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

 

Dartbrook Mine Extension Creates Mixed Political Response

BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

The state Government has granted a six-year extension to the controversial Dartbrook coal mine in Muswellbrook, sparking debate amongst local political figures. 

It comes just a month after a it was revealed potential conflicts of interest took place within the site's financial operations. 

The facility has been running with a skeleton staff since it collapsed into insolvency last year, after it defaulted on a $202 million loan. 

Another $5 million is still owed to unsecured creditors, including local operators who have reported to be at  risk of bankruptcy if the lost funds are not re-couped.

Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell has labelled the decision a lost opportunity, arguing the extension should have been used as a bargaining chip to ensure that missing funds were repaid.

He said while he does welcome any extension, Dartbrook's future operators are on thin ice.

"I think what the whole region is hoping is that the mine does continue, but that it continues under new ownership," he said.

"At the moment it's under administration.

"We're really hoping that a reputable company comes in, buys the mine, the mining licence, takes over the mine and runs it properly." 

Meanwhile, Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton is hopeful the facility's extension will benefit the local community.

"It may not have been approached as well as we might have wanted it to be, but hopefully someone who steps in is a miner," he said.

"When I say a miner, I mean someone who has been the industry a while and knows what they're doing.

"I think if that happens, it'll be a successful mine, and if it's a successful mine, we have local jobs and local procurement, which is certainly a win for the community." 

Over the course of this six-year extension, it's believed the mine will be able to extract an additional 36 million tonnes of coal.

Picture: Mining and Energy Union

CRIKEY! Crocodile Captured In Wallsend Creek

 BY OLI GOLEDNER

A juvenile crocodile has been captured in a Wallsend creek, believed to possibly be an escaped pet. 

The animal was spotted at about 4.30pm on Saturday 28 February at a creek running behind Federal Park. 

Police and Australian Reptile Park handlers formed a perimeter around the pond to prevent the reptile from escaping and keep onlookers safe. 

The park's manager Billy Collett said they had a difficult time catching the croc initially. 

"I got a few of the lads together and we went up and spent a few hours in daylight searching," he said. 

"We couldn't see it, so on Saturday night when the sun set, we managed to eyeshine him from the bank. 

"Then SES provided us with a rescue craft, but we just couldn't get close enough to him to be able to catch him." 

Eventually, on Sunday night Mr Collett and his crew returned. 

At about 8.30pm they successfully captured the croc and brought it back to the park for specialist assessment. 

The croc was found to be a male sub-adult freshwater crocodile, measuring it at just under a metre in length and only weighing a few kilograms. 

Mr Collett explained they're still unsure as to how it found it's way into the pond. 

"We think it's either an escaped pet or it's been let go," he explained. 

"We're not too sure, but that's what we would think."

He confirmed no other crocodiles were spotted in the creek during their search. 

"I scouted that area heavily for two nights and only located one crocodile," he added. 

"So, to my knowledge there's only the one in there." 

Picture supplied.