Police are renewing their appeal for information from the public, to help find a man who went missing from the western region in December 2019.

In March 2022, detectives attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District established Strike Force Yurinigh to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of James Hunter.

James, now aged 54, lived in the Newcastle suburb of Tighes Hill and travelled to the state’s west for work including rural properties at Dubbo, Mendooran and Dunedoo.

He was also known to frequent Walgett and Lightning Ridge where he would mine for opals.

He maintained contact with family members, who last saw him in person in December 2019, when he was in the Newcastle area.

After failing to make contact with his family for several months, James was reported missing to police in July 2021.

Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District commenced numerous inquiries and have conducted searches for James since that time, however he has not been located.

As part of inquiries, police have established James was last seen at a pharmacy on Macquarie Street in Dubbo on Friday 28 February 2020, and he has not accessed his bank accounts since then.

In March 2022, his vehicle – a blue 2005 Toyota Hilux utility was located on a property he was working at in Mendooran, and it was seized for forensic examination.

Police and family continue to hold concerns for James’ welfare, and are renewing their appeal to the community to come forward with any information that may assist detectives with their ongoing investigations.

James is described as being Caucasian in appearance, about 175cm tall, of a medium build with brown hair and eyes.

Anyone who has information in relation to James’ whereabouts or of relevance to the investigation is urged to contact Dubbo Police Station on 02 6883 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.