Firebugs in Rutherford

Central Hunter Police have apprehended four people believed to have set wooding seating alight in a grandstand at Rutherford overnight.

Police officers responded to a 3:30AM callout to Max McMahon Oval where they allegedly caught the 2 males and 2 females in the act.

Three of the alleged perpetrators are aged in the 20st whilst the fourth is a minor.

The group of 4 tried to justify their actions by insisting they set the seating on fire so it could act as a heat source, whilst 2 of the group members were said to resist the officers as they were being arrested.

The 3 adults are set to be charged with malicious damage.

New ICU Announced for Hunter Children's Hospital

Seriously ill children are set to receive treatment in a new paediatric intensive care unit at John Hunter Children's hospital.

Health Minister for NSW, Jillian Anderson visited the hospital today to discuss the project which is forecast to be operational from 2015.

The hospital is the major treatment centre for a considerable portion of the state's children and the new unit is said to provide specialised care for critically ill children from the Hunter, New England and the north coast.


The announcement of the intensive care unit follows ongoing community calls for its instatement.



NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner addresses the media outside John Hunter Hospital

Breakthrough may save frogs

University of Newcastle researchers have developed a method to freeze frog embryonic cells in a world-first breakthrough which could be used to slow the threat of extinction faced by hundreds of frog species.

Frogs are said to have the worst rate of extinction of any vertebrate group, with 200 species lost in the past thirty years and another 200 species facing extinction.

The technique will be used to buy time for the frogs while researchers look for answers to diseases and other threats.

Fears of explosion at Orica

A fatal explosion at a fertiliser plant in Texas yesterday has incited fear in Newcastle residents who are afraid a similar explosion could occur at Orica.

While it is reported that the explosion in Texas was the result of 300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, Orica's plant at Koorangang Island stores up to 10,000 tonnes of the chemical at any one time.

Crawford's Freightlines is seeking approval to store up to 13,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate just 300 metres from Sandgate homes.

Stockton Community Action Group spokesperson and chemical engineer, Keith Craig, says its time the governmnet put community safety ahead of mining royalties.

"West is a clear example of what can happen".

"These plants can be there for many years, but it just takes one event like this, one accident, to have a catastrophic outcome, " he said.

"Ammonium nitrate should be stored nowhere near communities."

 

Malcolm Turnbull to tell Newcastle how to overcome infrastructure deficit.

Malcolm Turnbull will tell the Newcastle audience of tonight's Barton Lecture how Newcastle can overcome its infrastructure deficit.

The Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband is predicted to discus the high expectations placed on governments to deliver infrastructure, and question why delivering cost-effective infrastructure is so challenging.

But Labor candidate for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon says he needs to explain to Novocastrians why the Coalition's Broadband plan will see residents and businesses paying more than their Sydney counterparts for a slower Internet connection.

She says the Federal Governments plan will not have any cost to residents and will provide a faster, more advanced service.

Buildplan owes contractors 1 million dollars

Hunter subcontractors are seeking state government intervention following the collapse of National Buildplan Group.

The Group was working on the 15 million dollar GP Super Clinic and Healthcare One Centre in Raymond Terrace when they filed for voluntary administration.

Subcontractors are owed up to one million dollars, but Assistant Secretary of the CMFEU, Rebel Hanlon says it is unlikely the will be paid.

He believes it is time for the state government to step in pay the money that is owed to workers so their businesses remain viable.

Newcastle Airport Upgrade

The first phase of an upgrade to make Newcastle Airport an international flight destination has been approved.

It is hoped the State Government's Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund will fund the plans to construction may begin as soon as possible.

The airport's Business Development Manager, David Nye says if funding is approved international terminals should be ready for use  before the Asian Cup games in Newcastle in 2015.

Road less bumpy for Upper Hunter residents

The road across PATERSON BRIDGE will be less bumpy for HUNTER motorists, as upgrades continue.

Resurfacing work has been carried out, with sign installation, lane marking and railing and pillar maintenance still on the to do list.

The $2.7 million dollar state funded project is planned for completion in November.

Maitland tops nation for immunisation

A National Health Performance Authority report has revealed Maitland has the highest childhood immunisation rates in Australia.

The NHPA found 96% of Maitland children were immunised between 2011 to 2012, with a Hunter region average of 93% immunised.

Hunter Medicare Local CEO, Mark Foster says this achievement is could be partially due to the increased communication and organisational skills between health services in the area.

However, the results aren't a sign health workers can rest on their laurels.

"There's still 600 children aged 5 who aren't fully immunised in our region and among those there's 35 of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander background.

"So there's clearly still a need to continue the work to try and make sure we can target as many of those kids [as possible]," Mr Foster said.



 

High Speed Rail won't fail: Rhiannon

A final report into a high speed rail network along Australia’s east coast shows the project would cost $114 billion dollars, with the Newcastle to Sydney section the most pricey.

The Newcastle to Sydney section would cost $141 million dollars per kilometre.

 

The report, commissioned by the Federal Government, estimates it would take at least 9 years to begin construction and it wouldn't be finished until at least 2053.

However, once built, the network would generate enough revenue to cover costs.

 

The Greens pushed the motion for a high speed rail in the 2010 Federal Election, and the party is pleased Labor is planning ahead.

 

Greens Senator, Lee Rhiannon says that a number of economic benefits could be seen in job creation.

 

"...for every $1 invested, there would be a $2.30 return to the nation's economy," Senator Rhiannon said of the project.

 

The Greens also believe the well being of east coast Australians would be improved by the convenience of reaching capital cities with slashed travel times.

 

 

 

 

Singleton says no to CSG

Singleton Council has been commended for adopting a report against Coal Seam Gas activity in the region.

Councillors voted unanimously overnight to submit the report in response to the Government's

Draft State Environment Plan.

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Lake Macquarie Games go on

The annual Lake Macquarie Games have won a last-minute bid to go ahead, with plans to scrap them over turned by council last night.

Council had proposed to end the games and re-direct the reported $89, 000 funding into other sporting assistance programs.

This comes after a prepared report criticised the games' application procedures and time span.

However, Cr LAURIE COGHLAN said the report had inaccuracies.

"No I thought the report wasnt what we'd hoped for, and showed many written inaccuracies and many assumptions that weren't true," he said.

He also stated the budget for the Games had been exaggerated by $50, 000.

Hunter cyclists on ride of their lives on overpass

HUNTER cyclists are calling on better safety provisions on the New England Highway, as they struggle to navigate a 10 cenimetre shoulder of the Tarro railway overpass.

The link has been improved since a fatal crash killed 57 year-old WALLSEND cyclist Neil Smith last August, but those who regularly use the road say it's the bridge itself, not the approach that needs fixing.

The Roads and Maritime Services have installed "rumble strips" on the fog lines, reduced the speed limit to 80km/h and posted large fluorescent signs promoting awareness of cyclists.

Soil and grass has been removed from the edge of the road to increase the usable shoulder.The RMS have not ruled out building a sperate bridge.

Bernard Hockings from the Newcastle Cycleway said the solution wouldn't have to be so drastic. "Find an off-road route for cyclists because even with a wider shoulder you're still looking at 20 tonne vechiles going along at 100km/h, a metre away from a bicyle," he said.

8.30am News Mon 8 April 2013 Read By Ian Crouch

Plan for energy efficient Hunter businesses

The Hunter Business Chamber announced today it has secured a $1.2 million dollar grant from the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program.

The funding will allow up to 1500 businesses to install energy saving technology and take part in workshops to share their experiences and solutions to the energy problem.

Hunter Business Chamber CEO, Kristin Keegan says it is important not to just install new technology but to make sure businesses understand their consumption.

Businesspeople, like Scratchley's owner Neil Slater hopes the technology will allow for a drop in electricity prices.

Controversial Huntlee developers silence opposition

Hunter residents will meet in Branxton RSL this afternoon to discuss a controversial housing development in Huntlee.

Cessnock City Councillor, James Ryan, says the proposed development would see 20 000 people living too far away from jobs and amenities.

He also believes the Planning Assessment Commission is favouring developers over community opinion.

The meeting takes places at 5pm in the RSL Hall.

Singleton says no to pop up village

Workforce accommodation provider, Mac Group, will be foreced to justify plans for temporary housing in Singleton, amid a mining downturn and exisiting housing permanent housing.

The provider plans to build more than 1000 temporary dwellings for miners, however resident action group, The Better Future for Singleton Shire Association, says the project may result in a fly-in fly-out encampment.

The action group will lead a public meeting tonight along with union representatives at 7.30pm at Club Singleton.

Chairwoman Rebecca Williams said the $101 million plan needs to be fully considered by the community.

"We're in a downturn, at the moment, in the mining industry and we can't quite work out why a facility like this would be needed. We have a lot of empty rental properties in town, a lot of houses on the market. We can't work out what the justification is [for the plans]" she said.