Two new COVID cases in the Hunter, none in intensive care

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England region has recorded another 10 fresh COVID-19 infections. 

There are currently 315 active cases across the district. 2 of these are in hospital with the virus, but there's no one in intensive care.

4,340 cases have been detected across the Hunter New England Health District since August 5.

There's been no reported transmission of the Omicron strain in the Hunter. 

People in Sydney and the Central Coast are also asked to be on alert, after travellers who returned from Southern Africa visited a number of venues.

CASE BREAKDOWN

MID COAST - 4

Harrington 3, Taree 1.

ARMIDALE - 2

Armidale 2.

NEWCASTLE - 2

Hamilton 2.

GUNNEDAH - 1

Gunnedah 1.

MOREE PLAINS - 1

Mungindi 1.

STATEWIDE

NSW has recorded 271 new local cases and no deaths.

144 people are in hospital with the virus, including 24 in intensive care.

The statewide vaccination rates are currently at 92.6 per cent double dose and 94.6 per cent single dose.

EXPOSURE SITES

There are no local exposure sites to report.

New equipment for animal care courses at Kurri Kurri TAFE

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Kurri Kurri TAFE is set to receive $27,598 for new learning tools and equipment for animal care.

The money will cover a new blood analyser machine, a hydraulic table, and other medical and animal grooming equipment.

The investment hopes to help the sector meet a skills demand, with courses for veterinary nurses, pet groomers, and animal attendants. 

It's part of a $100 million investment by the State Government.

TAFE NSW Animal Care and Management Head Teacher Susanne Turnbull says the new technology will help students be ready for the workplace.

“The medical equipment enables students to undertake safe and realistic hands-on practise of core vet nursing skills from blood tests to dental scaling and polishing,” Ms Turnbull said.

“Thanks to this new equipment, TAFE NSW Kurri Kurri can now look to offer new courses such as pet grooming and the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing in the future.”

Newcastle's Lord Mayoral candidates split on pledge to protect Link Road forests

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Four of the six candidates for Lord Mayor of Newcastle have pledged not to develop land along the Newcastle Link Road at Wallsend if they're elected this weekend.

Current Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Greens councillor and candidate John Mackenzie, the Socialist Alliance's Steve O'Brien, and Independent Rod Holding have all supported the push to protect the site.

A number of councillors have also backed their ticket leaders in making the pledge.

Newcastle Independents councillor John Church and Liberal candidate Jenny Barrie haven't as yet backed the calls. 

The Save the Link Road Forest campaign says the proposed housing development would threaten almost 600 hectares of land along the green corridor.

The land, owned by Eden Estates, could have enough space for 4000 new houses.

71 percent of the land is in the Newcastle Local Government Area.

Spokesperson Ian McKenzie says rezoning and clearing the forest would be devastating for the environment.

"Anything that isn't already approved, we should be thinking really seriously about and it shouldn't be going ahead," Mr McKenzie said.

"The basis for the pledge is that it's ecologically unsustainable, both on grounds of climate change and biodiversity."

Developers have stated their hopes for a balanced approach to the site's future.

But Mr McKenzie says it's something to think about at the ballot box on Saturday.

"We're optimistic that there may be a majority of the council that have signed the pledge," Mr McKenzie said.

"If you care about our forests, if you care about the future of the planet for our grandchildren, and their grandchildren, think about it seriously and vote for those who have supported protecting the forest."

Hunter Reproductive Services see support from State Government

 BY CHARLOTTE LLOYD

A new service model is set to pilot in the Hunter that is in hopes to improve access to affordable contraception and termination services. 

This comes after a Notice of Motion put forward in October by Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery. 

Following the closure of the Marie Stopes Clinic in August, Ms Hornery has said an influx of women have approached her office in distress and uncertainty, unsure of options for family planning or termination. 

The closure of the clinic also meant many women were forced to travel elsewhere such as Sydney to seek safe termination which also sees an increase in the cost of services and specialists that are needed. 

"It is vital that women in urban and regional New South Wales have access to services locally as possible because of the cost and the time constraints," says Ms Hornery 

The project pilot will have $10.4 million worth of funding provided to Family Planning NSW that comes under the Ministerially Approved Grants Program. 

This funding is looking to extend off existing services or back the opening of a new service to aid those in reproductive situations. 

" I am glad that the Government listened to the calls for improved services in the Wallsend electorate and stepped up on this very important issue by investing in women's healthcare," says Ms Hornery

Five new cases in the Hunter, Omicron fears on the Central Coast

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England region has recorded another 10 fresh COVID-19 infections. 

There are currently 353 active cases across the district. 4 of these are in hospital with the virus, including one in intensive care.

4,330 cases have been detected across the Hunter New England Health District since August 5.

It's not yet known the extent to which the new Omicron strain could have spread in the community, after a woman who had visited Southern Africa went to venues on the Central Coast last week.

CASE BREAKDOWN

LAKE MACQUARIE - 4

Gateshead 3, Macquarie Hills 1.

MID COAST - 3

Harrington 1, Green Point 1, Taree 1.

MOREE PLAINS - 2

Moree 1, Mungundi 1.

NEWCASTLE - 1

Adamstown Heights 1.

STATEWIDE

NSW has recorded 251 new local cases and no deaths.

154 people are in hospital with the virus, including 25 in intensive care.

The statewide vaccination rates are currently at 92.5 per cent double dose and 94.6 per cent single dose.

EXPOSURE SITES

There are no local exposure sites to report.

Truck Driver Injured In Crash At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH

A truck driver has been taken to hospital after crashing his rig at Muswellbrook early Wednesday morning.

A semi-trailer loaded with general goods left the New England Highway at Bell Street near the Muswellbrook Golf Course at about 3.30am and slammed into a tree.

The driver was trapped for around 90 minutes before being released and taken to hospital with a leg injury.

Southbound traffic on the highway is being diverted via Sydney Street, Denman Road and Thomas Mitchell Drive.

 

Picure: Muswellbrook Fire & Rescue

Police Smash Major Hunter Drug Supply Network

 

Police have charged a man and woman with more than 30 drug and firearm offences following investigations into the ongoing drug supply in the Port Stephens and Hunter areas.

Strike Force Callard was established by Port Stephens Hunter Police District detectives to investigate the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the area.

Following investigations, on Thursday 25 November 2021 detectives arrested a 42-year-old East Maitland woman and a 48-year-old Campbelltown man on Devonshire Street, East Maitland.

Police searched two vehicles at the location where they located 300g of methylamphetamine and over $55,000 in cash.

Further inquiries led police to execute a search warrant at a unit on Thompson Street, East Maitland, where police located further items including:

- more than $12,000 in cash,

- a money counting machine,

- an electronic stun device,

- three replica firearms,

- illicit drugs including LSD and methylamphetamine, and

- two vehicles – a Holden Commodore and Jaguar XF.

All items have been seized for forensic examination.

The pair was taken to Maitland Police Station, where the woman was charged with 33 offences including supply prohibited drug (24 counts), supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, possess prohibited drug (two counts), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime (two counts), possess unauthorised prohibited firearm (three counts), and possess prohibited weapon without permit.

The woman was refused bail and appeared at Maitland Local Court today, where she was formally refused bail, to re-appear at Maitland Local Court on Tuesday 21 December 2021.

The man was charged with supply prohibited drug, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and possess prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and appeared at Maitland Local Court on Friday 26 November 2021, where he was formally refused bail and will re-appear at the same court on Wednesday 19 January 2022.