KURRI KURRI GAS PLANT – Turbine Testing to Resume Monday

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Snowy Hydro says it will recommence testing of the first of its two gas generators on Monday at Kurri Kurri, which will use gas, rather than a mix of diesel and gas. The company says it’s expected to cause substantially less smell and smoke than it did last week.

Residents all the way from Cessnock through to Lake Macquarie reported a foul smell and heavy smoke when the turbines were fired up without warning last Wednesday. Local MPs have slammed the company for poor communication.

Snowy Hydro says there is the potential for a plume and odour during the initial startup of the turbine, and they’ve increased air monitoring outside the site boundary.

Testing will be undertaken at night.

Credit: Australian Government Transparency Portal

Residents Evacuated And Man Taken To Hospital After Unit Fire At Hamilton South

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been taken to hospital and dozens of people have been evacuated after a unit fire at Hamilton South.

Firefighters were called to a apartment block on Fowler Street just after midnight to find a ground floor unit on fire.

Newcastle Fire Command says 40 people were evacuated as crews tackled the flames

A 56-year-old man was rescued from the unit and taken to the John Hunter Hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

A female occupant was also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

It took crews more than hour to fully extinguish the fire which caused damage to a bedroom and hallway.

Police say it's believed a candle sparked the blaze.
 

 

Appeal Launched To Find Missing Teenage Girl In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a teenage girl who's gone missing in Newcastle.

13-year-old Ruby-Lee Camilleri was last seen in Fowler Street, Hamilton South at about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

Police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Ruby is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 155cm tall with a thin build, short brown hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a grey hoodie and black shorts.

Ruby is known to frequent the Newcastle, Hamilton South and Waratah West areas.

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

 

Missing teen Ruby-Lee Camilleri

 

UPDATE! Manhunt Under Way After Police Shoot At Man On The Central Coast

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is in custody following a police operation on the Central Coast this morning (Thursday 17 July, 2025).

Tuggerah Lakes Police were called to Goorama Avenue in San Remo at about 5.00am after a man reported to be armed with a knife was standing in the middle of the road.

A Taser was deployed to affect the man’s arrest; however, he got into his car and allegedly drove at police, hitting their vehicle. 

A police firearm was discharged and the man drove from the scene.

Following a police operation across the Central Coast, a 42-year-old man was arrested on The Corso at, Gorokan around 7.30am after a Taser was deployed. The man has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for assessment.

Inquiries are continuing.

EARLIER: 

Police have shot at a man following a domestic violence incident on the Central Coast this morning (Thursday 17 July, 2025).

A search is under way for the man who's suspected of assaulting a woman - she's been taken to hospital for assessment.

Police say around 5.00am  the man was reported to be brandishing a knife and standing in the middle of Goorama Avenue at San Remo.

Officers deployed a Tazer but he managed to get into a grey Mitsubishi station wagon and allegedly rammed a police car.

Police fired a shot at the car but the man drove off.  

The car has the NSW registration EVM 91J

Anyone who who sees the man or the car are urged not to approach to call Triple Zero immediately.

 

 

 

ERARING – Lake Macquarie Council Calls for Federal Support

 

 BY JESSICA STEENS

 Lake Macquarie Council is calling for Federal support to mitigate the economic fallout which could occur following the closure of Eraring Power Station.

In recent years, the plant has struggled to make profit due to the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy sources.

With a planned 2027 closure date creeping closer, Councillors say the Net Zero Economy Authority will need to step in.

Deputy Mayor Jack Antcliff says failure to prepare for the station's closure could result in economic death by a thousand cuts.

“Lake Macquarie is a city of 14,000 small businesses, we don’t have a single big employer. We don’t have a BHP, we don’t have a Holden. So when we lose businesses, we lose one family business at a time.

“We run the risk if we don’t prepare, in 15 years time we will look back and wonder where all the jobs went” he said.

Council warns the closure is set to cause a loss of 4.5 billion dollars to the local economy and cause 1800 job losses.

Hunter Business CEO Bob Hawes says looking back at previous mining closures, it’s hard to predict the effect on the economy.

“When you look back in history there is certainly some things we have learnt from those experiences and move forward. Sometimes things work out better than you anticipate and sometimes not so” he said.

Eraring Power Station is expected to cease its operations on August 19th, 2027.

Image: Wikimedia Commons / CSIRO

 

 

RISING TIDE – Group Says “Protestival” to Go Ahead Regardless of Council Support

 BY PETER HYSLOP

 Rising Tide says they’ll still host the People’s Blockade event in November at the Port of Newcastle with or without Newcastle Council’s support.

Councillors will vote on whether to allow activists to use Richardson Park at Hamilton North and Camp Shortland following a briefing with organisers and police tonight.

Results from Newcastle Council’s public call for feedback still haven’t been released, but an independent poll commissioned by Rising Tide shows 66% of around 300 local residents surveyed said they support the event. The poll’s been since criticised by Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull, who says the questions made no mention of illegal activity in previous years.

But Rising Tide spokesperson Alexa Stuart insists the polling can be trusted.

“What’s unique about this polling is that it was a totally random sample … of Newcastle residents,” she said.

“What happens on the water and on the beach isn’t related to the Council application, and it’s happened 12 times in the past because it’s [a] public beach and public water,” she said.

Image: Rising Tide

 

Kathleen Folbigg's Compensation Claim Stalled

 BY IAN CROUCH

Exonerated Hunter Valley mother, Kathleen Folbigg's compensation claim for wrongful imprisonment is reportedly falling on death ears.

News Limited reports the now 58-year-old has been ghosted by Premier Chris Minns after making multiple requests to meet him.

It's been more than two years since Kathleen Folbigg was released from prison where she spent 20 years for the deaths of her 4 children before being acquitted in 2023.

Her lawyer says the state government is still refusing to give a timeline for the compensation decision, describing the lack of information as ludicrous.

Kathleen Folbigg

 

  

 

MEDOWIE – High School Granted Planning Approval

 BY IAN CROUCH

Shovels will be in the ground within weeks, with the state government confirming the much-anticipated Medowie High School has been granted planning approval.

The local community has been calling for a public high school in the area for decades and in 2023, Labor committed $53 million to build the school to be located on 6.6 hectares of land on Abundance Road.

Construction is set to begin in September with the school expected to open for the start of Term One in 2027.

Manhunt Under Way After High Speed Pursuit Through Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

A pursuit through Lake Macquarie early this morning allegedly reached speeds of 160km/hr in a 60 zone.

Police say a white Corolla hatchback was stolen from a Tighes Hill address around 2.00am today (Thursday 10 July 2025), with the alleged offender driving to Tingira Heights where a domestic dispute took place with his partner before he drove off.

A police dog unit spotted the car on the Pacific Highway at Belmont but terminated the pursuit due to high speed and safety concerns.

Witnesses also reported the car being driven at high speed and on the wrong side of the road.

The car was found abandoned under the Inner City Bypass at Hillsborough just before 4.00am.

 

Young Boy Allegedly Holds Up Mayfield Service Station

 BY IAN CROUCH

A boy as young as 10-years-old is believed responsible for a brazen armed robbery at Mayfield overnight.

Police say the boy walked into the Coles Express on Maitland Road just before 9.00pm on Wednesday and threatened the attendant with a knife before escaping with two cartons of milk.

The worker was unharmed and police are reviewing CCTV footage in a bid to identify the alleged culprit.

 

 

Floods Delay Major Bridge Project Near Maitland

 BY IAN CROUCH

The devastating May floods have caused construction on a major infrastructure project near Maitland to be delayed.

Construction began on the new dual lane concrete Melville Bridge over the Hunter River in September 2024.

The $8.2 million project jointly funding by Maitland Council and the state and federal governments is replacing the old single lane timber bridge which frequently went under water during flood events.

In a cruel irony, the partially constructed bridge, which is designed to be much higher than the previous one, sustained damage during the May flood, with erosion, displacement of the bridge deck beams and flood debris impacting the site.

Council says it means completion of the bridge will be delayed for at least four months, with no clear timeline yet on a completion date.

An artist's impression of the new Melville Bridge

 

The old Melville Ford Timber Bridge

FLOAT YOUR BOAT – Yellow Submarine Takes Out Peoples Choice Award

 BY PETER HYSLOP

The Yellow Submarine was one of 18 vessels to light up the night sky in last month’s Float Your Boat event. Creator Megan Evans’ nod to The Beatles won a $1000 prize.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz says this year’s display was one of the best to date.

“From the fantastic and creative designs of the boaties to the colour and excitement of activations on land and lake at our live sites, there was something for everyone to enjoy at Float Your Boat,” he said.

“I congratulate all our entrants and encourage anyone with artistic flair, a boating licence or both to consider coming on board next time around.”

Photos supplied courtesy Lake Macquarie City Council.

Newcastle Permanent People’s Choice and Mayor’s Choice winner Megan Evans with sons Huxley and Koda with Newcastle Permanent’s Matt Talevski and Mayor Adam Shultz

Concerns Held For Autistic Man Missing From Tighes Hill

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a Newcastle man who's been missing for almost a week.

48-year-old Alexander Tumiotto was last seen on Tighes Hill Terrace at Tighes Hill at about 1.30pm on Monday June 30.

Police and family hold concerns for Alexander's welfare as he lives with Autism.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with a medium build, unshaven, with dark hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing dirty ripped clothing and a beanie.

Police believe Alexander may be using the rail network to travel and is known to frequent Newcastle, Redfern and the Carriage works at Everleigh.

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

 

Missing man Alexander Tumiotto

Burst Main Cuts Water To Lake Macquarie Suburbs

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Water crews are working to repair a burst water main at Boolaroo.

Fire crews and police were called to the big roundabout on Munibung Road just after 10.00pm on Thursday to find a large volume of water gushing across the road.

It's affecting water supply to residents at Argenton, Boolaroo, Glendale and Toronto.

Hunter Water is asking any customers in these areas who are experiencing dirty water after 8.00am today (Friday 4 July, 2025) to contact them on 1300 657 000. 

 

Water gushes over the road at Boolaroo. Picture Teralba Fire & Rescue

Newcastle man Missing For Almost A Month

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a Newcastle man who's been missing for almost four weeks.

41-year-old David Fortune was last seen in Jesmond on June 6 but hasn't been seen or heard from since.

He's known to frequent the Hamilton South, Elermore Vale, Cooks Hill and Newcastle areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers.

 

Missing man David Fortune

New Cessnock Fire Station Officially Opened

 BY  IAN CROUCH

The City of Cessnock now boasts a state-of-the-art fire station.

Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib is joining Cessnock Mp, Clayton Bar and Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell today (Tuesday 1 July, 2025) for the official opening of the new facility. 

Land was purchased and detailed designs were commissioned in August 2023.

At the time, Cessnock MP, Clayton Barr said he'd been lobbying previous governments for a long-term solution, saying today's fire trucks could barely fit through the doors of the old fire station in Edwards Street which had served the community for more than 100 years.

The state government invested $7 million dollars to build the new fire station in Cessnock Street.

It features four engines bays to accommodate more vehicles, more equipment including a gym room, and facilities to cater for 27 staff including dedicated male and female locker rooms.

The station also features dedicated 'clean firefighter' zones reducing potential contamination, and is a more energy sustainable and environmentally friendly building.

Firefighters based at Cessnock Fire Station respond to around 600 incidents a year, serving a community of more than 50.000 people.

Cessnock station services Aberdare, Bellbird, Kitchener, Neath and Pokolbin. Firefighters also support stations in Abermain, Branxton, Kearsley and Singleton.

Fire & Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell says the local crews were consulted before work began on building the new station.

"This new station will allow fire crews to respond rapidly to emergencies from a modern, purpose-built building. We asked the firefighters what would make their working conditions better and we took that advice on board as we finalised the design," he said. 

The new Cessnock Fire Station in Cessnock Street

 

 

 

 

The old Cessnock Fire Station in Edward Street served the community for more than 100 years

 

Appeal Launched To Find Missing Lake Macquarie Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are asking for our help to find a teenage girl who's been missing since last Thursday June 26.

14-year-old Starleigh Bates was last seen at about 9.00am on Cary Street at Toronto.

Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Starleigh's described as being of Caucasian appearance, 155cm tall with a medium build and red/brown hair.

She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black tracksuit pants.

Starleigh is known to frequent the Toronto, Wallsend, Woodberry, Stockton and Metford areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers.

Missing teen Starleigh Bates. Picture NSW Police