Work To Begin On Hillsborough Road Upgrade

BY OLIVIA HADWEN

The long-awaited Hillsborough Road upgrade is set to begin in April.

The project's first stage involves the upgrade of Crockett Street intersection. 

New traffic lights will be installed and 700 metres of the road along Hillsborough Road will be duplicated. 

Early site establishment activities will begin in April, with major construction expected to start in May and take around 18 months to complete, depending on staging arrangements. 

The state government is investing $35 million to complete initial stage, set to be undertaken by Daracon Contractors Pty Ltd. 

The entire project will ultimately upgrade the 1.8 kilometer stretch of road running from the Newcastle Inner City Bypass roundabout to the existing duplication of west Crockett Street. 

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the project will assist the thousands of motorists using the road everyday. 

"After years of congestion and frustration for local drivers, we're getting on with the job of delivering real upgrades that make a difference," she said. 

"It's harder to do this work without causing some disruption, but motorists will be pleased when they're seeing there is going to be significant improvements to their daily commute.

"We ask motorists to take care around construction areas and to follow all road signs."

The project was shaped through community feedback, with Transport for NSW consulting on the concept design and environmental assessment in 2022 and publishing the submissions report in August 2023. 

Picture: Transport for NSW

Multi-Million Dollar Boost For Flood-Damaged Mandalong Road

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

An $8.7 million redevelopment began at Mandalong's Deaves Road today, following extensive damages from an April 2022 storm. 

It's a main arterial road located in one of the Hunter's biggest future growth corridors and provides an alternative route for the M1 Motorway and Freemans Drive.

Through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, both the state and federal governments have been able to provide funding for the project to go ahead.

While Mandalong doesn't currently have a big population, the western Lake Macquarie-based suburb is earmarked for potential growth in the coming years.

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi said the re-development aims to improve the road's stability, given it's in an area with a history of flooding and natural disasters.

"We'll be doing a major upgrade to the culverts to improve the drainage," he said.

"There'll also be specialist work, including pavement treatment that doesn't deteriorate over time."

While no set time for project completion was given, Mr Repacholi spoke on the importance of the project, in regards to flood-proof infrastructure in rural areas.

"Investing in flood-proof infrastructure is so important in the Hunter because we've been through natural disasters," he said.

"Since coming into the seat in 2022, we've experienced some horrendous rain events, some fires, and we need to make sure we are able to get people and families to and from areas."

Picture: Google Maps

"Cover-Ups And Intimidation" Alleged At Waratah's Calvary Mater

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

Whistleblowers have come forth to publicly allege the downplaying of serious risks at Waratah's Calvary Mater Hospital.

As part of a parliamentary inquiry into the Mater's management, it's been reported workers who flagged safety and health risks were threatened or pushed out of their jobs as a result.

The hospital is run under a public-private partnership between Novacare and NSW Health, with Honeywell the company in charge of maintenance. 

In their submission to the inquiry into the hospital's operations, the Health Services Union (HSU) has included staff reports of a "sweep it under the rug" culture from Honeywell and upper management. 

The HSU is using its submission to call for a full review of the contract compliance, as well as greater accountability and transparency among the state's health infrastructure.

Former Mater employee Luke Carroll said he experienced intimidation first-hand after writing various technical reports.

"I personally was pulled into rooms for impromptu meetings after writing various reports or technical positions on the maintenance or serviceability of certain equipment," he said.

"I was screamed at to change my position and essentially coerced into following the narrative Novacare and Honeywell were putting back to the facility."

Mr Carroll went further to add the facility's culture of altering and destroying documents was "common knowledge" amongst staff.

"If you left stuff on your desk, it'd go missing," he said.

"It was common knowledge within the Honeywell Facilities team and various parts of site that the mould testing regime was essentially being falsified.

"For lack of a better term, to produce artificially low results in problem areas."

Mater Hematologist Dr Katherine Rankin echoed Mr Carroll's sentiment in speaking about a general lack of accountability across the parties involved.

"Accountability has been diffused across a labyrinth of entities, Calvary, NovaCare, Honeywell, and the Ministry, leading to a situation where responsibility for safety has been repeatedly shifted due to contractual ambiguity," she said.

"As a consequence of this, there has been an 11-month delay in getting hazardous mould remediation work commenced." 

Parliamentary Inquiry Meeting. Picture: Holly Ogilvie

Missing Telarah Teen Spotted In Hamilton

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a teenager who's been missing from Telarah for almost a month.

15-year-old Callum Schonewille was last seen on February 18 but police believe he may have been at a chemist in Beaumont Street, Hamilton at about 8.45am on Monday 9 March.

Police hold concerns for his welfare due to his age.

Callum is described as being of Caucasian appearance, abut 160cm tall with a slim build, light brown hair and a blonde rats tail and mullet.

He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, shorts, slides, socks and black jumper with a TUPAC logo and carrying a black satchel bag. 

Callum is believed to frequent the Telarah, Maitland, Edgeworth, Charlestown, Windale and Campsie areas. 

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

 

Missing teen Callum Schonewille

 

Hunter Receives Major Boost to Local Defense Industry

BY BRONWYN VERWEY

The federal government has invested more than $175 million into a Morisset manufacturing facility to deliver a new fleet of uncrewed navy ships. 

The investment will go towards technology company Ocius to produce 40 new Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels to be used by the Royal Australian Navy. 

The new ships will bump the Navy's total operational Bluebottle fleet to 55. 

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi welcomed the investment. 

"We have a world-class Australian company producing cutting edge defence technology technology right here in Morisset, and this investment ensures that capability continues to grow," he said. 

The Bluebottle system was developed in partnership with the Royal Australian Navy and was initially funded through the Defence Innovation Hub. 

Using renewable energy, including solar and wind, the ships will be able to spend extended periods of time out at sea, whilst conducting sub-surface surveillance. 

Mr Repacholi said it's important to ensure Australia is well positioned with adequate equipment and intelligence amidst escalating global tensions. 

"The Hunter has always played an important role in supporting Australia's defence industry, and projects like this show our region will continue to be central to Australia's sovereign capability," he explained. 

"This investment backs local workers, supports Hunter businesses and strengthens Australia's ability to monitor and protect our maritime approaches."

Picture: Ocius

Rail, Tram and Bus Union wants Newcastle Buses back in Public Hands

BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has welcomed calls for Newcastle's bus network to be back under public ownership.

It follows news the State government is investigating the possibility of returning Newcastle's buses to the public sector, once Keolis Downer's contract ends at the end of 2027.

Under the former Coalition government, Newcastle buses were privatised back in 2017, with a commitment to ensure improved bus services as a whole.

Almost 10 years later, Newcastle's bus network is plagued by a host of customer complaints and safety concerns.

The Union's NSW Tram and Bus Division President, Peter Grech said the community has suffered a range of various impacts, ever since Keolis Downer began operating Newcastle's bus network.

"The community, as a whole has suffered," he said.

"When they took over, they cut services in half, there's communities left isolated, [and] services not showing up that are scheduled to show up.

"There's a lot of inconsistencies in regards to Keolis Downer's operations."

He went further to state the Union is looking forward to helping improve the quality of Newcastle's bus network, should a transition to public ownership occur.

"The community in Newcastle has been left with a 'have-to-use' service rather than a 'want-to-use' service, and we want to turn that around," he said.

"I think it's a really important part for the community.

"It just blossoms everything, when people are using public transport, they're using local shops, [and] using local community services."

The Union will be launching their latest report into the impacts of privatisation on the quality of Newcastle buses tonight at NEX.

Community members are invited to attend.

Picture Supplied.

Appeal to Locate Missing Metford Man

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a man missing from the Metford area.

31-year-old Beau McDonald was last seen leaving a home on Hakea Way in a 1997 white Holden Jackaroo SUV, at about 6.30pm last night.

Officers attached to the Hunter Valley Police District were notified and have commenced inquiries into his potential whereabouts.

Hunter Valley Police hold concerns for Mr McDonald's Welfare, describing his disappearance as, "out of character."

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, around 170cm to 180cm tall, of a medium build, with black hair and brown eyes.

It's believed he frequents the Black Hill, Heddon Greta, Kurri Kurri and Maitland areas.

Anyone with information regarding Mr. McDonald's whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Picture: NSW Police