Sneak peek of Revamped Newcastle Transport Network

BY JARROD MELMETH

An improved Newcastle Transport network being introduced in January promises to provide customers with better links to the John Hunter and Mater hospitals as well as extended hours for core routes.

Currently, the majority of week-night bus services operate until 10:30pm but under the new network, core route buses will operate until midnight on weeknights and will run every hour on Friday and Saturday nights until 3am.

Newcastle's private transport operator, Keolis Downer has also promised to link the John Hunter Hospital and Newcastle CBD with services every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm and every 30 minutes on Weekends, which Keolis Downer Hunter CEO Campbell Mason says will have a new number which, will be announced along with the Transport Network on Thursday.

Mr Mason said the changes come off the back of intense community consultation and analysis of opal data.

"We have been analysing - to start with - opal data but, of course, the opal data can only tell us about who is using the system and when they are using the system. We are looking to get feedback and have got feedback from others who are not currently using the public transport network. We have been running the voice of Newcastle program and getting a lot of comments from the social pinpoint website and also we have been running citizens panels to get feedback," Mr Mason said.

The Mater Hospital will also receive an upgrade in services with timetabled connections between Broadmeadow and Waratah stations and the hospital.

Picture: Jarrod Melmeth

It's No Laughing Matter, Men Sought after Nudie Run into MacDonalds

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The five men who ran into a McDonalds on King Street may have been laughing at the time, but they certainly won't be now.

Newcastle Police are looking for anyone who has any information on the men who walked into a fast food restaurant naked on Friday November 10.

Police say they were captured on CCTV footage at 6:40pm, and two of the men had an object covering their modesty.

The other three men ran through hanging free.

While it may give you a giggle, police say its no laughing matter as there were families and small children in the restaurant at the time. 

Newcastle City Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon said they're hoping that by releasing the CCTV footage they can track them down.

“Police are investigating this display of offensive behaviour and are seeking assistance from the public to identify the males.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Police Step Up Search For Driver Involved In Fatal Hit And Run At Mayfield

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are urging the driver involved in a hit and run at Mayfield which resulted in the death of an elderly man to come forward.

Police say the 91-year-old was walking home from a scheduled appointment when he was struck by a Mitsubishi SUV while he was crossing Stedman Street at about 12.45pm last Friday 24 November.

Witnesses have told police the driver stopped briefly after the collision but drove off.

The elderly man suffered multiple fractures to his ribs and shoulders and was taken to the John Hunter Hospital where he sadly passed away early Monday morning.

Police have reviewed CCTV footage from surrounding businesses and have determined the car involved was a 2010 or 2011 model red Mitsubishi ASX, although they have not been able to determine the registration number of the vehicle.

They say the car would've sustained some front end damage and the driver would've been aware that they'd hit someone.

Investigators are again calling for any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police to come forward. They are particularly interested in viewing any dashcam footage of the vehicle, which had been travelling west on Maitland Road prior to the crash.

Acting Inspector, Sally Scott says it's hoped the driver will do the right thing and come forward.

"We are strongly suggesting the person come forward just for some closure for the family as well, and so they can find out what actually happened," she said.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Waratah Police Station on 49 266 599.

Acting Inspector Sally Scott 

A Red Mitsubishi ASX Like The One Involved In Friday's Hit And Run

A Compromise Sought for The Store Building

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle Greens councillor John Mackenzie will tonight be asking council stand up for the city's working-class heritage.

Councillor Mackenzie will be moving a motion at Newcastle City Council's meeting to keep the facade of The Store building in Newcastle West intact and incorporate it into the state government's proposed bus interchange for the site.

He said they're not calling for the interchange not to be built altogether, they just want a compromise that works for everyone.

"We're not even suggesting that the whole of the building stay, there's a compromise here and that compromise is the opportunity to keep the facade and to build around it in a way that creates a hybrid that's something old and something new and points to the future direction of Newcastle."

The Store, formerly known as the Newcastle Co-operative Store was built in 1898 and was a thriving commercial entity in the heart of the city.

There's an immense amount of community support for the building - community consultation found 84% of submissions supported keeping the Store, 62% of those submissions called for the facade to be retained and incorporated into the interchange.

"The Store has an enormous history in Newcastle. The whole city basically was built on the back of the Newcastle Co-operative Store and that building even though it doesn't look how it did in its heyday it really represents an important moment in the political history of our city."

"Just to demolish it entirely I think does a disservice to the importance of the working class history of Newcastle. I think that's an important symbol and an important monument and it's up to council to defend the heritage of this city, we don't want generic buildings for the entirety of the city," said Councillor Mackenzie.

Image nbnnews.com.au

Police Investigate Arason Attack On Waratah Unit

BY IAN CROUCH

A fire which guttered a unit at Waratah is being treated as suspicious.

Fire crews responded to several triple-oh calls to the two storey unit complex in Turton Road just 3.30pm on Monday to find both levels engulfed in flames.

Firefighters managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighbouring properties, while children from a nearby pre-school were evacuated as a precaution.

Police have set up a crime scene after they found traces of accelerant - saying the fire appears to have been deliberately lit.

Fire Engulfs Waratah Unit Picture: triplem.com.au

15 Guns Stolen In Separate Incidents at Singleton and Woodberry

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police have launched an investigation after 14 guns were stolen from a rural property at Singleton .

A 69-year-old man returned from a week's holiday on Monday night to find two shipping containers on his New England Highway property had been broken into.

Police say a gun safe inside one of the containers had been opened and six double barrel shotguns, eight rifles and two boxes of ammunition were stolen.

In a separate incident, a 22 calibre Savage rifle and ammunition were stolen from a gun safe on a property on Michael Hill Avenue at Woodberry over the weekend.

Anyone who can assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Elderly Man Dies After Hit And Run At Mayfield

BY IAN CROUCH

An elderly man has died in hospital following a hit and run incident at Mayfield.

The 91-year-old was crossing Stedman Street at Maitland Road at about 12.45 last Friday afternoon when he was knocked down by an SUV.

He rushed to the John Hunter Hospital with multiple injuries but passed away early Monday morning

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command are continuing to investigate the crash and are appealing for witnesses or any person with information about the car or its driver to come forward.

The car has been described as a red Mitsubishi ASX and was travelling west on Maitland Road prior to the crash.

It’s believed the car stopped briefly nearby after the crash before being driven away.

Investigators believe there would be damage to the front portion of the vehicle.

Anyone with information is  urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.