Category: Newcastle News

Construction has started on a $1.9 million playground and skate plaza precinct at Griffith Park, Stockton.
The South Stockton Active Hub will be delivered by a specialist skate park construction firm and be built in two parallel rows shorter than the single 140-metre length first envisaged.
^{Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Stockton residents at Griffith Park}
The facility, which was revised following community feedback, will be situated at the southern end of the park adjacent to the harbour and a greater distance from neighbouring Hunter Street houses.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the playground will be complete with flying foxes, slides, climbing nets, swings and skate facilities, would draw more people across the Hunter River.
“This new playground will help to revitalise the Stockton foreshore by creating a vibrant, healthy and active outdoor-friendly space for the community,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The final design fits in perfectly with the existing amenities. We fielded submissions about a range of issues relating to the playground and skate plaza and, where possible, the concept plan has been amended to address them.
^{An artist impression of the South Stockton Active Hub at Griffith Park} 
Among the changes are a reduced construction footprint and a design closer to the water to reduce noise impacts to Hunter Street residents.
“The Active Hub precinct will be built adjacent to existing outdoor sporting fields and recreation areas, allowing for adults and children to eat, play and socialise at their leisure.”
The urban skate plaza and playground will be part funded by a $450,000 Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said he was excited to see this great community project come to fruition.
“It is great to see this project progressing that will activate Griffith Park for the Stockton community,” Mr MacDonald said.
“The NSW Government is pleased to partner with City of Newcastle through the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund to deliver projects across Newcastle Harbour.”
The playground will also include a lookout crane tower, accessible spinner, sand pit and a social area with shelter, barbecue and picnic table.
Features for the urban skate plaza include rails, angle ledges, hubbas, kerb cuts, A-frame kicker, zig zag ledge and a half pipe.

A 49-year-old Lake Macquarie man has been charged with drug and firearms offences following a joint operation in Charlestown between the Australian Border Force (ABF) and NSW Police Force.
The operation began when border intelligence officers identified a number of online purchases of firearms-related items being sent to a residence in Charlestown.
Subsequently, ABF officers at the Sydney International Mail Gateway intercepted a number of mail items containing firearm parts.
On Wednesday, 5 December 2018, a search warrant was executed by officers from the ABF and investigators from NSW Police Force’s Drug and Firearms Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District at a home at Charlestown in the NSW Hunter region.
During the search, officers seized five long-arm firearms, two sound-and-flash grenades, one gas propelled anti-personal mine, seven gas-propelled grenade-type canisters, various calibres of ammunition, body armour, camouflage gear, and a hydroponic set-up with five cannabis plants.
Police seized all the firearms for forensic and ballistic examination.
The man was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with cultivate prohibited plant, two counts of possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, three counts of possess unauthorised firearm, three counts of possess unregistered firearm, four counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, unauthorised possession of firearms in aggravated circumstances, two counts of possess ammunition, and five counts of not keep firearm safely.
ABF officers also charged the man with 11 counts of prohibited import of firearm parts.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Thursday 6 December 2018).
ABF Investigations Superintendent Garry Low said the detection highlights the commitment of the ABF and partner agencies to removing potentially dangerous weapons from the community.
“We have significant intelligence capabilities to detect online purchases of firearms and accessories and through our investigations we have located a number of other serious weapons,” Superintended Low said.
“People need to be aware of the regulations around importing these items into Australia and that the ABF will investigate and take action against anyone found to be illicitly bringing them into the country.”
NSW Police Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said that the unauthorised and illicit possession of firearms are a concern for law enforcement.
“We’ve seen through recent investigations that there is an illegal market in sourcing firearms, replicas, and related paraphernalia, as well as equipment and parts to manufacture firearms locally,” Det Supt Fileman said.
“Even if a firearm is incomplete or won’t fire, the simple fact is: if it looks like a real gun, under the law, it is a gun, and we will lay charges as such.
“Just one firearm in the wrong hands could be fatal and we will continue to target anyone who illegally possesses, supplies or manufactures firearms in NSW.”
Anyone who is aware of an individual, who may be involved in importing firearms or firearms parts illegally is urged to contact Border Watch at
www.australia.gov.au/borderwatch.
Information relating to the illicit manufacture, supply, or possession of firearms can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Media contact:
Australian Border Force 02 6264 2244
NSW Police Force 02 8263 6100

A man has been charged over an alleged assault at Newcastle at the weekend.
Police have been told two men – aged 22 and 28 – were involved in an altercation outside licensed premises on Tudor Street, Hamilton, just before 2.30am Sunday (2 December 2018).
The younger man suffered a serious leg injury and was taken to John Hunter Hospital.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified on Monday (3 December 2018), and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, a 28-year-old Adamstown man attended Newcastle Police Station about 4.45pm yesterday (Wednesday 5 December 2018), where he was arrested and charged with reckless grievous bodily harm.
He has been granted conditional bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 10 January 2019.
The injured man remains in John Hunter Hospital after undergoing surgery.

An investigation is underway after a man was injured following an altercation in Newcastle at the weekend.
Police have been told two men – aged 22 and 28 – were involved in an altercation outside licensed premises on Tudor Street, Hamilton, just before 2.30am yesterday (Sunday 2 December 2018).
The younger man sustained a leg injury and was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified today (Monday 3 December 2018), and commenced an investigation.
As inquiries continue, detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed or have information about the incident.

A man has died after the motorcycle he was riding crashed near Singleton today.
About 2.10pm (Sunday 2 December 2018), emergency services attended Putty Road, Milbrodale following reports a motorcycle had crashed.
It appears the 54-year-old male rider was travelling in a northerly direction on Putty Road when the motorcycle hit a barrier and crashed down an embankment.
The rider was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
Police will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A brief will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man has been charged after a pursuit with a stolen car in the Lake Macquarie District.
About 7.25pm yesterday (Friday 30 November 2018), police sighted a stolen Nissan Navara being driven on Bowman Street, Swansea.
Police attempted to catch up to the vehicle but it evaded police.
A short time later, police again spotted the car on Flowers Road, Catherine Hill Bay. They attempted to pull the vehicle over however it failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated which travelled south on the Pacific Highway.
The pursuit continued to Doyalson, where the vehicle left the road and entered bushland.
The driver ran from the vehicle after it become bogged.
With the assistance of PolAir and the Dog Squad, police arrested a 33-year-old man nearby.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with police pursuit (Skye’s Law), take and drive conveyance, drive whilst disqualified, possession of illicit drugs, outstanding warrants, and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 1 December 2018).

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has supported national action on climate change by students, which includes a protest outside her Newcastle office today.
Ms Claydon said she “absolutely supports the right of students to engage in peaceful protest”.
“These kids are an inspiration. They’re not sitting back and accepting what adults are doing – they’re making their voices heard,” Ms Claydon said.
“If more young people got engaged in the political process, the Liberals mightn’t be so cavalier in selling out their future and the future of our planet.”
Ms Claydon said she was disappointed that she wasn’t able to be around to meet students at the end of a Parliamentary sitting week, but had held a meeting with a group of concerned students from Newcastle East Public School earlier in the month.
“I met with around 30 concerned students aged between 5 and 13 who told me how they are concerned about the future and the impacts of climate change on the environment and our oceans,” Ms Claydon said.
“It’s a sad state of affairs when primary school students are more informed than many members of the government about the dire implications of climate change, but that’s the grim reality of where we are on this issue.
“The time for climate denialism in our Federal Government is over. The time for an end to the war on renewables is here. And the time for real action on climate change is now.”
Ms Claydon said the Government had ‘betrayed’ future generations by actively stifling any real action on climate change.
“In the last five years, not only has the government failed to deliver any energy policy, they’ve also tried to dismantle every mechanism Australia has to reduce emissions to stem the impacts of climate change,” Ms Claydon said.
“Under the former Labor Government, emissions reduced by more than 10 per cent, but since the Liberals took government, they’ve risen year on year.
“The government’s own data shows that under its policy void, carbon pollution will keep rising all the way to 2030, which is the furthest date of projections.”
Ms Claydon said it had become clear that the only way to get action on climate change would be to change the Government.
“As long as the dinosaurs on the hard right of the Liberal party calls the shots, the Government will never be permitted to act on climate change.
“Only a Shorten Labor Government will take real action on climate change, and reduce carbon pollution in line with our plan for a minimum of 50 per cent renewables by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. We will also invest $10 billion in renewable energy projects and deliver rebates of $2000 for households to buy energy saving battery systems.
“Labor’s plan will drive Australia into a new age of renewable energy which will lower power prices and create tens of thousands of new jobs.”

Novocastrians are invited to a series of drop-in sessions to view the City’s exciting plans for Newcastle Beach and provide feedback on the proposed public domain upgrades.
The latest stage of the ambitious Bathers Way project includes an overhaul of the stretch between the Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club and King Edward Park.

Key features include a new, wider shared pathway, new stairs and seating, kiosk, exercise equipment and improved public amenities. Plans also include a new intermediate level skate bowl and a renewed skate park to cater for all ages and abilities.
The community drop-in sessions will offer a chance to learn more about this priority project – and give feedback on the proposal at four locations across the city.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s long-term vision included the revitalisation of Newcastle’s coastline to provide improved facilities to attract more people to live, work, relax and invest in the City.
“A big part of achieving this vision is the work we are undertaking on our iconic Bathers Way walk, a shared pathway from Nobbys to Merewether that is now more than half complete,” the Lord Mayor said.
“In a recent community survey, nine out of 10 respondents felt these upgraded coastal facilities had enhanced our beaches and coastal areas.
“Over this next phase we’re hosting drop-in sessions, across the city, to give everyone a say before we breathe new life into the area after decades of dormancy.
“The Bathers Way – Newcastle Beach is the largest and most complex stage of the Bathers Way project, which will transform an underutilised section of our coastline into a vibrant and attractive space for both visitors and the wider community.­”
The drop-in sessions will be held from 5.30pm -7.30pm at:

• Mayfield Seniors Centre, Tuesday 4 December
• City Hall, Thursday 6 December
• Wallsend Library, Tuesday 11 December
• Adamstown Bowling Club, Wednesday 12 December

A critical incident investigation has been launched following a single-vehicle crash in Cessnock.
During Thursday 29 November 2018, officers from Hunter Valley Police District were making inquiries to locate a 60-year-old man.
About midday, it’s believed the man driving a Nissan Navara, saw police on Richmond Vale Road, Cessnock, and drove off at speed, before hitting a tree.
Officers commenced CPR on the driver – and sole-occupant of the vehicle – until the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics, but he died at the scene.
A crime scene was established and will be forensically examined by Crash Investigation Unit officers.
Newcastle City Police District officers will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
That investigation will be subject to an independent review and will be monitored by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Anyone that has information that may assist is urged to come forward.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.