19-05-2025
'Gang' mentality: fisherman says Horseshoe beach 'not safe' after violent assault
SHANE Ross has been fishing at Horseshoe beach for more than 45 years.
Now he's scared to go back.
The Novocastrian had been living out of his car due to family circumstances and on Tuesday morning accidentally bumped into another man's rearview mirror while trying to park at Horseshoe beach.
A few minutes later about 8.20am while he was parked watching the surf at Newcastle beach, the same man came to his window and started throwing punches.
"He came out of the blue, I was just sitting there watching the surf," he said.
"I got out of the way enough, but when he tried to grab my keys I reached over and there was a bit of a scuffle for the keys, so he's cracked the key in half trying to get it out of the ignition.
"He's thrown the keys down, smashed the keys and done a runner."
It's not the first abusive incident Mr Ross has experienced down at Horseshoe Beach, which he said had become overrun with "vagrants" with a "gang" mentality.
The northern sections of Camp Shortland and horseshoe beach are owned and managed by the state government.
Earlier this week, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp met with Transport for NSW (TFNSW) and NSW Police.
"This is a complex issue," he said.
"I have been working with TFNSW and police to determine the appropriate action required to address the community's concerns.
"Communication will be provided to anyone staying long term in the Horseshoe beach precinct to make them aware that enforcement action will be undertaken in the near future."
Mr Crakanthorp said Assertive Outreach were working with those experiencing homelessness and would continue to do so.
NSW Police confirmed Mr Ross's incident on May 13 was reported and investigations were ongoing.
Mr Ross said not enough was being done to deal with antisocial behaviour in the area.
"They basically think they're untouchable, if anyone comes along, they can just harass them out of being there," he said.
"I've been fishing down at that beach since like year 7, no one can go there anymore. They basically sit there and make everyone feel uneasy and decide who they want on their beach.
"It's just not safe. It is not safe anymore."
Earlier this year, City of Newcastle met with TFNSW to discuss the management of horseshoe beach.
A City of Newcastle spokeswoman said council staff outlined the terms on which they would agree to manage the land and said a follow-up meeting was agreed to, but then cancelled by TFNSW.
"We are as in the dark as the community as to why TFNSW continue to ignore responsibility for land they own," she said.
"NSW government laws do not provide councils with the regulatory powers in relation to antisocial behaviour. Instead, this power rests with NSW Police.
"Instances of antisocial behaviour should be directed to the NSW Police as the appropriate authority."
TFNSW Maritime, then called the Maritime Services Beach, leased the Horseshoe beach car park and Camp Shortland area to council starting September 1973.
The lease expired in January 1976 and has continued on holdover since then.
A TFNSW spokeswoman said in regards to illegal campers, the state government had not undertaken enforcement action to free up the car park or any other state-owned parking areas in the local government area in the past 12 months.
The spokeswoman said the lease provided the council with responsibility for management of activities on the land, including car parking, beach cleaning, boat ramp and lawn maintenance.
"Transport for NSW Maritime have sought to have an updated lease agreement formalised on a number of occasions. Council's decision to discontinue leasing non-core assets around 2018 has caused delay in reinstating the lease," she said.
"A meeting was held in January 2025, with both parties, to commence discussions reinstating council's powers as authorised officers."
TFNSW does not have the power to move people on from public land.
The Newcastle Herald understands TFNSW has received only one report of antisocial behaviour recently, which took place at an event, and was told after the incident.
Members of the community should contact triple zero about antisocial behaviour if it involves a crime, and emergency or poses a threat to safety or wellbeing.
SHANE Ross has been fishing at Horseshoe beach for more than 45 years.
Now he's scared to go back.
The Novocastrian had been living out of his car due to family circumstances and on Tuesday morning accidentally bumped into another man's rearview mirror while trying to park at Horseshoe beach.
A few minutes later about 8.20am while he was parked watching the surf at Newcastle beach, the same man came to his window and started throwing punches.
"He came out of the blue, I was just sitting there watching the surf," he said.
"I got out of the way enough, but when he tried to grab my keys I reached over and there was a bit of a scuffle for the keys, so he's cracked the key in half trying to get it out of the ignition.
"He's thrown the keys down, smashed the keys and done a runner."
It's not the first abusive incident Mr Ross has experienced down at Horseshoe Beach, which he said had become overrun with "vagrants" with a "gang" mentality.
The northern sections of Camp Shortland and horseshoe beach are owned and managed by the state government.
Earlier this week, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp met with Transport for NSW (TFNSW) and NSW Police.
"This is a complex issue," he said.
"I have been working with TFNSW and police to determine the appropriate action required to address the community's concerns.
"Communication will be provided to anyone staying long term in the Horseshoe beach precinct to make them aware that enforcement action will be undertaken in the near future."
Mr Crakanthorp said Assertive Outreach were working with those experiencing homelessness and would continue to do so.
NSW Police confirmed Mr Ross's incident on May 13 was reported and investigations were ongoing.
Mr Ross said not enough was being done to deal with antisocial behaviour in the area.
"They basically think they're untouchable, if anyone comes along, they can just harass them out of being there," he said.
"I've been fishing down at that beach since like year 7, no one can go there anymore. They basically sit there and make everyone feel uneasy and decide who they want on their beach.
"It's just not safe. It is not safe anymore."
Earlier this year, City of Newcastle met with TFNSW to discuss the management of horseshoe beach.
A City of Newcastle spokeswoman said council staff outlined the terms on which they would agree to manage the land and said a follow-up meeting was agreed to, but then cancelled by TFNSW.
"We are as in the dark as the community as to why TFNSW continue to ignore responsibility for land they own," she said.
"NSW government laws do not provide councils with the regulatory powers in relation to antisocial behaviour. Instead, this power rests with NSW Police.
"Instances of antisocial behaviour should be directed to the NSW Police as the appropriate authority."
TFNSW Maritime, then called the Maritime Services Beach, leased the Horseshoe beach car park and Camp Shortland area to council starting September 1973.
The lease expired in January 1976 and has continued on holdover since then.
A TFNSW spokeswoman said in regards to illegal campers, the state government had not undertaken enforcement action to free up the car park or any other state-owned parking areas in the local government area in the past 12 months.
The spokeswoman said the lease provided the council with responsibility for management of activities on the land, including car parking, beach cleaning, boat ramp and lawn maintenance.
"Transport for NSW Maritime have sought to have an updated lease agreement formalised on a number of occasions. Council's decision to discontinue leasing non-core assets around 2018 has caused delay in reinstating the lease," she said.
"A meeting was held in January 2025, with both parties, to commence discussions reinstating council's powers as authorised officers."
TFNSW does not have the power to move people on from public land.
The Newcastle Herald understands TFNSW has received only one report of antisocial behaviour recently, which took place at an event, and was told after the incident.
Members of the community should contact triple zero about antisocial behaviour if it involves a crime, and emergency or poses a threat to safety or wellbeing.
SHANE Ross has been fishing at Horseshoe beach for more than 45 years.
Now he's scared to go back.
The Novocastrian had been living out of his car due to family circumstances and on Tuesday morning accidentally bumped into another man's rearview mirror while trying to park at Horseshoe beach.
A few minutes later about 8.20am while he was parked watching the surf at Newcastle beach, the same man came to his window and started throwing punches.
"He came out of the blue, I was just sitting there watching the surf," he said.
"I got out of the way enough, but when he tried to grab my keys I reached over and there was a bit of a scuffle for the keys, so he's cracked the key in half trying to get it out of the ignition.
"He's thrown the keys down, smashed the keys and done a runner."
It's not the first abusive incident Mr Ross has experienced down at Horseshoe Beach, which he said had become overrun with "vagrants" with a "gang" mentality.
The northern sections of Camp Shortland and horseshoe beach are owned and managed by the state government.
Earlier this week, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp met with Transport for NSW (TFNSW) and NSW Police.
"This is a complex issue," he said.
"I have been working with TFNSW and police to determine the appropriate action required to address the community's concerns.
"Communication will be provided to anyone staying long term in the Horseshoe beach precinct to make them aware that enforcement action will be undertaken in the near future."
Mr Crakanthorp said Assertive Outreach were working with those experiencing homelessness and would continue to do so.
NSW Police confirmed Mr Ross's incident on May 13 was reported and investigations were ongoing.
Mr Ross said not enough was being done to deal with antisocial behaviour in the area.
"They basically think they're untouchable, if anyone comes along, they can just harass them out of being there," he said.
"I've been fishing down at that beach since like year 7, no one can go there anymore. They basically sit there and make everyone feel uneasy and decide who they want on their beach.
"It's just not safe. It is not safe anymore."
Earlier this year, City of Newcastle met with TFNSW to discuss the management of horseshoe beach.
A City of Newcastle spokeswoman said council staff outlined the terms on which they would agree to manage the land and said a follow-up meeting was agreed to, but then cancelled by TFNSW.
"We are as in the dark as the community as to why TFNSW continue to ignore responsibility for land they own," she said.
"NSW government laws do not provide councils with the regulatory powers in relation to antisocial behaviour. Instead, this power rests with NSW Police.
"Instances of antisocial behaviour should be directed to the NSW Police as the appropriate authority."
TFNSW Maritime, then called the Maritime Services Beach, leased the Horseshoe beach car park and Camp Shortland area to council starting September 1973.
The lease expired in January 1976 and has continued on holdover since then.
A TFNSW spokeswoman said in regards to illegal campers, the state government had not undertaken enforcement action to free up the car park or any other state-owned parking areas in the local government area in the past 12 months.
The spokeswoman said the lease provided the council with responsibility for management of activities on the land, including car parking, beach cleaning, boat ramp and lawn maintenance.
"Transport for NSW Maritime have sought to have an updated lease agreement formalised on a number of occasions. Council's decision to discontinue leasing non-core assets around 2018 has caused delay in reinstating the lease," she said.
"A meeting was held in January 2025, with both parties, to commence discussions reinstating council's powers as authorised officers."
TFNSW does not have the power to move people on from public land.
The Newcastle Herald understands TFNSW has received only one report of antisocial behaviour recently, which took place at an event, and was told after the incident.
Members of the community should contact triple zero about antisocial behaviour if it involves a crime, and emergency or poses a threat to safety or wellbeing.
SHANE Ross has been fishing at Horseshoe beach for more than 45 years.
Now he's scared to go back.
The Novocastrian had been living out of his car due to family circumstances and on Tuesday morning accidentally bumped into another man's rearview mirror while trying to park at Horseshoe beach.
A few minutes later about 8.20am while he was parked watching the surf at Newcastle beach, the same man came to his window and started throwing punches.
"He came out of the blue, I was just sitting there watching the surf," he said.
"I got out of the way enough, but when he tried to grab my keys I reached over and there was a bit of a scuffle for the keys, so he's cracked the key in half trying to get it out of the ignition.
"He's thrown the keys down, smashed the keys and done a runner."
It's not the first abusive incident Mr Ross has experienced down at Horseshoe Beach, which he said had become overrun with "vagrants" with a "gang" mentality.
The northern sections of Camp Shortland and horseshoe beach are owned and managed by the state government.
Earlier this week, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp met with Transport for NSW (TFNSW) and NSW Police.
"This is a complex issue," he said.
"I have been working with TFNSW and police to determine the appropriate action required to address the community's concerns.
"Communication will be provided to anyone staying long term in the Horseshoe beach precinct to make them aware that enforcement action will be undertaken in the near future."
Mr Crakanthorp said Assertive Outreach were working with those experiencing homelessness and would continue to do so.
NSW Police confirmed Mr Ross's incident on May 13 was reported and investigations were ongoing.
Mr Ross said not enough was being done to deal with antisocial behaviour in the area.
"They basically think they're untouchable, if anyone comes along, they can just harass them out of being there," he said.
"I've been fishing down at that beach since like year 7, no one can go there anymore. They basically sit there and make everyone feel uneasy and decide who they want on their beach.
"It's just not safe. It is not safe anymore."
Earlier this year, City of Newcastle met with TFNSW to discuss the management of horseshoe beach.
A City of Newcastle spokeswoman said council staff outlined the terms on which they would agree to manage the land and said a follow-up meeting was agreed to, but then cancelled by TFNSW.
"We are as in the dark as the community as to why TFNSW continue to ignore responsibility for land they own," she said.
"NSW government laws do not provide councils with the regulatory powers in relation to antisocial behaviour. Instead, this power rests with NSW Police.
"Instances of antisocial behaviour should be directed to the NSW Police as the appropriate authority."
TFNSW Maritime, then called the Maritime Services Beach, leased the Horseshoe beach car park and Camp Shortland area to council starting September 1973.
The lease expired in January 1976 and has continued on holdover since then.
A TFNSW spokeswoman said in regards to illegal campers, the state government had not undertaken enforcement action to free up the car park or any other state-owned parking areas in the local government area in the past 12 months.
The spokeswoman said the lease provided the council with responsibility for management of activities on the land, including car parking, beach cleaning, boat ramp and lawn maintenance.
"Transport for NSW Maritime have sought to have an updated lease agreement formalised on a number of occasions. Council's decision to discontinue leasing non-core assets around 2018 has caused delay in reinstating the lease," she said.
"A meeting was held in January 2025, with both parties, to commence discussions reinstating council's powers as authorised officers."
TFNSW does not have the power to move people on from public land.
The Newcastle Herald understands TFNSW has received only one report of antisocial behaviour recently, which took place at an event, and was told after the incident.
Members of the community should contact triple zero about antisocial behaviour if it involves a crime, and emergency or poses a threat to safety or wellbeing.
