KURRI KURRI GAS PLANT – Turbine Testing to Resume Monday

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Snowy Hydro says it will recommence testing of the first of its two gas generators on Monday at Kurri Kurri, which will use gas, rather than a mix of diesel and gas. The company says it’s expected to cause substantially less smell and smoke than it did last week.

Residents all the way from Cessnock through to Lake Macquarie reported a foul smell and heavy smoke when the turbines were fired up without warning last Wednesday. Local MPs have slammed the company for poor communication.

Snowy Hydro says there is the potential for a plume and odour during the initial startup of the turbine, and they’ve increased air monitoring outside the site boundary.

Testing will be undertaken at night.

Credit: Australian Government Transparency Portal

Residents Evacuated And Man Taken To Hospital After Unit Fire At Hamilton South

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been taken to hospital and dozens of people have been evacuated after a unit fire at Hamilton South.

Firefighters were called to a apartment block on Fowler Street just after midnight to find a ground floor unit on fire.

Newcastle Fire Command says 40 people were evacuated as crews tackled the flames

A 56-year-old man was rescued from the unit and taken to the John Hunter Hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

A female occupant was also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

It took crews more than hour to fully extinguish the fire which caused damage to a bedroom and hallway.

Police say it's believed a candle sparked the blaze.
 

 

Appeal Launched To Find Missing Teenage Girl In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a teenage girl who's gone missing in Newcastle.

13-year-old Ruby-Lee Camilleri was last seen in Fowler Street, Hamilton South at about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

Police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Ruby is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 155cm tall with a thin build, short brown hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a grey hoodie and black shorts.

Ruby is known to frequent the Newcastle, Hamilton South and Waratah West areas.

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

 

Missing teen Ruby-Lee Camilleri

 

UPDATE! Manhunt Under Way After Police Shoot At Man On The Central Coast

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is in custody following a police operation on the Central Coast this morning (Thursday 17 July, 2025).

Tuggerah Lakes Police were called to Goorama Avenue in San Remo at about 5.00am after a man reported to be armed with a knife was standing in the middle of the road.

A Taser was deployed to affect the man’s arrest; however, he got into his car and allegedly drove at police, hitting their vehicle. 

A police firearm was discharged and the man drove from the scene.

Following a police operation across the Central Coast, a 42-year-old man was arrested on The Corso at, Gorokan around 7.30am after a Taser was deployed. The man has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for assessment.

Inquiries are continuing.

EARLIER: 

Police have shot at a man following a domestic violence incident on the Central Coast this morning (Thursday 17 July, 2025).

A search is under way for the man who's suspected of assaulting a woman - she's been taken to hospital for assessment.

Police say around 5.00am  the man was reported to be brandishing a knife and standing in the middle of Goorama Avenue at San Remo.

Officers deployed a Tazer but he managed to get into a grey Mitsubishi station wagon and allegedly rammed a police car.

Police fired a shot at the car but the man drove off.  

The car has the NSW registration EVM 91J

Anyone who who sees the man or the car are urged not to approach to call Triple Zero immediately.

 

 

 

ERARING – Lake Macquarie Council Calls for Federal Support

 

 BY JESSICA STEENS

 Lake Macquarie Council is calling for Federal support to mitigate the economic fallout which could occur following the closure of Eraring Power Station.

In recent years, the plant has struggled to make profit due to the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy sources.

With a planned 2027 closure date creeping closer, Councillors say the Net Zero Economy Authority will need to step in.

Deputy Mayor Jack Antcliff says failure to prepare for the station's closure could result in economic death by a thousand cuts.

“Lake Macquarie is a city of 14,000 small businesses, we don’t have a single big employer. We don’t have a BHP, we don’t have a Holden. So when we lose businesses, we lose one family business at a time.

“We run the risk if we don’t prepare, in 15 years time we will look back and wonder where all the jobs went” he said.

Council warns the closure is set to cause a loss of 4.5 billion dollars to the local economy and cause 1800 job losses.

Hunter Business CEO Bob Hawes says looking back at previous mining closures, it’s hard to predict the effect on the economy.

“When you look back in history there is certainly some things we have learnt from those experiences and move forward. Sometimes things work out better than you anticipate and sometimes not so” he said.

Eraring Power Station is expected to cease its operations on August 19th, 2027.

Image: Wikimedia Commons / CSIRO

 

 

RISING TIDE – Group Says “Protestival” to Go Ahead Regardless of Council Support

 BY PETER HYSLOP

 Rising Tide says they’ll still host the People’s Blockade event in November at the Port of Newcastle with or without Newcastle Council’s support.

Councillors will vote on whether to allow activists to use Richardson Park at Hamilton North and Camp Shortland following a briefing with organisers and police tonight.

Results from Newcastle Council’s public call for feedback still haven’t been released, but an independent poll commissioned by Rising Tide shows 66% of around 300 local residents surveyed said they support the event. The poll’s been since criticised by Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull, who says the questions made no mention of illegal activity in previous years.

But Rising Tide spokesperson Alexa Stuart insists the polling can be trusted.

“What’s unique about this polling is that it was a totally random sample … of Newcastle residents,” she said.

“What happens on the water and on the beach isn’t related to the Council application, and it’s happened 12 times in the past because it’s [a] public beach and public water,” she said.

Image: Rising Tide

 

Kathleen Folbigg's Compensation Claim Stalled

 BY IAN CROUCH

Exonerated Hunter Valley mother, Kathleen Folbigg's compensation claim for wrongful imprisonment is reportedly falling on death ears.

News Limited reports the now 58-year-old has been ghosted by Premier Chris Minns after making multiple requests to meet him.

It's been more than two years since Kathleen Folbigg was released from prison where she spent 20 years for the deaths of her 4 children before being acquitted in 2023.

Her lawyer says the state government is still refusing to give a timeline for the compensation decision, describing the lack of information as ludicrous.

Kathleen Folbigg