BREAKING! Boat Sinks In Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been called to Lake Macquarie where a boat has sunk off Booragul.

Newcastle Fire Command says firefighters were called to the Booragul Wharf off First Street just after 9.00am on Thursday.

First responding crews reported a boat has sunk to the bottom of the lake about 70 metres from shore.

Crews have attached booms to the wharf to contain an oil slick from the sunken vessel.

A Hazmat crew,  RFS Boat and Marine authorities have been called in to assist.

It's not known at this stage if anyone was on the boat at the time of the incident.

BREAKING! Police Incident Closes Rail Line At Boolaroo

 BY IAN CROUCH

Trains on the Newcastle Central Coast rail line are running again following a police operation at Boolaroo.

Police say emergency services were called to the scene just before 1.00am on Monday to reports of a crash involving a freight train.

Police say a person died at the scene and there are no suspicious circumstances.

The incident had stopped all passenger and freight rail services, but police say the line has now reopened.


 

Fire Destroys Home At Booragul

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a home at Booragul overnight.

Crews from Toronto, Teralba and Cardiff were called to the weatherboard, fibro and iron cottage on Ellesmere Street at about 3 o'clock on Monday morning to find the unoccupied house well alight.

It's taken about 90 minutes to fully extinguish the fire.

No-one was injured and the scene has been handed over to police.  

Crews were called back just before 6 o'clock to put out a number of spot fires following a re-ignition.

Police Search For Driver After Pursuit Through Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for help to locate a driver involved in a pursuit at Booragul.

Officers were patrolling Palmers Road at Freemans Waterhole at about 7.45pm on Wednesday when they attempted to stop an SUV for allegedly displaying altered registration plates.

A pursuit began when the driver failed to stop, with the chase terminated at Booragul.

The SUV was found dumped in nearby Park Parade a short time later.

Police say the driver is of Aboriginal appearance, about 35 years old, with a medium build and short black hair.

He was wearing a white shirt and shorts.

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

 

UPDATE! Concerns For Missing Man From Booragul

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie Police say a 71-year-old man with dementia who went missing from a Booragul care facility overnight has been found safe and well early Tuesday morning.

Police say they would like to thank the public and the media for their cooperation.

EARLIER: 

Police are asking for help to find a man who's gone missing from Lake Macquarie.

71-year-old Keith Metcalfe was last seen at a care facility in Toronto Road at Booragul at about 6.30pm on Monday.

There are concerns for Keith welfare as he lives with dementia.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, medium build, with a bald head and grey goatee.

Keith was last seen wearing a striped white top with a blue collar and brown pants.

If you've spotted Keith, call police immediately.

Missing Man Keith Metcalfe

One National Leader Attacks Lake Macquarie School Over Curriculum

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Independent Education Union has jumped to the defence of a Lake Macquarie Catholic school after it was targeted in a social media spray by NSW One Nation Leader, Mark Latham.

The outspoken MP took aim at a Personal Development, or PDHPE assessment task for Year 8 students at St Paul's Catholic College at Booragul, claiming they were being taught political lessons on diversity, racism and LGBTIQ discrimination.

Mr Latham says there's no place in the school system for political indoctrination.

The union has hit back saying the assessment task clearly addresses the syllabus content and there is nothing controversial about it.

NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham

Police Involved In High Speed Pursuit At Booragul

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for the occupants of a car involved in a high speed pursuit through Lake Macquarie overnight.

Patrolling police attempted to stop a Subaru Outback for a random breath test in York Street, Booragul just before 2.00am on Tuesday morning.

However, the car sped off with the pursuit reaching speeds of 120 kilometres per hour in an 80 zone.

It was was called off after 3 minutes due to the manner of driving and the car was found dumped a short time later near the waterfront at Toronto.

It's not clear yet if the car was stolen.