UPDATE! Appeal Launched To Find Missing Carrington Man

 BY IAN CROUCH

Good News!

Police have advised 57-year-old Adam Hinks has been located.

EARLIER:  

A search is underway for a man who's gone missing from the Newcastle suburb of Carrington.

57-year-old Adam Hinks was last seen on Thornton Street on Friday May 29.

There are concerns for his welfare as he requires regular medication.

Adam's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall with a thin build, grey hair and green/hazel eyes.

He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and brown pants and it's understood his right arm is in a sling.

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

 

 

Missing man Adam Hinks

 

New Leads Found In Carrington Double Murder Investigation

 BY OLI GOELDNER

A forensic review of the unsolved murders of Susan Kay and Joanne Teterin has led to new leads in the 26-year-old investigation. 

Today, NSW Police announced a $1 million reward relating to the deaths of the two women, aged 32 and 37. 

Their bodies were found at a home on Doran Street in Carrington on Wednesday 17 May 2000.

It was established the women were last known to be alive on Thursday 11 May 2000, before they were allegedly bludgeoned to death and discovered a week later. 

At the time, homicide and serious crime detectives assisted Newcastle Police with the investigation; however, there were no arrests or charges laid over the murders. 

Following a 2003 coronial inquest, the matter was referred to the Homicide Squad's Unsolved Homicide Unit for review and assessment. 

In 2025, the review was finalised and unearthed fresh forensic opportunities which have since become the focus of police inquiries. 

Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said they are particularly interested in information regarding a phone call on the morning of 11 May 2000. 

"We know that Joanne was involved in some street level drug supply ... and she had a system in place where anyone that would attend the location to purchase drugs were required they contact he either on the landline or on a mobile phone before they attend," he said. 

"We believe that was the purpose of the the call that morning." 

It's reported the call was made to the Doran Street home at 7.55am from a payphone within 200 metres. 

Police believe the person who made the call can assist them with their inquiries and has information which may help progress the investigation. 

"We are almost there," said Detective Doueihi. 

"We just need that little bit of information that puts this whole jigsaw puzzle together." 

In addition to the phone call, police are also following up leads gained from renewed forensic testing on more than 150 items. 

"As a result of the development of DNA technology ... we have yielded some positive results which have progressed the investigation and are very positive to the investigation," said Detective Doueihi. 

Detective Doueihi finalised they have come to the conclusion a male person had attended the Doran Street home to purchase drugs where an altercation ensued which resulted in the death of both women. 

Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi. Picture: Ian Crouch

$1 Million Reward Offered As Police Step Up Investigation Into 26 Year Carrington Double Murder

 BY IAN CROUCH

The state government and police have announced a $1 million reward for information in a bid to solve one of Newcastle's most baffling cold-case double murders.

It's been just been just over 26 years since police found the bodies of 32-year-old Susan Kay and 37-year-old Joanne Teterin in a small miners cottage in Doran Street Carrington on Wednesday 17 May 2000.

The pair were last seen alive 6 days earlier - they had been bludgeoned to death.

A $100,000 reward was announced following an inquest into their deaths in 2003.

Police say a review of the case in 2025 unearthed fresh forensic opportunities which have now become the focus of their inquiries.

 

 

The bodies of Susan Kay (left) and Joanne Teterin (right) were found in a Carrington cottage in May 2000 

E-Motorbike Rider Facing Court After Arrest In Carrington

 BY IAN CROUCH

A Newcastle e-motorbike rider has a date in court next month after being arrested for high range riding on the same afternoon he'd been warned about the legality of his bike.

Officers from Operation Shore Safe spoke to the 35-year-old after stopping him on Wharf Road at about 3.30pm on Sunday and issued him with a warning after educating him about the illegalities of his bike.

Later, the same man was stopped in Cowper Street, Carrington after being spotted riding the bike.

He was subjected to a roadside breath test and arrested after returning a positive result.

He was taken to the Newcastle Police Station where its alleged he returned a reading of .178 - more than 3 times the legal limit.

The man's been charged with 5 offences including high range PCA, never licensed to drive on the road and rider and passenger riding without a helmet.

He's due to face Newcastle Court on December 11.

 

Two Riders Critically Injured In Separate Crashes In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man and woman remain in Intensive Care in the John Hunter Hospital following separate crashes overnight involving an E-Bike and a motorcycle in Newcastle.

Police say just after 10.00pm on Wednesday 22 October, a 26-year-old woman was riding an E-Bike on Cowper Street North at Carrington when she collided with a parked caravan near Bourke Street.

Then just before 12.30am on Thursday 23 October, a 27-year-old man crashed his motorbike into a roundabout on Denison Street at Hamilton.

Police say despite both riders wearing helmets, each suffered significant head injuries and were taken to the John Hunter in a critical condition.

Investigators are looking into whether speed and/or alcohol were factors in the crashes.

 

EPA Investigates Mass Bird Deaths in Newcastle

BY IAN CROUCH AND PETER HYSLOP 

The Environment Protection Authority is investigating the deaths of hundreds of birds in Newcastle.

Testing is under way to determine the cause of the deaths of large numbers of corellas, which wildlife experts believe could be a mass poisoning.

Hunter Wildlife Rescue says the birds were found yesterday from Newcastle, Carrington and Hamilton areas, and fears many more could die in days to come.

There are concerns they may have been deliberately targeted.

Anyone who finds a sick or deceased bird is urged to contact authorities to retrieve it.

Supplied: Hunter Wildlife Rescue

Police dog sniffs out alleged car thief after Carrington crash

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man's been charged after allegedly stealing a car and being caught by a police dog in Carrington.

A New Lambton home was broken into on Sunday and a car was stolen. 

About 4am on Tuesday, police patrols sighted the vehicle in Hamilton South. 

Police observed a man seated in the driver’s seat. 

The stolen vehicle took off at speed and was pursued through multiple suburbs, eventually ending up in Carrington. 

The stolen vehicle collided with a traffic island bursting its tyre, where the driver ran from the vehicle. 

Police Dog Yule and his handler were on scene, managing to track the offender hiding in the front yard of a nearby house. 

The man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive disqualified, and police pursuit. 

The male was refused bail until February before Newcastle Local Court.

He had been previously disqualified from driving until 2024.

Grain silo ablaze at Carrington

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A grain silo is on fire at Carrington.

Crews arrived sometime after 11am on Thursday morning, and are working to gain access and extinguish the blaze.

Seven crews are currently on scene, as well as hazmat trucks.

It's understood, it's the same silo which went alight in early September, also in the dust extraction system.

Image credit: Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

Carrington Factory Fire Leaves $1mil Damage Bill

 BY IAN CROUCH

A factory fire at Carrington has left a damage bill of around $1 million.

Emergency services were called to an industrial complex on Parker Street at about 5.30pm on Tuesday to a fire in the Lovells Springs factory.

Up to 20 people were evacuated and police say a 49-year-old man was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to the Mater Hospital as a precaution.

The building contained around 1000kg of powdered paint, wooden pallets and cardboard boxes.

16 Fire and Rescue trucks including specialist units attended the fire which took around two-and-a-half hours to fully extinguish.

Newcastle Police are investigating the cause of the fire, however they are not treating it as suspicious and say there is no health risk to the community.

The fire caused extensive damage to the Lovells Automotive Springs Factory in Parker Street Picture theherald.com.au

Hunter police arrest person over $20,000 jewellery theft

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Police have charged a 40-year-old, over the alleged theft of $20,000 worth of goods from a Kotara jeweller. 

They were arrested at Carrington early Saturday morning, still wearing the jewellery. 

The items have since been returned, and the 40-year-old has been refused bail, charged with larceny of property worth more than $15,000 and breach of parole.

BREAKING! Firefighters Contain Large Diesel Spill At Newcastle Fuel Terminal

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have contained a large diesel spill at a Newcastle fuel depot.

Crews from Newcastle and Carrington along with a Hazmat team responded to an automatic fire alarm at the ATOM Fuel Terminal in Elizabeth Street, Carrington just before 2.30am on Thursday.

They used safety retaining booms, pumps and absorbent to contain an 8,500 litre diesel spill to a gantry on the site.

Newcastle Fire Command says none of the fuel entered local waterways or the drainage system, however the EPA has been notified.

The operation wrapped up just after 4.00am.

Newcastle Set to Host Air Quality Review Forum

BY LILLY HAINES

Newcastle is set to host an air quality forum next week to discuss proposed new standards for toxic air pollutants in the region.

A government committee reviewing national air pollution standards is visiting the area to hear from people affected by exposure to toxic gas air pollutants.

The review process is looking at the levels of oxides of nitrogen and related gases sulphur dioxide and ozone.

The review of ambient air pollutants is occurring 21 years after national air pollution standards were introduced.

Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) issued a report in February showing coarse particle pollution had worsened in many parts of NSW over the past 12 months, including areas in the Hunter.

The report showed coarse particles exceeded the annual standard at nine locations, up from 2 locations in 2017 and none in previous years.

Eight of these locations were located in the Hunter at sites including Mt Thorley, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Mayfield, Carrington, and Beresfield.

"The Hunter region has quite high levels of particle air pollution both for coarse particles which are mostly coming from coal mines and for finer particles which are coming from fires and coal-fired power stations," Dr Ben Ewald from DEA said.

Dr Ewald said there is also a problem with sulphur dioxide air pollution, which he says is mostly emitted by the power stations but can also come from aluminium smelting.

"Nitrogen dioxide tends to be more of a problem down in Sydney because it's mostly a traffic related thing, but sulphur dioxide is a problem in places like Muswellbrook with exposure to power stations," said Dr Ewald.

"And that shows up also in the monitors close to the Tomago aluminium smelter."

Dr Ewald also said there are serious health risks linked to exposure to ambient gases, with fine particle pollutants increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as having an association with lung cancer.

Respiratory irritations, like triggering asthma attacks, have been linked to suplhur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide exposure with statistics showing a greater proportion of people experience respiratory irritations in the Upper Hunter than other parts of the state.

The air quality forum will be held at Newcastle Town Hall on Tuesday 23rd July beginning at 5:30pm.

Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook. Image: AAP. 

Coal Loader Relocation Called Off

BY KEELY JOHNSON

Tighes Hill residents are disappointed with the NSW governments recent back-flip on plans to relocate Carrington's coal loader.

The relocation was touted for investigation in the 2017 draft Newcastle Greater Metropolitan Plan, however the final version, released last week makes no mention of the idea. 

The coal terminal is located about 200 metres from residential properties, exposing residents to coal dust.   

Charlotte McCabe from the Tighes Hill Community Group is accusing the government of pandering to the interests of coal industry heavyweights. 

"We were hoping the state government would investigate alternative uses for the site," she said, "but it looks like, unfortunately, the company has been listened to instead of the community. 

"We will continue to call for the state government to look for alternatives in the future." 

Image: NBN News.