Putty man charged after raid on climate activists

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A Putty man is one of seven charged after a police operation in Colo on Sunday morning, where police allege they were attacked by climate activists.

Around 8:30am on Sunday morning, police looking into the planning of unauthorised protests across NSW, were conducting planned investigations at the property on Putty Road in Colo.

Police allege they were approached by a group of people, who surrounded them and slashed the tyres of an unmarked police vehicle which officers had retreated to.

More officers were called to the scene, and five men and two women were arrested and taken to Windsor Police Station.

A 24-year-old man from Putty faces charges for six offences, including affray, assaulting without actual bodily harm, intimidating, and obstructing a police officer, property damage, and aiding in the commission of crimes.

It's understood, none of the police officers were injured.

Blockade Australia is describing the police presence which led to the incident as an "overreach".

Police are returning to the property on Monday. 

Muswellbrook named Australia's third most polluted postcode

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Muswellbrook has been identified as the country's third worst postcode when it comes to air pollution, according to a new study by the Australian Conservation Foundation.

The organisation pulled the most recent emission data from the National Pollutant Inventory, collected from power stations, manufacturers, and mines. 

Mount Isa topped the list, followed by Newman in Western Australia. 

Six of the top ten postcodes for the highest air pollution also had a coal-fired power station or a coal mine.

You can take a look at the numbers in your postcode here.

Image credit: Australian Conservation Foundation.

Hunter farmers call for clearer commitment on net zero targets

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Farmers across the Hunter and Australia are calling on the next Federal Government to offer certainty the country will meet its net zero targets.

It comes as the Coalition faces internal dissent on the issue, with Queensland Senator Matt Canavan insisting the party isn't committed to the 2050 goal.

It's understood, the Nationals senator has been reprimanded by his colleagues.

But Farmers for Climate Action remains concerned, it's a sign of the path to come.

Alistair Tulloch, a fifth-generation grape grower at Tulloch Wines in the Hunter Valley, says the confusion is disappointing.

"On the ground, the effect of climate climate on agriculture is just profound," Mr Tulloch said.

"Our ability to consistently grow the food, or in my case, the grapes that end up as wine on the table, or vegetables in the supermarket, or meat in the butchery.

"These are all things that are becoming more unpredictable."

It's believed a strong climate policy and switch to renewables could create around 30,000 jobs in regional Australia.

Mr Tulloch says a lack of action won't just mean losing current jobs, but losing a way of life.

"We've been here growing grapes for almost 200 years in the Hunter Valley, and we plan to be here for another 200 years," Mr Tulloch said.

"We want to see that reflected in the sustainability of our industry - if there's a threat to that sustainability, then we want to see it addressed."

School students and climate protestors to block the Port of Newcastle

BY JORDAN REGNIS

School students from the School Strike for Climate and climate protest group Extinction Rebellion will lead a blockade of the Port of Newcastle this Sunday.

They're demanding an end to federal funding for fossil fuel industries, and instead, to invest the money into climate solutions, along with transition arrangements for coal workers and communities. 

The People's Occupation of the World's Biggest Coal Port event will take place at Horseshoe Beach between 8am and 3pm, where people from across the Hunter will enter the harbour and stop coal ships from moving throughout the day.

Organiser Zack Schofield says he'd love to see the community get involved.

"We will get some kayaks out and run a blockade across the shipping channel, to make sure the coal ships don't come into the port for the day," Mr Schofield said.

"This event is about getting out on the water and showing the government we care about our community."

Speeches and live music will also feature on the beach throughout the day. 

Image credit: Newcastle School Strike 4 Climate

Newcastle Joins Global Race to Reach Zero Emissions

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle is now the latest city to sign up to the global Cities Race to Zero campaign, pushing local governments to fight for zero emission targets.

Joining 750 cities around the world, it's hoped the international campaign will put pressure on state and federal governments and give local councils a seat at the table.

It comes as the NSW Government also announced a commitment to halving emissions by 2030.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes described the move as a logical next step for the city.

"Local government does have a very significant role to play, as we've always recognised at the City of Newcastle," Cr Nelmes told Council on Tuesday.

"Not just in advocacy, but real action on climate change, like the real action we have taken here, shifting to 100 percent renewables."

Cr Nelmes said the "united front" of local governments in Australia and internationally is already delivering change.

"We have been able to push, particularly Federal decision makers, down the path that they probably should have gone down many years ago around adopting those net zero targets," Cr Nelmes said.

New Data Shows Hunter Submerged By 2100

BY DAKOTA TAIT

New climate models suggest parts of the Hunter could be be hip-deep in the ocean by the end of the century, with rising sea levels putting the region at risk. 

The Coastal Risk Australia modelling, developed in conjunction with FrontierSI and NGIS Australia, is based on the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's latest data on ice sheet melting. 

Significant areas of Carrington, Wickham, Maryville and Tighes Hill are likely to be washed out if a predicted 84cm rise in global sea levels occurs by 2100.

Lake Macquarie suburbs such as Boolaroo, Blackalls Park and Warners Bay could also be flooded if trends continue.

Modelling a worst case scenario, it's projected that sea levels could rise as much as two metres.

Draft Strategy Released to Clean Up Air Across the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The NSW Government has proposed a new draft plan which hopes to turn air pollution in the Hunter around for good.

The Draft Clean Air Strategy, released on Thursday, addresses a number of key areas in air quality policy, including cleaning up industry, making fuel and transport greener, and being better prepared for pollution events.

Environment Minister Matt Kean says last year's bushfires highlighted the fact there was work to be done in the area.

“Our Draft Clean Air Strategy sets out five key action areas to mitigate community exposure to poor air quality, both during extreme events and on a day-to-day basis," Mr Kean said.

“We’re asking everyone with an interest in air quality in NSW to help us shape the final Strategy by sharing your knowledge and providing your feedback."

The draft plan draws on previous public consultation and a number of other Government policies.

But while Singleton GP Dr Robert Vickers says the Government's new proposal is exciting, there were fatal flaws still not addressed by the current version of the plan.

"We know the problem with the load-based licensing scheme is that mines are exempt," Dr Vickers said.

"The idea of load-based licensing is that your license fees, that you pay to the EPA, are dependent on how much total pollution you emit. When you're responsible for 90% of the coarse pollution in your area, it's a bit ineffective to be exempt from that scheme."

Community groups are also calling for stricter regulations on local power stations to bring emissions in line with global standards.

Dr Vickers says he's hoping the Government takes this community consultation on board. 

"We've done the work for them," Dr Vickers said. "It goes into the detail of what needs to be done, it's evidence-based."

"It's great to see Minister Kean commit to releasing this plan, I have no doubt that he's probably going to cop a lot of flak from it from some of the industry, and we fully support him implementing a plan, but we want to make sure that it's evidence-based and it's going to be effective."

Members of the public can provide feedback on the plan at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/clean-air-strategy.