Category: Newcastle News

Crash investigators remain at the scene of a fatal crash in the state’s Hunter Region today.
About 11am (Sunday 8 December 2019), a head-on crash occurred between a Toyota Corolla and a Holden Astra on Richardson Road, near Benjamin Lee Drive, Raymond Terrace.
The driver of the Holden Astra died at the scene. Two female passengers were taken to John Hunter Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The female driver of the Corolla was also taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory tests.
Officers from Port Stephens – Hunter Police District established a crime scene that will be examined by officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.
Anyone who may have dash-cam vision of the crash is urged to contact police at Raymond Terrace Police Station, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has been charged with firearms and weapons offences after seizing an explosive device from a property in the Lake Macquarie region.
Just after midnight yesterday (Saturday 7 December 2019), officers from Newcastle City Police District attended a property in Edgeworth, following reports a firearm with an expired licence was being stored at the location.
Police spoke with the occupant, a 35-year-old man, who surrendered the firearm, and conducted a safe storage inspection at the property.
During the search, officers allegedly located a gun safe that was not properly secured. They also located ammunition, cannabis, and an improvised explosive device (IED).
The Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit attended and rendered the IED safe.
The 35-year-old man was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
He was charged with eight offences, including:

• two counts of possess or use prohibited weapon without permit,
• manufacture military-style weapon without a permit,
• manufacture firearm without a licence or permit,
• possess unauthorised prohibited firearm,
• possess or use military-style weapon without permit,
• not keep firearm safely, and
• possess prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court today (Sunday 8 December 2019), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court tomorrow (Monday 9 December 2019).

A man has been charged after a pedestrian was killed in an alleged fail to stop crash at Maitland last month.
About 11.30pm on Saturday 30 November 2019, emergency services were called to Flat Road, near the intersection of Paterson Road, Bolwarra, following reports of a crash.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and found a male pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.
The 62-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The vehicle allegedly left the crash scene and was last seen travelling south on Paterson Road.
A short time later, police responding to the collision saw a Mazda BT50 utility travelling south on Belmore Road at Lorn.
Officers from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.
The low-speed pursuit through local streets ended on High Street after the vehicle mounted the footpath.
The 70-year-old driver underwent a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive reading.
He was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.108.
The man was charged with drive with middle range PCA and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.
Following further investigations, a 70-year-old man attended Ryde Police Station where he was arrested.
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – DUI, dangerous driving occasioning death – manner dangerous, negligent driving cause death, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death (Crimes Act) and fail to stop and assist after impact causing death (Road Transport Act).
He was refused bail and is due to appear before Burwood Local Court on Monday 9 December 2019.

A man has been charged with domestic violence-related offences after allegedly strangling and assaulting a woman until she became unconscious in Singleton.
About 5pm on Monday 18 November 2019, a 29-year-old man allegedly threatened and strangled a 25-year-old woman until she was rendered unconscious at a toilet block in Bridgeman Road, Singleton.
It will also be alleged the man then forcibly placed the woman inside his car, assaulted her and threatened her with a hammer before driving to a nearby fast food restaurant.
The woman then jumped out of the moving vehicle and alerted the restaurant’s staff, who, in turn, contacted police.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, police attached to the Northern Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team arrested a 29-year-old man in Hunter Street, Newcastle, just after 7am today (Saturday 7 December 2019).
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with 10 offences, including:

• three counts of possess prohibited drug,
• unlicensed rider for class,
• choke person with intent to commit indictable offence,
• two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear of physical harm (DV),
• assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV),
• intentionally choke person without consent (DV), and
• kidnap with intent to commit serious indictable offence occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).

Police will allege in court that the two were known to each other.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 8 December 2019).

A man will appear in court today charged with intentionally causing a fire and other offences in the Lake Macquarie area.
About 8.15am yesterday (Friday 6 December 2029), a white Ford Falcon Utility was allegedly stolen from Freemans Drive, Freemans Waterhole.
Shortly after 10am, police were alerted to a vehicle, alleged to be the stolen Ford, being driven in a dangerous manner along Renshaw Drive towards Buchanan, north-west of Newcastle.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and observed another car that had allegedly been hit by the Ford on Buchanan Road, however, the driver had failed to stop.
Shortly after, about 10.15am, police located the Ford well alight on a property on Buchanan Road, Buchanan.
Officers attached to the Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the fire in the vehicle, as well as a small grass fire that had started only metres from bushland.
A 32-year-old man was arrested nearby and was taken to Maitland Hospital for assessment and treatment to injuries to his legs.
Upon release from hospital, the man was taken to Cessnock police station and charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, not give particulars to other driver, damage property by fire, intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread and steal motor vehicle.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 7 December 2019).

Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery at Singleton early this morning.
About 4am today (Thursday 5 December 2019), a 32-year-old male employee was inside a newsagency on John Street, Singleton, when two men entered through the rear door armed with a tomahawk and an iron bar.
The men demanded cash before the 32-year-old became involved in a struggle with the pair and forced them out the door.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended a short time later and established a crime scene.
The man was taken to Singleton Hospital for treatment to minor cuts and grazes to his arms and forehead.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have noticed any suspicious behaviour in the area at that time or who may have CCTV or dashcam vision to contact Singleton Police on 6578 7499 or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man will appear in court today charged with allegedly lighting a grass fire in the Hunter yesterday.
About 9.20pm on Thursday 5 December 2019, police will allege a 40-year-old man was on Elizabeth Street, Telarah, when he allegedly poured accelerant on a vacant block of land and ignited it.
The fire quickly spread towards nearby rail lines, before neighbours and a passing motorist managed to extinguish most of the blaze.
About 10 minutes later, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District and NSW Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene and spoke with the 40-year-old.
He was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Friday 6 December 2019).

City of Newcastle will commence community engagement in the new year to develop a masterplan for the Harbour Foreshore Precinct, including an inclusive, regional level playground, water-themed play space and improved cycle amenities along Wharf Road.
The precinct masterplan includes prime community spaces east from Merewether Street and includes the Harbourfront parkland and Joy Cummings Promenade stretching along Wharf Road, former rail sheds, and Foreshore Park’s amphitheatre and parkland near Nobbys Beach.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Foreshore Precinct Masterplan was the next step in revitalising the space as part of the Foreshore Plan of Management, and will be developed in close consultation with the community over the next 12-18 months.
“The community will be involved throughout the process to ensure what is delivered meets community expectations for this important community space,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Foreshore Park and the surrounding harbour precinct is a key attraction among locals and visitors and has important links to the City’s history, so it’s important that people have the opportunity to have their say from the outset.
“As Newcastle continues to evolve as a world-class destination, we must continue to invest in quality, accessible public facilities and event spaces within the heart of the city.
“We must maintain this area as a thriving destination, particularly in light of the accessibility upgrades to Nobbys Beach and Bathers Way.”
Stakeholder engagement and community consultation will be key in the successful delivery of the masterplan project. CN will work with interest groups, schools, residents and local businesses to provide valuable input into the design of the project
“A design reference group will also be established to provide input around technical elements of the playground and water-themed play space, as well as other important features including pedestrian and cylcleway connections and heritage aspects.
The City has received grant funding from Variety – the Children’s Charity, to help fund the design of a ‘Livvi’s Place’ accessible playground for kids of all ages and all abilities. The City has also applied for grant funding from the NSW Government to contribute to a water-themed play space.
Tenders will open Saturday 7 December and close 4 February 2020 for a specialist agency with significant expertise and experience in community engagement practices to develop a comprehensive masterplan for the long-term revitalisation of the Newcastle Foreshore.

Five-and-a-half-thousand tonnes of sand will begin arriving at Stockton Beach on Monday as City of Newcastle commences the anticipated beach nourishment project.
The project is in response to severe erosion at the southern end of Stockton Beach and is also a pilot sand and wave-monitoring project to inform future management of the beach.
City of Newcastle has been planning for the $350,000 project for more than a month after having applied to the NSW Government for funding in early October.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City had worked quickly to finalise approvals and start trucking sand to Stockton Beach to complete Stage 1 of this project prior to the Christmas holidays.
“It is our priority to have this work completed before the busy Christmas period so locals and holiday makers can enjoy the beach and to limit the disruption caused by hundreds of truck movements and heavy machinery,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Trucking sand to the beach is only a short-term response providing recreational amenity at Stockton Beach, and we’re continuing to work with the NSW Government to prepare the long-term plan for management of the beach.”
Stockton Surf Life Saving Club President Callan Nickerson said the start of the project was good news for his members.
“The Christmas holidays are a big part of our season with volunteer patrols and club members all using the beach so, while it may be short-term, we are looking forward to seeing the results and getting sand back on this stretch of the beach,” Mr Nickerson said.
“While we welcome the start of the project, we are committed to fighting for a long-term solution for Stockton’s erosion problem.”
A second stage involving placement of sand north of the Lexie’s Café accessway, adjacent to the Surf Club, is expected to be undertaken in early 2020 subject to further funding and approvals by the NSW Government in conjunction with maintenance works on the SLSC seawall that have protected Lexie’s café and car park from the impact of coastal erosion.
The Lord Mayor said during the project the southern sections of Stockton Beach will become a work zone and restrictions need to be put in place to ensure public safety and the safety of staff and contractors.
“There will be heavy machinery working on the beach and a stockpile of sand at the end of King Street in addition to the trucks travelling through the area,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We are asking the public to exercise caution while these works are carried out and to comply with directional and safety signage and instructions.”
Up to 50 trucks a day will deliver sand to the eastern part of King Street using Fullerton Street and King Street from Nelson Bay Road. There will be no public access to the southern section of Stockton Beach between the Lexie’s café Accessway and King Street for the duration of the project. King Street will be closed east of the Stockton Swimming Pool carpark.
Interested members of the public may view progress from viewing platform at the SLSC.

Having a car stolen is stressful, inconvenient and costly, particularly during the festive season.
However, it’s the unfortunate reality that many residents across the Lower Hunter will face, with motor vehicle thefts traditionally spiking over summer.
Mayors from the Greater Newcastle Area including Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Port Stephens have joined forces to reduce vehicle thefts in a region-wide initiative that aims to educate people about how to prevent falling victim to thieves.
“One of the biggest factors to motor vehicle theft is home break-ins. It’s common for a home burglar to steal car keys,” City of Newcastle Community Safety Facilitator Lisa Davis said.
“The majority of home burglaries are opportunistic, with burglars targeting houses they perceive as providing the easiest and quickest access points.”
Some simple tips for preventing motor vehicle theft include:
·         Keeping your vehicle keys out of sight when you are at home
·         Never leaving them near doors or windows
·         Do not include your name and address on key ring tags.
In 2017, 50 per cent of stolen motor vehicles had been parked on the street and 37 per cent were taken from residential dwellings in Newcastle.
Getting in the habit of checking your keys are not still in your vehicle after taking the grocery bags inside can also help reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen.
Historically, televisions and computers were among the items stolen in home burglaries, however vehicles are now the most common target, with keys the sole item stolen in roughly 1-in-4 break and enter cases.
NSW Police has advised this trend for residential addresses is due to a shift in car theft practices, with thieves targeting homes to steal keys of vehicles, rather than pursuing vehicles in public areas as likely to be under surveillance.
City of Newcastle secured $15,000 of funding from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) to roll out a car theft prevention campaign which is supported by surrounding local councils.