UPDATE! Firefighters Battling House Fire At Boolaroo

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire investigators have been called in to determine the cause of a fire which has destroyed a shed at the rear of a home in Boolaroo early Tuesday.

Crews were called to Second Street just after 3.30am to find a large amount of smoke and flames issuing from the rear of the weatherboard home.

They took almost two hours to completely extinguish and mop up the fire.

It's believed an E-Scooter left on charge may have sparked the blaze.

EARLIER: 

Firefighters are battling a house fire at Boolaroo.

Emergency services were called to the single story weatherboard home in Second Street just after 3.30am on Tuesday to find the rear of the house well alight.

A shed at the rear of the property was also on fire.

Fire crews from Cardiff took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control and are now working to fully extinguish the blaze..

Newcastle Fire Command says all the occupants safely evacuated, although a pet dog is still missing.

The cause of the fire has not been determined at this stage.

 

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

 

BREAKING! Car Seized as Part of Heddon Greta Murder Investigations

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Homicide Squad detectives have seized a vehicle this morning, as part of ongoing investigations into the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Zachery Davies-Scott in Heddon Greta late last year.

Strike Force Roslyn detectives seized a white 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander, from a street in Boolaroo near Newcastle about 10am today. 

The vehicle will undergo forensic examination in Newcastle.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing. 

Image: Port Stephens Hunter Police District

Pasminco Redevelopment

BY ALICE PEART

Following new legislation the state government has taken over the former Pasminco site at Boolaroo, with plans to fast-track it's redevelopment.

After accusations of mismanagement regarding the massive toxic waste containment cell on site, the government compulsorily acquired the land under the new legislation.

The site is now earmarked for residential and commercial development, which will reportedly result in two billion dollars net economic benefit for the Hunter.

Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser says the economic opportunity for the region is exciting,

"This is part of our north-west catalyst area which is really important to Lake Macquarie, so this will have the potential to support thousands of homes, thousands of jobs, and will be the catalyst to reinvent that whole area up there".

While the site itself has been cleaned to bedrock for development purposes, residents throughout Lake Macquarie still face soil contamination from the former Smelter site and are liable themselves to pay for remediation, costing up to $100,000.

Jim Sullivan from the Boolaroo Action Group says the development will be a great asset to the whole city, but the government needs to use the sale to address ongoing contamination.

"If the government thinks that they're just going to sell all the land on the Pasminco site, and not repair people's properties that surround the smelter, they're going to have a fight on their hands".