Category: Newcastle News

Two teens have been charged after an alleged break and enter at a school in the Lake Macquarie region early today.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District have been investigating a number of property offences in the Belmont area, including an increase in break and enters.
Police have been proactively responding to this increase with the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group performing Precision Policing in the area.
At 1.30am (Monday 17 February 2020), police stopped two young males walking along the Pacific Highway in Belmont.
Upon searching the two teens, aged 13 and 14, officers allegedly located 11 tablet computers, chargers, a computer modem, food and cleaning materials, as well as house breaking implements and face coverings.
A knife was also seized from one teen before they were taken to Belmont Police Station.
Following inquiries, police were told that a security system was activated at 1am at a school nearby, with entry forced into a computer room.
The 14-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company, possess house breaking implements and custody of a knife in public place.
The 13-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company and possess house breaking implements.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Monday 17 February 2020).

A woman has died after being hit by a vehicle in the Hunter Region last night.
Just before 11pm, a 47-year-old woman was walking across Main Road in Heddon Greta, near Kurri Kurri, when she was hit by a car travelling south.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and found the woman with serious head injuries.
She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics on scene, but later died.
The female driver, aged 27, stopped to render assistance. She was conveyed to Maitland Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
Investigations continue

Four teens have been charged following an investigation into a number of break-ins in the Maitland area.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation after a number of business at a Rutherford shopping centre and a Maitland motel were broken into during January and early February.
About 10.30am today (Friday 14 February 2020), police attended the shopping centre after a 13-year-old boy was detained by security. Officers arrested the teen and he was taken to Maitland Police Station.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested two girls, aged 14, at a Rutherford home about 11am. Both were taken to Maitland Police Station.
About 1.40pm, a 13-year-old boy, accompanied by his mother, attended Maitland Police Station where he was arrested.
One boy was charged with two counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, larceny, two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company – steal, common assault, and an outstanding warrant was executed.
The other was charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company – steal, enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, and breach of bail.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court tomorrow (Saturday 15 February 2020.
One girl was charged with six counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, Enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, and larceny.
She appeared at a children’s court today and was formally refused bail to appear on Friday 28 February 2020.
The other was charged with two counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, larceny, and dishonestly obtain property by deception.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Friday 27 March 2020.

City of Newcastle will relocate up to 16 beachfront cabins at Stockton Holiday Park and has made the difficult decision to immediately close Lexie’s Café ahead of the second east coast low to batter Newcastle in a week.
The cabins will be moved indefinitely to Crown Land managed by the City under reserve trust on the eastern side of the Stockton Swimming Centre, south of the Skate Park.
City of Newcastle Infrastructure and Property Director Ken Liddell said the actions are necessary to protect public assets and safety with heavy swells expected to hit the coast over the next few days, as Cyclone Uesi tracks south.
“While we welcome the State Government declaring a natural disaster for Stockton this week, we are taking immediate action to protect important public assets.
“The cabins, previously protected by about 10 metres of dune vegetation, are now at imminent risk from the swells.
“So we’ve taken the decision to move them to community land next to the swimming pool, where they will be safely tucked away behind King Street carpark and the Stockton breakwater.
“By moving the remainder of the cabins, we will avoid sacrificing more sites for caravans and tents within the existing footprint of the park.”
The City will look to re-open the cabins on the new site after following due process, including site investigation, community consultation and planning approval.
“Once we’ve secured the remainder of the holiday park and this weekend’s threat has passed, we will look at the planning requirements for the site and lodge a DA as soon as possible to begin leasing them out again.”
For the same reasons, City of Newcastle has closed the city-owned building held by Lexie’s Café until it is again safe for the public to enter.
“The impact of the recent wild weather which the State Government has now recognised as a natural disaster, combined with forecast huge swells this weekend, mean we can no longer guarantee public safety at Lexie’s Café,” Liddell said.
“Given this, we have had to make the extremely difficult decision to immediately close and barricade the building. We understand that Lexie’s has become a much-loved part of the Stockton community and this decision was only made after examining computer modelling of the likely impact of the forecast huge swells this weekend.
“It is for the same reason that we have had to relocate several of the most eastern cabins at the caravan park. We are losing sand at a record rate, and with the impact of tropical Cyclone Uesi likely to be felt at Stockton as soon as this weekend, we had to close the building held by Lexie’s Café.
“We again call upon the NSW Government to recognise that mandated processes for long term solutions to coastal erosion at Stockton should no longer apply given the natural disaster that is now much of the eastern coast of Stockton.”

A man will appear in court today charged over the alleged possession of child abuse material at Lake Macquarie.
Following an investigation, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District executed a search warrant at a Wangi Wangi home yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020).
During the search, officers allegedly seized a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material. These items will be forensically examined.
A 46-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Toronto Police Station.
He was charged with use carriage service to access child abuse material, possess child abuse material using carriage service, and possess child abuse material.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Friday 14 February 2020).

A man has been charged following an investigation into an alleged act of animal cruelty in the state’s Hunter region.
On Monday 23 December 2019, police will allege that a 37-year-old man became aware of heifers grazing on his property that were not his.
It’s alleged he got into his vehicle and deliberately drove into one of the heifers – breaking its leg – before slitting its throat and releasing his dogs.
The heifer’s owner discovered the injured animal and was forced to euthanise it. He then reported the matter to officers from Hunter Valley Police District.
Investigations commenced by Hunter Valley Rural Crime Investigators, with the assistance of Dungog police and local government authorities.
About 2pm yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020), the 37-year-old man attended Gosford Police Station, where he was arrested and charged with:
• torture, beat and seriously injure animal,
• torture, beat and cause prolonged suffering to animal,
• dog attack animal due to owner’s reckless act, and
• two counts of fail to prevent dog from escaping.
He was given strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Dungog Local Court on Wednesday 11 March 2020.
State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said this investigation highlighted the teamwork and coordination that is ever present between police, the Rural Crime Prevention Team, RSPCA, local government and Local Land Services.
“This is just one example of a great team coming together, sharing expertise and tackling animal cruelty head-on,” Det Insp Whiteside said.
“I would also like to remind the community they can report matters of animal cruelty to their local police, Crime Stoppers, the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League.”

Work to fight against severe erosion at Stockton beach exacerbated by extreme weather over the weekend has received desperately needed support, with the NSW Government declaring Newcastle a natural disaster area.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has welcomed the news that the NSW Government listened to City of Newcastle’s urgent request to declare a Natural Disaster at Stockton.
“This declaration means that City of Newcastle is eligible for assistance through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Fund to assist with the cost of cleaning up and restoring our damaged essential public assets at Stockton.
“An enormous thank you goes to our amazing City of Newcastle staff who have been undertaking emergency works to protect the Stockton community and our public assets from this erosion catastrophe.
“We’re pleased that this declaration enables us to deal with the short-term impact, but we will continue to call for urgent support from the Premier, Deputy Premier, Environment and Local Government Ministers to deliver a viable long-term solution.
The support offered through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements assists local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets.
“Our immediate priorities are to ensure public safety along the coastal area and to protect public and private assets and property,” Councillor Nelmes said.
Meanwhile, emergency works will continue today at Stockton following significant beach erosion as the City prepares for another storm front and large swells in coming days.
City of Newcastle has completed the relocation of 3 cabins, and we continue the relocation of all ocean edge cabins at Stockton Holiday Park at risk of collapse into the ocean in the face of a low-pressure system predicted to batter the coast in the coming days. To facilitate emergency works, traffic management is in place.
In the interest of public safety, all accessways along Stockton Beach have been closed until further notice and the community is advised to keep away from the top and bottom of sand cliffs as they may be unstable and collapse without warning.
Erosion has exposed significant amounts of historic material and debris which poses public safety risks. Please avoid the beach and this debris. Arrangements are being made to clean up the debris as weather conditions permit.
City of Newcastle requests all residents and visitors be aware of changed conditions and follow directional signage, warnings notices and instructions of City of Newcastle staff and other authorities.

A man will face court later this month charged with alleged fraud offences in Lake Macquarie.
About 10am yesterday (Wednesday 12 February 2020), officers attached to the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group executed a search warrant at a home on Cassia Crescent, Gateshead, where they spoke with a 25-year-old man.
During the search warrant, police located and seized a number of items believed to be purchased with fraudulent funds, including batteries, spray paints and household goods.
The 25-year-old was arrested at the scene; a short time later, the man suffered a medical episode and NSW Ambulance paramedics were called for an assessment.
He was treated at the scene before being taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with five counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception and two counts of receive stolen property.
Police will allege he purchased goods from several Newcastle and Lake Macquarie building supplies stores using stolen purchase cards attached to a Charlestown business.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 26 February 2020.

A respite carer has been charged following an investigation into the alleged indecent assaults of two children near Newcastle.
In October 2018, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports two young girls had been indecently assaulted by a man while they were in his care.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 69-year-old man at a home in Newcastle just before 1pm yesterday (Wednesday 12 February 2020).
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with six counts of indecent assault person under 16 years of age.
Police will allege in court that the man indecently assaulted the girls – then aged six and 11 – on several occasions while they were in his care in October 2018.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 13 February 2020).
 

Two men have been charged over the alleged supply of MDMA and cocaine across Newcastle.
In October 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad, established Strike Force Pallamana to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs, including MDMA and cocaine, in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, with assistance from Strike Force Raptor North, executed two search warrants at homes in Elermore Vale and Macquarie Hills from 7.30am today (Thursday 13 February 2020).
During the searches, officers seized 28g of MDMA, steroids, $15,000 cash, mobile phones, documents and other items relevant to the investigation.
Two men – aged 24 and 28 – were arrested during the operation and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The 24-year-old Macquarie Hills man was charged with 32 offences, including supply prohibited drug (between indictable and commercial quantity x9), supply prohibited drug (between small and indictable quantity x20), supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis (x2) and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
The 28-year-old Elermore Vale man was charged with supply prohibited drug (between indictable and commercial quantity x2), supply prohibited drug (between small and indictable quantity x3), and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.
Police will allege in court that the younger man was involved in the supply of 37g of MDMA and 35.5g of cocaine on several occasions between November 2019 and January 2020.
It will be further alleged that the older man was involved in the supply of 27.5g of cocaine between November 2019 and January 2020.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Friday 14 February 2020).
Investigations under Strike Force Pallamana are continuing.