Young Man Stabbed in Clarence Town

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A 22-year-old man has been stabbed overnight in Clarence Town, resulting in the arrest of a 32-year-old man.

Emergency services were called to a unit on Grey Street around 11pm, where Port Stephens-Hunter Police found the victim with stab wounds to his hand, hip and leg.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and rushed to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police arrested a man nearby - he was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, destroy or damage property less than $2000, and other charges related to a previous outstanding warrant.

He was refused bail and will appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today. 

BREAKING! Light Plane Crash Lands At Maitland Airport

BY IAN CROUCH

A twin-engine light plane has crash-landed at Maitland Airport.

The pilot, who was the only person on board, radioed the aerodrome just before 10.00 o'clock this morning to advise his aircraft was having problems with the landing gear.

It promoted a major emergency response from NSW Ambulance and NSW Fire and Rescue crews.

The pilot executed a belly landing on the runway, with the plane running off into grass alongside the airstrip.

He managed to get out of the aircraft and is being treated by paramedics - it's reported he's suffered only light bruising to his left arm.

Firefighters have laid a layer of foam around the aircraft as a precaution.

Police Launch Critical Incident Probe Into Fatal Cessnock Crash

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have launched a critical incident investigation into a single vehicle crash which claimed the life of a 60-year-old man at Cessnock.

Officers were making inquiries to locate the man when they spotted him driving a Nissan Navara on Richmond Vale Road at about midday yesterday.

However, he drive off at high speed when he saw them and crashed into a tree and died at the scene.

Officers from the Newcastle Police District have been appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and are appealing for anyone who can assist their investigation to come forward.

Help UoN Researchers Understand Drought

BY HOLLIE HUGHES

 

Drought affected residents in regional and rural areas of New South Wales are being invited to participate in an online survey by climate researchers at the University of Newcastle which focuses on the links between drought and individual well-being.

 

Research lead, Emma Austin says information gained from the survey is crucial to the implementation of initiatives to better support residents within communities frequently experiencing drought.

 

"We invite anyone living across regional New South Wales who is over 18 to participate in this survey and help us inform new programs for regional residents."

 

Survey participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences of adapting to drought and the ways in which they have developed resilience in adversity.


"We know that drought is a global issue impacting people's mental and physical health, the more residents who participate in the survey...the more information we will have to better inform programs to support those impacted."

Austin says that gathering the information is significant in order to build our knowledge regarding the ways people have coped and adapted to past and present droughts, allowing for the development of programs to assist those in the same situation in the future.
 "The survey questions are focused on the ways in which residents have adapted to drought in the past and will provide us with information regarding the relationship between drought and well-being, along with adaptive capacity and how to develop resilience when overcoming adversity."

The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete with all participants going into the draw to win a $400 VISA gift card.

For more information or to complete the survey visit the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health website at https://www.crrmh.com.au/.

Image Sourced: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=drought&FORM=HDRSC2

 

 

 

 

Bikie Arrested in Muswellbrook After Extortion Investigation

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

An Upper Hunter member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested among four others over an alleged extortion attempt against a fellow bikie. 

Strike Force Raptor officers launched investigations in August after a 51-year-old man was seriously assaulted and had his house set on fire as part of the alleged extortion.

Yesterday, police executed search warrants at 10 properties across the state, at Mudgee, Dubbo, Gulgong, Yarrawonga, and Muswellbrook seizing 14 firearms and prohibited drugs.

A 47-year-old bikie was arrested in Muswellbrook and charged with gun offences - He'll face court in January.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace, praised the work of officers.

“Strike Force Raptor is relentless in its pursuit to disrupt the activities of OMCG members that pose a risk to the community at large,” Det Supt Wallace said.

“We will not tolerate any form of thuggery and will continue to knock on their doors and put them in the back of police cars until these criminal groups are dismantled.

“Anyone in the community who has information on organised criminal activity across the state, we want to hear from you.”

Image: Herald Sun. 

Bobs Farm Sand Mine Details Released, Public Submissions Welcome

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

The Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Bobs Farm sand mine has been released today, and residents are being invited to make public submissions to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

The proposal involves extracting 10 million tonnes of sand 15 metres below the water table across roughly 30 hectares of land near Bobs Farm in Port Stephens.

The details of the proposal were given to residents in an emotional community meeting last month, with nearly 40 residents meeting with project developer Tattersall-Lander Director, Bob Lander to receive the news.

The Environmental Impact Statement had not been made public to residents at the time of the meeting, but the initial details given attracted fierce criticism from residents at the meeting, as well as from Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington.

Kate Washington said the information given was "shocking and appalling," and described residents being in disbelief at the news.

Concerns raised at the meeting included environmental and safety concerns for the town, including for nearby Bobs Farm Public School which celebrated its centenary last month.

The project's manager Bob Lander says the Environmental Impact Statement made public today shows the proposal is compliant with environmental regulations, and downplayed criticism of the project.

"There's always criticisms of change, and there's always criticism of mines in particular. There is community concern that this is likely to be the worst thing that's ever been invented.

"A lot of the community concern I think is real, but it needs to be understood that this application is complex. It's nearly 3 thousand pages," he said.

Mr. Lander suggested that persons who are concerned should examine the details of the study, and the efforts made to mitigate environmental impacts before making up their minds.

"I acknowledge that there is community concern, and I am not sure that it's well-founded at the moment."

Kate Washington slammed the proposal as a "betrayal" against the community and the public school.

"How could anybody think that it's okay to dig up ancient sand dunes to 15 metres below the water table and then leave a 24-hectare void. It is unthinkable," she said.

Details of the proposal also included up to 180 truck movements a day, which would pass Bobs Farm Public School along the route.

Tattersall-Lander says that a consultative committee has been suggested to help the community to understand the application, but the offer has been declined.

"At the moment, the community has not decided to take offer that up. I would strongly urge the community to do so, so that we can open up an avenue for discussions about the impacts and for the way forward."

Mr. Lander has encouraged residents who are concerned with the proposal to make a public submission to the Department.

"The advertising period we have chosen with the department is a pre-Christmas period because it will extend it. Normal advertising period for a state significant development like this is usually four weeks," he said.

The period for public submissions will close on 1 February.

Read the proposal and make public submissions here.

The proposed sand mine will involve the clearing of roughly 24 hectares of land. 

Hunter Escapes The Worst Of The Wild Weather But SES Crews Kept Busy

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter has largely escaped the worst of the wild weather which caused havoc in Sydney, although local SES crews have been kept busy.

The Weather Bureau described an intense storm cell which passed through parts of the Upper and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens yesterday afternoon as dangerous.

Ausgrid restored power to about 1300 homes at Medowie yesterday morning, while wind gusts reached 80 kilometres per hour at Nobbys at 1.42 this morning.

Phil Campbell from the SES says crews were called out to dozens of jobs in Newcastle East and Port Stephens.

"We have had around 320 calls for emergency help in the Hunter area. Most of those have been relating to leaking rooves, but also with the strong winds that we've had overnight we have had reports of trees and branches down as well.", he said.

Meanwhile, the Hunter has had some welcome rainfall, especially in drought-affected areas.

The Singleton Army Base has recorded 52 millimetres since 9am yesterday, Muswellbrook had 45 and Scone 27 millimetres.

The highest rainfall was recorded at Seaham, which has had 76 millimetres.

The Weather Bureau is predicting a few showers today.