Category: Newcastle News

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has encouraged Novocastrians to download the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe app to help stem the spread of the virus and meet the criteria for restrictions to be eased.
Ms Claydon made the plea after the Government made the rollback of restrictions contingent on widespread uptake of the app.
“Too many people are hurting in our community right now as a result of the restrictions that have been needed to control the spread of COVID-19,” Ms Claydon said.
“If this app can help slow the spread of the virus even further, it means that many Novocastrians will be able to get back to work, to school, to volunteering and community life sooner rather than later.”
Ms Claydon said the app had capacity to improve Australia’s health response dramatically.
“I can understand that some people have misgivings, and I am disappointed that the government  didn’t consult more widely on the design, but COVIDSafe could be an important part of the national health response to stem the spread of this diabolical virus,” Ms Claydon said.
“It has the potential to improve contact tracing out-of-sight, but if it’s really going to be a game changer it will need millions more Australians to sign up.”
Ms Claydon said she understood that people might have reservations given the Government’s track record of IT bungles.
“There’s no doubt the Government has made some serious blunders when it comes to IT, but when I weighed things up, I decided the health and wellbeing of our community must take priority,” Ms Claydon said.
“That the nation’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), our doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals stand united in their call for us to download the app, is reason enough for me to overcome my own hesitations following a litany of tech failures from this government.
“There are no guarantees that the government has got all of the design elements for COVIDSafe App right first-go, but given it has the potential to save lives and ease this enforced hibernation, I think we need to give it a go.”

A former foster carer has been charged with 20 child sex offences following an investigation into the alleged historical indecent and sexual assault of two young girls in the state’s Hunter region.
In September 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports two young girls were indecently and sexually assaulted by a man while they were in his care.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 65-year-old man at Raymond Terrace Police Station on Friday 6 March 2020.
He was charged with 20 offences including;

• indecent assault where victim under the age of 10 years (x3)
• incite aggravated indecency – victim under 16 years and under authority of offender (x5)
• aggravated indecent assault – victim under the age of 16 years (x6), and
• aggravated sexual intercourse person – victim between 10 and 14 years (x6)

Police will allege in court that the man indecently and sexually assaulted the girls – then aged from eight and 10 – on several occasions while they were in his care between 2002 and 2004.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday 6 March 2020 and is next due to appear at the same court today (Monday 4 May 2020).
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.

Detectives are appealing for community assistance to locate a man wanted on an outstanding warrant, who is believed to be in the Newcastle area.
Jake Clarke, aged 23, is wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant relating to a shooting earlier this year.
Investigators from Fairfield City Police Area Command attached to Strike Force Bellvue, continue to conduct extensive inquiries to locate the man.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build with brown hair and brown eyes.
It is believed Mr Clarke may be frequenting Newcastle and its surrounding suburbs.
If sighted, the community are urged not to approach him and to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Anyone who may have information that can assist investigators are urged to contact Fairfield Police Station on (02) 9728 8399 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has been charged over the alleged possession of child abuse material and drug offences following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler in the state’s Hunter Region.
In November 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began investigating a man allegedly sharing and obtaining child exploitation material on a peer to peer network.
Following extensive investigations, a search warrant was executed at a home in the Hunter Region about 9am today (Friday 1 May 2020), where detectives seized a laptop, electronic storage devices and prohibited drugs.
About 10.30am, strike force detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at a nearby workplace.
The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with three counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, supply prohibited drug and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and appeared before Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 1 May 2020), where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 6 July 2020.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.

City of Newcastle is capitalising on autumn rain by planting hundreds of street trees across Newcastle as part of the Living Streets Program to expand the City’s urban forest.
Crews have been busy digging holes on street verges and reserves for around 500 trees – 40 different species – across Wallsend, Adamstown and Adamstown Heights (click here for the full list of streets)
Around 1,000 street trees will be planted this year as part of the City’s commitment to deliver cleaner air, reduced stormwater runoff, habitat for local biodiversity, more shade and a cooler urban environment.
^{Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Ward 4 Cr Jason Dunn planting a tree in Tyrrell Street, Wallsend.}
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who joined City staff to plant trees along Tyrrell Street Wallsend today, said autumn offered the perfect weather for new plantings and that today’s work followed a council decision to join a global initiative aimed at enhancing nature in and around cities.
“While most community requests for tree plantings come during Summer when we are all feeling the need for more trees, Summer isn’t the ideal time to plant and establish trees,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“The weather conditions are more favourable at this time of year as it’s cooler and more rain is about.
“Under our Living Streets program and in line with the City’s Urban Forest Policy, we are committed to sustaining and expanding our urban canopy cover, as we know a five per cent increase can reduce summer temperatures by one to two degrees, and that 17 trees will offset the use of one car a year in terms of carbon emissions.
“We want to see more trees and nature in our cities, which is why earlier this week Council voted to accept an invitation to become a pioneer city of the CitiesWithNature initiative aimed at promoting the many benefits of bringing urban communities closer to nature. These include mental and physical health and wellbeing, better social connections, greater liveability, urban cooling and climate change adaptation.
“CWN is a unique partnership initiative founded by ICLEI or Local Governments for Sustainability that provides an online platform to connect cities and subnational governments, researchers and urban communities to share, learn from and inspire each other.”

Council’s City Greening Services team will complete regular maintenance of the new trees, among 6,000 recently planted across the local government area, carrying out mulching, weeding, watering and formative pruning.
The City is running a series of education activities in conjunction with tree planting, encouraging children during the COVID-19 lockdown to observe animals that visit their favourite tree and write a love letter to it.
Ward 4 Councillor Jason Dunn said kids were invited to submit a letter and photo of the tree to naturalconnection@ncc.nsw.gov.au to encourage conservatory thinking and see which trees are the most popular across the local government area.
“We want kids to take a moment to visit their favourite tree and stop, watch and listen and then write to us about how many different animals visit the tree, how long they think it’s been here and what could be lost if it was cut down Councillor Dunn said.
“As well as planting trees, we want to educate the next generation about how native and non-native trees support a huge amount of life in urban environments.”
^{A drawing submitted by Astrid, 7, from Wallsend, of her favourite trees.}

Police are investigating after an elderly woman was seriously injured at a Nelson Bay home overnight.
About 6.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 29 April 2020), emergency services were called to a home on Armidale Avenue, Nelson Bay, after reports a 71-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man were involved in a domestic-related altercation.
The woman was taken to Tomaree Hospital before she was transferred to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified in the early hours of today (Thursday 30 April 2020) and attended the home and established a crime scene.
Detectives have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
No arrests or charges have been made at this stage; a 74-year-old man is assisting police with their inquiries.
Anyone with information which may help investigators is urged to come forward.
 

A man will face court today after he was allegedly found with a commercial quantity of MDMA in Port Stephens.
About 1:30pm yesterday (Thursday 30 April 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Nelson Bay Road, Salt Ash.
The driver, a 24-year-old man, underwent a roadside drug test and allegedly returned a positive result.
Officers searched the vehicle and seized 430 grams of MDMA and just under $2000 cash.
The man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where he was charged with supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug, and deal with proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 1 May 2020).
 

A man will appear in court today charged with 21 child abuse offences following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives into alleged online child exploitation in the state’s Hunter Region.
In September 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the state’s Hunter Region.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with the 37-year-old mother of a nine-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child.
It will be further alleged that the man also believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sex acts he wished to perform on the teenager.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested the 34-year-old man at a home in the Hunter Region just after 11am yesterday (Thursday 30 April 2020).
Shortly after the arrest, a search warrant was executed at the home, where detectives seized a mobile phone and electronic storage devices.
The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with 21 offences including;

• use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex,
• use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse (x19),
• possess child abuse material.

He has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 1 May 2020).
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about the suspected abuse or exploitation of children should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.