Monthly Archives: May 2016

Deliberately lit bushfire – Cessnock

Police are appealing for public assistance after a suspicious bush fire in the Hunter Valley this morning.

About 2.30am (Thursday 26 May 2016), a suspicious fire was lit in bush near the corner of Long Street and Old Maitland Road, Cessnock.

This spot has houses in close proximity. The fire burned an area of 20 x 10 metres before being extinguished by Fire & Rescue NSW officers.

Nobody was injured.

Police from Central Hunter LAC are investigating. There was a similar incident at the location on Saturday (21 May 2016).

Any witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Yarara Gap reconstruction officially opened by Greater Hume Shire

NEAR misses between trucks and cars on the Yarara Gap are a thing of the past following the completion of one of the biggest road projects in Greater Hume Shire in recent times.

The $3.5 million reconstruction of a notorious 2.3-kilometre section of the Jingellic Road was officially opened on Tuesday.

Jingellic Road is a major link road between the Hume Highway and the Upper Murray areas with travel times reduced by up to 10 minutes.

But Greater Hume mayor Heather Wilton spoke with personal experience about how dangerous the Yarara Gap stretch was before the upgrade.

“It was a very narrow, winding, steep gradient with nowhere to pull off if you got into trouble,” she told The Border Mail.

“It was being used by log trucks, B-doubles, stock transports and if you were caught on the wrong side of one of them it was a very scary event.

“You can actually drive on the road in top gear now.

“Previously you were lucky to get up in second gear.”

B-double transports will be the biggest beneficiaries of the upgrade.

The council estimates 30 new jobs and 100 indirect jobs will be created as a result of the better road over the Yarara Gap.

Sawn logs from the softwood forests of the Upper Murray to the Ettamogah rail hub and Norske Skog paper mill can be carted by B-doubles instead of semi-trailers and livestock trucks previously avoided the road due to safety concerns when travelling between Holbrook and Corryong.

Freight carriers will also have a viable alternative if Tumbarumba Road is shut to bushfires as happened in 2014.

Greater Hume worked with Tumbarumba Shire in building the case for $1.75 million in federal funding and another $750,000 from the NSW government.

Cr Wilton praised the efforts of contractors to keep the road open during the 30-week reconstruction.

“Community engagement efforts prior to the letting of the tender and during the project meant that affected residents were kept informed throughout by council,” she said.

“The fact that the roadway remained open during the project met with high community approval.”

Albury MLA Greg Aplin attended the official opening along with representatives of contractor RECivil, project manager GHD and residents.

XLam to open Australia’s first cross laminated timber manufacturing plant in Albury-Wodonga

Albury-Wodonga, on the Victorian/New South Wales border, is set to be home to Australia’s first cross laminated timber (CLT) manufacturing plant.

CLT is fabricated by bonding together timber boards with structural adhesives to produce a solid timber panel, with each layer of the panel alternating between longitudinal and transverse layers. Alternating the grain directions of each layer reduces many weakness found in other timber products.

The $25 million XLam operation is expected to create up to 54 jobs when its begins operations, scheduled for 2017.

While XLam is yet to determine a location to establish the 60,000 square metre plant, the company hopes construction will begin as early as next month.

XLam Australia business development manager Rob De Bincrat said Albury-Wodonga stood out as a competitive destination for investment.

“So we did a lot of feasibility on a lot of different locations and Albury-Wodonga stacked up significantly compared to others,” he said.

“The reason for that is location to the Hume Highway and also the ability to source skilled labour for the 54 direct and indirect jobs we’ll require to bring this development to fruition.”

He said the investment would be a major boon for the border community.

“From a jobs perspective we’re looking at a total of 30 direct roles in manufacturing and service-linked roles within the business and approximately 24 indirect jobs within areas like distribution, services, just growing distribution,” he said.

“The site will be a highly visited area with clients and the popularity of CLT across the world, so it will also assist with hotels and local-led entertainment.”

Man charged over alleged hydroponics – Morisset

Police have executed a search warrant at a home in Morisset, seizing a hydroponics set up and over 30 cannabis plants.

About 9.20am on Tuesday 24 May 2016, police executed two search warrants at units on Kalaf Avenue, Morisset.

Inside the locations police located a highly sophisticated hydroponics set-up, consisting of three large hydroponic tents.

Each of the tents contained numerous cannabis plants, lights, fans, transformers and ventilation ducting.

Police seized 31 mature cannabis plants, 42 cannabis clones, 27 hydroponic lights and transformers, numerous carbon filters and fans, as well as an amount of cannabis leaf.

Police arrested the 39-year-old leaseholder at the location.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, cultivate prohibited plant and alter or add to electricity installation for metering.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on 8 June 2016.

Police to host information sessions with Aboriginal communities – Central Hunter LAC

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command (LAC) will next week host information sessions to discuss ways police and Aboriginal people can work together to create stronger, safer communities.

The information sessions will take place at various locations within the command, in the state’s north, between Monday (30 May 2016) and Tuesday (31 May 2016) next week.

The sessions are being conducted as part of the NSW Police Aboriginal Strategic Direction (2012 – 2017), which is a blueprint for how LACs engage and interact with Aboriginal communities.

This policy aims to build strong relationships between police and Aboriginal people, and deliver meaningful outcomes for their local communities.

It has four key priority areas: to ensure community safety; improve communication and understanding between police and Aboriginal people; reduced involvement and improved safety of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system; and Aboriginal youth offending.

“Over the next few months, we are hosting information sessions at more than 40 commands across NSW to enhance community knowledge about the Aboriginal Strategic Direction,” NSW Police Force Corporate Spokesperson on Aboriginal Issues, Acting Deputy Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said.

“It’s not the first time we have reached out to Aboriginal communities about the policy; we held a similar round of community-engagement activities in 2012 and 2013,” Acting Deputy Commissioner McKechnie said.

“However, we are taking this opportunity to revisit Aboriginal communities across the state – including within Central Hunter LAC – to reinforce the powerful ways in which police and Aboriginal people can work together to build stronger, safer communities,” he said.

“As the Aboriginal Strategic Direction is up for review next year, we will also be seeking input on how we can forge even more productive partnerships between police and Aboriginal people in the future,” Acting Deputy Commissioner McKechnie said.

Representatives from the NSW Police Aboriginal Co-ordination Team will run the information sessions, which are taking place within Central Hunter LAC at the following locations and subsequent times:

Monday 30 May 2016

9.30am: Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council (Chelmsford Drive, Metford)

Midday: Barkuma Neighbourhood Centre (Lang Street, Kurri Kurri)

Tuesday 31 May 2016

10am: Mayaroo Aboriginal Organisation (Wine Country Drive, Cessnock)

Man wanted on warrants – Wagga Wagga

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted on three warrants in the Wagga Wagga area.

Mason George Lee, aged 25, is described as being Caucasian in appearance with a medium build, he has brown hair and brown eyes and is about 175cm tall.

He was last known to be living in the Mount Austin area.

The warrants have been issued for revocation of parole, breaching a bond, and robbery in company.

If anyone knows his whereabouts, they are asked to contact police at Wagga Wagga Local Area Command or Triple Zero ‘000’.

Police seize firearms, illicit drugs, cash and motor bikes following search warrants in Newcastle – Strike Force Malsbury

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command established Strike Force Malsbury to investigate drug offences in the area.

As a result of this investigation, two men were arrested at a service station in Warnervale in the early hours of Friday 20 May 2016.

Following these arrests, four search warrants were executed in Newcastle CBD at two residential units and two storage units.

Police located and seized:

– Three firearms (shortened shotgun, pistol and pen gun);

– Five motorbikes;

– One car;

– $10,000 cash

– Five pounds of cannabis

– Four ounces of ‘ice’

– 30 MDMA pills;

– Large number of power tools

A 32 year-old-male has been charged with various drug supply and drug possession offences.

A 20 year-old-male has been charged with drug supply and drug possession offences.

Both men were refused police bail and appeared at Wyong Local Court on Friday 20 May 2016. The men were again refused bail and are due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 17 July 2016.

Inquiries are continuing in relation to the investigation.

#Tracksmeantrains – Level crossing campaign comes to the Upper Hunter

Traffic and Highway Patrol officers are targeting risky driver behaviour at level crossings in support of a campaign in south west NSW with a particular focus the Upper Hunter.

The enforcement starts today (Monday 23 May 2016) and runs until 28 May 2016.

This is part of an ongoing series of safety campaigns relating to level crossings, and is a joint initiative by the NSW Police Force and Transport for NSW.

The aim of these campaigns is to reduce the number of collisions on the state’s 1400 public-level crossings. Between 2001 and 2015, there were 122 collisions involving trains and road vehicles at level crossings throughout the state.

Further, research by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) indicates there can be up to 10 ‘near hit’ incidents involving trains and a motor vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle riders every month.

As part of the operation, officers will be on the look-out for dangerous motorist behaviour such as ignoring signs, speeding near level crossings and illegally using a mobile phone rather than concentrating on the level crossing.

In 2015, NSW Police issued 470 penalty notices for level-crossing offences, and this figure has been trending upwards for four years.

“Even with the inherent dangers involved, we still see a disappointing number of drivers ignoring safety warnings and controls at NSW level crossings,” campaign coordinator Senior Sergeant Mick Timms, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said.

“These campaigns remind drivers to take extreme care at level crossings and not become complacent, as a single moment of distraction or recklessness could cost them their life,” Senior Sergeant Timms said.

Man charged following investigation into alleged fire and drug seizure – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged with alleged drug offences following investigations into a fire at a Lake Macquarie industrial site last week.

Shortly after midday on Friday (20 May 2016), emergency services were called to an industrial site on Kalaroo Road, Redhead, following reports of a fire.

On arrival Fire & Rescue NSW crews extinguished the blaze and uncovered an alleged hydroponic set-up.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command searched the premises and allegedly located 38 cannabis plants, more than 8kg of cannabis leaf and more than $35,000 in cash.

All items were seized for forensic examination and a crime scene was established.

Following investigations, a 52-year-old man attended Belmont Police Station yesterday (Sunday 22 May 2016) and was arrested.

He was charged with deal in proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug, cultivate prohibited plant and possession of prohibited drug.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 29 June 2016.

Investigations are continuing.

Police renew appeal over missing woman – Goulburn

Police have renewed their appeal for information about a woman who has been reported missing from Goulburn since last month.

Lin Dinnien, aged 56, was last seen by staff at a medical facility on Clifford Street, about 4pm on Wednesday 13 April 2016.

Ms Dinnien is described as being of Asian appearance, about 150-155cm tall, of medium build, with shoulder length black hair and brown eyes.

When last seen, Ms Dinnien was wearing a grey cardigan, black tights and sandals.

Ms Dinnien has no fixed place of abode and is known to frequently travel on trains throughout Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane Water areas.

Police continue to make inquiries into her whereabouts and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.