Housing supply hits all-time low in the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's concern the Hunter's homelessness crisis is only worsening, as the number of available rentals hits an all-time low.

New data reveals just 0.7 percent of properties across the region were vacant in December last year.

A healthy market usually hovers around a 2.5 percent home vacancy.

The Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service are concerned more and more people are facing eviction and homelessness.

Coordinator Nicole Grgas says it's a shocking situation.

"They might not necessarily be homeless in what we think, that they've got no bed, but they're going from relative's house to relative's house," Ms Grgas.

"We hear families are having to split up to stay with relatives, or people having to put all of their goods in storage because they've just got nowhere to move on to."

It's likely driven by a number of factors, such as rising rents, low supply due to more out-of-town renters and buyers looking for a seachange, and bidding wars for private rentals.

Many locals have reported termination of rental contracts as their homes are put on the market by the owner.

Ms Grgas says the issue isn't likely to go away on its own.

"One of the things that seems to be putting a lot of pressure on tenants in our region are the rent increases, and no grounds notices," Ms Grgas said.

"It's something that we think can be looked at and legislated."

"It would take pressure off people who are currently in rental housing, because what they're saying to us is, I've got this rental increase, it's now unaffordable, and now I need to relocate."

The organisation is also calling for more investment in social housing to alleviate pressure on the market. 

 

Centenarian passes away with COVID in Hunter New England

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,636 new COVID cases today and three deaths.

791 of those cases were from PCR tests and 845 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, one woman and two men have passed away with the virus.

One was in their 60s, one was in their 90s and one was 100.

 

One was from Tamworth LGA, one was from Newcastle LGA and one was from Singleton LGA.

This brings the region to 59 cases in hospital, with two people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 11,807 new COVID cases and 27 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,622 cases in hospital, with 170 in intensive care.

40.6 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Police Renew Appeal To Find Missing Newcastle Man

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking Hunter residents to keep an eye out for a man missing from the state's Central West.

53-year-old James Hunter lived in Tighes Hill and travelled to Dubbo, Mendooran and Dunedoo for work.

His family last saw him in person in December 2019 and reported him missing in July last year.

James is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175 centimetres tall, medium build, with brown hair and eyes.

He drives a blue 2005 Toyota Hilux ute with the NSW registration DVR-16B. 

Police are appealing for help to find James Hunter

Federal Labor swing round on Kurri Gas Plant, but with green hydrogen future

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Federal Labor says it will now support the controversial Kurri Kurri Gas Plant project, with the understanding its government would ask Snowy Hydro to operate on 30 percent green hydrogen.

Under its plan, the plant will transition to 100 percent green hydrogen usage, it's hoped by 2030.

With additional investment, the Hunter Power Project is capable of running on 30 percent hydrogen, dependent on fuel logistics, although in its current form under the Federal Government, the plant will likely run initially on just 10 percent hydrogen.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told reporters in Kurri Kurri on Tuesday, the Government couldn't afford to let the region's renewable potential slip away.

"I see the Hunter as potentially a green hydrogen powerhouse for Australia and the world," Mr Albanese said. "Not just producing it here, but exporting it internationally."

"The problem with this Government, is it's scared of the present, but terrified of the future."

Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen says it's a necessary investment in the region.

"The Hunter Valley, which has powered Australia for so long, for so many generations, will power Australia into the future, under an Albanese Labor Government," Mr Bowen said.

"What we're doing today, is ensuring that Kurri Kurri is at the center of the hydrogen revolution, which is about to take place right around the world."  

Work is due to begin on the plant in coming months, with completion projected for late 2023.

The $600 million, 660 megawatt generator has long been touted as critical to maintain energy reliability and sustainability once Liddell Power Station closes.

It's understood the Federal Government intends to pipe gas from the Sydney-Newcastle pipeline to power the project.

But Mr Albanese says things need to happen in an intelligent way.

"We need to do something that ensures there's energy security, but which also ensures it's done in a way that's consistent with moving towards net zero by 2050," Mr Albanese said.

"A way that drives economic growth and drives jobs."

Left to right: Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon, Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Paterson MP Meryl Swanson, Hunter Candidate Dan Repacholi, Shortland MP Pat Conroy, and Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen.

But the Opposition is facing backlash from both sides of politics.

The Federal Energy Minister described the move as a last minute backflip.

Labor has spent years voicing their opposition to the project on both economic and environmental grounds.

The Gas Free Hunter Alliance pushed the State Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean to block the proposal late last year.

Co-coordinator Fiona Lee says there's no need to invest taxpayer money in dying industries.

"It's very important that there's long-term sustainable jobs in future-focused industries," Ms Lee said.

"However, we do consider it very important that all money should be committed to a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, and this plan will run on gas and diesel for the first seven years."

The Hunter Power Project was approved by the NSW Department of Planning in late December, in an embarrassing email bungle.

Ms Lee says at the end of the day, the project doesn't add up for either party.

"The Australian Energy Market Operator itself, again, has recently said, that there's no new gas generators required until about 2030," Ms Lee said.

"So why don't we wait until such time as this plant is actually needed, and then build it on 100 percent renewable-powered green hydrogen."

Steady COVID numbers in the Hunter, while State tallies continue to fall

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,501 new COVID cases today and two deaths.

396 of those cases were from PCR tests and 1,105 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, a man and a woman have passed away with the virus.

 

One was from Dungog and one was from Mid Coast.

One was in their 70s and one was in their 80s.

This brings the region to 64 cases in hospital, with three people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 12,818 new COVID cases and 30 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,749 cases in hospital, with 186 in intensive care.

39.7 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Five Hour Siege Ends With Woman's Arrest At Mayfield

 BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has been taken into custody after a five hour siege at Mayfield overnight.

Ambulance paramedics were called to a home on Bull Street just after midnight on Tuesday to reports a woman was having a psychotic episode while under the influence of the drug ICE.

Police were called when the 22-year-old became abusive and allegedly produced a knife.

The woman was eventually arrested just before 5.30am on Tuesday.

She's been taken to Newcastle Police Station and is expected to be charged with using a weapon to avoid apprehension.

Charity regatta struggling due to lack of Swansea Channel dredge

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's concern a charity regatta scheduled for Lake Macquarie this weekend won't live up to its full potential, with boaters afraid to get involved because Swansea Channel hasn't yet been dredged.

The Heaven Can Wait Regatta is set to happen over Saturday and Sunday, raising funds for the NSW Cancer Council's Hunter branch.

But Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto have noticed boaters are reluctant to attend, citing an inability to navigate the channel as a major concern.

While the regatta usually attracts around 60 to 65 boats, Vice Commodore Melvin Steiner expects the turnout to fall to around 45 or 50 this year.

He says it's disappointing not only for the community, but for the fundraising goal of half a million dollars.

"It restricts boats from other ports that normally come to the regatta, from getting into the lake," Mr Steiner said.

"We've had inquiries from boats that have done the regatta before, from Sydney, asking what the depth of the channel is." 

"As soon as you say it's down around 1.5 or something, or less, they say we're not coming, we can't get in there."

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley has been pushing the State Government for a solution since December.

It was revealed last week, Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie surpassed last year's 55 vessel escorts through the channel in January alone. 

Transport for NSW says a dredging project will happen in the first half of 2022, but expect environmental approvals and selection of a tender to take months.

Mr Steiner says his club and other organisations had tried to raise their concerns, to no avail.

"It just seems to fall on deaf ears," Mr Steiner said. 

"There's been a change in the organisation, in terms of who's responsible for doing dredging in our waterways, and they've really done nothing since that change and we don't know when they're going to start."

Image credit: Transport for NSW