Indoor Sports Centre Plans Changed After Strong Feedback

BY OLI GOELDNER 

Newcastle Basketball has amended the final proposal for the controversial Hunter Indoor Sports Centre, after strong community feedback. 

The project will look to replace the ageing Newcastle Basketball Centre and provide a long-term home for a wide range of indoor sports. 

In 2024, a public exhibition of the original plans saw more than 70 per cent of submissions oppose the project, leading to additional amendments. 

Public exhibition on the amended plans wrapped up in September last year. 

A total of 1,278 community submissions were received during the exhibition period, with 69 per cent of submissions supporting the project. 

Newcastle Basketball also held two community drop-in sessions where residents and stakeholders were able to speak directly with technical specialists across flooding, traffic, planning, urban design and open space. 

Further consultation was also undertaken with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), Newcastle council, Transport for NSW, NSW SES, Venues NSW and Lambton High School. 

In response to feedback, the project has been refined to improve traffic, flood management, landscaping, pedestrian movement and community impacts. 

"The Hunter currently doesn't have enough indoor space to meet demand," said Simon Haire, Project Consultant for Newcastle Basketball. 

"The centre will address the region's shortage of indoor courts and support health, participation, inclusion and active lifestyles for decades to come. 

"We've listened to carefully to community feedback and made meaningful changes to ensure the project works for both users and the local community." 

Now, Newcastle Basketball will submit its updated Response to Submissions and supporting technical reports, marking a milestone in the project as it progresses towards final determination and future funding decisions. 

The project will now proceed to the next phase of the SSD's assessment process, which includes further assessment by DPHI, consultation with relevant government agencies and consideration by the Independent Planning Commission.

Fire Rips Through Mayfield Whitegoods Warehouse

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews are keeping a watch on a building gutted by fire at Mayfield.

The huge blaze broke out at the Hunter Valley Whitegoods business in Denison Street at about 3.30pm on Monday 18 May, 2026, with nearby residents evacuated and a 200 metre exclusion zone put in place as flames and toxic black smoke billowed into the sky.

Maitland Road was closed until around 8 o'clock on Monday night while about 60 firefighters worked to fully extinguish the fire.

It's a devastating blow for the owners, after their former warehouse which fronted Maitland Road was destroyed by fire in January 2014.  

 

The well-known whitegoods business at Mayfield goes up in flames. Picture Newcastle Weekly

Lake Macquarie MP Says State Can't Afford Tomago Extension

BY MARLEY RAE

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper claims the state government won't be able to meet the Commonwealth's commitment to the Tomago Aluminum smelter. 

In December, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Federal Government will commit to extend the smelter's operations, requesting a 50/50 funding split with the state.

Premier Chris Minns has since outlined a potential $300 to $470 million reserved for the smelter, with the final amount to be announced in next month's state budget. 

However, Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper believes the 50-50 split is an unreasonable request.

"If he thinks it was going to be a 50-50 split with the state, then I think the state should have been involved in those discussions first," Mr Piper said.

"If the state can do it, great, but I suspect they are going to really struggle to find that kind of money.

"If we find that kind of money, it could be used in a better way."

The smelter, which directly employs 1500 workers, announced in October they were weighing up their future amid rising energy prices.

The company, which is majority owned by mining giant Rio Tinto, said it was struggling to see how operations were commercially viable beyond the expiration of its energy contract in 2028.

Mr Piper said an 80-20 split of the costs would be more suitable in the state's favour.

"Typically, major projects are an 80-20 split and I'm sure there are some examples that can been shown where that hasn't been the case," he said. 

"We're not really asking for much in this particular case, because Tomago isn't just some local business that benefits NSW, it's the largest aluminum smelter in Australia."

While the federal government has not allocated any funds for Tomago in their recent national budget, a figure is expected to be finalised once the state contribution is confirmed. 

Picture: Tomago Aluminum Smelter

Police Launch Appeal To Find Missing Teenager From East Maitland

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a teenager who's gone missing from East Maitland.

14-year-old Lilly Nelson was last seen in the area at about 3.00pm on Saturday 16 May 2026 and there are concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Lilly is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 175cm tall with a thin build, short black hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black zip up top, black singlet and dark cargo shorts.

Lilly may also be wearing a double lobe piercing in both ears.

She's known to frequent the East Maitland and Hamilton areas.

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

Missing teen Lilly Nelson

 

Crews Called To Convenience Store Fire At New Lambton

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused damage to a tobacco and convenience store in New Lambton.

Newcastle Fire Command says 5 fire trucks from Lambton and Newcastle were called to the New Lambton Mart on Alma Road, arriving just after 2.30am today (Monday 18 May 2026) to find smoke coming from the roller doors.

Crews cut the doors to gain access, taking about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

No-one was injured during the incident.

The cause has not yet been determined but it's thought the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Fire crews cut the roller doors to gain access to the fire Picture: Ian Crouch

 

Fire crews in Alma Road New Lambton early Monday Picture: Ian Crouch

 

 

Rail Under Thornton Bridge To Be Demolished

BY LOUISE LIMBERS 

Thornton Bridge Duplication plans are set to begin this weekend, coinciding with a 72-hour rail possession in the area.  

The first stages of the project will see demolition of the original rail beneath the existing Thornton bridge, on Saturday May 16. 

"The Thornton rail bridge is a critical flood-free access for people moving from the northern parts of Maitland... through the southern parts of Maitland, the west and also into Newcastle and Sydney," said Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison. 

"We're really proud and really excited to see this work finally being undertaken."

Linking locals to the M1 Pacific Motorway, Pacific Highway and Hunter Expressway, the new bridge duplication will provide two additional lanes in each direction. 

The project aims to improve traffic flow, safety and connectivity for the estimated 24,500 motorists who use the road daily. 

"It's a really critical route, and that's why we need to ensure that it's able to take that extra capacity during flood times, but also during the morning and afternoon," said Minister Aitchison. 

Early work began in April 2025, including establishment of a pedestrian detour and a temporary site compound.

Minister Aitchison said the former government removed the cap on government development north of the bridge in 2012, allowing more homes to be built without committing more funding to significant infrastructure upgrades in the area until 2022. 

"Thornton is the fastest government growing community in regional New South Wales, and has been really not getting its fair share of infrastructure under the former government," she explained. 

"We've committed to actually getting this bridge done, get the infrastructure that our growing community needs."

Transport NSW has contacted local residents and businesses about the demolition work scheduled across the weekend. 

Federal Budget Receives Mixed Reactions From Local Officials

 BY OLI GOELDNER and IAN CROUCH 

The federal budget has delivered a few highlights for the Hunter region, but the benefits are minimal when it comes to targeted spending. 

The biggest line item was the almost $660 million over three years for high-speed rail between Newcastle and Sydney, which includes $230 million for the two year development phase of the project. 

For the local health industry, the federal government will invest $25 million towards six fully bulk-billed clinics across the Hunter and Central Coast. 

The Port of Newcastle will receive an $8 million installment from the $88 million five year package to help the region become hydrogen ready. 

A further $6 million will be spent on a master planning for rezoned mining sites in Lake Macquarie and Muswellbrook, including help to establish new industries and boost local renewable infrastructure. 

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said they are looking to boost the Hunter moving forward. 

"There are some really key matters in this budget that provide cost of living relief, access to affordable Medicare funded healthcare services and big support critical productivity measures, with our region undergoing transitioning seeks to benefit from enormously," she said. 

Shortland MP and Defence Industries Minister Pat Conroy has confirmed the Williamtown RAAF Base will benefit from $53 billion in defence spending over 10 years, set to benefit local industries working on maintenance of the F35 fighters, unmanned systems and missile production. 

He said the investment into a $176 partnership to build 40 new Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels will also benefit the region. 

"These Bluebottles are cutting edge technology," he said. 

"They are small boats that are uncrewed maritime vessels which are wave, wind and solar powered, and they have great sensors on them to detect potential enemies and other adversaries." 

On the down side, there was no mention of a support package for Tomago Aluminium smelter. 

Business Hunter is hoping this will be announced aside from the budget in the near future, with the federal and state governments still to reach agreement on much each will contribute.

CEO Bob Hawes said while a $2 billion fund for enabling infrastructure to boost housing supply is welcome, only $500 million is going to the regions, which will be spread too thinly to make any major difference to the supply of houses. 

"We're still a long way behind the 8-ball to make sure we've got a workforce in place, not only in the Hunter but across the nation, to be able to cope with business as usual," he explained.

"But, also the ambitions we have for future growth in areas, like renewable energy, to be able to complete that task with the right skills and the right people to do it." 

Meanwhile, Nationals Lyne MP Alison Penfold has labelled the budget as a "regional funding bloodbath", leaving regional and rural communities, like Lyne, behind. 

"Budgets can make or break the ability of a region to thrive, and this budget lets us down big time," she said. 

"It's the worst budget that I've ever seen.

"Labor has ignored our [Lyne] needs as one of the oldest electorates in the country."