Hunter Workers Concerned for Local Jobs

BY TANYA DU PREEZ

The Australian Council of Trade Unions is warning Hunter workers of the Turnbull Government's plans for local jobs.

It claims the Coalition has axed over a billion dollars of funding for skills and training, making it more difficult for young people to find employment.

The government has also been accused of slashing funding for schools, TAFE, health and hospitals, which provide the necessary infrastructure for young people to find skilled work.

ACTU President Ged Kearney says the government is turning its back on workers.

"Many people in the Hunter Valley are doing it really tough at the moment, and at every turn this government is making it harder and harder to make ends meet."

(Source - Crains New York)

Maccas Sand Prosecuted over Alleged Waste Dump

The company owned by Port Stephens Mayor Bruce MacKenzie and his son is facing a maximum fine of $1 million over a pollution breach.

Grafil Pty Ltd which trades as Maccas Sand and Soil at Salt Ash has been charged with using the site as an unlawful waste dump.

It follows the discovery of massive stockpiles of waste, some allegedly containing asbestos.

Bruce MacKenzie maintains the material was dumped there by someone else.

The case returns to court later this month.

Bruce MacKenzie

Baiada To Review Transport Operations After Police Crackdown

The Transport Workers Union believes the un-roadworthy trucks discovered at the Baiada Chicken factory at Beresfield proves drivers are taking risks in order to meet unreasonable deadlines.

20 trucks were checked at the plant yesterday as part of a statewide crackdown, with police finding several defects including one which had a non-compliant speed limiter installed.

The union says the pressures on drivers are leading to dangerous practices like speeding and skipping maintenance schedules in order to meet delivery deadlines.

Defence to Brief Media On Williamtown RAAF Base Contamination.

The Defence Department says its taken more than 430 water samples from around the Williamtown RAAF Base, with 90 per cent showing no contamination by toxic firefighting chemicals.

Senior Defence officials are expected to brief the media tomorrow on the findings

The department's environmental site assessment should be finalised in the next month before going to the Environment Protection Authority and then being released publicly.

Hunter Hospital Wait Times on The Improve

The latest report card shows the Hunter's main public hospitals have seen big improvements in wait times.

Both the John Hunter and Calvary Mater hospitals are seeing more patients admitted and treated in the emergency department within four hours compared to last year, while the Bureau of Health Information says ambulance transfer times at the John Hunter have improved, with 95 per cent of patients being admitted within 30 minutes of arrival - 4 per cent higher than the state average.

Mount Hutton Supermarket Development

Major changes are on the way for Lake Macquarie Fair at Mount Hutton.

The company which owns the shopping centre and the neighbouring Mount Hutton Plaza has lodged a development application to upgrade the site and fully integrate the two..

The $46 million development will include more than 20 new specialty shops, food outlets, a bottle shop and a larger Coles supermarket.

Whale Watching Season Under Way

Whale watching tour operators in the Hunter are expecting a bumper season.

The annual whale watching season has kicked off, with the National Parks and Wildlife Service expecting 24-thousand Humpbacks to migrate north past Newcastle's coastline.

Peter Hanrahan from Nova cruises says with whale numbers increasing by up to 15 per cent every year, spotting them is becoming even easier.