Category: Newcastle News

Police have charged two people and recovered jewellery, laptops and housebreaking implements when a stolen car was spotted in the Lake Macquarie area yesterday.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District had been investigating the theft of a Kia Cerato from a Newcastle shopping centre on 24 February 2020, when the vehicle was spotted in Speers Street, Speers Point, about 11.30am (Friday 6 March 2020).
A 30-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were arrested in the stolen car and were taken to Belmont Police Station.
When police searched the vehicle, they recovered jewellery and laptops, alleged to have been stolen, as well as housebreaking implements.
The woman has been charged with enter enclosed land and be carried in conveyance without consent.
The man has been charged with trespass, be carried in conveyance without consent, possess housebreaking implements, and goods in custody suspected of being stolen.
Both have been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 7 March 2020).

A man has been charged after a police officer was injured while dispersing a large party at Lake Macquarie last night.
About 10.15pm (Friday 6 March 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were called to a large party at a home on Bridgewater Close, Eleebana.
On arrival, officers located more than 100 people in the street, and a number of people proceeded to throw glass bottles at police.
One officer was hit by a bottle, sustaining minor injuries, and a police vehicle was damaged. Additional police attended and dispersed the crowd.
A man is alleged to have harassed a police dog, and attempted to incite the crowd to further attack officers.
The 21-year-old was arrested after allegedly failing to comply with a police direction. He resisted before being restrained and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with fail to comply with direction, behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school, and resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, and granted strict conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 8 April 2020.
Police are investigating the incident and as they continue their inquiries, they would like to speak to anyone who has information on attendees of the party.
 

New education department data shows around 140,000 apprentices and trainees have been lost under Scott Morrison’s third term Liberal Government, and it’s holding our nation back.
Scott Morrison created this tradie crisis.  It’s hurting our economy, and denying Australians jobs.
As a result, we now have shortages of bricklayers, plumbers, hairdressers, bakers, electricians, mechanics, panelbeaters, and other critical trades.
No part of Australia is safe.  Every state and territory has lost apprentices and trainees.

We’ve had many businesses, big and small, tell us that they’d love to grow, to take on more staff, but that they can’t find people with the right training.
In fact, the Australian Industry Group says 75 per cent of businesses report they are struggling to find the qualified workers they need.
At the same time, there are almost two million Australians crying out for work or looking for more hours.
Scott Morrison’s failure is criminal.
The Liberals have cut around $3 billion from TAFE and training.
Australia has fewer apprentices and trainees today than when the Liberals first came to office.
There are more people dropping out of vocational education and training courses than finishing them.
By locking Australians out of education and training, the Liberals are locking Australians out of jobs.

City of Newcastle is working with Worimi Land Council and local elders to develop a Plan of Management for Rawson Park Reserve in order to protect Aboriginal heritage, including an onsite meeting Wednesday with the Lord Mayor, senior staff, and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the meeting with Worimi Land Council CEO Andrew Smith and local elder Len Anderson involved productive discussions on managing the site and its Indigenous heritage following recent emergency works to relocate cabins from the threat of erosion.
“It’s very important that Andrew and Len gave their time to talk through the history of this site and how we can protect its cultural heritage,” Cr Nelmes said.
“It’s clear there is an amazing history going back a significant amount of time on this site that is important for not only local Indigenous people but for the whole community.
“We want to make sure that although Stockton is a natural disaster zone and emergency works have taken place, that they are only done in recognition of this being an Aboriginal place and that any artefacts found are protected and our cultural heritage is preserved.”
Andrew Smith Worimi Aboriginal Land Council CEO said a positive outcome could be reached on the site and that the Worimi Land Council would work in partnership with the City to preserve cultural history.
“I’m really thankful for City of Newcastle’s commitment to meet us here on site and to go over the issues we see in the abundance of occupational heritage and cultural evidence of artefacts. I think through their understanding and awareness of what this site represents, moving forward it’s a great outcome,” Mr Smith said.
“Our plan now is to salvage any artefacts, objects and items that have been exposed. In partnership with Council we will work towards lodging an Aboriginal Place Nomination which will allow a collaboration between Council and the Aboriginal community to develop a plan for this site that makes sure that we don’t compromise the world’s oldest living culture.”
Worimi elder Lennie Anderson was also determined to reach a positive outcome on the site.
“I feel that Council is endeavouring to walk forward with us and to come up with an amicable decision on what has been done here. We have to work out something that benefits the whole community.”
City of Newcastle has commenced work to secure a number of the relocated cabins for public safety reasons. The City will continue to work with the Department of Planning Industry and Environment and Worimi Land Council to tie down the remaining unsecured cabins before a medium to long term solution can be resolved.

Local Schools Local Decisions will be improved with schools earning the autonomy to make decisions around the allocation of funds and learning programs by hitting a range of numeracy and literacy targets.
There will also be changes to alleviate the administrative burden for principals as a matter of priority. This will allow schools to focus on what they do best – educating children.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there is room for improvement when it comes to our student’s performance across NSW.
“To ensure students receive the best education we must be able to enforce best teaching practice consistently across our schools,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Local Schools Local Decisions is a sound policy but we need to make sure it works as it was intended. Adjustments will make it easier for the NSW Government to provide support to schools that are underperforming.”
Schools will earn the autonomy to make funding, and educational decisions by hitting a range of targets, using criteria such as Bump It Up, HSC results and NAPLAN results.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is investing a record amount in education and the improvements to Local Schools Local Decisions will strike the right balance between autonomy, accountability and support for schools.
“Improving Local Schools Local Decisions is unashamedly about lifting performance in NSW through supporting evidence based best practice teaching and learning, Ms Mitchell said.
“It is fantastic that many schools have been able to excel under Local Schools Local Decisions, but other schools need more attention when it comes to improving outcomes. These changes to the policy will enable us to provide the support that these principals and teachers need.
“We want to help principals by removing unnecessary administration burdens and allowing them to spend more time leading their schools and supporting their students.”
The NSW Government will consult with education stakeholders on the reforms and will agree on targets with schools by the end of Term 4 2020. The changes will be implemented on Day one Term 1 2021.

A man will appear in court today after Strike Force Raptor North investigators seized more than $12,000 cash and two firearms near Newcastle.
As part of ongoing targeting and disruption of the illicit activities of criminal networks, police from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North executed a search warrant at a home in Belmont South just after 2am today (Thursday 5 March 2020).
During the search, officers seized two pistols, ammunition, electronic equipment and prohibited drugs believed to methylamphetamine.
Police also located $12,380 cash allegedly hidden inside a freezer.
A 38-year-old man allegedly fled from the home before being detained by officers, with assistance from the Dog Unit, a short distance away.
The man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with possess unregistered firearm (x2), possess unauthorised firearm (x2), possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority (x2), possess prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
The woman was released pending further inquiries.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.

Two people will appear in court today charged after prohibited firearms and drugs were seized during a vehicle stop in the state’s Hunter region.
About 2.15am yesterday (Thursday 5 March 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a holden viva sedan, believed to be unregistered, while patrolling on Louth Park Road, Louth Park.
After speaking with the driver, a 30-year-old man, officers conducted a search of the vehice.
During the search, officers located two pistols, a loaded rifle, a loaded shotgun, methylamphetamine, cannabis and prescription medication. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
The driver and a passenger, a 23-year-old woman, were both arrested at the scene and taken to Maitland Police Station.
The man was charged with possess unauthorised firearm, two counts of possess shortened firearm, possess three unregistered firearms, supply prohibited drug, possess ammunition without licence or permit, drive whilst suspended, drive unregistered and possess prescribed restricted substance.
The woman was charged with possess unauthorised pistol and possess ammunition without licence or permit.
Both were refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today (Friday 6 March 2020).
Inquiries are continuing.

Newcastle Ocean Baths will be closed for the rest of this week with challenging surf conditions and large tides making it unsafe for our staff to access the water channel between the baths and the ocean.
There is currently a large amount of sediment which washed-up from last Wednesday’s large storm event, which means the baths cannot be refilled nor pumps operate effectively.
With current forecasts not predicting favourable conditions until early next week, the baths will remain closed until it is safe for the work to be completed.
Merewether Ocean Baths will not be cleaned Thursday 5 March to allow people to use the pool in lieu of Newcastle’s closure. Signs have been erected at Newcastle Ocean Baths advising of its closure and lifeguards will also remain on duty to supervise the site and advise the community.