UPDATE Police on the hunt for knife-wielding man in Mayfield

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are chasing a man who threatened a 34-year-old Mayfield man in the carpark of the Mayfield Ex-services club last night.

At about 1am police say the victim was approached by the man in Hanbury Street who was wielding a knife and demanded he hand over cash and his phone.

The pair allegedly got into a physical confrontation before the victim ran away and called police.

Newcastle detectives are reviewing CCTV footage from the area as investigations continue.

Gateshead Telecommunications Facility to go Ahead

BY PARIS WRIGHT

Lake Macquarie council met last night to discuss the fate of a proposed monopole to be errected on Bulls Garden Road.

The 35 meter receiver will strengthen surrounding Optus and Vodafone services but residents have expressed concern over the visual impact, disruption to wildlife's natural habitat and potential health risks associated with radio-frequency electromagnetic energy emitted. 

It was concluded that issues raised by the public during the meeting held no merit of sufficient weight to warrant a refusal of the application into a site inspection.

The Council claims the telecommunications facility's purpose to improve businesses functionality and safety within the Gateshead area is too important to ignore; Mayor Cr Fraser confirming "We have a responsibility to hear those [residents] concerns, but also enabling better mobile phone coverage, particularly in emergencies".

Notes taken from the meeting discuss how health risks associated with the tower, although recognised, have been mitigated to acceptable levels through proposed safety measurements set in place.

The social implications were also concluded to be unimportant as the nature of the proposed infrastructure is categorized as critical. The improved cellular service will support emergency communications and provide clarity within warnings broadcasted to the community.

     

The proposed location of a 37-metre mobile phone tower

Double Demerits in action until Monday

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are urging drivers to slow down, stay safe and not to take risks on the Hunter's roads this long weekend, with double demerits in force until midnight on Monday.

Operation Stay Safe will see officers target speeding, seat belt, motorcycle helmet and phone use behind the wheel.

It's only June, but so far the death toll on NSW roads stands at 161.

Chief Inspector of Highway Patrol Phillip Brooks says the wet weather this week and heading into the weekend is making for particularly unfavourable conditions.

"We're urging all road users to please take extra care, we're expecting more traffic on our roads and with significant rainfall right throughout the NSW road network roads will be slippery - people approaching flooded causeways should pull over, wait for that flooded causeway to recede and continue safely on their journey."

Last year's June long weekend saw 131 people injured and four people lost their lives on the state's roads and police are determined that won't be the case come next week.

You may not think you're being watched on the weekend, but you certainly will be.

"We'll have all available 1,350 highway patrol staff and over 500 vehicles on our roads working very closely with general duty police performing speed enforcement, random breath testing and random drug testing all in an effort to drive down the road toll," said Chief Inspector Brooks.