Month: May 2019

A motorcyclist has been killed in a crash tonight at Williamtown, near Newcastle.
The 62-year-old man, from Medowie, was travelling along Cabbage Tree Road around 6.15pm when his motorcycle collided with a utility.
The motorcycle then careered into an adjacent fence, fatally injuring the rider.
The driver of the ute, a 24-year-old man from Williamtown, has been taken to hospital for routine blood alcohol tests.
A crime scene has been established as officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District investigate the incident.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the crash to contact them.

Strike Force Raptor North have charged three Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members and an associate over their alleged roles in a home invasion, where a man was seriously assaulted, and a kidnapping in the Hunter region.
As part of ongoing targeting of the illicit activities of OMCGs, the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North investigators established Strike Force Koorool in December 2018 to investigate the activities of the Newcastle Rebels OMCG chapter.
Police will allege in court that a group of men, three who are Rebels OMCG members and an associate, broke into a home in Cessnock and seriously assaulted one of the occupants, a 24-year-old man, on Wednesday 30 May 2018.
The man was treated at John Hunter Hospital for serious head and ear injuries and was later released.
On Sunday 10 March 2019, police stopped a Ford Falcon sedan on Mount View Road, Cessnock, and spoke with the five male occupants, including an injured 22-year-old.
It will be alleged in court that the 22-year-old man had been assaulted by the other men in the vehicle.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators, with the assistance of specialist tactical officers, arrested four men – aged 24, 25, 27, and 37 – at homes in Cessnock, Edgeworth and Swansea, and at Cessnock Police Station yesterday (Tuesday 7 May 2019).
Shortly after, strike force investigators executed search warrants at the properties where they located several items, including Rebels OMCG colours, mobile phones, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a car and a firearm.
These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
The 25-year-old Cessnock man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, and two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
He was refused bail and appeared at Cessnock Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 10 July 2019.
The 27-year-old Swansea man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
The 37-year-old Edgeworth man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
They were both refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 8 May 2019).
The 24-year-old Cessnock man was charged with take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court today.
Investigations are continuing.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and 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.

A Shorten Labor Government will invest $580,000 in two University of Newcastle projects to boost the number of young people in Newcastle and surrounds participating in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government, which will restore the Liberals’ education cuts and give students the education they deserve, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos. We need real change, because more of the same isn’t good enough.
Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said that STEM capability will be fundamental to driving innovation and prosperity into the future.
“While many jobs are disappearing, STEM jobs continue to grow at a rapid pace,” Ms Claydon said.
“If Australia is to stake our place in the 21st century knowledge economy, we need to ensure that our young people have the skills and opportunity to secure the jobs of the future.”
Ms Claydon said a $400,000 commitment would allow the University of Newcastle to extend the work of HunterWiSE – a collaborative network of women in STEM focused on addressing low female participation rates in the sector – for three years.
“The funding will support HunterWiSE Outreach, a 10-week intensive program that links girls in high schools across the region with female mentors working or studying in STEM sectors to tackle problems in their local community,” Ms Claydon said.
“Participants will also benefit from campus and workplace visits, weekly workshops and a final presentation of their solution to industry representatives.”
Ms Claydon said a further $180,000 would be dedicated to the development of a pilot virtual science lab program to give regional school students opportunities to engage in science.
“The virtual science lab will foster a love of science and provide education about career pathways for year nine and 10 students from two regional high schools,” Ms Claydon said.
“Students will connect a couple of times a week in real time to explore science themes from university experts, watch live experiments and do activities.”
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO welcomed the funding commitments.
“Our university is absolutely committed to giving talented people the opportunity to get a university education and to make a difference, regardless of where they live or what gender they are,” Professor Zelinsky said.
“These projects will encourage more girls and women into STEM careers and give greater access to regional students to develop their love of science.
“We need to inspire these young people to take on STEM careers because they’ll ultimately be the ones who will need to solve the world’s greatest challenges.”
A Shorten Labor Government will also uncap university places and invest $100 million to upgrade TAFE facilities.
This election is a choice between Labor’s plans for better schools, hospitals and universities, or the Liberals’ bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town.
It’s time to end the chaos. Vote for change. Vote for Labor.

A Shorten Labor Government will fund the rebuilding of Boscawen Street Bridge at Wallsend to protect against future flooding.
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to invest in local infrastructure or the LNP’s bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said Federal Labor had agreed to Newcastle City Council’s $3 million funding request for the rebuild.
“This will drive business confidence in the region and bring peace of mind to the whole community,” Ms Claydon said
“While 12 years have passed since the terrible superstorm that wrought a trail of destruction through Wallsend, residents and business owners still brace themselves every time it rains hard.”
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the funding, saying it was a priority under the Wallsend Flood Mitigation Strategy.
“Boscawen is one of the three Wallsend bridges that need rebuilding, along with Tyrell Street and Nelson Street, in Wallsend,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Council is delivering the new Tyrell Street Bridge and has asked the NSW Government to provide funding for the Nelson Street Bridge, so Federal Labor’s support for the re-construction of the Boscawen Street Bridge will make a big difference to flood mitigation in Wallsend.”
State Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, who has been a long-time advocate of the project, said it would resolve some serious flooding risks.
“A number of issues have been identified, including the low clearance on the bridge, the handrails and the intermediate piers, which pose a high risk of trapping materials in extreme weather conditions, causing blockages and leading to severe flooding,” Ms Hornery said.
“Removing the intermediate piers and creating a single-span structure will improve the flow capacity in large flood events for Hunter Water to undertake channel-widening in the future.”
Ms Claydon called on the Liberals to match the funding commitment.
“I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister requesting Government support and was directed to a program that Boscawen Street Bridge isn’t even eligible for,” Ms Claydon.
“The Liberals need to show their support for the people of Wallsend by committing to investing in the Boscawen Street Bridge rebuild.”

Fitness enthusiasts who frequent Stockton’s foreshore for their outdoor exercise pursuits will now have another reason to step out and stay in shape.
City of Newcastle will install six new outdoor fitness stations along Stockton foreshore to help residents and visitors to the seaside suburb remain active.

The stations, similar to the one recently installed along the Fernleigh Track at Adamstown, will include a bench press, stretching station, cycle seat, shoulder press, sit up bench, aerobic walker, and pull up, chin up and dip bars.
Six fitness stations will be located along the Stockton foreshore within walking distance of the Active Hub

All six stations will be built within walking distance of the recently completed $2 million South Stockton Active Hub. Work is expected to start in mid-May and take about five weeks to complete, weather permitting.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the provision of new exercise parks such as this would help meet the City’s population growth targets and reduce obesity and health risks.

“By building these new parks we are also increasing our commitment to supporting the community to be physically active, contributing to improved health outcomes and lowering obesity levels,” the Lord Mayor said.
“When complete, the facility will contribute to Stockton’s already thriving outdoor lifestyle, which was recently bolstered thanks to the completion of the $2 million all-age South Stockton Active Hub skate park and children’s playground.

“We all know that getting active improves our sense of wellbeing, so we are very pleased to be delivering these new facilities for Novocastrians to stay fit and healthy.”
The $2 million South Stockton Active Hub was opened just before Easter

Port Waratah Coal Services co-funded the stations and Chief Executive Officer Hennie du Plooy said Port Waratah is delighted to partner with City of Newcastle to deliver the fitness stations for the community of Stockton.
“Our Community Investment and Partnership Programme is something we are very proud to share with Newcastle, and the fitness stations along Stockton foreshore is one way we can help deliver positive benefits to Portside communities,” Mr du Plooy said.
The equipment is part of the City’s Outdoor Exercise Facilities Strategy, funded by City of Newcastle and a grant from Port Waratah Coal Services. It also supports the City’s collaboration with a major University of Newcastle research project called Ecofit to encourage outdoor community activity and exercise.