Central Hunter Police have apprehended four people believed to have set wooding seating alight in a grandstand at Rutherford overnight.
Police officers responded to a 3:30AM callout to Max McMahon Oval where they allegedly caught the 2 males and 2 females in the act.
Three of the alleged perpetrators are aged in the 20st whilst the fourth is a minor.
The group of 4 tried to justify their actions by insisting they set the seating on fire so it could act as a heat source, whilst 2 of the group members were said to resist the officers as they were being arrested.
The 3 adults are set to be charged with malicious damage.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
New ICU Announced for Hunter Children's Hospital
Seriously ill children are set to receive treatment in a new paediatric intensive care unit at John Hunter Children's hospital.
Health Minister for NSW, Jillian Anderson visited the hospital today to discuss the project which is forecast to be operational from 2015.
The hospital is the major treatment centre for a considerable portion of the state's children and the new unit is said to provide specialised care for critically ill children from the Hunter, New England and the north coast.
The announcement of the intensive care unit follows ongoing community calls for its instatement.
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| NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner addresses the media outside John Hunter Hospital |
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Breakthrough may save frogs
University of Newcastle researchers have developed a method to freeze frog embryonic cells in a world-first breakthrough which could be used to slow the threat of extinction faced by hundreds of frog species.
Frogs are said to have the worst rate of extinction of any vertebrate group, with 200 species lost in the past thirty years and another 200 species facing extinction.
The technique will be used to buy time for the frogs while researchers look for answers to diseases and other threats.
Friday, 19 April 2013
Fears of explosion at Orica
A fatal explosion at a fertiliser plant in Texas yesterday has incited fear in Newcastle residents who are afraid a similar explosion could occur at Orica.
While it is reported that the explosion in Texas was the result of 300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, Orica's plant at Koorangang Island stores up to 10,000 tonnes of the chemical at any one time.
Crawford's Freightlines is seeking approval to store up to 13,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate just 300 metres from Sandgate homes.
Stockton Community Action Group spokesperson and chemical engineer, Keith Craig, says its time the governmnet put community safety ahead of mining royalties.
"West is a clear example of what can happen".
"These plants can be there for many years, but it just takes one event like this, one accident, to have a catastrophic outcome, " he said.
"Ammonium nitrate should be stored nowhere near communities."
While it is reported that the explosion in Texas was the result of 300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, Orica's plant at Koorangang Island stores up to 10,000 tonnes of the chemical at any one time.
Crawford's Freightlines is seeking approval to store up to 13,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate just 300 metres from Sandgate homes.
Stockton Community Action Group spokesperson and chemical engineer, Keith Craig, says its time the governmnet put community safety ahead of mining royalties.
"West is a clear example of what can happen".
"These plants can be there for many years, but it just takes one event like this, one accident, to have a catastrophic outcome, " he said.
"Ammonium nitrate should be stored nowhere near communities."
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Malcolm Turnbull to tell Newcastle how to overcome infrastructure deficit.
Malcolm Turnbull will tell the Newcastle audience of tonight's Barton Lecture how Newcastle can overcome its infrastructure deficit.
The Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband is predicted to discus the high expectations placed on governments to deliver infrastructure, and question why delivering cost-effective infrastructure is so challenging.
But Labor candidate for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon says he needs to explain to Novocastrians why the Coalition's Broadband plan will see residents and businesses paying more than their Sydney counterparts for a slower Internet connection.
She says the Federal Governments plan will not have any cost to residents and will provide a faster, more advanced service.
The Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband is predicted to discus the high expectations placed on governments to deliver infrastructure, and question why delivering cost-effective infrastructure is so challenging.
But Labor candidate for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon says he needs to explain to Novocastrians why the Coalition's Broadband plan will see residents and businesses paying more than their Sydney counterparts for a slower Internet connection.
She says the Federal Governments plan will not have any cost to residents and will provide a faster, more advanced service.
Buildplan owes contractors 1 million dollars
Hunter subcontractors are seeking state government intervention following the collapse of National Buildplan Group.
The Group was working on the 15 million dollar GP Super Clinic and Healthcare One Centre in Raymond Terrace when they filed for voluntary administration.
Subcontractors are owed up to one million dollars, but Assistant Secretary of the CMFEU, Rebel Hanlon says it is unlikely the will be paid.
He believes it is time for the state government to step in pay the money that is owed to workers so their businesses remain viable.
The Group was working on the 15 million dollar GP Super Clinic and Healthcare One Centre in Raymond Terrace when they filed for voluntary administration.
Subcontractors are owed up to one million dollars, but Assistant Secretary of the CMFEU, Rebel Hanlon says it is unlikely the will be paid.
He believes it is time for the state government to step in pay the money that is owed to workers so their businesses remain viable.
Newcastle Airport Upgrade
The first phase of an upgrade to make Newcastle Airport an international flight destination has been approved.
It is hoped the State Government's Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund will fund the plans to construction may begin as soon as possible.
The airport's Business Development Manager, David Nye says if funding is approved international terminals should be ready for use before the Asian Cup games in Newcastle in 2015.
It is hoped the State Government's Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund will fund the plans to construction may begin as soon as possible.
The airport's Business Development Manager, David Nye says if funding is approved international terminals should be ready for use before the Asian Cup games in Newcastle in 2015.
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