RFS Positions Resources Ahead of Hot Weekend

 Temperature forecasts of up to 40 degrees on Saturday is not any help to the Rural Fire Service who are stretched battling blazes across the Hunter.

The Buladelah grass fire closed the Pacific Highway on Friday morning from Twelve Mile Creek all the way to Nabiac, causing significant headaches for commuters who have been forced to use The Bucketts Way instead. As of Friday afternoon, it had burned through over 760 hectares.

There are a number of fires crews are keeping an eye on, including at Cedar Creek, the ongoing Milsons Gully fire near Merriwa, and at Upper Rouchel near Scone.

RFS Spokeswoman Victoria Quested says they’re getting help from the ground and the air.

“We’ve seen some strike teams deployed from other areas of the state to come in and assist those local crews. And no doubt people in the area have noticed [a number] of our aircraft operating. So crews are doing a great job,” she said.

“We’ve got high fuel loads right across the state including in the Hunter and as we are now in this period of drying, which we obviously haven’t seen in the last few years, that fuel is very much drying out.

“So under conditions like we’re seeing today and certainly going into tomorrow where we’re expecting those winds to pick up, fires can start very quickly and spread very rapidly,” she said.

Locals are being advised to download the Hazards Near Me app to stay across the latest warnings.

Credit / Buladelah RFB / Facebook

LINK ROAD FOREST – Campaigners Hoping to set up Second Council Motion

 Backlash is continuing against the state significant housing estate proposal for the Link Road Forest at Wallsend, which could see more than 4,000 homes built.

Campaigners are calling on the State Government to instead rezone the land as a national park to protect threatened species.

It’s hoped another motion for writing to the State Government calling for the housing project to be dropped, will pass at next Tuesday’s Council meeting.

Campaign Convener Ian McKenzie says its a vital decision for generations to come.

“I think Council’s generally on side. They’ve already passed a resolution asking the State Government to consider rezoning this area for conservation in perpetuity. But I think the information that we brought them [at this week’s public briefing] strengthened their resolve,” he said.

“It’s important for Newcastle now. It’s important for Newcastle for well into the future.

“If we look back in 30 years’ time, we want to say, ‘yes, that was a good decision. We’ve got something that is valuable for the city’,” he said.

Newcastle Link Road. Credit / Transport for NSW

BREAKING! Massive Reward Offered To Solve Cold Case Death Of Singleton Toddler

 BY IAN CROUCH

The NSW government has announced a massive increase in the reward being offered for information over the suspicious death of a toddler at Singleton 20 years ago.

Jordan William Thompson was just 21 months old in March 2005 when his mother returned home from running errands after leaving him in the care of her then partner, to find him unresponsive in a bedroom.

Police were told Jordan had earlier been found face down in a bathtub.

His mother rushed him across the road to Singleton Base Hospital but he couldn't be revived.

A postmortem later found a lethal dose of prescription medication used to treat depression in his system.

Cecil Kennedy has stood trial twice for manslaughter, however juries were unable to reach unanimous verdicts.

Despite a $100,000 dollar reward offered in 2015, no-one has been convicted over Jordan's death.

It's hoped a new reward of $500,000 will encourage someone to come forward with information which leads to an arrest and conviction.

 

Jordan William Thompson 

STOCKTON FERRY - State Government in Talks to Restore Service

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says the State Government and Keolis Downer are working on solutions for the out of service Newcastle to Stockton ferries.

Bus replacements have been called up since Saturday after the MV Shortland was called back for urgent repairs.

The MV Hunter has been out of service since February.

The bus replacements turn a five-minute ferry trip into up to an hour's long commute through peak hour traffic. 

Tim Crakanthorp has called for a replacement of the current fleet. He says for now, the State Government's working on immediate solutions.

"The fleet's getting old, and I share the community's frustrations," he said.

"We need to really do something about an update of those ferries, but I am in ongoing discussions with the [Minister for Transport's] office about an immediate solution to provide a consistent ferry service.

"Newcastle deserves that, and I'll continue to fight for a good, reliable ferry service," he said.

Tomago Aluminium Talks Focusing on “More Renewable Energy” – Bowen

 Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen says conversations are ongoing about the future of Tomago Aluminium.

Government agencies are reportedly working on a power purchase agreement, where the Federal Government would guarantee a long term stable price of electricity for the plant, which has warned it may be forced to close if power prices don’t come down.

Chris Bowen believes the solution to the manufacturer’s woes is to pump the grid with more renewables.

“We have [Government] agencies [that] have been looking to see whether we can’t provide more renewable energy to Tomago,” he said.

“Tomago’s management said when they announced they were considering Tomago’s future, the problem is there’s not enough renewable energy. Not that there’s too much, there’s not enough.

“We agree with that. So let’s see what more we can do,” he said.

Chris Bowen with Paterson MP Meryl Swanson, Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon, Swansea MP Yasmin Catley, and Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery.

BUCHANAN – Police Appeal for Help Following Suspicious Grass Fires

 Police are appealing for public help to locate a white Mazda SUV last seen in Kurri Kurri after a number of suspicious grass fires were sparked across the Hunter Valley.

At about midday on Sunday emergency services were called to a grass fire at Frame Drive and Gingers Lane at Sawyers Gully. A short time later crews were called to two more fires on John Renshaw Drive at Buchanan. The Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished both blazes.

At 3:40pm firefighters were called to a fire at John Renshaw Drive at Black Hill and another at Averys Lane. They were both extinguished.

Police have established a crime scene at all locations, and have commenced inquiries. Officers are appealing for anyone with information or dash cam footage of the white Mazda, or footage of any of the grass fires between 12pm and 4pm, to contact Crime Stoppers.

The white Mazda SUV. Credit / NSW Police

Appeal for Information over City Road Dirt Bike Crash

 Police are appealing for information following a six vehicle crash at the intersection of City and Brunker roads at Adamstown Heights yesterday (Wednesday 26 November).

It’s understood a dirt bike with two teenagers on board ran a red light and collided with a car at the intersection at 5:35pm.

The scene was difficult to attend for police in peak hour gridlock, but when they arrived a 17-year-old boy, the rider was treated by paramedics- he’s at John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

The passenger of the motorbike, a 14-year-old boy, is also in hospital in a critical condition.

The five car drivers were uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

The Crash Investigation Unit is asking anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.

Credit / Google Maps