Five people have been injured – two critically – after a backyard heater exploded north of Newcastle overnight.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District and NSW Ambulance paramedics were called to a home on Carnouskie Way, Medowie, about 8.30pm (Saturday 20 July 2019), and found five people suffering serious burns.
A 50-year-old man, from Medowie, and a 42-year-old woman, from Corlette, sustained severe burns and were airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
Three men, two aged 39 and 54 from Medowie and a 40-year-old man from Raymond Terrace, were treated at the scene for serious burns to their bodies. They were taken by road ambulance to John Hunter Hospital.
Police have been told the diesel heater was being re-fuelled when the explosion occurred.
A crime scene was established, and witnesses are assisting police with inquiries.
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Off-duty officer praised for bravery – Port Stephens
An off-duty police officer and a local man are being praised for their bravery after rescuing three people, including two children, who were washed off rocks at Port Stephens yesterday.
About 2.40pm (Saturday 20 July 2019), emergency services were called to Boat Harbour after reports that three people, who had been swimming in rock pools, were washed into the ocean.
Due to high swell and windy conditions an eight-year-old boy, 15-year-old girl and 44-year-old woman – were carried south.
Onlookers alerted a local man, Mr Michael Pascoe, of Boat Harbour, in a small aluminium vessel, who went to their aid.
An off-duty police officer Sergeant Andrew Parker, from the Marine Area Command, entered the water with a rescue board and pulled the three swimmers to the boat.
Officers from Nelson Bay Police Station, Water Police, Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and Surf Life Saving NSW all attended the scene.
The two children and their mother were pulled from the water with no major injuries; the girl is being checked for a suspected sprained ankle.
“The heroic efforts of Sergeant Parker and Mr Pascoe in rescuing these three people in dangerous surf conditions should be commended,” said Acting Inspector Christine McDonald.
“If not for the quick-thinking and courageous response from these men, the outcome could have been tragic for these three swimmers.”
Police seek public assistance following break and enter – Cardiff
A search is underway for a man police believe can assist with inquiries following an alleged break, enter and steal at a building site this morning.
About 6.30am (Sunday 21 July 2019), police were called to a premise under construction on Macquarie Road, Cardiff following reports of a trespassing offence underway.
When officers from Lake Macquarie Police District arrived, they located a number of tools and a collection of building supplies stacked next to a black Suzuki 4WD.
Soon after police located a man who immediately ran from the building site. A short foot pursuit followed before officers lost sight of the man.
A perimeter was established and Polair and the Dog Unit were engaged. The man was tracked to local bushland but when he was unable to be located, the search for him was suspended at 12.30pm.
Police would like to speak to a man they hope can assist with their inquiries.
The man is described as of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, aged in his 40s, with a medium build and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and grey beanie.
Senior Rebels OMCG member charged with 18 offences after weapons, drugs seized – Rutherford
A senior member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) has been charged after Strike Force Raptor seized weapons, drugs and diesel suspected of being stolen, from a home in the Hunter region.
As part of ongoing investigations into an alleged criminal network, police from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North stopped and spoke to a 45-year-old man on Young Street, Rutherford, about 5.40am yesterday (Thursday 18 July 2019).
The man was arrested and charged for allegedly breaching his bail.
He was refused bail and appeared at Maitland Local Court that morning, where he was released on conditional bail.
A short time later, Strike Force Raptor North conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) search at a home in Rutherford.
During the search, investigators located several items, including a push dagger, a sheath knife, a disguised electronic control device, an extendable baton and Rebels OMCG colours.
Investigators also found a crystal substance suspected to be methylamphetamine, prescribed restricted substances and 20 drums of diesel suspected of being stolen.
All items were seized for forensic analysis.
The 45-year-old man was re-arrested at the scene and taken to Maitland Police Station.
He was charged with possess prohibited weapon without permit (x4), use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order (x4), fail to ensure safe keeping of prohibited weapon (x4), possess prohibited drug (x3), possess prescribed restricted substance (x2) and goods in custody.
The man was refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court today (Friday 19 July 2019).
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
Charges laid after replica firearm produced during road rage incident -Tighes Hill
Police have charged a man with one count of intimidation and one count of possessing an unauthorised pistol after a road rage incident near Newcastle yesterday.
About 4.40pm (Thursday 18 July 2019) a 19-year-old woman, driving a white Suzuki Swift, turned out of Bryant Street onto Union Street, Tighes Hill.
Shortly after this, a green Honda CRV pulled in closely behind her and started beeping its horn.
The Honda, containing three males, then pulled up along-side the Suzuki and started making threatening gestures to her, with one man brandishing what appeared to be a handgun. The Honda followed her for a further three minutes before turning into a petrol station at Islington.
Following the incident, police from the Newcastle City Police Area Command made inquiries and located the vehicle.
As a result a 19-year-old man presented himself to detectives at Newcastle Police Station today (Friday 19 July 2019) where he was interviewed, arrested and charged.
The man was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 22 August 2019.
Break-in at registered club – Muswellbrook
Police are appealing for public assistance for information after a break-in at a registered club at Muswellbrook early this morning.
About 2am (Thursday 18 July 2019), a man gained access into the Sydney Street club and entered the office area. He then went to the safe and removed an amount of cash, before leaving the club.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
Anyone who noticed anything suspicious during the evening of Wednesday 17 July and the early hours of Thursday 18 July 2019 in Sydney Street is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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.
Man charged with multiple domestic violence offences – Newcastle
A man will face court today after an investigation revealed he allegedly contravened apprehended violence orders 44 times.
About 9am today (Thursday 18 July 2019), a 29-year-old man was charged at Newcastle Police Station after officers attached to the Central Metropolitan Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team identified numerous instances of alleged threats made to a 35-year-old woman.
The man was charged with contravene prohibition / restriction in AVO (44), do act with intent to pervert the course of justice (14 years), act with intent to influence witness (3), prevent potential witness from attending proceedings (3) and outstanding warrant (breach of community release order).
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 18 July 2019).
Man charged following alleged break-in at registered club – Muswellbrook
Police have arrested a man following an alleged break-in at a registered club in the Hunter Valley this morning.
About 2am (Thursday 18 July 2019), a man allegedly gained access into the Sydney Street club and entered the office area, where he removed an amount of cash, before leaving the club.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
About 1.30pm, officers attended Scott Street, Muswellbrook and arrested a 34-year-old man.
He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with break, enter and steal.
He was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court tomorrow (Friday 19 July 2019).
Business areas to get boost from events funding
Businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community groups are invited to apply for around $900,000 in funding as part of a program designed to attract more people into the City’s business areas.
Funding will be provided through an Expression of Interest process for projects or events in or surrounding the City Centre, Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
Funding of up to $500,000 for a single project or event in the Newcastle CBD is possible under the new program, with smaller grants of up to $15,000 available for events that are staged in Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see what the new funding program generates in terms of ideas for new projects and events in the City CBD and some of our smaller commercial areas,” City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said.
“Newcastle has long been considered the creative capital of Australia, and now we are putting money on the table to turn these ideas into events that activate local business areas.
“The funding is drawn from a special levy that commercial ratepayers in the city and parts of Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton pay. For the past decade the community had limited visibility of how the money was being spent.
“Now, instead of money being frittered away on administration and employee costs, it will be invested directly into events and projects that will attract people to local business districts.”
From 2011 to last month, the City provided more than $8 million funded via the special levy to three Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and two local chambers of commerce.
A review last year revealed major problems with the model, resulting in one BIA voluntarily suspending itself and City of Newcastle terminating the funding agreements of Newcastle Now and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce due to significant governance breaches.
A new model was adopted by Council in May after it decided that BIAs in Newcastle, Mayfield, Hamilton and Wallsend should receive no more than $100,000 annually.
The City is now working with local businesses in Mayfield, Hamilton and the City Centre to form new BIAs, with the aim of entering into 12-month service agreements.
The Wallsend BIA will continue to operate without change.
Council also voted in May to ban special rates from being used by BIAs on employee and administration costs, stipulating that funds should go towards events and projects that activate and promote the business areas.
A new shared resource to manage the administration responsibilities will be appointed in July to ensure previous governance issues within BIAs won’t re-occur.
Expressions of Interest applications for the new funding are open now and close on Friday 9 August 2019.
Funding will be provided through an Expression of Interest process for projects or events in or surrounding the City Centre, Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
Funding of up to $500,000 for a single project or event in the Newcastle CBD is possible under the new program, with smaller grants of up to $15,000 available for events that are staged in Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see what the new funding program generates in terms of ideas for new projects and events in the City CBD and some of our smaller commercial areas,” City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said.
“Newcastle has long been considered the creative capital of Australia, and now we are putting money on the table to turn these ideas into events that activate local business areas.
“The funding is drawn from a special levy that commercial ratepayers in the city and parts of Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton pay. For the past decade the community had limited visibility of how the money was being spent.
“Now, instead of money being frittered away on administration and employee costs, it will be invested directly into events and projects that will attract people to local business districts.”
From 2011 to last month, the City provided more than $8 million funded via the special levy to three Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and two local chambers of commerce.
A review last year revealed major problems with the model, resulting in one BIA voluntarily suspending itself and City of Newcastle terminating the funding agreements of Newcastle Now and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce due to significant governance breaches.
A new model was adopted by Council in May after it decided that BIAs in Newcastle, Mayfield, Hamilton and Wallsend should receive no more than $100,000 annually.
The City is now working with local businesses in Mayfield, Hamilton and the City Centre to form new BIAs, with the aim of entering into 12-month service agreements.
The Wallsend BIA will continue to operate without change.
Council also voted in May to ban special rates from being used by BIAs on employee and administration costs, stipulating that funds should go towards events and projects that activate and promote the business areas.
A new shared resource to manage the administration responsibilities will be appointed in July to ensure previous governance issues within BIAs won’t re-occur.
Expressions of Interest applications for the new funding are open now and close on Friday 9 August 2019.
Two women charged after Strike Force Raptor seize drugs and cash – New Lambton
Strike Force Raptor have charged two women with alleged drug supply offences following a vehicle stop near Newcastle yesterday.
About 1pm (Tuesday 16 July 2019), officers from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North, with assistance from Newcastle City Target Action Group, stopped a Holden Astra on Monash Road, New Lambton, and spoke with the driver, a 35-year-old woman, and her 24-year-old passenger.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and allegedly located 8.66g of methylamphetamine, a prescribed restricted substance, several goods suspected of being stolen and cash.
Both women were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The 35-year-old Adamstown woman was charged with driving while disqualified- second offence, possess prohibited drug (x3), and supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 17 July 2019).
The 24-year-old Lambton woman was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess prohibited drug (x4), deal with property proceeds of crime, goods in custody (x3) and possess prescribed restricted substance.
She was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 August 2019.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.