Port of Newcastle Gains Approval For Battery Storage

BY RUBY VAN DE WIJGAART

The Port of Newcastle is the first in the state approved to store grid-scale lithium-ion batteries. 

Approval was granted by the NSW Government in late 2025, enabling the port to receive and store the devices for three of the state's largest battery projects -- Origin Energy's Eraring Battery, AGL's Tomago Battery, and Bellambi Heights Battery Energy Storage System.

The projects will gather roughly 1.7 gigawatts of controllable capacity along with 6.8 gigawatts of energy storage, enough to power millions of homes in times of demand. 

The complexity of the cargo requires specialist handling and purposely build infrastructure in order to ensure the safety of the product and those tasked to handle the batteries. 

CEO Craig Carmody says this approval opens up a pipeline for number of renewable opportunities. 

"This is not just important for the port and our diversification strategy," he said. 

"This is another way of firming up the energy supply in NSW, it allows these big industrial projects to push ahead." 

The port is investing in expanded infrastructure at its Multi Purpose Terminal in Mayfield, actively executing a $36 million waterside berth extension to accommodate larger multipurpose vessels.

Picture supplied. 

Fears Held For Missing Newcastle Woman

 BY IAN CROUCH

A search is under way for a Newcastle woman who hasn't been seen in more than a month.

42-year-old Kirsty Hayes was last seen in Darby Street, Cooks Hill sometime between Thursday June 11 and Monday June 15, 2026.

She's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall with a thin build, brown hair and green eyes and is known to frequent the Newcastle and Hunter Valley areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Missing woman Kirsty Hayes

Appeal Launched To Find Girl Missing From Abermain

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for out help to find a young girl who's gone missing from the Lower Hunter.

12-year-old Shanae Ford was last seen in Abermain about 2.00pm on Monday 13 July, 2026 and there are concerns for her welfare due to her age.

She's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165 to 170cm tall with a medium build, dark hair and brown eyes.

Shanae is known to frequent the Abermain, Cessnock, Maitland, Rutherford and Lake Macquarie areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cessnock Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Missing girl Shanae Ford

 

 

New Industry Opportunities Sparked by Rezoning Hunter Mining Sites

BY OLIVIA HADWEN

Two mining sites in the Hunter are set to be rezoned for new industry opportunities in renewable energy, warehousing and manufacturing.

Following the closure of Muswellbrook's Mount Arthur Coal Mine in 2030, around 5,400 hectares of the site will be rezoned for the new developments, set to host nearly 6,000 new jobs. 

Meanwhile, the former Macquarie Coal Complex in West Wallsend is ideally positioned to become a major employment precinct as well, featuring at least 500 hectares of developable land. 

The proposed operation will create up to 1,130 new jobs, with direct links to the M1 and Main Northern Railway. 

These are the first major post-mining land transformation plans underneath the Commonwealth Government's $5 million investment alongside state funding. 

The redevelopment of land is set to drive economic growth across the Hunter region and provide job opportunities to local workers. 

NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the state government is acting now to plan for the region's future. 

"These proposals provide a clear pathway for former mining land to support new industries, investment and jobs for decades to come," he said. 

The draft master plans and rezoning proposals are on public exhibition until August 11. 

The community can speak directly with the project team through in-person drop-in sessions set to be held in both Muswellbrook and Lake Macquarie. 

"These plans will help create thousands of local jobs, attract new investment and give Hunter communities confidence that the region will remain one of the state's economic powerhouses," Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley added. 

Port Stephens Mayor Calls for Protection Against Shoal Bay Erosion

BY CAMERON TARAGEL

Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson is calling for the state government to step in and provide much-needed assistance for erosion along Shoal Bay Road. 

State legislation only allows sandbags to be in place for up to 90 days, but Cr Anderson believes an extension would be beneficial to allow for long-term solutions to begin. 

Currently, no sand bags are in place along the deteriorating foreshore due to the restrictions, with recent harsh weather removing large chunks of sand. 

Cr Anderson said sand management is only a short-term fix. 

"We're trying to do all the studies that we need to do to actually look at what we need to do," she said.

"We need to do something to stabilize the area until we can work out that long-term solution." 

The mayor recent wrote to the NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to advocate for a 12 month extension to sand bag limits. 

Additionally, she said with the state government's financial support, a stronger long-term solution can be found.

"We don't have a lot of funding for the works that we need to do," she said.

"We need to apply for state government grants to be able to co-fund long-term solutions." 

Council is seeking the state approval to secure the beachfront as they continue delivering their long-term Coastal Management Program. 

Erosion along Shoal Bay Road in April this year. Picture: Port Stephens Council 

Business Hunter Praises State Government Praised for Local Train Manufacturing Plan

BY MARLEY RAE

Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes has applauded the NSW Government's pledge to make the Hunter the state's home for train building.

Over the weekend, Premier Chris Minns announced at the NSW Labor Conference they will invest $12 billion to build a new Hunter train manufacturing facility. 

Operated by a private manufacturer, the business would be constructed to provide ongoing support for the region's passenger train fleet, with a former Teralba coal mine and the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot shortlisted as potential locations.

Mr Hawes believes the announcement is a big win for the Hunter.

"This is a huge vote of confidence from the NSW Government in the Hunter's industrial capability and their desire to see that strength upheld", he said.

"We are really pleased to see the government's adopting a 'build them here' approach and recognising that governments have an ability and responsibility to support jobs, skill development and local businesses through the supply chain by manufacturing trains right here in our states industrial heartland."

The local rail manufacturing industry dried up in 2012, with the new facility to refocus train procurement back to the Hunter after more than a decade of major contracts going offshore. 

"The proposal keys into the regions DNA when it comes to manufacturing, building and making things, especially train building," said Mr Hawes. 

"The government is seeking to make an investment on it's own part, but also is really seeking to provoke private sector investment to get the facility up and running, and we think that's very exciting.

"I'm confident we will get a strong response from not only the investment community, but also the workplace community looking to see this sort of facility go ahead." 

Picture: Transport for NSW

Lyne MP Calls For Community Opinion Ahead Of Gambling Reforms

BY LIAM COLLINS

Proposed reforms on gambling advertisements has spurred Lyne MP Alison Penfold to call for community input. 

The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2026, introduced to the Federal Parliament on Thursday, is looking to ban gambling advertising during live sport broadcasts, on sporting uniforms and at sports venues, as well as stronger protections for children online. 

The bill comes three years after the landmark 2023 Murphy review, a parliamentary inquiry spearheaded by the late MP Peter Murphy which sought to research the harms of online gambling and make recommendations.

Alison Penfold released a survey to residents of her electorate, asking locals what they thought of the proposed reforms.

She said we have to be careful of gambling advertising around a younger sporting audience.

"I've heard stories from teachers where kids aren't talking about the footy teams that are playing, they're talking about the odds of who's going to win, and that has real concern," she said. 

So far, her survey has highlighted a majority support for the reforms from its over 500 responses across the Lyne electorate.

Ms Penfold said the clear, straight-forward responses to the survey were incredibly helpful.

"People have certainly got strong views on this... these are very important matters," she said. 

"I really appreciate people telling me their stories, their family stories, the pain and suffering that comes with someone who's been addicted to gambling."

The responses will be used to construct her arguments on the reforms, once it's debated in Parliament in mid-August. 

The survey is available online and is open until July 24. 

Lyne MP Alison Penfold.