A man will face court following an investigation into five alleged deliberately lit fires in the Manning/Great Lakes area.
In February/March 2026, detectives from Manning/Great Lakes Police District commenced an investigation into a series of suspicious fires in abandoned buildings around Cundletown.
About 1:30am on Tuesday 24 February 2026, the Cundle Motor Lodge at Princes Street, Cundletown was subject of an arson attack and partly destroyed. The premises was derelict, having been abandoned for some years and marked for demolition.
About 11:45pm on Thursday 12 March 2026, the same premises was again subject of another arson offence, with some remaining structures destroyed.
About 10:20am on Friday 13 March 2026, the Airport Hotel located at Lansdowne Road, Cundletown, was subject of an arson attack and partially damaged. The premises was also derelict, having closed in 2019.
About 1:10am on Wednesday 1 April 2026, the Cundle Motor Lodge was subject of a further arson, which consumed what was left of the remaining buildings.
About 7.20pm on Thursday 9 April 2026, a storage shed in Stevenson Lane, Taree, was subject of an arson attack, whereby flammable materials were allegedly piled up inside a storage shed and set alight.
A crime scene was established at all locations and detectives commenced inquiries into the incidents, which were believed to be linked.
Following inquiries, about 2.00pm yesterday (Monday 13 April 2026) , detectives attended a house at Harrington Road, Coopernook,and arrested a 20-year-old man.
He was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged with five counts of damage property by fire.
He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 1 today (Tuesday 14 April 2026).
