Two Men Taken To Hospital After Serious Crash At Richmond Vale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two men have been taken to hospital after a single car crash at Richmond Vale overnight.

Emergency services were called to George Booth Drive about 100 metres from the Orica exit just before 7.00pm where a car had left the road and crashed into a tree at high speed.

The 18-year-old driver managed to climb out of the wrecked car, however his passenger, also aged 18,  was trapped for about 30 minutes before being freed and airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition with chest and pelvic injuries.

The driver was taken by road ambulance to the John Hunter for treatment of non-life threatening injuries

Investigations into the crash are continuing.

 

Emergency Services at the crash scene. Picture Media Response Newcastle

Cessnock to benefit from Commonwealth disaster relief

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Regional NSW communities affected by bush fires will now be eligible to receive support from the federal government under new Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

It comes following the September 13 bush fires which devastated the Cessnock region.

Cessnock is listed as one of five Local Government Areas eligible to receive assistance, with fires at Kempsey, Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Port Macquarie also attracting the help of the Commonwealth under the scheme.

Through cash grants to local councils, affected residents and businesses will receive support in clean-up and restoration efforts.

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, says "Assistance may also include things like helping eligible people whose homes and belongings have been damaged; concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, farmers and non-profits and freight subsidies for farmers."

The Minister says grants are additionally available for eligible non-profits; potentially giving aid to organisations like the Richmond Vale Railway Museum, which sustained damage in excess of $1 million during the September fires.

"It's not capped funding," Minister Keenan explains, "We provide the assistance as is required. So if you, as an individual, business or organisation meet the criteria, we will provide access to that assistance."

An application process exists to secure the Commonwealth assistance, but the Minister believes it's easy to complete- "We try to keep it as simple as possible, we don't want people to be tied-up in bureaucracy and red tape."

For more information on the application process go to the Australian Government's Disaster Assist or the NSW Government's Emergency Information and Response website.

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan. Image: SBS. 

Firefighters work to contain the blaze at Richmond Vale, September 2017. Image: ABC.