Pair Extradited to Hunter Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man and woman have been extradited from Queensland over the alleged historical sexual abuse of a child in the Hunter.

In November 2016, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad detectives began investigating reports a young girl had been sexually abused by a man and woman known to her.

After almost three years of investigations, the 59-year-old man and 36-year-old woman were arrested at North Lakes, near Brisbane, on Thursday before being escorted to New South Wales where they briefly faced Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday.

The pair is accused of sexually abusing a young girl, aged between 9 and 10 at the time, on several occasions.

It's also alleged the man abused the girl again fourteen months later in January 2016.

The pair are due to face court again on Tuesday.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page.

Call for Councillors to Step Back from Controversial Foreshore Plan

BY KEELY JOHNSON AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser is calling on her fellow councillors to consider postponing work on a controversial planning proposal for Toronto Foreshore.

Plans to construct a six-storey development at the Bath Street site have received a mixed community response since it was first proposed, with a large number of residents believing the land should stay open to the public.

Cr Fraser will ask councillors at Monday night's council meeting to stop work on the plan, saying the city's economic situation has changed since the development was first proposed almost two years ago.

"At the time we had a slower economy and there wasn't a lot of investment," said Cr Fraser.

"We have a lot of investment now in Lake Macquarie, we saw a billion dollars worth of investment over the last twelve months, we've just had the Pasminco announcement with the development there, and also out at Morisset,"

 "I think its time to reflect, take a step back and listen to the community."

Suzanne Pritchard from the Toronto Foreshore Protection Group said the Mayor's decision to stop further plans and re-evaluate the development is exactly what the group have been waiting for.

"The development was going to set a really dangerous precedent for multi-storey development, not only on Toronto's foreshore but all around the lake," said Ms Pritchard.

"We are hoping to see a foreshore park for all of the community to enjoy, not just a select few."

Councillor Jason Pauling said he was flabbergasted and felt "betrayed" by the mayor's decision, having worked together on the project for over 12 months.

"The debate tonight will be fierce and emotive because there are lots of us that still believe in the dream," said Cr Pauling.

"I agree with the mayor that the process has gone off the rails to a degree, I agree with the mayor that the timeframe blowout is hugely frustrating, but I don't agree that we should turn our backs on this opportunity."

Cr Pauling said the site has been in limbo since the mid-1980s and has been neglected for decades.

"There is an opportunity right now, albeit with a longer timeframe than we initially intended, to fix that and turn it into the showpiece for Lake Macquarie and I'm not prepared to put that on ice."

Council staff have designed a model version of the proposed development. Image: Jason Pauling

Toronto foreshore development a boost for economic tourism: Mayor

BY JARROD MELMETH

A prime piece of waterfront land at Toronto could soon be the home of a commercial, tourism and residential hub after Lake Macquarie Council voted to prepare a development application at Monday nights meeting.

No confirmed details are available yet, but the development is believed to be as high as four to six storeys which, exceeds the two storey limit under the current local environment plan.

The land has been earmarked for decades with council purchasing property along Bath Street since the 1990's, for what Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser says is for economic tourism.

"Last night it was council taking the next step and deciding to do a feasibility report. We have just recently spent $4 million on the streetscape in Toronto. A number of our town centres have not reached their potential and Toronto is one of them that needs an economic boost.

"We can see that people want to visit Toronto but we do not have enough accommodation for those people and this is a perfect opportunity to progress through the plans to provide that very necessary target for visitor tourism," Ms Fraser said.

The Coal Point Progress Association said in a statement "the issues around lack of community space, growing population, lack of public awareness and protection of the foreshore received little comment from the councillors, who appeared focused on the tourist population and not residents."

The vacant land between Bath Street and Victory Parade which could soon
be the home of the proposed development. Photo: Google Maps.

Man Charged over Indecent Act in Front of 14-year-old Girls

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court today charged over allegedly committing an indecent act in front of two teenage girls in Edgeworth.

Police say two 14-year-old girls were walking along Main Road Edgeworth at about 8:30pm on Monday night (January 1, 2018) when a man allegedly approached them before committing an indecent act.

The girls ran away and told a family member who reported the incident with police.

Following inquiries, officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home in Edgeworth where they arrested a 48-year-old man and took him to Toronto Police Station.

He was charged with two counts of committing an aggravated act of indecency and refused bail.

Newcastle Men Face A Life Sentence Over Massive Cocaine Haul

BY IAN CROUCH

Three Newcastle men accused of trying to import 700 kilograms of cocaine from Tahiti to Australia are facing the prospect of life behind bars.

Musicians Craig Lemke and Kent Jackson along with another man, Dennis Bath are facing drug importation charges over the $245 million haul which was found on a yacht intercepted near Toronto on Wednesday.

It's been revealed Lemke, who allegedly sailed the catamaran from Tahiti, had no idea he was being tracked all the way.

Australian Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner, James Watson says authorities are always on the lookout for drug smugglers.

"It doesn't matter whether it's one gram or a hundred kilograms or 700 kilograms. Our officers are absolutely determined to work with all of our partners, both onshore and offshore, to detect and disrupt these kind of importations from occurring," he said.

Dennis Bath Was Allegedly On Board The Catamaran When It Was Intercepted On Lake Macquarie

UPDATE $245 Million Cocaine Haul Stopped in Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

A multi-agency investigation into international drug trafficking by sea has uncovered 700kg of cocaine in a yacht at Lake Macquarie.

Investigations started in August by officers from NSW Police, the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to investigate the importation of cocaine by private vessels.

The vessel travelling from the South Pacific had been tracked by the Australian Border Force, the National Gendarmeie, Tahiti as well as NSW Police's Marine Area Command and PolAir.

At about 3pm yesterday afternoon the vessel was intercepted at Toronto.

A 68-year-old man was arrested on board the vessel, a 47-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Warners Bay and a 63-year-old man was arrested at a home in Islington - all three were charged with import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and formally refused bail in Newcastle Local Court this morning.

They will all appear back in the same court on January 30.

Mulitple search warrants were carried out across Lake Macquarie as well.

The yacht is still being examined and dismantled at Toronto this afternoon by specialist forensic officers.

The estimated street value of the haul is $245 million.

700kg of cocaine that was found in the hull of the yacht. Image supplied.

Officers dismantling the yacht. Image supplied.

EARLIER:

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Detectives and forensic officers are working to get a massive haul of cocaine off a yacht in Lake Macquarie.

At least half a tonne of cocaine bound for Australia from Tahiti was intercepted on a yacht at Toronto yesterday.

A multi-agency investigation comprising officers from the NSW Police Force, Federal Police, the Organised Crime Squad, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Border Force began in August, targeting the importation of cocaine by private vessels.

As a result of inquiries, officers commenced a joint resolution operation in Lake Macquarie on Wednesday, intercepting a yacht at Toronto.

It's alleged the massive drug haul was found concealed in the hull of the vessel.

The drugs have an estimated street value of at least $107 million.

Three men, a 47, 63 and a 68-year-old were arrested and charged over the alleged importation - they've been formally refused bail in Newcastle Local Court today.

The Yacht Which Police Alleged Was Being Used To Import To Import Cocaine To Australia Image supplied

Massive Cocaine Haul Found On Yacht In Lake Mcquarie

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Detectives and forensic officers are working to get a massive haul of cocaine off a yacht in Lake Macquarie.

At least half a tonne of cocaine bound for Australia from Tahiti was intercepted on a yacht at Toronto yesterday.

A multi-agency investigation comprising officers from the NSW Police Force, Federal Police, the Organised Crime Squad, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Border Force began in August, targeting the importation of cocaine by private vessels.

As a result of inquiries, officers commenced a joint resolution operation in Lake Macquarie on Wednesday, intercepting a yacht at Toronto.

It's alleged the massive drug haul was found concealed in the hull of the vessel.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $245 million.

Three men, a 47, 63 and a 68-year-old were arrested and charged over the alleged importation - they've been formally refused bail in Newcastle Local Court today.

The Yacht Which Police Alleged Was Being Used To Import To Import Cocaine To Australia

 Picture: Supplied

One Of Three People Arrested Accused Of Importing Half A Tonne Of Cocaine Picture: Supplied

Mystery of the 12 year old Air Rifle

BY TYLER FARDELL


You often hear heartwarming tales of pets reuniting with their owners years after they went missing, but what about air rifles?

12 years after an air rifle from Martinsville in Lake Macquarie was reported stolen, its turned up in Toronto.

Police allegedly found the gun yesterday after pulling over a 28 year old man along Awaba road, after receiving a tip-off the man had been involved in a domestic incident nearby.

Officers then searched the vehicle where they allegedly found the air rifle.

The man was then arrested and charged with possession of an unregistered firearm at Toronto police station.

He will face Toronto local court on November 21st.

Source: Newcastle Herald

Rethinking Parking Strategies

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Following complaints from disgruntled locals, Lake Macquarie council are looking at updating their parking strategies to cope with increasing congestion. Increasingly, commuters and shoppers are finding it harder and harder to find adequate parking in the town centres.

Mayor Kay Fraser says due to the popularity of town centres like Charlestown, Warners Bay, Toronto or Glendale "you'll find it can be difficult to get a park at times. We've had complaints from residents that many streets in Charlestown are being parked out".

"We need to have a strategy in place for how we're going to deal with parking. In Lake Macquarie, we do love our cars... so it's sort of changing the mentality but it's also providing options."

More than 1400 comments have been received so far, which has given council plenty of alternatives to explore. While paid parking is the last thing anyone wants, it's nevertheless an option that's being considered.

Other measures up for consideration include timed parking, more rangers, 'smart technology' to make things easier for drivers and rangers, as well as lobbying the state government for improved public transport systems.

"We don't have great transport out here, and that's one of the factors," says Cr Fraser. "I'll be lobbying state government to see what we can do about that. We need to have proper public transport so people do have that option."

While there's a need for "efficient and effective" public transport, one of the simpler options is also one of the easiest. "We want to make our town centres walkable and liveable, so people can enjoy their walk to the shops or to their favourite café or restaurant."

The draft strategy is currently available online, at Lake Macquarie libraries, and at council's customer service centre.

Mayor Kay Fraser

Man Arrested After Police Pursuit From Lake Macquarie To Port Stephens

BY IAN CROUCH

A Jesmond man is due to front court today accused of leading police on a lengthy pursuit from Lake Macquarie to Port Stephens.

Officers attempted to stop a Hyndai Excel for a random breath test on Main Road at Toronto at about 10.00pm on Sunday, but the 29-year-old driver refused to stop.

It's alleged he led officers on a pursuit through several Newcastle suburbs before road spikes were deployed on Medowie Road at Medowie 49 minutes later.

He's been charged with failing to stop for a random breath test and disqualified driving.

It's also alleged he returned a positive roadside test for methylamphetamine .

Senior Police have defended continuing the pursuit for almost an hour saying members of the public were never at risk because speeds reached during the chase were not excessive and there was very little traffic on the road.

Man To Front Court After Violent Confrontation With Police At Toronto

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court accused of assaulting police at Toronto last night.

A male and two female police officers noticed a Toyota Kluger run a red light on The Boulevard at about 8.00pm and attempted to stop the car before it pulled into a nearby Caltex Service Station.

When they went to speak to the driver they noticed alcohol on his breath but they say he refused a breath test and tried to walk away.

However, when they tried to restrain him it's alleged he started throwing punches and pinned the male officer to the ground.

A female probationary constable used capsicum spray to subdue the man but it took a second crew to restrain him

The 48-year-old has been charged with refusing to submit to a breath test and breath analysis, resist officer in execution of duty, assault police and resist arrest and is due to face Toronto Court on the 3rd of October.

His licence has also been suspended.

Police say a 10-year-old boy was also in the car.

The male police officer suffered only minor injuries in the incident.

Fire at Teralba Caravan Park

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An investigation is underway into what could have caused a caravan at Teralba Caravan park to go up in flames earlier today.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews from Teralba, Toronto and Cardiff were called to the caravan park at around 8am this morning where they found a caravan engulfed by flames.

It took crews 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

No one was injured but the caravan was totally destroyed and an adjacent caravan was also damaged.

Charges laid after 19-year-old fatally killed on the Central Coast

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The three people arrested yesterday at West Wallsend and Wyee in relation to the alleged shooting of a 19-year-old man on the Central Coast have now been charged.

The 48-year-old man arrested on George Booth Drive at Sea Hampton during a car stop was taken to Toronto Police Station and has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Meanwhile the two others a 24-year-old and a 17-year-old have also been charged, thought to allegedly be his children, the pair have both been charged with murder along with other offences.

All three will face court today.

It comes after emergency services were called to Warner Avenue in Wyong following reports of shoots being fired at 12:30pm on Monday.

A 19-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, but died at the scene. Another man, aged 28, was treated for a grazes to his hand and shoulder at the scene.

BREAKING! Two Horses Killed In Road Accident At Toronto

BY IAN CROUCH

Two horses have been tragically killed and another has been injured in a road accident at Toronto overnight.

At about 7.00pm, three horses escaped from a property on Wangi Road and were running along the road when two of them were hit by a Toyota Rav Four.

They died at the scene before police arrived.

A third horse was hit by a second car moments later but survived and is being treated for non life-threatening injuries.

An 83-year-old man driving the Toyota suffered minor cuts to his hands and arms, however the vehicle was badly damaged.

The man's wife, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was not injured.

Police will speak to the owner of the horses and may consider laying charges.

Kilpatrick Court to open tomorrow

BY RACHEL STORER

Kilpatrick Court, Toronto. Image: anglicancare.com.au

Kilpatrick Court will officially open tomorrow in Toronto and is a proud achievement of Anglican Care.

The $39 million aged care home will offer state-of-the-art facilities for 147 residents, providing around the clock care and an environment focused on happiness and wellbeing.

Anglican Care CEO, Colin Osborne believes Kilpatrick Court will contribute to the ageing population of Lake Macquarie and says "facilities like this are extremely important at the current time to meet the consumer market for aged care."

"Kilpatrick Court represents a contemporary standard in the provision of accommodation for senior people in the community," he said.

Mr Osborne also says that Lake Macquarie is the "spiritual home of Anglican Care". The organisation's first facility was established in the area over 60 years ago and they continue to play an integral role in the community of Western Lake Macquarie.

New Milestone for Cary Street Upgrades

BY TANYA DU PREEZ

Traffic lights were switched on last night at the intersection of Cary Street, Donnelly Avenue and James Street.

This marks a new milestone for the road's upgrades, which are expected to improve safety and congestion within peak traffic times.

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper says he is very pleased with the progress of the project.

"It's a major step forward and is going to make this stretch of Cary Street much safer than it was before," he says.

Additional upgrade work will continue, but the project is expected to be completed before the end of September.

Terrified Teenagers Confront Intruder At Toronto Home

BY IAN CROUCH

Two teenagers have endured a frightening ordeal after a stranger tried to break into their Toronto home with an axe.

Police were called to the Anzac Parade home yesterday afternoon after the 19-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy reported the man was allegedly smashing his way through their back door.

Officers were quickly on scene and arrested the 31-year-old at the front of the property.


He's been charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, destroy/damage property, and larceny.

He's been refused bail to front Newcastle Local Court today.

The teenagers weren't hurt during the incident and police say they didn't know the man.