All the news happening in the Newcastle and Hunter Region
A man reported missing from Morisset yesterday has been found safe.
The 65-year-old was was last seen in Morisset yesterday (12 September 2025).
When he was unable to be contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Following inquiries, he was found safe in Ballina this morning (Saturday 13 September 2025).
Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate an elderly woman missing from Wallsend.
Eileen Roberti, aged 72, was last seen walking along Cowper Street about 4.10pm this afternoon (Thursday 11 September 2025).
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified when she could not be located or contacted, and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
Concerns are held for Eileen’s welfare as she is unfamiliar with the area.
Eileen is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall with slim build and short brown hair.
She was last seen wearing black long pants, black shoes and a green and brown jumper.
Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
City of Newcastle acknowledges the ongoing impact to residents in the area affected by the New Lambton landslip, which occurred in May 2025. We recognise the hardship faced by both residents who have had to leave their homes and those who are living nearby.
We remain committed to working with the impacted residents and neighbours as recovery efforts continue. We understand how distressing the uncertainty is, and will continue to provide clear and timely updates, and maintain individual contact with impacted residents and near neighbours.
Site status
Following last night’s intense rainfall, further structural damage to several properties on Baker Street has been observed this morning. We acknowledge that this is upsetting news for impacted residents, and the residents of these specific properties have been briefed this morning on the current status and offered support services to help them process this news.
Communication with residents
Since the incident on 23 May 2025, residents have received regular updates through phone calls, text messages and emails, as well as via a dedicated incident web page on the City of Newcastle website. In the early emergency response phase, community meetings were convened by Police in the role of the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON).
Since transitioning to the recovery phase, City of Newcastle has appointed an experienced Recovery Coordinator and established the Local Recovery Committee. A community meeting was held on Wednesday night, where residents received detailed updates on emergency works, the geotechnical investigations, and input and updates from relevant agencies. Residents also had the opportunity to ask questions of all agencies and raise any concerns.
Geotechnical investigations are ongoing, with findings subject to peer review by the NSW Government’s Public Works Authority and Transport for NSW. These studies will play an important part in guiding decisions about the site’s future. However, this work will take time, and it’s too early to determine recovery timeframes or outcomes at this stage.
Representatives from Hunter Water and the NSW Red Cross also attended the meeting, providing information and offering support services to residents. Impacted residents were briefed on the role of the Local Recovery Committee and were invited to nominate themselves as community representatives on the Committee.
The Committee’s approach for meetings and consultation follows the NSW Recovery Plan, under the NSW State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989, and aligns with the NSW State Emergency Management Plan.
Clarity on responsibilities
City of Newcastle is responsible for public infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and stormwater systems.
Responsibility for privately owned land and property rests with individual landowners and their insurers. City of Newcastle does not fund works or repairs on private land, unless required to do so under specific laws or supported by state or federal disaster recovery programs.
Conversations with the NSW Government regarding this will commence once the geotechnical investigations are complete and the size and complexity of the situation is better understood.
Safety
Site safety remains a concern for City of Newcastle, with unauthorised people breaching the security measures in place and accessing the site.
Given the instability of the land and the likelihood of further movement, we cannot stress enough the importance for all residents and members of the community to remain outside the danger area unless their visit is authorised.
Authorised access to the site, such as for the removal of any remaining items or make-safe works to buildings, has been and will continue to be managed based on a task-specific basis including risk assessment on the proposed activity, duration of stay, and the status of the site and/or structures at that point in time. Given the unpredictability of the site, an assessment and clearance given on one day may not be applicable the next.
We continue to actively monitor the site closely and assess the ground conditions.
We appreciate that the uncertainty for residents about whether they can repair or rebuild and return home is distressing. We will continue to work on getting information to residents as quickly as possible to help them make decisions about their future.
Visit our dedicated Landslip incident webpage for more information.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing from the state’s north.
Lilian Hyde, aged 13, was last seen at a home on Morecambe Circuit, Thornton, about 10pm on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
Police and family hold concerns for Alyssa’s welfare due to her age.
Alyssa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall, of thin build, with long brown hair and brown eyes.
She is believed to frequent the Port Macquarie and Gold Coast areas.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl reported missing from the Hunter region.
Nicole Beckett, aged 17, was last seen at Central Railway Station, Haymarket, on Saturday 6 September 2025.
When she could not be contacted or located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified today (Wednesday 10 September 2025) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
Initial inquiries indicate she may have been in the Hamilton, Newcastle area sometime today (Wednesday 10 September 2025).
Police and family have concerns for her welfare due to her age.
Nicole is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with slim build and dyed red hair.
She was last seen wearing a red and black jumper and shorts.
She is known to frequent the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.
She may be using the public transport network to travel.
Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Toronto Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A woman has been charged following a fatal pursuit in the state’s Hunter over the weekend, as critical incident investigation continues.
Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop a Honda travelling on the New England Highway at Aberdeen, about 11.55pm, Saturday 6 September 2025, due to the speed at which the vehicle was being driven.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop when directed, a pursuit was initiated which continued north along the highway until it crashed about 100m north of Makybe Diva Street at Scone.
The driver – a 14-year-old boy – and a 17-year-old boy occupying the front-seat were trapped.
Once released, they were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however the 17-year-old boy died at the scene.
The driver and three back-seat passengers – two boys aged 14 and 17 and a 25-year-old woman – were taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Initial inquiries indicate the vehicle was reportedly stolen from a business in Walford Street, Wallsend, sometime after 5pm on Saturday 6 September 2025.
Specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit attended and examined the scene.
A critical incident investigation team from Tuggerah Lakes Police District commenced an investigation surrounding the incident under Strike Force Willgoyne.
Following inquiries, the 14-year-old driver was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous and aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – escaping pursuit.
He appeared before a children’s court today (Tuesday 9 September 2025). He was granted bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 20 October 2025.
The 17-year-old passenger was charged with be carried in conveyance taken w/o consent of owner.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Wednesday 24 September 2025.
The 14-year-old passenger will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
Following further inquiries, today (Tuesday 9 September 2025) a passenger – a 25-year-old woman – was charged with being carried in conveyance taken without consent of the owner.
She was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
A critical incident team is continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The incident is also subject to an independent review.
A body has been located during a search for a woman missing from the Hunter region last week.
The 25-year-old woman was last seen in the Merriwa area, about 1pm Saturday 6 September 2025.
When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
About 3.30pm today (Tuesday 9 September 2025), police located the body of a woman during a search of bushland in the Coolah Tops National Park.
While yet to be formally identified, the body is believed to be that of the missing woman.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Two teenagers have been charged following a fatal pursuit in the state’s Hunter over the weekend, as critical incident investigation continues.
Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop a Honda travelling on the New England Highway at Aberdeen, about 11.55pm yesterday (Saturday 6 September 2025), due to the speed at which the vehicle was being driven.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop when directed, a pursuit was initiated which continued north along the highway until it crashed about 100m north of Makybe Diva Street at Scone.
The driver – a 14-year-old boy – and a 17-year-old boy occupying the front-seat were trapped.
Once released, they were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however the 17-year-old boy died at the scene.
The driver and three back-seat passengers – two boys aged 14 and 17 and a 25-year-old woman – were taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Initial inquiries indicate the vehicle was reportedly stolen from a business in Walford Street, Wallsend, sometime after 5pm on Saturday (6 September 2025).
Specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit attended and examined the scene.
A critical incident investigation team from Tuggerah Lakes Police District commenced an investigation surrounding the incident under Strike Force Willgoyne.
Following inquiries, the 14-year-old driver has now been charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous and aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – escaping pursuit.
He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Tuesday 9 September 2025).
The 17-year-old passenger was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Wednesday 24 September 2025.
The 14-year-old passenger will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act while the 25-year-old woman remains in hospital under police guard.
A critical incident team is continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The incident is also subject to an independent review.
A critical incident investigation is underway after a teenage boy died and four people were taken to hospital following the pursuit and crash of a stolen car in the state’s Hunter overnight.
Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command first attempted to stop a vehicle travelling on the New England Highway at Aberdeen, about 11.55pm yesterday (Saturday 6 September 2025), due to the speed at which the vehicle was being driven.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop when directed, a pursuit was initiated which continued north along the highway until it crashed about 100m north of Makybe Diva Street at Scone.
The 14-year-old boy driving the vehicle and his 17-year-old male front-seat passenger were initially trapped.
Once released, they were treated on-site by NSW Ambulance paramedics, but the front-seat passenger died at the scene.
The driver was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital where he and the three back-seat passengers – two boys aged 14 and 17 and a 25-year-old woman – are all being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Initial information indicates all boys are from the Tamworth area while the woman is from the Newcastle area.
It’s believed vehicle was stolen from a business in Walford Street, Wallsend, sometime after 5pm yesterday (Saturday 6 September 2025).
A crime scene has now been established, with specialist officers from Crash Investigation Unit examining the scene.
A critical incident investigation team from Tuggerah Lakes Police District will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident under Strike Force Willgoyne.
The investigation will be subject of an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and oversighted by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a boy missing from the state’s Hunter region.
Matei Ernst, aged 14, was last seen on Marlborough Street, Rutherford, about 8am yesterday (Thursday 4 September 2025).
When he was unable to be contacted, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Police have concerns for Matei’s welfare due to his young age.
Matei is described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance, of thin build and between 150cm – 160cm tall.
He was last seen wearing a school uniform – white shirt, black shorts and a black Nike backpack.
Matei is known to frequent the Maitland, Rutherford, Greenhills areas and local shopping centres in those areas.
