BY IAN CROUCH
Lake Macquarie Police are investigating several aggravated break-ins and vehicle thefts at Morisset.
CCTV images show three men rifling through filing cabinets at a commercial premises at about 2.15am on Monday this week.
Several motor vehicles were also stolen during the break-in.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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| Police want to speak with three men over an aggravated break-in at Morisset |
BY IAN CROUCH
Police are asking for our help to find a teenage boy who's been missing from Rutherford for almost three weeks.
14-year-old Jordan Christian was last seen at about 1pm on Saturday July 6 but wasn't reported missing to police until Wednesday this week.
There are concerns for his welfare due to his age.
Jordan's described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 175cm tall with a medium build and is known to frequent the Rutherford and Lochinvar areas.
anyone with information is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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| Missing teen Jordan Christian |
BY IAN CROUCH
A man is in police custody after a woman was injured when she was alleged hit by a stolen SUV at Jesmond early Wednesday morning.
Emergency services were called to Newcastle Road just before 2am after a 21year-old traffic controller was allegedly struck by a silver Mercedes Benz SUV which was being pursued by police.
Police had initiated the pursuit only moments earlier when the SUV – which had been reported stolen from Salt Ash – was seen allegedly travelling above the speed limit.
Police immediately rendered assistance to the injured woman while the alleged driver of the stolen SUV was arrested after a being chased down on foot.
The woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital where she is reported to be in a stable condition with pelvic injuries.
The 30-year-old man has been taken to Waratah Police Station.
A crime scene was established by Newcastle City Police with officers from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit now conducting inquiries.
EARLIER:
There are major delays for traffic at Jesmond this morning due to a police operation.
Eastbound motorists on Newcastle Road are now being diverted onto the Newcastle Inner City Bypass.
The Transport Management Centre says westbound motorists wanting to use the Inner City Bypass can consider using Blue Gum Road instead.
Motorists should also allow extra travel time and follow the directions of emergency services and traffic crews on site.
BY IAN CROUCH
Port Stephens Police are appealing for help to locate a teenager who's been missing for almost two weeks.
14-year-old Sonny Bower was last seen in Raymond Terrace on Friday July 12 but wasn't reported missing until last Friday, July 19.
There are serious concerns for his welfare due to his age.
Sonny is described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance, 185cm tall with a large build, brown hair with a rat's tail and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black puffer jacket and black pants.
He's known to frequent the Raymond Terrace and Charlestown areas.
Anyone with information as to Sonny's whereabouts is urged to call Raymond Terrace Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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| Missing teen Sonny Bower |
BY IAN CROUCH
Police are investigating a fire which destroyed a home at Medowie overnight.
Several RFS and Fire and Rescue crews were called to the single level weatherboard and tile home in Silver Wattle Drive just after 5.30pm on Monday to find the house and a Toyota Landcruiser up in flames.
It's not clear at this stage if anyone was home when the fire broke out.
Crews worked for three hours to extinguish and mop up the blaze, which also caused minor damage to a neighbouring property.
Police say no-one was injured and a crime scene has been established as investigations continue
Newcastle Fire Command says there were numerous rubbish fires at the rear of the home when crews arrived.
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| Emergency services at the scene of the house fire at Medowie | . |
BY IAN CROUCH
Newcastle Council will invest more than 50-million dollars into Wallsend over the next five years as part of a long-term plan to upgrade roads, reduce flood risks and create safer, more connected communities.
This includes dual-lane road upgrades at Minmi Road and Longworth Street, with stage one of the Minmi Road widening project to start this week with the installation of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Newcastle Road and Cowper Street.
Bridge renewal projects are also on the cards at Boscowan, Cowper and Nelson Streets to reduce the flood risk in the CBD.
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| Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes joined councillors and community members for the major funding announcement on Sunday |
BY IAN CROUCH
Lake Macquarie has been announced as one of two areas in NSW where the state government will trial the use of modular homes in an effort to address the housing shortage.
The government is putting $10 million towards the trial of the cost-efficient pre-fabricated building method.
Four sites in Lake Macquarie will host five modular social homes, with a further three sites earmarked in Wollongong.
A procurement process has begun, with completion expected early next year.
The government says modular housing can be delivered 20% faster than traditional methods.
The exact location for the homes is yet to be disclosed.
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| Lake Macquarie will host four modular home sites |
BY IAN CROUCH
One northbound lane of the M1 Pacific Motorway has been reopened following an overnight crash between a truck and a car at Morisset.
The crash happened at about 11.15pm on Thursday just north of the Mandalong Road exit.
Newcastle Fire Command says the truck was carrying a pallet of 20 litre drums filled with acid and general goods.
The drums fell on the roadway, with several splitting open.
The northbound lanes of the motorway were closed as Hazmat crews used soda ash to neutralise the acid.
They managed to prevent the acid from getting into local waterways.
The clean-up wrapped up just before 5.00am on Friday, allowing one lane to be reopened.
It's understood no-one was injured in the crash.
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have arrested a man accused of stealing parcels from a New Lambton home last week.
Newcastle police received a report of parcels being stolen from the front of a home on Thursday 11 July, 2024.
Following inquiries, police arrested the 38-year-old at a shopping centre on Steel Street Newcastle around 11.30 yesterday morning (Thursday 18 July, 2024).
It's alleged he was also found with methamphetamine and cannabis in his possession.
He's been charged with larceny, enter enclosed land without a lawful excuse and two counts of drug possession.
The man's been released on conditional bail to face Newcastle Local Court on August 15.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
A body, believed to be that of missing fisherman Luke Smith has been located
today.
About 7.50pm on Saturday July 6, emergency services were called to
Channel Street, Swansea, following reports of multiple people in the water
after a small boat overturned.
Three men were pulled from the water a short time later, however 23-year-old Luke Smith could not be located.
About 12.20pm today, emergency services were called
to Swansea following reports a body had been located in the channel.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that
of the missing man.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
BY JORDAN REGNIS and IAN CROUCH
Police have advised Hunter has been found safe and well.
They've thanked the public and the media for their assistance.
EARLIER:
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing
from the Hunter.
Hunter Paton, aged 13, was last seen at Woodberry on Monday 24 June 2024.
Police and family hold serious concerns for his welfare due to his young
age.
Hunter is described as being of Caucasian appearance, thin build, about
175cm tall with short dark brown hair.
He was last seen wearing black puffer jacket, long pants and black shoes.
Hunter is known to frequent the Woodberry, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay
areas.
Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to call Raymond
Terrace Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Police are appealing for public assistance after a bag containing fishing
gear was located at Dudley Beach.
About 7.20am this morning (Thursday 11 July 2024), police were called to
Dudley Beach following reports items were located on rocks; however, no one was
located nearby the items.
Officers located a
grey bag at the southern end of the beach, near the Bombala Street track and
Cross Creek.
A search of the area commenced, with assistance from Marine Area Command,
Marine Rescue, PolAir and NSW Surf Lifesavers; however, no one was located.
While the items may have been discarded or lost, police hold concerns for
the welfare of the potential owner and are appealing for anyone who has
information on the owner of the items to contact local police.
As inquiries continue, anyone with information about the items found is
urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY IAN CROUCH
Two Hunter High School students have been chosen to to take part in a state government scholarship to travel to Japan in September.
Eden Holmes from Tomaree High and Elly New from Newcastle Grammar School will join a contingent of 20 students from across the state to learn more about Australia's involvement in the second world war.
They'll visit a number of significant sites including an Australian POW camp, Yokohama War Cemetery, and the Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial.
More than 180 students applied for the scholarship across NSW through a personal essay and school endorsement process.
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| The students will visit several significant sites including the Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial |
BY IAN CROUCH
The Environment Protection Authority has fined two companies over separate pollution incidents in Newcastle.
Multiplex has been fined $15,000 after a pollution control structure at the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct construction site failed, sending sediment-laden water into nearby creeks and rivers.
Kooragang Bulk Facilities has also been fined $15,000 after almost 2 tonnes of alumina dust was released from a hopper, causing alleged air pollution, with some ending up in the Hunter River.
BY IAN CROUCH
A climate change activist has become the first to be sentenced to gaol for taking part in a protest in Newcastle.
21-year-old Laura Davy was arrested after attaching herself to a coal reclaimer at Port Waratah Coal Services on Sunday morning.
She was sentenced to 3 months gaol and fined $1100 for the illegal protest but was released on bail after lodging an appeal against the severity of the sentence.
Davy was released from custody but must return to Tasmania within 48 hours.
She's due back in court in September.
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| Laura Davy |
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have charged a 17-year-old boy over a fatal crash at Salt Ash.
A white Ford Falcon sedan with five teenagers on board ran off Lemon Tree Passage Road at about 10.45pm on Friday and crashed into a tree.
A 16-year-old boy died on the way to hospital while three other passengers, one aged 14 and the others aged 17, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say the driver, a 17-year-old boy, returned a positive result to a roadside breath test.
He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and further assessment.
Upon his release from hospital, he was taken to Newcastle Police station where he was charged with learner not accompanied driver, negligent driving occasioning death and special category driver drive with special range PCA.
He's been granted conditional bail to face Raymond Terrace Court on August 19.
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| Police have charged a 17-year-old boy over a fatal crash at Salt Ash |