Residents still without the NBN

BY JESSICA ROUSE and GEORGIA LUPTON

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson is calling on the NBNCo to explain why some homes in Rutherford and Aberglassyn have been left out of the NBN rollout. 

The suburb went live on the network six months ago, but 150 homes were left out, and they want to know why.

Residents were urged to contact NBNCo directly to get accurate and individualised information, however when they did, they didn't get any of the answers they wanted.

Ms Swanson's office has been flooded with residents telling her they aren't getting the answers they need and they don't understand why.

Ms Swanson says in this technological age, it is ridiculous some residents have been left behind, while those in other areas strive ahead.

"You've got people who are trying to run small businesses from home, you've got students, kids going back to school hoping they'll get the NBN so they'll be able to download their homework and upload stuff they need to send back to school and they just can't do it. it's hopeless."

Hunter Volunteer Firefighter Pleads Guilty to Deliberately Lighting Fires

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

A probationary member of the Rural Fire Service has pleaded guilty to a number of offences relating to deliberately lit fires around the Hunter.

21-year-old Alex Forth of Aberglasslyn faced court yesterday after being charged with four counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread, and making false call to emergency service number.

The volunteer firefighter, a member of the Lochinvar brigade, lit fires within its patrol area including places such as Sawyers Gully, Lochinvar, Keinbah and Bishops Bridge.

The court heard the 21-year-old lit the fires using ammunition including molotov cocktails to be called out to fight the fires, curing his boredom.

It was heard other members of the brigade became suspicious of Forth due to a "significant spike" in the amount of fires shortly after he joined the brigade.

Suspicions grew further when Forth mentioned a fire before it was reported to other members and on another occasion, arrived at the fire station within minutes of the Rural Fire Service being notified of the fire.

The court heard on some occasions, the 21-year-old would even call emergency services to report fires he had lit.

He was arrested at the Lochinvar Fire Station on 28th of April this year.

The accused will be sentenced in Newcastle District Court next year.