An armed man has robbed a charity organisation at Wickam, near Newcastle overnight.
About 8.30pm (Saturday 13 April 2019), a man armed with a pistol entered the mission on Hannell Street and threatened two men before demanding they hand over money.
The man then produced a knife making further threats towards the men. He walked behind the counter and stole cash from a register and left the scene and was last seen running west on Greenway Street.
He is described as being about 180cm tall with a medium build, wearing dark clothing with his face covered.
The men were not injured during the incident and investigations are continuing.
Category: Newcastle News
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Carjacking investigation – Cessnock
Police are investigating a carjacking at Cessnock.
About 4.30am today (Saturday 13 April 2019), two men, aged 30 and 24, were sitting in a Ford Territory on Ironbark Lane, Cessnock, when they were approached by two unknown males, armed with an axe, bat and a knife, who forced them from the vehicle and threatened them, demanding property.
They were given some property before fleeing the scene in the Territory.
The victims reported the incident and the older man was taken to Cessnock Hospital suffering minor injuries.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced inquiries into the incident and are asking for any witnesses or anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
High seas beckon for budding adventurer
Masts, bows, and sterns are all unfamiliar terms to Mayfield’s Anna Gibson right now — but they won’t be for long thanks to a City of Newcastle grant.
The 21-year-old University of Newcastle student, who will step aboard a ship for the first time to tackle the Young Endeavour Scheme this month, has been awarded a scholarship to represent the City on the 10-day sailing expedition from Sydney to Newcastle.
Anna Gibson receiving her scholarship certificate from Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes
She’ll be joined by 26 other 16 to 23-year-olds who’ll literally be learning the ropes together.
“I’ve had a quite a few good friends go on the Young Endeavour who’ve said it’s changed their life,” Ms Gibson said.
“So, from hearing that, it’s always been something that I’ve wanted to do.”
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting a whole lot of new people from different walks of life. I think it’ll be interesting getting grouped together with other people and making friends, reading nautical charts and weather maps. I’ve never sailed before so it’ll be a big challenge.”
Ms Gibson was selected in a competitive expression of interest process in which she enthusiastically expressed her desire to really challenge herself.
When she noticed the City was offering supporting a young Novocastrian with a $4000 scholarship sea voyage, which tests the mental and physical stamina of all on board, she jumped at the chance.
She will depart Sydney aboard the STS Young Endeavour on Monday and arrive in Newcastle on Anzac Day.
The Young Endeavour Scheme, founded in 1988, is an internationally recognised youth development program. The British-built ship first sailed to Australia in 1986 with a crew of 12 young people as part of Australia’s Bicentenary.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s $4000 scholarship gives young people the opportunity to challenge themselves, have fun, and expand on their life experiences.
“This scholarship is aimed at providing a young Novocastrian with the opportunity to fulfil a fantastic experience and get out of their comfort zone with a group of other young, likeminded people, and develop personal and professional skills that enrich their education” the Lord Mayor said.
“I have no doubt that Anna will represent our City well and return with fantastic learnings and person development opportunities that I look forward to hearing about.”
Left: The STS Young Endeavour voyager
The 21-year-old University of Newcastle student, who will step aboard a ship for the first time to tackle the Young Endeavour Scheme this month, has been awarded a scholarship to represent the City on the 10-day sailing expedition from Sydney to Newcastle.
Anna Gibson receiving her scholarship certificate from Lord Mayor Nuatali NelmesShe’ll be joined by 26 other 16 to 23-year-olds who’ll literally be learning the ropes together.
“I’ve had a quite a few good friends go on the Young Endeavour who’ve said it’s changed their life,” Ms Gibson said.
“So, from hearing that, it’s always been something that I’ve wanted to do.”
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting a whole lot of new people from different walks of life. I think it’ll be interesting getting grouped together with other people and making friends, reading nautical charts and weather maps. I’ve never sailed before so it’ll be a big challenge.”
Ms Gibson was selected in a competitive expression of interest process in which she enthusiastically expressed her desire to really challenge herself.
When she noticed the City was offering supporting a young Novocastrian with a $4000 scholarship sea voyage, which tests the mental and physical stamina of all on board, she jumped at the chance.
She will depart Sydney aboard the STS Young Endeavour on Monday and arrive in Newcastle on Anzac Day.
The Young Endeavour Scheme, founded in 1988, is an internationally recognised youth development program. The British-built ship first sailed to Australia in 1986 with a crew of 12 young people as part of Australia’s Bicentenary.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s $4000 scholarship gives young people the opportunity to challenge themselves, have fun, and expand on their life experiences.
“This scholarship is aimed at providing a young Novocastrian with the opportunity to fulfil a fantastic experience and get out of their comfort zone with a group of other young, likeminded people, and develop personal and professional skills that enrich their education” the Lord Mayor said.
“I have no doubt that Anna will represent our City well and return with fantastic learnings and person development opportunities that I look forward to hearing about.”
Left: The STS Young Endeavour voyager
New model for Business Improvement Associations to go on public exhibition
A potential new Business Improvement Association (BIA) for The Junction, reactivation of the Mayfield BIA and up to $100,000 in annual funding for each of the City’s existing four BIAs are among reforms recommended in a report to be considered by Council next week.
The Review of Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) in Newcastle, which Council will consider for public exhibition on 16 April, recommends that all Special Benefit Rate Levy (SBRL) funding above $100,000 be opened up to the community for awarding.
Under this arrangement, up to $800,000 will later this year be allocated to a free market of ideas to deliver events and projects in the City Centre, Hamilton, Mayfield, Wallsend and New Lambton.
In addition to secured funding of $100,000, BIAs will also be eligible to apply for grants from the contestable funds.
City CEO Jeremy Bath said grant applications will be considered if a community group has a project or event that meets the strict objective of defraying the cost of promoting, beautifying or developing the City Centre (including Darby Street), Hamilton, Mayfield, New Lambton or Wallsend.
“AECOM’s report provides a strong rationale for the proposed changes to the BIA structure, which I believe is a necessary and natural step to support the city’s changing economic climate,” he said.
“Since the BIAs were formed almost a decade ago, Council has become far more strategic in its planning. It’s critical that the work funded by the BIAs support our Events Plan and Destination Management Plan as well as the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan.
“BIAs have the potential to play an important role in partnering with the City to deliver exciting initiatives that stimulate activity in areas including the CBD, Wallsend, Mayfield and Hamilton.
“The BIAs have collectively received more than $8 million from ratepayers since 2012. However, some of the BIAs have struggled to maximise the return on the funds they have been provided. Competition is what is now needed to bring about fresh ideas for how this money is best invested in the activation of these areas.
“Financial information from the BIAs confirm an excessive amount of ratepayers’ money has been allocated to employing staff, paying rent, hiring consultants and even on projects occurring outside their precinct.
“By introducing competition, we’ll see a number of dynamic new events and projects arise throughout the city.
“I expect the BIAs to respond positively to the requirement to compete for some of the funds they were previously the exclusive recipient of. The difference is that the BIAs will now need to demonstrate that their ideas are indeed the best ideas.
“AECOM has relied on financial data provided by the BIAs to form its recommendations. The financial records of Hamilton and Wallsend show that when administration and contractor costs are removed from their annual expenses, they invest around $100,000 annually into the delivery of local events.
“This means in the case of the Hamilton BIA sufficient funding will exist to continue delivering events such as Beaumont Carnivale, China Week and the Supercars Street Parade.
“In the case of Wallsend, they will also be able to continue funding the Wallsend Winter Fair and the Back in Time Festival.
“The change in funding will however significantly affect Newcastle Now. I’ve previously made clear my expectation that Newcastle Now should be spending their funding on events and projects rather than employees.
“Their audited annual financial statements confirm that approximately $1.5 million has been spent on employees during the past few years. If you need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars employing people to deliver a project then you are delivering the wrong type of event.
“An independent investigation into Newcastle Now last year found four significant breaches of the funding agreement it signed with Council in 2011.
“Newcastle Now’s failure to lodge an annual business plan is well known. What is less known is that Newcastle Now is required to hold all funds it receives on trust for Council in a separate trust account. Although Newcastle Now did establish such an account, there was no evidence this account was held on trust for Council.
“Further, the investigation found Newcastle Now has routinely transferred funds from the Investment Account into its working account. This meant that money paid by ratepayers became co-mingled with general expenses.
“Newcastle Now was also required to keep accurate records and accounts in relation to its use of the Special Rate monies for at least seven years. The investigation found that there are no records or accounts of actual project expenditure beyond the initial 2 years of the agreement with Council.
“Newcastle Now, like any other applicant for the contestable funding, will need to demonstrate that they now have a strong and transparent structure in place that ensures every dollar of ratepayers’ money is used in strict accordance with any future agreement with Council.”
To view the report going to Council on Tuesday, visit http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/About-Council/council-meetings.
City set for healthy budget surplus
City of Newcastle will in 2019-20 deliver a sixth consecutive budget surplus, as documented in its draft budget presented to the public today.
Forecasting a $11.951 million budget surplus with a strong focus on projects delivering environmental outcomes, the $297 million 2019-20 budget will be published online today before Councillors vote to place it on public exhibition on Tuesday 16 April.
Significantly, the budget is the first time in around a decade that the City will not rely on its reserve funds to keep the budget in surplus.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2019-20 budget was further evidence that the Council was delivering on its responsibilities to manage the city’s economic and environmental future.
“City of Newcastle is focused on continuing the revitalisation of our wonderful city, while focusing strongly on environmental sustainability,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Significantly, more than 40 per cent of our works budget is committed to environmental initiatives, including new waste facilities, improved recreational parks and continued coastal revitalisation.”
“Our Budget 2019-20 investment includes $32 million towards the expansion of Summerhill Waste Facility to allow for an increase in the amount of commercial waste we accept and generate an income from.
“Other environmental budget highlights include our $12.35 million Organics Recycling Facility and a $6 million Recycling Recovery Centre. Each will allow the City to generate a new income stream from the sale of organic and other recycled materials. The organics facility will be completed with no reduction in existing collection services.
“Around $81 million is forecast to be spent on delivering our 2019-20 Works Program, with the City set to deliver its single largest investment ever in environmental sustainability projects and programs.
Other highlights of the City’s draft budget include:
Forecasting a $11.951 million budget surplus with a strong focus on projects delivering environmental outcomes, the $297 million 2019-20 budget will be published online today before Councillors vote to place it on public exhibition on Tuesday 16 April.
Significantly, the budget is the first time in around a decade that the City will not rely on its reserve funds to keep the budget in surplus.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2019-20 budget was further evidence that the Council was delivering on its responsibilities to manage the city’s economic and environmental future.
“City of Newcastle is focused on continuing the revitalisation of our wonderful city, while focusing strongly on environmental sustainability,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Significantly, more than 40 per cent of our works budget is committed to environmental initiatives, including new waste facilities, improved recreational parks and continued coastal revitalisation.”
“Our Budget 2019-20 investment includes $32 million towards the expansion of Summerhill Waste Facility to allow for an increase in the amount of commercial waste we accept and generate an income from.
“Other environmental budget highlights include our $12.35 million Organics Recycling Facility and a $6 million Recycling Recovery Centre. Each will allow the City to generate a new income stream from the sale of organic and other recycled materials. The organics facility will be completed with no reduction in existing collection services.
“Around $81 million is forecast to be spent on delivering our 2019-20 Works Program, with the City set to deliver its single largest investment ever in environmental sustainability projects and programs.
Other highlights of the City’s draft budget include:
- $2.5 million towards graduate, apprentice and trainee recruitment
- $13.8 million on-road infrastructure projects
- $10.8 million toward Newcastle Library services and upgrades
- $14.8 million on our cultural facilities ($2.3 million on Newcastle Art Gallery, $2.3 million on Newcastle Museum, $8 million on Civic Theatre).
- $21.6 million on City Parks and Recreation ($20 million in services and $1.6 million in capital investment)
- $2 million on Smart City projects
- $5 million towards replacing outdated fleet
- $1.5 million towards improving development application processing
CEO Jeremy Bath said the 2019-20 draft budget was a strong indicator of the City’s sound financial position.
“Financial sustainability is one of the foundations of good government and this budget will guide our revenue and expenditure balance over the next 12 months and beyond to help maintain our financial position,” Mr Bath said.
“The income and spending outlined within it will allow us to deliver the many essential services expected of local government as well as help us deliver improvements in many areas of business.
“Delivering a $12 million surplus, which equates to 3.9 per cent of our forecast income of $309 million, ensures that we have the required financial contingency at hand to address unforeseen events such as natural disasters, or the funds to seize opportunities to host major events when they unexpectedly arise.”
Mr Bath credited his team of staff in delivering a budget that meets 100 per cent of the financial key performance ratios set by the NSW Audit Office during a significant period of internal change for the City.
“It’s due to the talented team of people we have appointed to senior leadership roles, and the staff working under them, that our City is in its strongest financial position in decades,” Mr Bath said.
“With the recruitment of our new leadership team now almost complete, we have a group of leaders who possess the required skillsets and corporate-needs approach to decision-making required to advance the revitalisation of the city.
“A vital project funded through this budget will also be the relocation for 425 of our administration staff to 12 Stewart Avenue in the City’s West End. Scheduled for the end of October, it will mark one of the most significant changes in our organisation’s history.
“The move provides City of Newcastle with a chance to re-invent the way its staff work by uniting those who previously worked across three sites under one roof. This will significantly improve communication, collaboration and interaction which in turn will deliver better projects and services for the community,” Mr Bath said.
The City’s 2019-20 draft budget will be available to view in full on the City’s website here, later today.
Man charged with 'up-skirting' and possessing child abuse material – Lake Macquarie
A man has been charged with numerous offences including ‘up-skirting’ after he was allegedly found to be in possession of child abuse material in Charlestown this week.
About 4pm on Wednesday 10 April 2019, police attached to the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group noticed a 52-year-old man walking along the Pacific Highway, Charlestown.
Officers arrested the man in relation to an incident that occurred on Friday 5 April 2019 on an escalator at a shopping centre in Charlestown where he was allegedly filming up a young woman’s skirt.
The man’s mobile phone was seized and examined by officers who allegedly located an amount of child abuse material and child grooming offences.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s New Lambton Heights home where officers allegedly located electronic equipment containing further child abuse material.
The man was charged at Belmont Police Station with film persons private parts without consent, possess child abuse material, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material and use carriage service to transmit/publish/promote child abuse.
The man appeared before Toronto Local Court today (Friday 12 April 2019), and was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 24 April 2019.
Man charged with aggravated indecent assault on woman – Newcastle
A man will appear in court today after being charged with the aggravated indecent assault of a woman on a train at Newcastle yesterday.
About 8.40am on Wednesday 10 April 2019, a 19-year-old woman was waiting on the platform at Cardiff Railway Station, to travel to work.
Police have been told that a man approached the woman and attempted to engage her in conversation.
The man allegedly tried to kiss the woman, but she pushed him away.
The woman then boarded a train and was followed by the man who sat next to her.
Police will allege that during the journey the man kissed and touched the woman without her consent.
As the woman attempted to leave the train, the man allegedly grabbed her, but was interrupted by another passenger.
The woman contacted a relative, and police were informed.
The man was arrested nearby and conveyed to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with aggravated sexual touching (x2).
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 11 April 2019).
Two arrested over numerous offences – Newcastle
Two people will appear in court today after being charged at Newcastle with numerous offences allegedly committed across NSW.
Following a break enter & steal offence in Port Macquarie, during the early hours of Tuesday 9 April 2019, police began tracking a stolen BMW.
Police located the vehicle in Williamtown shortly after 4pm and started following it in heavy traffic.
A short time later the BMW drove towards police and a pursuit commenced. It was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
The BMW continued through Fullerton Cove, Fern Bay, Stockton, Mayfield and Tighes Hill where it became stuck on a median strip.
The two occupants fled towards another car and after getting into it, tried to unsuccessfully force the male driver out.
They moved to a second vehicle and tried to force the female driver from the car. She was assisted by members of the public and the couple fled on foot.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District arrested the offenders on Industrial Drive and took them to the police station.
A 21-year-old man was charged with aggravated break, enter & steal, police pursuit (x2), unlicensed driving (x2), attempt carjacking (x2), possess property stolen outside the state and an outstanding warrant.
The 23-year-old woman was charged with aggravated break, enter & steal, attempt carjacking (x2), wilfully obstruct officer and be carried in conveyance.
Both have been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 10 April 2019).
Pair charged after inappropriate behaviour during bus trip – Lake Macquarie
A man and a woman have been charged after they engaged in sexual activity on a public bus in Lake Macquarie.
About 9:50am on Friday 29 March 2019, a 23-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman boarded a bus at Charlestown and sat on the back seat.
At some stage during the trip the pair became engaged in sexual activity and, after becoming aware, the bus driver ordered them to stop and exit the bus.
Both became verbally aggressive, with the man spitting at the driver, before getting off the bus at Warners Bay.
A short time later the pair attempted to board a second bus but were refused by the driver who had been alerted to the earlier incident.
The pair became aggressive before getting off the bus.
The man then walked in front of the bus and attempted to remove the windscreen wipers.
Police were called but the pair fled the area before officers from Lake Macquarie Police District arrived.
Following inquiries, yesterday (Tuesday 9 April 2019), a Windale man was arrested by officers from Morisset Police Transport Command and was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with affray, common assault, intimidation, offensive conduct and malicious damage.
He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Wednesday 10 April 2019).
A Windale woman was charged by way for a future court appearance notice with offensive conduct and incite to the commission of crimes and will appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 14 May 2019.
Hunter Animal Rescue is holding their annual Pets Picnic
Hunter Animal Rescue is holding their annual Pets Picnic on the 5th May 2019 at Speers Point Park.
