BREAKING! Fire Engulfs Unit At Mayfield

 BY IAN CROUCH

One person has been treated for smoke inhalation after fire engulfed a unit at Mayfield overnight.

Emergency services were called to a two storey apartment complex in Hanbury Street just after 10.30pm on Thursday 5 February 2026 to find one of the units well alight.

Newcastle Fire Command says 7 fire trucks, a ladder platform and 2 support vehicles were deployed to the fire, taking about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

All the residents of the Department of Housing complex were safely evacuated and one person was treated at the scene by paramedics.

It's understood the fire started in the kitchen of the unit.

Crews took around 90 minutes to fully extinguish the fire which was contained to the one unit.

 

Federal MPs Slam Origin Over Myuna Deal

 BY OLI GOLEDNER

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi is slamming Origin Energy for their "lowball" contract offer to Myuna Colliery. 

The coal mine has been supplying exclusively to Eraring Power Station for more than 40 years. 

But, a lapse in contract will likely see the facility shut its doors in March. 

Origin Energy, the owner of Eraring Power Station, proposed a new 12 month extension of the mines operations, maintaining their current agreements. 

However, Myuna owner Centennial Coal refused the deal, stating it was not commercially viable as the mine is already running at a loss. 

The contract also provided little to no certainty to the mine's more than 300 employees, according to the Mining and Energy Union. 

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi has since voiced his support of Centennial Coal and the union's decision. 

"Origin's offer... was disgraceful," he said.

"It was a spin, not a solution.

"A short-term, take-it-or-leave-it proposal that provides no certainty for workers, their families or the local community is not good enough." 

It comes after Origin announced operations at Eraring would continue until 2029, instead of it's initial closing date in 2027. 

Mr Repacholi said it's not viable to have the power station running without the mine. 

"Myuna was built to supply Eraring, there is no alternative market," he explained. 

"If Origin walks away, this mine closes and that is a deliberate commercial choice, not an unavoidable part of the energy transition.

"The Hunter deserves better than corporate spin." 

Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining & NSW Energy District President Robin Williams. 

Drugs And Firearms Seized In Raid On Central Coast And Lake Macquarie Homes

 BY IAN CROUCH

Raptor Squad Police have arrested a man and seized firearms, ammunition and drugs during raids on three homes in Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast.

Squad members allegedly found ammunition and prohibited drugs during compliance checks at homes in Halekulani and Cameron Park.

Then at about 9.30am on Tuesday 3 February 2026 a man was spotted running from scene of the single vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway at San Remo carrying a black bag.

A search of the area by the Dog Squad uncovered two black bags which police say contained two pistols, and a large quantity of methylamphetamine and MDMA.

Officers then went to a San Remo home, allegedly finding 7 more firearms, a large amount of drugs, two pill presses, drug paraphernalia and $6500 in cash.

They later returned to the home and arrested a 24-year-old man.

He's been charged with 19 offences including supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, firearms offences and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.

The man's been refused bail to face the Bail Division Court today (Thursday 5 February 2026).

Some of the nine firearms seized by police

 

 

 

 

Singleton Shaken By Small Earthquake

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Singleton shire has been shaken by an early morning earthquake.

The 2.5 magnitude quake struck just before 4.00am today (Thursday 5 February 2026) in the north-western edge of the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine just south of the Golden Highway to a depth of 3 kilometres.

Although the tremor was picked up by seismic stations as far south as Canberra, there have been no immediate reports of damage.

 

The quake struck in the north-western edge of the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine southwest of Singleton 

 

 

Students Evacuated After Merewether High Fire

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Students and teachers were evacuated from Merewether High School this morning after an alleged electrical fire. 

At about 10.50am, Fire and Rescue NSW received multiple triple zero calls reporting smoke billowing from an external air conditioning unit. 

Emergency services were one scene within six minutes of the calls, with four trucks and 16 firefighters attending from Newcastle, Lambton and Merewether stations. 

An on-duty inspector also attended. 

Acting Superintendent Kevin Smith said the school staff followed normal evacuation procedures, relocating students away from the fire. 

The blaze was quickly put out using CO2 extinguishers, confining it to the air conditioning unit. 

The students have since been returned to the buildings which have not been affected by the fire. 

No injuries were reported, with NSW Police and ambulance crews also present. 

Police Step Up Investigations Into Violent Home Invasions

 BY OLI GOELDNER

A Strike Force has been established after a string of violent home invasions and assaults at a Hamilton South unit block. 

Between last Friday and Monday, three people were injured at a housing complex on Fowler Street. 

The first incident occurred between 4.30am and 6am on 30 January. 

A 26-year-old woman was asleep in her unit when she was assaulted by an unknown person. 

The person was wielding a large knife, which left the woman with deep cuts to her face and hand. 

She sought treatment at John Hunter Hospital the following day and is yet to provide a statement to police. 

On Friday night, emergency services were called to a unit in the same building following reports of a home invasion. 

Police were told a 44-year-old man was assaulted and robbed by three men who were armed with edged weapons. 

The men stole an amount of cash and property from the man's unit. 

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment of lacerations and bruising. 

Three days later on Monday 2 February, emergency services were called to the same unit complex, with reports a man had been injured by an unknown person. 

At the scene, police located a 32-year-old man with cuts to his back and head, which were believed to be done by a large bladed weapon. 

He was also taken to John Hunter Hospital for the treatment of serious injuries. 

Newcastle City District Police have established Strike Force Arnstone to investigate the incidents and any links between them. 

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

Gun Pulled During Stockton Road Rage Incident

 BY OLI GOELDNER

A Sydney man will face court today after he allegedly pulled out a fire-arm during a road-rage incident in Newcastle.

At around 11.50am yesterday, a minor collision occurred on Stockton Bridge, with both vehicles damaged.

Both drivers stopped on Teal Street in Kooragang, where their conversation escalated and one man allegedly threatened the other with a firearm.

They both quickly fled the scene.

One of the drivers, a 56-year-old man, later reported the incident at Waratah Police Station.

Following extensive inquiries, a 77-year-old man was arrested and a firearm was seized at a home in Ryde.

He was charged with two offences and refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court today.