Woman Falls Over 7 Metres from Top of Building on Hunter Street

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A woman's been transported to John Hunter Hospital after falling between seven and ten metres onto an awning on Hunter street. 

Emergency crews were called to scene just after 8am on Wednesday morning. 

The woman in her 20's was rescued from the awning using a cherry picker, above a Thai massage parlor which backs onto a building housing the Foghorn Brewery. 

She suffered a serious arm injury during the incident. 

The reason for the fall is unknown. 

Police are continuing to investigate.

Images: Kevin Kellaway

UPDATE ! Woman Arrested Following Road Rage Incident Which Saw Pedestrian and Several Vehicles Rammed on Hunter Street

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 29-year-old woman has been arrested after ramming the car of a man known to her several times, during a road rage incident in Newcastle’s CBD on Friday morning. 

About 6.20am, officers were called to Hunter Street near the Stewart Avenue Intersection in Newcastle, following reports a 55-year-old man had been hit and several vehicles had been damaged by a white utility.

The local woman and the man known to her, reportedly got into an argument in the carpark of a KFC restaurant on Hunter Street earlier that morning, the cause of the argument is yet to be determined. 

Police confirmed the pair are not in a domestic relationship. 

Police say the man fled the KFC car park in a yellow Holden Barina, the woman pursuing him in a Ford Utility, allegedly ramming his vehicle a number of times on Honeysuckle Drive and King Street, Newcastle. 

The man then reportedly attempted to do a U-turn and was rammed by the woman on Hunter Street, where he suffered minor injuries to his arm and was transported to John Hunter Hospital. 

No one else was injured during the incident.

"Her driving was an abomination, extremely dangerous and put many lives at risk," Newcastle City Police Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey says. 

"Some local workmen have tried to apprehend her and that was an appropriate thing to do but safely, and of course an innocent person driving through an intersection on a green light gets T-boned by this woman as she escapes." 

A short time later, the utility was located on King Street. It has been seized for forensic examination.

The woman was arrested at around 9.15am at a nearby hotel, and is assisting police with their inquires. 

She was charged with use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, not give particulars to other driver and possess prohibited drug, and has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Friday. 

As police continue their inquiries, officers are urging anyone who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage of the incident to contact police, as they are missing footage of the vehicles driving between Honeysuckle Drive and King Street.

"I have little concern for what occurred in that car park, but whatever happened it  should not have culminated in that furious driving activity," Detective Humphrey says. 

White Utility seen ramming into pedestrians and vehicles on Hunter Street this morning

"Erratic" Hunter Street Driver to Face Court Over Alleged High Range Drink Driving

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A woman has been charged with high range drink driving, after her car was spotted driving "erratically" on Hunter Street in Newcastle. 

On Friday, members of the public contacted police about a white Toyota Yaris, who located the vehicle a short time later on Union Street. 

The vehicle was stopped and the 43-year-old driver submitted to a breath test which returned a reading of 0.283 (High Range PCA). 

The drivers licence was suspended on the spot, she is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court in early December.

Light Rail Class Action to Commence Saturday

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

At least 45 Newcastle businesses who have been impacted by light rail construction are expected to join a class action lawsuit to be launched against the state government tomorrow.

The legal action is being organised by Sydney councillor and small business owner Angela Vithoulkas, whose own experience with light rail construction along George Street prompted her to help Newcastle businesses facing the same plight.

"I've been suffering on the light rail construction route for three years," Cr Vithoulkas said.

"I completely understand the pain of the Newcastle business owners, they have been abandoned and ignored by the state government and I want to help them like I've helped hundreds of businesses in Sydney."

Many businesses in Newcastle's CBD have reported significant losses in trade owing to the effects of construction, including restricted access, limited parking and increased noise.

Struggling local businesses have repeatedly called for the same government assistance afforded to those in Sydney in the form of rent-relief, only to be told it wouldn't be coming.

Angela Vithoulkas says Newcastle businesses deserve more from the state government.

"They don't have hundreds of thousands of visitors coming in and out of their area every day like we do in Sydney to help us cope," said Cr Vithoulkas.

"They've given more to NSW, they deserve better."

Interested residents can join the class action at a meeting with Cr Vithoulkas tomorrow, but anyone who wishes to learn more before signing up is assured they can join at any time.

A legal team from Mitry Lawyers will also be present at tomorrow's meeting to provide extra information and advice for anyone considering joining the lawsuit.

Cr Vithoulkas says its a shame the state government hasn't learned their lesson on the impacts of these infrastructure projects on local communities.

"If their goal is to wipe out communities, then they're on track," she told 2NURFM.

"We want infrastructure, we want progress, but we want our small businesses to still be there when they're done."

The meeting regarding the class action will take place at Customs House on Saturday, August 11th, beginning at 12pm.

Image: The Herald

Hunter Street Set To Reopen Following Light Rail Construction

BY IAN CROUCH

It's hoped businesses in Hunter Street Newcastle affected by the light rail construction will be able to get back to normal trade by the end of the month.

A 700 metre stretch of Hunter Street between Darby and Union Streets is due to reopen to traffic and pedestrians by July 24 as work on the light rail construction wraps up.

Worth Place will also be permanently open, linking Hunter Street and Honeysuckle Drive.

And, in a welcome move for CBD businesses, more than 100 parking spaces will also returned.

Hunter Street Newcastle Looking East From NeW Space