Wollongbar: Tactical police arrest man, 45, after northern NSW operation closes roads, thrusts educational facilities into lockdown

Police have made an arrest, ending a long operation on the North Coast which resulted in educational facility lockdowns, roadblocks and shelter in place orders. Here’s the latest.

Wollongbar TAFE student Kye Myers posing in front of a bin his peers were forced to use as a toilet during the lockdown on November 23, 2023. Picture: Supplied

Police have arrested a man, ending an operation at Wollongbar on the North Coast which resulted in roadblocks, educational facility lockdowns and shelter in place orders.

NSW Police confirmed at 2.20pm a man had been taken in custody by the Tactical Operations Unit after negotiations brought an end to the operation which began about 8am.

The 45-year-old man was taken to Lismore Base Hospital under police guard.

A barricade on the Bruxner Highway intersection with Sneaths Rd at Wollongbar in northern NSW on Thursday. Picture: Cath Piltz

Frightening claims circulated across social media about an “active gunman” and “bombs” throughout the operation, but little was confirmed by police while officers were at work.

It was declared there was “no ongoing risk to the public” and it was later reiterated police were not concerned the incident would spill from a private property.

Police spent hours negotiating with the man at a home on the Bruxner Highway.

Police at the locked down Wollongbar TAFE. Picture: Cath Piltz.

The highway was set to remain closed for some time police confirmed late in the afternoon.

Lockdowns have been lifted at Wollongbar TAFE and other facilities.

Providing an update from Newcastle, Northern Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said the man was alone and never left the residence.

He was taken into custody uninjured and will be assessed at hospital before being interviewed.

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said officers were continuing to search the property.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna provided an update from Newcastle on Wollongbar police operation. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

He said police did not hold concerns for the wider community at any stage.

“I’d like to say that the public were instrumental in assisting us with that operation in listening to police and being guided by the police in the area, as we had to shut down parts of Wollongbar for a period of time … ,” he said.

“We take precautions in jobs like this and one of the precautions was to evacuate local areas just around that exclusion zone.”

Road closures were in place between Lismore and Alstonville, after officers responded to a reported concern for welfare in the morning.

“Officers from Richmond Police District remain at the scene – with assistance from Polair, police negotiators, and the Tactical Operations Unit,” a NSW Police spokesman said earlier.

“As a result of the ongoing operation, the Bruxner Hwy is closed in both directions between Sneaths Rd and McLeans Ridges Rd.”

An exclusion zone was in place and residents near the Bruxner Hwy and Lindendale Rd intersection were told to stay indoors.

Motorists were also urged to stay away, while a police helicopter circled overhead.

TAFE students were let out about 1pm, but had to leave cars for security reasons.

Some took the opportunity to head 4km to Wollongbar Tavern for a meal and beer, including electricians Mado Barker, 34, and Grif Blane, 26.

Wollongbar TAFE electricians Mado Barker and Grif Blane at the Wollongbar Tavern after chaos. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“At 9am the head teacher said we were having an emergency drill – but it’s not a drill. We were supposed to have one a couple weeks ago that didn’t happen,” Mr Barker said.

While locked down, they could not eat or use the bathroom – resulting in a bin being used as a communal toilet, the students said.

They said it was half full by the time the lockdown was over.

Wollongbar TAFE students were forced to use a bin as a communal toilet during the lockdown.

“We didn’t know what was going on. We didn’t have power or internet for an hour and we were checking the news for updates,” Mr Barker said.

To pass time, students made phone calls, played classroom cricket and rolled each other around in a trolley.

“We hope we get our cars back soon,” Mr Blane said.

Residents sitting at the pub about 1pm were interested to see police trucks rolling past, sirens blaring in their usually quiet little town.

Wollongbar residents Allan Williams and Richard Vigna at Wollongbar Tavern. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“We’ve never seen anything like it before,” Richard Vigna said.

“This used to be a crime-free, beautiful place before the Lismore floods.”

Wollongbar Public School relieving principal Ben Barker earlier confirmed the school was operating under a “silent lockdown”.

“Please be reassured that while there is a significant police operation underway 2km from the school, our school site is safe – our children are happy and continuing with their learning,” Mr Barker wrote in a statement to parents and guardians.

Emergency services on scene. Picture: Cath Piltz

“Our school is outside the police lockdown zone, however as a proactive precaution, Wollongbar PS is operating under a silent lockdown (and) our site is being very tightly managed at this time.”

Wollongbar TAFE was locked down due to its proximity to the police operation.

The school was also experiencing a power outage disrupting phones and emails, which was also affecting a nearby Shell service station and other premises.

“These are the times you learn how valuable your emergency planning and systems are,” Mr Barker concluded.

Authorities have been swarming Wollongbar. Picture: Cath Piltz

A TAFE NSW spokeswoman confirmed the Wollongbar TAFE campus was put into lockdown as a precaution.

Reports emerged on social media of one student who ended up stuck in a car for hours after the lockdown suddenly began.