Category: Newcastle News

A man has been arrested following a police pursuit in the Newcastle area yesterday.
About 12pm (Tuesday 10 September 2019), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attempted to stop a Toyota Camry in Christie Avenue, Tarro, in relation to a fraud matter.
When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. It was terminated shortly after in the suburb of Beresfield due to safety concerns.
The vehicle was again spotted on Anderson Drive, Beresfield. Another pursuit was initiated before being terminated near Hexham on the New England Highway, once more due to safety concerns.
The vehicle travelled through a number of suburbs including Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Police surveillance observed the Camry driving at speed and in a dangerous manner before entering the Newcastle University.
Upon entering a dead-end street within the University campus, police attempted to speak with the man before he fled on foot. He was arrested nearby after a short foot pursuit.
The vehicle had not been secured and it subsequently crashed into a garden after rolling down the street. No one was injured.
Upon searching the vehicle, police located a large amount of alleged stolen property and stolen number plates. Police seized 13 different registration plates, cards, a wallet, and five mobile phones.
The 32-year-old man was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with two counts of larceny, dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc. by deception, five counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception, drive while licence cancelled, use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road and police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously.
He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 11 September 2019).

A Finks outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) associate has been charged after Strike Force Raptor North seized a pistol, firearms parts and ammunition near Newcastle in 2017.
Police from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) and Weapons Prohibition Order (WPO) search at a home on Maryland Street, Maryland, about 7am on Wednesday 17 May 2017.
During the search officers seized a pistol, two sling shots, ammunition, and firearm parts including a trigger mechanism, suppressor, rifle bolt and shortened barrel.
Each of the items were forensically examined by specialist police.
Following extensive inquiries, officers from Strike Force Raptor North arrested a 21-year-old man outside Maitland Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 10 September 2019).
The man, who is a Finks OMCG associate, was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with possess unauthorised firearm, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, and two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
He was refused bail and to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 11 September 2019).
Strike Force Raptor North conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity impacting Northern NSW.

The unique character of Hamilton’s residential streetscapes will be preserved for future generations following the creation of the City’s first substantial heritage conservation area in 20 years.
In July last year City of Newcastle proposed to the State Government to protect the historically significant Hamilton Residential Precinct, a four-block area between Donald and Tudor Streets bounded by Gordon Avenue to the east and Murray Street to the west. This proposal has now been approved by the Minister for Planning.

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it is crucial to recognise and retain Newcastle’s unique heritage.
“The City of Newcastle is dedicated to preserving our city’s rich history, and this new conservation area allows us to safeguard the significant aesthetic characteristics of Hamilton,” she said.
“The Hamilton Residential Precinct is typical of the late Victorian and Federation periods in Newcastle’s urban development, featuring small lot housing of one or two storeys.
“Opening the railway and train station back in 1887 saw an influx of residents move from the city centre to Hamilton, and the style and age of the housing reflects this growth.
“Retaining our suburb’s character helps preserve our Novocastrian cultural identity and demonstrate our sense of pride in heritage places.”
The establishment of the heritage conservation area was welcomed by Hamilton resident and passionate history buff Rod Noble, who has lived in one of Lawson Street’s grand Victorian two-storey terraces for the past 27 years. The row of five adjacent freestanding terraces were built in the early to mid-1890s.
“The Hamilton heritage precinct is steeped in history that is important to our city, with the first land sales in the area dating back to 1857,” Rod said.
“The majority of the original Victorian and Edwardian housing stock has survived and many unique dwellings from the period are contained within the precinct.
“I welcome the City of Newcastle’s decision to establish this heritage conservation area as it is important to preserve its special character for future generations.”

Establishing the Hamilton conservation area includes amendments to the Newcastle Local Environment Plan, which ensure future developments complement the original character of the suburb by clearly defining acceptable new developments as well as alterations and additions.
Hamilton’s architectural character dates from the late 19th and early decades of the 20th century, featuring late Victorian terraces and cottages, Federation cottages and bungalows in the popular styles of the time, with Italianate, Queen Anne, Edwardian, California and Spanish Mission influences.

Three men will appear in court today following an investigation into the commercial supply of ‘ice’ in the Newcastle area.
In July 2019, detectives from Newcastle Police District attached to the Drug Unit established Strike Force Betel to investigate the large commercial supply of methylamphetamine (‘ice’).
Following inquiries, three men were arrested at a unit on Marsden Street, Shortland, about 4.30pm yesterday (Friday 6 September 2019) and taken to Waratah Police Station.
A search warrant was executed at the unit, where police located and seized 2kg of methylamphetamine, a loaded Remington semi-automatic pistol and cash.
A 30-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drugs (x2), knowingly direct activities of criminal group, deal with property proceeds of crime, possess unauthorised pistol, possess ammunition without holding licence and not keep firearm safely.
Two men, aged 28 and 27, were charged with supply prohibited drug (x2), participate criminal group and deal with property proceeds of crime.
The trio were refused bail to appear before Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 7 September 2019).
Investigations under Strike Force Betel are continuing.

ity of Newcastle has locked in three years of support for two flagship community events that attract tens of thousands of people to the city each year.
The sponsorships, worth almost $350,000, will provide certainty for both the Newcastle Writers Festival, and the Anzac Day services delivered by the City of Newcastle Returned Services League (RSL) Sub-branch.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City was committed to supporting these quintessentially Newcastle events, which celebrate culture and the legacy of the Returned Servicemen and Women.
“These three-year sponsorship agreements will provide event organisers with certainty of the City’s assistance for these important community events,” she said.
“City of Newcastle is proud to have been a founding sponsor of the Newcastle Writers Festival, which since its inception in 2013, has grown into a three-day literary event renowned in the cultural community.
“This three-year agreement offers a commitment to the strong community focus of the Newcastle Writers Festival, with more than 40 per cent of its event program free to the public.
“The City of Newcastle will continue its support of the region’s Anzac Day events, which provide community members with a chance to show their respect for the men and women who bravely fought for our freedom and continue to serve our country today.”
Under the terms of the agreement, the City will provide $40,000 per annum ($30,000 value-in-kind and $10,000 cash) to the Newcastle Writers Festival during 2020, 2021 and 2022, ensuring almost all of its events are held in the City’s cultural facilities including City Hall and Newcastle Region Library.
The funding is contingent on Newcastle Writers Festival keeping at least 40 per cent of its events free for the community to attend.
Event organiser Rosemarie Milsom was overjoyed after locking in the long-term sponsorship, ahead of their eighth annual festival in 2020.
“I believe this sponsorship, which will secure the venues that are key to our event, is recognition of our contribution to the cultural dynamic of the city,” she said.
A separate sponsorship agreement will provide $75,000 per annum to the City of Newcastle Returned Services League (RSL) Sub-branch, supporting their delivery of the Anzac Day dawn service, the Anzac Day march and a United Service of Remembrance at Civic Park for three years from 2020.
Sub-branch President Ken Fayle acknowledged the importance of the long-term sponsorship agreement, which helped provide certainty around their delivery of the various Anzac Day events.
“By providing alternative commemoration services, it gives everybody within the community the opportunity to attend an Anzac Day event,” he said.
Mr Fayle said this year’s dawn service was the best attended in Australia, attracting more than 50,000 people to the Camp Shortland site.

At 21 the life of Afghani refugee Zarmina Ali was a far cry from that enjoyed by most men and women celebrating their rite of passage to adulthood in Australia.
Twelve years ago, the now 33-year-old was living in the midst of civil unrest in war-torn Afghanistan – 10,000km away from the city she now calls home.
Zarmin Ali and husband Esmatullah Ali with their two daughters Baha Ali, 10 and Elaha Ali, 6, at today’s ceremony.
In 2007, Mrs Ali fled Afghanistan for Pakistan with her husband Esmatullah, and it was another five years before they finally secured a refugee visa to settle in Australia with their two daughters Bahar 10, and Elaha 6.
Today, more than seven years since arriving in Newcastle, the Waratah resident will be able to officially call herself Australian.
Mrs Ali joined more than 169 new Citizens from 30 countries at today’s City of Newcastle Citizenship Ceremony at the Civic Theatre.

Guests were greeted to performances from the Grainery Church and Indigenous dance groups before Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen invited citizens to take their citizen oaths and affirmations.
“Today’s Citizenship Ceremony is an historic moment,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said. “The year 2019 marks 70 years since Australian Citizenship was introduced into law, creating for the first time a legal status of being an Australian.
“Australians are privileged to live in a true democracy that protects and defends hard-fought freedoms.
“As Novocastrians, we are proud to be a culturally diverse, inclusive community, united by a commitment to democratic principles and fairness ensuring our residents enjoy equal rights and are treated with equal respect.”
Working as an Uber driver and studying English at TAFE, Mrs Ali said she will follow her passion for design and fashion now that she has her Citizenship status.
“I am enjoying learning English but I love design and clothes,” she said. “Today is a really happy day for me and I am happy for my children to grow up here. We have a smile on our face.”

A man and woman are under police guard in hospital following a single vehicle crash that occurred at Wallsend this morning.
About 7.40am (Thursday 5 September 2019), police identified a vehicle with an occupant they believed could assist with inquiries into a number of break and enters in the Newcastle area.
A short time after a member of the public informed officers that a Subaru, matching the description of the vehicle, had been involved in a crash near Cowper Street at Wallsend.
The 18-year-old male passenger was arrested at the scene and taken to Waratah Police Station. After complaining of feeling unwell, the man was taken to John Hunter Hospital.
The 28-year-old female driver was taken to John Hunter Hospital by road ambulance. She is he is recovering from non-life threatening injuries suspected to have occurred in the crash
Inquiries into the events leading up to the crash are continuing.

Police have charged three men and dismantled a cocaine supply syndicate operating in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
In May 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Toongahra to investigate the supply of illicit drugs in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
As part of their inquiries, strike force detectives, with the assistance of Strike Force Raptor North, executed two search warrants at homes in Anna Bay and Soldiers Point about 8am on Thursday 8 August 2019.
Two men – aged 29 and 31 – were arrested during the operation.
The younger man was charged with 11 offences including supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity x4), supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity x5), and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.
The older man was charged with supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity) and supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity x3).
They were both refused bail and appeared at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday 9 August 2019, where the pair were formally refused bail to re-appear at the same court on Wednesday 9 October 2019.
Following further investigations, a 24-year-old man attended Belmont Police Station about 12.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 3 September 2019).
He was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).
The Fletcher man was granted conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on Friday 13 September 2019.
Investigations are continuing.

A man has been charged following investigations into a fail-to-stop crash that killed a 91-year-old man in the Newcastle Region two years ago.
About 12.45pm on Friday 24 November 2017, a 91-year-old man was crossing Stedman Street, at Maitland Road, in the Newcastle suburb of Mayfield when he was struck by an SUV.
The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and left the scene.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital with a number of injuries but was unable to recover from his injuries and passed away on Monday 27 November 2017.
Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command commenced inquiries into the matter and following a lengthy investigation police today (Monday 2 September 2019) attended a correctional facility in Wellington where they spoke with a 25-year-old man.
He was charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop and render assistance causing death.
He was refused bail and will appear in Dubbo Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 3 September 2019).