Ribbon Cut on Expanded Hunter Sports Centre

 BY PETER HYSLOP

An updated 52-million-dollar Hunter Sports Centre has now opened at Glendale.

The new site boasts a trampoline Centre of Excellence, a three-level sport and community centre and facilities for students at the University of Newcastle to run programs improving community health.

Government representatives attended to cut the ribbon on Saturday. 

It's hoped the facilities will provide a boost for nurturing new trampolining talent with Australia set to host the Olympic Games in 2032.

Representatives open the Centre (including University of Newcastle VC Prof. Alex Zelinsky, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery, Hunter MP Dan Repacholi, Shortland MP Pat Conroy, Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper)

Two Boys Arrested Over Alleged Assaults On Newcastle Bus Drivers

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two teenage boys have charged over the alleged assault of two bus drivers in separate incidents last week.

Police have been told three males were fighting on a bus last Thursday when the driver stopped at New Lambton Heights are asked them to get off.

When leaving it's alleged one of the teens punched the driver.

A short time later the males boarded another bus and allegedly began causing a disturbance to passengers.

The bus stopped at Glendale where the passengers got off, but police say the trio forced open the rear door and assaulted the second driver.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries but were not taken to hospital.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 14-year-old boy on Tuesday.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with two counts of common assault, stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear or harm, and hindering police in the execution of their duty.

He faced the children's court on yesterday and was refused bail to face the same court next Monday, February 24.

Further inquiries led to the arrest of a second 14-year-old boy yesterday.

He was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with common assault and affray.

He was granted strict conditional bail to face the children's court on Monday February 24.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.

 

BREAKING! Burst Water Main Causes Flooding At Glendale.

 BY IAN CROUCH

A burst water main is causing major flooding issues for residents and businesses at Glendale.

Fire crews from Cardiff were called to the intersection of Main Road and Lake Road just after 5.30am on Thursday to find a 500mm water main had burst, causing flooding to several units nearby.

There's also a large amount of water over the road.

Newcastle Fire Command says Hunter Water has advised it's unlikely the water will be shut off until around 6.45am.

 
 

Fears For Young Girl Missing From Glendale Since July.

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are asking for help to find a teenage girl who hasn't been seen for a month.

13-year-old Lily Renyard was last seen at Glendale on Saturday July 27 and there are concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Lily is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 152cm tall with a thin build, blue eyes and shoulder length hair dyed black with blue streaks.

She's known to frequent the Elermore Vale, Edgeworth, Gosford, Bathurst and Maitland areas and is known to use the rail network.

If you've seen Lily or know where she is, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing teen Lily Renyard

Missing teenager from Glendale

 BY JORDAN REGNIS

Police are appealing for public assistance in their search for a teenager missing from Lake Macquarie.

16-year-old Carly Cartwright was last seen on 24/07/2024 at Glendale, NSW.

She's described as having a Caucasian appearance, 152cm tall, a thin build, shoulder length blond hair and blue eyes.

She's known to frequent the Teralba, Edgeworth, Bolton Point, Argenton, Belmont, Windale and Newcastle areas, along with shopping centres at Charlestown and Glendale.

Carly is also known to utilise public transport.

Carly Cartwright

Council seeking interest in Hunter Sports Centre expansion tender

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Lake Macquarie Council has put the search out for companies interested in the tender for construction of the expanded Hunter Sports Centre.

The Glendale site would feature an expanded sports and community centre, better access and parking, a new athlete testing facility, and the NSW Trampoline Centre of Excellence.

The upgrades are expected to be complete by late 2024.

It's hoped the centre will host national and international sporting events.

New Social Housing Project Under Way At Waratah West

 BY IAN CROUCH

Work is under way on a new social housing project at Waratah West.

Two ageing homes in Landa Parade are making way for a 10-unit double story architect-designed complex featuring six two-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units.

It's part of the state government's $250 million investment to fast-track the delivery of homes across the state and is one of six projects either completed or in the pipeline across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland over the next two years.

NSW Land and Housing Corporation Acting Chief Executive, Deborah Brill says it follows a memorandum of understanding signed in December with Newcastle Council to boost the stock of social housing.

"We're working closely with the City of Newcastle as a priority to create and deliver more social and affordable housing across the region," she said.

The Landa Parade project is due for completion in December 2022.

Artist's impression of the social housing project in Landa Parade at Waratah West

Speers Point to Glendale shared pathway on track for commuters

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Works on the Speers Point to Glendale shared pathway have wrapped up.

The track runs parallel with Cockle Creek, past Waratah Golf Club, and links at Glendale with the existing Tramway Track to Wallsend.

The completion of the leg means cyclists and commuters have a continuous, mostly off-road 18 kilometre route to the University of Newcastle and beyond.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser says it's great for commuting, exercise, or just sightseeing.

"It's known throughout New South Wales and Australia about our Fernleigh Shared Track, about our Richmond Vale Trail, the beautiful shared paths around our city and the other local government areas," Cr Fraser said.

"Adding this to that will mean that people will be able to actually use it as a tourist destination, but also, a means of getting to work as well."

Image credit: www.lakemac.com.au

Woman Escapes With Only Minor Injuries After Spectacular Crash At Glendale

 BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has been taken to hospital with only minor injuries after a spectacular crash at Glendale overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews were called to reports of a car into a house in Reservoir Road just after 9.30pm on Sunday.

Police say a car left the road and hit a fence before flipping and crashing into the carport of a neighbouring home, landing upside down on a car parked inside. 

The 30-year-old driver was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.

No-one else was hurt in the incident and police inquiries are continuing.

The crash scene at Glendale on Sunday night Picture; Cardiff Fire & Rescue

 

BREAKING! Police Investigating Armed Robbery At Glendale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating an armed robbery at Glendale.

Police say a person confronted the console operator with a knife at the 7/11 on Main Road at about 3.30am on Thursday.

The offender escaped with cash and cigarettes.

Police say the console operator was not injured and a crime scene has been established as investigations continue.

Two Men Charged, Accused of Physically and Sexually Assaulting Teenage Girls on Glendale Street

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Detectives have charged two men over the alleged sexual assaults of two teenage girls at Glendale earlier this month.

The two girls, aged 14 and 17, were allegedly assaulted by two unknown men on October 2nd. 

Investigators were told the girls were walking along Frederick Street with two other friends when they were approached by the men, who made threats toward the group before allegedly sexually touching the girls and then allegedly sexually assaulting them.

The girl’s friends went to get help before the 17-year-old girl was able to run to a nearby shop and returned with staff members who assisted the younger girl.

Emergency services were contacted, and the men fled the scene.

Following extensive inquiries, detectives executed two search warrants at homes at Argenton and Williamtown about 6am on Tuesday.

During the searches, police seized a number of items relevant to the investigation, as well as cannabis and a cannabis plant, which was located at the Williamtown property.

Two men – aged 19 and 24 – were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

The 24-year-old Williamtown man was charged with;

• Sexual intercourse without consent
• Aggravated sex assault-victim under the age of 16 years
• Aggravated sexual intercourse child aged 14-16 years
• Assault child aged 14-16 with intent to commit sexual offence
• Intentionally sexually touch child aged 10-16
• Aggravated intentionally do sexual act with child aged 10-16
• Two counts of incite another to sexually touch them without consent
• Cultivate prohibited plant and possess prohibited drug

The 19-year-old Argenton man was charged with;

• Aggravated sex assault-victim under the age of 16 years
• Assault child aged 14-16 with intent to commit sexual offence
• Three counts of intentionally sexually touch child aged 10-16.

Both men were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday. 

Residents Evacuated After Car Crashes Into Unit Complex At Glendale

BY IAN CROUCH

The occupants of a unit complex at Glendale are counting the cost after a car crashed into the building overnight.

Emergency services were called to Lake Road at about 11.30pm on Thursday to find the car had crashed into the ground floor unit, causing extensive structural damage.

Luckily the occupants of the car and the units escaped injury.

Fire crews used props to make the building safe however upstairs residents had to find alternative accommodation for the night.

The downstairs unit sustained extensive damage when a car ploughed into the building at Glendale on Thursday night Pictures: Cardiff Fire & Rescue

Woman Charged With Breaching COVID-19 Health Restrictions After Crash At Glendale

BY IAN CROUCH

A Cameron Park woman is due to face court in June accused of refusing to submit to a breath test and breaching the stay at home health restrictions.

Police were called to Main Road at Glendale at about 9.50pm on Wednesday after a silver Commodore sedan collided with a traffic light.

Police say the 33-year-old female driver left the scene and was arrested near her home a short time later.

It's alleged she refused to submit to a random breath test and was taken to Toronto Police Station where she again refused to submit to a breath analysis.

Her licence has been suspended and she's been granted conditional bail to face Toronto Local Court on June 30.

Hungry Thief Breaks Into Glendale School

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court next month accused of breaking into a Glendale school and child care centre early Friday morning.

Police say the man entered the Holy Cross College on Lake Road though an unlocked door at about 4.00am and stole chips, party pies and ice blocks.

They say he then went next door to the Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Oakland Street and stole a torch.

He was rounded up by a police dog in nearby John Howe Close a short time later and is due to face Toronto Local Court on August 13 charged with 2 counts of break,enter and steal.

Plans lodged for $35 million Hunter Sports Centre expansion

BY LILLY HAINES

Lake Macquarie City Council has released a new $35 million plan to upgrade the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale, lodging a development application for the site last week.

The plan proposes a three-storey state of the art gymnasium and athletic centre with an athletic warm-up and testing area, a 1,975 square-metre trampoline hall housing a 450-seat grandstand. 

Proposed expansion to the Hunter Sports Centre Facilities. Image: EJE Architecture

Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser says these new facilities would see the centre given tier-one athletic status which would provide greater opportunities for regional athletes. 

"We don't have anywhere really in regional NSW where young people and people who want to be in this sporting arena can actually come and participate and hone their skills.

"This is an area that is growing, we know that a lot of young people are going to athletics, we know gymnastics is really popular and we need a facility here to accommodate our needs and at the moment we are nearly at capacity." Cr Fraser said.

If funding for the project can be secured the proposed plans would see additions to the current track and field facilities, new community function areas and meeting rooms, new road access to the centre, landscaping upgrades around the site, and bus and car parking spaces.

Proposed upgrades to the Hunter Sports Centre Facilities. Image: EJE Architecture

"Visitation of the centre has grown to the point where we really need this Hunter Regional Sports centre because there is an increase in demand for event and community use in the growing Hunter region.

"This extension will improve community access to the facilities and programs and it will support many community groups in a state of the art sporting facility and given the other sporting facilities in our community, this fits in nicely with the overall plan for our city," Mayor Fraser said.

Other proposed facilities in the area include a $25 million basketball facility holding 10 courts and 4000 spectators on Hillsborough Rd, which the NSW government promised to deliver in the lead up to the March election.

Last year Lake Macquarie City Council outlined plans for a $10 million Trampoline Centre also at Glendale but was unable to secure state funding, which Cr Fraser said has not deterred the council from advocating for sports infrastructure funding for the region.

"Unfortunately, it hasn't received funding in the past, but we continue to advocate for funding to deliver this project.

"Once we receive a development application approval we are shovel ready.

Which means we are more in a position, if there are funds available, to start building this facility straight away," Kay Fraser said.

Image: EJE Architecture

UPDATE: Man Shot Dead by Police in Stabbing Manhunt

BY IAN CROUCH AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

NSW Police have launched a critical incident investigation following the shooting death of a 21-year-old man at a home in GLENDALE this morning.

Officers are yet to confirm the deceased is the same man they began searching for after the fatal stabbing of a 27-year-old woman at a Stephens Avenue home yesterday morning.

Police allege the man threatened officers with a knife when they confronted him.

A Critical Incident Team will investigate the circumstances of the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm.

Inquiries are continuing.

EARLIER:

The search continues for a man wanted in connection with the stabbing death of a woman at Glendale.

Emergency services were called to a home in Stephens Avenue at about 11.30am on Wednesday morning where the 26-year-old woman was found with stab wounds - she was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital where she died.

Police now want to speak to a man known as Tafari Walton.

He's described as being in his 20's, having a dark complexion with a long black ponytail and wearing a grey top and black shorts.

It's believed he may be driving a white 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander with NSW registration AW6 7VV.


Police are urging if anyone knows the whereabouts of Mr Walton or the vehicle not to approach but to call triple-zero immediately.

Wanted for questioning: Tafari Walton

Council, Labor Combine to Pledge Millions for Interchange

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

We've been hearing about it for more than two decades, now the first stage of the Glendale Transport Interchange could become a reality if state Labor is elected on March 23.

Hunter Labor MPs gathered in Glendale this morning to make the announcement, which will see Federal and State Labor pitch in $13 million each to build the long-awaited Pennant Street Bridge.

Another $6 million would come from Lake Macquarie Council to complete the $32 million tripartite funding package.

The interchange is touted to involve the extension of Pennant Street in Cardiff over the main northern railway line, connecting it to the intersection of Glendale and Stockland Drives.

The project has been on the drawing board since former Labor Premier, Bob Carr first promised to build it back in 1998.

After previously criticising her own party for failing to move forward on the project, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said the milestone marks one of the happiest days she's had in office. 

"For 12 years, I've been repeatedly bringing the notion of the importance of the Glendale Interchange to the NSW Parliament...it's the number one project in the Lower Hunter, without a doubt," Ms Hornery said, "so I'm kind of surprised and bemused at why the government is so negative when building the Pennant Street Bridge will see a cost-benefit ratio of $4 to $1." 

She said the bridge has the capacity to unlock development in Cardiff and relieve Munibung Road congestion for bus drivers. 

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser agreed the bridge will lead to new opportunities for the LGA. 

"We're talking about 90 hectares of land that is developable, we're talking about a shopping centre, we're talking about a sports centre here at Glendale which will have that connection to our industrial area; to our retail and to our sports centre. 

"Cardiff people have been screaming for it...This will take the traffic off Lake Road and take the pressure off the Glendale roundabout.

Mayor Fraser admitted she's perplexed and disappointed the project has so far stalled, and says she'll be "knocking on doors" if Labor wins government to see the promise leads to tangible progress. 

Mayor Kay Fraser, Kate Washington MP, Labor Candidate for Lake Macquarie Jo Smith, Jodie Harrison MP, Sonia Hornery MP. 

Glendale Interchange Shakeup a "Surprise" to Piper, Hornery

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Pennant Street Bridge at Cardiff will no longer go ahead after the NSW government announced it's back to square one for Lake Macquarie Interchange designs.

In this week's state budget, $360,000 was allocated to the planning of the Interchange, despite previous talks dating back 20 years.

Lake Macquarie Council has predicted the benefits of the current designs exceeded the costs by four to one.

However Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald said Transport NSW is disputing those projections.

"Transport and Infrastructure for NSW didn't agree that it was suitable, didn't agree it represents value for money for the tax payer...we're at the stage of preparing another business case," Mr MacDonald said.

"We didn't feel that [The Pennant Street Bridge] was the best design," he said, "it didn't achieve what we wanted to see in terms of activation of that area or protection for pedestrians...on a number of levels it just wasn't suitable."

However, the Parliamentary Secretary hasn't declared the project dead in the water.

"It's an ongoing process," he said, "and we're certainly not walking away from the idea that area would benefit from activation and better transport linkages."

The announcement has come as a shock to Lake Macquarie Council and the two MPs whose electorates border the Interchange.

Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery listed the project as number 1 on her state budget wish list and says she wants to know where the justification for this design shake-up is coming from.

"It comes as a big surprise that all of a sudden the government have a different position on the Glendale Interchange," she said.

"All of us have been working very hard on this project which will ease some of the gridlock which is increasing between Glendale and Newcastle," she continued, "it's a project that 11 Hunter Mayors unanimously support as a top priority."

Sonia Hornery said she's "really disappointed" and believes the Hunter is being ignored by the Liberal National Government due to our high number of Labor-held seats.

Lake Macquarie Independent MP, Greg Piper is a little more optimistic.

He's still confident the Interchange will go ahead in years to come, citing the government's $360,000 investment into planning and a brief conversation with the Transport Minister this morning as reason to believe it'll be built one day.

"As Mayor at Lake Macquarie City Council, I saw the modelling for the work, I saw the opportunities this would bring about," Mr Piper said, "I would imagine if this government doesn't proceed with it at this stage, they may well proceed with something similar to it."

However, the MP can't confirm anything due to the "unusual" process by which he and Council found out about Scot MacDonald's comments.

"The Council and local members have become aware of some apparent change in thinking not through any formal channels but through a discussion between the Parliamentary Secretary and a Newcastle Herald journalist.

"It's a very unusual way to find out about change on a project that so many have been in involved in for so many years," he concluded.

Image: LakeMac Today. 

Dangerous Police Pursuit Called Off At Glendale

BY IAN CROUCH

The driver of a stolen car has managed to evade police during a dangerous pursuit at Glendale.

Highway patrol officers were patrolling Glendale Drive just after 9.30pm on Wednesday when their number plate recognition system alerted them to a white Holden Commodore which had been reported stolen from Toronto last week.

The driver sped off when they tried to pull him over, with the car reaching 100 kilometres per hour in an 80 zone during the 5 minute pursuit.

Officers called off the chase when the driver crossed to the wrong side of the road.