A man has been charged after allegedly deliberately lighting two fires in the state’s Hunter region yesterday.
Just after 11pm (Friday 27 December 2019), officers from Hunter Valley Police District were on the scene of a bushfire near Greta Street, Aberdare, when they noticed a man emerging from bushland covered in soot.
After police spoke with the man, he was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station, before being taken to hospital for assessment.
Upon release, he was taken back to Maitland Police Station and charged with two counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread.
Police will allege in court the man deliberately lit two fires in bush area – one at about 3.30pm near Cessnock Road, Neath, and the second near Greta Street, Aberdare, about 11pm.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 29 January 2020.
Category: Newcastle News
All the news happening in the Newcastle and Hunter Region
Murder charge laid over fatal stabbing near Newcastle
A man has now been charged over the alleged fatal stabbing of another man near Newcastle overnight.
Just before 11.30pm (Thursday 26 December 2019), emergency services responded to reports of a stabbing on Silsoe Street, near the intersection of Myola Street, in Mayfield.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and located a 50-year-old man critically injured with a wound to his neck.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital; however, despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was declared deceased on arrival.
A 36-year old man was arrested nearby and taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with murder.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Saturday 28 December 2019).
Woman arrested after failing to stop at RBT – Singleton
Police have arrested a woman after failing to stop for a random breath test in the state’s Hunter region.
Just after 9pm yesterday (Thursday 26 December 2019), officers from Hunter Valley Highway Patrol attempted to stop a Mazda 3 travelling northbound on the New England Highway at Singleton, for the purpose of a random breath test.
The driver – a 45-year-old woman – allegedly failed to stop as directed and crossed over the median strip before police stopped the car a short distance away.
When officers approached the car near the intersection of the New England Highway and Kennedy Street, the woman allegedly accelerated, narrowly missing another vehicle.
Police initiated a pursuit of the Mazda which crashed into a guard rail on the Hunter River bridge near Campbell Street, before colliding with a Toyota Prado.
The occupants of the Prado, a woman and two children – aged six and eight – suffered minor injuries and were taken to Singleton District Hospital for treatment. They have since been released.
The driver of the Mazda was trapped in the vehicle for a short period of time before being freed by Fire and Rescue NSW.
She was arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital with minor injuries and will undergo mandatory testing.
Charges are expected to be laid upon the woman’s release from hospital.
Man fatally stabbed; man arrested – Newcastle
A man has been arrested as inquiries continue into the stabbing death of another man near Newcastle overnight.
Just before 11.30pm (Thursday 26 December 2019), emergency services responded to reports of a stabbing on Silsoe Street, near the intersection of Myola Street, in Mayfield.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and located a 50-year-old man critically injured with a wound to his neck.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital; however, despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was declared deceased on arrival.
A 36-year old man was arrested nearby and taken to Waratah Police Station.
A crime scene was established on Myola Road, which is being examined by specialist forensic officers.
Detectives from Newcastle City Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Woman stabbed after man breaks into her house – Cardiff
A woman has been hospitalised after a man broke into her house and stabbed her five times at Cardiff in the Lake Macquarie Police District.
About 4.25am (Wednesday 25 December 2019), a 23-year-old woman woke up to get a glass of water at her Cypress Street home when she was grabbed from behind.
The woman struggled with the man and he produced a knife, stabbing her in the back five times.
The man fled the house along Cypress Street and emergency services were notified.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended, along with NSW Ambulance paramedics.
The injured woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A crime scene was established, and it appears the man entered the house through a rear window.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance with a slim build and closely shaved dark hair. He was wearing a hooded jumper and possibly gloves.
Investigations are continuing, and police are appealing for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in or near Cardiff Street about 4.25am this morning (Wednesday 25 December 2019), to contact Belmont Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 188 333 000.
Man dies following single-vehicle crash near Singleton
A man has died following a single-vehicle crash in the Hunter region this morning.
About 5am today (Saturday 21 December 2019), emergency services were called to Glendonbrook Road, Glendon Brook, following reports a vehicle had crashed over an embankment and rolled.
On arrival, officers from Hunter Valley Police District located a Toyota Hilux utility on its roof.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 30-year-old Martins Creek man, died at the scene.
A crime scene has been established and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash are continuing.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Man found suffering serious head injuries after falling from pushbike – Lake Macquarie
Officers from Hunter Crash Investigation Unit have commenced inquiries after a man was found on the roadway suffering serious injuries in Gateshead overnight.
About 12.30am today (Saturday 21 December 2019), emergency services were called to the intersection of Oxford Street and Church Street, Gateshead, after a passer-by located a 36-year-old man suffering serious head injuries. His bicycle was found next to him.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering head injuries and remains in a serious condition.
Early investigations suggest the man may have been hit by a car. Officers are now appealing for anyone who may have seen a man riding a bike about 12.30am on, or near, Oxford Street at Gateshead, to contact police.
The Drop Festival 2020
Proposed Location: Empire Park, Bar Beach
This event site has been reviewed by all applicable event stakeholders through the Interagency Events Consultative Group, including NSW Police and NSW Ambulance Services, and events of this type have been approved in principle for this location.
A review on the use of the park has been conducted following the public notification period for The Drop Music Festival. The proposed event is a one-day all age music festival on 7 March 2020, that coincides with the final day of Surfest 2020.
Standard events consultation and notification was completed through the Public Lands Notice, with the period held between 28 October and 24 November 2019. In addition, a public information session was conducted on 18 November by the event organiser to assist with the provision of accurate information to residents from the area. City of Newcastle (CN) received 53 submissions in response to the notice. Based on assessment of the submissions received, all raised issues have been addressed through the planning controls proposed for the event.
Key items raised in the submissions includes the noise impacts, public safety, restrictions to access, potential antisocial behaviour, safety as a coastal location, and traffic and transport. All items have been addressed through a comprehensive executive summary prepared by the event organiser.
The assessment of the event will continue as proposed at Empire Park Bar Beach. Final approval will be dependant on the event organisers meeting all requirements of their licence, as per standard CN event licencing process.
- View the Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) regarding the location of the Drop Music Festival in 2020.
- View the Drop – Empire Park Resident Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
Please note, these documents are a work in progress and will be updated periodically as the event planning progresses.
Newcastle 500 delivers return for city’s investment
Following a third successful Newcastle 500, City of Newcastle has outlined its costs and the event’s benefits for the region.
City of Newcastle has a $1.6 million annual events budget for the Newcastle 500.
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The figure includes the license fee and all operational costs including traffic and waste management, communications, all event works specific to the event, and staff resources. It also includes a program of events, activations, and promotions to encourage patronage to businesses outside the race precinct. There are no ongoing costs for City of Newcastle for storage of event delivery infrastructure for the Newcastle 500 after a lease with UGL ended earlier this year.
The Hunter Research Foundation Centre (HRFC) concluded that the benefit of the 2017 three-day event to the local economy was $30.1 million, confirming the decision of the elected Council in 2016 to secure the event on behalf of the region.
The $30.1 million benefit of the event would be far higher if the direct economic benefit in neighbouring areas including Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Cessnock were included.
The $1.6 million figure represents just 5.3 per cent of the $30.1 million economic injection into the city as calculated by the HRFC’s independent research.
The Hunter Research Foundation Centre’s independent analysis also estimated that up to 124 full-time equivalent jobs have been generated from direct and flow-on impacts of the 2017 Newcastle 500.
Costs associated with the City’s multi-million-dollar East End civil works program were excluded from the economists’ analysis as these were scheduled works brought forward by several years to enable the inaugural Newcastle 500. There have been no requests from Supercars Australia for infrastructure works since the initial civil project.
City of Newcastle is still reviewing the actual cost of vandalism and malicious damage in protest to the event, but the cost is substantial and in the tens of thousands of dollars. This includes poisoning of turf, graffiti on fencing and other infrastructure, and the use of potentially damaging materials such as oil and diesel dumped around the suburb and parks.
City of Newcastle is continuing to complete general maintenance and upgrade works in the domain in line with its ongoing infrastructure management program.
According to Destination NSW’s analysis of the 2017 event, visitors spent $12.5 million during their visit, with about 85 per cent spent in Newcastle and the wider Hunter region.
The results confirm the event is on track to reach the projected visitation and economic impact targets of 81,000 overnight visitors and $57 million in visitor spend over five years.
Newcastle 500 has continued to provide widespread exposure for the city. This year’s event weekend recorded 344 media stories from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November, reaching a combined domestic audience of more than 14 million people, with an estimated value of over $2 million. According to Supercars Australia the TV audience for Newcastle 500 peaked at more than 1.8 million viewers with an average of 1.3 million people tuning in to the three-day event.
“Three years in, the annual investment for the City to host the Newcastle 500 demonstrates the benefits to Newcastle and the region,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The Newcastle 500 is the biggest event on the local calendar with significant benefit to the region.”
City of Newcastle has a $1.6 million annual events budget for the Newcastle 500.
The figure includes the license fee and all operational costs including traffic and waste management, communications, all event works specific to the event, and staff resources. It also includes a program of events, activations, and promotions to encourage patronage to businesses outside the race precinct. There are no ongoing costs for City of Newcastle for storage of event delivery infrastructure for the Newcastle 500 after a lease with UGL ended earlier this year.The Hunter Research Foundation Centre (HRFC) concluded that the benefit of the 2017 three-day event to the local economy was $30.1 million, confirming the decision of the elected Council in 2016 to secure the event on behalf of the region.
The $30.1 million benefit of the event would be far higher if the direct economic benefit in neighbouring areas including Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Cessnock were included.
The $1.6 million figure represents just 5.3 per cent of the $30.1 million economic injection into the city as calculated by the HRFC’s independent research.
The Hunter Research Foundation Centre’s independent analysis also estimated that up to 124 full-time equivalent jobs have been generated from direct and flow-on impacts of the 2017 Newcastle 500.
Costs associated with the City’s multi-million-dollar East End civil works program were excluded from the economists’ analysis as these were scheduled works brought forward by several years to enable the inaugural Newcastle 500. There have been no requests from Supercars Australia for infrastructure works since the initial civil project.
City of Newcastle is still reviewing the actual cost of vandalism and malicious damage in protest to the event, but the cost is substantial and in the tens of thousands of dollars. This includes poisoning of turf, graffiti on fencing and other infrastructure, and the use of potentially damaging materials such as oil and diesel dumped around the suburb and parks.
City of Newcastle is continuing to complete general maintenance and upgrade works in the domain in line with its ongoing infrastructure management program.
According to Destination NSW’s analysis of the 2017 event, visitors spent $12.5 million during their visit, with about 85 per cent spent in Newcastle and the wider Hunter region.
The results confirm the event is on track to reach the projected visitation and economic impact targets of 81,000 overnight visitors and $57 million in visitor spend over five years.
Newcastle 500 has continued to provide widespread exposure for the city. This year’s event weekend recorded 344 media stories from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November, reaching a combined domestic audience of more than 14 million people, with an estimated value of over $2 million. According to Supercars Australia the TV audience for Newcastle 500 peaked at more than 1.8 million viewers with an average of 1.3 million people tuning in to the three-day event.
“Three years in, the annual investment for the City to host the Newcastle 500 demonstrates the benefits to Newcastle and the region,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The Newcastle 500 is the biggest event on the local calendar with significant benefit to the region.”
Signs signal start of holiday road safety
But with the festive and new year cheer that this time of year brings, comes an added responsibility of maintaining vigilance around roads, cycleways, footpaths and parks.
City of Newcastle has joined forces once again with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to spread the importance of child pedestrian road safety leading into the school holiday period.
School captains Alice Bradley, 12 (Left) and Bella Lewis, 12, with Peta Winney-Baartz
The It’s Holiday Time campaign is the brainchild of Michelle and David McLaughlin, who tragically lost their son Tom at age four to a roadside accident near Macmasters Beach on the Central Coast. Mrs McLaughlin now spends her days proactively partnering with organisations like City of Newcastle to prevent further tragedies from occurring on NSW roads.
“The campaign incorporates brightly coloured signage with simple messaging to instruct and remind drivers to slow down, and for children and families to remain alert and attentive,” Mrs McLaughlin said.
“The signs are positioned in highly visible public spaces, such as beaches and parks, so that we can best maximise our road safety message.”
“Holiday destinations are most often a new and unfamiliar environment for children and their families, and it’s important that parents have a conversation with their children and go through how they’re expected to behave when they’re in this new environment.”
These conversations are already well and truly being had around the family dinner table and in the school classroom of 12-year-old Alice Bradley, a year six student at Mayfield West Demonstration School.
As part of her school’s PDHPE curriculum, students at Mayfield West Demonstration School learn necessary skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to stay safe as pedestrians, passengers and wheelchair users.
“Holidays are always the best time of the year, but when they come around we need to take extra care when crossing roads and watching for cars,” 12-year-old Alice said.
“These lessons teach us to be extra cautious and careful.”
Newcastle Councillor and Local Traffic Committee member Peta Winney-Baartz knows too well the importance of road safety management across the LGA. Cr Winney-Baartz provides input and advice on several traffic matters that present to the committee once a month.
“In co-operation with local police and state agencies, it is my role on behalf of the City to advocate the best outcomes for the community when it comes to a range of traffic and transport matters.
“These matters are often brought to us by the community. It’s then our duty to review them and ascertain whether there’s a need to implement suitable improvements.
“Any initiative that propagates better outcomes for children and families on our roads is a worthy one, so it’s great to see Michelle and her team at Little Blue Dinosaur championing such a strong cause.”
To read more about Michelle and David’s story, or the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation, visit http://www.littlebluedinosaur.org
City of Newcastle has joined forces once again with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to spread the importance of child pedestrian road safety leading into the school holiday period.
School captains Alice Bradley, 12 (Left) and Bella Lewis, 12, with Peta Winney-BaartzThe It’s Holiday Time campaign is the brainchild of Michelle and David McLaughlin, who tragically lost their son Tom at age four to a roadside accident near Macmasters Beach on the Central Coast. Mrs McLaughlin now spends her days proactively partnering with organisations like City of Newcastle to prevent further tragedies from occurring on NSW roads.
“The campaign incorporates brightly coloured signage with simple messaging to instruct and remind drivers to slow down, and for children and families to remain alert and attentive,” Mrs McLaughlin said.
“The signs are positioned in highly visible public spaces, such as beaches and parks, so that we can best maximise our road safety message.”
“Holiday destinations are most often a new and unfamiliar environment for children and their families, and it’s important that parents have a conversation with their children and go through how they’re expected to behave when they’re in this new environment.”
These conversations are already well and truly being had around the family dinner table and in the school classroom of 12-year-old Alice Bradley, a year six student at Mayfield West Demonstration School.
As part of her school’s PDHPE curriculum, students at Mayfield West Demonstration School learn necessary skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to stay safe as pedestrians, passengers and wheelchair users.
“Holidays are always the best time of the year, but when they come around we need to take extra care when crossing roads and watching for cars,” 12-year-old Alice said.
“These lessons teach us to be extra cautious and careful.”
Newcastle Councillor and Local Traffic Committee member Peta Winney-Baartz knows too well the importance of road safety management across the LGA. Cr Winney-Baartz provides input and advice on several traffic matters that present to the committee once a month.
“In co-operation with local police and state agencies, it is my role on behalf of the City to advocate the best outcomes for the community when it comes to a range of traffic and transport matters.
“These matters are often brought to us by the community. It’s then our duty to review them and ascertain whether there’s a need to implement suitable improvements.
“Any initiative that propagates better outcomes for children and families on our roads is a worthy one, so it’s great to see Michelle and her team at Little Blue Dinosaur championing such a strong cause.”
To read more about Michelle and David’s story, or the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation, visit http://www.littlebluedinosaur.org