Welcome Rain Arrives In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

There's been some welcome rain overnight across the Hunter, giving some hope to drought affected farmers.

Although patchy in parts, some good falls were recorded in the Upper Hunter as well as across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.

Merriwa has recorded the best rainfall so far, with 23.8 millimetres falling since 9 o'clock yesterday morning, while 8.4 has fallen at Scone Airport and Williamtown has recorded 30.2.

Light Rain is also falling over the massive fire ground at Putty where more than 10,000 hectares of bush has been scorched since last week.

The Weather Bureau bureau says showers should ease by this afternoon.

Welcome Rain Has Arrived In The Hunter

Wild Dogs Prove Dangerous in Merriwa

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Wild packs of dogs and wedge tailed eagles are wrecking havoc on farms around Merriwa.

The animals have been responsible for killing numerous sheep over the past few months.

Farmer Chris Kemp says numbers of dogs have risen lately as they are becoming less susceptible to previously effective culling techniques, such as the use of poisoned bait.

"The National Park needs to propose a review of the ways they control the dogs. We need major recognition of the State Government of the problem, and to allocate more funding so trapping programs can be funded.

"If they keep killing the way there are, there will be no more native animals left in the National Park."

Source: The Australian