Category: Newcastle News

Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit are investigating the circumstances of a crash that killed a pedestrian in Newcastle yesterday.
Shortly before 3.30pm (Tuesday 5 November 2019), emergency services were called to the intersection of Brunker and Mandalong Roads, Adamstown after reports a pedestrian was hit by a bus.
Emergency services arrived on scene and found a 35-year-old woman suffering critical injuries. NSW Ambulance paramedics attempted to revive the woman but sadly she passed away. The woman’s dog was also found deceased at the scene.
The driver of the school bus was not injured and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory tests.
At the time of the crash the bus was carrying 16 students from a nearby school; none of the students were hurt.
It appears the bus also crashed into five vehicles that were parked on Brunker Road after the initial impact with the pedestrian.
As Inquiries continue, crash investigators would like to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the collision and have not yet spoken to police.

A man has been charged after allegedly discharging a firearm during a domestic incident in Port Stephens yesterday.
On Tuesday 5 November 2019, a 40-year-old man was at home on Bombora Close, Fingal Bay speaking with his ex-partner, a 38-year-old woman.
During the afternoon an argument ensued between the two which quickly escalated.
It’s alleged the man produced a pistol and fired a shot inside the home that penetrated through a fly screen and a neighbour’s garage, before becoming lodged in an external brick wall at a premises on Shoreline Drive, Fingal Bay.
Officers from Port Stephens – Hunters Police District where notified of the earlier domestic incident and located the man about 5.15pm at a shopping centre in Salamander Bay.
He was arrested and taken to Nelson Bay Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:

• Fire firearm into building or onto enclosed lands
• Possess loaded firearm endanger life non-public place
• Handle/use firearm under the influence of alcohol
• Stalk/intimidation intend physical harm (Domestic) and possession ammunition without a licence
• Possess unregistered firearm
• Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit

He was refused bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 6 November 2019).

A woman has been charged with several stealing offences after allegedly defrauding a Port Stephens business of close to $40,000 over a two-year period.
Last month, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation after the owner of a restaurant on Soldiers Point Road, Soldiers Point noticed discrepancies in the business’ takings.
Following extensive inquiries, about 8.15am yesterday (Tuesday 5 November 2019), police attended a Nelson Bay home and arrested a 42-year-old woman.
Police will allege the woman, an employee at the restaurant, stole in excess of $37,149.40.
She has been charged with 16 counts of steal property as clerk/servant.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 9 December 2019.

Police are appealing for assistance to help locate a woman missing from the Hunter Valley region.
Carissa Starr, aged 30, was last seen leaving a home in Singleton between 2.30pm and 4.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 5 November 2019).
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were notified last night and commenced an investigation.
Police and family hold concerns for her welfare.
She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 165-170cm tall, with an average build, black hair and brown eyes.
It’s believed she may be travelling in a white Mazda 3 with NSW registration plates ECW 10Z.
She has connections to the Singleton, Tamworth and Gosford areas.
Anyone who has seen Carissa or knows of her whereabouts is urged to contact police.
 

The nation’s best professional bull riders are down to the wire in a fierce battle for this year’s PBR Australia title, with just ten days to go until the pinnacle PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals in Townsville.
Taking place at Townsville Entertainment Centre over two bumper nights on November 15 & 16, the PBR Grand Finals mark the final and deciding chapter in the hotly-contested 2019 PBR Australia season.
The critical event will attract 18 of Australia’s top riders, as well as four key internationals – including former World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Brazil), for an epic head-to-head showdown that will decide the coveted 2019 PBR Australia National Champion title.
The riders will also matchup against some of the best bucking bulls in the country – the supreme animal athletes that earn ‘superstar’ status in of one of the world’s fastest growing sports.
“This year marks the 20^th anniversary of PBR in Australia, and the Grand Finals in Townsville are the biggest celebration of the sport’s growth from when we launched the national tour in 1999, said PBR Australia General Manager, Glen Young.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting such a marquee event in the same town as the PBR Australia headquarters – and the Townsville community has always welcomed us and our sport with open arms.”
2018 PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier (Clermont, QLD) is set to return to Townsville in a bid to nab consecutive national titles.
Kleier, currently sits atop the PBR Australia Standings, having successfully backed up a breakout runner-up finish in 2017, and an inaugural Australian Championship win in 2018.
With just ten days to go until the PBR Australia Grand Finals, Kleier holds a points lead over his nearest rival, fellow Clermont (QLD) young-gun Brady Fielder.
Fielder, ranked #2 on the current PBR Australia Standings, looks primed to take out the 2019 Rookie of the Year title, and could make a run for the National Championship with some stellar results in the tail end of the season.
No stranger to rising to big occasions, 19 year-old Fielder has scored multiple top-3 finishes in PBR Australia tour events this year, including PBR title wins in Newcastle, Marrabel and Cunnamulla and today flew out of Brisbane to fly the flag for Australia in the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas this weekend (Nov 7-10).
Despite his youth, the fearless Fielder already sports his fair share of bull riding battle injuries – he’s not only lost vision in his left eye, but also sustained a punctured lung.
Cliff Richardson (Gresford, NSW) is at #3 on the PBR National Standings, and has just flown out to represent Australia alongside Fielder at the PBR World Titles in Las Vegas.
Runner up to National Champion Kleier in the 2018 title race, 28 year-old Cliff started the year strong however failed to find consistency in the middle of the PBR Australia season.  With recent form under his belt, Cliff has his sights set on bettering his #2 Grand Final position this year.
Cliff’s younger brother and PBR Australia #4 Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, NSW) is also hoping to put injury and a mid-season slump behind him to make a last-ditch run at this year’s national title.
The 26-year-old consolidated his top-4 ranking with a return to form after injury and a string off disappointing buck-offs earlier in the year.
“You work hard at it every single day, and then the results don’t show. It annoys you, but it also makes you hungry for next week. I had a bit of bad luck there for a bit, but you’ve just got to keep working at it,” Richardson added.
“Confidence is a really big thing in this sport, and I feel good, healthy and ready to go.”
2019 was the first season in Richardson’s career that he did not embark on a summer run through the PBR tours in the USA and Canada. Grounded in Australia due to Visa issues, Richardson says he has enjoyed the break from international competition.
“It’s great to be home. It wears you out being over there [in the USA] your whole life, so I’m happy to be back here for a bit,” Richardson said. “I enjoy working and doing fun stuff on the farm, and I get to live with my fiancée – so life is good,” he explained.
Out of the mix for this year’s national Championship is current PBR Australia #5, Cody Heffernan (Singleton, NSW).
Heffernan started the year looking virtually untouchable on top of the national leaderboard, however, a string of injuries have hampered his run at a second national title – with a knee injury now sidelining him entirely for this rest of this season and into the New Year.
The tough as nails Heffernan has had knee surgery just 4 days ago and doesn’t expect to be back competing on a bull for another nine months.  The cracking start to the year he had leaves him still in fifth position in the national standings despite being injury riddled and unable to ride for the last few months of competition.
In addition to crowning Australia’s top bull rider, the PBR Grand Finals will also be the deciding event in the race to the Stock Contractor of the Year title.
Throsby & Russell, the 2018 title winners, currently lead the National Stock Contractor Standings, followed by
Dittman Bucking Bulls at #2, and Brandenburg Bucking Bulls at #3.
Brandenburg Bucking Bulls, who were the 2017 PBR Australia Stock Contractors of the Year, are headed up by 23 year-old female bull breeder Dakota Brandenburg.
Brandenburg, who first started working with bulls when she was 13 years-old, cares for around 140 bulls at any given time. At the age of 18, she became the youngest female bull owner and trainer in the country – and now manages the day-to-day feeding, training, diet and vaccinations all the balls in her care.
All of the top three stock contractors are renowned in an industry that prides itself on going the extra mile to ensure its animal athletes are cared for and conditioned to perfection.
The action-packed PBR Grand Finals will also see Country music singer Ryan Weaver perform, straight from the USA.
Before becoming the Patriotic Voice of PBR in the US, Weaver was a Military Intelligence Analyst and then a Black Hawke Aviator who was deployed to Baghdad International Airport. He has since toured the US with the PBR performing at sell-out events and is looking forward to performing in Townsville on his first trip to Australia. (More detail follows in the Editors Notes).
Tickets are on sale for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals in Townsville atwww.tecc.net.au

Police are investigating after an attempted armed robbery in Newcastle overnight.
About 7.45pm on Sunday 3 November 2019, two female employees were inside a pharmacy on Darby Street, Cooks Hill when an unknown man entered the store through a rear entrance.
The man then approached the counter and threatened one of the attendants with a knife before demanding medication.
The other employee activated an alarm and the man fled the store empty handed through the rear entrance onto Railway Street.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District conducted patrols of the area however were unable to locate the man.
He is described as being about 180cm tall, with a thin build, dark clothing and a dark face covering.
Police are urging anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam vision from the area around this time or who

More than $365 million in new development has been lodged with the City of Newcastle during the past three months.
It’s a figure that’s seen the City of Newcastle set a new three-month record for investment in the city.

A new $160 million development by the Wests Group Australia is the latest example that confidence in the city centre is at an all-time high, with three other multi-million dollar projects also submitted for approval just in October.
The Wests Group’s development at 309 King Street includes two 14 storey mixed use buildings consisting of a 144 bed seniors aged care facility, 82 seniors independent living units and 166 general residential apartments, along with ground floor cafes, restaurants and a medical facility with underground parking for 286 cars.
The pedestrian laneway between the development and the existing Wests City building (NEX) would include a memorial to the 1989 Newcastle earthquake victims.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the increase in investment was yet more evidence of the private sector’s confidence in the city.
“Newcastle is undergoing an unprecedented construction boom on the back of the our progressive, future-focussed vision for the City.
“The latest influx of investment is particularly exciting as it involves formerly underutilised sites now earmarked for development.
“These plans will drive our local economy and contribute to the vibrancy of our community for decades to come.”
Last week a development application from Iris Capital to convert the former David Jones building on Hunter Street to a hotel was also lodged.
“In addition to the $18 million restoration of the former David Jones building to a hotel, work will officially start Monday on the conversion of the Roundhouse into the city’s first five-star hotel in a development estimated at $24 million,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Newcastle’s transformation is truly underway. It’s fantastic that our city centre will soon be home to two five-star hotels.
“Our city has seen a 60 per cent increase in visitor numbers and expenditure in the past five years which again positions Newcastle as a destination city that continues to grow and improve.”
Century Venues have also proposed a $11.5 million restoration of Newcastle’s iconic Victoria Theatre, immediately opposite Iris Capital’s proposed five-star hotel and roof top bar.
The 2018 calendar year was a record year for City of Newcastle, as the total value of building approvals topped $1.2 billion with the 2019 year on track to rival this figure.

A man has died in hospital after being hit by a van at a shopping centre in Charlestown four weeks ago.
Emergency services were called to level two of the shopping centre on Frederick Street after an 87-year-old man and an 80-year-old woman were struck by the van about 11am Thursday 3 October 2019.
The man sustained multiple critical injuries and has been undergoing treatment ever since; however, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have now been told the man died yesterday (Friday 1 November 2019), in hospital.
The injured woman was treated on the day for a head injury and allowed to go home.
The van driver, a 70-year-old woman from Hamilton South, was not injured and underwent mandatory testing.
Inquiries are continuing by Lake Macquarie PD.

City of Newcastle is inviting expressions of interest to redevelop the iconic Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths pavilions in overhauls that could include restaurants, recreational and community facilities and other services.  
Newcastle Ocean Bath’s iconic art deco exterior is proposed to be retained in any redevelopment, while new public change rooms, disabled access, car parking, new seating, shading and other community facilities will be mandatory inclusions at both sites.  

As well as reinvigorating the baths precincts, the final outcomes will promote access to the Bathers Way, preserve views from lifeguard/first aid rooms and provide swimmers year-round protection from prevailing winds.   
“Redevelopment of Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths pavilions is an exciting opportunity to rejuvenate and enhance public assets by capitalising on Newcastle’s unprecedented growth in a long-term partnership with the City,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.  
“I’m looking forward to seeing proposals. One condition that we have placed on the EOI is that the baths must always remain free public assets.  
“The City is committed to improving public and community spaces along our coastline, and a commercial partnership could allow us to significantly enhance and manage these precious facilities in a financially responsible way.”  
  
^{Artist’s impression of what the baths could look like.}
Some 5,800sqm of space is on offer at the 1922-bulit Newcastle Ocean Baths and 2,200sqm at the Merewether pavilion, under leases of up to 21 years.  
City of Newcastle Infrastructure Director Ken Liddell said councillors had made it clear they considered the ocean baths the No.1 infrastructure priority.  
“In February the Councillors came together for a two-day strategic planning workshop where they nominated the restoration of the Newcastle Ocean Baths as the single most important infrastructure project for the city,” he said.  
“Our staff have spent the past six months developing the EOI, as well as resolving a number of potential issues that exist because the Baths sit on crown land.   
“All issues have been resolved and we are now able to take the projects to the market. Potential uses under zoning regulations for both baths include restaurants, cafes or kiosks, community facilities, and educational facilities or other recreation purposes.  
“The EOI will be followed by a tender process for shortlisted respondents before a lease is signed with the City, which is the Reserve Trust Manager of both buildings for the Crown Lands Division of the NSW Government.  
“Any redevelopment of these buildings will be subject to DA determination and the successful lessee(s) will be required to provide some facilities managed by the City, so it can continue to provide lifeguard and pool-cleaning services plus community spaces.  
“Parties interested in these redevelopments will have to outline their proposed partnership or joint- venture arrangements, concept plans and previous experience with developments of similar scope and scale.  
“Proponents will have to comply with heritage controls as the Newcastle Ocean Baths are listed as a local heritage item in the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 and located within the Newcastle East Heritage Conservation Area.”  
Expressions of Interest can be made via https://www.tenderlink.com/newcastle/ and close on Tuesday 17 December at 2pm.   

A man and a woman have been arrested in relation to drug and weapons offences in the state’s Hunter region.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District and Rural Crime investigators established Strike Force Axels to investigate property theft in the Upper Hunter.
Following extensive inquiries, about 7am today (Friday 1 November 2019), Hunter Valley PD officers with the assistance of Strike Force Raptor North executed search warrants at two properties on Madden Parade and Wentworth Avenue, Singleton Heights.
During the searches, police allegedly located and seized methylamphetamine, steroids, cannabis and a taser.
A 36-year-old man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station. He was charged with three drug offences and refused bail to face Cessnock Local Court today (Friday 1 November 2019).
A 57-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Singleton Police Station. She is expected to be charged later today.
Investigations under Strike Force Axels are ongoing.