Newcastle News – Page 330

New high-visibility unit hits the ground in the Hunter and Central Coast

Residents of the Hunter and Central Coast will see a more visible police presence on their streets from this month, with the commencement of a newly formed high-visibility police unit.
In January 2019, the NSW Government announced 100 new high-visibility officers to be stationed at five regions across the state. In the Northern Region, six officers will be posted at Newcastle Police Station to service multiple police districts including:

Newcastle City
Lake Macquarie
Port Stephens-Hunter
Hunter Valley
Tuggerah Lakes
Brisbane Water

The Northern High-Visibility Police (HVP) Unit is aimed at preventing, disrupting, and responding to crime by undertaking high-visibility patrols of crime hotspots, roads, transport networks, local neighbourhoods, and planned events.
The HVP Unit will proactively engage with individuals, groups and communities at risk of crime in an effort to build intelligence-driven data. The officers will be specifically trained in intelligence gathering, so they can proactively identify conflicts ranging from local level issues to more serious incidents.
Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell APM, said the high-visibility teams will be a reassuring presence on Hunter and Central Coast streets, playing a key role in disrupting crime and anti-social behaviour.
“High-visibility policing is a crucial element of regional policing – we want our communities to know we are there in numbers to protect and support them 24/7.
“Local policing is at the heart of any regional community, and the HVP Unit is designed to increase overall confidence for all members of the community, by addressing any concerns from retail owners, to visitors, to residents and workers.
“The Northern HVP Unit will have the ability to be deployed wherever our demand and need is. They are highly-skilled and available to engage with the public – we want you to come up and talk to them, tell them what is happening in your neighbourhood.
“By targeting crime with more boots on the ground and in a highly-visible manner, it’s hoped offenders will have second thoughts before breaking the law,” AC Mitchell said.
The HVP officers can be deployed to any areas of the Northern Region as deemed appropriate.
The Northern HVP Unit consists of one Sergeant and five Constables; the officers commenced their first foot patrols last week.

New high-visibility unit hits the ground in the Hunter and Central Coast

In January 2019, the NSW Government announced 100 new high-visibility officers to be stationed at five regions across the state. In the Northern Region, six officers will be posted at Newcastle Police Station to service multiple police districts including:

Newcastle City
Lake Macquarie
Port Stephens-Hunter
Hunter Valley
Tuggerah Lakes
Brisbane Water

The Northern HVP Unit consists of one Sergeant and five Constables; the officers commenced their first foot patrols last week.

Motorcyclist dies after crash with SUV – Hunter Valley

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner following the death of a motorcyclist in the Hunter Valley yesterday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to Great North Road, Bucketty (40km north-west of Somersby), about 4.30pm (Sunday 23 February 2020), responding to reports of a crash involving a motorcycle and SUV.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were told a man was riding north and a Mitsubishi SUV was being driven south, when the crash occurred in the southbound lane.
The SUV left the road, crashing down a ravine trapping the driver, while the motorcyclist was thrown down the same ravine.
Paramedics were winched by helicopter down the ravine to the injured motorcyclist; however, he died a short time after being brought up to the roadway.
He is believed to have been aged 59 and from Mardi.
A 44-year-old woman, from Paxton, was released from the wreckage of her SUV and escaped with relatively minor injuries.
She was taken to Wyong Hospital for mandatory testing.
Police were assisted at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, Rescue helicopter crew, RFS and VRA volunteers.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or 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.

Celebrate 90 magical years of Civic jewels

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Civic Theatre and City Hall, a first ever ‘access all areas’ tour will be offered to the general public on Sunday 1 March.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the historic pasts and bright futures of both the Civic Theatre and City Hall.

^{Civic Theatre and City Hall under comnstruction.}
“City Hall and the Civic Theatre are beautiful buildings which are part of the cultural and civic fabric of our city,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“They are owned by and maintained for the people of Newcastle. Our 90th anniversary celebrations are an opportunity to show residents and visitors aspects of both venues they have never seen before.”
The event kicks off in Wheeler Place at midday, with a host of free, fun activities, including an aerial circus show, circus skills workshops, live music including a funky brass band, giant wooden games and puzzles, face painting and air brush tattoos.
Civic-and-City-Hall-90th-birthday-courtesy-CN3-inside.jpg

Civic-and-City-Hall-90th-birthday-courtesy-CN3-inside.jpg

Manager Civic Services Delia O’Hara with Civic Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace and the Lord Mayor.
The Civic Digest café will be open for business and the art deco Civic Bar will provide somewhere to relax with music performed by talented local musicians throughout the afternoon.
“After the official launch in Wheeler Place, guests are invited to come on special behind-the-scenes guided tours of both City Hall and the Civic Theatre, running between 12.30pm and 3.30pm,” Manager Civic Services Delia O’Hara said.
“Bookings are not necessary, but we advise you to be early, so you don’t miss out.
“On the Civic Theatre tour, you will go up onto the stage and into the backstage areas, normally off limits to the public. You will hear about what goes on behind-the-scenes, and while on stage a range of leading local Newcastle drama, dance and musical theatre companies will provide a rare insight into the secrets of staging a production – from auditions through to tech runs. This program is presented in collaboration with the City of Newcastle Drama Association.
“The City Hall guided tours will take guests through all three levels of the building – including the Lord Mayor’s office and Council Chambers – giving visitors an insight into the many uses of the building over the past 90 years and major events which have taken place.
“In the Cummings Room, we will present an historical exhibition about both venues, including a rarely seen silent film commissioned locally in the 1930s, and local historian Sue Ryan will be on hand from 1pm-2pm to answer questions about the history of both buildings.
“Guests are also welcome to visit the Concert Hall where, between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, some of our most talented local musicians will present the ‘Showcasing the Steinway’ program.”

City to fund ocean baths restorations

City of Newcastle has committed to funding the restoration of both Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths following an unsuccessful expressions of interest (EOI) process.
With no EOI submissions progressing beyond an initial panel review, City of Newcastle will form a community reference group by the end of the month to guide the restoration of Newcastle Ocean Baths and commence further engagement on the Merewether pavilion later this year.
Newcastle-Ocean-Baths-(1).jpg

The current round of community engagement is due to conclude at the end of February while initial planning continues, including detailed site investigations to further understand the condition of Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths and the level of rectification required.
“I’m determined to see the Newcastle Ocean Baths become an asset all Novocastrians can be proud of,” Cr Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This means converting feedback from the current community engagement process into the preliminary design that once costed, can be further tested with the community to ensure the Newcastle Ocean Baths receives an appropriate restoration 98 years after it was first built.
“We’ve made a great start on understanding what the community want from the Baths with more than 600 comments already logged on the City’s ideas wall. Intercept surveys are taking place at the Baths and other city locations before the end of February.
“We’ll now progress with forming a community reference group that represents user groups, the local business community and broader ratepayer base with the aim of holding our first meeting next month.
“The Baths are a treasured part of Newcastle’s history. Developed responsibly and with respect to its local heritage, we will deliver public baths that remain appealing to people throughout our city and one of our key tourism drawcards. This includes protection of its facade, the blue-stepped bleaches and its free entry to swim all year round.”
The Newcastle Coastal Plan of Management, adopted by Council in 2015, prescribed an expression of interest (EOI) for the pavilions and identified cafes, kiosks and restaurants as potential future uses, with the stipulation that revenue be re-invested in coastal upgrades and maintenance.
The City invited EOIs in November 2019 before bringing forward engagement following incorrect claims that the Newcastle and Merewether Baths would be privatised.
Under the EOI, the City committed to retaining Newcastle Ocean Baths’ iconic art-deco façade and bleacher seating, while providing renewed public change rooms with hot water showers and improving shading, car parking, disability access and seating in line with previous engagement results.
City of Newcastle Director of Infrastructure Ken Liddell said the City would review the community engagement results before preparing draft concept plans.
“Community consultation will be maintained through a reference group, while information sessions and a public exhibition will be held to present concept plans to the broader community before Councillors review and approve any restoration,” Mr Liddell said.
“I expect the concept plan will be completed this year with detailed design works to follow in preparation for construction work to start in 2021.”
City of Newcastle will form its Newcastle Ocean Baths community reference group in February with invitations to user groups and stakeholders along with an EOI for broader community involvement.
Community reference group
The stakeholder groups to be invited to be part of the community reference group (CRG) will include, but not be limited to:

Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths
Pirates swimming club
Local business
Indigenous (Guraki / Awabakal)
Coal River Working Party
Newcastle East Residents Group
Australian Institute of Architects

For expressions of interest to the community, City of Newcastle will aim for broad representation from across the four wards and, include but not be limited to, youth, people with disability, Indigenous representation and pensioners. Applications to be part of the CRG close on February 27 and interested community members can apply here.
The Newcastle Ocean Baths Community Reference Group will have terms of reference based on the existing CRG for the Bathers Way. The CRG will be independently facilitated.

TIME RUNNING OUT TO FIX STOCKTON EROSION DISASTER

NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay and Labor State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp have backed pleas for Stockton Beach to be declared a Natural Disaster following another devastating weekend of erosion.
Stockton’s caravan park is the latest site to come under threat, only four months after the suburb’s only childcare centre was demolished as a result of the receding coastline.
In September Ms McKay visited the community with Mr Crakanthorp and called on the Berejiklian Liberal Government to:

Immediately appoint a State Recovery Coordinator to manage a whole of government response to the erosion crisis at Stockton.
Direct the Coordinator to urgently assist City of Newcastle with repairs, stabilisation and beach replenishment works to protect Stockton and save the beach.
Work collaboratively with the City of Newcastle, the community and business to expedite the Coastal Management Program, for completion and adoption by the end of the year, to address long term erosion in Stockton.

The Government ignored Labor’s call and instead the Minister for Local Government committed to finding a long-term solution by the end of 2019. Disappointingly, the Minister failed to meet this deadline.
Ms McKay said: “The Government’s neglect of one of Newcastle’s beloved beaches is unacceptable and it would not be allowed to happen at Bondi or Manly. The people of Newcastle deserve better.”
Mr Crakanthorp said: “Time is slipping away, and Stockton is slipping faster.
“How much more do we need to lose? How dangerous does this have to become for the community before this Government pulls its finger out and acts?
“The fact that the Liberal Government ignored our calls for a State Recovery Coordinator has undoubtedly resulted in further damage to Stockton.
“A Natural Disaster declaration would be a step in the right direction, but ultimately what we need is an urgent solution to this erosion crisis and this Government must act now.”

REGIONAL TRAVEL CARD FLOP – NEWCASTLE SENIORS MISS OUT

More than 20,000 Newcastle seniors have been excluded from the NSW Government’s Regional Seniors Travel Card program, despite it being available to those living in neighbouring local government areas.
The $250 card allows eligible seniors to save on fuel and taxis, and pay for pre-booked NSW Trainlink Regional trains and coaches, however Newcastle residents miss out due to the city’s classification as ‘metropolitan’.
For example, this means that seniors in Stockton cannot receive the card, but those in the neighbouring suburb of Fern Bay can.
“The people of Stockton and Fern Bay are living side by side and it’s ridiculous to see them divided this way,” Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said.
“Newcastle’s bus service has already been decimated by this Government – this would have made it easier for seniors to access vital services, but they’ve been left out in the cold again.
“This Government’s arbitrary and inconsistent classification of Newcastle as metropolitan or regional according to their whim is unfair and wrong.”
Shadow Minister for Seniors and Cost of Living Jo Haylen said the exclusion was another blow for seniors and pensioners who were already struggling with the cost of living.
“Seniors and pensioners are the people who need this help the most, and it shouldn’t matter where they live,” Ms Haylen said.
“There has been nothing fair about the rollout of this scheme – Newcastle residents should be just as entitled to this card as their neighbours in Lake Macquarie or Port Stephens.”

LABOR CALLS FOR OFFSHORE MARINE DREDGING TO SOLVE CRISIS AT STOCKTON BEACH

NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay has slammed the Berejiklian Government for its failure to act on the worsening erosion crisis at Stockton Beach – saying immediate steps are needed before the seaside community washes away.
The call comes as it can be revealed that three separate grant applications from Newcastle City Council for emergency sand nourishment by truck remain ignored by the Minister.
On a visit to Stockton today, joined by Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, Ms McKay questioned why the Government has failed to take any steps to overturn the ban on offshore marine dredging that could help solve the crisis.
Labor has been pressing the Government for this action since last October.
Under the Offshore Minerals Act 1999, the Berejiklian Government holds the power to release and invite applications for an area to be mined for sand to replenish beaches.
In response to a Question on Notice from Mr Crakanthorp in 2018, the Government said there were “no current plans” to release any areas for mining licenses. In October 2019, Deputy Premier John Barilaro stated “this regime has not been implemented since the Act was created and legislative changes may be required to support or improve the regime before it is used”.
The City of Newcastle also wrote to Mr Barilaro on December 9 requesting the ban be lifted.
Offshore dredging has been used successfully to combat erosion on the Gold Coast in Queensland and in other nations such as The Netherlands.
“The Berejiklian Government has twiddled its thumbs over summer while Stockton Beach slowly disappears,” Ms McKay said.
“Labor supports any necessary redrafting of existing laws to allow offshore marine dredging for the purposes of beach nourishment – subject to all other environmental and regulatory approvals being met.
“This is a sensible solution the community is calling for. The ball is in the Berejiklian Government’s court – shame on them for just doing nothing.”
Today’s visit by Ms McKay comes in the wake of more severe weather and large swells. Parts of the local caravan park were last week relocated in an emergency operation after savage storms stripped tonnes of sand from the already heavily eroded foreshore.
The Government finally declared Newcastle a natural disaster – but only after calls from Ms McKay and the City of Newcastle.
“People here feel they are on borrowed time. They are living in fear of the next major weather event. The Berejiklian Government promised to address this and they haven’t – and the Premier hasn’t even bothered to visit,” Ms McKay said.
“The Government’s neglect of one of Newcastle’s beloved beaches is unacceptable and it would not be allowed to happen at Bondi or Manly.”
In September, Ms McKay visited the community with Mr Crakanthorp and demanded the Government:

Immediately appoint a State Recovery Coordinator to manage a whole of government response to the erosion crisis at Stockton,
Direct the Coordinator to urgently assist City of Newcastle with repairs, stabilisation and beach replenishment works to protect Stockton and save the beach.
Work collaboratively with the City of Newcastle, the community and business to expedite the Coastal Management Program, for completion and adoption by the end of the year, to address long term erosion in Stockton.

The Government ignored Labor’s call and instead the Minister for Local Government committed to finding a long-term solution by the end of 2019. Disappointingly, the Minister failed to meet this deadline.
Mr Crakanthorp said a long-term solution is needed before it’s too late.
“The childcare centre has already been lost and now the Caravan Park is at risk. Residents are crying out for help because their community is quite literally washing away,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
City of Newcastle previously won funding from the State Government for emergency sand nourishment by truck in front of the Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club and Lexie’s Café. Whilst this provided a short term solution over summer the sand is now gone and the shoreline has further retreated.
However despite the beach being listed as an open coast location (erosion hotspot), which means the State Government is able to fast-track applications for funding, there are still three outstanding grant applications from Newcastle City Council that the Minister is yet to approve.
These are:
• $498,000 requested for coastal protection works at the southern end of Griffith Avenue and Stone Street, Stockton;
• An additional $240,000 for beach nourishment along the southern part of Stockton Beach; and
• $140,000 requested for additional resourcing for City of Newcastle Coastal Management Program.

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Man charged with escape lawful custody – Newcastle

A man has been charged after he allegedly absconded from a hospital in Newcastle while in the custody of Corrective Services officers yesterday.
About 2pm yesterday (Thursday 20 February 2020), officers from Newcastle City Police District responded following reports the 35-year-old, who was being treated under guard at John Hunter Hospital, had escaped.
A large-scale search involving local police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, the Dog Unit and PolAir, was initiated for the alleged escapee.
Just after 3pm, the man was arrested at a shopping centre on Northcott Drive, Kotara.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with escape lawful custody, enter prescribed premises of person without lawful excuse, and larceny.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 21 February 2020).
As investigations continue, police would like to speak with any witnesses. Those with information are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or 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.

Woman charged following theft – Morrisset

A woman will face court today following the theft of two handbags from a business in Morrisset early this morning.
Just after 2am (Friday 21 February 2020) a woman allegedly entered the kitchen area of a business on Nentoura Road, Morrisset and picked up two handbags, owned by two staff members.
The staff members confronted the woman, but she fled in a red Holden Commodore being driven by another woman.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were contacted, and an investigation commenced.
Just before 2.30am, one of the staff member’s husbands saw the red Holden Commodore and began to follow it.
The two cars entered Yurunga Road – a dead-end street – in San Remo where both vehicles came to a stop. It’s alleged the Commodore began to ram the man’s car.
The two women got out of the Commodore and attempted to flee before the man subdued one of the women.
Police arrived on scene and arrested the 33-year-old woman. She was taken to Toronto Police Station where she was charged with enter dwelling with the intent to commit a serious indictable offence, enter prescribed premises of any person without lawful excuse, and drive while licence cancelled.
She was also charged with two outstanding warrants.
She was refused bail and is due to appear before Wyong Local Court today (Friday 21 February 2020).
Inquiries continue into the whereabouts of the second woman.