Pasminco Fined over Zinc Breach at Cockle Creek

Pasminco has been cautioned by the Environmental Protection Authority after it was found breaching its licencing conditions at the former Cockle Creek Smelter.

The land is currently being remediated at Boolaroo where the EPA has placed strict limits regarding water on the site.

Twice last year, Pasminco was found to have exceeded its zinc concentration limit.

EPA Hunter Region Manager Adam Gilligan says Pasminoc's actions will be held to account.

"We've taken action, not only to fine them but also to require improvements on site to prevent this from happening again".

"It's also pleasing in this case to see that Pasminco have taken our advice on board"

Pasminco have been issued two $1 500 penalty notices with the EPA saying the offenses pre-date the increase of the penalty notice to $15 000. 

Labor to Fight Penalty Rate Changes

A final report into Australia’s workplace relations by the Productivity Commission has suggested Sunday penalty rates be lowered to Saturdays.

While public holiday rates and the minimum wage will remain in place, Labor has vowed to fight to protect the rates of those in the Hunter and around Australia.

The recommendation was in relation to workers in hospitality and retail workers which Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon suggests will cut the pay of the lowest paid workers in the Hunter.

“Lower paid people take the advantage of penalty rates; they sacrifice home life so that they can get their family ahead in life” says Fitzgibbon.

He also suggests the cut will have devastating effects should the Turnbull Government go ahead with the recommendation.

“There will be long term consequences because people who will be affected most by this are those who are only getting by wee-by-week.

“You cannot move in and just cut the pay of those families, there will be dramatic consequences as a result”.

Defence Refush to Accept Blame for Contamination

The Department of Defence have refused to accept responsibility for the contamination at Williamtown RAAF base for the second time at a senate hearing yesterday.

The main goal of the hearing conducted by Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari is not only to make Defence accept responsibility, but also for them to start giving short-term compensation.

Senator Rhiannon says the hearing has also heard a number of accounts from residents who have been affected since the outbreak in September.

“We heard very disturbing evidence yesterday, fisher representatives talking about some people considering suicide [and] the uncertainty that hangs over people coming in Christmas knowing their properties are worthless”.

How the surrounding areas were continuing to be contaminated and how Defence was unable to control the contamination was another subject of discussion at the hearing.

“It’s not clear why the contamination cannot be contained on the base.

“The contamination at the BHP site was contained.  Surely similar technology can be used here to contain the problem”?

The same senate hearing also heard Hunter Water had also known about the chemicals in question as early as 2009.

Maitland's New Hospital Well on Its Way

Maitland's new hospital has past its first planning stage after the State Government pledged over 400 million dollars for the major project.

The hospital's planning will continue into 2016, with ground work expected on the Metford site before the next State election.

Hunter New England Health Chief Executive Michael DiRienzo says it's good the Government is acting on he hospital.

"There's been a lot of planning to date and there's been a lot of getting the site ready for this"

He says the Metford hospital will be built whilst old Maitland hospital is still in operation and "we'll decommission one hospital and then we can transfer or transition services from the old hospital and start the new one"

An artist's impression of the new Maitland hospital (image courtesy of The Herald).

The Government has confirmed new delivery suits, an intensive care unit and an additional CT scanner will all be part of Maitland hospital's transition to Metford.

But Maitland MP Jenny Aitcherson says their isn't enough information yet, "we need the release of the business case to the public and we need the date [of completion].  The date is the key here".

"We need this hospital, it's been promised for over five years now, its time for the Government to just deliver it".

Help Stop Domestic Violence

The Hunter community has been asked to help curb domestic violence by assisting in reforms to better target perpetrators and improve support for victims.

The NSW Government has already made significant reforms to help end domestic and family violence throughout the State.  Previous reforms have included allowing video evidence in courts.

The mandatory NSW PDHPE syllabus for years 7-10 has also been altered to explicitly include domestic violence.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter and Central Coast Scot MacDonald says "domestic and family violence has been with us for a long, long time and it's going to take generations to change".

"The way to do that is to raise awareness and the understanding it from a very early age that family violence is unacceptable".

NSW Premier Mike Baird

The current reforms from the State Government are coupled with a $60 million package which target perpetrators of domestic violence.

The consultation period ends on Friday, February 5 2016

Keep your Furry Friend Safe this Christmas

While we can expect ourselves in indulge a little this Christmas, Hunter residents are being urged to ensure foods and other hazards harmful to cats and dogs are out of reach of their paws.

The Newcastle Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (NAREC) at Broadmeadow has recently discharged Max, a 1 year-old golden retriever after underwent surgery to remove to skewer sticks from his stomach after he got a hold of them in the chaos of a family get together.

NAREC CEO Wendy Fisher says chocolate is also rather toxic to dogs and "certainly the more pure the cocoa, dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate".

"Another hazard is tinsel and particularly cats like to play with tinsel and swallow it and that can cause a nasty effect in the intestines and cause rupture of the intestines in severe cases".

Keep their paws off hazardous food and ornaments

"Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, we don't know the mechanism and the toxic dose is not known".

Pet owners are also urged to be wary of the dangers of leftover Christmas ham or turkey fat.

More details on other common hazards for pets over Christmas can be found on the NAREC website.

Fletcher Rezoning Cancelled

Newcastle Council has decided not to proceed with the rezoning of land at Fletcher, a welcomed call from local residents.

Council decided not to allow rezoning, calling it crucial to the nearby wetlands.

Locals have been lobbying for years to keep the Green Corridor at  505 Minmi Road, since it is the land piece of land before State owned National Parks.

Wall-to-wall housing was inevitable if the rezoning went ahead.  (Image courtesy of Hannah Walmsley via ABC)

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery belives the rezoning would have had rather negative effects for the local region, saying "it would have meant that the area in the long-term would be less attractive.

"It would have taken away that important link for our flora and fauna".

Had it been approved, the rezoning would have brought forth low-density
housing in the area.

Newcastle hits back at Baird Privatisation Plans

Image courtesy of Darren Pateman via The Herald

 Newcastle Council has voted against the privatisation of the the local transport services, flying in the face of the recommendations made by the State Government.

Lake Macquaire Council distanced themselves from the plans which would see public buses, light trains and ferries moved over to the private sector.

The proposal is also opposed by both Labor and Green MP's.

Hunter Unions Secretary Daniel Wallace has also expressed his concern over the plan saying "we know from examples in Sydney that bus drivers are pushed to miss stops to keep time tables".

"Today [Tuesday, December 9th] we've just written to the Premier requesting a meeting, here in the Hunter Region to talk about what we can do to avoid privatisation and provide exactly what he said, improved services to the region".

Bowling Club to Become Seniors Estate

The former Morpeth Bowling Club Site is set to become a seniors residential center after it was passed by Maitland Council and moved on to the NSW Department of Planning.

Some Councillors however fear that the development will lead to medium-density residential blocks built in the future.

But Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore says "there's a need everywhere for retirement homes, we are an aging society ... we have five new new people a day making Maitland their home".

Councillors voted on Tuesday to rezone the site (Image courtesy of Max Mason-Hubers via The Herald)

"There are quite a number of people of course, who would like to move out of their three or four bedroom home and look for smaller accommodation".

"When we look at the township of Morpeth, it's a magnificent area, particularly with history".

The proposal will soon become open for public comment.