Elderly Woman Injured After Handbag Stolen

Newcastle city police are asking for help from the public after a woman's hand bag was stolen from West's Leagues Club in New Lambton.

Senior Constable Juan Mahoney said the 89 year old woman was in a gaming area at around 11.40am yesterday when her hand bag was taken from between two machines.

 

"The female offender, only described as aboriginal appearance, has been on the other side of the machines and the offender has reached in between the machines stolen the victims hand bag, stuffing it into another hand bag she was carrying and fleeing from the club," said Senior Constable Mahoney.

After the incident the victim attempted to alert her husband when her leg was caught in her seat and she fell, fracturing her hip.

The victim was taken to John Hunter Hospital where she will undergo surgery on her hip

　

Coalition promises to assist retirees and apprentices

The Coalition has promised to put plans for retirees, apprentices and dementia research in place if elected next month.

The plan includes indexing the Commonwealth Seniors Health card to help seniors with the cost of living, allocating $200 million to dementia research, and providing apprentices with a HECS-like loan scheme.

Liberal candidate for Newcastle, Jaime Abbott says the plan to index the Seniors Health card will assist retirees with healthcare costs.

Horse breeders concerned over mining impacts

Visiting horse breeders are said to be shocked at the impact of mining on the Upper Hunter's landscape, raising concerns over the Hunter's multi-billion dollar thoroughbred industry.

The concerns come after this weekend's annual stallion parades, bringing breeders and punters alike from around Australia to inspect horse studs.

President of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Cameron Collins says mines are causing adverse effects on the breeding industry and he is concerned about the impact on water and air quality.

Hunter Greens Target Coal Dust

Hunter Greens claim coal dust piles along the Southern Maitland railway line are a serious environmental threat.

The Greens say the piles are building up in the Beelbird and Kurri Kurri area are a direct result of uncovered coal hoppers.

Greens candidate for the Hunter, David Atwell, said the piles could become a highly toxic substance called Black Water.

"Black Water is highly toxic and full of all the particles in coal including arsenic and sulphur which are in turn being exposed to the environment which again is another danger to local residents," Mr Atwell told 2NUR.FM

Mr Atwell said covers needed to be implemented to stop the spread of coal dust immediately.

"We also call upon Governments and the coal company and the rail way lines themselves to do a proper clean up," he said.

Mr Atwell also said the coal dust piles were close to a child care centre and an elderly care village, "some of the worst locations where the mounds are located are within two to three-hundred metres of this old aged care village."

Break and Enter at Mount Hutton Shopping Centre

Police are looking for three people who broke into Mount Hutton shopping centre earlier this morning.

The offenders set off the centre's alarm after breaking into Nicci's cafe at about 4am.
 

Senior Constable Juan Mahoney said three Bakers Delight employees went to investigate the scene.

 

"One of the offender's has fallen to the ground and one of the offenders has attempted to grab hold of the offender," Senior Constable Mahoney told 2NUR.FM, "The offender has gotten to his feet and swung an iron bar at the man, striking him to the back of the head causing a 6cm laceration."

 

The offenders then fled the location.

The victim was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

OzHarvest reaches 1.6 Millionth Meal.

OzHarvest Newcastle recently saved their 1.6 millionth meal.

The Newcastle charity which collects food from local businesses and distributes it to charities, reached the milestone by saving five hundred thousand kilos of food from landfill.

The charity began in February 2010 and has grown from a hand full of business to collecting, on average, five tons of food a week.

OzHarvest delivers to over 70 charities a week in Newcastle, Lake Maquarie, Raymond Terrace and Maitland.

OzHarvest manager, Monique McGuire says their service is valued by Hunter charities.

"I think if OzHarvest wasn't around a lot of [charities] would really really struggle," says Ms McGuire, "every time I visit a charity or ring them to see if they're happy with our service they always say 'thank god for OzHarvest'.

"They really appreciate what we do and we could [sic] only do it because of all the food business that are happy to provide their surplus food to us."
 

Midday News Fri 23.8.13 Read By Ian Crouch

Deadline for child abuse cover-up report extended

The Special Commission of Inquiry into the alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse in the Hunter won't hand down its findings until the end of February next year.

The reporting deadline has been extended by 5 months, with information to be shared with the national Royal Commission.

Premier Barry O'Farrell says the government will consider the findings and recommendations when they're released.

New safety measures for life savers

Hunter surf life savers have welcomed new safety measures being introduced for competitions following recent deaths on the Gold Coast.

From now on life jackets and helmets will be compulsory for competitors in all surf life saving events.

Hunter Surf Life Saving says the new measures will greatly improve safety.

Police investigate Hamilton arson attacks

A police strike force has been established to investigate the alarming number of arson attacks in Hamilton South.

There have been 13 deliberately lit fires in the suburb's public housing estate this year, with small units, vehicles, furniture and bins being torched.

Police are worried residents lives could be in danger if the firebug isn't caught soon.

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Explosives found in Elemore Vale

An Elermore Vale man will face court today following the alleged discovery of multiple firearms and an explosive device under Strike Force Gilbralter investigations.
 
A large amount of property was seized at Sandgate and Elermore Vale at about 8am yesterday morning, allegedly including multiple firearms.

Strike Force Gilbralter was established in July 2013 to investigate the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the Newcastle Local Area Command

Council cashes in on Knights game parking

Newcastle City Council has attracted criticisms after parking officers patrolled Hunter Stadium on Sunday.

Council maintains safety was a priority as staff monitored Turton Road while more than 26,000 fans watched a Newcastle Knights match.

Compliance officers handed out more than $13,000 of fines for people parking on nature strips, footpaths and across driveways during the game.

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Cyclist Killed In Accident

Investigations are continuing into the death of a cyclist at Wallsend.

Emergency services were called to Minmi Road just after 8am yesterday morning to reports of a collision between a truck and a bicycle.

Sonia Roberts from Police Headquarters says a 36 year old man was trapped underneath the truck and died at the scene.

The truck driver was unharmed and taken to John Hunter Hospital for blood and urine tests.

Police have asked any witnesses to the accident to come forward.

Dangerous Dust Levels in the Upper Hunter

The Hunter Valley Protection Alliance claims dust levels in the Upper Hunter recently reached levels close to being hazardous to human health.




On the 17th and 18th of August, the Department of Environment and Heritage issued health alerts warning of high levels of dust pollution.

Stephen Galilee from the Mineral Council of NSW stated there was a lack of evidence in a Senate inquiry report recommending ways to reduce coal dust pollution.



"There is no evidence in the report that demonstrates how the Committee has logically come to its recommendation," Galilee said, “The recommendation to implement covers on all coal wagons on the Hunter coal rail network ignores the evidence that shows coal dust from trains to be a relatively small source of particulates."

Graeme Gibson from the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance says Galilee's claims are wrong.

"There's just no sense to what he is saying," said Gibson "It's quite wrong and he's just trying to paint the mining industry in a better light."

"He cannot deny that the department has measured the dust levels. He cannot deny that it was nearly 100 micrograms per cubic metre on at 6am on the 18th of August."

The alerts coincided  with yesterday's Knights game where 5000 miners and their family wore high visibility vest in support of mining in the Hunter.

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Cessnock Airport Expansion

Cessnock Airport could become the new gateway to the Hunter under an ambitious plan being considered by council.

Councillors have voted to place a long-term plan on public exhibition which would see the Pokolbin aerodrome expanded in the wake of constraints on the Hunter's airports at Maitland and Williamtown.

A report to council also says Maitland and Warnervale Airports faced significant challenges to grow beyond their existing sites and Cessnock was well placed to draw some of their business in years to come.

Shooting Incident At Scone

Police are appealing for public assistance following a shooting incident at Scone.
 

At about 11:45am yesterday, a woman was driving a white Toyota Prado west on Moobi Road, when she overtook a blue Holden Commodore.
 

A short time later, the woman was turning into a property on Nandowra Road, when the same vehicle stopped behind her.

 

The woman turned and saw the male driver holding a firearm and then heard a shot fired.

 

No one was injured in the incident.

 

 

The Grainery Care Centre Premises To Be Sold

The Grainery Care Centre in Islington urgently needs new premises to continue helping clients recover from trauma, including substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness and grief.
 

A building on Maitland Road has been leased by the welfare arm of the Grainery Christian Network for three years to host its op-shop, food bank, book exchange and creative recovery course for people who have experienced trauma.
 

The building's late owner, Don Ford, leased the expansive space to the charity for just $800 a month but wanted the building sold after his death, with the proceeds to go to the Mater Hospital.
 

It will be auctioned later this month.

Land Opened Up For Residential Development

Land at Cessnock, Paxton and Heddon Greta will be opened up for residential development under changes to one of the area's biggest planning documents.

The three areas include a 24 hectare former grazing precinct west of Heddon Greta, land on the northern fringe of Cessnock behind Dover Street and more than 44 hectares in Paxton Village.

No submissions were received in the public exhibition of the changes.

8.30 News Thurs 8.8.13 Read By Ian Crouch

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