Category: Newcastle News

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Hunter Valley area.

Matthew Griffiths, aged 54, was last seen on Tindale Street, Muswellbrook, around midnight on Thursday 19 March 2026.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Matthew’s welfare.

Matthew is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 170cm tall, of medium build, fair complexion, with black hair and brown eyes.

He is believed to frequent the Muswellbrook, Hamilton South, Hamilton and Newcastle areas.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating a fish kill event in the Hunter River at Mount Thorley.

Officers were called to the site on Friday 20 March where they collected water and fish samples for analysis.

Reports from locals suggest hundreds of dead fish were seen along a 2-kilometre stretch of the river. At this early stage, the cause is unknown.

NSW EPA Director Operations, David Gathercole, said the Hunter River at Mount Thorley receives inputs from a range of sources including industrial estates, agricultural runoff and mining activities.

We are contacting any licenced facilities in the area that have known discharge points into the river to ensure they are operating normally and to determine if a pollution incident has occurred,” Mr Gathercole said.

We will work with other relevant government agencies to finalise sampling results and monitor water quality in the area.

As a precaution, we recommend anyone swimming in the river follows standard NSW Health advice not to drink any untreated water.

For downstream users if you don’t need to extract water from the river, wait until we have confirmation that the water quality is normal.”

Water sample analysis results should be available within the next week. Fish sample analysis could take up to three weeks.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from the state’s north.

Eli Tomaszewski, aged 13, was last seen on Nile Street, Mayfield, about 8.30pm on Tuesday 17 March 2026.

When he was unable to be located, officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District were notified yesterday (Thursday 19 March 2026), and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

There are concerns for Eli’s welfare due to his young age.

Eli is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 150cm tall, of thin build, with brown hair, and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a maroon shirt, black denim shorts and blue Nike shoes.

Eli is known to frequent the Raymond Terrace area.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Raymond Terrace police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Almost 40 years since the Tangara trains were built in Newcastle, the work to extend their life is coming back to the Hunter, with the Minns Labor Government establishing two new production lines at the rail facility in Cardiff. 

This investment will create around 100 new jobs and 20 apprenticeships in the Hunter, rebuilding the train manufacturing workforce after the former Liberal-National Government ended passenger train manufacturing in the region in 2013 and prioritised overseas manufacturers. 

The $447 million Tangara Life Extension program will extend the life of 55 eight-carriage trains by over a decade by replacing internal cladding, the computer operating system, installing more accessible emergency help points, emergency door release, passenger visual displays, upgrades to the passenger address system and CCTV.

The two new production lines in the Hunter, in addition to the existing three lines at Auburn and Flemington, will increase the pace of train upgrades from 12 per year to 20. This increased capacity means more upgraded Tangara trains will be on the network sooner.

The 100 new jobs and 20 apprenticeships in the Hunter brings the total number of jobs on the Tangara Life Extension program to 320. 200 people including apprentices are already working on the program at Auburn and Flemington. 

This investment in local skills will help develop the workforce that will build the new Tangara fleet in NSW, which will begin procurement by 2027 and meet the 50 per cent local manufacturing target as part of the Future Fleet Program.

The life extension program is part of the Government’s focus on improving rail reliability in response to the Independent Rail Review.

The Tangaras are some of the oldest rolling stocks and refurbished carriages will help to reduce maintenance faults. 

To date, four Tangara trains are undergoing upgrades with the first train now in the network undergoing dynamic testing activities before it re-enters service on the network.

Tangara vision and historic images can be downloaded HERE.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“I lived in Newcastle when it was a proud train building city. We’re now bringing train manufacturing jobs back to the Hunter, the home of the original Tangara fleet.

“The former government sent Hunter jobs offshore because of their obsession with buying trains overseas. Anywhere but NSW, that was their policy on transport manufacturing jobs.

“This investment accelerates the life extension of our Tangara fleet while creating real jobs and skills development in the Hunter region.

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

“The people of Newcastle built these trains more than 35 years ago, and it’s only right that the Hunter is once again at the heart of this work. We’re truly a proud train manufacturing town.

“But this is about more than upgrading trains. It’s about creating secure jobs, training apprentices and giving local families confidence that opportunity exists right here in our region.

“We’re backing Hunter workers and making sure the skills and industries that built this region continue to thrive into the future.”

Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“Almost 40 years after the Tangara trains were first built in Newcastle, it is fantastic to see this work returning to the Hunter.

“This is what rebuilding public transport capability in NSW looks like – more skilled jobs in the Hunter, more apprenticeships and more work being done here at home.

“After years of offshoring and neglect, we are rebuilding the workforce and capability NSW needs for the future.”

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“This is a key step as we rebuild our domestic manufacturing capability and turn around 12 years of offshoring by the previous Liberal-National Government.

“We know that for every one job in manufacturing there are a further 3.5 in the supply chain, and that’s why we want our procurement dollars creating jobs here in NSW.

“We want to better leverage our precious procurement dollars through projects like this so we can maximise our support for workers and industries here in NSW, not on the other side of the world.”

Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said: 

“The two lines to be added to this facility are also adding new jobs and apprenticeships, offering great opportunities for locals. 

“There will be cost savings associated with the acceleration of the program of work and by opening up these additional lines, the project will be finished sooner than previously forecast. 

“That means the benefits of this initiative will be felt far beyond Wallsend.” 

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said:

“The Tangara Life Extension Program is the most comprehensive refurbishment of its kind ever undertaken by Sydney Trains.

“Our teams in Sydney and soon, in the Hunter are carrying out critical system upgrades, modernising on‑board technologies and improving safety and accessibility features to bring these trains in line with contemporary standards.”

A new landfill cell capable of receiving up to three million cubic metres of waste will be built at Summerhill Waste Management Centre to cater for Newcastle’s growing population.

This will be the 10^th cell established at the site, which is one of the largest facilities in NSW and has the capacity to meet the city’s waste disposal needs for more than 100 years.

CEO Jeremy Bath said City of Newcastle was continuing to deliver its long-term waste strategy to ensure Newcastle’s future as a sustainable city.

“The Summerhill Waste Management Centre is a significant asset that allows us to take responsibility for our city’s waste and innovate its management as our population continues to grow,” Mr Bath said.

“The planning and eventual development of the latest landfill cell will provide Newcastle with secure, environmentally responsible waste capacity for another 10 years.

“This will be delivered alongside a range of initiatives and education programs focussed on reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and changing the way we return, reuse, repair and recycle resources.

“The current landfill operates in conjunction with our Resource Recovery Centre, which opened in 2019 and has diverted almost 19,000 tonnes of waste that would otherwise have been destined for landfill.”

City of Newcastle has awarded a tender for the design of the Cell 10 project, which will include planning for site-wide stormwater and contaminated liquid strategies, gas management and detailed geotechnical investigations.

Work will also be completed to update the overall masterplan for the site.

City of Newcastle’s Managing Director Waste Services David Witherdin said Cell 10 will be guided by best-practice environmental controls as part of the long-term operational and environmental sustainability of the site.

“Our modern facilities and best practice landfill operations have replaced the open-air rubbish piles of the past by using the sealed cells as independent containment units,” Mr Witherdin said.

“The cells manage contaminated liquids and allow us to reduce the volume of clean stormwater entering the landfill area and thereby reduces contamination.

“Our landfilling practices manage odour more effectively and increase capture of landfill gas which is converted it into electricity and reduces our carbon impact, while still providing long-term landfill capacity for our city’s predicted population boom.”

The master planning and design work is expected to be completed in 2027 followed by a tender to build Cell 10, with the staged construction program expected to begin in 2028.

A driver has died in hospital after a single-vehicle crash in the Hunter Valley area.

About 3:45pm on Tuesday 10 March 2026, emergency services were called to Leggetts Drive, Pelaw Main (2km south of Kurri Kurri), following reports of a crash.

On arrival, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District located a single vehicle crashed into a power pole.

The driver – an 18-year-old man – was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

Police commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

About 8.15am today (Sunday 15 March 2026), police received notification that the 18-year-old man had passed away in hospital.

Police will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing on the state’s Central Coast.

Brodie Monger, aged 14, was last seen in East Maitland, about 12pm on Sunday 1 March 2026.

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified yesterday (Thursday 12 March 2026) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Brodie is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 150cm tall, of thin build with blonde hair.

She is known to frequent the Central Coast, Newcastle and East Maitland areas.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to call Port Stephens-Hunter Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the State’s north.

Aubree Wray, aged 14, was last seen in Soldiers Point, about 58km north of Newcastle, at 11pm on Thursday 19 February 2026.

Unable to be located or contacted since, officers attached to Port-Stephens Hunter Police District were notified on Sunday 8 March 2026 and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Family and police hold concerns for Aubree’s welfare due to her age.

Aubree is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 150cm tall, of thin build, with dark brown hair.

She is known to frequent the Liverpool, Casula, and Cabramatta areas.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Port-Stephens Hunter Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from the Newcastle area.
Callum Schonewille, aged 15, was last seen in Telarah on 18 February 2026.
Unable to be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified on Monday 20 February 2026 and officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Inquiries revealed Callum may have been at a chemist on Beaumont Street, Hamilton, about 8:45am on Monday 9 March 2026.
Police hold concerns for Callum’s welfare due to his age.
Callum is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of slim build, with light brown hair and a blonde rats tail and mullet.
He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts, black slides, black socks, black jumper with TUPAC logo and carrying a black satchel bag.
Callum is believed to frequent the Telarah, Maitland, Edgeworth, Charlestown, Windale and Campsie areas.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages

Allegations that serious risks were downplayed or concealed at the Calvary Mater and that workers who flagged concerns were threatened or pushed out of their roles have been revealed as part of a submission to an inquiry into the hospital’s management.

In its submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into management, maintenance and operational issues at the Calvary Mater Hospital, the Health Services Union has included staff reports of a “sweep it under the rug” culture as part of the private maintenance contract which the Novacare consortium is responsible for.

After years of failures under the Public Private Partnership model, the HSU is using its submission to call for a full review of the contract compliance and greater accountability and transparency amongst the public private arrangements in the state health system.

Staff have been reporting issues with the hospital maintenance going back almost a decade. Whistleblowers have revealed they were pressured to water down findings of failings, and that some quality and performance reports were altered to downplay the seriousness of safety risks,” HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes said.

Our members have reported facing intimidation and harassment, including being threatened with the loss of their job if they escalated concerns. It’s disturbing behaviour from a contractor that puts profit over people, creating unsafe conditions for staff and patients.

HSU members are working at full capacity at Calvary Mater. They simply want to come to work and deliver the best and safest services possible to the community, but the current environment is preventing them from doing that” Gerard Hayes said.

Maintenance failures have been well reported at the hospital, ranging from mould to potable water issues. HSU’s submission highlights rectification of the potable water issue at the hospital was delayed on cost grounds, with SafeWork and the Health Minister eventually stepping in to take over control of critical repair works.

Public Private Partnerships put staff and the public at risk and undermine trust. By allowing companies to make a profit from our public health facilities, everyone except those companies loses,” Gerard Hayes said.

HSU has used its submission to urge the state government to launch an independent investigation into the alleged bullying, harassment and reported retaliation by Honeywell, (part of the Novarcare consortium and responsible for “hard facilities management”) and Novacare management, including providing protections for current and former workers what have raised concerns.

It also calls for the maintenance and rectification works claimed by Novacare to be independently audited, and to fully assess the building’s conditions, as well as creating a safe and accessible escalation pathway for healthcare workers to report unsafe conditions without compromising their jobs.