Category: Newcastle News

A man and a woman have been charged with multiple property offences following an investigation into stolen goods in Smithfield.
In June 2019 a joint investigation was commenced by officers from Lake Macquarie Target Action Group and Fairfield Target Action Group into a break and enter at a commercial premises in Smithfield.
About 11am today (12 August 2019) police arrested a 34-year-old man at a shopping centre in Charlestown where he was allegedly attempting to sell a number of items.
An hour later, police attended a property on the Pacific Highway in Charlestown and arrested a 31-year-old woman. A search of the property revealed footwear and clothing allegedly stolen during the break and enter.
The man was charged with break and enter steal value over $60,000, receive/dispose stolen property, possess identity info to commit indictable offence, goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not motor vehicle), possess counterfeit money, possess counterfeiting machine/tool/die, possess prohibited drug (three counts), possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, common assault (DV), receive/dispose stolen property minimum indictable offence and resist officer in execution of duty.
The woman was charged with break and enter house steal value over $60,000.
Both were bail refused to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 13 August 2019.

The City of Newcastle has completed a solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging hub that will also provide 100 percent renewable electricity to supply all of No.2 Sportsground.
Known as an ‘E-Transit Hub’, the charging station is the first to roll out across the city and includes a 44kW solar car park cover, three EV chargers and more than 120kWh of battery storage, which is enough to power an average Newcastle home for nearly nine days.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with City of Newcastle’s Smart City team
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that the E-transit Hub will act as a testbed for similar facilities around the city as Newcastle adopts sustainable energy technology across its facilities and operations.
“Novocastrians are known for embracing sustainability and it’s no surprise that electric vehicle ownership is on the rise in Newcastle,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Installing this E-Transit hub is an important part of demonstrating to our community that Newcastle is an electric vehicle-friendly city where you can be confident the infrastructure is in place to support the vehicles’ growing popularity.
“Number 2 Sportsground is the first location in a planned roll-out of future EV charging stations across the city, as we progressively see a move away from the dependence on fossil-fuel powered transport to cleaner and more sustainable modes such as electric vehicles and bikes.
“Through our own Smart City Strategy, and with the help of the Federal Government’s $5 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program grant, Number 2 Sportsground is now a completely self-sustaining site capable not only of charging electric vehicles but also powering the sportsground lights and other facilities.”

_{The Lord Mayor with Climate Council Funding Coordinator Sonya Williams and City Program Coordinator Adam Clarke}
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and the Smart City team flank a Tritium 50kW Fast Charger at No.2 Sportsground​
EV owner Michael Barwell said he was thrilled to see the City develop environmentally friendly infrastructure for eco-minded transport users.
“The adoption rate of electric vehicles in Newcastle is definitely on the rise and we are only going to see more people transfer from traditional fossil-fuel engines to electric powered in the years to come,” Mr Barwell said.
“It is fantastic that the City of Newcastle is supporting the future of electric vehicles which not only helps our residents but also visitors to our beautiful city.”
The EV charging stations will be free for users for an introductory period to encourage usage before moving to a pricing structure based on demand and cost recovery.
The City has installed one Tritium 50kW Fast Charger and two 22kW Level 2 chargers. For the average vehicle, the fast charger takes around 30-40 minutes to charge to 80 percent, while the other two take up to two hours depending on battery size and state of charge.
Three other EV charging sites are planned for the CBD at the Queen Street car park, Laman Street and on Wharf Road by early 2020. The City is also currently planning the expansion of the public EV network to other suburbs.
The EV infrastructure is part of the $13 million Smart Moves Newcastle project, which received $5 million through the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program in 2017.

A man has been charged with multiple offences after a large-scale search operation in the state’s north which began last week.
Just before 12.45pm on Thursday 1 August, police were called to a property on Pepler Place, Thornton, after concerns for welfare for residents inside a home.
Police will allege that a man was located outside the property armed with a firearm, before he began to pour petrol over the front door, threatening to light a fire.
The man ran from police, jumping over a rear fence and fleeing into bushland.
A search operation was commenced coordinated by officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District – with assistance from the Dog Unit, PolAir, and various police resources – where bushland and numerous residences were searched, however he was unable to be located.
Following extensive inquiries, the 27-year-old man was located and arrested at a property on Cassia Way, Metford about 9.45pm yesterday (Friday 9 August 2019).
He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal), armed with intent to commit indictable offence, possess unauthorised firearm, and in relation to an outstanding arrest warrant.
The Metford man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 10 August 2019).

A teenager has died after he was hit by a bus in the Hunter this morning.
About 8.30am (Tuesday 6 August 2019), the boy was riding his bike along on Mount Hall Road, Raymond Terrace before he crossed the intersection at Clyde Circuit where he was hit by a bus.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived and established a crime scene.
Despite best efforts by paramedics, the boy died at the scene.
Road closures were put in place and the Crash Investigation Unit commenced inquiries.
The bus will be taken for further examination and the 41-year-old man driving the bus will undergo mandatory testing.
Inquiries continue.

Police have charged a man following an investigation into the assault of two security guards and a police officer in the emergency department of a hospital in the Hunter region at the weekend.
About 8pm on Friday 2 August 2019, a 42-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department.
About 11pm the man allegedly started to become agitated and aggressive and has attempted to leave.
Three security guards attempted to restrain the patient resulting in two of the guards being assaulted.
Officers from Port Stephens–Hunter Police District were called to assist and, in an attempt to restrain the patient one male officer was allegedly assaulted.
The patient was eventually subdued and admitted for treatment.
Upon his release from hospital he attended Maitland Police Station where he was served a Court Attendance Notice for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, and assault police officer in the execution of his duty.
He was given bail and will appear in Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 14 August 2019.

A woman has been charged following a crash north of Newcastle, where a child died, last month.
About 5.50pm on Sunday 21 July 2019, a 29-year-old woman was driving a Mazda sedan north on New Line Road, East Seaham, when the vehicle left the road, hit an electricity pole and rolled.
The woman and a three-year-old girl in the rear passenger seat suffered facial lacerations and were taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
A six-year-old boy in the rear of the vehicle died at the scene.
Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Following extensive inquiries, a 29-year-old woman was arrested at Raymond Terrace Police Station today (Tuesday 6 August 2019).
She was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, and negligent driving occasioning death, and was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 26 August 2019.
Investigations are continuing.

Police are appealing for public assistance after a suspicious house fire at Muswellbrook.
About 8.10pm yesterday (Monday 5 August 2019), emergency services were called to a vacant house alight on Sowerby Street.
The house was extinguished by firefighters and a crime scene established.
Subsequent investigations have revealed the fire to be suspicious.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District are conducting inquiries into the incident and are appealing for anyone with information, or anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A motorcyclist has been seriously injured following a crash in the state’s Hunter Valley region today.
Just after 1.45pm (Sunday 4 August 2019), emergency services were called to The Putty Road, Howes valley, south-west of Singleton, after a southbound Toyota and a northbound motorcycle collided, ejecting the rider.
The rider, a 73-year-old man, was seriously injured and treated by paramedics. He has been airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The Toyota driver, a 44-year-old man, has been taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene with the assistance of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Traffic Management Control.
The road remained closed for some time while the scene was examined by specialist forensic officers.
Inquiries into the crash continue
 

A man has been charged following an alleged carjacking in Shortland near Newcastle.
About 2am yesterday (Sunday 4 August 2019), police responded to a carjacking of a red Hyundai I20 at Birrell Street, after two girls – aged 15 and 18 were allegedly assaulted and robbed.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District conducted an extensive search of the area which was unsuccessful.
About 11am (Sunday 4 August 2019), a Hyundai I20, allegedly involved in a carjacking at Shortland, was seen by police travelling along Awabakal Drive, Fletcher.
Two male passengers exited the vehicle and entered a home on Awabakal Drive.
The Hyundai continued travelling east on Minmi Road, Maryland.
An unmarked police vehicle sighted the vehicle on Minmi Road, and a police pursuit was initiated.
The 18-year-old male driver exited his vehicle after crashing into a blue Hyundai Elantra and was arrested.
The driver of the Hyundai Elantra was uninjured.
The 18-year-old Elrington man was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with aggravated robbery and inflict actual bodily harm, unlicensed driver, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, and take and drive conveyance without consent of the owner.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Monday 5 August 2019).