E-Waste Recycling

Hunter residents have drastically improved their record in recycling electronic waste.

Ewaste recycling services have been provided since April 2009 and has saved a million kilos in just a year from going to landfill.

Cessnock, Lake Macquaire, Maitland and Singleton councils took the initiative to provide the Ewaste service.

Synthetic Drugs

A Rutherford tobacconist has allegedly been caught selling banned synthetic drugs.

Police patrolling the Rutherford Marketplace yesterday afternoon allegedly observed the sale of white revolver, or synthetic cocaine at the CTC Tobacconist store.

The matter has been referred to the Department of Fair Trading.

Tinkler Betting

Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler is under investigation by rugby league's integrity unit after allegedly betting on his side two years ago.

The NRL rules prohibit any club official from betting on rugby league.

Betting agency Luxbet claims Tinkler bet 25-thousand dollars on the Knights in a match against the New Zealand Warriors on August 13, 2011, losing the bet.

Motor Home Destruction

Port Stephens police are investigating a suspicious fire which destroyed 2 motor homes last night at Heatherbrae.

Fire crews were called to Stargazer Motorhome Conversions in Heather Street at about 8pm, where a blaze which started outside the premises had quickly spread to two large buses valued at 100-thousand dollars, gutting them within about 20 minutes.

It's believed the door on the larger of the two buses had been forced open and graffiti had been sprayed on the back of the bus.

6.30 News Mon 29 July 2013 Read By Ian Crouch

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Midday News Thurs 18.7.13 Read By Georgina Smyth.

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Call to lodge submissions on the review of Liquor Act

Newcastle Community Drug Action Team is calling for the community to voice their concerns about alcohol related violence in the region by completing a public submission on the review of the NSW Liquor Act.

The group condems supermarket docket alcohol promotions, believing it fuels alcohol related violence in the region.

Newcastle Community Drug Action Team spokesman Tony Brown says the state government must listen to the community's suggestions, rather than businesses in the liquor industry.

Public submissions on the review of the NSW Liquor Act close August 30.

Independent coal dust study to investigate pollution

Hunter residents have taken it upon themselves to investigate the extent of particle pollution due to coal trains.

 

The Coal Terminal Action Group will today monitor air quality as coal trains pass at Beresfield, Hexham and Waratah to establish the pollution footprint of coal trains.
 

The independent study comes on the tails of a controversial report released by the Australian Rail Track Corporation last month downplaying pollution from coal trains.

Fee Mozeley from the Coal Terminal Action Group says the community needs to know about the impacts of the coal industry.

Diabetes Awareness Week

This week is Diabetes Awareness Week.

 

The Australian Diabetes Council is encouraging people to make lifestyle changes to minimise their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the nation's fastest growing chronic health disease.

 

A type two diabetes risk assessment tool is available online at www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

P-Plater caught drink driving

 

A 19-year-old P-Plate driver will front Newcastle Local Court after being caught drink driving over the weekend.

The woman was stopped just before 5am on Anzac Parade, The Hill and given a random breath test by police.

  

The woman had a blood alcohol level of 0.05.

 

The woman's license was suspended immediately, and she is scheduled to appear before Newcastle local court next month.

Hunter's public hospitals most complained about

New health figures show Hunter New England's public hospitals are the most complained about in the state.

Public Hospitals in the Hunter recorded an 80 per cent jump in complaints between 2006 and 2012.

Hunter New England Health received an average of five complaints a day in 2011 and 2012.

Shadow Health Minister Andrew MacDonald says the Hunter Health service is woefully overstretched.

8.30 News Mon 15.7.13

7.30 News Mon 15.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

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PBS listing creates hope for Hunter prostate cancer sufferers

Hunter sufferers will be benefited by the addition of an effective prostate cancer drug to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

The drug Zytiga will be subsidised by the government from next month and will take less of a toll on sufferer's wallets.

 

Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance marketing manager, Leigh Maughan told 2NUR any help with costs for sufferers and survivors helps immensely in recovery.

"Any advancement with the support financially of taking the modern drugs allocated [and] prescribed by doctors and specialist doctors in this field is much appreciated by the whole community, I'm sure," he said.

Zytiga is currently being hailed as one of the most important developments in prostate cancer treatment.

University of Newcastle Professor of Radiation Oncology, Jim Denham said the cheaper drug will provide an effective option to sufferers who are unable to use other therapies.

"[It] is useful after hormone therapy stops working for prostate cancer."

The drug will also offer better quality of life to users.
 

Newcastle University student to film International Festival

Newcastle University is sending five budding Bachelor of Communication students to France for a media internship at international event 'The Festival of World Cultures'.

 

The lucky students will work alongside media production lecturer Dr Vikrant Kishore and film a documentary from July 19 to 29.
 

The students will also have the opportunity to assist the French media on coverage of the event.
 

2NUR-FM Student Journalist Patrick Wood says he's grateful to be given the chance to apply his university work in a practical way.

"I'm absolutely, incredibly excited. I love to travel and love to do video work. This combines everything I love to do and I'm absolutely psyched for this opportunity."

The Students will be hosted by local families around Gannat during their stay, to have a taste of French country and culture.

Midday News Fri 12.7.13 Read By Nicole Levey

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No Hunting in National Parks workshop tonight

Recreational hunters could see some changes to their habits once the No Hunting in National Parks campaign commences its latest briefing at a workshop tonight in Newcastle.

The information session will encourage interest groups to be active on repealing the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Act 2012, which allows recreational hunting in national parks.

Pensioners to feel the price rise pinch

Hunter consumers will feel the pinch this month due to a series of price rises this week.

Changes to superannuation, health insurance, utilities and council charges all came into effect this financial year.

Combined Pensioners and Superannuates Association Senior Policy Advisor Amelia Christie says these rises are particularly unfair for pensioners.

Church to remove sea-level rise certificates if elected

Liberal candidate for Shortland John Church is promising to fight to remove the sea-level rise and flood notations in Lake Macquarie if elected.

The notations were put into place by the state government in 2009 and affect nearly 10, 000 properties at Marks Point, Belmont South and Swansea.

John Church says Council needs to follow in Wyong and Gosford council's footsteps and remove the section 149 certificates on Lake Macquarie properties.

Caves Beach Bottleshop robbery

Lake Macquarie Police are appealing for any information regarding a break and enter at a Caves Beach bottleshop last night.

At around 8.45pm, five offenders smashed a glass door and entered the storage area of the premises.

The thieves stole an unknown amount of property before taking off.

Fatal accident at Belmont North

A woman has been killed in a two-vehicle accident this morning at Belmont North.

Police say the woman, believed to be in her 50s, was driving a car which crashed into the rear of a truck on the Pacific Highway near Avonlea Street just after 9.30.

It is understood the woman died at the scene.

8.30 News Mon 8.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

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Wallsend MP says Hunter train delays on the cards

Commuters in the Hunter could face a future of major train delays as the O'Farrell Government slashes funding from Railcorp's budget.

$176 million dollars was cut from rail operations in the last State Budget, despite ongoing overhead wiring issues.

Wallsend MP, SONIA HORNERY told 2NUR there have already been 15 major delays on the network this year, leaving commuters stranded for hours on end.

Police strike force formed for Port Stephens break and enters

Police have formed a strike force to investigate a series of thefts from large supermarkets in Port Stephens, Strike Force Dunrobin.

Six aggravated break and enters have been committed against two supermarkets at Medowie and Tanilba Bay between September 2012 and June this year.

Superintendent Craig Rae said detectives from Strike Force Dunrobin are exploring links between the robberies.

 

"There are similar modus operandi at each of these offences and we do believe these are linked," Superintendent Rae said.

 

The focus of the after hours offences was on the stores' self-service technology, with two perpertrators involved.

 

Police are urging the public to come forward with any information to Raymond Terrace Police, or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Ceremony for nation's first multicultural men's shed

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Waratah today for Australia's first multicultural Men's Shed.

Newcastle MP, Tim Owen said the hard work shared between himself and the Ethnic Communities Council has paid off as work began on the Waratah-Mayfield Multicultural Men's Shed.

 

"Over the last few years I've managed to get them $40,000 out of community building partnerships to actually get the process started.

 

"It's been a good partnership and we're very, very happy that they're now getting themselves moving and getting the men's shed established," Mr Owen said.

 

The shed will allow men of all cultures to foster friendship and build support networks within the Newcastle community, particularly where isolation can face men who have migrated to Australia.



 

Midday News Fri 5.7.13 Read By Cecilia Connell

8.30 News Fri 5.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

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LAKE LEVELS RISE

Lake Macquarie residents are calling for council policy on sea level measures to be reconsidered.

 

10, 000 properties would be affected under plans to document properties as sites of potential flooding, affecting property prices and insurance.

Residents met last night to voice concerns for property prices and their rights as owners under the measures that would affect properties as being sites of potential flooding.

Councillor Ken Paxinos says council needs to reconsider policy to reflect community needs.

"Residents in water front low-lying areas, their lives are being impacted by the policies of council to date council hasn't acknowledged that," he said.

HUNTER TOPS PRIORITY LIST

The Tourle Street Bridge duplication is now at the top of the priority list for funding from Infrastructure Australia.

The duplication would ease traffic congestion in the area and improve the connection to the Port and Newcastle Airport.

Port Stephens MP, Craig Baumann welcomes the news, but says more could have been done earlier.

"The former state government could have had four lanes for an extra 15 million dollars. Its now going to cost somewhere between 50-60 million dollars to just duplicate the bridge", he said.

EPA TO HONOUR AIR QUALITY COMMITMENT

The EPA is affirming its' commitment to air quality in the Hunter, as it commissions a statistician to re-review the ARTC coal train dust report.

Doctor Luke Knibbs from the University of Queensland uncovered the report's flaws while conducting a peer review of the contested report.

 

It was brought into disrepute following a leaked draft.

EPA chairman Barry Buffier says the report's conclusions can be finalised once once the methods are revised. "It's not possible to say to what extent this will alter the findings of the report," he said.
 

Midday News Thurs 4.7.13 Read By Georgina Smyth

8.30 News Thurs 4.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

7.30 News Thurs 4.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

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Lake Macquarie City Council funding shifts

Lake Macquarie City Council has voted to cut $528, 000 in funding to town centres.

The cut is a result of the councils decision to establish an external seven-member board for economic development, to attract more business to the city and help existing businesses.

Councillor Barry Johnston says the board must look at the strategic needs of the whole city.

Mayor Jodie Harrison and council general manager Brian Bell have been confirmed as board members, expressions of interest will be called for the remaining five members.

Rover Coache’s charge

An 18-year-old man has been charged after a malicious damage spree in Cessnock.

Several Rover Coache's windows and windscreens were smashed in the early hours of last Tuesday morning, costing the company more than 30-thousand-dollars in repair works.

The 18-year-old was arrested yesterday afternoon following an investigation by Central Hunter Police and will face court next week.

Drug arrest

Newcastle City Command Special Operations Group Officers have arrested a sixty-year-old Barnsley man for illegal drug possession.

The drugs were found in the console of his vehicle after the officers located his BMW near their patrol on Glebe Road, Merewether.

Senior Constable Juan Mahoney says the officers noticed him after he walked into a nearby street.

 

 

 

Maitland infrastructure grants

Maitland community groups could be eligible to receive infrastructure grants under the 2013 Community Building Partnership Program.

The grant provides organisations with infrastructure funding, with the NSW Government looking to fund projects which will deliver positive social, recreational or environmental outcomes.

Maitland MP, Robyn Parker says the grant program is a great opportunity for community groups.

Applications for the program are now open, and close July 31st.

8.30 News Wed 3.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

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Rudd launches NDIS in Newcastle

Prime Minister Rudd at the launch of the NDIS in Charlestown

The Hunter region was at the forefront
of the launch of the National Disability
Insurance Scheme today in Charlestown.

Newcastle is one of 4 launch sites and
covers   26 000 people across Australia,
with a full rollout expected in 2019.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the
scheme promises to overhaul the
way disability support is provided
in Australia.

"To be authentically Australian is to have an open heart to all Australians," said Rudd at the press conference

"That includes that half million or so Australians who we believe will ultimately be part of this scheme."

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley was present at the launch

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley was at the press conference as part of his role on the new Independent Advisory Panel for Disability Care Australia.

"It's an honour to be a part of the table that's discussing the NDIS, it's a real chance for social change," he said 

"I think that for a long time people with disabilities have struggled to find a voice, but this a chance beyond this, this is a potential breath of fresh air into a community that are                                                                                        often most marginalized"

7.30 News Mon 1.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch

6.30 News Monday 1.7.13 Read By Ian Crouch