Police Step Up Investigation Into Shooting At Tenambit

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for information following a public place shooting at Tenambit in October.

Shots were fired into a home on Goldingham Street and an MG station wagon parked in the driveway at about 6.45am on Sunday October 16.

Police have released CCTV images of 4 men they wish to speak to in connection with the incident.

They've also released footage of a 2011 silver Holden Cruze sedan and a 2009 blue Holden Commodore sedan seen in the area at the time.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.

One of the four men wanted by police

BREAKING! Teens Arrested After Pursuit In Alleged Stolen Car In Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Four teenage boys will front the Broadmeadow Children's Court today (Friday 9 December, 2022) following a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car through Lake Macquarie.

Police say the vehicle was stolen from Hamilton South three days ago and was spotted on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at 11.20pm on Thursday.

A pursuit began when the vehicle failed to stop, leading officers through Hillsborough, Gateshead and Windale where the chase was terminated for safety reasons.

The vehicle was found a short time later and a Police operation was launched to find the boys with the assistance of the Polair helicopter and the Dog Unit along with officers from the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens Hunter Police Districts.

The boys, aged 15, 17 and two others aged 16 were arrested at a house on Katie Street at Windale and have been refused bail. 

The arrests come as part of Operation Mongoose targeting gangs of youths who police say have been involved with stealing cars and getting into high speed pursuits with police.

Environment group launches legal action against Mount Pleasant mine expansion

BY DAKOTA TAIT

An Upper Hunter environment group has launched legal action to stop the expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine at Muswellbrook.

The Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group is arguing the Independent Planning Commission failed to consider the impacts of emissions on air quality and the environment, as well as the social and economic footprint, when it approved the project.

The group is being represented by the Environmental Defenders Office.

The approval was earlier in the year delayed, when a new species of legless lizard was discovered, the Hunter Valley Delma.

Image credit: Lock the Gate.

Varroa mite detected at Mulbring, Tumbi Umbi

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Two new varroa mite incidents have been detected across the Hunter and Central Coast.

The findings at hives at Mulbring and Tumbi Umbi mean the eradication and emergency zone has yet again been expanded.

The Department of Primary Industries is now contact tracing the latest detections, but is confident the situation is under control.

106 infestations have now been detected since the first report at the Port of Newcastle in June.

UPDATE! Crews controlling bushfire at Belmont South

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Firefighters are now mopping up after an earlier bushfire at Belmont South this morning.

Several Fire and Rescue and RFS crews have managed to get the blaze under control.

It's burnt through about three hectares, but no property is under direct threat.

EARLIER

Firefighters are responding to a bushfire near the golf course at Belmont South on Thursday morning. 

The calls came in around 8:20am. 

A dozen fire trucks are now on scene, with RFS crews also on the way.

They're confident they'll be able to get the fire under control, but it is moving in a southerly direction toward Harry and Green Streets, past the cemetery.

Residents are being advised to close their windows and stay indoors.

Summer patrol hours extended on Lake Macquarie beaches

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Lifeguards will patrol Lake Macquarie beaches for an extra two hours every day through Summer, after new data revealed people are showing up later for a dip.

The flags will be up at Redhead, Blacksmiths, Caves, and Catherine Hill Bay beaches from 8am to 6pm, instead of 9am to 5pm, until Sunday 29 January.

Council's Smart Beaches monitoring program is showing more people are heading to the beach before and after work, especially from 5pm to 6pm on weekdays.

It's hoped the extended hours will also ease pressure on the 9am to 10am peak on weekends.

More than one million people are expected to visit the city's beaches over the season.

Senior Lifeguard Byron Howarth at Redhead Beach.

Bulahdelah man charged over alleged sexual abuse of two children

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A Bulahdelah man has been charged following an investigation into alleged sexual touching offences in the Manning Great Lakes area.

Officers with the Hunter Child Abuse Squad began investigations earlier this week, after receiving a report, two girls aged 11 and 14, had been sexually assaulted by a man known to them.

A 31-year-old man was arrested a Bulahdelah home around 2:45pm on Tuesday afternoon.

He was charged with three counts of intentionally sexually touch child, two counts of have sexual intercourse with child, and one count of aggravated indecent assault – victim under the age of 16 years.

The man was refused bail to appear before Taree Local Court on Wednesday.