Police Launch Appeal To Find Man Missing From Boolaroo

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for help to find a man missing from Boolaroo, about 20kms west of Newcastle.

Allan Fielding, aged 83, was last seen on Guest Street, Boolaroo, about 11.50am today (Monday 23 December 2024).

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced an investigation into his whereabouts.

Family and police hold concerns for his welfare as he lives with dementia.

Allan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build, grey/white hair and unshaven. He has a large tattoo of popeye on his outer left forearm.

He was last seen wearing dark grey shorts, blue striped shirt and blue shoes.

Allan may be driving a white 2019 Subaru Impreza with NSW registration plates CS11EE.

He is known to frequent the Boolaroo, Cardiff and Valentine areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing man: Allan Fielding

 

Man Charged With Animal Cruelty Offences Which Allegedly Occurred At Singleton

BY JORDAN REGNIS

A man who owns a property neighbouring the Singleton army base has been charged with animal cruelty offences.

On October 8, 98 dead kangaroos were found on the army base, along with an ammunition box and two cartridges.

Following inquiries police executed a search warrant at a property in Williamtown around 8am on Friday.

Officers seized three firearms and arrested a 43-year-old man who was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.

He was charged with six offences including committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon on an animal; discharging a firearm upon/over Commonwealth prohibited area; trespassing onto Commonwealth land; not keeping a firearm safely; harming or attempting to harm a protected animal; and holder of Category A or B licence not having approved storage.

Police have since seized a number of firearms from a property neighboring the army base.

The man's been granted strict conditional bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on January 13.

                 One of the firearms allegedly seized by police. Picture by NSW Police

UPDATE! Police Re-Issue Appeal For Help To Find Missing Man From Cardiff

 BY IAN CROUCH

A body has been found in the search for a 37-year-old man reported missing two weeks ago in the Cardiff South area.

Police have confirmed a body has been found in the vicinity.

It's yet to be formally identified but is believed to be that of the 37-year-old man.

Initial inquiries suggest the man's death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner.

EARLIER:

Lake Macquarie police are renewing their appeal for information into the whereabouts of a man who's been missing for almost two weeks.

37-year-old Adam Hynds was last seen in Eveleen Street at Cardiff at about 4.15pm on Tuesday December 10.

Police and family hold concerns for his welfare as his lives with a medical condition.

Adam's described as being of Caucasian appearance, 180cm tall with a thin build, shaved brown hair and blue eyes.

It's thought he may have been in the Munibung Road area at about 8.15pm on the day he disappeared.

Missing man: Adam Hynds

Total Fire Ban Declared For The Greater Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are bracing for extreme fire danger, with a Total Fire Ban declared for the Greater Hunter today (Monday 23 December, 2024).

Temperatures in the low to mid 30's combined with gusty northwest to westerly winds and dry conditions have fires crews on alert.

The fire ban covers the Local Government Areas of Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and The Upper Hunter.  

Already this morning, crews have battled a 100 square metre grass fire at Bennetts Green.

Two trucks were called to  South Street just before 4.00am, taking around an hour to extinguish and mop up the fire.

Tesler Goes Up In Flames At Allandale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews have been called to an electric vehicle fire at Allandale.

Newcastle Fire Command says they received 22 Triple Zero calls to the Tesler on fire on the Hunter Expressway near Lovedale Road just before 5.00am on Monday.

An RFS crew and a Fire and Rescue team from Branxton are at the scene

The incident is impacting southbound traffic.

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

Car Flips On M1 At Wyee

 BY IAN CROUCH

A carload of people had a miraculous escape from injury after a spectacular crash at Wyee early Friday morning.

Newcastle Fire Command says the sedan was heading from Sydney to Brisbane on the M1 at about 3.00am when the vehicle hit a tyre, became airborne and flipped onto it's roof.

Police say the 5 people on board managed to escape uninjured.

The northbound lanes of the freeway were closed for a short time to allow the car to be recovered and towed away.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after a crash at Teralba overnight.

Police say the motorbike collided with a car at the intersection of York and Short Streets at about 8.45pm.

The rider, a man in his 40's, was taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition with pelvic injuries.

Investigations are continuing.

The crash scene on the M1 at Wyee Picture. Wyee RFS

Fire Engulfs Central Coast Nightclub

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are battling a nightclub fire on the Central Coast.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews were called to the Sirens Nighclub on Kurrawyba Ave at Terrigal just after 4.30am on Thursday to find the two storey building well alight.

They've taken around an hour to knock down the flames.

Crews are currently checking the rest of the building for fire extension.

6 fire trucks and a duty commander are at the scene.

 

Around 40 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Sirens Nightclub at Terrigal early Thursday morning. Photo: Central Coast Incident Alerts & News 

UPDATE! Police Investigate Fatal Crash At Edgeworth

 BY IAN CROUCH

One person has died in a single vehicle crash at Edgeworth overnight.

Police say a small hatchback crashed into a power pole on Main Road just after 1.30am on Thursday.

The driver, a woman in her 30's, died in the crash.

A female passenger has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

Main Road is closed westbound with diversions in place at Lake Road and the Newcastle Link Road while crash investigators examine the scene.

Bernie Curran Oval To Get Female-Friendly Upgrade

 BY IAN CROUCH

The University of Newcastle Rugby Union Club has been successful in securing federal funding for a major upgrade of facilities at Bernie Curran Oval.

The $1.5 million grant comes from the Albanese Government's Play Our Way Program.

It will go towards providing two dedicated female changerooms, parents room, updated officials facilities, accessible ramp and a covered spectator area, with work due to start in late September next year and taking around 15 weeks to complete.

Federal Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon says it means the local women's rugby union, touch football and cricket teams will have the facilities they need and deserve.

"It's really fit for purpose now. There is absolutely no world in which we should see women changing in their cars (or) down in other sub-standard facilities (or not) have an equal footing in all of our sporting codes." she said.

University of Newcastle Rugby Union Vice President, Liam Wales Brown welcomed the grant, saying it will cover most of the $1.9 million construction cost. He said it will open opportunities for other codes to make use of the facilities once they're completed in 2026.

"It brings schools onto the field and a couple of other competitions we can't do at the moment, so that opportunity is fantastic. I believe cricket are looking at the opportunity to start their own women's side. League, I believe are also looking to expand, so there's a great opportunity here." he said.

Federal Newcastle Mp Sharon Claydon joined Vice Chancellor, Alex Zelinsky, NUsport Chief Executive Deborah Wright and members of the University of Newcastle Rugby Union and Rugby League clubs for the announcement

  

Woman Charged With High Range Drink Driving After Crash At Singleton Heights

 BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has a date in court next month following a crash at Singleton Heights overnight.

Police were called to Gardner Circuit just before 9.30pm on Tuesday where two cars had collided.

No-one was injured however both cars needed to be towed.

Police say a 31-year-old woman driving one of the vehicles was breath tested and allegedly returned a high range reading.

She's been handed a court attendance notice to face Singleton Court on January 30.

 

Man Drowns At Catherine Hill Bay

 BY IAN CROUCH

A report is being prepared for the Coroner after a man died after being pulled from the surf at Catherine Hill Bay.

Emergency services were called at about 2.45pm on Thursday following reports a man had been pulled from the surf unconscious.

Lifeguards and paramedics administered CPR, however the 55-year-old could not be revived.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.

Final Stage Of Newcastle Inner City Bypass Reaches Major Milestone

 BY IAN CROUCH

The final section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass has reached a significant milestone, with traffic switched to a new signalised intersection at Jesmond.

The switch was made just after 5 o'clock this morning, meaning traffic will no longer use the roundabout and instead will travel under the bypass overbridge on Newcastle Road.

Federal Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon says it will be a safer journey for motorists now the roundabout has gone.

"The roundabout has been a notorious accident-prone choke point for traffic for a long time. This is a major piece of infrastructure impacting some 40,000 to 60,000 motorists that travel on this road every day," she said.

Wallsend Mp Sonia Hornery and Federal Newcastle Mp Sharon Claydon with members of the bypass construction team

More Police Recruits To The Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's police ranks will have a few more boots on the ground today thanks to a program designed to help experienced officers from other jurisdictions join the NSW Police Force.

The Professional Mobility Program started in May this year to give officers from New Zealand and other jurisdictions across Australia the training they need to join local ranks.

Nine officers completed 12 weeks training and will now spend 6 months as probationary constables before resuming the rank they had previously.

Three of those officers are coming to the Hunter - one each to Port Stephens, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

The nine new Probationary Constables with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb Picture NSW Police

Images Released As Part Of Investigation Into Two Armed Robberies In Newcastle

BY JORDAN REGNIS

A police investigation is underway following two armed robberies in Newcastle which officers believe are linked.

At about 5:40am last Tuesday a man believed to be with a firearm entered a business on Glebe Road at Adamstown and demanded cash, with police told he left without any.

On Thursday last week a man entered a service station in New Lambton.

About 1:30am officers were called to the 7-Eleven on Turton Road, where they were told a man allegedly threatened an employee with a weapon, before leaving with cash.

As part of their investigation police have released two images of a man they wish to speak with.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance and when last seen he was wearing a hooded black jumper with his face covered, and black pants.

                                    

                              Images released as part of police investigation.
 

Crews Contain Separate Grass Fires At Pokolbin

 BY IAN CROUCH

Quick work by Rural Fire Service volunteers has contained a grass fire at Pokolbin early Monday morning.

Crews from the Pokolbin brigade were called to Marrowbone Road at about 3.00am to find two separate fires and called for further assistance.

The fires were quickly brought under control.

Crews will continue to patrol the fire throughout the day ahead of hot and windy conditions forecast today and tomorrow.

Crews on  scene at two separate grass fires at Pokolbin early Monday morning Picture: Pokolbin RFS

Appeal Launched To Find Missing Man From Cardiff South

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police have launched a public appeal to find a man who's gone missing from Cardiff South.

37-year-old Adam Hynds was last seen in Eveleen Street at about 4.15pm on Tuesday 10 December, 2024..

Police and family hold serious concerns for his welfare as he lives with a medical condition.

Adam is described as being Caucasian, 180cm tall with a thin build, shaved brown hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a white polo shirt, faded black pants and black sneakers.

Adam is known to frequent the Sydney Train Network.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Missing man Adam Hynds

Police Investigate Armed Robbery At New Lambton Service Station

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are on the hunt for a man who held up a service station at New Lambton early Thursday morning.

The men entered the 7/11 outlet on Turton Road at about 1.30am and allegedly threatened an employee with a weapon while demanding cash.

He was given an amount of cash before leaving the store.

The worker was not injured during the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Bolton Point Man Facing Court On Drugs Supply Charges

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today (Wednesday 11 December, 2024) accused of running a drug house at Bolton Point.

Police executed a search warrant at a home on Karina Place yesterday and allegedly found and seized 257 cannabis plants varying in size from 30cm to two metres in height.

They also seized 1.3kg of dry cannabis leaf inside resealable bags.

A 29-year-old man was arrested at the house.

He's been charged with cultivate and supply a commercial quantity of cannabis and diverting electricity without authority and has been refused bail to face Belmont Court today.

Concerns Growing For Missing Man From Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for help to find a missing man.

60-year-old Patrick Murphy, who's known to the Morisset area, was last seen at the Kotara and Awaba train stations.

Concerns are held for his welfare as he suffers from multiple serious medical conditions and is without his medication.

Patrick is described as being Caucasian with grey long hair and a grey beard and was last seen wearing jeans, grey shoes, a white t-shirt and vest.

It's believed he could be travelling by train and has previously travelled to Rutherford, Maitland, Scone and Lismore.

Patrick Murphy

Units Destroyed By Fire At Cessnock

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a two unit townhouse at Cessnock overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says ten fire trucks from six stations were called to Dixon Street at about 10.45pm on Monday to find the unit complex up in flames.

It's taken crews just over an hour to bring the fire under control, with crews remaining at the scene until 1.00am on Tuesday.

Fire and Rescue says 21 people were evacuated from the complex.

NSW Ambulance says Intensive Care Paramedics assessed 3 patients at the scene.

Police say a 33-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman were taken to Cessnock Hospital in a stable condition with smoke inhalation.

Police say the cause of the fire is undetermined and a crime scene has been established.

Forensic officers and fire investigators will examine the scene later this morning. 

Police are appealing for information or dashcam footage as investigations continue.
 

Appeal For Information Following Fire At Lake Macquarie Council's Administration Centre

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Police have released a CCTV image of two people they wish to speak with following an alleged arson attack at Lake Macquarie Council's Administration Centre last month.

About 3:50am on Wednesday 27 November, emergency services were called to the building on Main Road, Speers Point, following reports of a fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews worked to extinguish the blaze; however, the building sustained extensive damage with repairs estimated to cost several million dollars.

Inquiries by strike force detectives have established that two persons were in the vicinity of the council building at the time of the incident.

Anyone able to identify the persons, or with information or dashcam footage from the area between 2am and 4:30am on Wednesday 27 November is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

                              The CCTV image: Picture by NSW Police

Fatal Crash Closes New England Highway At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH 

One person is dead and another has been airlifted to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash near Muswellbrook.

Emergency services were called to the New England Highway at Liddell just before midnight on Tuesday to reports of a 3 vehicle crash.

Police say two cars collided before a truck later hit the vehicles.

They arrived to find a man deceased in one of the vehicles, while the 22-yea-old female driver of a second car was trapped before being freed and flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

The truck driver in his 40's was uninjured and taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

The Highway remains closed with diversions in place.

It's been a horror week on the region's roads, with a double fatality last Saturday at Denman and the death of a man in his 50's in a crash at Murulla north of Scone on Monday afternoon. 

Man Gaoled For Threatening Paramedics With A Knife At Weston

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man who threatened to kill paramedics while armed with a knife at Weston has been gaoled for at least 8 months.

Paramedics were called to a warehouse on Johnson Avenue on Monday night to treat 53-year-old Rodney Allan Daley for low blood sugar.

But Cessnock Court heard yesterday he began screaming at the emergency service workers saying he was going to kill them, breaking free from family members and pulling out a 12cm knife before moving towards the paramedics who fled and called for help.

Daley pleaded guilty to being armed with intent to commit indictable offence and assault frontline health workers - no actual bodily harm.

He also pleaded guilty to separate charges of intentionally destroy property and unlawful entry.

Daley was handed a 16 month sentence with a non-parole period of 8 months.

Two People Killed In Horror Smash At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations are continuing into a horrific crash at Muswellbrook which claimed the lives of two people.

Emergency services were called to Denman Road at about 5.30 on Saturday afternoon following reports of a head-on crash involving two cars.

A woman in her 70's who was driving one of the cars died at the scene along with a male passenger believed to be in his 20's in the second car.

Three other people, a man and two women in their 20's were treated at the scene.

The man and one of the women were airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital with serious head and pelvic injuries.

The other woman was taken by ambulance to the John Hunter.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.