BY IAN CROUCH
Quick work by firefighters has prevented a house from going up in flames at Morpeth overnight.
Crews from Morpeth and East Maitland were called to Close Street just before 1.00am on Friday to find a car under a car port well alight.
They took more than two hours to fully extinguish the fire and managed to stop the flames from spreading to the adjacent home.
Newcastle Fire Command says no-one was injured and police are investigating the cause of the blaze.
BY IAN CROUCH
It's been an annual event in Morpeth since 1994, but the popular Maitland Triathlon is no more.
Organisers announced on Wednesday night they've been told by traffic authorities the event is no longer regarded as safe, even though there has never been any complaints or breaches in the past.
They've been told they would have to make significant changes to their already substantial traffic plan for the event to proceed.
They say this makes holding the Triathlon unviable both financially and logistically.
Alternate routes and options were considered but were not considered viable.
Anyone who's entered for this year's event will be refunded within 7 days.
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| The Maitland Triathlon is no more Picture: H Events |
BY IAN CROUCH
Fire has destroyed two buildings at the former St John's Theological College at Morpeth.
Fire crews were called to the site just before midnight to find a single level building on the grounds well alight.
The fire quickly spread to a second building.
At least 24 firefighters and the Hazmat unit battled the blaze through the night and crews are still on scene putting out hot spots.
Police have set up a crime scene and are treating the blaze as suspicious.
The college closed in 2006 and it's understood the Anglican Church recently sold the site.
EARLIER:
Firefighters have worked through the night to contain a building fire at Morpeth.
Emergency services were called to the single level building at the corner of Green and Close Streets just before midnight on Friday to find the property well alight.
More than 24 firefighters from 8 stations as well as the Hazmat unit battled the blaze.
Crews are still at the scene mopping up hot spots.
Fire investigators will be called in later on Friday morning to determine the cause of the blaze.
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| Fire has destroyed two buildings at the former St John's Theological College at Morpeth |
BY IAN CROUCH
A man has died in a single car crash at Morpeth.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Tank Street and Canterbury Drive just before 5.00am on Tuesday.
They arrived to find a van had crashed onto a power pole and the driver had been ejected from the vehicle - the 37-year-old died at the scene.
Police have set up a crime scene and local diversions are in place around the crash site.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
BY OLIVIA DILLON
Hunter Water is one step closer to uncovering a new water source for the region.
Testing undertaken in 2020 revealed the presence of water beneath the Tomago Sandbeds, in what is now being called the Hunter Palaeochannel.
The gravel and sand aquifer is said to lie up to 80 metres below the surface, and extends from Morpeth to the Pacific Ocean.
The testing also revealed the water within the channel has not been exposed to the atmosphere for between 15,000 and 25,000 years.
Managing Director Darren Cleary said Hunter Water will now work with industry experts to determine how the palaeochannel aquifer recharges and how the source may be used moving forward.
"We hope that it could be used as a sustainable water supply for the region," he said.
Mr Cleary also said that early work sinking bores into the channel yielded "promising signs".
"We are exploring it by sinking bores and measuring how the aquifer responds when we pump water out of it. That will tell us how much water we may be able to sustainably extract from the aquifer."
"We will also will be monitoring aquifers around the Tomago area to ensure we are not having any unforeseen impacts there," Mr Cleary said.
The project has formed part of Hunter Water's draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan, which is due for release in the coming months.
BY IAN CROUCH
Investigations are continuing into a suspicious fire which destroyed several buildings at Morpeth.
Around 60 firefighters were called to a seminary on Morpeth Road just after 10 o'clock on Friday night to find three derelict buildings up in flames.
It took crews around 4 hours to fully extinguish the fire, which also threatened the historic Closebourne House.
No-one was in the buildings when the fires broke out and no-one was injured.
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| One of the buildings up in flames at Morpeth Picture: Fire&Rescue NSW |
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| Queens Wharf at Morpeth is set for $1million upgrade |
