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

$2.5b Tomago Investment Saves Thousands of Jobs

 BY OLI GOELDNER

More than 1,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs have been secured, with a deal finally struck over the continuation of Tomago Aluminium smelter. 

In a visit to the site on Thursday, the Prime Minister spoke to hundreds of workers and local union members, confirming the federal and state government had agreed to invest $2.5 billion into the smelter over the next decade. 

Owning company Rio Tinto announced in October 2025, the smelter would likely have to close as it was unable to secure a competitive electricity contact. 

Now, the funding will continue operations beyond the facility's scheduled closure on 31 December 2028. 

As part of the deal, Tomago Aluminium agreed to invest at least $1.1 billion into the facility, including $100 million to drive further decarbonisation activities at the smelter and undertake an innovative demand-response to support the NSW grid. 

The state government's contribution is capped at $1.225 billion over 10 years from 2029. 

The smelter is the country's largest single electricity user, taking up more than 10 per cent of the NSW grid alone.

Anthony Albanese said the joint investment will underpin nearly three gigawatts of new renewable generation and firming capacity. 

"This site isn't just important for Newcastle and the Hunter, it's a critical asset for the country and our manufacturing future," he said. 

"To the workers here, what you do strengthens our country and strengthens our resilience. 

"Aluminium is an essential product and will be even more into the future."

NSW Premier Chris Minns echoed the Prime Minister's statements. 

"The Hunter has powered NSW and helped build this country for generations," said Premier Minns. 

"This agreement is about making sure it remains an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse for generations to come." 

Electrical Trades Union NSW/ACT organiser Brad McDougall said the announcement comes as an enormous relief to workers. 

"Thousands of families rely on Tomago," he said. 

"This announcement finally gives them confidence that there's a future for them in the Hunter.

"The local community has been campaigning tirelessly for the smelter to be protected, and today that hard work has finally paid off." 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with (L-R) NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, Cessnock MP Clayton Barr and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington. Picture: Ian Crouch

Green Energy Boost For Aluminium Industry Announced In The Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be in Tomago today to announce a support package for the aluminium industry.

As part of an election pitch the Albanese government is pledging $2 billion to encourage Australia's aluminium smelters to shift their reliance from fossil fuels to renewable.

The Financial review reports a 10 year production credit would be designed to turbo-charge the shift to green, low-carbon aluminium.

Producers like Tomago Aluminium would receive taxpayer support for every tonne of green aluminium they make in a decade to 2036.

Tomago Aluminium is the single largest consumer of power in Australia, consuming more than 10% of NSW energy supply.

The federal opposition has slammed the move saying weather dependent renewables are not the cheapest and will never sustain industry in Australia.

Tomago Aluminium set to benefit from green energy boost

Anthony Albanese and Chris Minns announce TAFE Centre of Excellence in Newcastle

By HOLLY FISHLOCK

More than $60 million will be invested by the state and federal government's over the next five years for the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.

The Centre will be established at the TAFE NSW campus at Tighes Hill, and will look to boost the workforce needed to support the renewable energy industry in the Hunter and across the state.

Once up and running the centre will have a training capacity of approximately 450 students annually.

It will provide education and apprenticeships in renewable energy, offshore wind, hydrogen, and related manufacturing fields for the region's workforce.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there needs to be a plan for the future.

"It's important we invest in new industries, and that we invest in the capacity of workers to be able to fill jobs in those industries."

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Chris Minns says it's important young people have the skills needed to participate in the renewable energy industry.

"We all see an exciting opportunity for the next generation, right here in Newcastle."

The launch of the facility comes after an advanced manufacturing centre of excellence was announced for Western Sydney.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing the Centre of Excellence

PM Launches Solar Sun Shot Program At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants the Hunter to be at the forefront of solar panel manufacturing.

He visited the former Liddell Power Station at Muswellbrook on Friday to announce a $1 billion investment into the sector so more panels are made in Australia.

Currently, 99 per cent of solar panels on Australian rooves are made overseas.

The Prime Minister's office says the $1 billion Solar Sun Shot program will help Australia capture more of the global solar manufacturing supply chain through support, including production subsidies and grants.

Push-Back for PEP-11 Proposal

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A call to nullify Scott Morrison's decision to stop PEP-11 is causing concerns for climate advocacy groups. 

It comes after the Government and Asset Energy agreed to end court proceedings after an extension was rejected by the former Prime Minister. 

If consent orders submitted by Anthony Albanese are accepted by the court, the off-shore gas drilling project will be put back up for consideration. 

Co-Founder of Surfers for Climate Belinda Baggs, says she didn't think they'd have to start their fight over again. 

"We were really disappointed to hear. We thought PEP-11 was behind us, but because of a broken political process, it looks like once again we're going to need to make it really clear that the Sydney, Central Coast, and Newcastle waters are no place for a gas field," she said. 

Image: Surfers for Climate 

Election Race For Paterson And Hunter Heats Up: Joyce And Albanese Hit The Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

The race for the hotly contested seats of Paterson and Hunter ramps up today with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese making key announcements.

Barnaby Joyce will announce a Coalition pledge of $55 million to upgrade the terminal at Newcastle Airport to international standard.

It will provide for a new double-storey terminal building to cater for larger planes and keep domestic and international travellers separate.

Work is due to start in October to complement the $66 million upgrade of the runway, which is due to start this month.

The airport falls in the Paterson electorate.

The Nationals leader will also announce $56 million to ease congestion on Mandalong Road at Morisset after Labor committed $30 million to the project last month

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese will announce Cessnock Hospital will host a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic if it wins government.

The hospital is in the heart of Hunter electorate

Cessnock is the first clinic named under Labor's $135 million four-year plan.

Labor holds the seat of Hunter by just 3 per cent, while Meryl Swanson holds Paterson for the ALP by a margin of 5 per cent.

Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce

 

Labor leader Anthony Albanese