People have been finding themselves on bush tracks dangerously close to a Defence Force weapons range in the Hunter, where RAAF planes can fire upwards of 6000 rounds a minute.
Whether it's ignorance, an unwittingly dangerous shortcut or brainlessness, police and the Air Force on Wednesday put out a public warning for people not to trespass on Defence property.
Chief Inspector Al Janson said there had been a spike in people, some in cars and others on motorcycles or quad bikes, cutting locks from gates blocking tracks that run into the Salt Ash Air Weapons Range.
Topics has been told the range has a buffer zone to keep the general public safe while in use and that people are trespassing on paths that lead them right into that buffer zone - and potentially into harm's way.
"The RAAF base here at Williamtown undertakes some high-risk training exercises, with several areas identified as no-go zones for the public," Chief Inspector Janson said on Thursday.
"While we note some people may not be aware they are accessing out-of-bounds areas, these tracks are also clearly marked and blocked - with others actively damaging property or breaking through gates to access the trails."
The weapons range has been at Salt Ash since the 1950s - there's an obvious reason community access to trails close to the site are blocked.
Group Captain Peter Cluff, a senior ADF officer at RAAF Base Williamtown, said the trespassers were being irresponsible and putting themselves at risk of being dangerously close to training drills using live ammo and aircraft.
Lions in the fire
It was a particularly tough one for a Hunter business owner last week after a fire in the city's west gutted a three-decade-old rug store.
But while the blaze destroyed Rahmani's Rug Gallery on Parry Street, firefighters were able to save the Lions Club's national headquarters nearby.
Topics understands the fire got into the building and damaged the boardroom, kitchen and bathrooms - but the premises got off lightly compared to its neighbour.
Lions Australia CEO Rob Oerlemans said the organisation's previous HQ was damaged in the Pasha Bulka storm of 2007.
"We cannot thank the Newcastle Fire and Rescue for their incredible efforts ... in saving our building," he said.
"A big thank you as well to all of the community for your messages of support."
Helping down south
A group of police officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter command - which covers Maitland, Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace and surrounds - has been sent to Albury this week.
There, they'll help their colleagues who are monitoring the closed NSW-Victoria border as the COVID19 pandemic rolls on.
IN THE NEWS:
- Community groups raise concerns about ammonium nitrate storage following Beirut explosion
- How the Knights landed veteran playmaker Blake Green from the Warriors in signing coup
- Virgin Australia sends Tiger to extinction
- Cluster and business closures caused by Sydney visitors prompts calls for tighter travel restrictions from Sydney to Newcastle
