Wild Storms Lash The Hunter And Mid North Coast

BY IAN CROUCH

Volunteers from the State Emergency Service have been kept on their toes across the Hunter as wild storms lashed the region late yesterday and overnight.

Around a 1500 homes in Anna Bay and Raymond Terrace lost power at the height of the storm which caused localised flash flooding.

Glendale recorded 35 millimetres of rain in just 30 minutes.

Phil Campbell from the SES says hail stones the size of golf balls were reported in some areas.

"We've had state-wide some 224 calls for emergency help - many of those have been in the Hunter, in particular around the Maitland and Lake Macquarie areas and up around the lower parts of the mid north coast, particularly around Coopernook," he said.

Two People Charged Over Violent Neighbour Dispute At Cooranbong

BY IAN CROUCH

A man and woman are due to front Toronto Local Court today after a violent neighbour dispute at Cooranbong.

Around 3.30 yesterday on Thursday afternoon, it's alleged the 40 year-old man and 46-year-old woman forced their way into a neighbour's home on Currans Road, returning on several occasions over several hours.

The pair are accused of assaulting a 44-year-old man, leaving him with superficial injuries.

Police say the alleged male culprit was treated in hospital for what's been described as a significant injury after he broke a glass door to gain entry.

It's not clear what sparked the incident.

Cardiff Creep Strikes Again

BY IAN CROUCH

Police suspect the man  dubbed the Cardiff Creep has struck again.

A 15-year-old girl was approached by a man as she walked near a stormwater drain near Fifth Street just before 8.30 on Thursday morning.

The man exposed himself and performed an indecent act.


The girl left the area and police were alerted.

An investigation is underway and police are appealing for public assistance to locate the man involved.

He’s described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 30s or 40s, with a large build and short dark hair.

The man was wearing an orange long-sleeve fluorescent shirt with long black pants and black boots.

Police are investigating whether the incident is linked to similar acts in the same area in August.

No Say For Morpeth Residents on Heritage

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A request for support of a consultation process with the Morpeth community to get a heritage nomination listing underway has been knocked back by Maitland City Council.

At council's meeting on Tuesday night eight of the twelve councilors voted against the consultation requested by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage suggested in a letter to the council that they provide "in principal" support for the nomination to allow the Heritage Division to begin community consultation in Morpeth and surrounds to determine what support there is for the listing.

The consultation would happen before any official heritage listing.

Morpeth Heritage Conservation Group President Simon Brooker is slamming the council's decision and said it's not the first time they've tried to get the town heritage listing -  back in 2007 Morpeth received a nomination but then it seemed council tossed it in the bottom drawer.

"I don't know whether there's sour grapes within the components of Maitland City Council that certain people didn't get elected into the positions that they wanted or whether there's another agenda there we just don't know. But just voting no to allow a community to have a say is reprehensible as far as a council is concerned," said Simon.

Simon also said the heritage nomination won't stop any development within the town, but what it will do is make sure any development is consistent with the heritage of the town and its surrounding countryside.

He said the decision council made against the town having a say doesn't bode well for the their future.

"It's staggering and what is even more staggering is that our elected council, the people who we vote in and whose rates we pay, decided to vote no for allowing their community to have a say on their future. It's absolutely quite extraordinary," said Simon.

Armed Robberies in the Hunter this Morning May Be Linked

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have taken a man into custody near the Shell Service Station at Heatherbrae after a couple of armed robberies in the Hunter this morning.

Police were called to the Telarah IGA store just after 9am following reports a man allegedly armed with a knife got away with cash and a packet of cigarettes.

No one was injured.

There was allegedly another robbery less than an hour later at The Junction Village Pharmacy on Kenrick Street at The Junction.

It's believed it took a dozen police officers and the PolAir to arrest the man at Heatherbrae.

He's been taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and is assisting police with their inquiries.

Police say they're investigating whether the two incidences are linked.

Updated: Residents Concerns About Cessnock Gaol Expansion Still Not Addressed

BY IAN CROUCH

Corrections Minister, David Elliott has responded to concerns raised in the media about access to the Cessnock Correctional Centre as part of the prison's expansion.

In a statement, the minister said that while existing access arrangements are adequate, a traffic management plan is being prepared to take into account the prison's expansion and he won't rule out changes once the plan is completed.

"Corrective Services NSW continues to consult with Cessnock City Council to examine all options for future access to the site. A number of proposed alternatives are being considered. We take community concerns very seriously and would like to reassure local residents and businesses that their concerns are being considered," he said.

NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott

Construction is about to begin on the 330 bed expansion of Cessnock Gaol, but residents concerns about the project still haven't been addressed.

Corrections Minister, David Elliott turned the first sod on the facility yesterday, which will make Cessnock one of the largest gaols in the state.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent says the creation of 70 new jobs is welcome, but residents will still be left with the visual impact and the cost of maintaining a council road into the state-run facility.

"It would be nice if we could sort out the screening issues to the residents who live close by and to sort out the access on state roads and not the ratepayers paying for the maintenance of the roads into a state facility," he said.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent

Woman Charged Over Alleged Involvement in Cannabis Grow House

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 44-year-old woman will face Newcastle Local Court today for her alleged involvement in a cannabis grow house.

She was arrested yesterday afternoon at a business in Kotara in relation to the investigation.

The woman was refused bail and charged with knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.

As well as the woman's arrest, police executed a search warrant at a Hunter Street address yesterday where a number of items were seized for forensic examination.

It comes after police uncovered an elaborate hydroponic set-up and a large number of cannabis plants at a commercial premises on Steel Street, Newcastle West on Tuesday.

Investigations are continuing.

Cannabis Plants uncovered on Tuesday Image NSW Police Force

Cannabis uncovered on Tuesday
Image NSW Police Force