Community Members Urged To Have Their Say On Proposed Minmi Road Upgrades

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Newcastle Council is seeking feedback from local residents on its plan to widen and upgrade Minmi Road.

The proposal would see the notorious stretch widened to two lanes in each direction from Summerhill Road to Maryland Drive. 

It's also set to improve access for cyclists along the busy stretch, by implementing a separated lane on the road, as well as a shared pathway. 

Residents around Wallsend, Maryland, Fletcher, and Minmi, are being encouraged to give feedback on the plan by the 17th of November, 2023. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, says residents have been calling for something to be done about traffic congestion in Minmi for years.  

"The first commitment of this newly-elected council was to really push ahead and invest in the widening of Minmi Road," she said. 

Cr Nelmes also said she expects the construction period will be disruptive to motorists. 

 

The project is expected to be delivered by 2025-26. 

(From Left) Dehanna Richardson, Nuatali Nelmes, and Callum Pull

 

BREAKING! Firefighters Called To Bush Fire At Summerhill Tip

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have been called to a fire at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre at Fletcher.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews from Wallsend, Charlestown, Cardiff and Minmi were called to bushland adjacent to the tip just after 11 o'clock on Monday morning.

It's understood 5 separate fires were found when crews arrived and trail bike riders were seen in the area.

Crews have since managed to extinguish 4 of the fires - one is in a hard-to-reach area.

Police have also been notified.

14-Year-Old Missing from Newcastle

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Newcastle City Police are seeking public assistance to locate 14-year-old Jett Ford-Lonergan.

Jett went missing from his home in Fletcher at 5.00pm Sunday 12 March 2023.

It's possible he was seen this morning on a public bus near Charlestown Square.

Jett was last seen wearing a black Adidas hat with a yellow image on the front, a black PUMA jumper, black jeans, and black Nike joggers.

Police have concerns for his welfare due to his age and medical condition.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

Police Dog, Vegas, Catches Fletcher Vehicle Thieves

BY ISABEL EVERETT Two offenders wanted on warrants and in possession of a stolen vehicle have been tracked down in Fletcher, thanks to the work of the Police dog unit. On Saturday night the offenders were traced to the suburb, with Police dog, Vegas, tracking both offenders who were swiftly arrested by Police from the Dog Unit and Newcastle City. They were taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with the Warrants and other offences.

Police Dog, Vegas

Man Tries to Pull Child from Fathers Arms, During Alleged Attempted Child Abduction in Newcastle West

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 46-year-old Fletcher man is facing court on Monday, charged over an alleged attempted child abduction in Newcastle West on Sunday.

About 5.10pm on the 24th May police were called to a shopping centre on Steel Street, after reports of a child approach.

Police have been told an unknown man approached a father and his two-year-old son inside the shopping centre and allegedly asked if he could talk to the child, before he started to hug him and pull him away from his father.

The father, aged 46, pulled the child back from the man, before the man allegedly became aggressive and continued to grab the child.

With assistance from witnesses, the child was returned to his father and the man was secured until the arrival of police.

The man and child were not physically injured during the incident.

The Fletcher man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with two counts of take/detain child with intent to remove from parental control, and two counts of common assault.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today. 

Images Released Of Supermarket Break-Ins At Fletcher And Kurri Kurri

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are stepping up the search for a group of people wanted over a number of supermarket break-ins in the Hunter earlier this year.

Up to 4 people broke into a Coles store at Fletcher in the early hours of January 12 and another at Kurri Kurri on April 19.

As part of ongoing inquiries, detectives have released CCTV images and are appealing for information relating to the incidents, which they believe are linked.

The CCTV images depict two vehicles seen in the area at the time of the break-ins and a group of people outside the stores.

The first vehicle is depicted as a dark blue dual-cab utility and the second vehicle is depicted as a white sedan.

Police are urging anyone who recognises the people, or the vehicles depicted in the CCTV images to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Members Of The Gang Breaking Into A Supermarket At Kurri Kurri. Image: Supplied