Category: Newcastle News

Singleton resident and rural landowner, Martin Fallding has been appointed as the inaugural chairperson of the Hunter-Paterson Environmental Water Advisory Group (EWAG). 

Once fully established, the Hunter-Paterson EWAG will advise the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW) on using the environmental water allowance in the Hunter and Paterson regulated rivers.

NSW DCCEEW will seek expressions of interest for membership of the Hunter-Paterson EWAG later in 2024. The group will bring together representatives from a range of interests across the region, including Aboriginal people, environmental groups, water users, and aquatic scientists.  

Information provided by EWAG members will contribute to decisions about environmental water management for 2025 and beyond. 

The Hunter and Paterson Regulated River Water Sharing Plans provide 22 gigalitres (GL) of environmental water allowance to improve river health within the catchments.

Each water year, which starts on 1 July, the environmental water allowance is credited with 20 GL of water in the upper Hunter River water storages of Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam and 2 GL in Lostock Dam in the Paterson River sub-catchment. Any unused environmental water allowance cannot be carried forward to the next water year.

The Hunter-Paterson EWAG will be the sixth EWAG established in NSW and the first in a coastal river catchment. NSW DCCEEW also works with the Snowy Advisory Committee in the Snowy and Montane rivers.

Water for the environment provides benefits such as maintaining river health, encouraging fish passage and spawning, providing river flows that maintain natural variability, and recognising Aboriginal cultural relationships to land and water.

For more information about the environmental assets relevant to the Hunter-Paterson catchment visit, www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/water-for-the-environment/hunter-paterson

NSW DCCEEW Director Hunter Central Coast Joe Thompson:

The establishment of the Hunter-Paterson Environmental Water Advisory Group is a significant step forward in our efforts to make the best use of environmental water to enhance the health of the Hunter and Paterson rivers.

We’re extremely pleased to have Martin Fallding on board as the inaugural Chair.

Martin and the Hunter-Paterson Environmental Water Advisory Group will play a crucial role in guiding our strategies and actions for using the Environmental Water Allowance.

Their input will directly contribute to long-term environmental water planning for the Hunter and Paterson regulated rivers.

Martin Fallding:

I am excited to be part of a conversation that will support the most effective use of the environmental water allowances available in the Hunter and Paterson rivers. 

There are opportunities to work together with all groups and interests to improve the health and condition of the river and its ecosystems. 

A teenage girl has been charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley today.

About 10:15am (Tuesday 9 July 2024), police were called to the rail corridor near Pothana Lane, Belford, following reports persons had allegedly entered the rail corridor and were causing obstruction to trains.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 17-year-old girl from Katoomba.

She was taken to Singleton Police Station where she was charged with enter enclosed lands – serious safety risk, cause train in motion to be stopped, cause obstruction to railway locomotive, and interfere with equipment without permission.

She was refused bail to appear before a Childrens Court tomorrow (Wednesday 10 July 2024).

City of Newcastle is moving forward with plans for a year-round aquatic facility at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre.

Community engagement will begin next month on the proposed upgrades at Lambton, which could include features such a new indoor 25m and toddlers’ pools for improved programs and year-round operations, as well as a new gym, kiosk and changerooms.

Mayfield Swimming Centre Facility Manager Emma Preece, City of Newcastle Acting CEO David Clarke, City of Newcastle Aquatic Operations & Education Specialist Chris Griffin, BlueFit CEO Todd McHardy, City of Newcastle Aquatic Services Manager Donna McGovern, City of Newcastle Executive Manager Community & Recreation Lynn Duffy and City of Newcastle Executive Director Creative & Community Services Alissa Jones at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre.  It follows confirmation that specialist pool operator BlueFit will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of City of Newcastle’s five inland pools under a new long-term lease approved by the NSW Minister for Local Government.

City of Newcastle will maintain ownership of the five swimming centres and responsibility for overseeing the seven-year lease, with two possible seven-year extensions, to ensure good community outcomes.

City of Newcastle Acting CEO David Clarke said the long-term lease provides certainty for the future operation of, and investment into, these much-loved local publicly owned facilities.

“City of Newcastle is committed to maintaining and investing in our network of inland swimming centres to ensure they continue to meet the expectations and evolving needs of our community,” Mr Clarke said.

“The lease with BlueFit will help facilitate the delivery of a year-round aquatic facility at Lambton Swimming Centre, which was a key community priority during consultation for our 20-year Inland Pools Strategy, unanimously adopted by Council in May last year.

“We look forward to involving the community in what the new year-round facility will look like, with community engagement getting underway in August.”

CEO Todd McHardy said BlueFit is delighted to have the opportunity to strengthen its relationship with City of Newcastle and continue delivering for the community.

“BlueFit began working with City of Newcastle in 2014 and since then Newcastle’s swimming centres have consistently received high satisfaction ratings,” Mr McHardy said.

“We’re excited to be a part of the planning for upgrades and improvements at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre.”

A busy program of maintenance activities is being delivered during the winter closure, with Lambton on track to reopen for the traditional early swimming season on Saturday 17 August, while the Stockton, Mayfield, Wallsend and Beresfield pools will be back in action during the September school holidays.

Swimmers will be greeted with refreshed and upgraded facilities, with works being completed across all five swimming centres during the closure period including safety upgrades, extensive re-painting, and maintenance of pool tiles and promenades.

Mr Clarke said City of Newcastle and BlueFit were gearing up for another busy season, following record visitation numbers in 2023/24.

“Last summer was the first season that BlueFit had managed all five of our pools and the community flocked to our facilities, with almost 450,000 people visiting during the season, the highest number since 1997,” Mr Clarke said.

“Under the management of BlueFit, Newcastle’s swimming centres enjoy significantly lower entry fees than pools operated by other local councils.

“BlueFit are committed to ensuring entry fees at Beresfield remain at the 2023/24 rates for the coming season in recognition of the lower median household incomes of suburbs in the Beresfield area. The western corridor also experiences the effect of the urban heat island more than suburbs closer to the coast.

“We look forward to continuing to work together to meet the recreation needs of our growing population.”

City of Newcastle has invested more than $5 million upgrading and $2 million maintaining the city’s public pool network during the past few years including the new grandstand at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre and the installation of accessible changerooms at Wallsend Swimming Centre.

From 17:30 until daylight tomorrow trains will not run on the Hunter Line due to a police operation, with limited buses replacing trains. There may be large gaps in services and buses will not operate to the scheduled timetable. Allow plenty of extra travel time and check transport apps for updates.

Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd and Kooragang Bulk Facilities Pty Ltd have been fined by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), with penalties totalling $30,000, for alleged breaches of environmental legislation in Newcastle.

Multiplex failed to comply with a Prevention Notice and was fined $15,000 after a pollution control structure known as a “wet basin” failed, causing sediment-laden water to leak from the site of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct.

Wet basins are designed to contain and control sediment-laden water on-site to prevent this material entering our creeks and rivers.

NSW EPA Director of Operations, David Gathercole said it’s not the first time we’ve taken regulatory action against Multiplex for activities at the hospital site.

“Multiplex have now received two penalty notices, one clean-up notice and one prevention notice over the duration of this project,” Mr Gathercole said.

“This is a vital piece of infrastructure for the region, and we know the community would expect operations are undertaken in a manner that protects people and the environment.

“Even more concerning is that Multiplex remained unaware of the situation until days after it occurred.”

A $15,000 fine for water pollution was also issued to Kooragang Bulk Facilities after almost 2000kg of alumina dust was released from a dedust hopper, with some entering and polluting the Hunter River. The incident also allegedly caused air pollution around the Port Newcastle.

The operator has also been issued a formal warning for failing to have appropriate operations and maintenance in place.

Mr Gathercole said Kooragang Bulk Facilities acted promptly in their response and the incident could have been avoided if better systems had been in place.

“The two penalty notices are a reminder to all licensees in the Hunter about their environmental obligations.

“Fortunately, in both instances there was no evidence of significant environmental harm, but we expect all pollution control devices to be operating effectively. If we find non-compliance, we will take action.”

A teenage boy has been charged following a fatal crash in the Hunter Valley.

About 10.45pm on Friday 6 July 2024, emergency services were called to Lemon Tree Passage Road, Salt Ash, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived to find a white Ford Falcon sedan containing five young persons, aged 14-17, had left the roadway and impacted with a tree.

Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, a teenage boy, aged 16, died on the way to hospital.

Three other teenage passengers, aged 14 and two 17-year-olds, were taken to John Hunter Hospital for various non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the vehicle – a 17-year-old boy – was subjected to a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result, before he was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and further assessment.

Upon his release from John Hunter Hospital yesterday (Sunday July 7 2024), he was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with learner not accompanied by driver, negligent driving (occasioning death) and special category driver drive with special range PCA.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 19 August 2024.

A search will resume this morning for a missing man after a boat overturned at Swansea yesterday (Saturday July 2024).

About 7.50pm yesterday, emergency services were called to Channel Street, Swansea, following reports of multiple people in the water after a small boat overturned.

On arrival, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were told three men – aged 23, 23 and 20 – had been pulled from the water at Dobinson Drive, Swansea, with one 23-year-old man still missing.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the three men at the scene, with one 23-year-old taken to hospital due to hypothermia.

The master of the boat, also aged 23, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

A multi-agency search for the missing man was conducted with Marine Area Command, PolAir, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Fire and Rescue NSW in attendance, before being suspended due to poor light.

The search is expected to resume at 7am today (Sunday 7 July 2024).

Anyone with information into the incident is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Two men have been charged after a police officer was injured during an arrest in the state’s north this morning.

Just after 3.20am on Saturday 6 July 2024, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were called to Awaba Road in Toronto following an alleged domestic incident.

On the arrival of police, two men become hostile and barricaded themselves inside the home before entry was forced through the rear door.

Inside, police arrested two men – one in possession of knuckle dusters and a ring knife – who struggled against them.

During the arrest, one officer suffered a laceration to his leg, hand and torso, and was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Other officers on scene suffered minor injuries.

The men were taken to Toronto Police Station, where the 35-year-old man was charged with 8 offences, including:

• Intimidate police officer in execution of duty,
• Wound person with intent to resist/prevent arrest etc,
• Cause grievous bodily harm to police officer on duty reckless as to actual bodily harm,
• Use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention etc,
• Armed with intent commit indictable offence,
• Possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit,
• Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).

The 28-year-old man was charged with five offences, including:

• Two counts of intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm,
• Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and
• Destroy or damage property (DV).

Both men were refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 7 July 2024).

A trail bike rider has died following a crash in Lake Macquarie today.

Just after 3pm (Saturday 6 July 2024), emergency services were called to Watt Street in Windermere Park, Lake Macquarie, following reports of a trail bike crash.

On arrival, officers attached to Lake Macquarie were told the 50-year-old rider was travelling on Watt Street before he allegedly lost control and crashed into a tree.

The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, could not be revived.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced.

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

A woman will face court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in Maitland today (Saturday 6 July 2024).

About 6am, police received information that a number of protesters had entered the rail corridor at Farley and were causing obstruction to trains.

Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended the site and arrested a 21-year-old woman from Queensland.

She was taken to Maitland Police Station where she was charged with three offences – enter inclosed non-agricultural lands serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and hinder working of mining equipment.

She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 6 July 2024).