Newcastle Hit With Flash Flooding In Overnight Downpour

 BY IAN CROUCH

Parts of the Newcastle CBD went under water on Thursday night as a torrential downpour triggered flash flooding.

Merewether recorded 75mm, while Blacksmiths had 70mm and Swansea 60mm.

At one stage, water completely covered the intersection of King and Steel Streets, but Newcastle Police say the water subsided quickly once the rain stopped around midnight.

Many people took to social media calling on Newcastle Council to address the need for better drainage in the city.

The heavy rain came on top a major electrical storm on Wednesday afternoon, which also brought a downpour, causing many streets and drains to quickly fill with water.

The intersection of King and Steel Streets went under water at about 11.00pm on Thursday. Picture: Corey Crookes

BREAKING! Firefighters Battling Large Factory Fire At Wickham

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are battling a large fire at an industrial unit at Wickham.

Newcastle Fire Command says they received 4 triple zero calls to Newcastle Auto Electrics at the corner of Foundry and Church Streets just after 3.30am on Thursday to find the factory complex well alight with flames through the roof.

Around 40 firefighters and the Hazmat unit are at the scene.

Firefighters are battling the flames in defensive mode from the street and here are reports the roof of the building has collapsed.

There are reports several cars are on fire at the premises.

Oily smoke is impacting Wickham residents living to the north of the fire, with police issuing messages urging people to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed.

Police and Ambulance crews are also at the scene. 

The fire caused extensive damage to the business and a number of cars Picture: Fire & Rescue NSW

Spike in whooping cough cases leaves many concerned

 BY OLIVIA GOELDNER

A total of 34 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the Hunter this year, the highest seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Data reveals case numbers in the last two months have surpassed those recorded across the entirety of 2023. 

The bacterial infection is highly contagious and has proven to be deadly in young children, with symptoms lasting up to three months. 

Officials from The John Hunter Hospital are urging anyone who is able to get a booster shot of the vaccine to do so. 

Arguing it can offer protection from the illness for three to four years. 

Spike In Gastric Bug Cases In The Hunter Prompts Health Warning

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter New England Health is urging residents to take precautions against cryptosporidiosis, with a major outbreak sweeping the state.

Around 500 cases of the nasty gastric bug have been reported in the first two weeks of February, including almost 50 in our region.

It's most often caught by people while swimming who've swallowed water, and is particularly prevalent in young children.

The microscopic parasite cryptosporidium causes diarrhoea. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, headache and loss of appetite.

Health authorities say people should avoid going swimming for at least two weeks after symptoms disappear and to practice good hand hygiene. 

 

Hoarders Residence At Cessnock Destroyed By Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have worked for almost three hours to extinguish a fire which engulfed two sheds at Cessnock overnight.

Crews responded to ten triple-zero calls to the Campbell Street address just before midnight, arriving to find the sheds and a large amount of rubbish on the property up in flames.

28 firefighters from five stations including a ladder platform from Newcastle took almost an hour to bring the blaze under control.

Newcastle Fire Command says the property was a hoarders residence and no-one was injured in the fire.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known but police say the fire is not being treated as suspicious. 

Firefighters mop up the blaze in Campbell Street overnight. Picture Kearsley Fire & Rescue

 

Driver Charged With Driving Recklessly and Furiously On Newcastle Inner City Bypass

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have charged a man with driving recklessly and furiously on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at Hillsborough.

Highway Patrol officers say just before 4.00am on Sunday they detected an MG SUV being driven at 196km/hr in a 90 zone on the bypass.

They pulled the car over and subjected the driver to a random drug test where it's alleged he returned a positive result.

The 27-year-old, who was allegedly driving on a disqualified licence, was taken to Belmont Police Station where he underwent a second drug test.

The Stockton man's been charged with driving while disqualified, drive recklessly and furiously or speed manner dangerous and exceed speed by more than 45km/hr.

He faced Newcastle Local Court on Sunday where he was granted strict conditional bail to face the same court on March 7.

Police Investigate Armed Robbery On New Lambton Restaurant

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for a man who held up a New Lambton restaurant at gunpoint.

It's alleged the man walked into the Domino's Pizza restaurant on Regent Street at about 10.15pm on Sunday and threatened a 23-year-old male employee with a firearm while demanding cash.

The man then fled with an amount of money.

The employee wasn't injured during the incident.

The wanted man is described as being of thin build and about 170-180cm tall.

He was wearing a black motorcycle helmet, a white t-shirt over a black jumper, black pants, white sneakers with a blue trim, black gloves and was carrying a brown bag.

Anyone with information or who is able to identify the man is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.