Community services engage with public at Hawks Nest Beach Myall Coast Myall Coast by News Of The Area - Modern Media - January 24, 2024 Port Stephens-Hunter Police District Acting Superintendent Guy Magee, Crime Prevention Officer Alison Stewart and Aged Crime Prevention Officer Bec Sturevski, with Tea Gardens Fire and Rescue NSW’s Craig Tuckwell and Alex Sinclair, showing visiting kids all about making communities safer. UNDER a gloriously clear summer sky, representatives from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, Tea Gardens Fire and Rescue NSW, and the local Surf Life Saving Club met locals and visitors alike at Hawks Nest’s Bennetts Beach on Friday, 19 January. “Community engagement is always important. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “In Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest the support of the community is critical to every aspect of policing,” said Acting Superintendent Guy Magee, Port Stephens-Hunter Police District. “Hence, the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District take every opportunity to engage at that grassroots level, and there is no more ‘grassroots’ than outside the local Surf Club. “Port Stephens-Hunter is a dynamic and diverse district, which really challenges the police. “Youth crime continues to remain a strong focus, as do issues on our roads that lead to road trauma, which has devastating consequences for members of our community and our visitors. “It is important that we continue to remain visible and connected to our community, engaging with our youth, instilling confidence and trust in them, and perhaps even kindling an interest for police work in their future.” Highlighting the point, there have been several local cases of vandalism of public property in recent months, as well as frequent concerns with conditions and illegal activities along local roadways. “The summer population increase around Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest involves a transience that increases our calls for service,” Acting Superintendent Magee added. “Other challenges exist in general population growth, especially around Maitland.” According to the Federal Government’s Centre for Population, Maitland is the third-fastest growing Local Government Area in the country, and the fastest outside of Greater Sydney. The Port Stephens-Hunter Police District is quite massive, covering the Port Stephens peninsula, stretching north to Stroud, Dungog and East Gresford, as far west as Maitland, Beresfield, and all in between, including the entire Myall Coast, with District Office at Raymond Terrace. By Thomas O’KEEFE The setup at Hawks Nest Beach, right next to the Surf Life Saving Club. Police jet skis came around Yacaaba from Port Stephens HQ.
