30 June, at which point Council will consider ongoing need under phase two of the package.
Grants of between $2,000 and $30,000 are available for projects that comply with Federal Government guidelines and NSW Health advice regarding COVID-19.
Application forms and information on how to apply are available via the website.
For further to support, email covidresilience@ncc.nsw.gov.au or phone 4974 2000 to speak with a City of Newcastle staff member.

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.