The ongoing drought is really start to bite people in the upper hunter town of Murrurundi. The town’s water supply is down to 5% usable water. If it is unable to use an emergency bore, installed in 2018, which supplies 70% of the town’s water, council is prepared to cart water from Scone. This will come at a cost of $1000 a day, which will maintain domestic supply. That cost of which will be shared by the NSW’s Government and Council’s Water Fund which is funded by rate payers.      

Two people have been killed in a car crash, east of Tamworth. Emergency crews were called to the Oxley Highway, near Walcha, following reports a vehicle towing a caravan had rolled. Two people died at the scene. Oxley Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance and the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter arrived a short time later, and worked to free a third person from the car. A crime scene has been established and investigations have been launched into the cause of the crash. The Oxley Highway is closed in both directions and will remain closed for a number of hours.

A man has been charged after allegedly inappropriately touching a teenage girl at a football match on the Central Coast. The police were approached during a football match at a Central Coast Stadium on the 23 December. It’s alleged the 83-year-old man touched the 15-year-old girl in a sexual manner, as well as making inappropriate remarks and gestures toward her. The man was removed from the stadium and the case referred to detectives. He was charged with intentionally sexually touching a child aged 10-16 and “intentionally do sexual act with child aged 10-16.” He was granted strict bail, and will appear before Wyong Local Court in February.

A man has been killed in a car crash on the Mid North Coast overnight. The 34-year-old was driving a Toyota Prado when it left the southbound lane on the Pacific Highway at Frederickton near Kempsey, rolling several times. He died at the scene. A passenger, a 52-year-old woman, was trapped in the vehicle for a short period of time, before being freed by emergency crews. She was taken to Port Macquarie Hospital with minor injuries. Mid North Coast Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Police have charged a 57-year-old man in the upper Hunter following after a series of farm equipment thefts. Police seized a number of stolen items from a Merriwa property including an ATV farm buggy, water tanks and timber flooring. The total value of the stolen goods was around $80,000. The man was charged with numerous offences, including break, enter and steal, trespass and malicious damage. He was refused bail and will face Wyong Local Court on Thursday.

A shot has been fired into a home on the Central Coast. Police were called to a property at Blue Haven at around 10:30 to find a single bullet hole in a window. Those inside weren’t injured. A crime scene was established and the incident is being foresically examined by detectives. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

A 27-year-old man is in a serious condition following a ‘one punch’ assault on the Central Coast last night. The man fell and hit his head when he punched in the face by another man at a house on Fox Close at Kariong at around 10:30 last night. He was taken to Gosford Hospital suffering a broken jaw, broken nose and a possible fractured eye socket. Brisbane Water Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information or mobile footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

A man has been arrested after police found a replica pistol and military assault rifle in his car at Tweed Heads on the far-north coast. Officers pulled the driver over for a random breath test and spotted the stock of the rifle lying on the back seat. A further search of the car uncovered an imitation glock pistol. The 24-year-old man was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and refused bail, to face court today. He’s the second man in a week to be charged with unlawful possession of a weapon in the Tweed area. IMAGE: Traffic and Highway Patrol Command – NSW Police Force

Police are seeking public assistance to locate a man from Lake Macquarie who is wanted on outstanding warrants. 24-year-old man Jeremy Garvey is wanted for the offences of murder, impersonating a police officer, stealing and driving a motor vehicle while disqualified, among others. He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 160-170cm tall, of a thin build, with brown eyes and short hair. Anyone with information about Jeremy Garvey, including his whereabouts, is strongly urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has been charged following a stabbing on the Central Coast last week. It’s alleged two men approached another man sitting in his car with a woman. One of the men reached into the car and struck the man with an electronic stun device, before stabbing him in the chest. The woman drove the injured man to The Entrance Police Station, where he was then flown to Liverpool Hospital. He remains in a stable condition. Following their inquiries, at about 7:45pm yesterday, police arrested a 24-year-old man from a Long Jetty home. He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with wound with intent to murder. He was refused bail. Police are still seeking assistance to help locate the other man.