Fire Destroys Home At Pokolbin

BY IAN CROUCH

An electrical fault is being blamed for a fire which destroyed a house at Pokolbin overnight.

Firefighters were called to the home on Gillards Road at about 5.20 yesterday afternoon to find the property engulfed in flames.

The occupants of the home, a 68-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman, escaped unharmed.

It took several hours to fully extinguish the blaze which guttered the home and its contents.

Police say it appears the fire started in a circuit board in the laundry.

Concerns Over Cyclist Safety

BY TYLER FARDELL


At a round-table discussion in Newcastle today, State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp and Shadow Minister for Active Transport Jo Haylen condemned the State Government's lack of action over planned cycle paths in the Newcastle CBD.

Plans for new cycle paths were included in visions for the CBD along with the construction of the light rail, but no development on new paths was ever started.

The lack of adequate safety measures for cyclists with no clear lanes or signage has resulted in a number of minor accidents and unfortunately one tragic event last month where 51 year old Danny Egan lost his life after falling off his bike while crossing the light rail tracks.

"The Government cannot continue to ignore the multitude of accidents, including a fatal accident, since the opening of the Newcastle light rail", said Mr Crakanthorp.

Mr Crakanthorp says an 'East to West' cycle path in the city would be the desired outcome and could be achieved with as little funding as 10 million dollars.

Ms Haylen says a cycle path would attract more business to the CBD improve traffic congestion.

Tim Crakanthorp MP, Jo Haylen MP  and Bernard Hockings at Newcastle today

Maxwell Underground Mine Environmental Impact

BY ALICE PEART

Australian company Malabar Coal has lodged their Environmental Impact Statement for a new mine in the Hunter Valley, shifting plans from an open cut mine to an underground site. 

The shift occurred in response to backlash from the community, primarily over concerns for the impact on farmland and the internationally renown thoroughbred studs bordering on the site. 

Although Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon has said he's confident the company will adhere to strict environmental regulations, the company was fined just in March this year by the EPA after they were found to have discharged six million litres of polluted water in the Hunter Valley's Saltwater Creek. 

The Environmental Impact Statement also shows the proposed mine, located near Muswellbrook, is home to 295 First Nation sites containing archaeological artefacts. The statement proposes cataloguing and preservation measures according to Native Title and Heritage Protection acts -  but their economic summary demonstrates they have allocated no money in their budget under the category of Aboriginal Heritage.

Plans for the site by former owners were repeatedly knocked back but Malabar Coal say they are confident their submission is "vastly different from past proposals for the site" in response to concerns over noise, threats to air quality and visual impacts. 

Fears For Residents Trapped In Cardiff House Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

Quick work by firefighters has prevented a house fire from taking hold at Cardiff.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the brick and tile home on Murray Road just before 10.00am on Thursday to find smoke issuing from the building.

It was feared the residents were still inside.

Crews gained access and found food left on the stove had caught alight - they quickly doused the flames.

No-one was inside - it appears the residents left the house and forgot to turn off the stove.

Man Cut Free From Car After Crash At Heatherbrae

BY IAN CROUCH

A man in his 20's is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after a heavy impact crash at Heatherbrae.

Police, Fire, Ambulance and SES crews were called to Camfield Drive just before 8.00pm on Wednesday to find the man's car had slammed into a parked low-loader truck.

The man was trapped for about 45 minutes while rescue crews worked to cut him free, with paramedics monitoring his condition - he was also inturbated at the scene prior to being freed from the wreckage.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital with serious head injuries.

The Crash Scene At Heatherbrae Photo; Port Stephens SES

UPDATE: Man Charged Over Fatal New Lambton Heights Crash

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A 25-year-old man has been charged with negligent driving offences following Tuesday's tragic crash at New Lambton Heights.

Shortly before 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, emergency services were called to the corner of Lookout Road and McCaffrey Drive where a Holden Statesman had hit a power pole.

A 9-year-old girl travelling in the car was treated at the scene and rushed to the John Hunter Hospital but could not be saved.

The driver of the car has now been charged with multiple dangerous and negligent driving offences including negligent driving occasioning death.

The man's license has also been suspended.

A 29-year-old woman who was a passenger in the vehicle remains in hospital in a serious condition.

EARLIER:

Police have confirmed a nine year old girl has died following a crash at New Lambton Heights.

Police say a Holden statesman lost control and collided with a power pole shortly before 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

The young girl was treated at the scene by an off-duty nurse and rushed to the John Hunter Children's Hospital, where she died a short time later.

A woman was freed from the vehicle and taken to hospital, Police could not confirm her condition.

The male driver of the car has been taken for mandatory testing and an investigation into the incident has been launched.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have dashcam footage to come forward.

EARLIER:

Two people, including a child, have been rushed to hospital following a collision at New Lambton Heights.

Just before 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, NSW Ambulance crews responded to reports of a car hitting a power pole at the intersection of Lookout Road and McCaffrey Drive.

A woman in her late 20s and a child, thought to be around 8 years old, have been taken to the John Hunter Hospital.

The young girl is reportedly in a critical condition.

The woman is in a serious but stable condition.

Mccaffrey Drive is closed and there is heavy traffic, police are on scene.

Fire Crews Called to Kotara House Fire

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Fire crews are mopping up following a housefire at Kotara this morning.

Fire and Rescue crews from Charlestown and Lambton were called to the blaze on Rae Crescent shortly after 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning.

Residents reported seeing flames coming from a second storey window.

It took crews a little over two hours to extinguish the blaze.

Sections of the ceiling had to be removed to ventilate the house.

Nobody was injured and all occupants of the home have been accounted for.