Category: NSW News

A man has been charged after allegedly spitting on a woman at a Kellyville Ridge fast food restaurant yesterday.
About 11.40am (Thursday 9 April 2020), a man attended the business on Windsor Road and ordered food.
When the man sat in the outdoor section of the restaurant, staff told him that he was not able to dine in the restaurant due to current COVID-19-related ministerial directions.
The 42-year-old man refused to leave and a woman, also in the store, began filming him on her mobile.
The man approached the 34-year-old woman and allegedly spat on her face before leaving.
Officers attached to Quakers Hill Police Area Command attended and arrested the man.
He has been charged with common assault and has been issued a Field Court Attendance Notice.
The man, from Chester Hill, is due to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Monday 6 July 2020.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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 charged two men with drug supply offences following proactive patrols in Sydney’s CBD.
About 3.30pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling Haymarket when they spoke with a man on Thomas Lane.
Police searched the man and found a plastic bag allegedly containing methylamphetamine, a fake soft drink can with a concealed compartment also containing methylamphetamine, two mobile phones, more than $350 cash and jewellery.
The 39-year-old man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug
As the man could not provide police with a reasonable excuse for being away from his Burwood home, he was also charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
He was refused bail to appear Parramatta Local Court via audio visual link on Friday 10 April 2020.
In a separate incident about 7.45pm, police saw a man on his mobile phone while driving along Harris Street in Ultimo.
Officers spoke to the driver and sole occupant of the Toyota Corolla, a man aged 23.
Police located nine small bags of cocaine on the ground, that had allegedly been concealed in the man’s shorts. Upon searching the Toyota, police also located a wallet and $250 cash allegedly hidden in two locations inside the car.
The man was also taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable), deal with proceeds of crime, and use mobile phone whilst driving. He was also given a warning for breach of the Health Minister’s Direction.
The Belmore man was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 1 July 2020.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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.

A man has been charged with drug supply offences during proactive police patrols in Ultimo yesterday.
About 5pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command spoke to a man on Macarthur Street.
The man was not able to give a reasonable excuse for being there, and upon searching the man, police allegedly located 65.2 grams of Methamphetamine, 12.9 grams of Ketamine and 8.4 grams of MDMA allegedly found inside his backpack.
The drugs have a potential estimated street value of more than $50,000.
Police also allege the man was in possession of drug manufacturing equipment, drug paraphernalia and over $4,000 cash.
The 40-year-old man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station.
He was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), deal with the proceeds of crime, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, possess house breaking implements, and fail to comply with a public health order.
The Camperdown man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Thursday 9 April 2020).

Four men have been infringed for not complying with health act in Sydney’s south-west overnight.
About 3am (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Liverpool Police Area Command were called to Brigalow Avenue, Casula, following reports of suspicious activity.
A Nissan Skyline was found parked, occupied by four men.
When asked about their reason for being together and away from their residence, they were not able to provide a reasonable excuse.
During a subsequent search, officers allegedly located cocaine in the vehicle. It was seized and will undergo forensic examination.
The four men – two aged 21, a 19-year-old, and a 22-year-old – were each issued with a $1000 PIN.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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.

Detectives have conducted inquiries on board the Ruby Princess as part of an ongoing investigation into the docking and disembarking of the vessel last month.
Earlier this week, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller announced the commencement of a criminal investigation into the communications, actions, and other circumstances that led to the docking and disembarking of the vessel at Sydney Harbour on Thursday 19 March 2020.
Specialist detectives are conducting the investigation under Strike Force Bast.
About 7pm yesterday (Wednesday 8 April 2020), strike force detectives boarded the vessel to conduct inquiries, which included speaking with crew members, as well as gathering and seizing the voyage data recorder (black box) and other items of interest to the investigation.
Anyone who has information relevant to the investigation, including details of symptoms, illness, or medical advice during the voyage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
The community is reminded that their information is treated in strict confidence.

Police have charged one man under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued eight COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) since the last update.
Charges:

• About 1pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command spoke to a 58-year-old man on King Street, Newtown in a current alcohol-free zone. He was allegedly consuming alcohol and speaking to another man. Further inquiries revealed the man had received a PIN for not complying with a noticed direction the day before (Tuesday 7 April 2020). He was issued with a second PIN for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and directed to move on. Police returned to the location about 6.25pm and the 58-year-old was observed allegedly urinating in public. He was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with fail to comply with section 7/8/9 under the Public Health Act, and offensive behaviour. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newtown Local Court on Thursday 25 June 2020.

PINs include:

• A woman has received a PIN after ignoring a warning issued to her 20 minutes earlier for gathering in a group of more than two. About 4.40pm(Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Police Transport Command spoke to five people congregating on The Crescent, Fairfield. The group was given cautions for failing to comply with a ministerial direction and asked to move on. About 5pm, police approached another group of four people a short distance away. Among that group was an 18-year-old woman who had received a caution 20 minutes prior. Police issued her a PIN and directed that the group separate and return to their homes.

• Just before 10pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), a motorcyclist was stopped by police on Oxford Street, Gateshead. Officers spoke with the 36-year-old man, who allegedly provided multiple conflicting reasons for not being home before stating he was on his way to help a friend fix a bike. The officers deemed his reasons for travel as non-essential and issued the man with a $1000 PIN.

• About 10pm on Tuesday (7 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District attempted to pull over a vehicle on Eucalyptus Avenue, Worrigee, when the car stopped in a driveway and the 35-year-old male driver attempted to flee. He was stopped and spoken to along with his 26-year-old female passenger. Checks of the man’s licence revealed he was disqualified from driving until March 2021. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located suspected prohibited drugs and drug paraphernalia, which was seized for further examination. The man was given a court attendance notice for drive while disqualified and both he and his female passenger received $1000 PINs for failing to comply with the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW).

• At 10.50pm on Tuesday (7 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District were conducting a proactive patrol at Sanctuary Point when they observed a 20-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy approaching a home on Idlewild Avenue. After officers spoke with the pair and advised them they were in breach of a ministerial direction, the man ran away. During a subsequent search of the teen, police allegedly located and seized MDMA. While this was occurring, the man returned to the street and refused to go home. The teen was taken home and dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, while the man was issued with $1000 PIN.

• Two teenagers have been issued PINs following an investigation into an alleged negligent driving incident in the state’s central west. About midnight on Saturday (4 April 2020), a Holden Commodore came to rest near flood waters on the Kidman Highway, Cobar. The driver waved down a Toyota Hilux for assistance; however, the driver of the Hilux allegedly circled around the Commodore several times, flooding it with more water. Later that morning, police found the Hilux bogged in mud off Bourke Road, Cobar, with five people inside. Two of the occupants ran, and officers from Central North Police District spoke with three remaining teenagers. A 16-year-old girl was returned to her Cobar home and issued with a formal warning for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. Two 17-year-old boys were taken to Cobar Police Station, where the driver was issued with penalty infringement notices for negligent driving, P1 driver under 25-years drive between 11pm & 5am with passenger under 21-years, and fail to comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW). His passenger was also given a $1000 PIN for his failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Since 17 March 2020, police have issued 12 Court Attendance Notices, and 151 PINs for breaches of the Public Health Act.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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.

Minister for Transport Andrew Constance today announced the start of the tender process to build almost 50km of new metro railway tunnels between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD on the Sydney Metro West project.
The NSW Government has called for expressions of interest for the mega project’s first two major infrastructure packages – the delivery of twin tunnels between Westmead and The Bays.
“Now more than ever, infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro West support jobs, communities and the economy – Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs, with thousands of these jobs being generated by these new tunnelling contracts,” Mr Constance said.
“These contracts will require tunnellers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete workers, truck drivers, labourers and security guards.”
The first of four mega tunnel boring machines are expected to be in the ground before the end of 2022.
Expressions of interest have been called for the first two tunnelling contracts from Westmead to Sydney Olympic Park and from Sydney Olympic Park to The Bays.
“Sydney Metro West is a truly once-in-a-century city shaping project that will forever change how we get around Sydney,” Mr Constance said.
“Just as importantly, the construction of this mega project will create many thousands of new jobs and support families across Sydney.”
The Sydney Metro West project will deliver a new underground driverless metro railway from Westmead to the city, doubling the rail capacity of this corridor and cutting travel times to around 20 minutes between Parramatta and the city.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is now better equipped to respond to emergencies and calls for assistance from the community following the rollout of a fleet of new next generation response vehicles.
As part of a $28 million aerial replacement program funded by the NSW Government, fire stations like Parramatta and Hornsby will put to good use one of 13 new Bronto Skylift Ladder Platforms and the EGI Klubb Aerial Pumpers.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the new vehicles would serve to improve emergency response in NSW at a time when it is needed most.
“FRNSW do an incredible job in responding to countless emergencies across NSW, which was on display to the community during the horrible bushfire season we experienced over the summer. It’s only fitting that the NSW Government continues to back our frontline emergency services workers through an investment in vehicles to improve emergency response,” Mr Elliott said.
“The communities in and around Parramatta and Hornsby will be the first to benefit from these state-of-the-art fire trucks, with the remaining vehicles to be deployed by the Commissioner over the next few months”.
“While the NSW Government is rightly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives, it’s important we still work to ensure all our fire agencies have the equipment and resources they need ahead of the next fire season.”
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the new vehicles would add to the already high emergency response capabilities of the organisation.
“Along with their compact boom design and realtime image capture ability, the Bronto Skylift will enable us to reach a working height of 45 metres, compared to our current 37 metre vehicles, making it the highest reaching vehicle of any fire service in Australia,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“Just like the Bronto Skylift, the new EGI Klubb Aerial Pumpers are equipped with rescue cages with breathable air and the ability to send realtime imagery. It is a more compact unit than our current design operating at an increased working height from 15 metres to 24 metres due to its unique articulating boom.

NSW frontline healthcare workers will be provided with free accommodation to protect their loved ones as part of $100 million in extra measures to support frontline staff battling COVID-19.
The NSW Government is allocating almost $60 million to provide doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital and ambulance staff with the option of staying in out-of-home accommodation during the pandemic.
The package will also support medical research and vaccine trials to beat COVID-19, as well as commercialise research products and boost domestic supply chains.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this funding would not only provide support for healthcare workers now but would also give them the resources to tackle COVID-19 head-on in the coming months.
“Nobody should go to work and worry that it will put their families at risk especially when they are working so hard to protect us. This funding is the least we can do to keep healthcare workers and their families safe,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our health professionals are among the best in the world and we must do everything we can to help them not just now but also in the weeks and months ahead as we battle this virus.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said providing free accommodation to hospital staff was a crucial plank in the health support package.
“The last thing the brave men and women in our health system should have to worry about is that their jobs will result in their loved ones being exposed to this virus,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As was the case during the bushfires our health system will have all the resources it needs so our frontline health workers can save lives and look after themselves.”
Local health districts will work with staff to make sure accommodation is close to work or their families, depending on individual needs.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said no stone would be left unturned when it came to supporting the health system. Mr Hazzard said the vital health package will also include $25 million in funding for medical research and vaccine trials to help develop a cure to beat COVID-19 as well as $11 million to quickly get work from NSW’s world class universities and partner research institutions to market.
“Frontline health staff who have the community’s back now know that the community and the government have their back. This funding gives them options on accommodation when they’re doing battle with COVID-19,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Options to protect their family and to protect themselves are critical, and now they can choose what’s best in their own circumstances without worrying about a drain on their budget.”
The package also includes $10 million to work with NSW engineering, electrical and manufacturing businesses to urgently undertake pilot projects to produce ventilators and other critical medical equipment locally.
Key elements of the support package include:

• $58 million for health worker accommodation
• $25 million for medical research and vaccine trials
• $11 million for commercialisation of research products
• $10 million Funding to partner with industry to boost domestic supply chains.

The NSW Government has already committed $700 million extra funding for NSW Health as part of a $2.3 billion health boost and economic stimulus package announced on March 17.
This funding boost is helping double ICU capacity, preparing for additional COVID-19 testing, purchasing additional ventilators and medical equipment and establishing acute respiratory clinics.

The NSW Police Force investigation is underway to examine the circumstances surrounding the docking and disembarking of the Ruby Princess last month.
Earlier this week, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller announced the commencement of a criminal investigation into the communications, actions, and other circumstances that led to the docking and disembarking of the vessel at Sydney Harbour on Thursday 19 March 2020.
A team of 30 detectives from across State Crime, Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics and Marine Area Commands have been seconded to Strike Force Bast, who will be assisted by intelligence analysts and other specialist officers.
The first investigations briefing was conducted this morning (Wednesday 8 April 2020), and taskings have since commenced.
Strike force investigators will interview high-priority witnesses in coming days, but they are still urging those with relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers as soon as possible.
Anyone who has information relevant to the investigation, including details of symptoms, illness, or medical advice during the voyage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
The community is reminded that their information is treated in strict confidence.