Category: Newcastle News

170 people have been arrested this weekend over the disruption of a major facility and failure to comply with marine safety directions in the Port of Newcastle.

Yesterday (Saturday 23 November 2024), two men and a woman were charged with not comply with direction by authorised officer relating to safety.

Just after 10am today (Sunday 24 November 2024), a large group of people entered the shipping channel and presented serious safety risks to themselves and others, causing significant disruptions to the operation of the harbour.

156 adults and 14 youths have now been charged in total – 138 with disruption of a major facility, and 32 with not comply with direction by authorised officer relating to safety. Two were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 24 November 2024).

34 people were required to be retrieved from the water during arrests, ten people required assistance from police to return to shore, and one police officer suffered a fractured ankle.

Unrelated to activities in the water, there were numerous traffic infringements issued, and a further five charges were laid.

Despite disruptions, the harbour remains open and continues to operate with 31 shipping movements over the weekend since Friday (22 November 2024).

The police operation is ongoing.

The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community and there will be zero tolerance for illegal and dangerous behaviour.

Police will address the media this afternoon as a police operation continues in Newcastle.

170 have been arrested over unsafe behaviour in the water, serious disruption of a major facility, and other offences.

10 people also required assistance from police to return to shore.

The harbour remains open despite some serious disruptions.

The operation is ongoing.

Police have arrested over 100 people as a police operation continues in the Port of Newcastle.

Just after 10am today (Sunday 24 November 2024), a large group of people entered a shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.

138 people have now been arrested after refusing to comply with a direction to move away from the channel.

The police operation is ongoing.

For their own safety and that of the other users of the port, police request that people refrain from entering the harbour with the intention to obstruct other users of the port. We also encourage all participants to follow the directions of police.

The community is reminded that under NSW legislation, the safe passage of vessels is protected. Unlawful activity may result in fines or imprisonment.

The NSW Police Force will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels.

Three people have been charged as a high-visibility police operation continues in the Port of Newcastle.

About 1.45pm today (Saturday 23 November 2024), officers attached to Marine Area Command issued directions to a number of people to move away from a shipping channel due to safety concerns.

When two men – aged 27 and 59 – and a 26-year-old woman allegedly remained in the water, they were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where they were charged with not comply with direction by authorised officer relating to safety.

They were all granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Monday 13 January 2025.

A number of other people were not arrested on the water, but were assisted by police when they struggled to return to shore.

The police operation will continue over the weekend to ensure the safety of participants, the community, and users of the Port of Newcastle.

For their own safety and that of the other users of the port, police request that people refrain from entering the harbour with the intention to obstruct other users of the port. We also encourage all participants to follow the directions of police.

The community is reminded that under NSW legislation, the safe passage of vessels is protected. Unlawful activity may result in fines or imprisonment.

The NSW Police Force will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels.

Three people have been arrested as a police operation continues in Newcastle.

About 1.45pm today (Saturday 23 November 2024), officers attached to Marine Area Command removed three people from the water at the Port of Newcastle.

Two men – aged 27 and 60 – and a 26 year-old woman, were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where they are assisting police with their inquiries.

The police operation is ongoing and more information will be provided when it becomes available.

City of Newcastle is a step closer to increasing the range of residential options across the city with its Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme now on public exhibition.

The planning proposal was endorsed by Councillors at the December 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has now determined it satisfies pre-exhibition conditions.

The scheme proposes to add affordable housing provisions to the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012, which will enable a condition of consent for new residential and mixed-use developments to make contributions towards affordable housing, where a new development is greater than 540m2 or benefitting from zoning uplift.

Contributions will be in the form of a financial subsidy, a dedication of land or completed dwellings to City of Newcastle and would be managed by a community housing provider and used to maintain, build, and develop affordable housing. 

Affordable housing is available to support very low to and moderate income households experiencing housing stress, which occurs where housing costs are greater than 30 per cent of gross household income after other basic living costs. 

Executive Director of Planning and Environment, Michelle Bisson, said the scheme modelled construction costs, taxes, location, land value, and return on investment to retain residual value and ensure viability and feasibility. 

“I am particularly pleased to have received endorsement from the Department’s Housing Policy Team who commended the work of our City of Newcastle team,” Ms Bisson said.

“Our planners have developed a rigorous methodology to establish appropriate contributions rates for development in different parts of the city.”   

With the latest forecasts showing the population is set to increase by 41,150 residents to 202,050 by 2041 in the Newcastle LGA, with need for almost 20,000 new homes, City of Newcastle is committed to supporting the increase of affordable housing in the city.

City of Newcastle’s Housing Policy sets a target of 15 per cent affordable housing across the city on privately owned land, and 25 per cent on government land, consistent with benchmarks to deliver affordable housing and housing diversity. 

City of Newcastle’s Affordable Housing Working Party Chair Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk said the scheme has been carefully developed in consultation with housing experts and industry stakeholders and refined through an extensive development feasibility assessment.

“Our team has done incredible work to ensure that we can increase our supply of housing and maintain development feasibility, while increasing the availability of much-needed affordable housing across the city,” Cr Adamczyk said.

“With ever increasing numbers of people in our community experiencing housing stress, affordable housing is an important social infrastructure that supports liveability and wellbeing by enabling a strong, diverse, and inclusive community.

“This scheme is consistent with the objectives of the Newcastle 2040 Community Strategic Plan and our community’s vision for a liveable, sustainable, caring, and inclusive city.”

Community members are invited to provide feedback on the planning proposal and Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme via City of Newcastle’s Have Your Say page until 2 February 2025.

The NSW Police Force is aware of a public assembly being conducted on, and in the vicinity of, the Port of Newcastle from 19 to 26 November 2024.

The NSWPF acknowledges the right to free speech and political demonstration and routinely facilitates public assemblies across the state, where it is safe to do so.

On Thursday 7 November 2024, the Supreme Court validated the NSW Police Force’s concerns about the safety of the assembly, by prohibiting both the water and land component of the public assembly.

The local council have permitted the public assembly to occur on their land at Foreshore Park. In response to the assembly, a high-visibility police operation is underway to ensure the safety of participants, the community, and users of the Port of Newcastle.

For their own safety and that of the other users of the Port, we request that people who still attend this event refrain from entering the harbour on kayaks or other vessels with the intention to obstruct other users of the Port, or engage in other forms of civil disobedience. We also encourage all participants to follow the directions of police.

The community is reminded that under NSW Legislation, the safe passage of vessels is protected. Unlawful activity may result in fines or imprisonment.

The NSW Police Force will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels.

Again, the NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community and there will be zero tolerance for illegal and dangerous behaviour.

Following a further meeting with Rising Tide, I have negotiated a compromise outcome for the Protestival event set to be staged this week at Camp Shortland.

Under a negotiated compromise with Rising Tide, the event will no longer be staged at Camp Shortland. This is because Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has written to City of Newcastle stating it requires unhindered access to Horseshoe Beach via the carpark. 

The community may be unaware that both the carpark and beach are owned by the NSW Government, and therefore we must respect their position as the landowner.  

TfNSW has also stated it will not permit any activities related to the Rising Tide event taking place on the northern end of Camp Shortland that abuts Horseshoe Beach, which is also owned by TfNSW.

In light of this restriction, the section of Camp Shortland under the care and control of City of Newcastle is not large enough to safely enable the Rising Tide event to proceed, especially over the concert days of Friday and Saturday.

Instead Rising Tide have agreed to relocate their event to Foreshore Park. They have also agreed to limit the size of the event to 5,000 people at any time, and no more than 500 people camping in the park overnight. I have also told them they must not allow marine vessels such as kayaks or canoes within Foreshore Park.

Rising Tide committed to me that they would direct people to follow police directions and would warn participants of the consequences of likely arrest if they do not obey police. And critically, Rising Tide committed to discouraging people from disruptive activities away from the harbour such as stopping coal trains.

I will also be writing to residents nearby to Foreshore Park explaining to them the change in location from Camp Shortland. I will explain the situation we as a community find ourselves in. It is a fact that this event will be occurring with or without my approval. 

Arguably it will be a safer event with appropriate controls in place by providing a licence for the event. Further, I have explained that I believe that raising the issue of climate change is one that enjoys widespread support within the Newcastle community, and it is fair and reasonable that people have an opportunity to express their concerns through peaceful protest.

Two people have been charged over the alleged fatal stabbing of a man in Newcastle at the weekend.

Emergency services had been called to Beaumont Street, Hamilton, about 2.40am Sunday (17 November 2024), and found a 22-year-old man suffering multiple stab wounds. He died in hospital at short time later.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation under Strike Force Mannum, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.

Following inquiries, a 27-year-old man was arrested at Waratah Police Station about 11am yesterday (Monday 18 November 2024).

The man, from North Lambton, has now been charged with murder and has been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court later today.

About 5:10pm yesterday, a 33-year-old woman was arrested at a bus stop at Bankstown.

She was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with murder and has been refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court today.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the state’s Hunter Region.

Gavin Moresby-White, aged 68, was last seen on Greg Stairs Road, Gungal – 50km west of Muswellbrook – about 10.30am on Tuesday 29 October 2024.

When concerns were raised for his welfare on Friday 15 November 2024, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for Gavin as his disappearance is out of character.

Gavin is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall with medium build, and balding with white hair.

He is known to drive a Toyota Camry with QLD plates 859MHT, which was found by police on Greg Stairs Road, Gungal.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts or dashcam footage is urged to call Hunter Valley police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has died following a stabbing in Newcastle this morning.

About 2.40am (Sunday 17 November 2024), emergency services were called to Beaumont Street, Hamilton, following reports of a stabbing.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and found a man, believed to be aged in his 20s, with stab wounds.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.

Beaumont Street is closed between Tudor and Donald Street, with motorists and pedestrians advised to avoid the area.

Anyone with information about the incident, was in the area at the time – or has dash cam or mobile phone footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Hunter Valley.

Emmerson Price, aged 14, was last seen in Abermain about 1am on Sunday 10 November 2024.

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified on Tuesday (12 November 2024) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

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

Emmerson is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 150 to 170cm tall with a medium build, blonde hair and has a septum (nose) piercing.

She is known to frequent the Abermain, Rutherford, Maitland, Broken Hill and East Branxton areas.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Hunter Valley Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.