Man Facing Court Over Alleged Property Offences In New Lambton

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man will face court later this month accused of attempting to break into homes and cars at New Lambton.

Police say two men attempted to enter homes and vehicles on Duke Street and Henderson Place early last Tuesday morning.

Investigations led to a the search of a unit on Christo Road at Waratah yesterday (Wednesday 9 October, 2024) where police say clothing and jewellery were seized along with a key to a vehicle reported stolen from Rankin Park last Thursday.

A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with several offences including attempted break and enter in company, larceny, goods in custody and breaching bail.

He's been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on October 17.

Investigations are continuing.

BREAKING! Windale Home Destroyed By Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a house at Windale overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says they were alerted to the fire in the single level fibro home on Sturt Street just after 2.30am on Thursday.

More than 30 firefighters from five stations and the Newcastle Hazmat unit were called to the incident, taking around 90 minutes to fully extinguish the blaze.

The residents were not home when the fire broke out.

The fire is being treated as suspicious and the Fire Rescue Investigation Unit and Forensic Police are looking into how the fire started.

BREAKING! Crews Battling Garage Fire At Medowie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews are battling a garage fire at Medowie.

Newcastle Fire Command says firefighters from Raymond Terrace and an RFS crew from Medowie were called to Overland Avenue at about 4.45am on Wednesday to find a 10 x 20 metre detached garage well alight.

Crews have been tackling the blaze in defensive mode from outside the building for almost an hour but are expected to move to offensive mode soon.

It's understood the fire is contained to the garage and a 5 bedroom brick and tile home on the property has not been impacted.

Police and ambulance crews are also at the scene.

UPDATE! Concerns For Woman Missing From Rutherford

 BY IAN CROUCH

Great News!

Police have advised that Catherine has been found safe and well.

They've thanked the  public and the media for their assistance.

EARLIER:

Police are appealing for public assistance to find a woman who's gone missing from the Maitland area.

48-year-old Catherine Copeland was last seen at Rutherford at 3.00pm on Monday 7 October, 2024, and police were notified when she couldn't be located or contacted.

Police and family hold serious concerns for her welfare.

Catherine's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with a solid build and shoulder length red hair.

She's known to frequent the Rutherford, Nundle Hanging Rock and Tamworth areas.

If you've seen Catherine or know where she is call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing woman Catherine Copeland

Newcastle Electoral Roll Missing: Voters Warned

 BY JORDAN REGNIS and IAN CROUCH

It's feared the data of more than 30,000 electors enrolled to vote in Newcastle Council's Ward Three could fall into the wrong hands, after a printed roll used to mark off electors went missing.

The data on the roll includes the voter's identification number, full name, address, date of birth and sex.

For silent electors, the data includes their identification number, full name and sex

The roll was raised as potentially unaccounted for after a polling place was packed down at the end of election day.

The NSW Electoral Commission has urged those affected to be on alert for the possible misuse of their personal details.

The Commission is contacting affected individuals directly by mail, with details on what steps they can take to protect their personal information.

It is also working with police and the NSW Privacy Commissioner.

There data covers 30,971 electors covering Birmingham Gardens, Georgetown, Jesmond, Hamilton North, Kotara, Lambton, New Lambton, New Lambton Heights, North Lambton, Rankin Park Wallsend(part), Waratah and Waratah West.

 

The data of more than 30,000 electors in Ward 3 of the Newcastle LGA may have been compromised

Three Teens Arrested Over Pursuit In Alleged Stolen Car At Cessnock

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have arrested three teenage boys following a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car at Kurri Kurri overnight.

Officers spotted the car on Deakin Street at about 12.20am on Tuesday, but say the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit began.

The chase went through several suburbs before the car stopped in Love Street at Cessnock.

The driver, a 19-year-old man, and two male passengers aged 16 were arrested.

The man's been charged with police pursuit, unlicensed driving, drug possession and car theft.

he's been refused bail to face Cessnock Court today.

One of the 16-year-old boys is facing the children's court today - the other will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Origin Pulls Out Of Hunter Hydrogen Hub Project

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Orica says it remains open to holding discussions with interested parties to progress the Hunter Hydrogen Hub after Origin Energy announced it's walking away from the project.

The energy giant sited the slow pace of development for commercial hydrogen as the reason from withdrawing from $207 million joint project at Kooragang Island.

A spokeswoman for Energy Minister, Chris Bowen said the decision is disappointing for workers and businesses involved in developing the hub.

In a statement, Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien said Origin's decision to walk away from the project is a blow to the government's renewable energy goals and puts Australia's energy security in jeopardy. 

 

The future of the Hunter Hydrogen Hub is in doubt after Origin pulled out of the project