Transportation Revolutionised with Opening of Long-Awaited M1 Extension

 BY MAXWELL HARVEY

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace will open on Friday 10 September, marking the completion of Hunter's largest road infrastructure project.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

He said the project will revolutionise travel across the East Coast.

"When this road opens in less than 48 hours, we will have no traffic lights all the way from Melbourne right up to Coffs Harbour and later this year you'll be able to go to the Queensland border," he said.

Planning for the $2.24 billion dollar project began in 2004, with major construction finally beginning in 2023.

The project provided employment to over 2700 workers, over 70 per cent of whom hailed from the Hunter.

Works wrapped up recently, over a year ahead of the original schedule.

The 15 kilometre corridor will bypass existing local roads, removing around 25,000 vehicles from notoriously congested chokepoints around Hexham and saving nine minutes during peak traffic.

Infrastructure Minister Catharine King said the project will provide much-need relief for local motorists.

"This takes out five sets of traffic lights, and of course removes a really significant pinch point that has been the bane of the local community for some time," Minister King said.

Included are additional interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace, alongside a 2.6 kilometre viaduct over the Hunter River and surrounding floodplains.

Prime Minister Albanese said the project means a lot to him personally. 

"I'm named after my cousin who was four years old who died on the Pacific Highway just before I was born back in 1963," Mr Albanese said.

"The tragedies that have occurred on the Pacific Highway up and down is something that drove me to be very passionate about fixing the Highway."

Tim Crakanthorp, Catharine King, Kate Washington, Jenny Aitchison, Anthony Albanese, Meryl Swanson, and Sharon Claydon. Picture: Ian Crouch

Concerns Held For Missing Metford Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

A search is under way for a teenage boy who's gone missing from Metford.

14-year-old Xavier Powrie was last seen on Marshall Avenue on Tuesday September 1 and he hasn't been seen or heard from since.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall with a thin build, short curly hair in a rats tail and a diamond earring in his right ear lobe.

It's believed he may be wearing a black hoodie and track pants and is known to frequent the Metford and East Maitland areas.

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

 

Missing teen Xavier Powrie

 

Police Release CCTV Footage Of Alleged Getaway Driver In Commonwealth Hotel Armed Robbery

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have released CCTV footage of a man and a vehicle which they believe were involved in the violent armed robbery on the Commonwealth Hotel at Cooks Hill two years ago.

Last week, 37-year-old John Jarrett and 32-year-old Marley Tiopira were each gaoled for a maximum of 7 years after storming the pub in the early hours of February 28, 2024 armed with a machete and baseball bat respectively.

It's alleged a getaway driver assaulted a cleaner before all three men escaped with $125,000 in a white Mercedes A190 hatchback with damage on the rear left side passenger door.

The third man was wearing a hooded jumper, baseball cap, tracksuit pants and black shoes with a distinctive while mark or stain on the right shoe.

Police believe this man can assist with their inquiries

 

New One Nation Leaders Revealed in the Lead Up to NSW Election

 BY MAXWELL HARVEY

Former NSW Trade Commissioner Mike Newman is set to lead One Nation at the upcoming NSW state election.

His candidacy was confirmed by Pauline Hanson at a Singleton press conference on Friday, which also saw Stuart Bonds announced as the leader for the upper house ticket.

He will be contesting Clayton Barr's seat of Cessnock, which has traditionally been a safe seat for Labor.

Mr Newman said he is living in the region, but refused to comment whether he is located in Cessnock or the Lower Hunter specifically. 

He's running on a pro-business and free trade platform, citing his credentials as a trade bureaucrat and investment banker.

"When I was the NSW Senior Trade Commissioner, the one message that I gave to all of our ministers and bureaucrats was NSW is the least friendly place to do business," he said.

"I had one Korean customer say to me 'NSW lacks the hunger spirit'".

His proposed policies to make NSW more competitive include cutting payroll tax, ending net-zero initiatives, and reducing the number of bureaucrats in the state.

Pauline Hanson said she has full faith in Mr Newman to to lead her party to success

"Mike is passionate about this next election, he's got a lot to offer and a lot to say," she said.

"His policies will actually put both the Labor Party and the Coalition on notice that the people of NSW have had enough of the direction they've been taken in".

Maitland Labor MP Jenny Aitchison has already come out swinging against One Nation's new prospects, criticising Stuart Bond's statements regarding train manufacturing in the Hunter.

"One Nation talks a big game about Australian jobs, but when we bring those jobs home their answer is to suggest we send that work back overseas," she said

Mr Bonds slammed the state government's train manufacturing plan in a social media post, suggesting that trains could be procured at a lower price from Korean manufacturers.

The New South Wales state election is scheduled for March 13, 2027.

Barnaby Joyce, Pauline Hanson, Mike Newman, and Stuart Bonds. Picture: Ian Crouch

$17.2B Anambah To Branxton Infrastructure Plans Revealed

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Plans have been revealed for a $17.2 billion strategy to bring major housing and infrastructure into the Hunter over the next 40 years. 

The draft Structure Plan for the Anambah to Branxton Regionally Significant Growth Area (A2B RSGA) was put on public exhibition earlier this week, following resolutions from Cessnock, Singleton and Maitland councils. 

The area spans around 15,000 hectares across the three local government areas and is positioned along major transport routes, including the New England Highway, Hunter Expressway and Main Northern Rail Line. 

Outlined in the plans are significant infrastructure investments, including $10.32 billion for roads, $3.6 billion for open spaces and $1.2 on public transport. 

Alongside that, the RSGA aims to allow for an additional 61,000 new dwellings to be built in the outlined areas, set to boost the population by 124,000 and create 15,000 new jobs. 

Lochinvar is estimated to see the largest infrastructure investment of $3.1 billion, followed by Huntlee ($2.3 billion), Anvil Creek ($2.2 billion) and Greta ($2 billion). 

Other features of the RSGA include plans for 77 new sports courts, 52 playgrounds, eight primary and four secondary schools, seven libraries and 17 community centres. 

The RSGA is designed to be rolled out over the next 40 years, until 2066, with significant help from both state and federal government investments. 

Maitland mayor Phillip Penfold said they're expected tens of thousands of people to move into the outlined corridor over the next four decades. 

"What's most important to me and to the council is that we're planning for that growth, making sure that there's an appropriate roads network, paths network, schools, libraries, hospitals and train stations for the future growth," he said. 

The draft A2B RSGA is currently on public exhibition, available on the three Council's Have You Say pages until Tuesday 6 October. 

"Once the plan is adopted, there will be an opportunity for prospective developers to discuss with landowners their interest over the coming decades to be able to develop that land over time," said Cr Penfold. 

"It's important that we make sure everything that's necessary is planned appropriately so the road network can cope, ensuring we have the hospitals and schools that are needed. 

"This will take time and it's subject to landowners being interested as time passes." 

Draft Anambah to Branxton Regionally Significant Growth Area structure plan. Picture: Cessnock City Council

CCTV Footage Released Of Muswellbrook Robbery Suspects

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Detectives are appealing for information as an investigation continues into the robbery of a Muswellbrook bottle shop earlier this year.

At around 10pm Friday 22 May, police were called to a business on the corner of Maitland Road and Sydney Street. 

It was reported three people forced entry into the bottle shop and assaulted an employee before stealing alcohol. 

A crime scene was established and an investigation commenced. 

Following inquiries, a 17-year-old boy was arrested at Muswellbrook Police Station the following Monday. 

He was charged with robbery in company and 10 unrelated offences, including break and enter and vehicles charges. 

The 17-year-old was granted conditional bail at a children's court the same day and is next due to appear in September. 

CCTV images have been released of a woman police believe might be able to assist with inquiries. 

She is depicted wearing a dark-coloured hoodie, with black pants and white sneakers. 

Footage was also released of a black Holden Cruze sedan seen in the area at the time of the incident. 

Anyone able to identify the woman or vehicle is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.  

Pictures supplied. 

Construction Begins On First Hunter REZ Project

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Construction has begun on the first project to be connected to the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). 

A large solar farm and battery project is being built on a former coal mine site 2.5 kilometres east of Muswellbrook. 

Delivered by renewable energy generator OX2 and co-developed with Idemitsu Australia, it reached financial close in May and is expected to support around 200 construction jobs. 

Once operational, the 135 megawatt (MW) solar farm and 100 MW Battery Energy Storage System will general enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes. 

The project is expected to connect to the upgraded grid in late 2027 and be operational by 2028. 

With the first stage of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ Network infrastructure complete, projects, including OX2, can immediately connect to the grid once construction is finalised. 

Ausgrid was commissioned by EnergyCo to deliver the upgrade to its existing distribution network and unlock 1 gigawatt of network capacity in the region by 2028.

In total, the REZ will connect an additional 1.8 gigawatts of new renewable generation and storage projects.

Included will be the upgrade of around 85 kilometres of sub-transmission lines, installation of 18 kilometres of new underground fibre optic communications cable, two new energy hubs at Sandy Creek and Antiene in Muswellbrook and the upgrade of existing substations. 

It's is expected to attract up to $3.9 billion in private investment and support an average of 590 direct jobs per year during construction, and 220 ongoing operational roles from 2030. 

Executive Project Director at EnergyCo Phil Bratney said it's been a long-time coming. 

"We signed a commitment deed with Ausgrid in December 2024 and then signed a construction contract in December last year," he said. 

"So, it's great to see the first project looking to connect to this [REZ]." 

OX2 Vice President Stephens said the project demonstrates how Australia's energy transformation can deliver lasting benefits for regional communities. 

"By repurposing a former coal mine site into a renewables hub, we're investing in infrastructure that will provide reliable energy, create local jobs, strengthen regional supply chains and support the Hunter's future prosperity," he said.

Picture: Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline