Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle continues to provide essential waste services and has implemented social distancing measures at Summerhill Waste Management Centre (WMC) as we work to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The Public Health Order issued 30 March 2020 directs a person must not, without reasonable excuse, leave the person’s place of residence. Also, if you are feeling unwell, the advice is to stay at home.
Summerhill WMC remains open to the public, however the City is encouraging customers to only attend if they’re symptom free and it’s absolutely necessary.
Cash is no longer accepted at the weighbridge, with tap and go the preferred payment option, while dockets are no longer being issued upon entry.
Social distancing measures have been implemented at the Resource Recovery Centre, including the removal of communal brooms and shovels. Customers may instead bring their own.
For those who find it essential to visit Summerhill WMC please follow the social distancing measures and be considerate to Council staff and those around you.
City of Newcastle advises that due to the social distancing measures in place at Summerhill WMC there may be increased wait times or delays for customers.
All other waste services including kerbside collections and bulk waste are operating as usual. Any personal hygiene products or wastes that may have traces of bodily fluids, such as tissues, paper towel and nappies, should be double bagged.
For the latest updates on the City of Newcastle’s response to the COVID-19 and changes to services, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Three people have been charged following three separate pursuits through Lake Macquarie and Newcastle overnight.
About 12.25am (Friday 3 April 2020), officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were conducting patrols of the Cardiff area when they observed a white Volkswagen Polo on Main Street – which had been reported stolen earlier in the week from a Valentine residence.
Police activated all warning lights and sirens before the vehicle drove off at speed and a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued through several streets of Cardiff onto the Newcastle City Bypass, with the Polo allegedly travelling south in the northbound lanes; the pursuit was then terminated due to safety concerns.
A short time later, the Polo was spotted on Medcalf Street, Warners Bay, where police initiated a second pursuit.
The vehicle continued onto The Esplanade, Speers Point, allegedly reaching speeds of 100km/h in a signposted-60km/h zone before police again terminated the pursuit for safety concerns.
Then about 12.40am, police saw the Polo on Myall Road, Cardiff, and initiated a third pursuit.
The vehicle travelled through several suburbs including Cardiff, Elermore Vale and Wallsend, allegedly reaching speeds of 100km/h in a signposted-60km/h zone.
The Polo then allegedly continued travelling east in the westbound lanes of Thomas Street, Wallsend, where police terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.
A short time later, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were patrolling the area when they observed the Polo travelling at speed through the intersection of Walford and Thomas Streets, Wallsend, before the vehicle allegedly ran a red light and collided with a westbound silver Subaru.
No one was injured in the collision.
Four persons exited the Polo and ran from the scene.
Officers from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City Police Districts, with assistance from the Dog Unit, established a perimeter and arrested two men – aged 20 and 19 – and a 16-year-old youth.
All three were taken to Waratah Police Station and charged.
A 20-year-old Kurri man has been charged with seven offences, including police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerous, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and not give particulars to other driver. He was taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard for treatment. He has since been released and bail refused to face Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 3 April 2020).
A 19-year-old Blackalls Park man has been charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and possess prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 25 June 2020.
A 16-year-old Blackalls Park boy has been charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was granted conditional bail to face a children’s court in June.
Lake Macquarie Police Commander, Superintendent Daniel Sullivan APM, said this is a great example of collaboration and teamwork between police districts.
“Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City Police band together on a daily basis to protect the residents of the Hunter.
“Through constant communication, we lower the police boundaries and join resources to get the job done,” Supt Sullivan said.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious crash in the Lake Macquarie area last week.
About 10.20am on Wednesday 25 March 2020, a gold Toyota Camry, being driven by a 60-year-old woman, was travelling south on the Pacific Highway at Jewells.
At the same time, a silver Toyota Camry, being driven by a 73-year-old woman, was travelling west on Ntaba Road when the two cars collided at the intersection of Ntaba Road and the Pacific Highway.
The drivers of both cars suffered serious injuries and were taken to John Hunter Hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.
A crime scene was established by Lake Macquarie Police District, with the circumstances of the crash being investigated by officers from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit.
As inquiries continue, police are requesting anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who has dashcam footage, to contact police.

A man is in a critical condition following a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region yesterday.
About 7.50pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), emergency services were called to Lambs Valley Road, Lambs Valley, about 35km east of Singleton, after reports of a serious crash.
Police believe the Toyota Starlet was travelling south when it left the roadway and struck a tree. A passing motorist found the crashed car and called for assistance.
The 26-year-old male driver was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Maitland Airport, where he was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
Officers from Traffic & Highway Patrol established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Inquiries continue.

The final section of Newcastle’s former rail corridor has been purchased for $2 million by City of Newcastle in a decision which will strengthen the City’s cycling infrastructure and support the ongoing revitalisation of the CBD.
Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) agreed to sell the former rail corridor site, known as Rail Bridge Row, to the City following a competitive public Expression of Interest process.
The lot at 280 Hunter Street stretches from Brown Street to near the intersection of Darby and Hunter Street and is opposite the Crown Street light rail stop. Council approved the purchase at its meeting last week in recognition of the site’s strategic significance.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle’s Expression of Interest highlighted the importance of the site as a junction between King St, Hunter St and the Foreshore, providing improved connectivity and safe cycle routes throughout the City.
“We envisage this site will eventually be used for a cycleway connection, as well as a mixed development building that could include ground-floor retail, affordable housing for key workers and commercial uses,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Acquiring the Rail Bridge Row site aligns with our vision to bring people to the city centre by strengthening connections between the city and waterfront, creating employment opportunities, providing more public space and delivering better transport.
“The purchase will allow us to deliver a much needed, east-west commuter cycleway and will be followed in coming months by presenting an East-West cycleway concept plan to the Newcastle Cycling Working Party.
“Down the track, subject to consultation and approvals, the site at 280 Hunter Street could also allow the City to deliver affordable accommodation for key workers, such as teachers, police officers, firefighters and nurses.”

City of Newcastle’s Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) team has been recognised as essential and will work remotely through any Government-directed lockdown in response to COVID-19 in order to meet the Local Government Minister’s shortened deadline of 30 June 2020.
Coastal Councils across NSW are completing Coastal Management Programs, long term plans for managing risks like erosion and sea-level rise, under the Coastal Management Act 2016, with a deadline in place for December 2021.
Despite the challenges brought by COVID-19, The Lord Mayor met with the Stockton Community Liaison Group via Zoom as work continues towards to the Ministerial direction to have a CMP for Stockton by the 30 June 2020.
“With projects on hold or delayed across the state there had been some concern from the Stockton community about how COVID-19 would affect our ability to deliver a CMP by the shortened deadline,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We reiterated today that despite the enormous challenges we’re facing as a community, Stockton remains a key priority for City of Newcastle. The team delivering our CMP will continue to work as an essential service should the Federal or State Government direct the community into lockdown.”
The Lord Mayor said Stockton’s CMP was expected to focus primarily on sand nourishment along with the protection of public and private assets.
“The message is clear from the Stockton community. Return a sandy beach that locals and visitors can enjoy, and manage our natural coastal environment in a way that reduces risk and keeps the community’s way of life.
“Our Stockton team is reviewing all previous options however, there’s really only one way to deliver on this call from the community and that’s to complete a CMP focussed primarily on beach amenity and reducing risk, that will meet the demands of the State Government’s certification requirements.
“We will be looking for community feedback in mid-May during the public exhibition period.”
The draft Stockton CMP will be placed on 28-day Public Exhibition from Wednesday 13 May providing the community an opportunity to have their say on the long-term plan to manage coastal erosion. Due to restrictions on public gatherings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, City of Newcastle will continue to engage online and via the post/mail.

A man and a boy missing from the Hunter region have been located safe and well.
The 57-year-old man and four-year-old boy were located in Moree safe and well about 4am today (Wednesday 1 April 2020).
Police would like to thank the media and community for their assistance.

A man has been charged, following an investigation into an alleged aggravated break and enter in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.
Police have been told about 5.15am on Sunday 12 January 2020, a 48-year-old man had arranged to meet a woman he had interacted with online, at a home on Government Road, Cardiff.
Shortly after her arrival, two men allegedly forced entry into the front door, armed with an ornamental sword and a metal pipe, before assaulting the man.
The two men and the woman allegedly stole $650 cash and fled the scene in a vehicle, driven by a third man.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering head injuries, including a fractured skull and a severe laceration.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended, established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following inquiries, a 25-year-old woman was arrested in Gateshead and taken to Belmont Police Station on Sunday 12 January 2020. She was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm and possess prohibited drug. She remains before the courts.
On Wednesday 19 February 2020, detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at Rankin Park. He was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm and refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 15 April 2020.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on Friday 27 March 2020 at Wangi Wangi and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on Friday 3 April 2020.
Yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), a 23-year-old man was arrested by Lake Macquarie’s Target Action Group in Windale and taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local court today (Thursday 2 April 2020).

A Newcastle business owner is the latest to receive a $5000 infringement notice under the Public Health Act NSW (2010), after continuing to receive customers in contravention of a ministerial direction.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a remedial massage business on Harrison Street, Cardiff, about 4pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), following information it was continuing to operate.
Police observed several customers enter and leave the premises.
The operator, a 57-year-old woman, was spoken to and issued a $5,000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19).
Since Tuesday 17 March 2020, police have issued two Court Attendance Notices for Breaching the Public Health Act.
Crime Stoppers has received 3,200 reports related to COVID-19 since Tuesday 17 March 2020, and police have conducted more than 3900 compliance checks across NSW.
Additionally, officers have now handed out 30 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for failing to comply with a ministerial direction under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW). Of these, 27 were issued to individuals, and three to business owners.
NSWPF Commissioner Mick Fuller will personally review every Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) issued in relation to alleged breaches of Public Health Orders, to ensure the issuing of such infringements is the most appropriate course of action.
Commissioner Fuller will also be reviewing the wider application of this new legislation daily to ensure best practice across the board.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has cautiously welcomed the Federal Government’s support package for regional airlines.
Ms Claydon said she had written to the Deputy Prime Minister, and had met with him personally, to stress the urgent need to deliver support into the Hunter-based regional airline FlyPelican.
“Regretfully, the coronavirus crisis has seen passenger numbers and bookings  across the aviation industry plummet by as much 90 per cent, leaving formerly vibrant and profitable businesses including FlyPelican hanging by a thread,” Ms Claydon said.
“While we still need to see the details of what this package will mean for individual operators, it seems to be a very positive development.”
Ms Claydon reiterated the importance of local airlines to regional economies.
“Airlines aren’t like other businesses. They play a key role in connecting families, friends and communities, while also promoting trade and supporting essential services. Importantly, they help drive economic growth across our vast nation,” Ms Claydon said.
“I have every confidence that, with the right support, FlyPelican will be in a strong position to resume services quickly and help drive the regional economic recovery that will be so desperately needed when the COVID-19 crisis has passed.”
Ms Claydon said while the support package for companies was welcome, workers still need urgent assistance.
“There was nothing in the regional airline package to ensure that workers are retained.
“The Government must deliver wage subsidies to ensure workers remain connected to their employer and airlines can ramp up their operations quickly when the crisis recedes.”