Firearms And Ammunition Seized During Raid On Kotara Home

 BY IAN COUCH

A man is due to front court today (Wednesday 15 October, 2025) after police allegedly seized several firearms and ammunition from a Kotara home.

Following an extensive investigation, officers from the State Crime Command executed a search warrant yesterday at a home on Joanne Street.

It's alleged they uncovered a number of firearms and more than a thousand rounds of ammunition.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

He's been charged with 12 firearm and drug-related offences and refused bail to face the bail court today. 

 
 

Man Facing Court Over Alleged Possession Of Child Abuse Material and Firearms

 BY IAN CROUCH

A 23-year-old man is due to front Newcastle Local Court accused of possessing child abuse material.

Local detectives began an investigation in January 2022 after a referral from the Australian Federal Police over the alleged uploading of child abuse material through a social media platform.

Officers searched the man's Kotara home early Thursday morning, allegedly finding items related to child abuse material, five gel blaster firearms, two sets of throwing knives, a set of throwing stars and a trench knife.

The man was arrested at the home - he's been refused bail to face court today (Friday 25 October 2024) charged with 10 offences.

Calls To Help Find a Girl Missing From The Newcastle Area

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing from the Newcastle area.

Mercedes Sievers, aged 12, was last seen in the Kotara area, about 8pm yesterday (Sunday 15 September 2024).

Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Mercedes is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 150cm tall, of medium build, with dark long hair and green eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black jumper, grey shorts and Nike shoes.

She is known to frequent the Newcastle, Cameron Park, Toronto, Glendale, and Charlestown areas.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle City Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

                                                                 Mercedes Sievers

P-plater arrested with six-year-old after Kotara pursuit

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Police have charged a driver, who allegedly led them on a chase in Kotara on Saturday night with a child in the car. 

Police allege the vehicle was speeding, and failed to stop after their directions. 

The car crashed into a parked car, fence, and tree, after a pursuit through Kotara and Adamstown Heights.

Police only discovered the six-year-old after removing the driver from the vehicle.

A 30-year-old P-plater has been granted conditional bail and a number of charges in court next month.

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.

Hunter Workers Protesting Harvey Norman CEO

BY GIORGIA WILSON 

Hunter Workers are protesting outside of Harvey Norman Kotara at 12pm today in response to the submissions opposing a minimum wage increase. 

Gerry Harvey, CEO of Harvey Norman, has been a vocal opponent of a minimum wage rise despite his company's profits more than doubled during 2020. 

The Fair Work Commission is expected to make a decision concerning the annual minimum wage review in early to mid-June. 

Hunter Workers supports the Australian Council of Trades Union urging the Fair Work Commission to increase minimum wage by 3.5% for Australian workers. This increase would offer a much-needed boost from the record low wage growth over the last 8 years. 

"Wages have been stagnant for some time now," says Hunter Workers Secretary, Leigh Shears. "There's a significant gap between the increase in the cost of living and peoples pay bracket."

Hunter Workers have campaigned to improve the lives, wage, working conditions and social services for all workers and their families within these communities. 

A significant minimum wage rise would come as a great relief to Hunter Workers who have been impacted by increased cost of living fueled by housing and rental market shortages. 

"It's going to be a domestic recovery," says Shear. "The economy cannot recover if our workers do not have money to spend."

Since JobKeeper was cut it is estimated there has been a 70% increase of Hunter people living in housing stress. Hunter Workers will continue to campaign for the things that matter for all workers across the region.

Man Punched and Robbed in Kotara Park and Teenager Threatened with Knife

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are appealing for public assistance following two robberies in Newcastle at the weekend.

About 2.15pm on Saturday, a 23-year-old man was seated in a park on Lexington Parade, Kotara, when he was approached by three unknown men.

The group demanded the man’s phone, wallet and backpack before he was punched in the face.

The group then left the scene before one of the men approached a 15-year-old boy on Park Avenue and threatened him with a knife.

He demanded his phone before fleeing with the remainder of the group.

Both incidents were reported to police a short time later and officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation.

As police continue their inquiries, officers are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the Kotara area between 2pm and 2.45pm or who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Family Home Destroyed By Fire At Kotara

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a family home at Kotara overnight.

Crews were called to the Meredith Street home just after 8.00pm on Sunday to find a fire which started in a rear shed had quickly spread to the weatherboard and iron house.

12 fire trucks were called to the blaze which took around 4 hours to extinguish.

One crew remains on scene this morning to extinguish flare-ups.

Newcastle Fire Command say 4 people self-evacuated and one man was treated by paramedics for burns and smoke inhalation.

Police say an elderly couple and their granddaughter were inside when the fire broke out and weren't injured.

Investigators will arrive this morning to determine the cause the fire, but police say it's not being treated as suspicious.

 

Fire destroyed the home in Meredith Street Kotara. Picture: Lambton Fire & Rescue

 

Lit Cigarette Blamed For Devastating House Fire At Kotara

 BY IAN CROUCH

A lit cigarette is being blamed for a devastating house fire at Kotara overnight.

20 firefighters from five stations were called to a single level weatherboard home on Park Avenue just after 10 o'clock on Wednesday night.

Police say a lit cigarette sparked the fire in the garage which quickly spread to the home.

The garage has been destroyed and the house severely damaged.

The male owner occupier, who was the only person home at the time, was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

Police say the home was partly vacated when the fire broke out.

Two Men Face Court Accused Of Dealing Drugs From Kotara Barber Shop

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two men will face court again in May after being arrested on serious drugs charges.

The 38 and 51-year-olds are accused of supplying the drug ICE from a Barber Shop at Westfield Kotara.

Police also found $5,000 in cash in a drawer inside the store and later recovered methylamphetamine at a unit on Newcastle Beach.

Both men have been charged drug-related offences including supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime.

They've been remanded in custody until their next court appearance in May.

A 38-year-old man was arrested at Westfield Kotara

 

Woman Charged With Defrauding Self Service Check Outs Across the Hunter of $145k

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A New Lambton woman has been charged with seven fraud offences after allegedly defrauding self assisted check out's across the Hunter. 

Newcastle Property Crime Team arrested the 33-year-old.

The frauds totaled $145,000 and were committed over several months, targeting self assisted check outs in Newcastle, Kotara and Rutherford.

She's been bail refused to appear in Newcastle Court.

Meanwhile, Newcastle Police have arrested a Cooks Hill man, after he was spotted in Newcastle West on a stolen bike.

The 37-year-old was arrested on Tuesday, and charged with;

• 2 x break & enters occurring in Hamilton
• possessing prohibited drugs
• carrying knife in public place
• possessing stolen goods
• 6 x Frauds in Hamilton using stolen cards
• stealing in Merewether and Broadmeadow

He's been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Court.

Police are continuing investigations.

UPDATE! Man On the Run and Two Arrested Following Kotara Police Operation

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are still searching for a man, and two others have been arrested after a woman was allegedly held against her will in a Kotara home on Wednesday morning. 

About 3.50am, officers were called to a home on Park Avenue, following reports a 24-year-old woman had been held against her will.

Police have been told a 30-year-old woman and two men – aged 29 and 36 – were inside the home before the younger woman managed to escape and contact police.

The trio then threatened an 88-year-old male resident, who was asleep at the time.

A perimeter was established, and specialist units were deployed to assist in the operation – including police negotiators and the dog unit.

The 88-year-old man was able to leave the home and was taken into police care about 5.50am; he was uninjured.

The 36-year-old man fled the home on foot a short time later, before he was arrested near Howell Street.

The 30-year-old woman was also arrested at the property a short time later.

Both the man and woman are assisting police with their inquiries.

The 29-year-old man escaped the home and remains outstanding with officers conducting extensive inquiries to locate him. 

An investigation into the circumstances leading up to and during the incident is now underway, including allegations the younger woman had been held against her will in the days prior to today’s incident.

Anyone with any information with may assist investigators is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Inquiries are continuing.

EARLIER - 

A police operation which shut down several streets in Kotara on Wednesday morning has concluded. 

Officers surrounded a home in the Park Avenue area, reportedly heard on a megaphone asking the occupants to exit the property.

Residents reported seeing an armored vehicle arrive. 

Residents were urged to stay inside and lock their doors, and not to return to the street if they leave.

Police are thanking the public for their assistance, and will release more details soon. 

Staff Intimidated By Thief At Kotara Tool Store

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Police are searching for a man and an accomplice involved in a brazen stealing and intimidation of staff at a Kotara tool shop.

A man walked into the Sydney Tools store on Northcott Drive at about 5.00pm on Wednesday and grabbed a Milwaukee Nail Gun valued at $699 from a display case and ran off.

Two male staff members aged 23 and 30 gave chase and caught up with the man in a nearby car park but he turned and told them he would stab them with a syringe.

He was joined by another male and the pair fled.

Resident Taken To Hospital After House Fire At Kotara

BY IAN CROUCH

One person has been taken to hospital after a house fire at Kotara.

Four fire trucks from Lambton and Charlestown were called to a home on Park Avenue just before 10.30pm on Wednesday to find the front bedroom on fire.

Crews managed to contain the fire to the one room and had it under control within 15 minutes.

A female occupant was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

The other residents weren't injured.

Police say its likely a cigarette caused the fire.

Man Arrested Over Attempted Armed Robbery At Kotara

BY IAN CROUCH

A New Lambton man is expected to face court today over an attempted armed robbery on a Kotara convenience store.

It's alleged the 38-year-old entered the Lucky 7 store on Joslin Street at about 6.20pm on Thursday armed with a knife and ordered 3 staff to hand over cash.

They complied but police say a passer-by stopped the man from leaving the store and he surrendered and handed back the cash.

Police arrived moments later and took him into custody.

He's been refused bail to face court today charged with robbery whilst armed.

Police interview witnesses at the Lucky 7 store Picture: therherald.com.au

Big Fun at Westfield Kotara, Expansion Unveiled

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Newcastle's Thursday night shopping scene is shaping up to be electric this evening, with Westfield Kotara unveiling the first stage of its $160 million refurbishments today.

The ribbon cutting has taken place on 30 new and relocated stores, with flash mobs, children's entertainment and giveaways happening throughout the day as part of a four-day celebration.

Westfield Kotara Centre Manager Kate Murphy said the new space is a unique offering.

"This precinct will appeal to the Hunter's youth audience, and we've made sure it's synonomous with the region's surf, skate and lifestyle culture," she said.

"We're excited to bring a series of firsts to the new precinct - we have JB HIFI introducing a new technology and gaming experience. Customers will also be able to shop at an EB Games with Zing Pop combined and we have a new Shaping Bay at our Surf Dive 'n Ski store."

First-to-market retailers include Mr and Mrs Jones, W Hair Bar and Espresso Warriors, while favourites like Carla Swimwear, Industrie and Universal Store are also moving in.

Kmart has confirmed it will re-open its doors on November 29.

Some shops have reported a downturn in trade over the 12-month construction period, but Westfield is confident the retailers will sell-up big under the improvements.

Kate Murphy said they've also introduced a new, ticketless parking system.

"It'll allow our customers seamless passage on their entry and exit with no need for a paper ticket," Ms Murphy said.

"We're also really happy to announce we're introducing our new parking guidance system which will make it easy for our customers to find a park once they're here and spend more time doing what they love when they're in the centre."

In coming months, Westfield Kotara will extend the popular Rooftop eatery, and introduce the Hunter's only large format David Jones and the city's first Zara store.