Appeal for Information Following Police Operation at Elermore Vale

BY PETER HYSLOP

Detectives are appealing for information after a police operation at Elermore Vale which closed Lake Road for hours on Wednesday morning last week (January 29).

At about 4:30am, officers were called to the road following reports of shots fired. On arrival, police found projectiles had struck the front of a house and a vehicle. No one was injured.

As inquiries continue, police say they're looking for the driver of a grey Holden Commodore ute seen at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information's being asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

Lake Road at Elermore Vale looking North. Credit: Google Maps

Sixth Person Charged Over Alleged Murder of James Callahan

 BY PETER HYSLOP

A sixth person has been charged over the alleged tragic murder of James Callahan at Hamilton in November last year.

Yesterday afternoon police stopped a vehicle on Albert Street in Lambton, where a 39-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station. She was charged with murder, principal in the second degree.

Officers say inquiries are ongoing under Strike Force Mannum. Five people are already before the courts. They include three men aged between 27 and 43, and two women.

James Callaghan. Picture by Sandie Callahan via Facebook

Teen To Front Court Over Alleged Stabbing At Raymond Terrace

 BY IAN CROUCH

A teenager is due to front court today (Tuesday 4 February, 2025) charged with reckless wounding following the alleged assault of two men at Raymond Terrace.

Police say two men aged 31 were attacked on Benjamin Lee Drive near Lakeside Park in the early hours of Sunday morning - one of them was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition with a stab wound to his back.

The second man was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Following extensive inquiries, police went to a home in Raymond Terrace yesterday afternoon and arrested a 17-year-old boy.

He's been refused bail to face the children's court today.

Liddell Battery Given Green Light

BY JJ PILLAY 

The State's Planning department has approved the demolition of Liddell Power Station and replacing the site with a large scale battery complex. 

Construction of the battery is expected to begin in December 2025 according to operator AGL. It's designed to be a 500 megawatt, two hour duration grid scale battery. 

More than 95% of steel will be sourced locally, and more than 150 workers will be involved with the project at a cost of approximately 750 million dollars. 

The project will be the first new development built as a part of the Hunter Energy Hub after Liddell was retired in April 2023. 

It comes after the Coalition announced they would forcibly acquire the site for a nuclear power station if elected to Government.

Concept design of the battery. Credit: AGL

Nuatali Nelmes Resigns From Newcastle Council

 BY IAN CROUCH

Former Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes has today advised Council and the NSW Electoral Commission of her resignation from Council.

Ms Nelmes was elected to council in 2008 at the age of 32 and has served the city for more than 16 years, becoming the second female Lord Mayor in the city's history from a by-election in 2014. Her tenure came to an end when she was defecated at the 2024 Local Government elections.

In a statement released today, Ms Nelmes cited her leadership of the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheading the implementation of a $15.5 million Community and Economic Resilience Program, which was supported by an expanded capital works program. Her leadership also facilitated a record $375 million in infrastructure works during her final term, contributing to over $1 billion in infrastructure investment across a decade. 

Ms Nelmes also includes The Bather's Way development and overseeing Council's switch to 100% renewable energy as other notable achievements during her time as Lord Mayor.

She says it's been an honour and a privilege to serve the city as the youngest ever person to be elected as Lord Mayor in Australia.

“I’m extremely proud of the progress we have made during my time as Lord Mayor. Over the last decade, I’ve had the honour of leading a dedicated team that has worked tirelessly to build a more sustainable, inclusive and thriving city. During this period, we transformed the City through astute financial management and collaboration, delivering on our shared vision where everyone is welcomed and valued, she said.”

Following the resignation of Nuatlai Nelmes, the NSW Electoral Commission will conduct a countback from last years' Local Government election which is likely to result in the appointment of Peta Winney-Baartz to fill the vacant position left on council.

 

Nuatali Nelmes has resigned from Newcastle Council

Elderly Woman Taken To Hospital After House Fire At Kahibah

 BY IAN CROUCH

An elderly woman has been taken to hospital following a house fire at Kahibah.

Emergency services were called to a single story cladding and iron home on Burwood Street just after 7.30pm on Sunday to find smoke issuing from the property.

An 80-year-old woman was evacuated from the house and treated for smoke inhalation and shock before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Crews from Charlestown, Lambton and Merewether took about 2 hours to fully extinguish and mop up the fire, which caused damage to the front and rear of the property.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.