Category: Newcastle News

An investigation is underway after two men died in a microlight aircraft crash in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 12.20pm (Saturday 30 November 2019), emergency services were called to a property on Paterson Road, Woodville, about 10km north of Maitland, following reports of an aircraft crash.
Upon arrival, a wreckage and the bodies of a 44-year-old man and a 71-year-old man were located.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic police.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced and as inquiries continue, anyone with information is urged to contact Maitland Police Station on (02) 4934 0311 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Sports Aviation Federation of Australia is assisting with the investigation.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A teenage girl has been charged following an alleged armed robbery at Charlestown overnight.
About 9pm yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2019), a female employee was preparing to close at a restaurant on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown, when a teenage girl entered the store and allegedly threatened her with a broken bottle.
The worker ran out of the store and alert another staff member in the carpark who notified police.
The girl fled the store with cash and the employee’s mobile phone.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and conducted extensive patrols of the nearby area.
A crime scene was established and forensically examined.
About 11.30pm, police spoke with a teenage girl leaving another fast food store on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown.
During a search, police allegedly located the employee’s mobile phone and a sum of cash in her possession.
The 15-year-old girl was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.
She was charged with armed robbery and refused bail to face a children’s court today (Thursday 28 November 2019).

Two hydroponic set-ups have been uncovered during a search warrant at a Hunter home yesterday.
About 9am (Wednesday 27 November 2019), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District sectors attended a home on Warraba Road, The Branch, and spoke with a 36-year-old man.
Police executed a search warrant at the property where they allegedly located and seized more than 11kg of hydroponic cannabis, several cannabis plants, two hydroponic cannabis setups and drug paraphernalia.
It’s estimated the street value of the cannabis seized is more than $150,000.
The 36-year-old man was issued with a court attendance notice for the offences of cultivate prohibited plant, possess prohibited plant, possess prohibited drug and supply an indictable quantity of prohibited drug.
He is due to face Dungog Local Court on Wednesday 15 January 2020.

Reinforcing the Mitchell Street seawall at Stockton Beach, improving stormwater infrastructure and completing a five-megawatt solar farm are among projects to benefit from a multimillion-dollar boost to City of Newcastle’s current works program.
The latest quarterly financial update, which was presented to the elected Council last night for approval, reveals an additional $3.9 million for public works in the 2019-20 budget, with spending spread across a range of infrastructure and asset renewal programs.
Reflecting the City’s sound financial position, an $8 million operating surplus is forecast to be delivered at the end of the financial year.
“We remain on track to deliver our seventh consecutive budget surplus while continuing to invest in the infrastructure renewal and revitalisation projects required that come with the sustained population growth our City is now experiencing,” City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The past four years have seen a sustained increase in our investment in capital works, including last year’s record program of $91.9 million, which included $65.6 million on new infrastructure.
“This surpassed our previous benchmark for capital investment, and was achieved while remaining focused on being financially sustainable now and into the future,” she said.
With design of the City’s organic waste processing facility underway ahead of construction later this year, the capital works budget will grow to $84.8 million, up from $80.9 million adopted by Council in June.
Included as part of the revised spend is $1.2m for maintenance of Stockton’s Mitchell Street seawall, $2m to complete City Hall’s external restoration and $1m to finish construction of the region’s largest solar farm, which will begin operation at Summerhill Waste Management Centre before the end of the year.
Almost $1.5 million in additional expenditure is forecast for improvements to the City’s stormwater infrastructure, while local roads will also benefit with an additional $665,000 for works including road rehabilitation and footpaths.
Pedestrian infrastructure projects will be boosted by $767,000, while spending on parks and sporting facilities will increase by $741,000 to a budget of $2.2 million.
The September quarterly review forecasts a budget surplus of 2.5% of income. Helping deliver the increase in the works program is a $1.42m reduction in forecast employee costs. Recent reductions in interest rates will cost the City an expected $156,000.

Buildings, Structures and Places	$21,396,417	Stormwater	$6,923,044
Environment	$25,857,668	Strategic	$3,724,018
Fleet	$5,557,975	Transport	$4,756,671
Information Technology	$6,233,661	Roads	$10,395,078
		2019/20 works program	$84,844,534

As the public forum of the Aged Care Royal Commission wraps up in Newcastle, Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has called for more action from the Morrison Government.
Ms Claydon said she has been ‘shocked and appalled’ by revelations from the public hearings and forums.
“Older people deserve quality care that safeguards their wellbeing and dignity, but we are seeing mounting evidence of unthinkable neglect and systemic failure,” Ms Claydon said.
“I’m very pleased that the Royal Commission is giving people a chance to speak out and seek justice at the highest level.”
Ms Claydon said that older Australians have been failed by an overstretched and under-resourced system.
“Ever since Scott Morrison ripped $1.2 billion out of aged care in his first Budget, he’s continued to fail older Australians,” Ms Claydon said.
“The fact that 120,000 Australians remain languishing on the waiting list for home care packages is appalling.”
Ms Claydon said the Morrison Government’s promise of an extra 10,000 home care places is ‘grossly inadequate’.
“This is nothing but a stop-gap measure that will barely keep up with the new demand, let alone address the backlog,” Ms Claydon said.
“People are being forced into residential care facilities at great expense when they would prefer to stay at home, while hundreds of Australians are literally dying each week waiting for their packages to be fulfilled. This is inexcusable.
“Older Australians deserve better and the Morrison Government needs to stop stalling, quit making excuses and start delivering for the Australian people instead.”

Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy, John Graham and State Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp have today met with the Newcastle Live Music Taskforce and local musicians from across the city to announce Labor’s support for the local music scene.
The Newcastle Live Music Taskforce will push for Newcastle to be the first place in the state to achieve the new ‘music community’ designation under this plan.
Under the NSW Liberals and Nationals, venues are closing across NSW, funding for the industry has been stagnant at $4 million over the last 4 years compared to $27 million in Victoria over the same period, and the Government has declared war on music festivals.
Labor’s plan for the music sector which includes:

• Establishing a “Music Community” designation to recognise communities that have a strong music sector and value music. Labor will develop formal guidelines and a threshold to achieve the Music Community designation, and then work with local councils to support and promote these communities, including in Newcastle.
• An increase in total funding for contemporary music from under $4 million over the last four years of Liberal and National Government to $35 million.
• Direct support for artists to record and tour, including internationally through a new $1.3 million “Music Passport” program; and regionally and nationally through a new $5.1 million “Band aid” program.
• Invest $4 million in supporting music festivals across NSW. Labor will also streamline the licensing process for music festivals and allow organisers with an established record to obtain multi-year approvals for festivals.
• Rebuilding the suburban and regional touring circuit in NSW, with $1.3 million to support an “On the Road Again” program to take music industry promoters and booking agents on tour to regional venues and provide a substantial funding boost to the ‘Live and Local’ program.
• Labor will work with the music industry to develop mentoring programs for music education at school. As part of this program, Labor will trial the purchase of musical instruments for ten schools in Western Sydney or rural and regional NSW.
• Labor will formally review the provision of music education in NSW on coming to Government.

Labor will also launch a new youth music organisation, which will work with Music NSW to support young artists and promoters get a start in the industry.
Labor’s plan to stop the Liberal Party’s war on live music comes on the heels of measures already announced to save live music in NSW including implementing the Parliamentary Music Inquiry’s 60 recommendations, and implementing measures to improve conditions for music venues.
NSW Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy, John Graham said
 “Labor wants to keep venues open, and keep musicians in work. We want to see a thriving music community in Newcastle.”
 “The measures that we have announced will help the NSW music scene reach its potential.”
Tim Crakanthorp said
“I am committed to re-building our music industry.”
“The Live Music Taskforce has worked hard over the last 12 months getting the Live Music Inquiry here and seeing the results of that input through the inquiry recommendations.” 
“Based on that work we want Newcastle to be the first community in NSW to be designated a ‘music community’ under this new plan.”
 

A man has been charged after allegedly deliberately lighting fires in suburbs across Lake Macquarie.
Earlier this month, Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation into the cause of fires that were lit in Belmont, Windale, Gateshead and Charlestown between Friday 8 November and Tuesday 19 November 2019.
Police will allege the fires were set to garbage bins, items placed out for clean-up, and motor vehicles –including four that were destroyed in James Street, Windale on Friday 15 November 2019.
About 1.45pm yesterday (Tuesday 26 November 2019), officers executed a search warrant at a house on Cherry Street, Windale.
A 33-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Belmont Police Station.
During the search, police located and seized CCTV and clothing that will undergo forensic examination.
The man was charged with 12 counts of destroy property by fire. He was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 27 November 2019).
Lake Macquarie Police District Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan, said that police will continue to investigate all suspicious fires and bring perpetrators to justice.
“Acts of arson at any time of year are extremely dangerous, let alone during the high temperatures we have recently experienced,” Superintendent Sullivan said.
“The capability of these fires to spread to nearby bushland and cause catastrophe is a real possibility,
“We would like to thank the community for their assistance, the information you provide is invaluable in supporting our investigations”.
 

Following is a summary of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Tuesday 26 November 2019.
Ordinary business 
Adoption of ward boundary plan amendments following public exhibition
Council voted to adopt a proposed ward boundary plan with amendments made following public exhibition.
Adoption of the 2020 Council meeting cycle
Council has adopted a new meeting schedule for 2020.
Moorhead Street, Lambton – Upgrade of pedestrian crossing south of Elders Street
Council resolved to upgrade a pedestrian crossing on Moorhead Street, Lambton, south of Elder Street, raising the crossing and extending the kerb.
Endorsement of Amendment to Newcastle LEP 2012 – Create NSW heritage item for Parkway Avenue
Council endorsed a planning proposal to begin the process to amend the Newcastle LEP 2012 to list Parkway Avenue from Denison Street, Hamilton East, to Memorial Drive, Bar Beach, as a heritage item of local significance.
Endorsement of the 2018/19 – Annual Report
The 2018/19 Annual Report was endorsed by councillors.
Digital Library, Newcastle
Council voted to build a digital library in its new City Administration Centre at 12 Stewart Avenue, Newcastle West, with money raised from the 2015 sale of the Newcastle School of Arts, which was gifted by the school in 1964 on the condition that any proceeds from its sale would go to the public library system.
September quarterly budget review
Council received the September Quarterly Budget review Statement and adopted the revised budget, which includes an additional $3.9 million for public works in the 2019-20 budget, with spending spread across a range of infrastructure and asset renewal programs.
Executive monthly performance report
Council received the executive monthly performance report for October 2019.
Notices of Motion
City Ocean Baths redevelopment community consultation
A notice of motion to conduct ongoing community consultation with Ocean Baths users and the broader community to guide future upgrades was supported.
Faster rail
A Notice of Motion to increase advocacy for faster rail services between Sydney and Newcastle was supported. A submission will be made to the Parliament of Australia’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities’ Inquiry Into Options for Financing Faster Rail.
Every building counts – a practical plan for emissions reductions in the built environment
A NOM to expedite the delivery of Net Zero Emission Buildings as part of its local planning statement and review of the 2020 Carbon and Water Management Action plan currently underway was supported. As part of the NOM, Council will invite the Property Council to present on its ‘Every building counts – a practical plan for emissions reduction in the built environment’ report.
Deferral of expression of interest process for Newcastle and Merewether Baths
A Notice of Motion to defer the EOI process for the Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths was not supported due to being a repeat motion.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
2019 Supercars Newcastle 500
A Lord Mayoral Minute (LMM) recognising Supercars Newcastle 500 2019 as an outright success and noting that the use of local suppliers should be used when possible was supported. The LMM recognised that more than 154,000 people attended the event, with many local businesses reporting positive trading results, both in the lead up to the event and right across the weekend.
Australia’s Gateway Cities Report Launch
A Lord Mayoral Minute acknowledged that the Australian Gateway Cities’ report was launched and that Australia’s Gateway Cities occupy a significant place within the economy.  The LMM noted that current debates on fiscal rebalancing need to recognise the latent economic potential of Gateway Cities, while social policies should also incorporate the opportunities Gateway Cities offer in bridging the divide between metropolitan Australia and the regions.

A man is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court after allegedly threatening a family with a firearm on the weekend.
Police have been told a 31-year-old man went to a home in Shelly Street, Toronto, about 8.50am Sunday (24 November 2019), and allegedly threatened the occupants with a handgun, before leaving.
Three adults and two boys, aged two and six, were shaken but uninjured by the incident.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District initiated an investigation and executed a search warrant on a home in Redwood Close, Fletcher, where they seized a stolen motor vehicle, items of clothing, firearm parts, a taser and other weapons.
Following inquiries, officers went back to the home in Fletcher about 5.15pm yesterday (Monday 25 November 2019), where the man was intercepted and apprehended by the Dog Squad, assisted by Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie officers.
Police will allege the man was armed with a bayonet at the time of his arrest.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with six offences;

• Special aggravated break and enter with intent whilst armed with a dangerous weapon
• Possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit (two counts)
• Possess a barrel without authority of licence/permit
• Steal motor vehicle, and
• Custody of knife in public place.

The man, from Fletcher, has been refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court later today (Tuesday 26 November 2019).

A girl remains in a critical condition after being found in a vehicle in the Port Stephens area this afternoon.
Police from Port Stephens – Hunter Police District attended a home in Tanilba Bay about 4.30pm (Tuesday 26 November 2019), after reports a five-year-old girl was found inside a car parked in the driveway of the family home.
The girl was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by detectives from Port Stephens.
No further information available at this time.