Residents To Meet With State MPs Over Landslip

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison and Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin will meet with residents affected by the New Lambton landslip next week. 

It comes after the state government's Reconstruction Authority (RA) announced will provide up to a year's rental assistance to residents displaced in the natural disaster in May last year.

Newcastle council wrote to the RA last month, insisting they responsibility for the incident which left 16 homes uninhabitable. 

Before, tensions between Council and the state were escalating, due to the RA initially relinquishing the remediation responsibilities to the City of Newcastle. 

An authoritative, peer-reviewed geotechnical report changed the department's mind, after it provided definitive evidence the incident was due to natural phenomena.

The announcement of extra rental assistance couldn't have come at a better time for affected residents, as they were only initially given until June for their support payments.

Jodie Harrison said she's happy with the latest development and is hopeful next week's meeting can alleviate any other issues currently suffered by residents.

"I'm really pleased we've been able to provide additional support for residents at a time of uncertainty for them," she said.

"What I want to make sure, as their local MP, is make sure I do everything I possibly can to reduce the uncertainty now and into the future."

Minister Harrison went further to state she's happy affected residents get to directly engage with both herself and Minister Saffin over the matter.

"Minister Saffin is very keen to listen to each of the residents who are affected," she said.

"I'll certainly be taking into account, listening to what they have to say and I'll advocate on their behalf in the future."

Taken from when the landslip was first noticed in May. Credit: NSW Police

Man Arrested Over Fires At Wickham Gym

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man accused of twice setting fire to a gym at Wickham earlier this year has been arrested.

It's alleged the 42-year-old started a fire at the Air Locker Gym in Albert Street on January 20 before returning three days later and starting another fire on the ground floor which caused extensive damage.

A vehicle allegedly involved in the incidents was found burnt out at Salamander Bay on February 4.

Early yesterday (Thursday 5 March, 2026), police went to a home on Keel Street at Salamander Bay and arrested the accused.

He's been charged with three counts of damaging property by fire or explosion and refused bail.

 

Police arrested a 42-year-old man at Salamander Bay

Union Cries Out For More Local Affordable Housing

 BY OLI GOELDNER

The Hunter's hospitality, fast-food and warehouse workers are at the forefront of a new union-backed campaign to deliver more affordable housing for the region. 

The 'A fair go starts with a home' campaign is calling on the state government to increase the percentage of cheaper homes developed across the state, including in the new Broadmeadow precinct. 

The development proposed by council looks to build 20,000 additional dwellings across the suburb. 

However, only five to 10 percent of the proposed accomodation has been classified as affordable, translating to only 160 to 320 homes. 

Housing advocates are arguing the portion should be bumped up to 30 percent to better suit the needs of local residents. 

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) national secretary Jarron Dwyer said retail and fast food workers deserve better. 

"We have situations now where those employees can't afford to live anywhere near where they work," he said. 

"So, not only are they getting smashed with increased rents, their costs in relation to transport and petrol have risen sharply. 

"We've got a crisis on our hands across the country, but specifically here in the Hunter." 

The SDA has called for a meeting with NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookey to find a solution to the lack of affordable housing. 

"The NSW Government has been one of the country's leaders in addressing the housing crisis, but we've just got to follow through and ensure that those commitments to public housing and percentages allocated are met," said Mr Dwyer. 

"It's as simple as that." 

BREAKING! Fire Tears Through Hamilton South Unit

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused extensive damage to a unit at Hamilton South early this morning.

Newcastle Fire Command says they were initially called to reports of a bin fire in the three level Department of Housing complex in Fowler Street just before 3.00am.

A crew from Merewether arrived to find a ground floor unit on fire.

All residents of the complex were safely evacuated without injury.

Six fire trucks responded to the incident with crews taking about 10 minutes to bring the blaze under control. 

The cause of the fire is not known but police are not treating it as suspicious.

 

Hefty Price Tag for Entertainment Centre Replacement

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

The price tag for a proposed replacement to Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been estimated at around half a billion dollars. 

It's believed the project is going to cost around $498 million to complete, and would be built next door to McDonald Jones Stadium on the corner of Turton and Griffiths road.

In wake of the looming 2027 state election, the Newcastle council has called for a $15 million promise to kickstart the project, in collaboration with Venues NSW.

The proposed Newcastle Entertainment and Conference Centre has been identified as a priority project for the Broadmeadow Place Strategy and a main catalyst for the development of the Hunter Park Precinct.

Hunter Park would transform the area into a modern sporting and entertainment precinct, capable of catering to more than 30,000 people.

Council's Government Relations Adviser Nikki-Lee Taylor says Newcastle has already proven an appetite for international touring acts.

"You only have to look at the response we've had to Sir Paul McCartney, Pink, Elton John, and now the Foo Fighters," she said.

"A repeatedly sold out stadium in itself represents a fairly strong business case

"To have a venue that is not weather dependent and specifically designed for those types of artists, only strengthens the appeal to promoters when it comes to making Newcastle a regular touring destination for big acts."

Ms Taylor went further to state the proposed Centre would serve as a major next step in Newcastle's growth as a cultural hotspot.

"We have an international airport, we have a growing visitor economy and we have a great tourism economy that grows exponentially year-by-year," she said.

"Newcastle is a great city, it has culture, it has vibrancy and that's only continuing to grow and change.

"I don't think this would necessarily put us on the map, but I think it would be part of an organic growth Newcastle is experiencing anyway."

Picture: Newcastle Entertainment Centre. 

Police Probe House Fire At Raymond Terrace

 BY IAN CROUCH

An investigation is under way into an early-morning house fire at Raymond Terrace.

Fire crews and five trucks were called to Kangaroo Street just after 3.00am today (Wednesday 4 March 2026) to find smoke issuing from the single level weatherboard home.

Newcastle Fire Command says they managed to contain the flames to the back right hand corner of the home, taking around 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

It's understood the resident was not home when the fire broke out.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious - crews attended a fire call at the home at week ago. 

Fire crews at the scene of the house fire in Kangaroo Street. Picture: Raymond Terrace RFS

 

Search Under Way For Man Missing From Waratah

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking members of the public not to approach a man reported missing from Waratah.

46-year-old Marak Pyrda was last seen at a medical facility in Platt Street at about 10.30am yesterday and there are concerns for his welfare as he lives with a medical condition.

Marak's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 190cm tall with a solid build and shaved head.

He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with a white 'Under Armour' logo on the front, blue shorts, white ankle-length sox and black shoes and was also carrying a back pack.

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

Missing man Marak Pyrda