$150,000 Worth of Cannabis Seized near Karuah

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Port Stephens Hunter Police have uncovered more than $150,000 dollars worth of cannabis and multiple hydroponic setups at a property north of Karuah.

Officers searched a property on Warraba Road at The Branch on Wednesday morning, where they allegedly located and seized more than 11 kilograms of cannabis, several cannabis plants, 2 hydroponic setups and drug paraphernalia.

Police spoke with a 36-year-old man at the property and issued him a court attendance notice for drug possession and supply and cultivating and possessing a prohibited plant.

He's due to face court on January 15.

BREAKING! Teen Girl To Face Court Over Alleged Armed Robbery On Charlestown Pizza Store

BY IAN CROUCH

A 15-year-old girl is due to face a children's court today accused of an armed robbery on a pizza store at Charlestown overnight.

Police say the girl entered the Crust outlet on the Pacific Highway just on closing time at 9.00pm on Wednesday and threatened a female worker with a broken bottle.

The worker fled the store as the girl allegedly helped herself to 5 bottles of spirits, cash and the victim's mobile phone.

No customers were in the store at the time.

The girl was arrested as she left the Charlestown McDonalds outlet at 11.30pm - police say she was intoxicated at the time.

Police say most of the alcohol and cash was found in her backpack.

Girl Found Unconscious In Family Car At Tanilba Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

Port Stephens detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a 5-year-old girl found unresponsive in a car at Tanilba Bay.

Ambulance crews were called to a family home at about 4.00pm on Tuesday to find the little girl inside a car parked in the driveway.

It's understood paramedics treated her at the scene and placed in an induced coma before she was flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a critical condition.

Breakthrough In Investigation Into Disappearance Of Lake Macquarie Teens 40 Years Ago

BY IAN CROUCH

Strike force detectives investigating the abduction and suspected murder of two teenage girls 40 years ago have made a major breakthrough.

18-year-old Robyn Hickie and 14-year-old Amanda Robinson were abducted at or near bus stops on the Pacific Highway at Belmont North and Swansea within two weeks of each other in 1979

News Limited reports police are now looking into the movements of a 58-year-old successful businessman who currently lives on the Gold Coast.

The former Hunter Valley man was recently granted bail in Queensland over a separate rape and sexual assault offences.

Detectives say a unique, green Holden Torana could also hold the key to proving the identity of the person responsible.

Backpacker killer, Ivan Milat had been a suspect in the girl's disappearance but denied any involvement during an inquest in 2002.

Robyn Hickie

Amanda Robinson

Police believe a unique, green Torana could hold a vital clue

45 Additional Assault Charges Laid Against Newcastle Man

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A Newcastle man already before the courts is now facing 45 additional sexual assault charges.

The 32-year-old was first arrested in August and charged with 10 offences, following investigations into reported indecent assaults alleged to have occurred between 2005 and 2014.

Following further inquiries, officers on Wednesday arrested the man for a second time.

The new charges include 26 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 7 counts of inciting an underage person to commit an indecent act.

He remains bail refused and will face the new charges at Newcastle Local Court on December 19.

Driver Killed on New England Highway

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police have confirmed a woman has been killed in a serious crash in the Upper Hunter.

A car and truck collided at the intersection of the New England Highway and Glennies Creek Road at  Camberwell, north of Singleton about 10:40am.

The driver of the car died at the scene.

The male truck driver has been taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory testing.

The New England Highway is expected to be closed for several hours as police conduct investigations.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

EXCLUSIVE! Off-Duty Detective Assaulted By Alleged Speeding Driver At East Maitland

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today accused of assaulting an off-duty police officer at East Maitland on Tuesday night.

The Detective Senior Constable was walking his dog along Park Street just before 8.00pm when it's alleged he saw a car being driven at high speed for 100 metres down the road. It's claimed the car then skidded sideways into a corner and took off before returning and stopping in the street.

The officer yelled out to the 32-year-old man who was driving the car, saying there were children in the street.

Police say the man then crossed the road and threatened the detective, challenging him to a fight.  The officer tried to walk away but it's alleged the man threw a punch which missed, with the man grabbing the detective.

The pair became involved in a violent struggle as the detective's partner called for help.

Police arrived a short time later and arrested the man - he's been refused bail on 7 charges including assault police, negligent driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and is due to face Maitland Local Court today.

The detective suffered minor injuries to his chest, hand, elbow and lip and is expected to return to work today.

UPDATE! Missing Woman Located

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police have confirmed Doris Wheeler has been found safe and well.

EARLIER:

Police are seeking assistance to find an elderly woman missing from Lakelands since Tuesday morning.

Doris Wheeler was last seen at Gosforth Grove at around 11 o'clock.

The 99-year-old lives with dementia and there are concerns for her welfare due to her age and condition.

Doris is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 154cm tall with a slim build and grey hair.

Anyone who may have seen Doris or has information about her whereabouts is urged to call Triple Zero (000) or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man Charged over String of Newcastle Assaults

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man is due to face court accused of robbing and assaulting a number of people, including a police officer, across Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

The 25-year-old is accused of threatening and demanding cash from a man on Brown Road, Broadmeadow around 1pm, before forcing him to the ground and stealing a mobile phone, a pair of glasses, headphones and a powerbank.

About five minutes later, police say the same man entered a store on nearby Belford Street, where he allegedly grabbed a 44-year-old woman and forced her to the ground.

A struggle ensured and the man fled the scene.

Police allege the man approached a car on Church Street, Mayfield, an hour later and assaulted a man sitting in the passenger seat while demanding cash and the keys to the car.

Officers were called to the scene and managed to arrest the man after a short foot chase, during which a male constable was spat at.

The man has been charged with aggravated robbery, common assault, aggravated assault with intent to rob and assaulting a police officer.

Four Cars Destroyed In Early Morning Fire At Windale

BY IAN CROUCH

Four cars have been destroyed in an an early-morning fire at Windale.

Fire crews from Charlestown and Tingira Heights were called to a villa complex in James Street at 5.15am on Friday.

First reports suggested one of the villas was also on fire - crews managed to douse the flames before they could spread.

Police have set up a crime scene as investigations continue and are appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity near the villas to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, a Total Fire Ban is again in force until midnight on Friday with a Severe Fire Danger expected in the Greater Hunter.

Police Investigate Late Night Theft On Campus At Newcastle University

BY IAN  CROUCH

Police are searching for two young men involved in a robbery overnight at the Newcastle University's Callaghan campus.

A 20-year-old woman was walking along the Ring Road towards Warabrook Railway Station at about 10.50pm on Wednesday listening to music through headphones.

She didn't notice two males who approached her from either side.

Police say the pair, who had their faces covered with hooded jumpers, demanded her handbag.

She complied and the pair ran off towards the Bar on the Hill.

The young woman gave chase but the bandits managed to escape.

Supermarket Manager Threatened During Armed Robbery At Jewells

BY IAN CROUCH

A supermarket manager has had a knife pulled on him during a brazen robbery at Jewells.

He was closing up the Coles store on Ntaba Road at about 8.30pm on Wednesday when two people pushing a trolley full of goods approached and threatened him with a knife before escaping with items.

Police later found the goods dumped nearby.

The manager wasn't injured and police are checking CCTV footage in a bid to identify the culprits.

Fire Forces Evacuation Of Disabled Residents At Edgeworth

BY IAN CROUCH

10 people have been evacuated after a fire engulfed a two cars and a carport at Edgeworth early Thursday morning.

Newcastle Fire Command says 7 fire trucks and a duty commander were called to a block of flats on Charles Street at 1.30am to find the cars and the carport under the unit block well alight.

They managed to stop the fire spreading to the units.

10 people with disabilities were safely evacuated and no-one was injured.

It's taken crews more than 3 hours to fully extinguish and mop up the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

Firefighters Say Morisset Grass Fire Deliberately Lit

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters say a large grass fire at Morisset which broke out during Tuesday's catastrophic conditions was deliberately lit.

The fire started in a large area of grass just to the west of Gibson Oval off Kahibah and Newcastle Streets at about 5.00pm

A group of youths on motorbikes were seen leaving the area at the time.

A large strike team comprising firefighters from Budgewoi, Wangi, Morisset and the RFS took about an hour to douse the flames.

Firefighters say there were 3 ignitions points, indicating the fire was deliberately lit. 

House Destroyed By Fire At East Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire which destroyed a house at East Branxton early Wednesday as suspicious.

18 fire trucks were called to the single level timber and iron house on Vineyard Haven Parade just after 1.30am to find the home well alight.

4 occupants managed to escape unharmed.

It's believed the fire started in the rear of the building.

It's taken crews 2 hours to extinguish and mop up the fire

University of Newcastle to Reopen Closed Campuses

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The University of Newcastle has confirmed it will reopen its Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses tomorrow following today's shutdown due to catastrophic bushfire risk in the Hunter.

The campuses (excluding Port Macquarie and Taree) will return to normal operations at 12:01am Wednesday, with staff expected to attend work as usual. The University is still making decisions about its Coffs Harbour site, amid a spate of serious bushfires on the north coast.

Exams scheduled for Wednesday will go ahead as planned, while The Forum and other campus retail and childcare centres will reopen for normal business.

Those exams set for Port Macquarie and Taree will be rescheduled soon; students can expect to be emailed directly with details.

Callaghan and Ourimbah students who had exams scheduled for today will sit them on Saturday.

The University is advising staff and students to avoid travelling to campus if it is unsafe to do so; staff should notify their supervisor and students should submit an Adverse Circumstances claim if they are unable to attend exams in current conditions.

Properties At Threat From Greta Fire

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

UPDATE 5:45PM: The Harper Street, Greta fire has been downgraded to Watch and Act status.

An Emergency Warning has been issued for a grass fire burning at Greta.

We are hearing reports the fire is 3 hectares in size and moving fast in the vicinity of Harper Street and York Street, threatening properties on the north side of York Street.

Crews are on scene. Smoke and embers are emanating from the fire.

Two houses on Harper Street have sustained some fire damage to the backyard.

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DOWNGRADED: North Rothbury Residents Urged to Seek Shelter

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

UPDATE 6PM:

All fires at North Rothbury are now burning at Advice level.

UPDATE 5PM:

A house fire at North Rothbury has been extinguished and the fire downgraded to Watch and Act.

UPDATE 4PM: Wine Country Drive between the Hunter Expressway and Tuckers Lane is CLOSED in both directions.

The Rural Fire Service has issued an Emergency warning for North Rothbury, near Cessnock, where a small grass fire is burning rapidly towards the township.

A single-story residential structure on the corner of Rothbury Road and Wine Country Drive is currently ablaze.

Properties are under threat and residents are being told to seek shelter as it is too late to leave.

The blaze is burning in a north-westerly direction, and though it is only small the RFS warns catastrophic conditions could see the situation worsen.

7 fire trucks and a strike team comprising 5 more trucks have been tasked to the scene.

Motorists are urged to stay alert and keep clear of emergency vehicles responding to incidents across the region.

Catastrophic Fire Conditions: Reserve, School and University Campus Closures

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

The Hunter is bracing for catastrophic fire conditions on Tuesday amid an unprecedented bush fire crisis.

The Rural Fire Service is urging residents living close to the bush to prepare their homes now ahead of worsening conditions expected over the next 48 hours.

The RFS says homes are not designed to withstand these conditions and lives and property will be at risk if a fire starts and takes hold.

A Total Fire Ban is in force for the next two days.

Lake Macquarie Council has advised Doyalson RSL, Toronto Workers Club, Club Macquarie at Argenton and Wests Cardiff will serve as evacuation centres should severe bushfires take hold.


The University of Newcastle has announced it will close its Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses and the Hunter Medical Research Institute to ensure staff and student safety.

The University's Newcastle city and Sydney campuses will remain open.

Students with exams scheduled for closed campuses on Tuesday will now sit them on Saturday.

The NSW Department of Education has advised a number of Hunter schools, both government and non-government, will be closed on Tuesday. The full list can be found on the Department website.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has also advised the St Joseph's Aberdeen bus from Merriwa will not run on Tuesday.

A number of reserves have also been closed across the region as local councils react to predicted conditions.

In Lake Macquarie, Mount Sugarloaf and the Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, Fernleigh Track and Green Point Foreshore Reserve at Valentine are closed until Wednesday afternoon.

City of Newcastle has announced the closure of Blackbutt Reserve and says an emergency plan of management has been coordinated to ensure the welfare of staff and wildlife.

All Landcare sites and National Parks across the region, including Glenrock State Conservation Area, have also been closed with a reassessment scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Residents are urged to stay up to date with the situation via the Rural Fire Service website or the Fires Near Me App available on Android and Apple devices.

Image: ABC

Submissions Open On Farley Crematorium Proposal

BY ALICE PEART

Public submissions on the proposed Farley crematorium have reopened for a second round after continued push back from the community.

Residents have been calling on Maitland City Council to reject the proposal since it was revealed in January this year.

The 'Say No To Farley Crematorium' community group say they don't want another PFAS or Pasminco situation on their hands, in reference to the expected mercury and dioxin emissions from the site.

"With the contamination that is in the air, it will end up in water tanks. A lot of young families are moving into the area. With mercury, it effects young children especially, even pregnant mums can be effected as well so that is a real serious issue",  said resident Barbra Bright.

Ms Bright is encouraging the public to call the council to find out more about the proposal, saying submission information online is difficult to access.

Submissions close November 26.

An artist interpretation of the proposed crematorium. Image: SHAC Architects

Major Delays Following Fatal Crashes at Morisset, Cooranbong

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

There are major delays following two fatal crashes on Lake Macquarie's roads.

At Morisset, a man has died after being struck by a car on Fishery Point Road around 12:30 Thursday afternoon.

He is yet to be formally identified.

The car's male driver has been taken to Wyong Hospital for mandatory testing.

Fishery Point Road is closed in both directions and Police advise it will remain so for several hours as investigations continue.

At Cooranbong, Martinsville Road and Freemans Drive are closed following a fatal collision involving a car and motorcycle.

A man died after his motorbike collided with a car near the intersection of Martinsville Road and Freemans Drive at around 1:30 Thursday afternoon.

Both roads will remain closed for some time and police are advising motorists with non-essential travel plans to avoid the area completely.

Parents should be advised Police and schools are working to establish alternative pick up points for students on school buses, with schools expected to advise guardians of the situation.

Built-up traffic is expected to remain heavy at both scenes for several hours as the roads remain closed.

UPDATE: Search for Woman Missing from Singleton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police say Carissa Starr has been located safe and well.

The 30-year-old attended Port Macquarie Police Station around 10 o'clock Wednesday night, having been reported missing on Tuesday evening.

EARLIER:

Police are appealing for help to locate a woman missing from Singleton.

Carissa Starr was last seen leaving a home between 2:30 and 4:30 on Tuesday afternoon and was reported missing later that night.

The 30-year-old is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 165-170cm tall, with an average build, black hair and brown eyes.

Carissa may be travelling in a white Mazda 3 with NSW registration plates ECW 10Z and has connections in Singleton, Tamworth and Gosford.

There are concerns for Carissa's welfare and anyone who sees her or knows of her whereabouts is urged to make contact with police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Carissa Starr. Image: NSW Police Force

Image: NSW Police Force

Female Employee charged with stealing almost $40,000 from Port Stephens business

By Isabel Everett

A 42 year-old-woman has been charged with stealing almost $40,000 from a Port Stephens business over a two-year period.

Police officers from the Port Stephens Police district began an investigation after the owner of the restaurant on Soldiers Point Road noticed discrepancies in the business' takings. 

Police arrested the woman at approximately 8:15 am on Tuesday in her Nelson Bay home, following their extensive inquires. 

The woman has been charged with 16 counts of steal property and was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday the 9th of December 2019.

BREAKING! Shot Fired During Domestic Dispute At Fingal Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been charged after he allegedly discharged a firearm during a domestic dispute at Fingal Bay.

Police say the 40-year-old became involved in an argument with his 38-year-old ex-partner at his Bombora Close home on Tuesday afternoon which quickly escalated.

It's alleged the man produced a pistol and fired a shot inside the home which penetrated a fly screen and a neighbour's garage before becoming lodged in an external in a brick wall on Shoreline Drive 

More than a dozen police cars then converged on the Salamander Bay shopping centre just after 5.00pm where the man was arrested.

He was arrested and taken to Nelson Bay Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:

• Fire firearm into building or onto enclosed lands
• Possess loaded firearm endanger life non-public place
• Handle/use firearm under the influence of alcohol
• Stalk/intimidation intend physical harm (Domestic) and possession ammunition without a licence
• Possess unregistered firearm
• Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit

He was refused bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 6 November 2019).

UPDATE! Pedestrian Hit And Killed By School Bus In Horrific Crash At Adamstown

BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has been killed in a horror crash at Adamstown.

Police say the woman, believed to be 35-years-old, was crossing Brunker Road at a pedestrian crossing near Mandalong Road at about 3.30pm on Tuesday when she was struck by a southbound Newcastle Buses school bus.

The woman was walking her dog at the time which was also found dead at the scene.

The bus then collided with 5 cars which were parked on Brunker Road before coming to a stop almost 100 metres up the road.


Several bystanders rendered first aid before paramedics arrived but the woman was unable to be revived and she died at the scene.

The bus was carrying 16 students from Merewether High School.

None of the school students on the bus were injured and the driver has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

No-one else was injured in the crash.

Brunker Road was closed to traffic north of Olney Road and police taped off the area as a crime scene as investigations continue. Brunker Road has since been re-opened to traffic

Inspector Shane Buggy from Newcastle Police would not speculate on how the crash occurred.

"It's unclear at this stage and investigations are ongoing," he said.

Kurt Batchelor works at the nearby Steve Toms Automotive Services and says it was a horrific scene.

"I heard a loud bang out the front of work and walked outside and saw the bus on the other side of the road driving pretty fast and walked over to attend and saw the lady on the ground with a couple of people attending (to her)", he said.

Crash investigators want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision ansd have not yet spoken to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Pedestrian Crossing Where The Crash Occurred At Adamstown Picture: Ian Crouch

The Horrific Crash Scene At Adamstown Picture: Ian Crouch

Passers-by Stamp Out Deliberately Lit Grass Fire At Buchannan

BY IAN CROUCH

Four passers-by have helped extinguish a deliberately lit grass fire at Buchannan.

Newcastle Fire Command says the four noticed the fire break out near the Hunter Expressway just before 7.30pm on Monday and called triple-oh.

They managed to stamp out most of the flames before police and firefighters arrived.

They also gave police a description of a man wearing a black hooded jumper who they say started the blaze - he was last seen heading up the on-ramp at George Booth Drive.

Police say no-one has been arrested at this stage.

Father Of Starved Hawks Nest Girl Set To Stay In Gaol

BY IAN CROUCH

A father who did nothing while his 7 year-old girl starved to death at Hawks Nest more than a decade ago is set to be denied parole.

Ebony weighed only 9 kilograms when she died in 2007 in one of the worst cases of parental neglect ever seen in NSW.

Her father has become eligible for parole after serving 12 years of a 16 year sentence for manslaughter.

However, News Limited reports the Parole Board intends to block his application.

Ebony's mother was convicted of her murder and won't be eligible for parole until 2037.

7-year-old Ebony weighed just 9 kilograms when she died from malnutrition