Category: Newcastle News

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.

City of Newcastle has welcomed the NSW Government’s approval of its application to secure funding to deliver 5,500 tonnes of sand to the southern end of Stockton Beach as a short-term measure.
The work will see sand trucked in south of the Lexie’s Cafe accessway before the Christmas school holidays as the first of a two-stage project.

Additional sand will be deposited north of the accessway, adjacent to the Surf Club, as part of stage two in the New Year, subject to further approvals from the NSW Government.
The initial $350,000 project (funded 50:50 by City of Newcastle and the NSW Government) will restore the beach’s amenity and also allow the City to monitor sand movements along the Stockton Coast.
“I would like to thank our staff at the City who have worked tirelessly on short and medium-term measures of our Coastal Zone Management Plan, from dune stabilisation and sand scraping to beach renourishment, for many years,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Our staff have worked hard to address immediate risk from recent erosion events and now, with another successful grant application, the NSW Government has agreed to jointly fund a one-off beach nourishment project. These funds will allow City of Newcastle to proceed with the trial restoration of the section of Stockton Beach from the holiday park to Lexie’s Cafe in the short term.
“The project aims to re-instate the amenity of the beach previously enjoyed by locals and visitors this summer. This work is not a preventative measure. A long-term solution to erosion is still required.
“The City continues to work with the community and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment on long-term solutions, with investigation of multiple options, including offshore sand extraction for more substantive nourishment programs.
“Discussions to date with the Deputy Premier have been very positive. He understands the issue and that a solution similar to how the Gold Coast ensures the sustainability of its beaches is possible under the Minerals Act.
“I thank the Stockton community and particularly the Stockton Liaison Committee for their support and expertise as we secure both a short and long-term solution to coastal erosion.”
The replacement sand will be sourced from a local commercial quarry and require hundreds of truck movements to Stockton Beach.
Due to the presence of heavy machinery required to perform the work, access to parts of the beach will be restricted over coming weeks.
 

Detectives investigating the disappearance – and suspected murder – of three Lake Macquarie teenage girls have released an image of a vehicle which is similar to the one they believe may be linked to two of the cases.
In April 2019, Lake Macquarie detectives established Strike Force Arapaima to re-examine the investigation into the unsolved disappearances and suspected murders of Robyn Hickie, Amanda Robinson and Gordana Kotevski.
Robyn Hickie, aged 18, left her home around 7.15pm on Saturday 7 April 1979, and was last seen standing at a bus stop on the Pacific Highway, Belmont North.
A fortnight later, Amanda Robinson, aged 14, was last seen on Saturday 21 April 1979, also near a bus stop on Lake Road, Swansea, after attending a dance at her high school in Gateshead.
About 9pm on Thursday 24 November 1994, Gordana Kotevski, aged 16, was forced into a vehicle on Powell Street, Charlestown, while walking from Charlestown Square Shopping Centre to her aunt’s home on the same road.
Despite extensive investigations at the time, and over the years, none of the girls have been located.
A subsequent Coronial Inquest into their disappearances found that the girls were deceased, most likely as a result of foul play.
As part of ongoing investigations, strike force detectives have identified a vehicle which they believe may be linked to the disappearance and suspected murder of both Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson.
They have released an image of a similar vehicle, which is described as a distinct green-coloured, mid-1970s four-door Holden Torana sedan.
Lake Macquarie Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Greg Thomas, said this is a significant new lead in the investigation of these cases.
“We are hoping anyone who was living in the Lake Macquarie region in the late 1970s may have a recollection of this Holden Torana, in particular in the month of April 1979.
“We understand it’s been 40 years since Robyn and Amanda’s disappearances, however, we are seeking assistance from anyone who may even have moved to a different state or who may have some memory of this vehicle to come forward to police – you can remain anonymous through Crime Stoppers if you wish.
“It may seem like small or insignificant information from decades past – but it could help investigators solve these cases,” Det Ch Insp Thomas said.
Investigations under Strike Force Arapaima continue.
Anyone with information about any of these cold cases 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.

Police have praised the good behaviour of tens of thousands of race goers following a high-visibility operation at this year’s Coates Hire Newcastle 500.
Operation Newcastle Supercars 2019 commenced last Thursday (21 November 2019), to ensure the safety and security of competitors, officials and spectators throughout the event.
General duties officers from Newcastle City Police District and across Northern Region, the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), Operations Support Groups (OSG), Dog Unit, PolAir, Licensing Police, Bicycle Unit, Youth Command (PCYC), Marine Area Command, Police Transport Command and Traffic & Highway Patrol Command were involved in the operation.
Of note, officers attached to Operation Newcastle Supercars 2019 arrested four males on Saturday 23 November about 3.30pm following an incident inside the precinct near Watt and Scott Streets. All four were charged for a range of offences including drink liquor in ticketed area, offensive behaviour, use offensive language and resist arrest. They were all conditionally bailed to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 12 December 2019.
Operation Newcastle Supercars 2019 Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell APM, said he was extremely pleased to see the majority of spectators behave appropriately and enjoy themselves at the event over the weekend.
“Dozens of officers were out in force across the event footprint, focusing on road safety, crowd behaviour, and minimising the impact of the event on the local community,” Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
“We were quite happy with the behaviour of most people who attended the race, and it was great to see so many families return to the city this year in support of the Newcastle 500.
“Despite the forecast wet weather yesterday, spectators turned out in the thousands and enjoyed the Supercars finale while knowing their limits and respecting others around them.
“Police worked closely with Supercars, the City of Newcastle and Transport NSW before and during the event to create a safe and family-friendly atmosphere.
“There were a small number of race goers who engaged in anti-social behaviour and didn’t listen to the warnings. They tried to spoil the fun for others, but they were identified and quickly dealt with by officers, security and Supercars officials,” Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
Road safety was another focus of the operation, with police conducting 913 random breath tests and issuing 108 traffic infringement notices for offences including speeding, using a mobile phone whilst driving and not wearing a seatbelt.
“We will continue our presence on the roads in and around Newcastle and the Hunter today to ensure everyone’s journey home is a safe one,” Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell said.
“Our Traffic and Highway Patrol officers have done an excellent job this weekend, reminding drivers of the dangers of speeding, using a mobile phone behind the wheel and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“With the festive season just around the corner, we are reminding the public to leave the racing to the professionals on the track.
“We do not want to see any more tragedies on our roads and those that choose to engage in risky driver behaviour will face the full force of the law,” Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
Special event clearways and road closures will remain in place throughout the week. Motorists are urged to visit www.livetraffic.com for more information.

A police officer has received a knife wound while arresting a juvenile following a pursuit in Toronto this morning.
About 5.20am (Saturday 23 November 2019), police attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling Nita Street when the noticed a Subaru station wagon.
The car matched the description of a vehicle that had just been circulated by police radio as being allegedly stolen at knife point moments before.
A police pursuit was initiated and when the car reached Straight Drive, the driver continued across a reserve, through a fence and crashed into a footbridge bollard.
The driver, a 15-year-old boy, ran from the car and was tackled to the ground by police.
Police struggled with the teen who was holding his arms towards his chest. As police were able to force his arms to the rear, a knife which was allegedly secreted in the boy’s T-shirt, penetrated one of the officer’s bicep.
The young person was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with robbery while armed, police pursuit – Skye’s Law, wound officer executing duty recklessly causing actual bodily harm, assault police, and unlicensed.
He was refused bail and is expected to appear in a children’s court tomorrow (Sunday 24 November 2019).
The injured officer, a senior constable, was taken to Belmont Hospital and received three sutures for his wound.