Beaumont St CCTV Funding Missed Due To Council Delays

BY NICHOLAS KING

Months of delays and postponing have resulted in the City of Newcastle (CN) missing a vital opportunity to secure funding for the installation of nine CCTV cameras along Beaumont Street.

The NSW Government's Safer Cities grant program opened for applications on January 30 to provide funding to local councils for projects intended to improve public safety, including measures like CCTV in public spaces.

Despite community calls for the surveillance for more than a year, CN failed to endorse the project in time to submit an application.

A formal motion to support a trial for CCTV was tabled for the council's meeting in February, but the vote was repeatedly pushed back to April.

Applications for the grant closed on March 6.

CN submitted an application to the Active Regional Communities Grant program instead, which was not successful. 

Meanwhile, Central Coast Council received $2 million under the Safer Cities program for a similar CCTV rollout. 

Newcastle Liberal Councillor Jenny Barrie has criticised the state government's denial of their application, questioning why the Central Coast Council received the funding. 

However, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp shut down Cr Barrie's comments.

"It [CN's application] probably didn't fit the criteria as well as it would have for the Safer Cities grant," he said. 

"Council had to be dragged kicking and screaming to act on CCTV. 

"They said they would debate it at their first meeting of 2026, then it became the first quarter, then it became the second quarter.

“If we had a cooperative council, including Jenny Barrie, from day dot, we could have CCTV installed already.”

In response to Mr Crakanthorp's comments, CN councillor Callum Pull said the MP is misleading the public.

"When Tim Crakanthorp was a Councillor he not only opposed the installation of CCTV but he and his Labor colleagues made it the formal position of the Council to not support council-run CCTV," said Cr Pull.

"Not only did he close the door but locked it behind him. 

"It was not until 2026 that thanks to the efforts of Councillor Barrie the formal position of Council changed. 

"Council did in fact apply for the grant Mr Crakanthorp refers to and was once again knocked back. 

"The BIA and Council have been identifying strategies to tackle Crime in Beaumont Street through initiatives like the Hamilton Safety Audit, but his Government have been either unsupportive or failed to provide the resources needed to implement them.

"What residents can take away from this is that when Tim Crakanthorp says the NSW Government will fund something, what he really means is that we can send in an application to a grants’ program and we might or might not get it. 

"At no point over the past few months has Tim ever said that there is an asterisk beside the Government’s support for the installation of CCTV. 

"This is yet another lame attempt from Tim Crakanthorp to deflect blame."

State Government Denies Funding For Beaumont St CCTV

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Newcastle Liberal councillor Jenny Barrie is slamming the state government's refusal to provide funding for a proposed CCTV trial on Beaumont Street. 

As anti-social behaviour along the Hamilton strip continues to rise, Cr Barrie and the Hamilton Business Improvement Association (BIA) are calling for more protection measures to be put in place. 

In April, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp tabled a petition with more than 1000 signatures to Newcastle deputy lord mayor Charlotte McCabe advocating for the installation, days after the release of the Hamilton Community Safety Audit. 

The audit outlined several recommendations to help reduce anti-social behaviour along Beaumont Street, including the installation of CCTV surveillance at nine different locations. 

Newcastle council and the Hamilton BIA agreed to fund the proposal, as long as the state government covered half. 

The Hamilton BIA applied for $100,000 in state funding for the project to the Active Regional Communities package, which has since been denied. 

Now, Cr Barrie said the state government is kicking it down the road as an election promise. 

"I just don't think that's good enough," she said. 

"What happens if they can't get enough money for Newcastle in the election commitments, and if they do get approved it will be next June before the money comes through and then installed by at least August.

"We've been talking about this for two years." 

However, Mr Crakanthorp said he's still committed to the project, despite the setback. 

"I want to see CCTV on Beaumont St delivered as soon as possible," he said. 

"I'd see this more as a speed hump than a roadblock. 

"I'll continue to advocate for that money."

On Wednesday morning, Cr Barrie met with residents, businesses and the Hamilton Community Safety Committee to discuss their next possible options. 

State In Support Of Locking In Hamilton CCTV Trial

 BY OLI GOELDNER 

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is confident the state could fund the proposed CCTV trial of Beaumont Street. 

On Tuesday, Newcastle councillors voted in support of the trial, after months of deliberation. 

They endorsed a run of up to three years within a defined location on Beaumont Street at Hamilton, in a bid to combat a recent spike in anti-social behaviour. 

"I'm so relieved and happy for the community," said Councillor Jenny Barrie. 

"We've been working towards this for six months since we stated the Hamilton Community Safety Committee after a whole year of talks on CCTV.

"The community deserves to have such a basic tool that's used right across the state and Australia in local government areas." 

However, the trial is conditional on the state government contributing no less than 50 per cent of the total cost. 

Council reports indicate the total bill is estimated at $225,000, including upfront and monthly costs associated with installing and maintaining the required infrastructure. 

Mr Crakanthorp has been a long-time supporter of the motion, recently presenting a 1000 signature petition to state parliament endorsing the trial.

Today, he announced he has engaged in talks with Police Minister Yasmin Catley over the ruling. 

"I've had a number of discussions with Minister Catley's office about it," he said. 

"We're confident that we can come up with half of that." 

A formal endorsement is yet to be issued. 

Appeal for information following a suspicious house fire at Islington

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Detectives have released CCTV footage following a suspicious house fire at Islington earlier this year.

About 11.20am on Monday 25 March 2024, emergency services were called to a home on Norfolk Avenue, Islington, with reports of a fire.

Fire and Rescue crews extinguished the blaze; however, parts of the home sustained significant damage.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced inquiries into the circumstance surrounding the blaze under Strike Force Rhodochrosite.

As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage of two men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The first man is described as being about 170-180cm tall, of solid build and with dark hair.

He is pictured wearing an orange hi-vis shirt, dark shorts, tan work boots and sunglasses.

The second man is described as being about 180-185cm tall, of muscular build and with black hair. 

He is pictured wearing a yellow hi-vis shirt, dark shorts, dark shoes and sunglasses.

 

 

Driver Of Allegedly Stolen Vehicle in Muswellbrook Still On The Run

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police are on the hunt for the driver of an allegedly stolen car which led officers on a pursuit though Muswellbrook this morning. 

Officers initiated the pursuit on Maitland Street at around 4 O'CLOCK this morning when they spotted a vehicle believed to have been stolen. 

Police pursued the car for a short time around the Muswellbrook township before losing sight of the vehicle. 

They're now reviewing CCTV footage from around the area as investigations continue. 

Break-And-Enters At Thornton And Edgeworth Could Be Linked, Police Say

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police have released CCTV footage of a man as investigations continue into two alleged break and enters in the Hunter Region. 

Officers allege a man broke into a supermarket on the corner of Taylor Avenue and Thomas Coke at Thornton at about 2:30am on Monday the 5th of June and stole a cash box. 

A second cash box was allegedly stolen from a supermarket at the intersection of Main Road and Callan Street at Edgeworth on Wednesday the 14th of June. 

 

Police believe the two incidents may be linked and have released footage of a man they believe will be able to assist with enquiries. 

He's being described as Caucasian in appearance and of a medium build. 

He is shown wearing a white face mask, a black and white hooded jumper with writing down both sides, gloves, grey shorts and white sneakers.

CCTV image revealed in Gateshead shooting investigation

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Police are appealing to the public for assistance, after revealing new vision of a man who could have information about a shooting at Gateshead last month.

Around 4.05am on Thursday 18 May 2023, emergency services were called to a home on Flame Street, after reports shots had been fired and a man was injured.

Officers attended alongside paramedics and found a 41-year-old man suffering a gunshot wound to his leg.

Police have been told the man and his family were asleep at the home when they were woken by two loud noises. 

He was injured after a projectile entered the front window.

The man was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital for further treatment. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Following inquiries, investigators have released a CCTV image of a man they believe can assist with their inquiries.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, with a slim build. He ca be seen wearing a dark hooded jumper, light pants, and dark shoes.

Police are also seeking to identify four males seen walking along Flame Street a short time before the incident.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area between 3.30am and 4.30am on Thursday 18 May 2023 is also urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

All information is treated in strict confidence.