Man charged over Council Building Fire- Lake Macquarie

BY JJ PILLAY 

A man has been charged over an arson attack on Lake Macquarie Council Chambers. The fire in November last year caused council meetings to be moved offsite and significant damage was sustained.

Following extensive inquiries and public appeals for information, detectives attended a unit at East Maitland about 10am yesterday, where they executed a search warrant. 

During the search, police allegedly located and seized a dark grey utility, a firearm, a small bag containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine, and other items of interest.

A 53-year-old man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged multiple offences to appear before Maitland Local Court today.

Solar Panels Blown Off University Building At Honeysuckle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Strong winds from an East Coast Low lashing the Hunter have blown two solar panels off the roof on the University of Newcastle's Q Building at Honeysuckle.

The Police rescue and Firefighters were called to the building at the corner of Honeysuckle Drove and Worth Place just before midday on Friday to find two solar panels had been dislodged and lying on the ground next to the building.

Newcastle Fire Command says no-one's been injured and a restricted access zone has been set up.

Maintenance staff from the university's Callaghan have been called into to isolate the electricity supply.

The westbound lanes of Honeysuckle Drive are closed as crews use a Fire Brigade Ladder platform to inspect the remaining solar panels on the roof.

Copper Thieves Allegedly Found Over Telecommunications Loss at Cooranbong and Morisset

BY PETER HYSLOP

Police believe they've found the copper thieves allegedly responsible for bringing down telecommunications in Morisset and Cooranbong this month.

Late yesterday, Lake Macquarie Police attempted to stop a Ford sedan and a pursuit was initiated.

At Wyee two people ran from the vehicle when it crashed, a 26-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman. 

Both were arrested and a search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of copper wiring, which police believe are the proceeds from a recent break and enter at a telecommunications facility at Dora Creek.

The alleged driver, a 26-year-old man, was charged with three outstanding warrants linked to more than 30 offences dating back to 2021. The woman was charged with drug related offences.

Following inquiries, police arrested a 39-year-old man at Crangan Bay in a separate car chase, he's been charged with theft of the cables.

All three will appear at Belmont Local Court in coming days.

Telecommunications tower. Picture: Wikimedia commons

Respected Hunter Police Chief Inspector Loses Battle With Cancer

 BY IAN CROUCH

Officers from the Port Stephens Hunter Police District are mourning the loss of Chief Inspector Dan Skelly after a five year battle with cancer.

He grew up in Georgetown and worked in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie commands before a stint in Dubbo.

He returned to the region in 2020 to become the officer in charge of the Port Stephens Hunter command.

After more than 20-years as a police officer, he was honoured with a passing out parade by staff and colleagues on Christmas Eve.

Dan Skelly lost his battle with Leukemia on Monday at the age of 61.  

Chief Inspector Dan Skelly Picture: News Limited

Massive Clean Up Continues After Wild Storm Lashes The Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been stretched to the limit after wild storms lashed the Hunter overnight.

Almost 55,000 customers remain without power, with more than 32,000 of those in the Port Stephens area.

Ausgrid says 90% of the outages were caused by lightning strikes and complex repairs could take until later on Thursday to be completed.

Near cyclonic winds were reported in some areas, with wind gusts reportedly reaching 120km/hr at Williamtown at about 9.00pm on Wednesday.

The State Emergency Service has responded to around 500 calls for assistance, with just over 200 coming from the Maitland area alone. Many homes in the area have lost rooves and sustained flash flooding, while trees and power lines are down over a wide area of the Lower and Upper Hunter region. 

Several sets of traffic lights have also been blacked out and police are urging people to stay home unless it's essential to be out on the roads and for motorists to drive with caution.

Port Stephens SES volunteers attending to one of hundreds of trees brought down in overnight storms. Picture Port Stephens SES

 

 

Two people charged after the death of a man at Gateshead last week

 By JACK SEYMOUR

A man and woman will front court today (Thursday 16 January 2025) after being charged with the death of a man at Lake Macquarie last week.

Just after 11pm on Thursday January 9, emergency services were called to a property at Gateshead to answer a concern for welfare report.

A 37-year-old man was treated by NSW paramedics; however, he died at the scene.

A postmortem revealed the man sustained multiple stab wounds.

A search warrant was then executed at a home on Long Crescent at Shortland yesterday afternoon where an 18-year-old man and 19-year-old woman were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.

The man was charged with murder and threat/cause injury/harm to prevent information to police, while the woman was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

They were both refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today.

Image supplied by NSW Police media

Man Killed In Motorbike Crash At Cessnock

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash at Cessnock overnight.

Emergency services were called to Maitland Road at about 7.20pm on Wednesday where a motorcycle had left the road and crashed into a power pole.

The rider, a 32-year-old man, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

Investigations into the crash are continuing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.