Police Believe Missing Sydney Man Could Be In Anna Bay

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police believe a Sydney man who's been missing for a week could be in the Anna Bay area. 

37-year-old Shaun hasn't been heard from since Tuesday the 7th of November, 2023, and is believed to be travelling in a White Isuzu 4WD, with NSW registration DF0-7RY. 

He's descried as being of Caucasian appearance, about 195cm tall, with a medium build, a shaven head, and blue eyes. 

If you've seen Shaun, please contact Nelson Bay Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Police Appeal For Help To Locate Missing Newcastle Man

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police are asking for the public's help to locate a man missing from Newcastle. 

27-year-old Hayden Grainger was last seen at the Newcastle Yacht Club at Wickham on Saturday the 14th of October, and hasn't spoken to his family since Tuesday the 17th. 

Police say he was spotted at Darling Harbour in Sydney the following Saturday the 20th of October, but has still not been in contact with his friends or loved ones. 

Officers are concerned for Hayden's welfare as he has a diagnosed medical condition. 

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 180 and 185cm tall, of a medium build, with short brown hair and tattoos on the left side of his neck ad down both arms. 

When he was last spotted in Sydney, Hayden was wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, black DC shoes and had dark-coloured hair. 

If you've seen Hayden or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact Waratah Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.  

Cessnock man faces 32 charges after Sydney robbery spree

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A Cessnock man now faces additional charges following an investigation into a spate of armed robberies, car thefts, and other offences across Sydney. 

Detectives from the State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Lilley to investigate several robberies at jewellers and businesses between December 2021 and January 2022. 

Earlier this year, investigators arrested two men, aged 30 and 35, for their alleged roles in the robberies.

They currently remain before the courts. 

Detectives laid an additional 12 charges against the 35-year-old Cessnock man at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday.

The range of charges includes two counts of police pursuit, three counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, two counts of steal motor vehicle, and other theft and property damage offences.

The man is now facing a total of 32 charges relating to his alleged involvement in the robberies. 

He was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Parramatta Local Court in late April.

Toxic waste to be shipped from Sydney to Newcastle

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle's PFAS fears have been sparked again, after the State Government announced plans to transport and store 12,000 cubic metres of waste to Mayfield North.

The material's being dug up as part of construction of Sydney's Northern Beaches Link.

The waste is believed to contain lead, mercury, silver, zinc, dioxins, and PFAS.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says there's been no community consultation on the decision.

"Given our history with PFAS up this way, it's very insulting," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"There's very little detail on where it's final resting place will be.

"What we do know is that we don't want it."

Around 45 truckloads of the waste is expected to be stored in Newcastle for at least a month after being treated at Middle Harbour.

But Mr Crakanthorp says Newcastle isn't Sydney's dumping ground.

"What really worries is that this government is clearly trying to fly under the radar," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"The people of Newcastle have very strong feelings about this proposal and I'm sure the NSW Government is very aware of this."

John Hunter Picking Up Slack From COVID-Crowded Sydney Hospitals

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The John Hunter and other regional hospitals are beginning to take on patients from Sydney hospitals, with serious concerns the city won't be able to keep up with the demand for beds as COVID cases rise.

There's reports Sydney hospital staff are now critically stretched, with patients facing significant delays to find a bed and 25 percent of admissions now in people under the age of 40.

It's likely the trend will only worsen with Sydney's growing caseload, considering COVID patients typically spend a longer time in intensive care.

But Deputy Premier John Barilaro maintained hospitals had "plenty of resources". 

"It's because of the concentrated stretch on resources, especially in the south-west and western parts of Sydney, where we're getting high caseloads in Sydney," Mr Barilaro said.

"But the ability to go to Wollongong, as we know has occurred, or to the John Hunter up in Newcastle. 

"That's all part of the health network and we'll keep doing that as much as the John Hunter will support those regional areas."

The Hunter New England Health District is now caring for 31 people in hospital, none of whom currently required intensive care. 

It's unclear if or when the lockdown in the Hunter and other regional areas will be lifted. 

Mr Barilaro says NSW's COVID situation is a team effort, and the regions needed to work together.

"We're an integrated network of hospitals, it's no different in the regions," Mr Barilaro said.

Man Flees Covid-19 Quarantine in Sydney, And Catches Train to Newcastle

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will face court on Wednesday, after escaping Covid-19 quarantine in Sydney and catching a train to Newcastle.

Officers from Sydney were alerted  on August 7th,  after a man absconded from his room in a hotel in Mascot.

Police began searching for the man and tracked him to Central Railway Station where he had caught a train north to Newcastle Railway Station.

He was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station about 3am on Saturday August 8.

The 31-year-old man, from Thurgoona, was charged with not complying with a noticed direction and failing to comply with a public health order requirement.

He was refused bail at Newcastle Bail Court and is next due to appear at Central Local Court on Wednesday.

Calls for TAFE to Resume Online Learning, With Hunter Apprentices Forced to Travel to Sydney

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hunter business owners are calling on TAFE NSW to revert back to online learning for their apprentices, who are currently required to travel to Sydney to conduct some of their studies.

Hunter New England Health Officials have issued a warning to locals not to travel to the city unless absolutely necessary amid concerns about the further spread of COVID-19.

Branden-Lee Woseen is an apprentice at 'Classic Motorcycle Restoration' in Gateshead, with his course run in a specialized building in Sydney, which not available at the local Hunter TAFE.

During the initial stages of the pandemic he moved to online learning to carry out his studies.

He says on June 24th, TAFE began to return to face to face classes in Ultimo, Sydney, a move Mr Woseen says he understands.

"Online learning wasn't too effective because my course is very hands on, so once it died down we started classes of eight, and now we're back to larger class sizes."

However Mr Woseen says he would now like to see classes move back online, as the number of Covid-19 cases in Sydney begins to rise.

"TAFE said they were monitoring the situation, with the majority the of people in my class from Sydney." 

17 new cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in NSW on Monday, mostly linked to clusters in the city.

Mr Woseen's boss, Graeme Studdert says he required his apprentice to under go a Covid-19 test, and receive a negative result before he was allowed to return to work this week.

"You know I'm in a high risk area, I'm in my 60's and two of my other men, ones 67 and ones 63, we're all taking medication of some sort, so we're potentially in a high risk area and I just don't want to take the chance."

Owner of Brisan's Motorcycles in Islington, Nick Stevens, has 6 or 7 apprentices currently travelling down to Sydney for their studies, and is also calling for a return to online learning.

He says apprentices shouldn't be sent into high risk areas unless absolutely necessary.

"They have been doing some lessons remotely leading up to now and its unprecedented times, I cant see why they cant continue to do the same until we've got the all clear."

"We're certainly not forcing our apprentices to go to TAFE, we're just going to advise them to contact their teachers, and at this stage make their own decisions in terms of whether they'd like to go."

"But from a business stand point we're not really comfortable with them going to Sydney and potentially coming back and infecting other staff."

TAFE NSW is yet to provide a comment.

Image Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

Community Meeting Reveals Details of Sand Mine

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Bobs Farm residents are outraged after a fiery community consultation meeting with developer Tattersall Lander, over a proposal to build a sand mine 15 metres below the water table.

Around 40 people heard company director, Bob Lander reveal key points of the project, which will see 36 hectares of land cleared and result in 180 truck movements a day between the hours of 7am to 6pm. 

There's concern about the effects on threatened species living on the land, with a 24.5-hectare void to be left after extraction takes place. 

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington has vowed to oppose the venture and says residents at the meeting were appalled by what they heard. 

"Initially there was a sense of disbelief in the room at the information that was being presented," she explained, "but then it became betrayal - how could anyone think it's okay to dig up ancient sand dunes to 15 metres below the water table and then leave a 24-hectare void?" 

The MP is concerned trucks will be passing the 100-year-old Bobs Farm Public school every three minutes, posing air quality hazards and driving families away from the area. 

"This proposal is an abomination. Alongside my community, I will be opposing this venture every step of the way." 

Tattersall Lander intends to file final submissions to the Department of Planning by Christmas, at which point the full details will go live on the Department's website. 

It's understood following approval, the sand mine could be up and running in three years. 

Image: mprnews.org