DOWNGRADED: North Rothbury Residents Urged to Seek Shelter

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

UPDATE 6PM:

All fires at North Rothbury are now burning at Advice level.

UPDATE 5PM:

A house fire at North Rothbury has been extinguished and the fire downgraded to Watch and Act.

UPDATE 4PM: Wine Country Drive between the Hunter Expressway and Tuckers Lane is CLOSED in both directions.

The Rural Fire Service has issued an Emergency warning for North Rothbury, near Cessnock, where a small grass fire is burning rapidly towards the township.

A single-story residential structure on the corner of Rothbury Road and Wine Country Drive is currently ablaze.

Properties are under threat and residents are being told to seek shelter as it is too late to leave.

The blaze is burning in a north-westerly direction, and though it is only small the RFS warns catastrophic conditions could see the situation worsen.

7 fire trucks and a strike team comprising 5 more trucks have been tasked to the scene.

Motorists are urged to stay alert and keep clear of emergency vehicles responding to incidents across the region.

Catastrophic Fire Conditions: Reserve, School and University Campus Closures

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

The Hunter is bracing for catastrophic fire conditions on Tuesday amid an unprecedented bush fire crisis.

The Rural Fire Service is urging residents living close to the bush to prepare their homes now ahead of worsening conditions expected over the next 48 hours.

The RFS says homes are not designed to withstand these conditions and lives and property will be at risk if a fire starts and takes hold.

A Total Fire Ban is in force for the next two days.

Lake Macquarie Council has advised Doyalson RSL, Toronto Workers Club, Club Macquarie at Argenton and Wests Cardiff will serve as evacuation centres should severe bushfires take hold.


The University of Newcastle has announced it will close its Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses and the Hunter Medical Research Institute to ensure staff and student safety.

The University's Newcastle city and Sydney campuses will remain open.

Students with exams scheduled for closed campuses on Tuesday will now sit them on Saturday.

The NSW Department of Education has advised a number of Hunter schools, both government and non-government, will be closed on Tuesday. The full list can be found on the Department website.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has also advised the St Joseph's Aberdeen bus from Merriwa will not run on Tuesday.

A number of reserves have also been closed across the region as local councils react to predicted conditions.

In Lake Macquarie, Mount Sugarloaf and the Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, Fernleigh Track and Green Point Foreshore Reserve at Valentine are closed until Wednesday afternoon.

City of Newcastle has announced the closure of Blackbutt Reserve and says an emergency plan of management has been coordinated to ensure the welfare of staff and wildlife.

All Landcare sites and National Parks across the region, including Glenrock State Conservation Area, have also been closed with a reassessment scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Residents are urged to stay up to date with the situation via the Rural Fire Service website or the Fires Near Me App available on Android and Apple devices.

Image: ABC

Submissions Open On Farley Crematorium Proposal

BY ALICE PEART

Public submissions on the proposed Farley crematorium have reopened for a second round after continued push back from the community.

Residents have been calling on Maitland City Council to reject the proposal since it was revealed in January this year.

The 'Say No To Farley Crematorium' community group say they don't want another PFAS or Pasminco situation on their hands, in reference to the expected mercury and dioxin emissions from the site.

"With the contamination that is in the air, it will end up in water tanks. A lot of young families are moving into the area. With mercury, it effects young children especially, even pregnant mums can be effected as well so that is a real serious issue",  said resident Barbra Bright.

Ms Bright is encouraging the public to call the council to find out more about the proposal, saying submission information online is difficult to access.

Submissions close November 26.

An artist interpretation of the proposed crematorium. Image: SHAC Architects

Major Delays Following Fatal Crashes at Morisset, Cooranbong

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

There are major delays following two fatal crashes on Lake Macquarie's roads.

At Morisset, a man has died after being struck by a car on Fishery Point Road around 12:30 Thursday afternoon.

He is yet to be formally identified.

The car's male driver has been taken to Wyong Hospital for mandatory testing.

Fishery Point Road is closed in both directions and Police advise it will remain so for several hours as investigations continue.

At Cooranbong, Martinsville Road and Freemans Drive are closed following a fatal collision involving a car and motorcycle.

A man died after his motorbike collided with a car near the intersection of Martinsville Road and Freemans Drive at around 1:30 Thursday afternoon.

Both roads will remain closed for some time and police are advising motorists with non-essential travel plans to avoid the area completely.

Parents should be advised Police and schools are working to establish alternative pick up points for students on school buses, with schools expected to advise guardians of the situation.

Built-up traffic is expected to remain heavy at both scenes for several hours as the roads remain closed.

UPDATE: Search for Woman Missing from Singleton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police say Carissa Starr has been located safe and well.

The 30-year-old attended Port Macquarie Police Station around 10 o'clock Wednesday night, having been reported missing on Tuesday evening.

EARLIER:

Police are appealing for help to locate a woman missing from Singleton.

Carissa Starr was last seen leaving a home between 2:30 and 4:30 on Tuesday afternoon and was reported missing later that night.

The 30-year-old is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 165-170cm tall, with an average build, black hair and brown eyes.

Carissa may be travelling in a white Mazda 3 with NSW registration plates ECW 10Z and has connections in Singleton, Tamworth and Gosford.

There are concerns for Carissa's welfare and anyone who sees her or knows of her whereabouts is urged to make contact with police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Carissa Starr. Image: NSW Police Force

Image: NSW Police Force

Female Employee charged with stealing almost $40,000 from Port Stephens business

By Isabel Everett

A 42 year-old-woman has been charged with stealing almost $40,000 from a Port Stephens business over a two-year period.

Police officers from the Port Stephens Police district began an investigation after the owner of the restaurant on Soldiers Point Road noticed discrepancies in the business' takings. 

Police arrested the woman at approximately 8:15 am on Tuesday in her Nelson Bay home, following their extensive inquires. 

The woman has been charged with 16 counts of steal property and was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday the 9th of December 2019.

BREAKING! Shot Fired During Domestic Dispute At Fingal Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been charged after he allegedly discharged a firearm during a domestic dispute at Fingal Bay.

Police say the 40-year-old became involved in an argument with his 38-year-old ex-partner at his Bombora Close home on Tuesday afternoon which quickly escalated.

It's alleged the man produced a pistol and fired a shot inside the home which penetrated a fly screen and a neighbour's garage before becoming lodged in an external in a brick wall on Shoreline Drive 

More than a dozen police cars then converged on the Salamander Bay shopping centre just after 5.00pm where the man was arrested.

He was arrested and taken to Nelson Bay Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:

• Fire firearm into building or onto enclosed lands
• Possess loaded firearm endanger life non-public place
• Handle/use firearm under the influence of alcohol
• Stalk/intimidation intend physical harm (Domestic) and possession ammunition without a licence
• Possess unregistered firearm
• Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit

He was refused bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 6 November 2019).