Appeal to Locate Teen Missing from Newcastle

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A Newcastle family is appealing for help to find their teenager daughter missing since Wednesday, September 11.

15-year-old Trinity Thompson was last seen at her family's Cooks Hill home.

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, of a slim build, around 150cm tall with braces, a nose piercing, and long hair which is dark at the roots and light on the ends.

Appealing for help on social media, Trinity's father says it's unlike his daughter to disappear like this.

The teen is known to have a large network of friends in the Kotara, Hamilton South, Adamstown and New Lambton areas.

Anyone who sees Trinity is urged to contact Newcastle Police.

Trinity Thompson

Risky Trees Get The Chop At Cooks Hill

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Council says three trees in Bruce Street at Cooks Hill pose an unacceptable risk of falling during storms.

Part of the street will be closed on Tuesday as workers set about removing the two Hills Figs and Brush Box.

The large roots of the trees had to be cut during recent repairs to underground infrastructure, making them unsafe.

Council will look at planting suitable replacements as part of future plans for the street.

A Worker Cuts Down One of Eleven Fig Trees In Swan Street Cooks Hill In August Picture: theherald.com.au

Fig trees well and truly on the chopping block

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Workers from Newcastle Council will be firing up their chainsaws today in Cooks Hill.

Fig trees in Swan Street, Cooks Hill, are on the chopping block with 11 of the 24 getting the chop this week.

Interim General Manager Jeremy Bath said the council's hand has been forced on the issue with council's insurer threatening to revoke its public liability insurance across the city if the trees weren't removed.

"Consequently council's insurer has come to the conclusion that it is no longer willing to offer council public liability insurance unless we do something about the figs. Now we've looked at what we can do and unfortunately all that can be done in terms of making the street safe is to remove them so that's what council will be doing over the next three days," said Jeremy Bath.

Council did discuss other options including simply trimming back the roots of the enormous trees, but after consulting with residents the safest option was to have the entirety of the trees removed.

The trees will eventually be replaced with less invasive species.

"I'm very happy to say that the residents have made the decision to continue with trees on their street and in time there will be a very beautiful tree canopy once again in Swan Street Cooks Hill, just one that will be far more appropriate size and design so the roots aren't causing enormous damage to the properties as well as failing with increasing regularity," said Jeremy Bath.

Image saveourfigs.wordpress.com

A report has found we'd rather renovate than move.

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Rather than move to a bigger house, Hunter residents are choosing to renovate their existing properties according to the latest Housing Industry Association (HIA) report.

The latest report found the region recorded the second largest volume of renovation approvals, totalling more than $63 million dollars, of any area across NSW during 2015/2016.

"Things like interest rates, growth in prices of dwellings in the area, consumer confidence - are they going to be able to get a job in the next coming years to pay off the loan that they may have taken out and of course how easily they can get finances," said HIA Executive Director Craig Jennion.

The appetite for renovations is spurred on by the substantial rise in house prices with residents more willing to renovate and less willing to pack up and move to new home.

Craig Jennion says it's not only looking good for the Hunter in the short term but the long term as well.

"We're expecting here in the Hunter to see continued growth particularly in the renovation market and around that 10 per cent mark which will be fantastic for the local industry and in our new dwelling areas we're still expecting to continue to see considerable growth in the short term until we start to see what happens with interest rates."

Man charged after police pursuit earlier this week

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged after evading police during a pursuit and ramming a police car on Monday night.

Just after 2am on Monday night a Mazda 3 was pursued twice travelling well over the speed limit through New Lambton, Adamstown and Cooks Hill.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle on both occasions but terminated the chase after the Mazda 3 ran a red light.

A short time later at about 2:30am, another police car came across the Mazda 3 in a cul-de-sac in Adamstown. When the driver saw police, the driver reversed into the rear passenger side door of the police car.

The Mazda sped away and was later found abandoned in bushland at Raymond Terrace.

Following police investigations, a 20-year-old man was arrested in Raymond Terrace yesterday and charged with eight offences including police pursuit, drive whilst disqualified use offensive weapon to prevent lawfully detention.

He was refused bail and faces court today.

Funding Boost for Cooks Hill Surf Club

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Cooks Hill Surf Club received a boost in funding this morning when they were presented with a $182, 000 cheque from the State Government.

President, Richard Hermens met with Parliamentary Secretary of the Hunter, Scot MacDonald at the Club this morning to welcome the cheque.

He says he's extremely grateful for the funding boost which will go towards a new extension for the club.

"We're very excited about receiving the funds," he said.

"This grant will enable us to continue with the construction of a new club and will enhance our ability to provide a range of activities to the community."

Beach accessibility will be greatly improved once the building is constructed, as well.

"The new building will include a lift which will allow people with limited mobility access through [sic] the building through to the beach."

According to the President, the Club's current toilet facilities are also in desperate need of renovation.

"The disabled toilets that we had were just modified toilets at the bottom of the basement as were the women's toilets," he said.

"The building was actually built in the thirties and women weren't allowed to be members of surf clubs back in those days so it [funding] was very badly needed."

With a new building, the Club will also have more space to train their members in life saving duties.

Cooks Hill Surf Club [Image: Newcastle Herald]

Pizza Delivery Driver Robbed At Cooks Hill

BY IAN CROUCH

A Pizza delivery driver has been robbed at knifepoint in Newcastle overnight.

He was called to an address in Darby Street, Cooks Hill at about 9.45pm, where he was confronted outside the premises by man wielding a knife who demanded cash and his mobile phone.

Police say the bandit is described as being 175 centimetres tall with a thin build and tanned skin and had his face covered.

Residents Evacuated As Fire Engulfs Cooks Hill Unit

BY IAN CROUCH

A unit block at Cooks Hill had to be evacuated last night after fire tore through one of the apartments.

Fire crews arrived at the Woolstore Apartments in Darby Street just before 9pm to find a 1st floor unit well alight.

Police say the flame from an ethanol burner on an enclosed balcony jumped onto furniture and quickly took hold.

A 45-year-old female occupant was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation and shock.

In all, 52 units had to be evacuated and Darby Street was closed to traffic as firefighters worked to stop the blaze spreading to other units.

Around 30 per cent of the unit suffered fire damage.