Environmental Vandalism At Aberglasslyn Costs Ratepayers $10,000

 BY IAN CROUCH

Maitland Council has taken action to restore and clean up a bushland area at Aberglasslyn which has been the subject of vandalism.

Council officers discovered a number of felled trees and ringbarked trees as well as constructed trails, jumps, structures and rubbish on land adjacent to Weblands Street.

Council says the broken stumps, loose sheet metal structures and constructed obstacles posed a significant danger to the community, while clearing of the rare Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest puts the trees at risk of extinction.

Council says the estimated cost to ratepayers of the clean-up was $10,000.

 

Maitland Council acts of vandalism at Aberglasslyn. Picture: Maitland City Coucnil

Headstones Vandalised in Suspected Hate Crime

BY OLIVIA DILLON 

Investigators are appealing for information after 10 headstones were vandalised in Maitland last week, in a suspected hate crime.

Port Stephens-Hunter Police officers were called to a cemetery on Louth Park Road in South Maitland last Tuesday 31st of January, and found 10 headstones had been spray-painted with a Nazi symbol.

A crime scene was established and a number of seized items will be forensically examined.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

BREAKING! Two Teens Arrested Over Alleged Vandalism Spree At Irrawang High School

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police say an estimated $30,000 worth of damage has been caused during a break-in at Irrawang High School overnight.

It's alleged two boys broke into the school on Mount Hall Road at Raymond Terrace sometime after midnight and ransacked classrooms. splashed paint on walls, smashed windows and damaged classroom doors.

A security guard responded to an alarm at the school and reported hearing the boy's voices to police.

The pair, aged 15 and 16 from Raymond Terrace were subsequently arrested and are currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Police appeal after vandalism ruins Wallsend parks

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A pair of Wallsend parks have been vandalised to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, according to Newcastle Council.

The courts at Wallsend Active Hub will need repairs after a vandal incident earlier this week, just days after the playground at Brickworks Park was damaged and melted by a fire.

It's expected the playground will be replaced in the new year.

Police are calling on anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Reward to catch Christmas grinch after Maitland vandalism spree

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Maitland residents have woken up to disappointing scenes on the city's levee on Monday morning, after a vandal took aim at Christmas decorations overnight.

A nutcracker statue and a pair of planters have been damaged in the spree.

A reward of up to $3,000 is up for grabs for information which helps lead to a conviction.

Paterson Candidate Calls for an End to Campaign Slurs

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Liberal candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell is calling for an end to "grubby gutter politics", after being targeted by vandals and online trolls over her appearance. 

Ms Vitnell has faced a barrage of sexual slurs throughout her campaign. When speaking to The Daily Telegraph, she said she has been repeatedly attacked on Facebook because of her looks, with some users employing inappropriate symbols to depict her face and body. 

She also said she has had to reprint more than 800 campaign posters since the announcement of the election, and lost more than 100 corflute signs in one evening to vandals in what she called a "coordinated attack" against her. Some signs were torn down and others were graffitied with sexual imagery. 

One of Ms Vitnell's largest campaign signs in the region had to be reinforced with screws after being stolen six times, but was then defaced by vandals who spay-painted male genitalia next to her face. 

Ms Vitnell expressed her disdain for the attacks, and claims they escalated significantly in the lead-up to the opening of pre-poll voting today. 

"I certainly don't think this happens to male candidates in marginal seats. This is a coordinated attack by those opposite to disparage me based on how I look and attack my character, because in tight contest they don't have anything else left to do other than attack people with disparaging sexual remarks and try to discredit them," she said. 

Her call to end the abuse also stems from fears the barrage of slander will deter women from entering politics in the future. 

"Grubby politics need to be a thing of the past. We need more women in our parliament. We need more women to put their hand up and represent their community," Ms Vitnell said. 

"Our Parliament needs to be representative of our country. 51% of our population are women and they need to be encouraged to put their hand up, not deterred, because if they do, they'll face sexist sledges and remarks." 

In response, Paterson MP Meryl Swanson has come out in support of Ms Vitnell, describing the situation as appalling. 

"I am sorry you have been targeted in such a way. I know how you feel and I find it appalling. My team and I delete such comments as soon as we are aware of them, and expect all candidates to do the same. In my experience it is usually not 'those opposite' who make such comments but people who are just vile in nature."

Ms Vitnell said the attacks would not deter her from her campaign in the lead-up to the election. 

"All it does for me is harden my resolve that I want to fight for this community. It encourages me to keep on going."

Image: Brooke Vitnell's Facebook Page

Novocastrian Park At New Lambton Targeted By Vandals

BY IAN CROUCH

An independent candidate for Newcastle Council is vowing to fence Novacastrian Park at New Lambton following a vandalism attack at the weekend.

Hoons ploughed up the turf on Friday night, making the surface unplayable for the hundreds of children from New Lambton Football Club.

Ward 3 candidate, Dave Wild says the Orchardtown Road ground is regularly targeted by vandals and he'll be making it one of his top priorities if elected in September.

He says fencing is the only way to stop people driving across the field.

Some of the damage caused to Novocastrian Park at the weekend Picture: Facebook

Vandals Set Fire to Car in Middle of South Wallsend Oval

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Vandals have overnight set fire to a car in the middle of the South Wallsend Junior Soccer Club oval. 

Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery is urging anyone who saw something or has any information about the incident to contact her office or Newcastle Police. 

"Another senseless act of vandalism has ruined yet another sporting facility," Ms Hornery said in social media post.

"Overnight, some moron has decided that the middle of the South Wallsend Junior Soccer Club oval would be the best place to set fire to a car."

"Let's hope that Newcastle City Police District and City of Newcastle can get this mess cleaned up quickly so the kids can get on the field this weekend."

Man Charged Over Vandalism Of Several Train Stations Across Hunter and Sydney

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man is due to face court on Wednesday, charged over several acts of vandalism at train stations across the Hunter, Sydney, and Central Coast transport networks.

Following inquiries, officers from the Police Transport Command executed a search warrant at a home in Blue Haven, Central Coast about 10am on Tuesday.

During the search, investigators located sketch pads, spray paint, a mobile phone, three cannabis plants in a hydroponic setup and 16g of dried cannabis. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.

A short time later, a 19-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Wyong Police Station.

He was charged with 21 offences, including:

• seven counts of malicious damage,
• cultivate prohibited plant,
• possess prohibited drug,
• five counts of face blackened/disguised with intent to commit indictable offence, and
• seven counts of enter/remain on running lines.

Police will allege in court that the man vandalised trains and infrastructure at railway stations in Kingsgrove, Maitland, Campbelltown, Hamilton, Lidcombe, Telarah and Gosford.

It will also be alleged the man then uploaded these acts of vandalism to social media.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Wyong Local Court on Wednesday. 

A 35-year-old Newtown man was also charged earlier in July following reports railway infrastructure and trains had been vandalised with graffiti across  Sydney and the Central Coast transport network.

He remains before the courts.

Investigations are continuing.

BREAKING! Residents Evacuated At Kurri Kurri Due To Gas Leak

BY IAN CROUCH

A gas leak has forced the evacuation of two homes at Kurri Kurri this morning.

Firefighters were called to Hampden Street just after 2.30am on Wednesday, where there was a strong smell of gas coming from one of the homes.

Police say it appears someone has deliberately damaged the pipe work next to a gas meter attached to a house.

A gas company crew was called and the damage repaired, with the residents allow to return to the homes at about 3.30am.

Hunter Valley Police Reappeal For Information On Cemetery Vandalism

BY LILLY HAINES

Police are re-appealing for information as they continue to investigate damage to Sedgefield Cemetery just outside of Singleton.

The incident occurred on Friday 31 May when 36 gravestones were damaged having been pushed over with a number of those smashed.

Police have been informed that a vehicle was seen parked at the site between 7pm and 7:15pm on the night when unknown persons vandalised the headstones.

Hunter Valley Police District Commander, Superintendent Chad Gillies says he hopes anyone with information will come forward to help police find the perpetrators responsible.

"We want to find answers for the families affected by this, they have already experienced immeasurable grief, and this sort of incident stirs up those emotions all over again.

"Someone knows something, and we urge anyone with information to speak up," Superintendent Gillies said.

Hunter Valley Detectives are continuing to investigate amid community distress following the incident.

Anyone who has witnessed suspicious behavior in the area or has any information related to the incident is urged to contact Singleton Police Station on 02 6578 7499 or Crime Stoppers on          1800 333 000.

Damage to gravestones at Sedgefield Cemetery near SinglImage: The Singleton Argus 

Graves Vandalised at Sedgefield Cemetery

BY HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

Police are launching an investigation into the extensive vandalism that occurred at Sedgefield Cemetery on Friday night where upwards of thirty-five graves were destroyed. 

Witnesses said they saw a vehicle parked at the cemetery at around seven o'clock the night of the incident.

Lord Mayor of Singleton Sue Moore has condemned the incident, expressing her disgust and disappointment in the perpetrators. 

"This is not an attack on a public facility or asset; this is an attack on the heart of our community, the people laid to rest in Singleton who are now part of the fabric of our town, and those who love them and remember them." says the Mayor, "I hope the perpetrators are found and held accountable for the damage, and most importantly the distress they have caused."

Police are urging anyone with information or who happened to witness any suspicious activity around Sedgefield Cemetery to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

Photos belonging to Hunter Valley Police District

Vandals target Supercars construction sites

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

As the Coates Hire Newcastle 500 Supercars event draws nearer, it's clear that some Novocastrians are still unsupportive.

Vandals have tagged the words 'liars,' 'shame' and 'spin' on signs explaining the purpose of construction works taking place around the East End.

Images of the vandalism circulated on social media yesterday, as race preparation continues.

This week, crews will work on driveway upgrades on Watt Street and further works on Nobby's Beach Carpark.

The past few days have seen the relocation of utilities, the laying of stormwater pipes and water main installation throughout the East End, with crews working between 7am and 5pm on weekdays.

Maria Charlton, an East End resident and business owner, has expressed her frustration with the disruptions caused over the past few months.

"It's been disruptive. It's been noisy. The sad part about it is it's affecting a lot of businesses- they've gone into a downslide...These were businesses that were very viable; small businesses," she said, "But because of the traffic chaos and the infrastructure work, they've gone into decline and they're desperate."

Ms Charlton believes the event should never have been planned to take place on Newcastle's streets. "I mean really, I don't deny people will want to watch this event, but take it to a race track and stop imposing on business.

"If residents or whoever did [the vandalism], are saying things, they're saying it out of utter desperation. They're seeing their environment being totally invaded for a three-day event."

"Lies"- Vandals target signage opposite Nobby's carpark. Image source: The Herald.