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.

Man Arrested Over Alleged Carkjacking At Bennetts Green

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today (Tuesday 21 November, 2023) accused of a carjacking at Bennetts Green.

It's alleged the man got into the driver's seat of a car parked on Groves Road at about 2.30pm on Sunday before driving off towards the Pacific Highway with a one-year-old child asleep in the backseat.

He stopped the car in a nearby car park and fled - the child was not harmed.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 27-year-old man at a home on Cherry Street at Windale at about 3.00pm on Monday.

He's been charged with unlawfully take motor vehicle with person in it, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and being an unaccompanied learner driver.

The man's been refused bail to face Belmont Court today.

Three Charged Over Drug, Firearm, and Pursuit Offences in The Hunter

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Raptor Squad North detectives have charged three people in the Hunter with drug supply and police pursuit offences.

Earlier this year, detectives commenced an investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs and firearms in the region. 

Following extensive inquiries, at about 9:20am yesterday, police executed a search warrant at a home at Kurri Kurri, where they seized methylamphetamine and thousands of dollars in cash. 

Two women aged 28 and 23 were arrested.

A short time later, police attempted to talk to a 24-year-old man on Groves Road at Bennetts Green, however he allegedly fled the scene in a car.

Two short pursuits were initiated in the Lake Macquarie area before they were terminated due to safety concerns.

The man was surrounded and arrested a short time later at a property in Edgeworth, where police seized knuckle dusters and a small amount of illegal drugs. 

All three offenders were refused bail to appear in court today.

Images: NSW Police

$90m Retail Development Coming to Lake Macquarie

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

Lake Macquarie Council has unveiled plans for a $90 million, 30,000 square metre retail development in the Bennetts Green area. 

Set to be the most significant project since the Charlestown expansion of 2010, the complex is expected to create around 825 construction jobs and 600 retail positions. 

Mayor Kay Fraser says the project represents a significant economic advancement for the local area.

"It will be a huge boost for the Bennetts Green, Windale, Gateshead area," she said.

"We've had a huge amount of development in the Mount Hutton and Charlestown areas," Mayor Fraser continued, "we've recently approved a 15 storey development in Charlestown and we've had residential investment in Mount Hutton and also a $58 million investment into the redevelopment of Mount Hutton shopping centre."

Council initially sold the site for $20.3 million in January, 2016 to Hydrox Nominees - a land-holding company for Masters Hardware.

Approval was granted in 2015 for a Masters outlet, bulky goods units and a restaurant, but with the retail chain's demide, the land was sold to Spotlight Group.

The retail complex will now host well-known chains such as; Bunnings, Anaconda, and Spotlight as well as several fast food restaurants and a service station.

Artist's impression of the complex.