BARTON OVAL NO 1 – Club Says Vandalism “Frustrating”

 A club which uses Barton Oval Number 1 at Belmont says field vandalism has caused headaches for management and regular users. 

It’s estimated the damage caused by cars tearing up the field during the weekend will cost ten thousand dollars to fix.  

Lake Macquarie Council says suspicious activity from Friday night should be reported to police.  

Lakes United Seagulls Club Executive Committee Member Grant Thompson-Lang says they’ve had minor problems with vandalism before.

 “It’s a very open field area, opened park area so we get a lot of motorbikes and electric scooters and things like that, and they have created damage before but not to this extent and this one was a car,” he said.

BREAKING! Man Hit By Car At Belmont

 BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been called to a serious crash at Belmont.

First reports say a man in his 20's has been hit by a car on the Pacific Highway at the intersection of Gen Street.

He's reported to be in a serious condition with a head injury.

Traffic is heavy past the scene in both directions on the southbound lanes have been closed.

 

Desalination Plant Approved For Belmont

 BY IAN CROUCH

Plans for a massive desalination plant at Belmont have been given the green light by the state government.

Construction work on the 530-million dollar project is due to start later this year.

Once complete, the plant will provide up to 30 million litres of drinking water per day to the Lower Hunter, meeting 15% of the region's average daily demand.

In January, Hunter Water modified the plans from a drought response to a permanent desalination plant.

It will be paid for via a new Hunter Water pricing structure for customers to take effect from July 1 next year.

Investigation Launched Into House Fire At Belmont

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have set up a crime scene at a house severely damaged by fire at Belmont overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says they received several Triple Zero calls to the single level fibro and tile cottage in Ernest Street at about 6.15pm on Monday.

Crews from Belmont, Charlestown and Tingira Heights arrived to find the home fully involved in fire.

They took about an hour to douse flames.

Police say the house was abandoned and no-one was injured.

Forensic officers will commence an investigation into the cause of the fire on Tuesday morning.

Two Men To Face Court Over Alleged Shooting At Karuah

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two men have been arrested and charged, following an investigation into an alleged shooting at Karuah. 

Emergency services were called to an address on Bundabah Street at Karuah just before 7:00pm on Wednesday, following reports a man had been shot.

Police were told two men had arrived and allegedly shot the 55-year-old male resident, before stealing a Rolex watch and fleeing the scene.

He was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Following inquiries, at about 12:55pm yesterday, Raptor Squad detectives stopped a car on Ada Street in Belmont and arrested the 40-year-old male driver. 

During a search of the man, police located and seized a knife, and he was taken to hospital under police guard in a stable condition.

Another 59-year-old man was arrested shortly after at an address on Terence Avenue in Lake Munmorah. 

They will both face Belmont Local Court today. 

UPDATE! Missing Lake Macquarie Man Believed to be in the Green Point Reserve

BY OLIVIA DILLON and IAN CROUCH

A body has been located during the search for a man reported missing from Lake Macquarie.

45-year-old Mark Walker was last seen leaving a hospital on Croudace Bay Road, Belmont, about 3am on Tuesday 4 April 2023.

When he could not be located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified.

A search was conducted of the area with the assistance of SES, Surf Life Saving, Fire and Rescue and PolAir.

About 1.30pm on Wednesday, the body believed to be that of the missing man was located by police at Valentine.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

EARLIER:

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Lake Macquarie.

45-year-old Mark Walker was last seen leaving a hospital on Croudace Bay Road at Belmont at about 3am on Tuesday the 4th of April 2023.

When he couldn't be located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police Area Command initiated a search with the assistance of SES, Surf Life Saving, Fire and Rescue and PolAir.

Mark is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with an olive complexion, about 170-175cm tall, of a medium build, with black hair, a black beard, and a moustache.

He was last seen wearing dark grey track pants, a dark jumper, and white joggers.

It's believed he's in the Green Point Reserve.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Belmont 16s sails into 100 year milestone

BY EMILY WILLIAMS

Belmont 16s is celebrating a huge milestone, marking 100 years since its first 16-Foot skiff race on Friday.

On October 7th 1922, 400 people lined the shores of Belmont Bay at Lake Macquarie to watch 7 skiffs and their crews compete for the coveted prize of £12, equivalent to a month's wage at the time.

In the months following, brothers John and Mark Reid went on to build Belmont Sailing Club, a shed over-hanging the lake, and accumulated 50 members.

A century later, Belmont 16s is one of the largest clubs in the Hunter and has grown its membership base to over 36,000 people. 

Club President David Berryman says the club's history has been riddled with highlights.

"The Club has held and hosted numerous World Championships, we've had sailors from the Club compete at the Olympics," he said.

"We've hosted multiple National Championships, and for a very long time we've hosted the Combined High School Championships."

To celebrate the Centenary, the Club is hosting a commemoration dinner tonight, hosted by Vince Sorrenti with entertainment by Kate Cebrano. 

The rest of the weekend will see a sailing regatta take place in Belmont Bay to mark the milestone, including dinghy classes and 16-Foot skiffs. 

Sunday's events will also see an appearance by the historic 18-Foot skiffs.

The Club is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and expansion project that is expected to be completed in Spring 2023.

Mr Berryman is excited for what the future of the Club holds.

"I think the future is very bright for the Club and hopefully it will be able to continue supporting sailing and 16-Foot skiff sailing for the next 100 years," he said.

You can keep up to date with Belmont 16s' Centenary project here.

Skiffs being rigged for the club's first race in 1922.

A regatta in 1971.

Skiffs taking to Lake Macquarie for the 2021-22 season

Man faces court after setting ute alight in Belmont pursuit

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man will face court charged with traffic offences after a pursuit in Lake Macquarie on Thursday morning. 

Around 9.40am, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District saw a white Toyota Hilux travelling north on the Pacific Highway at Belmont South. 

The vehicle had earlier been reported missing from a worksite in Catherine Hill Bay.

The driver allegedly failed to stop and accelerated away from police when a pursuit was initiated. 

Police pursued the utility through the suburbs of Belmont South, Belmont and Belmont North before the utility collided with a police vehicle at the intersection of Marks Street and the Pacific Highway in Belmont. 

No officers were injured during the collision, but the police vehicle sustained damage.  

The pursuit was re-initiated a short time later into Belmont Wetlands, where the pursuit was terminated. 

Officers entered the wetlands on foot where they found the utility alight. 

With assistance from the Police Dog Squad, a 36-year-old man was arrested nearby. 

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station and refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Friday.

Belmont's mass vaccination hub to shut its doors

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The mass vaccination hub at Belmont is set to shut its doors on July 1. 

Hunter New England says, demand at the former Bunnings site is waning, after almost a year of delivering COVID-19 vaccines to the public. 

Around 271,000 of the 429,292 vaccinations across the region, were performed at Belmont. 

A smaller clinic will replace the site at the Wallsend Health Campus.

Police Hold Concerns For Missing Lake Macquarie Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a missing teenage girl from Belmont.

17-year-old Bella Hilton was last seen leaving an address at Raymond Terrace yesterday morning, but failed to return to her home.

Police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age

Bella may be travelling in a silver 2007 Mazda 3.

She's described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 165 and 170cm tall with a solid build, blonde shoulder-length hair and green/hazel eyes.

Bella was last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt.

Bella Hilton

Man To Face Court Over Police Pursuit Through Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today (Thursday 9 September, 2021) after leading police on a high speed pursuit through Lake Macquarie overnight.

Officers attempted to pull over a Holden Commodore on the Pacific Highway at Belmont just after midnight, but the driver refused to stop.

Police say the car reached speeds in excess of 100km/h before the driver stopped of his own accord at Catherine Hill Bay.

The 38-year-old was arrested and will face Newcastle Court today charged with unlicensed driving and Police pursuit - not stop. 

House Severely Damaged By Fire At Belmont

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has severely damaged a home at Belmont early Thursday morning.

6 fire trucks and a Duty Commander were called to the two storey timber and fibro home on Clift Street at 3 o'clock.

Police say the home was abandoned.

It's taken crews about an hour and a half to extinguish and mop up the fire.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and police investigations are continuing.

Site Chosen For Hunter Mass Vaccination Hub

 BY IAN  CROUCH

The former Belmont Bunnings has been chosen as the site for the Hunter's mass vaccination hub.

Work has begun on transforming the Pacific Highway warehouse, which is due to open in mid July.

The centre is expected to administer up to 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines per week.

The centre will employ up to 100 nurses, 25 pharmacists or pharmacy technicians and around 200 other support staff.

The former Bunnings store at 393 Pacific Highway will become the Hunter's Mass Vaccination Centre Picture: newcastleherald.com.au

Belmont Man Arrested Over Historical Child Sex Offences

 BY IAN CROUCH

Strike Force detectives investigating the unsolved disappearances and suspected murders of three teenage girls in Lake Macquarie have arrested a man on unrelated child sex offences.

As part of investigations by Strike Force Arapaima, detectives uncovered allegations of sexual assault against two teenage boys in Lake Macquarie and on the Mid North Coast between 1987 and 2007.

Officers attended a Belmont home on Wednesday and arrested a 56-year-old man.

He's been charged with 13 offences including sexual intercourse with a person between 10 and 16 years old and refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.

Belmont Man Allegedly Caught Driving Almost Six Times Legal Limit at Fern Bay

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly being caught almost six times the legal limit at Fern Bay. 

Just before 5.30pm on Thursday, officers stopped an unregistered Subaru Outback on Nelson Bay Road, Fern Bay, where they spoke with the driver, a 50-year-old man.

He was subject to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

The driver was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station for a secondary breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.282.

The Belmont man was issued with a court attendance notice for high-range PCA and is due to face Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday March 29. 

His licence was also suspended and he was issued an infringement notice for driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

Fleeing Learner Driver Runs Into The Arms Of Police At Belmont

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A learner driver is due to face court next month accused of mid range drink driving at Belmont.

Police say they spotted a Ford Falcon station wagon travelling above the 50 km/h speed limit on the Pacific Highway at about 9.45pm on Wednesday.

However, when they stopped the car the 24-year-old driver from Gwandalan fled, but as he rounded the corner into Maude Street, he ran straight into the arms of four officers from the nearby Belmont Police Station who were on their way to assist.

It's alleged he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.133 and has also been charged with being an unaccompanied learner and not displaying L plates.

He's due to face Belmont Court on January 20.

Police Officer Arrested in Lake Macquarie Over Alleged Domestic Violence Incident

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A police officer has been charged over an alleged domestic-related incident earlier this year.

Following an investigation, the 48-year-old woman, a senior constable attached to a command in the Northern Region, was arrested at Belmont Police Station about 11.30am on Tuesday.

She was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and reckless wounding (DV).

The charges relate to an alleged domestic-related incident involving a 45-year-old man at a Newcastle home on July 27. 

She was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 24 September. 

The officer is currently on long term leave.

Plans For Belmont Desal Plant Take Another Step Forward

BY IAN CROUCH

The proposed desalination plant next to Nine Mile Beach at Belmont is a step closer to approval with the release of an Environmental Impact Statement Report.

Although Hunter Water has no immediate intention of building the plant, it wants the plans approved as an on-the-shelf insurance policy if water storage levels in the region drop to critical levels.

The desal plant is one of a portfolio of actions in response to drought - these include extensive water conservation measures, minimising water loss through leakage, operating the Tomago Sandbeds and water transfers between regions.

The revised plans are on public exhibition on the Department of Planning website until October 8 and the community is invited to make submissions.

Aerial View of proposed Belmont Desal Plant Picture: Hunter Water

Firefighters Called To Gas Bottle Fire At Belmont

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has treated for smoke inhalation after a gas bottle caught alight at Belmont.

Fire crews from Belmont and Tingira Heights were called to a home in Albert Street just after 7.30 last night, arriving to find a 9 kilogram gas bottle attached to a barbeque leaking and on fire.

They doused the flames and isolated the gas bottle, using a thermal imaging camera to determine it was safe.

Ambulance paramedics were called to treat the man after he was overcome by smoke and gas fumes.

Man Arrested After High Speed Pursuit At Belmont

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has a date in court following a high speed pursuit at Belmont early Friday.

Patrolling police attempted to stop a Suzuki motorbike on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at 1.20am but gave chase when the rider failed to stop.

The pursuit continued onto the Pacific Highway, allegedly reaching an estimated speed of 150km/h  in a 60km/h zone before the motorcyclist stopped near George Street.

The 36-year-old is due to face Belmont Local Court on August 5 charged with 5 offences including police pursuit, and riding an unregistered and uninsured motorcycle.