Man Charged over Alleged Knifepoint Robbery

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man is due to face court today over his alleged role in a West Wallsend armed robbery.

Police say the 28-year-old was armed with a knife when he entered a store on Carrington Street just before 11 o'clock Wednesday morning.

He is accused of threatening a female employee at the store and demanding cash before fleeing the scene in a Toyota Camry with alleged stolen number plates.

While Lake Macquarie police officers responded to the incident, the man's alleged getaway vehicle was noticed travelling at speed by Highway Patrol officers.

Officers pulled the car over and spoke with the driver before searching the vehicle, in which they allegedly located clothing and cash.

The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where officers charged him with robbery whilst armed, goods in custody and two counts of fraud.

Horror Weekend On The Hunter's Roads

BY IAN CROUCH

It's been a horror weekend on the Hunter's roads, with two men killed in separate crashes.

A motorcyclist died in a head-on crash with a Toyota Landcruiser on the Golden Highway at Jerrys Plains yesterday afternoon.

A man was killed and another injured when a hatchback collided with a utility on the M1 at West Wallsend early Saturday.

Meanwhile,  a 39-year-old man is due front Newcastle Local Court accused of leaving the scene of a fatal crash at Buladehlah two weeks ago.

He was arrested after police stopped a car he was driving on The Esplanade at Warners Bay on Saturday night.

UPDATED: Another fatality on the Hunter's roads

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

Police now believe the man who tragically lost his life near Aberdeen this morning may have been hitch-hiking at the time.

Emergency services were called to the New England Highway 5km south of Aberdeen at about 4:40am where they found a man had sustained multiple injuries after being hit by a car.

Police say he looked to have been hitch-hiking between Aberdeen and Muswellbrook.

The 18-year-old female driver of the car which allegedly hit him was treated for shock, and underwent mandatory testing at Muswellbrook Hospital.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen the man before 4:30am today to contact Muswellbrook Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

EARLIER:

There's been another tragic road fatality in the Hunter this morning, the third in just three days.

A male pedestrian has been hit by a car on the New England Highway about 5 kilometres south of Aberdeen.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 4:40am - one southbound lane of the highway is closed and traffic is expected to be disrupted while the scene is examined this morning.

The female driver of the vehicle remained at the scene to provide assistance.

She was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

It comes after a 17-year-old motorbike rider died in a crash at West Wallsend on Sunday, and a pedestrian struck and killed by a semi-trailer at Karuah on Monday morning.

Motorcyclist killed at West Wallsend

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A young motorcyclist has died after a horror crash at West Wallsend yesterday.

He was travelling north on the M1 just after 4:30pm when he crashed on the exit linking the motorway with the Newcastle Link Road.

The man was treated at the scene by paramedics but died a short time later.

Police are yet to release his name, and his family are travelling to Newcastle today.

Investigations are continuing but police say initial investigations has led them to believe the vehicle left the road and crashed.

Northbound traffic was diverted via George Booth Drive and Cameron Park Drive while police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended.

Council votes to keep support for Butterfly Cave

BY JARROD MELMETH

Lake Macquarie Councillors have voted against a recission motion put forward by Councillor Kevin Baker demanding that Council withdraws its support for an application lodged by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council seeking further protection for the Butterfly Cave at West Wallsend.

Acting Mayor Wendy Harrison and Councillors Barney Langford and Brian Adamthwaite spoke out against the motion which was supported by only three Councillors.

The cave is believed to be in danger of collapse if construction of a residential housing estate planned to only allow a 20-metre buffer zone is allowed to go ahead.

The site - which was formally declared an Aboriginal Place in the same year approval was given to develop the housing estate - has also traditionally been used by Aboriginal women and girls, as a private meeting place for hundreds of years.

NSWALC lodged the application on behalf of the Awabakal Local Land Council asking the Minister for Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, to extend the 20-metre buffer zone to 100 metres claiming "the use of heavy machinery and construction tools is a source of vibration that may cause irreversible physical damage to Butterfly Cave" and "the removal of native vegetation and diversion of watercourses irrevocably affects the traditional use of the area."

In June Mayor Kay Fraser wrote to the Department of Environment and Energy extending her support for the application by the NSWALC, which Councillor Kevin Baker said is inappropriate.

"Council should not be lobbying for one side or the other on any position when we are actually a consent authority.

"What my recission motion sought to do was to still put a submission into the federal government authority that is running this investigation but, have that submission detail the process that has been taken in relation to the consent, how everything has progressed and also detail the steps that are being put in place to ensure that the Butterfly Cave is not going to be damaged through the construction process.

"Put through a factual response rather than lobbying for one side or the other," Cr Baker said. 

Cr Baker said all politics aside he does support protecting the cave.

"My wife and children are Aboriginal and I am a strong believer in Aboriginal culture and heritage.

"I have long felt the Butterfly Cave needs to be protected and I think the council is doing a fantastic job through the construction management plan and the construction certificate process, in putting in some really detailed measures to make sure the Butterfly Cave is protected throughout the construction process.

"But, the council have guidelines under the law to follow and we feel it is important that those laws are upheld and that the correct process is followed," Cr Baker said.

 The specified area known as Butterfly Cave in West Wallsend.

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.

Pair arrested after break-ins at Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two people face court today after being charged with break, enter and steal in Lake Macquarie this morning.

At about 1am, the 43-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were seen driving down Royalty Street in West Wallsend with their car headlights off.

They broke into three new homes and took items from the properties which they were seen putting in their car.

Police stopped the maroon Toyota Corolla and searched it, also finding house breaking tools and a knife in their possession.

They were taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter, goods in custody, possess house breaking implements and custody of a knife.

They were refused bail.

Butterfly Cave under further threat as CCTV cameras are installed

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Butterfly Cave in West Wallsend is back in parliament after the NSW Opposition asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell what steps the Berejiklian Government is taking to protect the site, following allegations of spying and installation of CCTV cameras around the site.

The cave is currently in danger of collapse if construction of a residential housing estate planned to only allow a 20-metre buffer zone is allowed to go ahead.

The site - which was formally declared an Aboriginal Place in the same year approval was given to develop the housing estate - has also traditionally been used by Aboriginal women and girls, as a private meeting place for hundreds of years.

Approval for the development was given in 2013 to developer Roche Group, who are currently developing a Construction Management Plan which the Office of Environment and Heritage says is "to ensure all construction is properly facilitated, integrated and coordinated so as to deliver certainty to the objectives of the Project".

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe said she was really disappointed when the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell refused to outline what the government was doing to protect the site and women who use it.

"Reports from local Awabakal women is that they are concerned that people are watching the ceremonies and the activities that they undertake at the cave.

"This is a very serious allegation which needs to be taken seriously," Ms Sharpe said.

When asked about the issue of CCTV installation and spying at the site, Ms Sharpe said the Minister "essentially washed her hands of the matter saying simply that people should go to the council or go to the developers and that is not good enough.

"The Butterfly Cave is a declared special place under Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation and it deserves far more protection than it is currently getting," Ms Sharpe said.

A petition to save the site from development has almost 65,000 signatures.

Petitioner Anne Andrews said "it is heartbreaking - the construction will damage our fragile cave. We’re desperate to save our sanctuary but the Roche Group Manager is threatening us with trespassing for continuing to go into the Butterfly Cave, a rare, private safe space for Aboriginal women. He’s installing CCTV, sends emails that show he’s spying on us and has even forced us to ask permission each time we want to enter. It's degrading and offensive.

"The Cave is incredibly special to Aboriginal women. Generations of women have treasured this spiritual place. Today I take my grand-daughters to the Cave to connect with our past. For many local families, the site has huge cultural significance," Ms Andrews said.

Left: Melinda Brown with granddaughter Yasmine at the Butterfly Cave.
 Picture: Peter Stoop. Right: Penny Sharpe.

Cameron Park pursuit

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A driver is accused of trying to run down police before leading them on a pursuit at Cameron Park.

Just before 11pm last night, officers dove out of the way of a Holden Commodore ute on Craighall Street before the car sped off.

Officers pursued the car to West Wallsend where it was driven into the bush before going over an embankment and into a small dam.

The driver wasn't alone, he and a passenger then fled on foot but were rounded up a short time later by a police dog.

The driver is now facing several charges.

BREAKING! Fears Residents Trapped In West Wallsend House Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews have been called to a house fire at West Wallsend.

Firefighters arrived just before 5.30 to find the rear of the 2 storey brick home home in Withers Street well alight.

They've managed to quickly douse the flames

However, there were concerns for two people at the address, but a search using a thermal imaging camera confirmed there was no-one inside.

Police have also been called to the fire amid reports this is the second fire at the home this week.

Police Investigate House Fire At West Wallsend

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused extensive damage to a house at West Wallsend this morning.

Firefighters from West Wallsend, Minmi and Cardiff arrived at the brick and tile home in Tramway Drive just after 5.30am to find a fire had spread from the garage into the roof of the house.

It's taken about two hours to extinguish and mop up the fire which guttered about 80% of the home.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by police.

There are no reports of injuries.

Hunter Students get a Taste of Space

Regional Development Australia's ME Program has partnered with West Wallsend High School to increase children's excitement and involvement in STEM.

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, July 21, 1969

The Quberider Workshop teaches teachers electronic and programming skills, which give students a taste of what astronauts do.

Students are encouraged to learn skills such as coding and electronic design, to physics and maths, while simulating experiments also conducted on real space missions

"This program is very much about being real world and actually being involved in programs that NASA would be involved in" said RDA Hunter's ME Program Director, Dr. Scott Sleap.

The program is said to give students the tools they need to launch into a STEM career and be competitive in the global market.

"What we have is a workforce that is going to require STEM skills in the future, and actually, in the now" said Dr. Sleap.

"If students don't develop the type of skills we're talking about in STEM, then they're going to be locked out of the workforce."

The program has seen considerable success in the Hunter, with over 30 schools now signed up to and actively involved in STEM, with up to 70 across NSW.

"The Hunter regions actually becoming one of the leaders in STEM education in NSW and even possibly Australia" said Dr. Sleap.