Month: May 2020

Stockton Community Liaison Group welcomes latest briefing on long-term coastal planning

The Stockton Community Liaison Group has responded positively overall to a final briefing on the long-term plan for managing the suburb’s coastline prior to it going to councillors for endorsement on Tuesday.
City of Newcastle will be one of the first councils in the State to submit a Coastal Management Program (CMP) when it lodges the plan for Stockton by the end of June, meeting a shortened deadline of 18 months set by the Local Government Minister.
Stockton Community Liaison Group Chair Barbara Whitcher said after years of very robust engagement with City of Newcastle and lead agencies like the Department of Planning Industry and Environment, it appeared a positive way forward could be set through Stockton’s CMP.
“The Stockton Community Liaison Group has been meeting regularly with City of Newcastle for more than two years, advocating for our community’s interests through what is complex issue of managing ongoing coastal erosion,” Ms Whitcher said.
“Yesterday our Liaison Group was given an overarching brief on the draft Stockton CMP and overall we are pleased and relieved that sand nourishment is at the centre of the plan for both amenity and asset protection in line with our constant feedback.”
“The draft CMP will be put on public exhibition next week and we will be encouraging everyone to have their say before it is submitted to the NSW Government for approval.”
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Stockton Community Liaison Group had played a pivotal role in shaping the CMP.
“Thank you to the Stockton Community Liaison Group for your dedication, leadership and advocacy in developing a long-term solution for Stockton that returns sand to the beach for both amenity and asset protection,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The collaboration between City of Newcastle staff, the NSW Government and community has been key to the development of the draft CMP, which has sand nourishment as the cornerstone of our long-term solution to coastal erosion.
“I want to acknowledge commitment and genuine cooperative approach that been achieved by our shared passion and dedication to achieving a positive future for Stockton.”
Formed by the Lord Mayor in February 2018, the Stockton Community Liaison Group includes local community leaders who advocate for a positive long-term solution to erosion at Stockton Beach with the City of Newcastle, NSW Government representatives and Hunter Water Corporation.
Yesterday marked the 21st formal meeting of the group as they continue to advise the City on the development of the CMP for Stockton.

$15 MILLION TO TRANSFORM OUR STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING

An extension of George Street’s car-free zone in Sydney’s CBD, a new pedestrian-only boulevard in Liverpool’s Railway Street and a ‘people’s loop’ in Parramatta Park have been given the green light today as part of a plan to transform streets into shared spaces in response to COVID-19.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes today announced three trial pedestrianisation programs alongside a new $15 million Streets as Shared Spaces program that will fund council projects to provide more space for communities to safely walk, cycle and exercise.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for more public spaces – and easy, safe access to it,” Mr Stokes said.
“Whether it’s new cycle lanes, pedestrian-only streets or wider footpaths, we’re committed to working with councils and communities to fund projects that can make life better for everyone – both now and once the pandemic is over.”
Councils will be able to apply for Streets as Shared Spaces program grants of up to $100,000 for immediate temporary projects, such as widening footpaths and cycle lanes and up to $1 million for medium-term pilot projects, such as extra crossing points, wider kerbs and trialling lower speed limits.
The community can also submit their ideas for local projects through an new online social pinpoint map that allows users to click on an area and leave their comments and ideas.
The three trial programs announced today include:

  • Eastern Harbour City: The NSW Government is partnering with the City of Sydney to extend George Street’s car-free zone in both directions between Bathurst and Campbell Streets and extended in the southbound direction to Rawson Place. The existing temporary closure in the southbound direction from Bathurst to Campbell Street will be made permanent.
  • Central River City: World Heritage-listed Parramatta Park’s People Loop Trial will see temporary changes made to vehicle access, parking and circulation for two-months from 19 May 2020, to improve the experience of walking and cycling in the Park.
  • Western Parkland City: The NSW Government is partnering with Liverpool City Council to install temporary street furniture and trees to slow vehicle traffic and pedestrianise the laneway behind Railway Street in the Liverpool City Centre.

Transport for NSW has worked with the City of Sydney to continue to deliver on the benefits of the Light Rail to transform George Street into the civic spine of the CBD.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said: “The George Street light rail has changed not just how people get around the city, but how they experience the city.
“With new street trees, planter boxes, outdoor dining, seating and pedestrianisation, people were already taking back and enjoying George Street before COVID-19 hit. When the crisis passes, it will once again be a place to linger and gather rather than just hurrying through,” Ms Moore said.
The Streets as Shared Spaces program will also help the NSW Government reach its ambitious target to increase the proportion of homes in urban areas within 10 minutes’ walk of quality green, open and public space by 10 per cent by 2023.
Councils can apply for Streets as Shared Spaces grants until 10 June 2020.
For more information visit: www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/streets

NSW WWII VETERANS SHARE MEMORIES OF VE DAY

Incredible firsthand video accounts from veterans who served in the Second World War have recalled the moment victory in Europe was declared 75 years ago.
Acting Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said the remarkable stories take us back in time to commemorate VE Day, an important event in Australia’s war time history.
“We are privileged to have these recordings of our veterans’ eyewitness accounts of VE Day so their stories can be told again and again to future generations,” said Mr Lee.
“Our soldiers escaped dangerous situations, risking their lives to support the Allied Forces’ fight against German occupation in Europe.”
95 year old Max Barry was a Royal Australian Air Force rear gunner and tells his story of great escapes and survival, after parachuting from a Lancaster bomber in 1944.
“We caught on fire and one engine after another packed up. The pilot said we had to bail out… so we did,” said Mr Barry.
Mr Barry spent 11 months as a prisoner of war before VE Day led to his freedom but he always had a deep sense he would make it back home.
“I was always confident I was going to survive. I’m still doing it!”
100 year old Bill Geoghegan who served with the Royal Australian Air Force and Bomber Command said he is lucky to have survived.
“One night there were two crews and they tossed up to see who would go on the operation. The other crew went and they never came back. It wasn’t my time,” said Mr Geoghegan.
Mr Lee encourages everyone to watch and read the veterans’ incredible accounts on the new NSW Stories section of the War Memorial Register website, which has been launched especially for the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Nearly one million Australians served in the Second World War with 39,000 Australians losing their lives and another 30,000 taken prisoner.
For more information: www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/nsw-stories

LOCAL NDIS STAFF CUTS TO HIT HARD

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has slammed the Morrison Government for awarding a contract that will see tens of NDIS jobs slashed from the region.
Ms Claydon said 29 Local Area Coordinator roles, including 16 designated Aboriginal positions, are likely to disappear when Uniting takes over the Hunter New England NDIS contract from St Vincent de Paul on 1 July.
“It’s unfathomable that the Morrison Government would enter into a tendering process that would see the loss of so many important jobs and the end of a highly successful and innovative indigenous program,” Ms Claydon said.
“To lose these vital frontline roles at any time is outrageous, but for the Morrison Government to support this in the middle of a pandemic – when people with disability are already facing increased levels of anxiety and unemployment rates are skyrocketing –  is utterly unforgivable.
“The NDIS is already in the top three Federal agencies that people complain to me about in Newcastle. This is just going to make a service that is already severely under-resourced even worse.”
Ms Claydon said the loss of dedicated Aboriginal positions would be particularly damaging.
“For the last four years, St Vincent de Paul has been delivering a landmark program to deliver dedicated, intensive and culturally-informed support for Aboriginal people with disability and their communities.
“We’ve seen their great work with Aboriginal communities to help overcome a deep, historical distrust of government and agencies. And we’ve seen a significant and sustained increase in Aboriginal participants as a result.  I’m very worried that the loss of key Aboriginal-identified positions will put all of this hard work at risk.”
Ms Claydon said attempts to discuss her concerns with Uniting have been frustrated by the NDIA.
“I’ve reached out to talk directly with the Executive Director of Uniting about my concerns, but the government has effectively gagged the organisation from talking with me, insisting that the NDIA plays the role of gatekeeper instead,” Ms Claydon said.
“Almost every day I meet with organisations about services and issues affecting our community – indeed it’s one of my most fundamental responsibilities. For a Government agency to insert itself and try to dictate the terms and conditions of my private conversations is unprecedented in my experience – and deeply concerning.”

Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)

In the past 24 hours, five people have been dealt with under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) COVID-19, with two charged and three others issued with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs).
Yesterday’s charges:

  • About 1.30am yesterday (Thursday 7 May 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command stopped and spoke to a cyclist on Thomas Street, Haymarket, with the 44-year-old Artarmon man saying he doesn’t like being at home. When checks revealed the man may be riding a stolen bike, police were told he had bought it cheap a few days ago, but he couldn’t recall from whom or where. Further checks revealed the man had received multiple warnings and fines, so he was arrested and charged with breach of bail, goods in custody and fail to comply with noticed direction – COVID 19. He appeared at Central Local Court yesterday.
  • About 9.45am, officers from Police Transport Command stopped a 29-year-old man at Cabramatta Railway Station for travelling without a valid ticket/Opal card. When asked why he had travelled to the area, the Wiley Park man advised he was bored and wanted to look at the pretty women. After checks revealed the man was not to attend Cabramatta, he was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station. It’s alleged the man became irate on arrest and began swearing continuously. He was charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and use offensive language in/near public place. He was refused bail and appeared at court yesterday, where he was granted conditional bail to re-appear on Thursday 21 May 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs:

  • About 9.45am (Thursday 7 May 2020), officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command spoke to a 40-year-old man, who was drinking beer in the alcohol exclusion zone at Dawson Mall. Police directed him to dispose the drink and he was moved-on. When police responded to reports of an altercation at Dawson Mall about 2.40pm, they again spoke with the man. Officers were told he had entered a nearby shopping centre in contravention of a banning notice and purchased alcohol. The man was arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station, where he was charged with trespass and issued a $1000 PIN.
  • Officers from Oxley Police District were patrolling at Quirindi, when they stopped and spoke to a 27-year-old man on George Street about 5pm. The man did not have any purpose for being out and during a subsequent search, police located cannabis and drug paraphernalia. He was advised he would be issued a Court Attendance Notice in relation to the seized items and after checks revealed he had received numerous previous COVID-related warnings, he was issued with a $1000 PIN and given a move-on direction. The man was again located hanging around the same area about 90 minutes later and given another warning and move-on direction.
  • About 10pm, officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command were called to home on De Witt Place, Willmot in relation to a noise complaint. On arrival, police observed a group of at least 15 people inside the home celebrating a birthday. All non-residents were given warnings in relation to breaching Ministerial Directions and told to leave the home. Police were called back to the property about 11.35pm as the noise was continuing and a 27-year-old woman, who was not a resident and previously given a warning, was still at the property. She was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Evening Hunter operation sees eight people charged

Eight people have been charged following a high-visibility operation across the Hunter this week.
Operation Northern Engage is a proactive operation aimed to target repeat offenders and increasing crime trends across the southern zone of the Northern Region.
The operation was conducted in Cessnock and Singleton on Wednesday 6 May between 3pm and 11pm, then across Lake Macquarie yesterday (Thursday 7 May 2020) between 3pm and 11pm.
Officers from the respective police districts (Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie) were supported by 25 officers from the Northern Region – including the High-Risk Domestic Violence Offender Team, the High-Visibility Police Unit, the Police Dog Unit, the Hunter Region Enforcement Squad, Operation Utah officers and operational staff.
Some of the arrests as part of the two-night operation included:

  • A 28-year-old unlicensed woman was subjected to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result. She was taken to Cessnock Police Station to conduct a secondary test.
  • A 17-year-old girl and 20-year-old man were stopped by police in Speers Point where police allegedly located methylamphetamine inside their vehicle. It’s further alleged the teenage girl was unlicensed. The man was issued an infringement notice for driving offences while the teenage girl was issued with a youth caution.
  • A 33-year-old man was arrested in relation to contravene AVO, assault (DV) and drive vehicle whilst disqualified. He will face Cessnock Court next month.
  • A 29-year-old man was charged with supply and possess prohibited drug. He will face Maitland Local Court in July
  • A 17-year-old man was found in possession of an amount of cannabis, MDMA and a knife in Heddon Greta. He will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Northern Region Operations Manager, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey APM, said high-visibility policing continues to remind the community we are on the streets to protect them.
“Policing has certainly looked different in the past few months, but officers across the Hunter have continued their daily duties – targeting repeat offenders and keeping crime rates down.
“This operation is just another example of how we can continue to utilise our resources in innovative and productive ways,” Det Supt Humphrey said.
Similar operations will continue to be rolled out across the Northern region.

Woman charged after allegedly spitting on bus driver – Haymarket

A woman will appear in court today charged over allegedly spitting on a bus driver in Sydney’s CBD.
About 5pm on Wednesday (6 May 2020), a woman, carrying a dog, boarded a bus stopped on Eddy Avenue in Haymarket.
Police will allege in court that when the bus driver, a 44-year-old man, told her that dogs were not permitted onboard, she refused to leave and spat on him.
The woman then ran from the bus through the front doors.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, including a public appeal, police arrested a 52-year-old woman in Dacey Gardens about 10.30am today (Friday 8 May 2020).
She was taken to Maroubra Police Station, where she was charged with common assault.
The Matraville woman was refused bail to appear before Central Local Court today.

Homeless man robbed and assaulted near Cessnock

Police are appealing for public assistance after a homeless man was assaulted and robbed in the Hunter region.
Shortly after 5am yesterday (Wednesday 6 May 2020), police have been told a 45-year-old man was asleep in a tent along the Elcom Fire Trail, off Old Maitland Road near Cessnock, when he was awoken by the sound of a motorbike.
He unzipped his tent when two unknown men demanded his vehicle and keys.
When the 45-year-old refused, the pair assaulted him several times with a baseball bat.
The homeless man fled his tent while the pair took his wallet and car keys, before fleeing in the man’s white Mitsubishi Pajero – with NSW registration plates AIB 56K.
He returned to his campsite and contacted police.
He was taken to Cessnock Hospital for treatment to injuries to his back and shoulder.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have commenced an investigation into the incident.
As part of their inquiries, officers wish to speak with two men who may be able to assist with their investigation.
The men have both been described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in their 30s, and were last seen wearing dark clothing, with their faces covered by motorbike helmets.
Police are urging anyone who may have dashcam footage from Old Maitland Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning, or who may have seen a white 2000 Mitsubishi Pajero with NSW registration plates AIB 56K, to contact Cessnock Police on 4991 0199 or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)

In the past 24 hours, three men have been dealt with under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) COVID-19, with one charged and two others issued with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs).
Yesterday’s charge:
• About 3am yesterday (Wednesday 6 May 2020), officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command responded to reports three people were arguing on The Kingsway, Gymea. As police arrived, two men – aged 18 and 21 – ran from the location and were located nearby hiding behind a parked car. The men and a woman were unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being out. When an officer identified one of the men as being wanted for a recent stealing offence, he allegedly ran from the area, pursued on foot by police, who arrested him after a short struggle near Gymea Railway Station. The 21-year-old man was taken to Sutherland Police Station and charged with resist officer in the execution of duty and larceny. He has been refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Thursday 7 May 2020). Checks revealed the 18-year-old man had previously received numerous warnings and was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He is due to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday 29 July 2020. The 22-year-old woman was given a warning for the breach of the Ministerial Directions.
Yesterday’s PINs:
• Just before 3pm (Wednesday 6 May 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling George Street, when they observed three men sitting on the footpath near Railway Square. When police approached, one man became aggressive, stating the laws did not apply to him and allegedly continued to shout and swear. He was arrested and moved away from the other two men while checks were conducted, which revealed he had previously received a warning. The 48-year-old man was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN, while the other two men were issued warnings.
• About 6.40pm, officers from Blacktown Police Area Command were patrolling when they stopped to speak with a 43-year-old man who was sitting on a bench outside Blacktown Library. Checks revealed the man had previously been warned by police on three separate occasions for breaching Ministerial Directions. After the man could not provide a reasonable excuse for being at the location, he was issued a $1000 PIN.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Woman charged following alleged spitting incident – Darling Harbour

A woman will appear in court today after allegedly spitting on a woman at a park in Darling Harbour this morning.
About 7.15am (Thursday 7 May 2020), a 60-year-old woman and her husband were exercising in Tumbalong Park when they were approached by a 43-year-old woman.
The younger woman threw a glass coffee cup towards the woman and started yelling racial abuse before allegedly spitting on her.
The older woman and her husband tried to walk away, but she continued following while yelling abuse.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling nearby and were alerted to the incident.
They located the woman and placed her under arrest before taking her to Day Street Police Station where she was charged with intimidation, common assault, and offensive behaviour.
She was refused bail and will appear in Central Local Court today (Thursday 7 May 2020).