Cycling Gets A Boost In Newcastle

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle City Council is hoping to capitalise on the city's newfound love of cycling since the COVID-19 restrictions began in March by fast tracking work on a new cycleway.

Council is allocating $3.1 million from its COVID-19 stimulus budget to build a 1.1km shared path between Merewether Beach and Glebe Road at The Junction.

Plans include a 2.5m wide bi-directional path along Watkins Street and Coane Street, between Watkins and John Parade, with new and upgraded crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes hopes the project will encourage more residents to make the switch to pedal power.

“By prioritising our investment in Newcastle’s cycleway infrastructure we hope to help encourage this surge of interest to continue beyond the current climate, enabling cycling to play an even larger role within Newcastle’s transport mix now and in the future,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

“The cycleway will create an important connection with one of the city’s favourite coastal destinations and encourage more people to make the switch to pedal power.

“We are committed to promoting cycling as a genuine transport option for residents, families, commuters and recreational users, which is why expansion and improvement of the cycleway network is one of the City’s priority projects.

“Improving and expanding Newcastle’s cycling network is an important investment in the future of our city, in line with the adopted Newcastle Cycling Strategy and Action Plan.”

The project is part of almost $5 million allocated to cycleway projects under Council's revised 2020-21 capital works budget, including funding for the missing cycleway link on University Drive between  Blue Gum Road and the inner-city bypass at Birmingham Gardens.

Councilor and cycling enthusiast, John Mackenzie has welcomed the funding.

"I am pleased to see these cycleways projects being prioritised within the revised budget and look forward to seeing them progress during the next 12 months and beyond," he said.

Concept designs for the Merewether Beach to The Junction cycleway will go on public exhibition from Monday 29 June until Monday 27 via the City of Newcastle website.

Newcastle Councillor John Mackenzie and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes

Man Charged After 85-Year-Old Woman Challenges Alleged Car Thief at Marketown Shopping Centre

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

A 24-year-old man is due to face court on Monday, after allegedly breaking into the soft-top convertible of an elderly woman, and damaging the interior at Marketown Shopping Centre on Sunday. 

It is alleged around 3pm, while the 85-year-old woman was shopping, a male not known to her approached the vehicle in the underground car park, where the soft-top was damaged, allowing the male to unlock the door and open it. 

An amount of damage was caused to the steering column surrounding the ignition and a garage door remote was stolen.

Newcastle police say the owner of the car returned finding the male standing near the drivers door of her vehicle, when she challenged him before reporting the matter to centre security. 

Whilst at the scene the male was reportedly sighted outside the shopping complex on Steel Street. Police approached where he was arrested without incident. 

When searched a knife was found in the rear waistband of his pants. 

He was also found carrying a small screwdriver, property allegedly stolen from the shopping centre and the victim’s garage remote and was taken to Newcastle Police Station. 

The McCullys Gap man was later charged with eight offences including destroy or damage property, enter vehicle without consent, larceny, shoplifting, goods in custody reasonably suspected stolen, custody of knife in a public place, custody of an offensive implement in a public place and attempt take & drive conveyance without consent. 

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on June 22nd. 

Image: NSW Police Force

Police Appeal For Witnesses To Waratah Stabbing

BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations are continuing into a stabbing at Waratah on Sunday afternoon.

Police and ambulance were called to Waratah Village just after 2.00pm where they found a 26-year-old woman with a stab wound to her arm.

She was taken to the John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Police have been told the woman was stabbed by a man who then ran off.

They're appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police say the incident was not a random attack.

A woman was stabbing in the arm at Waratah Village Picture: NSW Police

Accused Metford Murderer Faces Court

BY IAN CROUCH

A 20-year-old accused of murdering his 18-year-old girlfriend at Metford will under a mental health assessment.

Neighbours of a Galway Crescent home heard screams around 1.00am on Saturday and called police.

They arrived to find Jordan Miller standing in the doorway and the body of his girlfriend, Emerald Wardle inside the house.

He appeared via video link in Newcastle Local Court on Sunday, with the Herald reporting he allegedly blurted out "I'm a murderer" twice.

His legal counsel urged him not to say anything and had the video shut off before requesting a mental health assessment.

The case returns to court on Wednesday.

Young life cut short: The body of 18-year-old was found in a Metford home on Saturday Picture:headtopics.com

Police Investigate Suspicious House Fire At Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

A fire which damaged a house at Muswellbrook overnight is being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters from Muswellbrook, Aberdeen and Denman were called to the single storey home on Dangar Place just after 8.30pm on Sunday to find smoke issuing from a front bedroom.

They took about 40 minutes to extinguish and mop up the blaze which was confined to the bedroom

No-one was home at the time.

Newcastle Fire Command says an accelerant had been used and a bar heater was alight when they arrived.

Police Officers Allegedly Assaulted After Vehicle Stop At Telarah

BY IAN CROUCH

Three police officers have been assaulted, one seriously after a vehicle stop at Telarah overnight.

Police say patrolling Officers spotted a silver Ford hatchback being driven in a dangerous manner on Trevor Street just after 8.30pm on Sunday and stopped the car.

It's alleged the male driver began acting erratically, pushing a Sergeant in the chest before a second man got between them with the driver then punching the officer in the face, suffering a fractured eye socket.

Both men then ran off.

The driver was arrested after a scuffle with two officers who were also punched.

The 20-year-old is due to face Maitland Court today (Monday 22 June, 2020) on assault and drink driving charges.

The other man remains on the run.

Two female passengers in the car are assisting police with inquiries.

The Sergeant was taken to the John Hunter Hospital for treatment of a fractured eye socket. The other officers were treated for minor laceration and soft tissue damage at Maitland Hospital. All have since been released.

Large Shed Ablaze At Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are battling a large shed fire at Branxton.

Crews from Branxton, Singleton and Rutherford and a Duty Commander were called to the 10 X 30 metre double storey Colorbond shed in John Rose Avenue just before 8.00am on Friday.

Newcastle Fire Command says the shed is used as a residence and one person self-evacuated without injury.

The mezzanine level of the shed collapsed at the height the blaze.

It's taken two hours to bring the fire under control.

Fire investigators are on the way from Sydney to determine how the blaze started.