Two men charged over alleged Wallsend break and enter

BY JARROD MELMETH

Police have charged two men over an alleged violent break and enter at Wallsend on Sunday night.

The incident took place at around 11:30pm at a home on Chalmers Road, where four people, three men and a woman were inside. 

Police say two men aged 18 and 20 arrived and entered through the front door, before a verbal altercation occurred and the situation became physical. The younger man allegedly struck a 34-year-old man with a plastic pipe several times.

It will be further alleged the 18-year-old brandished a firearm and threatened the four occupants, before the pair fled the scene on foot.

The 34-year-old suffered lacerations to his head, which were treated at the John Hunter Hospital.

Newcastle City Police attended the scene and established a crime scene. 

A short time later police arrested the two men, the 20-year-old at William Street, Jesmond and the 18-year-old at Victory Parade.

Both men were taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence-weapon, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others and common assault.

The pair were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday.

Police investigating alleged knife attack in Wallsend

BY JARROD MELMETH

Police are appealing for public assistance after a man presented to paramedics with knife wounds in Wallsend overnight.

Newcastle Police were called to Bousfield Street to reports of an alleged brawl outside a home around 6:35pm on Tuesday night.

A short time later, Police were called to Bunn Street, only a short walk from where the brawl allegedly took place, after a man presented to NSW Ambulance with wounds to his wrist and chest.

The 41-year-old man was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he was treated.

Detectives from Newcastle City Police District have commenced an investigation into how the man came to be injured, including whether the incidents are linked.

Anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the nearby area between 5.30pm and 7pm is urged to contact Waratah Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police hunting reckless motorbike riders

BY JARROD MELMETH 

Police are asking for the publics assistance to help identify three motorbike riders who were riding dangerously in Wallsend.

Police say the trio were caught on camera riding recklessly along Cowper Street around 4pm on Thursday 22 July.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Newcastle Police on 4926 6599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Pictured: The three riders the police are hunting.
Image: Supplied.

Footage of the riders from Newcastle Police.

Woman To Face Court Over High Speed Pursuit Through Newcastle's Western Suburbs

BY IAN CROUCH

A 21-year-old woman is due to face court today accused of leading police on a high speed pursuit through the western suburbs of Newcastle.

Officers attempted to stop a grey Mazda CX-7 on Douglas Street, Wallsend in the early hours of Saturday morning, but the car took off, allegedly reaching speeds of 100 kilometres per hour through Wallsend, Birmingham Gardens, Maryland and Fletcher before heading back to Wallsend.

The car broke down on Newcastle Road and the woman ran off - she was found hiding under a house in Binney Street.

Police say she was on parole and disqualified from driving until 2043.

Health Minister Accused Of Ignoring Hospital Congestion

BY JARROD MELMETH

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is being accused of ignoring the concerns of Hunter residents who are experiencing traffic gridlock at the John Hunter Hospital.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has taken aim at the Minister after he dismissed a letter she sent containing more than 30 pages of what she described as "real-life examples from staff and visitors and practical solutions that would help ease some of the congestion while waiting for the Newcastle Inner City Bypass Stage 5 to be constructed."

Ms Hornery said recent roadworks have done nothing to fix the congestion issues.

"There has been a new carpark a couple of years ago that was built, which is some distance from the hospital itself and that was supposed to provide the solution to everyone's parking woes and travel woes, but it has not.

"We want to ensure that our ambulances services can get in and out of the hospital quicker and safer than the current very cramped and very awkward situation they deal with.

"I invite the minister to come and sit with me at peak hour to see how busy it is and how congested it is in the morning and the evening," Ms Hornery said.

In response to Ms Hornerys letter, Mr Hazard said the previous roadworks have had a positive impact on traffic flow which makes entering and exiting the campus easier and faster. Mr Hazard also said he had referred the correspondence onto the Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey.

Ms Hornery said she does not expect much action from Ms Pavey.

"I'm still waiting for the fifth stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass to be prioritised by the government. They seem to have put that on the back burner, like many of the projects in Wallsend.

Traffic congestion around the John
Hunter Hospital. Image: The Newcastle
Herald

Charity Bins Are Not Personal Dumping Grounds: Wallsend MP

BY JARROD MELMETH

Police are investigating vandals who trashed charity bins at Wallsend Village on Sunday night.

Residents woke to garments strewn across the carpark after bags of items were left around the already full bins.

It is not the first time charity bins have been vandalised with a number of op-shops in the region saying it is typical for this time of year.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said charity bins are not personal dumping grounds.

"It is very difficult for charities to deal with this as they are virtually all volunteers. A lot of people are saying there should be more pick-ups and I agree that would be great but remembering its ultimately volunteers who do the work its difficult for charities to deal with it. It is more about the community taking responsibility to not leave rubbish outside of a charity bin.

"If you have some valuable items that you want to pass onto someone else, be responsible and hold onto them until the bin is empty or take them into the many op-shops we have in Wallsend," Ms Hornery said.

Wallsend Village charity bins. Photo: Jill Skinner Manning. 

Calls For Better Motorbike Facilities To Stop Illegal Activity

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A Hunter MP is calling on the State Government to investigate options for better facilities for motorbike riders following a rise in illegal activity.

It comes after two separate incidents over the weekend where a motorcycle was seized after the rider lost control and crashed in the Cessnock CBD.

Another motorcycle was seized after a rider was stopped while carrying an 18-month-old child on his lap while riding.

Police have issued a further warning to riders after receiving a number of complaints of noisy, anti-social and illegal behaviour by riders.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said riders have very few places left where they can ride, especially in the Western Suburbs of Newcastle.

"There are motorbike clubs in the Hunter but none really specifically with land available for that sort of training in the Wallsend electorate, so that's what we're looking for, reaching out to those sorts of facilties that work in the Hunter and in NSW and seeing what we can do here," said Hornery.

Hornery says making more space available for riders would be a good start in combating illegal activity.

"We want bike riders to have a safe place to ride and a place where people can learn. Stockton have some facilities available and I'm going to write to the minister and ask him to look at options to make more land available in the Wallsend area for riders."

Image from the Newcastle Herald

DA Lodged for Significant Black Hill Project

BY JARROD MELMETH

New subdivision plans for two industrial estates at Black Hill have been lodged with Newcastle City Council and are hoped to drive development in the Lower Hunter.

The two parcels of land, with a combined area of almost 400 hectares, are owned by Central Coast company, The Stevens Group and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

The lodgement of the development application follows protest from surrounding residents who believe the proposal will have day-to-day impacts such as visual, traffic and habitat loss as well as posing a threat to the rural and recreational nature and character of the Black Hill area.

Stevens Group Director, Brett Harrod said the company is committed to ensuring environmental standards are met.

"If you look at any of our projects, we take a great deal of time, effort and energy to ensure that everything that we do is compliant with all of the codes.

"We also have an underlying philosophy in all of our projects that our sites and developments are something that we can be proud of," Mr Harrod said.

State Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery said while she welcomes the economic advantages the development will bring to the region, State and Federal governments must ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place before proceeding.

Four People Rescued As Flooding Rains Hit The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

Four people have had to be rescued as heavy rain caused flash flooding across the Hunter.

The rain has eased overnight, but not before areas like Wallsend and Dungog recorded 200 millimetres.

Moderate flooding is likely along the Williams River at Dungog and the Paterson River later today.

Most of the rain activity today will be in the northern parts of the Hunter.

Rachel Squires from the Hunter Region SES says they've received 500 calls for help mainly for leaking rooves, while crews were called out to help stranded motorists.

"We've had three flood rescues during this event, but fortunately they've all been in relation to low-lying floodwaters - so that's trying to help people out of cars that have been trapped," she said.

Motorist Stranded On Belmore Road At Lorn. Picture: theherald.com.au

Wallsend crime back in parliament

BY JARROD MELMETH

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery will today move a Notice of Motion in the State Parliament calling on the Police Minister to properly resource local Police Districts, following a reported increase in crime.

The notice of motion comes off the back of the latest Productivity Commission Report which shows police spending per person across NSW has been slashed by over $50 million since 2012/13.

In January, Ms Hornery held a meeting with local businesses after business owners reported an increase in criminal activity in the area and a number of shops were targeted by criminals.

Ms Hornery said the local Police Force is continually being asked to do more with less, as local Police Districts experience chronic staff shortages.

"The Wallsend electorate sits on the fringe of three different local Police Districts and has been neglected when it comes to having resources allocated.

"The Minister must explain why the NSW Government is failing to deliver on the promised increase in officer numbers and why it is failing to invest in the future of our Police Force," Ms Hornery said.

Police Minister Troy Grant told Macquarie Radio the decrease in funding is due to a decrease in crime.

However, Shadow Police Minister Guy Zangari said the government needs to fund for the future.

"If the government falls asleep at the wheel, there will be an increase in crime. It is as simple as that.

"What we are asking is a commitment for more funding, and more frontline police officers so that NSW does not see a spike in crime in the near future. This is about future-proofing our community," Mr Zangari said.

More Charges for Man Who Lead Police on a Wild Pursuit Through Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man responsible for leading police on a wild pursuit across Lake Macquarie last month is expected to be charged with further offences in court today.

Just after 10am on December 31, police attempted to stop a car being driven by a 22-year-old man at Wallsend.

The driver refused to stop and sped off leading police on a number of purists on the Hunter Expressway, Newcastle Link Road and on the M1 before the driver crashed and attempted to carjack a vehicle on the M1.

It didn't stop there, the driver then allegedly carjacked a different car after failing the first time, and was involved in another pursuit with police and attempted to carjack more vehicles.

He was eventually arrested after allegedly ramming an unmarked police vehicle and appeared in court last month on a number of charges relating to those incidents.

The man will face Newcastle Local Court today where he is expected to be charged with two counts of assault with intent to take motor vehicle, three counts of police pursuit - not stop (Skye's Law) and possess property stolen outside NSW.

EARLIER:

BREAKING! Wanted Man Arrested after Terrifying Pursuit in the Hunter

Man Off to Court after Police Pursuit Through Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court today after a police pursuit through Wallsend.

At about 3:35pm yesterday police attempted to pull over a Holden Commodore Sedan on Sandgate Road, but the vehicle accelerated away initiating a pursuit.

The pursuit was terminated a short time later due to the manner of driving, but the vehicle was eventually located on Lorna Street, Waratah West.

The 31-year-old driver had fled into nearby swamp land and was found hiding in a creek by Police from the Dog Unit.

The man was discovered to be a disqualified driver and also subject to a firearms prohibition order.

Police searched him allegedly finding a small amount of methylamphetamine and then searched the vehicle allegedly finding a 12 gauge sawn off shotgun.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug (x2), drive whilst disqualified, police pursuit (Skye’s Law), possess prohibited firearm, and breach firearm prohibition order (x2).

The 31-year-old was refused bail to face court today.

Wanted Man Heads to Court After Dramatic Police Chase

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man at the centre of the dramatic police chase across the Hunter heads to court today on a dozen charges.

Just after 10am yesterday police allege they attempted to pull the 22-year-old over in Wallsend but he refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

Police chased the man to the Hunter Expressway where they terminated the chase for a short time for safety reasons. Officers spotted him not long after driving on the Expressway on the wrong side of the road and gave chase for a second time.

The man managed to avoid to deployments of road spikes by police and then drove to Newcastle Link Road and then onto the M1 Pacific Motorway. It's here police allege he forced a vehicle off the road by colliding with it and then attempted and failed to "car jack" it.

He then successfully stole a white Audi Sedan allegedly armed with an edged weapon and took off.

Police in the area initiated another chase, but had to terminate not long after when the 22-year-old crossed to the wrong side of the Motorway.

Once he reached the Dora Creek Bridge, he tried and failed to "car jack" another three vehicles.

This is where police caught up with the man and tried to arrest him. The 22-year-old rammed into an unmarked police vehicle which caused minor injuries to two officers. But thankfully with the help of other officers the man was finally arrested at the scene.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station and slapped with a dozen charges: take detain person with intent to obtain advantage, armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, aggravated take drive vehicle whilst armed with offensive weapon, resist officer in execution of duty, intentionally choke person with recklessness, common assault, display unauthorised registration plates, and a warrant for revocation of parole.

The 22-year-old was originally wanted for Domestic Violence matters.

He was refused bail and faces Toronto Local Court today.

Woman Killed in Wallsend Overnight

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

A woman has tragically died after being hit by a car in Wallsend.

The 21-year-old was walking on west along Minmi Road with two male friends just after 11pm last night when she was struck by a Holden Astra Sedan.

She was treated at the scene and then rushed to the John Hunter Hospital with serious head injuries but sadly couldn't be saved.

One of her friends received a minor leg injury but didn't require further treatment.

The 18-year-old driver of the car is assisting police with their inquiries.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

EARLIER: 

A pedestrian has tragically died after being hit by a car in Wallsend overnight.

Two people, a man and a woman, were walking along Minmi Road just after 11pm last night when the woman was hit by a car.

The 21-year-old was taken to the John Hunter Hospital but sadly she couldn't be saved.

The driver of the car, a male, was taken to hospital as well for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Investigations are continuing.

Fire Destroys old Squash Courts in Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Fire has destroyed the old Tennis and Squash Centre in Wallsend overnight.

17 calls to Triple 000 prompted emergency services call out to Council Street at 8:55pm.

They arrived to find fire had engulfed the building and partially collapsed one side; crews had to call for back-up and in the end six trucks were on scene.

50 people had to be evacuated from the Coles Supermarket on Cowper Street while crews extinguished the blaze. Crews also protected a property on one side of the blaze which came close to catching alight.

The fire was finally extinguished at 2:20am this morning, and one truck stayed on the scene ensuring the blaze doesn't flare up again.

The structure was completely destroyed.

Investigations are continuing into how the blaze started.

Image Smd Industries Facebook.

Image Smd Industries Facebook.

Hunter MP's want Return and Earn fast-tracked.

BY JARROD MELMETH

The lack of Return and Earn collection points in the Hunter has prompted calls from the State Opposition for the government to fast-track the rollout of the scheme.

Three weeks after the launch of the scheme, the Hunter region has 11 of the 300 statewide collection points, which residents say has resulted in long queues and machines being out of service because they are too full.

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said piles of rubbish has been accumulating around the machines as they become out of order or too full.

"We certainly do need to, when we roll out these machines, be mindful of the fact that people will be waiting to utilise them, that they are accessible for people with disabilities and, that people do not leave rubbish behind. There needs be bins and other things provided with extra collections being made for the removal of the rubbish as well.

"Unfortunately, while it is a wonderful scheme some of the minor issues have not been thought out yet. They need to to make it comfortable and convenient for the community," Ms Hornery said.

Ms Hornery said she had also written to the Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton asking for machines to be installed at Stockland Wallsend and Stockland Glendale.

It was announced earlier today that the NSW Government has partnered with Coles which Ms Upton said will "mean more locations for people to return their empty containers and receive their refund.”

Photo: 2GB Sydney.

TOTAL FIRE BAN in place for the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Fire crews will be on high alert in the Hunter today with a TOTAL FIRE BAN in place for the region.

The mercury will soar to 43 degrees in Wallsend, and it'll even be 40 degrees in Newcastle throughout much of the day.

The fire conditions are rated as being Severe due to the hot and dry conditions - the advice from the Rural Fire Service today is to follow your bush survival plan if you need to and remain vigilant.

Ausgrid has cancelled some planned maintenance works across the region.

Works planned for Hexham, Singleton, Pokolbin and Woodville won't be going ahead today. Maintenance planned for Muscle Creek, Aberdeen, Sandy hollow, Keinbah, Myuna Bay and Wakefield will continue, but be shorter than planned so power can be restored by midday.

Keep Cool, We're in for a Scorcher

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Today is set to be an absolute scorcher in the Hunter and we're being reminded to not only keep ourselves cool, but our pets as well.

With the mercury tipped to hit 42 degrees in Wallsend and about the same in Singleton, local vets are reminding us to make sure we leave plenty of water around, see to it that there's plenty of shade for our pets to hide under and not exercise our pets, particularly dogs, during the hottest parts of the day if at all.

Director of the Newcastle Animal Referral and Emergency Centre and 2NURFM pet vet Dr David Tabrett said dogs in particular pant to try and keep cool, which requires lots of water.

"And that requires a lot of moisture to be available so its always important to have a lot of cool, fresh water sources available just in case they kick one over, it's important to make sure they've got a couple."

"We don't appreciate how quickly they can get overheated and I've had that experience with my dog and I'm an experienced vet of 30 years, where I've mi-judged the timing and she became overheated very quickly. So just be ever aware of your dogs behaviour changes or if they get gastrointestinal problems that certainly would be a sign," said David.

Summer is one of the most deadly times of the year for our pets, and new stats show 39 per cent of Australians are unaware of the signs that their dogs are suffering from heat exhaustion or dehydration.

David said it really doesn't take much for your dog to overheat in the scorching temperatures we get throughout the Hunter region.

"And that can take a mild exercise or for instance dogs with pushed in faces they don't tolerate heat very well. So the symptoms we would see are gastro-intestinal problems first of all, breathing problems and in some cases it can progress to neurological disease such as coma, convulsions and death."

If your pet's behaviour does change, or you notice they are suffering from heat stroke, contact your vet immediately.

The hot conditions have prompted paramedics to remind us to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water.

Intensive Care Paramedic Alan Morrison said if your not feeling well, just get out of the sun.

"If you notice yourself suffering from some heat stress, take steps to cool yourself down with some fanning, maybe a damp cloth and getting out of the sun and into the shade."

More Buses for Wallsend under Revamped Timetable

BY JESSICA ROUSE

From January next year, there will be double the number of bus services operating out of Wallsend.

Keolis Downer has announced a more frequent route will operate between Wallsend and the city with better connections to Broadmeadow Station and Merewether Beach.

"We've certainly sought to maintain the geographic coverage and we have a number of frequent services with an extension attached to them so, for example, the frequent service that goes to Wallsend every 15 minutes throughout the day, every second service will go on to Maryland," said Keolis Downer CEO Campbell Mason.

In addition, the frequent service that goes to Charlestown every 15 minutes, every second one will go down to Belmont.

The core route will operate until midnight on weeknights and night owl services will run every hour on Friday and Saturday nights until 3am.

The new timetables come into effect on January 14, 2018.

Bus route map: http://newcastletransport.info/uploads/files/NT-NetworkMap-20171130a.pdf

Gun Found During Vehicle Stop At Wallsend

BY IAN CROUCH

Two people are being questioned by police after a pistol was allegedly found in a car at Wallsend this morning.

Officers noticed a Nissan Navara leaving the car park of the Bunnings Warehouse just before 1.00am and pulled the vehicle over.

They became suspicious and searched the car, allegedly finding the gun under the front passenger seat.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from Singleton and a 21-year-old female passenger from Carrington were arrested.

It's expected they'll be changed with firearm offences.