BREAKING! Rutherford Home Destroyed By Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has gutted a home and garage at Rutherford early today (Tuesday 13 October 2026).

Crews were called to Aberglasslyn Road at 1.43am to find a fire in a detached garage had spread to the adjacent single storey hardiplank and tin roof home.

Newcastle Fire Command says there were concerns for a man living in the garage, but he was later found safe and well.

A couple inside the house managed to escape unharmed.

It's taken almost three hours to bring the blaze under control.

Investigations will get under way into the cause of the fire.

 

Concerns Held For Man Who's Discharged Himself From John Hunter Hospital

 BY IAN CROUCH

Concerns are growing for the welfare of a man who's discharged himself from the John Hunter Hospital but still needs medical assistance.

Police say 30-year-old Benjamin Hutchison was last seen at about 3.00pm on Sunday and the alarm was raised when he could not be located or contacted.

Benjamin requires regular medication.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall with a slim build, brown eyes, a dark brown mullet and facial hair.

Benjamin was last seen wearing cream coloured track pants and dark coloured shoes and is known to frequent parks and open areas in Lambton.

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

 

Missing man Benjamin Hutchison

  

Construction Begins On Gateshead Ambulance Station

 BY OLI GOELDNER

The state government is ramping up efforts to improve emergency services across Lake Macquarie, with work to begin on a new ambulance station at Gateshead. 

The Oakdale Road facility will host 14 ambulances and 13 paramedics. 

Construction will soon get underway, with works set to be completed by the end of 2027. 

It comes alongside another station being built at Caves Beach, which is expected to be finished around the same time. 

The stations are part of the Minns government's $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program. 

Assistant Commissioner Jade Marks said it's a welcome addition to the region. 

"It will be hub not only for the paramedics that are stationed here, but also for additional paramedics to provide that coverage through to where we need it within this zone," she said. 

"Our paramedics are a mobile workforce. 

"We certainly see this new facility as part of a network that will allow us to move our staff around to where they're needed to we can respond to everyone when they need us the most." 

Recently, paramedics have been pushing for more resources as workloads, pressure and ambulance ramping levels continue to increase across the state. 

As a result, the state government has faced criticism on its plan to build ambulance stations and boost paramedics in the Hunter. 

"This has been a long-time coming," said Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison. 

"I know our paramedics and local people have been asking for this for a long time and finally the Minns Labor Government is delivering. 

"We're very pleased to be doing that as part of a whole range of upgrades to ambulance stations that we're doing across the state." 

Local paramedics and Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison turning the first sod on the Gateshead station. Picture: Ian Crouch. 

Appeal Launched To Find Missing Newcastle Woman

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Police have issued an appeal for help to find a woman who's gone missing from the Mayfield area.

48-year-old Kate-Garriga Haywood may be using another name.

She's described as being of Asian appearance, about 155cm tall with a medium build and dyed hair.

Kate is known to wear gold jewellery and may be wearing a wig.

Anyone who sees her or knows where she is is urged to contact Newcastle Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Missing woman Kate Garriga-Haywood

Massive $1.7 Billion Overhaul Announced for Hunter Roads

 BY MAXWELL HARVEY

Vital routes in the Hunter are set to be upgraded as part of a $1.7 billion investment from the NSW Government's Regional Corridors Upgrade Program.

A joint effort between state and federal governments, the program aims to improve safety and efficiency across three corridors -- Newcastle to Dubbo, Muswellbrook to Armidale, and Euston to Tocumwal.

Much of the work will occur in the Hunter, with the Golden Highway, Hunter Expressway, and New England Highway major focuses for the project

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the state government has identified these routes as vital arteries for agricultural and industrial commerce.

"The key point about a lot of these roads is that they are east-west freight corridors, particularly the Golden Highway that goes from Newcastle right through to Dubbo," she said.

"Now these roads are doing the heavy lifting of getting produce from our state's farms and mines and other industrial centres into the ports at Newcastle and Melbourne, and right across this country."

Included in the upgrades are wider road shoulders and intersections, alongside new turning and overtaking lanes.

Intelligent transport systems will be introduced, such as digital signage in an effort to create a comprehensive motorist information and monitoring network. 

Additionally new rest stops and heavy vehicle facilities have been promised, intended to support the state's expanding network of freight operators.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has promised the rapid completion of the projects, using the finishing of the M1 upgrades ahead of schedule as proof of his government's efficacy.

"This is not a 'nice to have', it's a must have in terms of road infrastructure," he said.

"We expect all of these major road projects to be completed inside the next four years, producing a lot of employment, a lot of economic growth, and even apprentices that'll come onto the project."

Initial work on improvements between Newcastle and Dubbo has already begun, with work on the other routes expected to start in the near future.

Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley, Premier Chris Minns, and Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison. Picture: Ian Crouch

Mixed Opinions Surface Around HVO Mine Approval

BY JOSEPH GIBSON 

Years of discussion have now lead to the approval of the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project by the state's Independent Planning Commission (IPC). 

The HVO facility is an already pre-existing multi-pit open cut coal mining operation situated 24km northwest of Singleton.

The IPC have approved an extension of mining works in the facility's north pit to 2045 and south pit to 2042.  

The project will also include an upgrade to approved mining areas, as well as permission to mine deeper coal seams.

Mining and Energy Union (MEU) Northern Mining and NSW Energy district president Robin Williams said the approval is a major win for workers. 

"It's a great relief for the 1500 mine workers around the Hunter and their families, giving them more certainty for the future," he said. 

MEU general president Grahame Kelly said it will support local businesses and the state's economy moving forward. 

"This project deserved approval, and the Commission has made the right call," he said. 

"Workers have waited a long time for this decision. 

"Today they can finally look ahead with more confidence."

However, concerns over the environmental impacts have surfaced with an estimated 950 hectares of land affected including approximately 185 hectares of native vegetation.

"The approval of the HVO Extension is the largest climate policy failure in NSW history," said Rising Tide spokesperson Campbell Knox. 

“According to two published studies on the mortality impacts of carbon pollution, a conservative death toll for this project’s emissions is 87,000."

HVO has proposed measures to limit their impact on local biodiversity, with the IPC granting the approval with strict conditions to mitigate environmental impacts. 

Meanwhile, the state's Department of Planning concludes that the economic benefits would be considerable, whilst acknowledging environmental impacts.

The project is now pending approval from the federal government. 

Picture: Hunter Valley Operations

BREAKING! Firefighters Called To Petrol Station Blaze At Tarro.

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Fire crews are battling a blaze at a service  station in Tarro.

 Newcastle Fire Command says they received around 20 calls at about 10.15am today (Thursday 1 October 2026) to report a column of thick black smoke rising from the Metro station on Anderson Drive.

Crews arrived to find two 300kg gas cylinders at the rear of the service station involved in fire and a nearby home under threat.

Around 25 firefighters from five stations along with a Hazmat crew managed to extinguish the fire and stop it spreading to the nearby property.

It's believed the service station building has sustained only minor damage - crews are checking the roof space for fire extension.

A spokesman for Fire and rescue NSW says one of the cylinders is still venting and crews are using a fine mist of water to help dispel the gas and prevent re-ignition.

Crews are expected to remain at the scene for some time.  

It's understood Anderson Drive was closed for period but has since re-opened.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.