Category: Newcastle News

Two teens have been charged after they allegedly broke into a home and led police on a pursuit.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attempted to stop a car about 1.50am today (Wednesday 5 June 2024), as it was being driven through New Lambton.

The driver allegedly failed to stop and police commenced a pursuit.

A short time later, the car was stopped on Campbell Street, Wallsend, with three teens arrested a short time later.

Another 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were taken to Waratah Police Station where they were each charged with,

• Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence
• Destroy or damage property
• Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse
• Aggravated break and enter with intent – knowing person there
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner
• Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and
• Breach of bail

They were refused bail to appear at Broadmeadow Children’s Court today.

Police will allege in court the car was stolen a short time before the pursuit during a break and enter of a home on Steven Place, Newcastle East.

A third teen, a 15-year-old boy, was taken to John Hunter Hospital.

Inquiries are continuing.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate two teenage girls missing from the Hunter Valley.

Monique Rowland, 12, and Emily Rowland, 13, were last seen at a home on Skelltar Stock Route, Muswellbrook, on Sunday (2 June 2024).

When they were unable to be located or contacted, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into their whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Monique and Emily’s welfare due to their age.

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

Emily is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 140cm tall, thin build, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information into their whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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

Tyrus Reseck, aged 17, was last seen on Thursday 23 May 2024, leaving a unit on Platt Street, Waratah and was dropped off at Waratah railway station.

When he failed to return home and was unable to be located, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for his welfare.

Tyrus is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of solid build, with short red/ginger hair and blue eyes.

Tyrus is known to frequent the Hamilton, Islington, Mayfield and Cameron Park areas.

Anyone with information into the whereabouts of Tyrus is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has died after falling from an e-scooter in the Newcastle area today.

About 12.15pm (Sunday 2 June 2024), emergency services were called to Appletree Road, West Wallsend, following reports of a crash.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District arrived to find the rider of an electric scooter had fallen, impacting with the roadway.

Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, the man died at the scene.

The man, believed to be aged in his 30s, is yet to be formally identified.

The driver of a Toyota Hilux was taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.

A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this crash has commenced.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from Newcastle area.

Parris Valentine, aged 47, was last seen at Newcastle Railway Station, on Tuesday (21 May 2024).

When she was unable to be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified on Friday (31 May 2024) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Parris’ welfare.

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, of a large build, with short blonde hair and black eyes.

Parris is known to frequent the Bankstown and Newcastle areas.

Anyone with information into Parris’ whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has died following a crash in the state’s Hunter region overnight.

About 10.45pm yesterday (Friday 31 May 2024), emergency services were called to Carnley Avenue, Kotara, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District arrived to find the driver and only occupant of a black Kia Rio hatchback had left the roadway and collided with a tree.

Despite the efforts of Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, the man died at the scene.

The man, believed to be aged in his 60s, is yet to be formally identified.

A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this crash has commenced.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage in relation to this incident is urged to contact Newcastle City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

In a major step for the state’s renewables sector, the NSW Government has given planning approval to a $207.6 million hydrogen hub in the Hunter.

The State Significant Development at Kooragang Island led by Origin Future Fuels is expected tobegin construction in mid-2025.  The hub will initially deliver approximately 55 megawatts of electrolyser capacity by 2026, with an aim to scale up to over 1 gigawatt of capacity over the next decade.

Green hydrogen is created through electrolysis (splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen) which can be used as a feedstock in industrial processes and as a fuel source in the transport sector. 

The development will support the hydrogen industry in NSW by establishing a commercial-scale green hydrogen supply chain and a hydrogen refuelling network for the Hunter Region and NSW. 

It will be used by industry, with the majority going to Orica’s nearby ammonium nitrate manufacturing facility to help decarbonise its operations with green hydrogen and made available to transport customers through onsite and satellite refuelling stations.

The development will save the equivalent of more than 52,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year from Orica’s facility.

The project will create 160 construction jobs with 10 ongoing roles.

It has been funded by $45 million from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and $70 million from the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

For more information visit here.  

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“This facility will be a regional cornerstone of the hydrogen industry, accelerating NSW’s shift towards clean technologies and net zero.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:

“The Minns Government is committed to seeing viable renewable projects move through the planning system efficiently to make sure we are working towards our goal of Net Zero by 2050.

“Without a supportive or efficient planning system in NSW we are not going to have the investment we need to decarbonise our industries and support job growth in our regions.”

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:

“NSW has the potential to be a leading producer of green hydrogen and so does the Hunter as the country’s largest regional economy.

“The Hub offers us an opportunity to bring back work lost when the former government shipped manufacturing jobs offshore.

“The approval of the Hub follows this week’s announcement of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority.

“It is a clear sign that the NSW Government is investing in the future of the Hunter, shoring up our energy grid and unleashing the Hunter’s potential to once again be a manufacturing powerhouse.

“Workers expect the NSW Government to be making investments to unlock new industry in the Hunter and ensure our region has stable, good paying jobs well into the future.    

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the NSW Government is ambitious about our community’s future.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

“Green hydrogen will play a critical role in Australia’s transformation to net zero. I am pleased to see this important project progressing, following the $70 million investment from the Commonwealth Government.

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to supporting carbon intensive regions like ours to take advantage of the economic and job opportunities that come with more affordable and reliable renewable energy.”

Bin morning will become quieter and cleaner for Newcastle residents after Councillors voted to add a hydrogen-powered truck to the City of Newcastle waste collection fleet.

City of Newcastle will undertake a 12-month trial of the rear-loading hydrogen fuel cell electric truck with Australian clean energy business Pure Hydrogen as part of its commitment to achieving net zero emissions from its vehicles and equipment.

Summerhill Waste Management Centre

The lease will include the option for a four-year extension based on the outcome of the trial, with the zero-emissions waste collections truck expected to make its maiden round in Newcastle later this year.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the trial aligns with a key priority under City of Newcastle’s Environment Strategy.

“We’re seeing zero-emissions vehicles emerge as a marker of the best-run cities in the world and this trial is a step forward that Newcastle can and should be proud of,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This truck will help many of us get a better sleep on collection days. We can also rest easy knowing it’s helping make our city a cleaner, quieter, more sustainable place to live.

“We’re committed to delivering a 100% reduction in carbon emissions from City of Newcastle vehicles during the next decade and we’ll continue driving toward this goal by trialling new technologies that contribute to this transition.”

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the trial was consistent with Newcastle’s emerging future as a global hydrogen leader.

“Newcastle is the only hydrogen hub designated by both the NSW and Australian governments,” Cr Clausen said.

“I’m proud that Newcastle is taking real action with this hydrogen vehicle trial and I’m proud that our work is shaping the Hunter’s hydrogen transition road map.”

Unlike diesel trucks, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles emit no exhaust, minimal heat and a trickle of pure water. They are also significantly quieter. Newcastle joins cities such as Tokyo and Amsterdam in adding a hydrogen vehicle to its waste collection fleet.

The Newcastle truck will run on Green Hydrogen. While the hydrogen energy to run the truck will be produced by electrolysis using grid power, Green Power Purchase agreements will offset any carbon emissions.

The new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle aligns with the City’s net zero emissions and fleet transition plans under the Newcastle Environment Strategy, as well as liveability, sustainability and circular economy targets in the Newcastle 2040 Community Strategic Plan.

Business Hunter Chief Executive Officer Bob Hawes welcomed City of Newcastle’s support of green hydrogen technology.

“This isn’t just ticking a sustainability box, this is the way the smartest cities are heading and Newcastle and the Hunter needs leadership prepared to be early adopters for communities and industry to be competitive and relevant,” Mr Hawes said. 

“City of Newcastle is backing an Australian business and backing a crucial, zero-emissions technology pathway to net zero is going to be very challenging.

“Every initiative adopted in using new technology in the public and private sector is going to count.”

Data from the 12-month trial will help inform City of Newcastle’s future purchases of waste trucks. Over the coming four years City of Newcastle is expected to replace a significant number of its existing diesel powered green and red lid bin trucks as part of the routine renewal of the fleet.

Work will get underway at Smith Park next month as part of a multimillion-dollar upgrade of the popular Hamilton North sportsground.

Councillors unanimously voted this week to award the contract for construction, which includes new drainage and irrigation, the realignment of fields used for football, Oztag and cricket, as well as the repositioning of three synthetic cricket wickets.

The upgrade of the 56,000 sqm site is being delivered by City of Newcastle with support from a $2.5 million grant secured by the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association through the NSW Government’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the project aligns with the Newcastle 2040 Community Strategic Plan.

“Newcastle 2040 calls for the community to be engaged in local planning to help create quality parkland and recreation facilities, promoting active and healthy communities, and ensuring people of all abilities can enjoy our public spaces,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle has received positive feedback following community consultation regarding the draft Smith Park Masterplan and the stage one works.

“We’ll continue to engage with the community throughout the development of the Masterplan to ensure the requirements of our residents are considered.”

NSW Minister for Sport Stephen Kamper said the upgrade of Smith Park will enable more Newcastle residents to play sport, be active and healthy. 

“Enabling more people to play sport, regardless of age, gender or ability through inclusive and accessible facilities is a key objective of the Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund,” Minister Kamper said.

“The approval of the construction contract by City of Newcastle is an important milestone in this vital community sporting project, which will create jobs and provide an economic boost to the region.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Sports Infrastructure Working Party, Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the stage one works are just the beginning for Smith Park.

“Stage two of the Masterplan forms part of our Strategic Sport Plan 2020 and is designed to address future demand and inform the ongoing improvements to our sporting infrastructure,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“Future works proposed for Smith Park include a community building, upgraded carparks and footpaths, new lighting, a multi-sports court and the upgrade of cricket practice nets.

“Time and time again the Strategic Sport Plan 2020 provides us with a platform to work with our local sporting organisations.

“It helps City of Newcastle align our priorities and facilitate successful grant applications, enhancing our already positive relationships with clubs and officials.”

Newcastle Junior Cricket President Andrew Cornwell said the association is delighted to partner with the NSW Government and City of Newcastle to deliver this much needed upgrade.

“This $2.5 million investment will provide top quality playing conditions for the next generation of Newcastle’s young cricketers,” Mr Cornwell said.