Woman Arrested Over Salamander Bay Stabbing Attack

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A woman has been arrested following an alleged stabbing attack at Salamander Bay which left multiple people with minor injuries.

Police say the 26-year-old was armed with a knife as she walked along Soldier's Point Road with her 5-year-old daughter at about 5:40 on Tuesday evening.

The woman then climbed into the backseat of an occupied car stopped near the intersection of Scott Circuit.

It's alleged the woman then stabbed a man inside the car with a knife covered by a protective sheath, causing minor lacerations to his shoulder.

The man's 15-year-old daughter was also in the car but escaped unharmed.

Following this, the alleged stabber got out of the car and continued walking with her child towards the shopping precinct where they entered a supermarket.

Some staff and customers ran outside, locked the doors and called the police.

While locked inside the supermarket, it's alleged the woman continued to attack customers with the still sheath-covered knife, causing minor injuries to a number of people before turning on her young daughter.

Police arrested the woman without incident and escorted her to Mater Hospital for treatment for lacerations to her fingers and head.

She will undergo a mental health assessment.

Her daughter has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital with lacerations to her scalp, which police say are non-life-threatening.

Three men were treated for superficial injuries at a local clinic.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.

MP Labels Mambo Wetlands Buy-Back Plans "A Flop"

BY JARROD MELMETH

It has been two years since the NSW Government sold the Mambo Wetlands at Salamander Bay and six months since the Premier wrote to Port Stephens Council indicating that the government would explore its options for purchasing the site back.

In her letter, the Premier said the government was looking to purchase the land through the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme which is used to bring coastal lands into public ownership. The Department of Planning administers the scheme, which receives an annual budget allocation of $3 million for strategic acquisitions.

In Parliamentary question time, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington asked the Minister for Planning when the Department will make a determination on the application to repurchase the Mambo Wetlands site at Salamander Bay using the funding from the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme.

Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts responded saying the Department of Planning has offered to purchase the land but "at this point in time the owner of the Mambo Wetlands site has not accepted the offer."

Ms Washington said if the owner is not willing to sell it back, the government must use its powers to compulsorily acquire the land.

"The government could have already acquired the land. The government knew when they sold it off, how precious this land was. Once they did it they said it was a mistake. They are responsible for fixing their mistake and they have the power to do it," Ms Washington said.

In March, the NSW Labor opposition committed to buying back the land if it forms government in the March 2019 state election.

Mambo Wetlands Site at Salamander Bay.
Photo: Port Stephens Examiner.

Salamander Bay land sale put on backburner

BY JARROD MELMETH

Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer has formally withdrawn a notice of motion which sought to sell a parcel of land at 109 Foreshore drive, Salamander Bay.

The decision follows significant community interest where a survey on the plan received 172 responses against and 94 in support. Council also received a 366-signature from the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation group as well as 226 copies of a pro forma letter.

Mayor Palmer put forward the notice of motion at a council meeting last month to sell the parcel of land with proceeds of the sale going towards upgrading the Tomaree Sporting Complex.

In a submission to council Tomaree Residents and Ratepayers Association raised concerns due to the land currently used as a koala corridor from the adjacent Mambo Wetlands as well as being used as a recreational space. The association also believes proceeds from the lands sale "would not contribute a viable amount towards the Tomaree Sporting Complex."

East Ward Councillor John Nell who also put forward a notice of motion to reclassify the land from operational to community still holds concerns for the future of the site.

"The Mayor could raise this issue of the sale again at some point in the future. That is why I'm standing by my notice of motion to reclassify the land as it would inadvertently lock the site up for good.

"I think the community has spoken quite clearly. They do not want the council to sell anymore waterfront land," Cr Nell said.

109 Foreshore Drive highlighted in white.

Petition Launched To Save Koala Population At Mambo Wetlands

BY IAN CROUCH

A petition has been launched calling on the state government to buy back the Mambo Wetlands at Port Stephens in a bid to save the local Koala population.

The government sold the 6 hectare parcel of land to a property developer last year, leaving residents shocked and dismayed.

Port Stephens Councillor, Jaime Abbott raised the issue with Premier Gladys Berejiklian during her visit to the shire last weekend and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald has previously acknowledged selling the land was a mistake.

Port Stephens Council is considering a development application for the site.

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington is hoping people power will win the day and is aiming to collect 10,000 signatures on the petition so the issue can be debated in state parliament.

Residents Protest Against Sale Of Mambo Wetlands At Salamander Bay Picture: Port Stephens Examiner

No one will ever achieve what I have: Mackenzie on his retirement

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Not two weeks after he pronounced no one is better for the job than he is, Port Stephens Mayor Bruce Mackenzie has now decided to retire.

After 49 years on council, he says the "time is right" and he's leaving the council in a good position to move forward.

"As I drive around Port Stephens no one will ever, ever duplicate the things that I have organised and the investments I've made for Port Stephens rate payers in Salamander, Raymond Terrace and especially Newcastle - take Newcastle, for instance, my investments are bringing in the Council excess of $2.25 million a year," said Bruce Mackenzie.

Image portstephensexaminer.com.au

Next year would have marked 50 years since Bruce was elected into council and he's played a big part on council ever since.

He says no one will ever achieve what he has during his time.

"There's that many councillors running, the people that are thumping their chest and say they're going to do wonders and some of the things they say they're going to do I just sit back and laugh and think mate you're just comedians."

Now Bruce says it's time to spend time with his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He won't be sitting still, he plans to tend to his 10,000 acre cattle property at Gloucester.

If he ever did decide to stand again, Bruce believes there's no doubt in his mind that he would win.

"I can't continue to stand and seek re-election because who's going to go there, I've just got to run my life after all of the service I've given to Port Stephens. And while I've got a lot of knockers, I've got a lot of supporters too."

Teens charged over gang rape

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two teenage boys will face the children's court next week charged over the gang rape of a girl at a Salamander Bay house party in 2015.

On Tuesday 22nd December 2015, the then 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by two teens, then aged 15 and 16 years old on the kitchen floor of a house before she passed out.

The incident was reported to Port Stephens police and following extensive investigations, the two boys were arrested yesterday.

They were taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and both charged with aggravated sexual assault in company.