Shoal Bay Residents Voice Anger Over Pathway Consultation

BY APRIL BRACKLEY

A $1.25 million pathway project has sparked community uproar in Port Stephens, due to an alleged lack of consultation. 

Port Stephens Council proposed plans to close two existing Shoal Bay beach access paths and install a three-metre wide, 500-metre long concrete path between Halifax Holiday park and Harwood Avenue.

A funding application for the project was submitted by Council on November 24 2024, with Transport for NSW approving the funding on May 13 2025. 

However, residents said the first known community notifications occurring at the end of April 2026.

Construction on the major project is due to begin in September. 

The Shoal Bay foreshore between the locations currently functions as a place for shared community activity, existing as one of the few areas in Port Stephens left undisturbed by a road or formal pavement. 

The proposed plan has received substantial negative feedback, with concerns over it's intruding nature and a loss of familiar, direct ways of reaching the beach. 

This has led to community action, including a deferral request made in May of this year, in which 45 residents signed a letter formally asking the council to defer construction until March 2027.

There has been no indication of the council's agreement with the deferral. 

"We were very upset with the manner in which many residents' concerns were being dismissed as kind of selfish and self-interested," said Shoal Bay resident Trevor Watling. 

"It's actually about preserving this place for everyone and future generations."

Local community members have also been left in the dark regarding reasons as to why the project has been so aggressively pushed by the council. 

"Why does it have to go ahead so fast," Mr Watling added. 

"Why can't it be deferred and why did they submit this without consultation."  

The community are continuing their efforts to pause the project and have now established their own survey, receiving more than 280 responses.

Port Stephens Council Asset Manager John Maretich has been contacted for comment. 

Proposed pathway. Picture: Port Stephens Council 

Parliamentary Inquiry Calls For Mater To Be Made Public

 BY MAXWELL HARVEY

A parliamentary inquiry into mould and pest issues at Newcastle's Calvary Mater hospital has called for the termination of the hospital's public-private partnership (PPP).

The report, which documents allegations of corruption, cover-ups, and maintenance failures, recommends ownership be transferred to NSW Health immediately.

Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Haynes has backed the report's findings, calling on the state government to enact its recommendations.

"The next steps are obviously for the government to consider the recommendations from the upper house inquiry," he said. 

"We are firmly of the view that public hospitals should be in public hands and controlled by the government.

"[The recommendation] moves away from the conflicting interests between he private sector and the public sector."

Allegations submitted to the inquiry date back to 2007, mostly relating to the continuous presence of mould in the hospital's cancer ward.

It is alleged that the presence of mould caused or contributed to the deaths of several people across almost two decades.

A review conducted by the Mater itself indicated that at least 16 invasive fungal infections occurred between 2019 and 2024, with further cases recorded in the subsequent two years.

About 120 families have registered for a class-action lawsuit into the alleged mould-related deaths.

At the start of the year, media highlighted continuous issues with mould and maggots in the Mater's cancer and ICU wards, prompting the state government to intervene.

NSW Health then announced $12.5 million for emergency remediation work, replacing cladding to prevent water leaks into the hospital.

Health Minister Ryan Park announced this week the external cladding replacement at the hospital had been completed, though broader remediation works are still underway.

Mr Haynes said the failure of the Calvary Mater sends a clear message that public-private partnerships are no longer viable.

"A lot of work has been done to get to this point," he added. 

"I think the recommendations are good and so it's now a matter for the government to be able to consider those recommendations and hopefully apply them as soon as possible."

Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital. Picture supplied. 

Skill Shortages Puts Hunter Businesses At Risk

BY MARLEY RAE

New research conducted by Business NSW shows three in four businesses in the Hunter are struggling to find skilled workers.

This year's biennial State of Skills report, which was based on survey responses by more than 500 businesses across NSW and the Hunter, found over 75 per cent of respondents reported skills shortages, 

It's slightly higher than the state average of 73.6 per cent. 

While the regional figure is below the post-COVID high of 2022 (89.1 per cent), it is markedly higher than shortages reported in 2019 (54.3 per cent) and 2017 (33.3 per cent). 

The report also found half of the respondents expect the shortage to cost them customer and commercial opportunities, with some warning their businesses may not survive if conditions persist.

Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the figures highlighted a concerning trend as skill shortages become entrenched with the local work force.

"These findings are consistent with what businesses across the Hunter have been telling us for some time," he said.

"The Hunter is not unusual and we've got a bit of a task to address a number of factors to try and address it."

However, the report also reveals competition for talent in the regional workforce are keen in the face of skills shortages, with 37.2 per cent of Hunter respondents noting the loss of suitable applicants to other employers during recruitment as a major challenge.

The shortages have prompted calls from Business NSW for a $200 million investment in apprenticeships, a comprehensive overhaul of regional, employer led skills compacts and income concessions for pensioners.

Mr Hawes believes workforce training, planning and skill development are essential amongst the Hunter's economic structural change.

"It's particularly critical in the Hunter if we're to get to these points of transformation in servicing new energy economy and growth in advanced manufacturing," he said.

"If we can get this right an get people who want to work back in the workforce, it's going help the region achieve it's transformation and goals it's setting itself.

"But if we don't, we've got a situation where people who are filling some of these skilled jobs are being tapped on the shoulder and not coming through the application process." 

Picture: Pexels

BREAKING! Teenage Boy Dies In Crash at Gateshead

 BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations are under way into a crash at Gateshead early Monday which left one teenager dead and another in hospital.

Police say a stolen Toyota Kluger crashed into a paddock overturned off Willow Road just before 3.00am.

One of the passengers, a 13-year-old boy suffered critical injuries but could not be revived and died at the scene.

A 14-year-old boy was taken to the John Hunter in a stable condition with leg injuries, where he remains under police guard.

Police say two other people fled the scene. 

Following inquiries, a 14-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were arrested and taken to the John Hunter under police guard.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. 

A report is being prepared for the Coroner

 

Pine Cone Pranks Cost Lake Macquarie Council Thousands

BY RUBY VAN DE WIJGAART

Lake Macquarie Council has spent more than $5000 removing traffic cones from the top of pine trees, as part of a new social media trend. 

Known as 'coning', the phenomenon has seen vandals scale 25-metre-tall Norfolk pine trees and other greenery, to place a traffic cone on top. 

The trend is said to gained popularity on New Zealand social media, but has quickly swept its way around Lake Macquarie, predominantly the eastern suburbs. 

Council is calling on anyone participating in the trend, with grave concerns for their safety as many of the trees have unstable branches and reach dangerous heights. 

The climbing also loosens branches, making it unsafe for the community to walk below. 

"There may be more [incidents] we're not familiar with but we're asking for public assistance," said Council's Presentation Manager Paul Pafumi. 

The trend also poses a risk to the health of the trees, with the traffic cones said to stunt growth and have lasting impacts. 

"This means that the tree would require removal, that would be at the coast of the council as well," said Mr Pafumi. 

Lake Macquarie Council are urging those with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Picture: Lake Macquarie Council

Hunter Transmission Project Approved To Begin Construction

BY CAMERON TARAGEL

The state's energy transition has reached a critical milestone with the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP) officially being approved.

The project enables construction of a new 110-kilometre, 500 kilovolt transmission line which will  improve energy security and and strengthen NSW's electricity grid.

The line will now follow a new route with 90 per cent of it being located on mining, energy and government-owned land in order to reduce the amount of private properties affected.

Upper Hunter Nationals MP Dave Layzell is backing the now approved HTP, despite previously opposing the project.

"We have done the best we could do to be able to weave it through and minimise the impact on landholders," he said.

The MP said his initial opposition was due to the projected impacts on landholders along the route from Bayswater to Olney near Eraring.

However, after lengthy deliberations with community members, only 10 per cent of the project will now be located on private land.

It's dropped the estimated impacted properties from 70 to around only 20.

Mr Layzell said while it's not perfect, it's better than the initial proposal

"I believe they have listened where they can," he said. 

"They have looked at options."

Project coordiantors EnergyCo said the new route will bypass sections of vegetation critical to the endangered Littlejohns' Tree Frog. 

The line's Executive Project Director Peter Redwin said they've kept local habitats in mind.

"We have changed the design to decrease the amount of impact on known habitats of various species," he said.

"We will continue to refine that process as we go through the final design phase in the next couple of months." he said.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said the project is an important step in the transition from coal-fired power stations.

"The project is the missing link between the renewable energy being build in Central-West Orana and New England," she said.

"Planning approval means we can get on with building the infrastructure needed to secure NSW's energy future."

The project is expected to support around 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across the state.

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the HTP's approval is a major win for the region.

"We've got the R&D, the infrastructure, the funding, the skills," she said.

"This is a major vote of confidence in the Hunter, creating jobs, backing local businesses and driving investment.

"The Hunter has always been a powerhouse of NSW and this project shows that our region is open for business and ready to lead the energy transition." 

Construction is expected to commence later this year and be completed by late 2029, subject to Commonwealth Government approval. 

Proposed transmission line. Picture: EnergyCo

Fire Tears Through Unit At Birmingham Gardens

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused severe damage to a unit at Birmingham Gardens overnight.

Fire crews from Wallsend, Mayfield West and Lambton were called to a duplex in Lee Crescent just after 1.30am today (Tuesday 28 July, 2026) to find a fire on the back patio of unit 1 had taken hold.

Newcastle Fire Command says the occupants were woken by smoke alarms and safely evacuated the unit along with the occupants of unit 2.

The second unit sustained fire damage to the ceiling.

12 firefighters took more than 3 hours to fully extinguish and mop up the blaze before handing the scene to police.