Horror Long Weekend On Our Roads Prompts Plea From Police Minister

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police Minister and Swansea MP, Yasmin Catley says it was a horror long weekend on the state's roads, with 7 people killed including one in the Hunter.

Northern Region police issued more than 19-hundred infringements, with 615 drivers booked for speeding, 65 found to be over the limit and 123 driving with illicit drugs in their system.

A 19-year-old man lost his life when his motorcycle collided with a utility at Mount Thorley on Thursday night.

Police say in one case, a speeding driver at Lambton was found to be almost FOUR times over the limit when he was pulled over on Griffiths Road on Anzac Day.

It's alleged the 31-year-old tried to move into the passenger seat when police pulled up beside him, almost forcing the front seat passenger out of the vehicle.

Yasmin Catley says there are seven people who are not coming home and families are dealing with terrible grief.

"I implore everyone to make safe, responsible choices every time you operate a motor vehicle," she said.

Police Minister and Swansea MP Yasmin Catley

Young Man Dies After Being Shot Following Fight At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

Homicide detectives are combing for clues after a man died after being shot following a fight at Bar Beach overnight.

Emergency services were called to the car park on Memorial Dive at about 11.40pm on Wednesday to find a man with a gunshot wound.

Paramedics treated him, but he died at the scene.

Police have been told a group of people were fighting in the car park when a white SUV drove up and a man armed with a firearm got out, fired, and left in the vehicle.

The victim is yet to be identified but is believed to be aged 18.

Strike Force Bolwarra comprising detectives from Newcastle and the Homicide Squad are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. 

 

5.1 Magnitude Quake at Singleton – Did You Feel It?

 BY PETER HYSLOP

People across New South Wales have reported shaking after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Singleton and Broke.

There’s been almost 3000 felt reports of the tremor- it struck just before 3am at a depth of 10 kilometers.

People as far down as Sydney have reported shaking. In Newcastle homes have rattled- but emergency services haven’t recorded significant injuries or damage, though reports could come in during the morning.

It’s a bigger quake than the one felt in August last year, which caused minor damage to the town centre at Muswellbrook.

Experts say the Hunter-Mooki fault line is close to the region and could be to blame, which caused Australia’s deadliest earthquake in Newcastle in 1989, but locals are wondering if surrounding coal mine blasting could be playing a role.

The quake has been reported in world media including the New York Times.

Image Credit: GeoScience Australia

 

Petition Started to Protect Future of Gummun Place near Merriwa

 BY PETER HYSLOP

 A Change.org petition’s being started to keep aged care service Gummun Place open near Merriwa after Upper Hunter Shire Council said a decision’s yet to be made on a private operator.

Once permission has been received from a consultant, Council’s voted to release information on the process.

But residents say its closure would mean leaving elderly people without crucial support at the only facility of its kind in town.

They’re demanding an urgent intervention to save the Hostel from closure, and a comprehensive review of the Federal Government’s funding model for aged care.

It’s received over 450 signatures.

Gummun Place. Credit: Upper Hunter Shire Council

 

Police Seize Commercial Quantity Drug Haul from Blacksmiths Traffic Stop

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Police have allegedly seized large quantities of MDMA, methylamphetamine, cannabis and a large pill press from the Lake Macquarie home of a 34-year-old man at the weekend, following a routine traffic stop at Blacksmiths.

At Midday on Good Friday, officers from the Highway Patrol Command undertook a search of a Toyota SUV at the Blacksmiths surf club carpark. The driver allegedly failed the drug test.

The man allegedly resisted arrest and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.

The following day detectives allegedly located the items in a search of his home. The matter’s now before court.

Blacksmiths Beach car park. Credit: Google Maps

 

Police Investigate Fatal Crash At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has died in a two-vehicle crash at Muswellbrook.

About 5.30pm on Tuesday emergency services were called to reports of a collision between a utility and a motorbike on Maitland Street.

They arrived to find the motorcyclist, a man aged 18, had died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified.

Police say he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The driver and passenger of the ute - both men aged 19 - were not injured.

The driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

A report is being prepared for the coroner as investigations continue.
 

 

One Man Dead, Another Critical After Being Rescued From Surf At Shoal Bay

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Port Stephens community has been rocked by the death of a swimmer at Shoal Bay.

Police say the 24-year-old man and another 25-year-old man, both Nepalese nationals were swimming at Zenith Beach at about 2.45 yesterday afternoon when they got into trouble in the surf.

It's believed a group of teenagers came to their aid, pulling both men from the water.

The younger man could not be revived and died at the scene.

The other man remains in the John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
 

Zenith Beach next to Tomaree Mountain at Shoal Bay