Match of the RoundWest Wallsend SFC 0-2 Wallsend FC  Wallsend FC coach Chris Gallagher believes individual efforts made the difference in their 2-0 victory over West Wallsend SFC in the first match of the Wallsend Derby on Sunday afternoon.  The two sides couldn’t be separated for the first half despite persistent efforts from each side.   a scramble in front of goal almost gave Wallsend an early lead but the ball was sent out of play.  West Wallsend Jed Conway had a shot heading towards the back of the net but Wallsend’s Piaget Abayo produced a goal-line clearance to prevent his side from going down 1-0.   Wallsend were forced to make another goal-saving tackle just six minutes later when James Lowe prepared to launch the ball into the goal but was denied by Angelos Karvelis.   The Bluebells came out firing in the second half with two shots on target in the 50th and 54th minute but were unable to capitalise.   The first goal of the game came in the 55th minute after the Red Devils were awarded a penalty following a tackle attempt by Bluebells' Kaleb Cox.  Wallsend’s Bailey Ryan wasted no time and launched a hard shot into the middle left securing his side a 1-0 lead.   West Wallsend’s Mitch Kramer produced a strike from the top of the box just three minutes later but sent the ball over the crossbar.  The Red Devils second goal of the evening came in the 74th minute when Matt Williams struck the ball from the top of the box into the bottom left corner.   The Bluebells' injury tally appeared to rise when Dain Greentree went down clutching his knee.   Despite having possession for the majority of the second half West Wallsend were unable to capitalise on their chances and sent the Red Devils away with a 2-0 win and bragging rights in the first match of the Wallsend Derby.  we had a clean sheet again and better decision making this time,” Gallagher said.   “Individuals did their roles and did what they were meant to do for the most part.   “There are still some things we need to work on some discipline but even set pieces today were a lot better.”  C.Gallagher believed Zach Gallagher's return to the squad also heavily contributed to their second win of the season.  “We finally have Zach as our 10 and he’s linking up much better with the other players,” said C.Gallagher.  “We didn’t really have anyone that’s an actual 10.   “We’ve got Cody Halpin to come back in and Cody until he got suspended was a goal a game I think it’s just individuals.   “We get the right individuals at the right time West Wallsend coach Bailey Cox said the lack of consistency in their squad has resulted in their recent run of results.   “It’s hard just for the players in and out and just not the consistency in the squad each week,” Cox said.   “So many chopping and changing each week but the balls in their half for the whole second half and probably was the whole first half as well and we got beat 2-0.”  Cox wanted his side to return to full focus and stop having lapses in judgment “Just again we can’t score goals and then little mistakes cost us two goals,” said Cox.   so we still can’t put together a full 90 minutes.”  The Bluebells have now only had the one win in round one and Cox is hopeful their luck will change soon.  “I’m sick of having 20 shots and not scoring goals,” Cox said.  I just don’t know when and when the luck’s going to turn West Wallsend will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Lake Macquarie City on Saturday afternoon.  Wallsend will hope to keep the good times rolling when they travel to Lydon Oval on Sunday afternoon to go head-to-head with Dudley Redhead United.  Kahibah FC 2-0 Dudley Redhead United  Kahibah FC secured the first win in the newest derby in the competition after they defeated Dudley Redhead United 2-0 under Friday night lights at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.   The two sides came out fighting for the newly formed Matt Smailes Cup who spent years at both clubs and recently passed.   It took the Rams just eight minutes to net their first of the evening when Tyson Masters continued his round five form and scored his third of the season.   Jaidyn Kianou doubled his side’s lead in the 22nd minute after he was able to find the back of the net.  Neither team could add to the scoreline for the remainder of the match which sent Kahibah away with a 2-0 win and one hand on the Matt Smailes Cup.   Kahibah remain second on the table and will look to continue their winning ways when they host South Cardiff FC on Wednesday in the round six rescheduled match.     Dudley will search for their third win of the season when they close out round eight going head-to-head with Wallsend FC.   Cessnock City Hornets 2-4 Toronto Awaba FC  Toronto Awaba FC kept their momentum going when they defeated Cessnock City Hornets 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at Turner Park.  The two sides could not be separated for the majority of the first half but it was Cessnock’s Zach Kronholm who broke the deadlock right at half-time to send his side into the sheds with a 1-0 lead.  Toronto’s Nick Roberts equalised for his side in the 61st minute when he was able to find the back of the net.    Damon Green added to the Stags' tally for the afternoon when he hit the back of the net just five minutes later in the 66th minute.   The Stags didn’t hold onto the lead for long before Kronholm scored his second of the evening and equalised for his side in the 67th minute.   but it was Toronto who broke first when Jarrod Purcell found the back of the net for the first time in the 77th minute.   Purcell secured his side all three points when he scored his second in the 88th minute sending the Stags back to Lyall Peacock Oval with a 4-2 victory.   Toronto extended their lead at the top of the table and will look to continue their winning ways when they host South Cardiff FC on Friday night.  Cessnock fell to eighth on the table with a game in hand and will hope to lock in their third win of the season when they take on Thornton Redbacks on Sunday afternoon.   South Cardiff FC 4-3 Thornton Redbacks  South Cardiff FC won their first game since round one when they defeated Thornton Redbacks 4-3 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility in the closing match of round seven on Sunday.   The Gunners opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Elijah Nyman.  Thornton equalised in the 28th minute when Mamadou Diop found the back of the net off a corner and then quickly stole the lead four minutes later after Nathan McAllister scored in the 32nd minute from a corner.   It appeared the Redbacks would take a 2-1 lead into half-time but a goal in the 43rd from South Cardiff’s Charlie Gibson sent the sides into the sheds locked up 2-2.   South Cardiff didn’t wait long to regain the lead after Brendon King netted his side's third goal of the evening in the 47th minute.  Thomas Walker doubled the Gunners’ lead in the 53rd after they were awarded a penalty goal.  Four minutes later Caleb Walz brought the Redbacks within reach of walking away with a point after he found the back of the net in the 57th minute.  they were unable to add to the scoreboard and South Cardiff walked away with all three points for just the second time this season.   Thornton sits at the bottom of the table and will look to round eight when they host Cessnock City Hornets on Sunday afternoon.   South Cardiff jumped to fifth on the table and will hope to keep the good times rolling when they go head-to-head with Kahibah FC on Wednesday night in their round six rescheduled match.   Lake Macquarie City v Singleton Strikers  This match was postponed due to wet weather conditions.   robberies and petty theft are not uncommon to Wallsend residents with many stating the area’s crime is only growing worse have decided to speak out against the increasingly high levels of offences severely impacting local business owners and neighbourhoods Since the closure of Wallsend Police Station in 2006 instances of petty crime have slowly risen in the area According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) theft rates in Lake Macquarie experienced an increase from December 2023 to December 2024 Wallsend business owner Tiana Burnham has been a victim of robbery and theft on several occasions with both her car and home being subjected to frequent attacks Her most recent incident saw her handbag and other belongings stolen out of her vehicle while she was at the gym on Wednesday 23 April “I just looked in there and everything was gone,” she told the Newcastle Weekly She said while the incident was unfortunate it’s not uncommon for local members of the surrounding community “It happens so often that people have just given up reporting it,” Ms Burnham added that’s the general consensus around the community people just don’t bother because nothing happens.” the state government decided to close Wallsend Police Station which eventually led to an apparent spike in illegal behaviour the closest station is Waratah,” Ms Burnham explained it takes them 15-20 minutes if someone comes straight away “I get that they’re under the pump and they’re under-resourced “Everywhere that seems to be a little bit further away from a police station is getting targeted more.” Ms Burnham sent a stern email to an Inspector at Newcastle Police Station “I would like to ask what action police are taking to mitigate these break-ins?” she asked in the message our area is targeted as there is simply a lack of police presence I asked them what I could do to better protect my home “Their response were words to the effect of ‘you’ve already done everything “I’m sure you will agree that the overall response from police on the last occasion was completely unacceptable until your involvement “Are we waiting for someone to get hurt while defending their home so that an inquiry is opened?” the officer told Ms Burnham the issue had been raised with the Crime Manager and a targeted operation was to be organised for the area since that email exchange on 20 September 2023 “They’ve explained to me that police stations aren’t necessary there anymore because all police cars have been set up to be ‘mobile police stations’,” she said “I responded: ‘that’s fair and that’s great “There needs to be a bigger police presence “I don’t think even the data they have is accurate due to so many people now not even reporting because nothing gets done “The community has zero faith in the system.” Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Click through to read our latest Issue of Newcastle Weekly Skip to main content The city's growing Western Corridor has led to increased traffic over time Council committed to upgrading the roads along the Western Corridor to reduce congestion We are working to improve conditions along this important link to the city by increasing the width of the road to two lanes in each direction at locations as identified in the Western Corridor Transport and Traffic Study and making changes to some intersections to reduce bottlenecks Upgrades to the Western Corridor and the supporting road network will be delivered in stages: The proposed upgrades to Longworth Avenue will feature several key changes all of which are aimed at reducing congestion to the immediate area and for the greater Western Corridor We are planning to widen the roadway along Minmi Road Wallsend and create a four-travel lane configuration by utilising the existing constructed road and the available road reserve on the southern side The award of a tender for the delivery of these major upgrades was discussed at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 26 November 2024. We are working with Daracon to deliver the construction in stages to help minimise impacts to traffic and community we must account for wet weather and other potential delays.  We recommend you review the 'notification letters' section of this project page You'll find the latest work information uploaded there Associated traffic changes – From May to June 2024 we asked the community for feedback on these changes that aim to ease congestion, reduce bottlenecks, and increase safety for all road users during this major road project. Please visit our associated traffic changes Have Your Say page to find out more.  This roundabout installation was approved by Council under the Wallsend Public Domain Plan (PDP) as a dual lane roundabout we fast-tracked installation to have an interim single lane version to assist traffic flow before the Longworth Avenue upgrades.  The long-term version as a dual lane roundabout requires further planning once the major works for the Western Corridor upgrade have been completed.  Currently there are two travel lanes and two parking lanes along Longworth Avenue The upgrade will widen the lanes and create four x 3.2m wide travel lanes.  On-street parking will only be available during non-peak periods Signage will be in place once the road is reopened to help drivers.  While every effort has been made to minimise the impact to the existing tree canopy there will be unavoidable impacts to street trees We are committed to planting twice as many new trees in neighboring streets and creating vibrant native pollinator gardens along the footpath This initiative reflects our dedication to enriching Newcastle's urban forest Read more about this on our dedicated Trees in the Western Corridor page. We acknowledge that the road construction on Longworth Avenue in Wallsend will affect traffic as well as pedestrian and cyclist movement in the area We are also aware of the traffic-related issues in the Wallsend area including informal detours that drivers take to bypass delays at certain intersections further modifications to line marking and median configurations are planned for the intersections at Tillie Street and Douglas Street We have added the intersections of Tillie Street and Sandgate Road to our list of potential future upgrades The development of options for these locations is underway but it will take time to ensure thorough community consultation secure approvals from external authorities We will continue to monitor traffic conditions related to the Longworth Avenue project The existing shared pathway on the northern side Cameron Street will be closed during the major works for safety of pedestrians and cyclist This area will have a steady increase of traffic from diversions that will be in place Please refer to the Cameron Street cycleway and detour alternative route map The cycleway is needed to provide a safe and efficient alternate route for cyclists during the closure of the shared pathway on the northern side of Cameron Street which is required for the Western Corridor Road Upgrade increased traffic at the Tillie Street crossing due to construction diversions makes an alternative route essential for both pedestrians and cyclists Pedestrians will be redirected via Cameron Street cannot accommodate a wider footpath due to existing trees further emphasising the need for the Stapleton Street cycleway The two-way cycleway on Stapleton Street is a trial designed to provide an alternate route while the shared pathway for cyclists and pedestrians on the northern side of Cameron Street is closed This trial will remain in place for the duration of the Western Corridor Road Upgrades Once the shared pathway on Cameron Street reopens the Stapleton Street cycleway might stay until improvements are made to the shared pathway crossing at Tillie Street We are looking into the intersections of Cameron Street This review will include options for improving the Tillie Street shared pathway crossing the cycleway on Stapleton Street could be removed allowing cyclists to return to using the vehicle lanes as they do now The trial cycleway is only along the northern side or even house number side and will remain until the existing Tillie Street crossing point is improved.  Resident garbage bins along the northern side of Stapleton Street will need to be placed in the parking lane side of the cycleway There will be some minor improvements to streetlighting in Stapleton Street along with temporary solar lighting Stapleton Street will also have line marking temporary barrier installation and some ramps and a footpath at the intersection of Douglas Street Changes have been made to the proposed traffic modifications based on feedback drivers will now be allowed to make a left turn from Nash Street onto Cameron Street The revised plan also includes a left turn slip lane for drivers coming north on Douglas Street to turn onto Cameron Street This aims to reduce the number of vehicles using Stapleton Street to access Cameron Street from Nash Street there will be a 5-tonne weight restriction on Stapleton Street which will coincide with the connection from Stapleton Street to Nash Street traffic on Stapleton Street (between Douglas Street and Nash Street) it is expected to increase due to staff movements during the morning and afternoon shifts at the Hunter New England Health Wallsend Campus the anticipated traffic volumes will still fall within the range typical for a local street In the future we will investigate a potential upgrade of the Bunnings roundabout to provide two through lanes of traffic westbound with a merge back to one lane after the roundabout.  We will also investigate options for improvements for traffic turning left from Maryland Drive into Minmi Road and for the provision of two lanes of traffic eastbound between Fletcher and Wallsend.  We're glad you asked! Please visit our Delivering for Wallsend page to see what we have planned Transport for NSW are also delivering major road upgrades in Newcastle and the surrounding areas. Click the link to find out more about the Transport for NSW projects. broken glass in the office area.Wallsend Swimming Centre has had to remain closed on the last day of the season after the pool premises were damaged in a break-in All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Frances Street swim centre was broken into sometime overnight between Saturday No equipment was taken during the break-in however a City of Newcastle spokesperson said the office area was ransacked items were thrown into the pool and the facility sustained "a variety of damage" including broken glass on the pool concourse extensive graffiti and damage to the kiosk door The matter was reported to police about 6am Sunday and the council spokesperson said police arrived about 9am to investigate Broken glass in the pool's office area Picture supplied"We thank police for attending to the site so quickly on a Sunday morning in what were atrocious weather conditions "City of Newcastle strongly condemns this activity as it damages much-loved shared community spaces and can be dangerous and costly to repair." The pool remained closed for all of Sunday as police forensics were yet to comb the scene which manages the pools posted to social media thanking the community for understanding "We understand this was disappointing for our local community and our team on the final day of the season," a message on the Newcastle Pools Facebook page read Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery, a vocal critic of the privatisation of the pool's management said on social media she attended Wallsend pool about 6am to have a swim on the final day of the season to find it was closed "A group of us stood outside at 6am," she said Details about the pool's closure due to the break-in were shared on the Newcastle Pools Facebook page just after 7am "Pool staff spoke with customers throughout the morning to explain the closure and shared details on their social media," the council spokesperson said Police said an investigation into the matter was underway Anyone with information about this incident is urged to report it to Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers NSW on 1800 333 000 The incident comes after the pool was also ransacked in another break-in in January 2025 Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020. Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Don't miss your weekly Knights update Get the latest property and development news here tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords 30 April 2025 12:04 pm · Hunter News · Ian Crouch It’s taken almost three years to come to fruition but work is finally under way to provide an automated in-ground watering system for Wallsend Park The park off is home to the Wallsend Cricket and Football Clubs which have relied on volunteers to manually water the grounds to keep them in top condition Federal Newcastle MP Sharon Cladyon says it’s $285,000 in federal funds well spent “We’ve got this work now underway from a commitment I made last election … those works are being done separately but we can see some great progress now being made,” she said Wallsend Cricket Club President Peter Hanna says a separate grant application for $250,000 is in the pipeline to improve drainage which will help prevent games from being washed out “I think they lost almost half a football season here,” he said “It’ll take this ground from being a very good ground to an excellent sporting facility,” he said 2NUR FM acknowledges Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures by 22 April 2025 Friday the 25th of April 2025 to pay respect to those who lost their lives in war and honour serving and returned servicemen and servicewomen – March from 5am – The Anzac Service will be at the Federal Park Cenotaph – Breakfast will be served at Wallsend Diggers from 6.00am (Tickets for breakfast are $15 each and are available from club reception now – Brien McVernon will be performing from 12pm in the lounge area Don’t forget that Two-Up is back at Wallsend Diggers this Anzac Day in the Mezz Bar The first toss starts at 10am and finishes at 1pm Entry to the Mezz Bar and Two-Up is over 18’s only #AnzacDay #Anzac #LestWeForget #AnzacDay2025 NOTE: Please note that events listed on this site are subject to change by the artist Every effort is made to ensure that the event information listed on this site is accurate should you be concerned please contact the specified venue for verification We encourage you to contact the venue before making plans Privacy Policy Our simplified product lineup offers bespoke and affordable advertising options designed to capture the attention of our hyper-local audience We create original and engaging media to tell your story sell your tickets and get people through the doors it’s on Newcastle Live – the Hunter’s source of entertainment and lifestyle news and information We’re devoted to all the great things happening in the region We’ll keep you up to date with what’s on in Newcastle and across the Hunter region The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are building more homes in Newcastle with nine new social housing units nearing completion in Wallsend thanks to joint funding from the Commonwealth's Social Housing Accelerator Fund (SHAF) and local government The new nine-unit development at Curry Street is being delivered thanks to a partnership between Homes NSW and the City of Newcastle who each agreed to jointly fund the construction of more dedicated social housing for the Wallsend community Work commenced in mid-2024 on the new two-storey block which has been built at a cost of $4.42 million creating 19 jobs throughout the lifetime of its construction located on the traditional lands of the Awabakal people will feature four 1-bedroom and five 2-bedroom homes the new units are expected to be finished by mid-May and will soon provide safe and modern homes for up to 16 new residents Homes NSW allocated funding for the build from the Commonwealth SHAF's vacant accelerator stream which has already restored and renovated more than 300 previously uninhabitable vacant homes The new homes demonstrate what's possible under the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program which will build 8400 new homes for public housing deliver 21,000 new affordable and market homes and upgrade 30,000 social housing properties Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said: "It is fantastic to see the Albanese Labor Government's Social Housing Accelerator Fund being put to such good use here in Wallsend "We know we need to supercharge social housing delivering and this new development is being turned around in under a year with new homes to help reduce Newcastle's social housing waitlist which have replaced ageing and not fit-for-purpose homes and are close to local amenities such as shopping NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said: "We will continue to work tirelessly to expand the number of new social housing developments across the state including finding well-located sites with vacant homes where we can deliver better for the most vulnerable people in our community "This successful partnership between the NSW Government and the City of Newcastle should be a signal to the sector and all levels of government that we are ready and willing to work together to confront the housing crisis "We will continue to deliver more and better housing across the state thanks to the Minns Labor Government's record investment in social housing and this collaborative approach." NSW Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said: "This is the latest incredible new development in the Wallsend area making a real difference to the lives of those most in need of safe and secure housing "It's a shining example of what can be achieved when we commit to innovative partnerships and I thank City of Newcastle and the Commonwealth Government for working with us "The NSW Government is increasing the building of social housing properties in the Wallsend electorate working to bring down the social housing waitlist Lord Mayor and Federal Member for their dedication to this cause." NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said: some people in our community don't have a place to call home and that's why access to secure housing needs to be a priority "The Minns Labor Government is not just talking about housing we're taking action to make it a reality for those who need it because having a home is the foundation for a strong and stable life "I'm looking forward to seeing these new homes make a real difference in our community." "This historic partnership between City of Newcastle and the NSW Government is helping to increase the supply and range of housing to ease the stress of the most at-risk community members while supporting investment and creating jobs "Social housing provides an important safety net for the community and City of Newcastle wants to ensure social housing continues to be built in the right places with good access to jobs "With Newcastle's population predicted to boom in the near future this partnership is crucial to delivering better outcomes for the community." Wallsend Park is receiving a significant upgrade with the installation of a new in-ground irrigation system thanks to a $285,000 investment from the Commonwealth The much-needed improvements aim to support the site’s biggest sporting organisations Wallsend Football Club and the Wallsend RSL Junior Cricket Club to meet the future demand of the community Work’s now underway with an automated sprinkler system which can be remotely operated via a smartphone app This modern technology is already making a difference by reducing the workload on volunteers and ensuring the grounds are ready for use more often The federal investment is part of a broader commitment to local sporting infrastructure including a separate $3 million pledge to install drainage and irrigation at the neighbouring Upper Reserve Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon welcomed the start of the project “Wallsend Park is a hub for local sport… and these upgrades will make a real difference for the people who use it week in “These clubs are at the heart of our community “The Albanese government is proud to be investing in the future of community sport right here in Wallsend.” which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary has used the field continuously throughout its century-long history President Peter Hanna said the irrigation project was a game-changer “It’s significant for the club in that it future-proofs our ability to provide high-class sporting facilities in our local area,” he explained “It will also significantly reduce the level of effort and time in the weekly preparation of practice and playing wickets for both our junior and senior teams reducing manual watering and associated workload for out volunteer curation team “That assistance is something that’s really appreciated today where it is increasingly difficult to attract and retain volunteers.” We are working to improve Wallsend's resilience to stormwater.  The replacement of Wallsend's Boscawen Street and Nelson Street bridges is planned to improve flood mitigation as well as the look and feel of Wallsend's CBD area.  and the span lengthened to accommodate the future widening of Hunter Water's stormwater channel leading to improved resilience to heavy rain events impacting Ironbark Creek.  Detailed design of both bridges is complete and the intent is to construct the Boscawen Street bridge first and then the Nelson Street bridge to minimise traffic impacts.  Before construction planning can commence arrangements for access to the stormwater channel and areas adjacent to the bridge need to be made.  At the February 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting a proposal was endorsed to acquire a property adjacent to the bridges and channel, which is necessary for completion of each project Consultation with the owners of 68 Nelson Street has commenced.  Timing for construction of the new bridges will be confirmed following this process.  Want to know what else is happening in Wallsend? Visit the Delivering for Wallsend page by 14 April 2025 NSW best travelling market is back in town for Easter Newcastle we are back for a fun weekend out for the whole family!Join us for Easter weekend kids receive a Crystal and an Easter Egg on completion of the kids quiz 🌟We will be having an Easter egg hunt for the kids between 10-11am on Easter Sunday morning! 🌟Also our super crafty Jess from our Craft workshops will have Easter themed accessories to adorn your mini terrariums if you’d like to add them We are indoors and kid friendly so don’t stay cooped up inside during the Easter break with plenty to see buy and do for the whole family with unique stalls and traders from all around NSW direct to you!⭐️Crystals ⭐️Makers ⭐️Artists ⭐️Jewellery ⭐️Gems & Fossils 🌟Candles ⭐️Healers ⭐️Psychics ⭐️Mediums ⭐️Crystal Terrariums &Workshops ⭐️Natural Body Products🌟Ayurvedic healing Products 🌟Spiritual Products 🌟Henna Tattoos 🌟Kids Facepainting 🌟Kids Craft Workshops Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th April 10am-5pm both days Wallsend Diggers5 Tyrrell stWallsend NSW 2287⭐️TICKETS ONLY SOLD AT THE DOOR Adults – $5Children 16 and under – Free ⭐️PARKING Plenty of parking available at the venue We are coming to you with an exciting weekend for the whole family!Come have fun with us Join us for a 2 day event of magic and wonder at the Crystals This event is perfect for anyone interested in exploring the mystical and spiritual world and mystics who will be showcasing their unique creations and offering their services Browse through a wide selection of crystals and crystal creations or book a reading or healing session with one of our mystics 🔮 This is a one-of-a-kind event that you won’t want to miss ⭐️ Crystals and Gemstones: Explore a diverse range of crystals and gemstones presented by some of the finest crystal dealers in the region Find out how you can use different gemstones to improve your overall health and well-being Our Traders have every crystal under the rainbow as well as gems ⭐️ Creatives and Artisans: Experience the creativity of local artisans and find unique treasures that you won’t find anywhere else Our fabulous Creatives handmake Unique Jewellery ⭐️ Alternative Healing Techniques: This fair is all about holistic therapy Learn about unique alternative healing methods like Reiki kinesiology and crystal healing from experienced professionals ⭐️ Psychic and Tarot Readings: Receive guidance from some of the best psychic readers in the area and have your tarot cards read by experienced tarot interpreters to discover more about yourself and your journey ⭐️$500 Lucky Door Prize to win💸 plus lucky entry tickets through each day to win prizes from our traders 🌟Join our workshops to make crystal trees ⭐️ Free Kids Quiz where they learn about gems and minerals from the traders and then receive a crystal and an EASTER EGG once they have completed it Contact 0414520314 for stall enquires or more info (please note we are full with jewellery and crystal stalls but interested if you make creative items with crystals or a spiritual twist)😊 ⚡️So excited to see you Newcastleon 19th & 20th April 2025 10-5pm!⚡️ Nine new social housing units are nearing completion in Wallsend thanks to a combined effort from all three levels of government Work on the $4.42 million Curry Street development – jointly-funded by the Commonwealth’s Social Housing Accelerator Fund (SHAF) Homes NSW and City of Newcastle (CN) – started in mid-2024 The two-storey complex will feature four one-bedroom and five two-bedroom homes “It’s fantastic to see the SHAF being put to such good use in Wallsend,” Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said “We know we need to supercharge social housing delivery this development is being turned around in under a year NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said the building would provide safe and modern dwellings for up to 16 residents “Homes NSW allocated funding from the Commonwealth SHAF’s vacant accelerator stream which has already restored and renovated more than 300 previously uninhabitable vacant homes,” she stated “We’ll continue to expand the number of new social housing developments across the state “This successful partnership between the NSW Government and CN should be a signal to the sector that we are willing to work together to confront the housing crisis.” Delighted Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery added it would make a real difference to the lives of those most in need of safe and secure housing in the suburb “It’s a shining example of what can be achieved when we commit to innovative partnerships,” she said “I thank City of Newcastle and the Commonwealth for working with us “The NSW Government is increasing the building of social housing properties in the Wallsend electorate I’d like to express my gratitude to the Minister Lord Mayor and Federal Member for their dedication to this cause.” “This historic partnership between City of Newcastle and the NSW Government is helping to increase the supply and range of housing to ease the stress of the most at-risk community members while supporting investment and creating jobs,” the Lord Mayor said “Social housing provides an important safety net for the community council want to ensure it continues to be built in the right places with good access to jobs “With Newcastle’s population predicted to boom in the near future this alliance remains crucial to delivering better outcomes for the community.” Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here. present and future will be celebrated next month with a family-friendly festival to mark the 150th anniversary of Wallsend being declared a municipality City of Newcastle has worked with the local community to create a hallmark event featuring something for all ages including musical and cultural performances Wallsend Business Improvement Association board member Luke Whitby Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk prepare for the upcoming family-friendly celebrations in Wallsend The celebration will run from 1pm to 6pm on 17 August with Wallsend Park to host art workshops and food stalls while most of the action will take place near the historic rotunda and on Nelson Street Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Wallsend's significant contribution to our region during the past 150 years deserves a major celebration "City of Newcastle has worked hard to prepare for this unique milestone with extensive road resurfacing on Nelson Street as well as a pressure cleaning campaign on the footpaths and around the 136-year-old rotunda," Cr Nelmes said "Wallsend was once a mining colony that once supported around 7500 workers and their families The local coal was some of the best in Australia and played a major role in the development of Newcastle as a port city "Since then the suburb has become a vibrant home to a unique and close-knit community emerging as a multicultural hub that attracts young families from all over the world." Thousands of people are expected to attend the celebration on 17 August held in a familiar timeslot to the former Winter Fair with entertainment throughout the afternoon from an impressive line-up of performers on the main stage Visitors will be able to step back in time and into a photo booth wearing historical dress The Creative Co will keep the kids entertained with messy play and a cake smash Wallsend's rich history will be projected onto buildings through a collection of digitised photographs Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is aiming for a vibrant and accessible event for everyone to enjoy "Wallsend is a place of inclusivity and belonging so it's only fitting the 150th anniversary celebration has the same theme," Cr Nelmes said "First Nations artists will kick off proceedings and then to reflect Wallsend's multicultural diversity other performers with inspiration from across the world will entertain including samba from Brazil "Along with a range of community-led activities and markets there will be something for everyone." This event is supported through the NSW Government's Vibrant Streets Program Construction of a dual lane upgrade in Wallsend is underway which will improve traffic flow along notorious bottlenecks in the area The road-widening project should enhance the journey for tens of thousands of residents workers and school children travelling to and from the surrounding suburbs each day Areas of focus will be Minmi Road and Longworth Avenue which are prone to consistent amounts of heavy congestion which will lay the foundation for the lane duplications The overall project is expected to be completed in the second half of next year The $40 million venture received a $7.62 million investment under the Accelerated Infrastructure Fund from the state government Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge welcomed the significant milestone and thanked the NSW Government for its support of the critical upgrade “This project is unanimously supported by the elected council and highly-anticipated by the local community increased safety and more consistent travel times along this key route,” he said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the upgrade in Newcastle’s western growth corridor would provide essential road infrastructure and accelerate housing delivery in the Newcastle region “Expanding local road capacity is crucial to support more than 3,000 local homes in the surrounding area,” he added “Residents can look forward to reduced congestion and fewer bottlenecks as we build more homes and improve local neighbourhoods.” Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley stated it was an important project for current and future generations “The Hunter is booming and we’re making sure the infrastructure keeps up,” she said safer travel and a region that’s future ready “It’s all about getting people from A to B quickly and safely – not just today but for generations to come “That’s why we’re making these upgrades happen now.” Council’s executive director of city infrastructure Clint Thomson said CN was investing in a comprehensive multi-year program of works to upgrade transport and related infrastructure in Wallsend “This is a significant road building project in a busy urban area and a lot of work has to be completed underground before the community will see the new road emerging,” he explained “The foundational works deliver additional benefits to the community including new and upgraded stormwater infrastructure and renewal of several important water mains which will improve water security for the western suburbs.” City of Newcastle will invest more than $50 million into Wallsend during the next five years as part of a long-term vision to upgrade roads more connected active transport links.  The multi-year program of significant investments in essential infrastructure will provide a host of benefits including improving traffic flow through road upgrades and widening Minmi Road Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen and City of Newcastle staff at the site of the new roundabout which is one of the projects being delivered in Wallsend during the five-year The first stage of the Minmi Road Western Corridor widening project starts this week with the installation of a single-lane roundabout at the busy intersection of Newcastle Road and Cowper Street This will improve traffic flow during peak periods and ease congestion and increase safety for all road users while the Minmi Road Western Corridor works are underway Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the projects will enhance key community infrastructure in the heart of the growing western suburbs "We are committed to delivering projects that not only benefit the community now but also pave the way for future progress as our city continues to grow," Cr Nelmes said "Newcastle's western suburbs have experienced strong population increases during the past decade Fletcher and Minmi area growing by around 46 per cent and Wallsend and Shortland rising by more than 20 per cent since the 2011 Census "Our long-term plans for Wallsend recognise the needs of this booming population centre and reinforce our commitment to maintaining and enhancing its essential community infrastructure "This includes road and bridge upgrades to alleviate traffic congestion creating safer and more accessible cycling and pedestrian pathways as well as enhancing flood mitigation measures to bolster Wallsend's resilience to storm events "These upgrades in Wallsend will benefit both businesses and residents by delivering a safer A map illustrating where the program of works will be occurring in Wallsend Further details can be found on the project page online The dual-lane road upgrades at Minmi Road and Longworth Avenue are currently in the detailed design phase with works planned to commence next year.  To improve traffic flow both ahead of and during construction of these major upgrades a series of associated traffic changes are also planned with Councillors to vote on the outcomes of the recent public exhibition at Tuesday's Council meeting Other highlights of the five-year program include bridge renewal projects at Boscawen Cowper and Nelson streets to help reduce the risk of flooding in the Wallsend CBD This will be complemented by the ongoing rehabilitation of Ironbark Creek to ensure the waterway and floodplain behave in more predictable ways during major flood and rain events Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon and lord mayor Ross Kerridge Picture by Peter LorimerFinal touches are almost done on a project to replace old "dilapidated" cottages with new social housing units in Wallsend All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLocal state and federal government representatives led a walk-through of the nine units on Curry Street on Tuesday The new complex will feature four one-bedroom apartments and five two-bedroom homes and is expected to be completed by mid to late May NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the ageing "dilapidated" cottages had served their purpose but were well past their use-by date modern units that are imminently going to be open for people who are desperately waiting for that social housing roof over their head," she said it's projects like this on street after street right across NSW that are going to make the difference." Picture by Peter LorimerFederal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said waitlists for social housing were far too long and the new build would house up to 16 people "This project was rolled out in less than 12 months We want to see builds like this right across Newcastle," she said The Wallsend project was jointly funded by Homes NSW from the Commonwealth's Social Housing Accelerator Fund and the City of Newcastle Construction started in mid-2024 and cost $4.42 million City of Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said the original block was built at a time when the goal was to house larger families but now there was a higher need among single and elderly people tolerate domestic violence because they have nowhere to go," Cr Kerridge said Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery and Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the housing would hopefully make a real difference for people who needed it most some people in our community don't have a place to call home and that's why access to secure housing needs to be a priority," Ms Catley said The state government had committed to building 8400 new homes for public housing by 2031 and upgrading 30,000 social housing properties throughout the state Ms Jackson said half of those homes would be dedicated to women and children leaving domestic violence situations but that she did not have a regional breakdown of the planned properties yet Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy It’s been a rough start to the year for one Newcastle couple – after an inferno gutted their Wallsend property overnight It took crews close to three hours to control the blaze – in what was a very challenging incident for fire fighters 31 March 2025 2:27 pm · Hunter News · Ian Crouch Work is underway on one of the single biggest infrastructure investments in Newcastle Council’s history. The road widening project on Minmi Road and Longworth Avenue at Wallsend is set to improve travel times for tens of thousands of residents, workers and school children. Contractor Daracon has begun in-ground works which will lay the foundation for the lane duplications, with the 40 million dollar project set to be finished by mid 2026. Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull says it’ll cause major changes for motorists. “It’s a very very important investment. The western suburbs are on the forefront of the city’s growth. We’re seeing a lot of new housing opening up in our western suburbs and we need to be providing the critical infrastructure to support our growing population and all that new housing in our western fringe,” he said. 2NUR FM acknowledges Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders both past and present. Newcastle federal MP Sharon Claydon and federal Water and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek Picture suppliedFederal Labor has pledged $10 million towards improving flooding at Wallsend's notorious Ironbark Creek if re-elected in May Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe government said it would contribute towards a $62 million flood mitigation and naturalisation project that will widen the channel It is expected the state government will fund the remainder of the project and Hunter Water will complete the works Wallsend has experienced severe flooding events in 2007 2020 and 2021 which severely impacted the community Wallsend state MP Sonia Hornery has long campaigned for an upgrade, and the state government completed a feasibility study on channel widening in 2024 City of Newcastle has also worked to upgrade several bridges in Wallsend to help alleviate the flooding issue. The $62 million project also involves converting the graffiti-covered drain to a living stream by providing new aquatic habitat to link restored upstream riparian corridors with the Hunter Wetlands Ms Hornery said the $10 million contribution was "very welcome" "This project is vital for the residents and businesses in the low-lying areas of Wallsend to protect against future flooding events like we saw in 2007 and 2015," she said "I've been working for this project for years so to see this contribution means a great deal to me." Newcastle federal MP Sharon Claydon thanked Wallsend residents for their "steadfast advocacy" on the issue "For too long our community has lived with the shocking consequences of major flooding which has caused significant distress for residents while also constraining economic development in Wallsend," she said "This $10 million commitment from the Albanese Labor government is another great example of governments working together to deliver for our community." Federal Water and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the project would turn a degraded drain into a thriving creek and provide "vital" habitat to native species while improving flood resilience Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? 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Fresh daily! including a project in Newcastle's western suburbs Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFootball Australia (FA) released its 'Securing Our Football Future' policy proposal to government on Saturday lighting and drainage at community level across the next decade to meet the demands of booming participation numbers The document listed a number of key infrastructure projects for its member federations It included building a new facility at Creek Road which FA states has the support of Newcastle council Newcastle council declared last December it would investigate building a new sporting facility for the city's western suburbs An update on the investigation was expected at a council meeting on Tuesday night one of the oldest football clubs in Newcastle could be a major beneficiary of the proposed facility Facilties are an issue for the Red Devils, who comprise premier and community teams. They have part-time use of The Gardens racing facility at Birmingham Gardens and also use Wallsend No.1 and No.2 ovals, which players lamented recently had "pretty grim" amenities "We wholeheartedly support the [document's] call for the development of a premier facility at Creek Road," Wallsend Football Club told the Newcastle Herald in a statement "We urge all levels of government to collaborate in this endeavour recognising the significant benefits it would bring to the western corridor of Newcastle." Northern NSW Football chief Peter Haynes said modern infrastructure "Football is Australia's largest team sport with strong roots in Northern NSW communities," Haynes said inadequate regional facilities hinder participation." Wallsend Football Club players Reggie Tremain and Keelin Garry in outdated Wallsend Oval changerooms; a water-logged ground last season; and a concept design for proposed sporting fields at Creek Road Maryland prepared by ADW Johnson Pty Ltd in November 2012 Marina Neil and suppliedA facility that had synthetic fields and would be the home of football for Hunter Valley Football was also recommended in FA's document Newcastle Football general manager Chris Brain welcomed the push to upgrade outdated facilities so our football clubs are trying to run football programs for the 11,000-odd members that we've got but they're also trying to accommodate them in facilities and amenities that are the same amenities as when I was a kid," Brain said then there's a huge gap in relation to now the number of females that play and also the number of amenities that just don't suit use by either gender because they're just so old and so dilapidated "I welcome any kind of review or any kind of process towards improving facilities." Ground drainage is another major issue facing community sports one which came into focus during last year's water-logged season The community football season kicked off over the weekend with play being washed out on Sunday due to a deluge of rain Three spare weekends have been included in the 2025 fixtures draw to help alleviate a repeat of last year's rescheduling nightmare there were 2050 postponed fixtures to be rescheduled and some teams had not played for a month "We had so many issues with wet weather last year," Brain said "We're putting measures in place to make clubs more agile around when they play their games and trying to get games fit in, but we're never going to be able to solve the drainage crisis without millions of dollars being invested." Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au NSW Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos and Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic.A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will invest $5 million to fund master plans for rezoned Hunter mine sites to attract new industry and create jobs All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe money alongside in-kind support from the NSW Government will deliver master plans for buffer land surrounding the BHP Mt Arthur coal mine in Muswellbrook and the closed Glencore West Wallsend coal mine Labor says the commitment is in response to local mayors calling for these master plans as private companies prepare to repurpose coal mines The mayors and government want to ensure "well-paid blue-collar jobs remain in the Hunter for generations to come" Hunter's sitting member and Labor candidate Dan Repacholi said "We are going to invest $5 million to plan for the future of old mine sites in Muswellbrook and Lake Macquarie Labor commits $5 million for post-ming sites at Muswellbrook and West Wallsend"Coal has powered the Hunter for generations and secured goods jobs in the region for more than 150 years the Albanese Labor Government is making sure well-paid and secure blue-collar jobs remain in the Hunter "This is part of the Albanese Labor Government's Future Made in Australia Plan to attract investment for the Hunter and other regional heartlands Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton said his shire "needed a start and that's what this funding gives us" "The buffer land at Mount Arthur isn't just leftover mine land it's a chance to build something critical for Muswellbrook and the Hunter," he said "A master plan is a start on harnessing this land for jobs investment and a future for our communities "We've said all along we need more than talk - we need binding commitments from Sydney and Canberra "All levels of government need to keep pulling in the same direction for the Hunter." From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM. We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. City of Newcastle has commenced work on road improvements needed to pave the way for two significant dual lane upgrades in the growing western corridor Five intersections in Wallsend will be improved as part of these road works which will support traffic flow and increase safety before and during the upcoming road widening project on Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road This follows the recent construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Newcastle Road and Cowper Street The commencement of the additional intersection works is another key milestone in the delivery of the western corridor road improvement project along with the construction tender for the main works which will be presented at the November ordinary council meeting.  Detailed designs have been completed for the upgrades at Longworth Avenue and the stretch of Minmi Road from the Summerhill Road roundabout to Maryland Drive.  The project will widen the roads to deliver two lanes of traffic in each direction which will reduce congestion along these notorious traffic bottlenecks.  City of Newcastle Executive Director City Infrastructure Clint Thomson said the community had shown its support for the work throughout an extensive consultation process "Designing and delivering a multiyear project of this scale is complex and takes careful planning to improve the experience for road users as we continue to cater for ongoing population growth," Mr Thomson said "We have worked with the local community throughout this project and have listened to their feedback on what is a critical link in our road network which connects the growing suburbs of Wallsend Fletcher and Minmi to Newcastle and the wider region "In advance of the main construction works our crews will be delivering upgrades to smaller intersections in the surrounding area to ease congestion and increase safety for road users during and after this major road project." The first stage of these associated works was completed last month with the installation of a new single lane roundabout at Cowper Street and Newcastle Road Further work will be carried out over the coming months to upgrade intersections at Cowper Street which is scheduled to commence at Longworth Avenue in 2025 For more information visit our project page. Picture by Marina NeilLABOR West Ward councillor Madeline Bishop said West Wallsend and Holmesville's "unique" and "beautiful" heritage would be protected after Lake Macquarie City Council tightened planning controls for the suburbs Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCouncillors voted in favour of adopting the revised West Wallsend and Holmesville Heritage Conservation Area at Monday night's meeting at the Swansea Centre The expanded conservation area includes the entire suburban West Wallsend and central streets of Holmesville West Wallsend is particularly important to the Hunter's early development as a mining community and features many late 19th century and early 20th century houses The planning controls prevent unsuitable demolitions and complying developments that disregard the local context Maximum building heights in central West Wallsend have also been reduced from 10 to 8.5 metres to maintain the historical character and development scale of the area Similar development controls are already in place at Catherine Hill Bay and Teralba and I think this change will solidify what can and can't be developed in that area." West Ward Liberal councillor Jason Pauling provided the sole vote against the planning controls Picture by Marina NeilLiberal West Ward councillor Jason Pauling was the sole vote against the change fearing it could negatively impact property prices and impose unfair restrictions on homeowners there are certainly winners and losers," Cr Pauling said "For those who are more inclined to support heritage and the uniqueness of areas such as Teralba the West Wallsend and Holmesville precinct "The flipside of that is the potential restrictions that could be imposed for a number of mum-and-dad kinds of properties." Cr Bishop was clear that the planning controls were required and it will bring clarity to everybody across the city." West Wallsend features various homes dating back to the late 19th century Picture by Simone De PeakLabor North Ward councillor Keara Conroy was also concerned any tightening of heritage restrictions could prevent property owners from making necessary changes to their homes such as installing a disability ramp or completing minor extensions the council's manager of integrated planning confirmed those types of modifications were permitted under the planning controls Councillors also unanimously voted for the adoption of the Teralba Reserve Plan of Management which covers a historic bush cemetery next to the Billygoat Hill housing estate which also featured a children's playground was gifted to council in January last year from the McCloy Group The Teralba cemetery contains graves dating back to 1880s Josh Leeson is a news and features journalist, who focuses on Lake Macquarie, politics and entertainment at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport, including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league. Police are currently searching for a driver who fled the scene after crashing their car into the backyard of a Wallsend property Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Wallsend responded to an emergency call on Douglas Street It was reported a motor vehicle had crashed through a fence and entered the rear yard of a residential property Officers attached to the Newcastle City Police District arrived at the scene shortly after with a FRNSW spokesperson stating the car’s occupants had fled the scene Reports allege the driver left in the direction of Birchgrove Drive Wallsend Fire Station personnel provided assistance in removing the motor vehicle which was towed away for further investigations which would assist regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Newcastle City Police District or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 Subscribe to Newcastle Weekly. News, Community, Lifestyle, Property delivered direct to your inbox! 100% Local, 100% Free. Picture fileNewcastle Herald brings you live updates from breaking news incidents Stay up-to-date with what's going on as the day progresses The blog is free to access for all Newcastle Herald readers, but some article links may only be accessible exclusively to our subscribers. If you have any feedback about the blog please email news@newcastleherald.com.au diary dates and anything you think the news team needs to know Or you can join the conversation in the comment section below just scroll down to start discussing today's news Following several complaints about long wait times parcel lockers have now been installed at the Wallsend Post Office Australia Post was heavily criticised by residents and business owners for closing the Warabrook outlet after similar moves at Elermore Vale and Glendale as well as under-resourcing in the 2287 postcode Locals reported having to linger for more than half an hour to be served and some were turned away because staff didn’t have time or capacity to respond to increased customer needs That ire drew the attention of Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon who took the community’s fight to the floor of Parliament in Canberra she highlighted the concerning number of reports and called on Australia Post to urgently address them the new parcel lockers at the Wallsend Village Shopping Centre will provide customers with an additional way to collect packages “This is a big win for the Wallsend community,” she said “I want to thank residents for raising this issue with me “Wallsend Post Office serves a large region including the rapidly-growing suburbs of Maryland who deserve access to this essential service “This lack of resourcing caused considerable stress for people in my electorate “I will be keeping a close eye out to see how they impact customer wait times.” The lockers are open and accessible for the community to securely pick up or send parcels at any time of the day or night Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Following the delivery of social housing units at Waratah West a further nine homes are now underway in nearby Wallsend It’s all due to funding from the federal government’s Social Housing Accelerator Fund and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Homes NSW and City of Newcastle (CN) comprising two one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units another development is undergoing construction… and expected to complete by April The two-storey premises will be configured as four one-bedroom and five two-bedroom units along with five car parking spaces It is also within walking distance to bus stops with regular services to medical and shopping precincts as well as public schools and the university “This year’s NSW Budget committed billions of dollars across the state to ensure building more social housing is a top priority,” Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said “We know we need to lean on all levels of government as well as industry to deliver more homes council and the Albanese government for working together.” Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said it was an important “first step” “The redevelopment of new social housing and converting old houses to modern units and increasing supply is a great thing,” he stated it’s terrific to see cohesive strategies by all levels of government to solve the housing crisis I want to work with the community to develop further strategies.” The Wallsend venture is one of about 4,000 new social homes across the state to be completed by the end of 2026 “Building more homes means putting roofs over people’s heads and giving them the space they need to get their lives back on track,” Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said “I look forward to welcoming more people into the nine new homes that are now under construction in Wallsend “These two housing projects are a great example of what governments of all levels can do when we share the same vision to get more people into safe and secure homes.” Picture by Josh CallinanIt was close to the perfect one-two punch delivered with 100 years of historic clout All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNathan Price's unbeaten double ton set it up and the bowling unit - led by Callum Gabriel Liam Taylor and Jacob Page - combined to knock it down Wallsend have now claimed a Newcastle first-grade premiership in their centenary season The Tigers were clinical across the entire weekend at No.1 Sportsground ultimately defeating Merewether by 271 runs in the 2024-2025 grand final "That's incredible," Wallsend captain Jacob Montgomery told the Newcastle Herald after holding aloft the trophy in front of club faithful "We've spoken a lot about it this year [winning the title in our centenary season] and so glad we were actually able to do it Price produced the innings of a lifetime on Saturday scoring 206 not out and bringing up the milestone with a six on the second last ball before stumps He won the Ken Clifford Medal as player of the final Contributions along the way from Montgomery (48) Aaron Wivell (46) and Ryan Brooks (45) resulted in an imposing total of 5-400 Wallsend were 2-114 at lunch and 3-231 at tea Price and Brooks combined for an unbeaten partnership of 150 It was always going to be a tough ask for Merewether on Sunday And they started on the back foot at 1-0 and 2-1 amid a rain-affected first session Although some resistance was shown either side of the tea break even potentially taking the game into the following spare weekend ultimately the Lions were dismissed for 129 It doesn't get much better than that," Montgomery said Price's knock was compiled over 238 balls and featured 28 boundaries (25 fours and three sixes) It was the fifth double century recorded in an NDCA first XI final and third since 2000 - joining the likes of Ben Woolmer and Rhys Soper on that honour roll Gabriel (3-28) was the pick of the bowlers for the Tigers while Parkinson Taylor and Page all picked up two wickets apiece Merewether's best performer was all-rounder Patrick Moore (3-47 completed a title double this campaign having already won the Tom Locker Cup 50-over decider The Tigers have now collected two of the last three first-grade premierships Ryan Brooks 45 not out; Patrick Moore 3-47) def MEREWETHER 129 (Patrick Moore 43; Callum Gabriel 3-28) My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury. More from SportNewsletters & AlertsView allDaily Picture from FacebookWALLSEND MP Sonia Hornery has been forced to close comments on her social media posts and stand up to vile trolls after posting about the COVID-19 vaccine Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"A number of people who I don't believe are constituents - they won't say their names they won't say where they're from - they're just yelling at the office and using profane language," she told the Newcastle Herald Ms Hornery said her office had been inundated with abusive phone calls and her two posts about her choice to receive a booster vaccine attracted more than 1500 comments She said she had been called derogatory names told to harm herself and been threatened over the posts This week marks five years since the World Health Organisation declared a COVID-19 pandemic Ms Hornery wrote on a Facebook post on Wednesday night that she had visited her local pharmacy the day before and staff had reminded her she may be overdue for a COVID-19 booster vaccine She told the Herald she made the public post from her official account because she thought it was important to remind the community that COVID shots were still available for free "People who don't get vaccinated are entitled to their view but I'm not telling them that they should," she said "What I'm saying to those people who believe in vaccinations So I believe that the reaction by the anti-vaxxers was way over the top Australia's Department of Health and Aged Care describes COVID-19 vaccinations as "the best way to maintain your protection against severe illness Ms Hornery said people had been clogging the phone lines since the posts stopping important calls about local issues from coming through She chose to post screenshots of some of the vile messages and comments she had received "I think the online space is a really important space "It's in my nature to stand up to people who use profane language or are abusive and not tolerate that because I think that's what the community wants as well." COVID-19 vaccines remain available at pharmacies for everyone in Australia Information about COVID-19 and vaccine recommendations is available from the Australian and NSW governments Regular COVID-19 vaccinations - also known as boosters - are the best way to maintain protection against severe illness Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au Wallsend Swimming Centre was temporarily closed this morning after police responded to a break-in last night Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBetween 7.30pm on Thursday police received reports of several unknown people entering the public swimming pool's office building they ransacked the facility before attempting to leave with a safe The pool remained closed on Friday morning as police investigated City of Newcastle said no equipment was stolen and the facility "only sustained minor damage and can be dangerous and costly to repair," a council spokeswoman said No staff members were inside the centre at the time of the break-in Officers attached to the Newcastle City Police District attended and established a crime scene NSW Police urged anyone with information related to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online Picture by Simone De PeakWEST Wallsend and Holmesville's historical significance to the Hunter is expected to be further enshrined on Monday night when Lake Macquarie City councillors vote to tighten its planning controls Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueUnder the proposed planning amendment the heritage of the north-western Lake Macquarie suburbs of West Wallsend and Holmesville will have greater protection from new developments The majority of West Wallsend was already under heritage protection under the new proposal the land north of Wilson Street Ladysmith Road and part of O'Donnelltown Road on the northwest side of the suburb is included The controls have also been extended to include the West Wallsend colliery More of Holmesville is also under heritage protection with planning controls are extended to central parts of the suburb along George Maximum building heights in the business hub of West Wallsend have also been reduced from 10 metres to 8.5m to maintain the historical character and development scale of the area Parts of Holmesville have been included in the heritage plans Picture by Simone De PeakThe significance of West Wallsend and Holmesville to Lake Macquarie's mining history was first formally recognised by the council in 1989 the council argues previous planning controls for the area were confusing The council's business papers state the intention of the changes is to "prevent inappropriate demolition and new exempt and complying development occurring that do not consider local context "The proposed revised development controls are targeted and graded based on an individual assessment of each property," the report notes "The targeted development controls follow the same logic applied to Catherine Hill Bay and Teralba Heritage Conservation Areas ensuring a consistent approach across the city's three heritage conservation areas." The planning proposal and draft area plan were publicly exhibited from September 20 to October 30 last year and received nine submissions Community concerns raised included a decrease in house and land values The changes proposed are not retrospective and will not apply to works already approved or started Councillors are also expected to adopt the Teralba Reserve plan of management at Monday night's meeting The management plan involves the council's ongoing maintenance of the historic Teralba Cemetery at Billygoat Hill The 6100 square metres of land was given to Lake Macquarie City Council in 2023 by the McCloy Group and features a new children's playgroup and bush cemetery which contains graves dating back to the 1880s Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily 8 April 2025 6:24 am · Hunter News · Ian Crouch There’s a renewed push to improve what some residents have long described an unreliable bus network to be put back in State Government hands. The former Baird Government privatised the system, offering a 10-year contract to French firm Keolis Downer. The State’s Rail, Tram and Bus Union is now calling for the contract return to the State Government instead of renewal in 2027. Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says the service offering needs to improve. “I think the buses need to be better and more attractive and more available before people use them,” she said. “There were major changes to bus routs under Keolis Downer and they haven’t worked. “Let’s look at peak hour services and how to make them more efficient,” she said. Picture by Fire and Rescue NSW WallsendA STOLEN ute led police on a chase through multiple Newcastle suburbs before it ploughed through a fence and into the backyard of a home Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe driver remained on the run on Tuesday afternoon after police first noticed a grey Ford Ranger being driven dangerously at Wallsend just before 4am on Monday Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but launched a pursuit when the driver failed to pull over where police called it off on Walford Street emergency services were called to reports of a crash at Caledon Close at Wallsend Police at the scene were told the driver had failed to negotiate a bend and ploughed through the rear fence of a property - causing the ute to flip onto its roof - then run away Police established a crime scene and searched the area The grey Ford Ranger was towed from the scene and seized by police for forensic examination Picture by Fire and Rescue NSW WallsendThe Ford Ranger was seized by police and towed from the scene for forensic examination after Wallsend firefighters helped remove it from where it came to rest on its roof in the backyard Police confirmed the vehicle has since been reported stolen from a home in Birmingham Gardens anyone with information or footage has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 A mother and her 26-year-old son have been charged after a man was gunned down in rural Lake Macquarie late yesterday he’s in a stable condition in hospital after being found in bushland with wounds to his legs… and police are trying to piece together the case The latest stage of a $6 million investment into roads and footpath improvements across the western suburbs has seen extensive road resurfacing wrap up along a section of Wallsend's bustling Nelson Street This stage of the Wallsend town centre renewal project saw the Nelson Street project delivered by repairing and improving the surface of the roadway while the Main Street saw landscaping and streetscape improvements to enhance the look and feel of the town centre Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk and Cr Deahnna Richardson with City of Newcastle staff Bruce Pemberton inspect the upgrade road surface along Nelson Street Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is focused on meeting the needs of the growing population in and around Wallsend "This includes delivering road and bridge upgrades to alleviate traffic congestion as well as doing more to help reduce the risk of the Wallsend CBD flooding during super storm events," Cr Nelmes said.  City of Newcastle is committed to upgrades in Wallsend that will benefit both businesses and residents by delivering a safer who is the Deputy Chair of City of Newcastle's Liveable Cities Advisory Committee said working with our local Wallsend businesses and community during consultation and delivery is crucial.  "The works on Nelson Street were done at night to minimise disruptions during the day when thousands of cars use the area,” Cr Adamczyk said "We are ensuring that both the planning and investment in infrastructure occurs for the long-term renewal of these important business districts and suburbs to protect and enhance the liveability for our community.”  Dual-lane road upgrades at Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road are currently in the design phase and work is planned to start early next year.  a series of smaller traffic changes are also being considered Community members are invited to provide feedback on these ancillary works via the Have Your Say page on City of Newcastle's website before 1 July Motorists are advised to rethink routes through Wallsend with lane closures in place at the roundabout of Newcastle Road and Thomas Street overnight work will be underway to facilitate the transport of Over Size Over Mass vehicles from the Port of Newcastle and other industrial areas to the M1 Motorway and M15 Hunter Expressway A detour will be in place during the allocated times with lane closures on the westbound approach to the roundabout and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h Motorists will not be able to continue straight through the roundabout onto Newcastle Road or turn right onto Longworth Avenue The detour will allow access to Longworth Avenue via Thomas Street directing traffic back to the roundabout to turn onto the road Freight operators unable to use the temporary detour will be required to use an alternative route using the Transfield Avenue roundabout to U-turn back onto Newcastle Link Road Motorists are advised to allow for an additional 10 minutes of travel time reduced speed limits and single lane closures remaining in place while the work is carried out Transport for NSW is asking drivers to comply with the changed conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThompson was in Wallsend's 18 boys side which claimed the Junior State Cup in 2008 the association's 14 boys repeated the feat in their age division at Tempe Thompson's 13-year-old son Kruze was in the team who beat Wollongong twice in a best-of-three series to be crowned NSW champions Assistant coach Cameron Maxwell also played in the victorious 2008 side It's going to create great memories for them." Thompson has coached the majority of the group since under eights There has been plenty of success but the Junior State Cup has proven elusive Wallsend Touch Association 14 boys State Junior Cup-winning team Picture NSW Touch"We've always been a strong team," Thompson said "We've always won the Hunter Western regional competition but then have narrowly lost to Manly or Northern Beaches in the semi-finals at the Junior State Cup Northern Conference "This year was the first time we didn't win the Hunter tournament That put a little bit of extra attention into our training "We only had a few weeks to fix the things from that tournament that we needed to improve on and the boys worked hard." which was three weeks after the Hunter Western Hornets Regional Championships at Tomaree on February 1 and 2 the Wallsend 14s broke through for victory at the northern conference in Dubbo Wallsend's Junior State Cup champions from 2008 Image supplied"We ended up beating [Northern Beaches] Renegades in the final which is an achievement the boys have been working hard to achieve since under eights," Thompson said The northern conference winners meet the southern conference winners in a best-of-three series to determine the Junior State Cup champion Wallsend only needed two games to get the job done the northern conference winners in 12 boys by 9 April 2025 After a decade of serving up smiles and Big Macs with equal enthusiasm 74-year-old Wallsend resident and local favourite Daryl Holmes has officially hung up his Macca’s cap Affectionately known for his exceptional customer service and larger-than-life personality has retired from McDonald’s Wallsend after ten memorable years Daryl joined the crew at Macca’s Wallsend as a Customer Experience Leader in search of a retirement hobby—but what began as a pastime quickly became a passion Known for assisting customers with kiosk orders and delivering meals to tables with warmth and energy Daryl became a familiar face not only in Wallsend but across New South Wales His dedication didn’t go unnoticed—he even won a national customer experience competition that saw him travel overseas for the very first time His trip to the United States included bucket-list experiences like attending NBA and NHL games and diving into the history of McDonald’s itself it was his festive flair that really captured hearts Monopoly outfit during Macca’s annual Monopoly Game to crafting Big Mac-themed costumes for McHappy Day Daryl brought joy and creativity to every shift Daryl gave generously to the Ronald McDonald House Charities He regularly volunteered at the Newcastle house cooking meals for families with seriously ill children and lending his support to fundraising efforts To honour his decade of dedication, the team at Macca’s Wallsend held a surprise farewell party ahead of his final shift on Friday. Though he’s stepping away from the counter, Daryl’s warmth, humour, and unwavering customer-first attitude have left a lasting legacy at the Golden Arches—and in the hearts of Novocastrians. Check out our interview with Daryl from 2023 That must have been the question in one motorist’s mind after his car plowed into Henny Penny in Wallsend late on Monday 20 January with the storefront suffering extensive damage Staff claim a man accidentally reversed his vehicle into the front of the popular chicken shop while attempting to park Witnesses reported the driver briefly exited the car to inspect the damage before fleeing from the scene Employees believe the man was intoxicated at the time of the incident Henny Penny management confirmed the business was currently awaiting CCTV footage to gather more details on the crash the store remains open for takeaway orders while repairs are ongoing Our Customer Service Centre is temporarily located at Speers Point Library opposite Council's Administration Building West Wallsend Swim Centre will be closed from Friday 11 to Saturday 26 April 2025 for scheduled works relating to the new Learn to Swim Pool upgrades.Works to upgrade the car park on the western side of West Wallsend Swim Centre will begin on 7 April 2025 Pool users are still able to use the existing car park during this time We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause West Wallsend Swim Centre will be expanded to include a new learn to swim pool It comes as rapid residential growth in and around West Wallsend and Cameron Park causes an increase in demand for the existing 25m pool The multi-million dollar project also aligns with Councils adopted Aquatic facilities Strategy which identifies the expansion of the swim centre as a high priority action The Australian Government is commiting $1.7 million to the project through its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program While feedback on the concept designs has closed, you can still view them at shapelakemac.com.au.   To support the expansion of West Wallsend Swim Centres’ new Learn to Swim pool there will be car park work undertaken commencing April 2025. The car park to the Western side of the pool is being upgraded to an asphalt surface providing 19 designated spaces. Pool users can continue to use the existing car park while the Western car park is being constructed Subscribe to the project enewsletter for updates The learn to swim pool will be housed in an extension off the current facility While there will be some short-term closures for specific activities these will be communicated to the public well in advance Council will work to ensure disruptions to the existing centre remain at a minimum during the construction phase The learn-to-swim pool will cater to children from six months of age while also serving as an overflow space during school events and for additional space to host programs already in the existing pool It may also support community initiatives such as: Splash of Colour – a program introducing women from diverse cultural backgrounds to swimming Rainbow Club – a learn-to-swim program for children with learning difficulties Council will have to seek additional funding to be able to build the feature in the future.  We remember and respect the Ancestors who cared for and nurtured this Country It is in their footsteps that we travel these lands and waters Lake Macquarie City Council acknowledges the Awabakal people and Elders past Telephone Interpreting Service 131 450 National Relay Service 133 677 by 3 February 2025 WENDY MATTHEWS – LIVE IN CONCERTWALLSEND DIGGERS: MEZZ BARFRIDAY THE 21ST OF MARCH ONLINE TICKETS FROM: www.trybooking.com/CYVKMTickets are also available from club reception Doors Open 7.00pmSupport Act: 7.30pm to 8.30pmWendy Matthews from 9.00pmOver 18’s Only As an artist Wendy Matthews has an expressive voice that never fails to move those who hear it Her music is an unhurried journey of clean melodies In an age where uber-production techniques are thought to be hip and cynicism an attribute Wendy has proven that commitment to beauty is still not only valid but applauded by the public ear This is exemplified by the reality that Wendy’s music is now in more than 1 million homes in Australia and all her albums to date have multi-platinum status Wendy has an immense talent and capacity to capture and define a diverse range of styles in her music She takes songs from every genre and makes them her own; from jazz to blues from soul to outright infectious pop and then of course Wendy is adept at reaching both frenetic youth and mature audiences alike if older ears are captured by her soul and unfazed class a more cynical youth is convinced by her disarming ease of delivery wooed by a voice of stunning emotive capacity yet void of sentimentality Wendy joined her first band and left home as a teenager busking her way across the USA to Los Angeles where she met Glenn Shorrock who invited her to tour with him in Australia in 1982 Wendy immediately became an in-demand session singer appearing on many commercial jingles and backing vocals for the likes of The Models Out Of Mind Out Of Sight and became a semi-permanent member of the band Wendy collaborated with Kate Ceberano on the ABC-TV soundtrack for the series Stringer You’ve Always Got the Blues was released the next year reaching the Top 5 national charts she then contributed to the Rockmelons and Peter Blakeley’s respective albums She helped form Absent Friends and sang on the number one hit I Don’t Want To Be With Nobody But You and the album Here’s Looking Up Your Address Wendy went into the studio to record her solo debut The album Émigré (Double Platinum) spawned the hits Token Angels Lets Kiss and Woman’s Gotta Have It and earned Wendy the Best Female Artist and Best Debut Single (for Token Angels) at the 1990 ARIA Awards Wendy was also voted Best Female Singer in the 1990 Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll This was followed up by the multi-platinum album Lily (over 500,000 albums) with the mega-hit The Day You Went Away (over 300,000 singles) In 1992 Wendy picked up the ARIA for Best Female Artist and Best Single and again in 1993 Best Female Artist The Day You Went Away was the ‘highest-selling single’ of 1993 and the ‘single of the year’.Wendy then followed up with another two studio albums The Witness Tree and Ghosts including the hits Love Will Keep Me Alive in 2001 Wendy released Beautiful View featuring the hauntingly beautiful title track and club favourite Like the Sun.2004 saw the release of the mixed-up which immediately evoke a sense of familiarity The Tropfest winning film Lamb by Emma Freeman features the highly acclaimed video clip to the popular All I Need In 2013 Fanfare Records released Wendy’s brilliant eclectic and first non covers album in 12 years The album has been critically acclaimed by peers and music critics alike Wendy released (through her own record label Barking Bear) a new album An intimate and introspective translation of some classic and not-so-classic Billie Holiday songs an iconic woman whose soul and music has been long admired Wendy resides on her 10 acre property just north of Coffs Harbour Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will undertake several jobs throughout the Hunter this week Improvement work is starting on the roundabout at Newcastle Road and Thomas Street in Wallsend It’s being carried out to facilitate over-size over-mass (OSOM) vehicles travelling from the Port of Newcastle and other local industrial areas through Newcastle to access the M1 Motorway and M15 Hunter Expressway It is scheduled from 7pm to 5am on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 January and expected to be completed by 5am on Friday 24 January “A detour will be in place during the work with lane closures on the westbound approach to the roundabout and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h,” a TfNSW spokesperson said “Motorists won’t be able to continue straight through the roundabout onto Newcastle Road or turn right onto Longworth Avenue from the roundabout they can access Longworth Avenue using the detour in place via Thomas Street directing traffic back to the roundabout to turn left onto Longworth Avenue “Freight operators unable to use the detour will be required to use an alternate route utilising the Transfield Avenue roundabout to U-turn back onto Newcastle Link Road travelling eastbound on Thomas Street to access Longworth Avenue “Operators should allow an additional 10 minutes of travel time a temporary reduced speed limit of 40km/h and single lane closures will remain in place for the duration of work “Vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed unless an updated licence is obtained from the NHVR.” Motorists are advised of changed overnight traffic conditions on Swansea Bridge to carry out maintenance which includes upgrades to the control room roof and installation of new marine Variable Message Signs (VMS) It’ll occur from 8pm to 5am each night until Thursday 23 January Contraflow and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for southbound traffic for four nights from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 January That then transfers to those travelling northbound on Thursday 23 January The marine VMS will be out of commission until Wednesday 22 January Vessels are required to use existing red/green navigation lights when entering the lake The bridge will be closed to marine traffic while the work takes place Heavy vehicles with a width greater than 2.5m will not be permitted through the site and are required to find an alternative route Newcastle Inner City Bypass at Garden Suburb Road surface maintenance work is scheduled for the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at Garden Suburb it’ll be carried out between 7.30pm and 4pm A reduced speed limit of 40km/h is in place for northbound traffic during the work Work also continues along the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Pacific Highway traffic will be diverted onto a section of the new road to allow the project team to build a pavement over the existing thoroughfare The northbound flow is slated for movement first followed by the southbound lanes about three-to-four weeks later there will be no access from the northbound lanes into the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens This is expected to last about three-to-four weeks motorists are asked to head further north to the Heatherbrae roundabout where they can turn around and access the gardens from the southbound lanes it’ll be rescheduled to the following week work’s planned at the following locations: Operators of OSOM vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2 metres or with overall width greater than 4.5 metres are advised to contact the project team on 0423 323 946 at least one day ahead of proposed movement Significant delays can occur if they fail to do so Major construction resumes across the remainder of the project from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday; 8am to 5pm Saturday; and 7pm to 5am Monday to Friday The work will also require lane closures with intermittent stoppages and temporary speed reductions to 40km/h at the following locations and times: Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers A man has sustained significant injuries after attempting to stop a break and enter in Wallsend this morning Emergency services were called to a hospitality venue on Nelson Street at about 2.30am this morning after reports of forced entry Police were told a group of men had broken into the hotel business a man intervened to stop the thieves and was violently assaulted before the group left in a dark-coloured sedan the 25-year-old was found by police with a laceration to his head He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for further medial attention The man was reported to be in a stable condition A crime scene was established around Nelson Street in Wallsend with Tyrell Street being blocked to the public as well Police are now investigating the hotel robbery anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 “whore” and “clown” were among the disgusting names thrown at Sonia Hornery this week after the popular Wallsend MP shared a post about COVID-19 vaccinations to her social media account Ms Hornery ventured into a local pharmacy on Wednesday 12 March to receive her scheduled COVID-19 booster shot She then shared the visit to Facebook stating: “With summer now over and moving into flu season it’s so important we keep on top of our flu and COVID vaccinations slamming the MP for her simple act of health awareness Some even went as far as to call her electorate office with some allegedly making threats on Ms Hornery’s life Statements on the post also included telling the local member she “should be hanged” and “should look forward to blood clots” as well as accusing her of taking money from pharmaceutical companies Five hours after her initial post was uploaded “The reason I don’t put up with antivax commenters is because an enormous amount of that community fit into a dangerous Venn diagram of other wacky and dangerous notions and beliefs,” she said “This is extremist behaviour and has no place in our society only asking that if you encounter these dangerous views challenge them and call them out as the extremist Ms Hornery told the Newcastle Weekly she was saddened by the overwhelmingly negative response “It was very sad that people wrote so many horrible things,” she said it’s about health in society and that’s what I’m all about “That’s all I was encouraging people to do.” More than 80 online users were blocked by Ms Hornery who also turned off further commenting on many of her recent posts we had to block because of the abusive and threatening language,” she explained to the Newcastle Weekly which is very cowardly as far as I’m concerned.” Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge stepped in to support the MP on his own social media I was unfortunate enough to see multiple patients die from vaccine-preventable illnesses,” he explained on his Facebook page “Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective public health interventions of the 20th century… and it’s disappointing to see this discourse continuing and the lack of civility in responses to Sonia “There will always be some individuals and fringe groups prone to conspiracy theories but I remain completely unable to comprehend what motivates some of the well-organised and well-funded anti-vaccine groups Lake Macquarie City Council is determined to protect the rustic village appeal of both West Wallsend and Holmesville moving forward It means any future construction in that region must consider the area’s heritage conservation values following the adoption of a proposal at Monday night’s meeting The move also prevents unsuitable demolitions and new exempt or complying developments that disregard the local context It’s understood the targeted controls echo those already applied to Heritage Conservation Areas in Catherine Hill Bay and Teralba Lake Macquarie City mayor Adam Shultz said the plan offered a logical and consistent approach “Council has a responsibility to protect items of local significance and to recognise value and protect Lake Macquarie’s heritage,” he explained “This plan will better safeguard the legacy of the area and guide appropriate development in these historic suburbs.” The concept is likely to extend the West Wallsend Heritage Conservation Area to include the West Wallsend colliery and parts of Holmesville reduce maximum new building heights in select areas and revise the boundary of the heritage area Submissions received during public exhibition resulted in some changes to the revised plan Council recommended the North Creek Flood Study and Teralba Reserve Plan of Management for adoption It followed similar public exhibition periods “With council now owning the Teralba Reserve site adopting the plan of management ensures the reserve remains a community-focused site for both recreation and reflection of those have passed,” Cr Shultz said “I understand the plan addresses community feedback from public exhibition in late 2024.” by 1 August 2024 This month Wallsend will pull out all the stops for a monumental celebration to mark 150 years since it was declared a municipality has organised a family-friendly festival on 17 August to honour the past UP & UP will host art workshops at Wallsend Skate Park with the historic rotunda and Nelson Street hosting all the main events The festivities will run from 1 pm to 6 pm with both locals and visitors invited to check out musical and cultural performances “City of Newcastle has worked hard to prepare for this unique milestone with extensive road resurfacing on Nelson Street as well as a pressure cleaning campaign on the footpaths and around the 136-year-old rotunda,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Wallsend’s history as a former mining colony which once supported around 7,500 workers and their families The local coal industry played a significant role in the development of Newcastle as a port city Wallsend is known for its close-knit community and multicultural diversity attracting young families from around the world will feature an impressive lineup of performers on the main stage Visitors can step back in time with a photo booth offering historical dress and children can enjoy messy play and a cake smash courtesy of The Creative Co Wallsend’s rich history will be projected onto buildings through a collection of digitized photographs the family-friendly festival is supported through the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Program The Wallsend Community Fun Day is happening on 17 August from 1 pm until 6 pm. Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au to find out more Wallsend Cricket Club will raise the bat and celebrate its 100-year anniversary on Saturday hoping they can add another premiership to the Tigers’ haul