In short:

The federal government has committed $432 million help kickstart hydrogen production in the Hunter.

The funding aims to incentivise action on a hydrogen hub slated for Newcastle despite Origin Energy pulling out of the project.

What's next?

The hub is expected to be operational by 2028.

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The last V-set passenger train service to Newcastle will pull out of Sydney’s Central Station at 9.20pm on Friday, marking the end of an era that has spanned more than five decades.

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According to an update from the site issued on Friday morning, key road closures include:

• The Pacific Highway in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet
• The Oxley Highway between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview
• Giinagay Way between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads
• Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Raleigh, and again between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora
• Failford Road between the Pacific Highway (Maitland Road) and the Newcastle Inner City Bypass
• Nelson Bay Road between Richardson Road and Williamtown Drive
• The Illawarra Highway in both directions at Macquarie Pass

Other closed roads in greater Sydney are:

• Springwood Road at Yarramundi Bridge
• Cattai Road at Eldon St and Millers Road at Pitt Town
• Pitt Town Road at McGraths Hill
• Wakehurst Parkway at Oxford Falls
• Audley Weir at Royal National Park

In short:

Parts of NSW have received more than 200mm of rain in 24 hours, leading to dozens of flood rescues and residents being evacuated from their homes.

Riverine and flash flooding is affecting the Hunter and Mid North Coast and numerous warnings are in place.

What's next?

People are urged to exercise caution and avoid floodwater as the rain travels north.

In short:

The lawyer of a man accused of murdering teenager Ekampreet Sahni Singh says his client did not mean to kill or injure the victim.

Hundreds of mourners joined Mr Sahni's parents at a vigil at the Bar Beach car park in Newcastle where their son was fatally shot on Wednesday.

What's next?

Decklen Deaves-Thornton was denied bail on Saturday and will face Newcastle Court on June 18.

'Deteriorating': doctors rally for hospitals amid patient safety concerns

By Damon Cronshaw

Updated April 9 2025 - 6:09pm, first published 3:30pm

Doctors have rallied at John Hunter Hospital for better conditions, amid serious concerns about the state's "deteriorating" public hospital system.

The rally was held during a doctor's strike from Tuesday to Thursday.

They held signs saying "can't see a doctor, ask the Premier", "fatigue and burnout risk patient safety" and "I will put you to sleep if I don't fall asleep first".

They spoke with strong emotion to highlight "systemic failures" that leave them overworked, burnt out and feeling undervalued.

Dr Alexander Whitfield, the doctors' union Hunter delegate, said "the public health system in NSW is on the brink of collapse".

"If we can't work our way out of this staffing crisis, in five or 10 years there won't be a functioning public system," Dr Whitfield said.

Dr Eliza Milliken, a Hunter physician and union member, said "we're all under the pump and everything is deteriorating".

Dr Milliken said the doctors were striking because "we care about our community and patients".

"Patient outcomes are worse in the Hunter than they are in swing-seat electorates with more resources. It's unjust.

"Things are worse here than in Sydney. I've seen the difference."

Dr Ariane Turner, a union member in emergency medicine, said the doctors were seeking "more staff" in hospitals, "particularly in regional and rural areas".

"For example, I stayed three hours extra the other night after an evening shift. It was exceptionally busy," she said.

"After getting home at 3am, I only get three hours' sleep if I wake up to see my kids."

She said there should be "no need to stay longer [than your shift] in emergency departments".

"It's not like we're stopping an operation halfway through. Our shift should end on time.

"For most of my shifts, I'm staying at least an hour longer. I don't have breaks. I'm lucky if I can go to the toilet."

Dr Turner said the health service had been struggling to recruit doctors in the Hunter.

"I worked six months at Queensland Children's Hospital and got paid significantly more than I did here," she said.

"I got allocated study leave, which was paid. That's an absolute fight to get in NSW.

"I had ADOs [allocated days off] and adequate downtime after night shifts, as well as all my requests for leave granted."

The doctors were seeking "equal pay at the same level as other states like Queensland and Victoria".

Dr Whitfield said "the pay gap is 30 per cent".

The NSW government has offered 10.5 per cent over three years.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said "we know a gap exists".

"What we need is more time to try to resolve that," Mr Park said.

He asked doctors to "stop this industrial action", which was "impacting on the safety and wellbeing of patients".

"Let's go back to the negotiation table," he said.

Dr Elizabeth Richardson, a union member in emergency medicine, said the doctors were working under "an ancient award".

"The penalties and allowances are dismal. They do not reflect the work that happens.

"While in charge of the emergency department, I get paid $22.80 for the entire 10 hours as an addition to my pay.

"That's also for being in charge of the peripheral hospitals and GPs that call in. It's horrific. It does not represent the work I do."

Free bus travel: Newcastle drivers turn off Opal card readers indefinitely

By Jamieson Murphy

Updated April 2 2025 - 6:52pm, first published 4:31pm

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie bus drivers will leave the Opal card readers off indefinitely, as the union tries to force Keolis Downer back to the negotiating table.

Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) says the protected industrial action will begin on Thursday and apply to all buses leaving the Hamilton and Belmont depots.

In a letter to local drivers, the RTBU told drivers to not activate their Bus Driver Consoles, which is the system that reads Opal cards and provides live tracking data, "at any time".

"This action specifically hurts the company and makes commuters happy," the letter stated.

"The company is currently fishing for ways to stop this one which tells you it's going to have an impact.

"Remember, during the last negotiations, when we went to turn the machines off it was lawyers at 20 paces straight away."

RTBU divisional president Peter Grech said the union was attempting to negotiate a new enterprise agreement with Keolis Downer, but so far the meetings had been "spontaneous and unfruitful".

Mr Grech claimed the Keolis Downer was intentionally making negotiations difficult by roosting the local bargaining delegates on shift, leaving them unable to attend meetings.

"We need our bargaining representatives off the road and into the room," Mr Grech said.

"I was in Newcastle on Monday, but the meeting didn't go ahead because we had delegates required to do driving shifts when the bargaining was due to be underway."

Mr Grech said the two key asks were a pay bump and at least 72 hours notice for changes to driver's shifts.

The industrial action, which includes some drivers choosing not to wear uniforms, will be continuing indefinitely.

A Keolis Downer spokesperson said it would continue to negotiate in good faith with the union, with the aim of reaching an agreement that offers fair and reasonable wage increases.

"While we respect the rights of RTBU members to take industrial action, it is disappointing the RTBU is choosing to take this action while we are still negotiating proposed enterprise agreements."

"We understand that disruptions to real-time bus tracking will be frustrating for our customers-especially for parents of school children who rely on tracking their child's bus, as well as schools and people with disabilities.

"Our focus remains on minimising inconvenience and ensuring our services continue to operate as smoothly as possible."

The RTBU letter also stated the union was "currently planning stoppages" and would do its "best to miss the school services".

"But at this stage there is definitely going to be some time on the grass," the letter stated.

Mr Grech said despite what the letter said, there were no stoppages planned for this round of industrial action.

The union and Keolis Downer are expected to meet again on Thursday.

On March 13, local drivers suddenly halted all services for the day following reports of a person jumped on a bus in the Newcastle CBD, and threatening to return with a machete and attack the driver.

It came in the wake of several assaults on Newcastle and Lake Macquarie bus drivers in a matter of days.

In short:

A man has been charged with domestic violence and kidnapping offences after a six-hour stand-off with police in Newcastle.

Police say a 30-year-old man allegedly threatened police and refused to leave a unit in a residential block in Mayfield on Sunday.

What's next?

He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday.

Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest is a celebration of steam power, history, and family fun! Experience a jam-packed program featuring live music, roving performances, heritage walks, market stalls, gourmet food, and more.

The heart and soul of Steamfest is its spectacular collection of steam trains. Witness the thrill of the annual ARTC Great Train Race or hop aboard a heritage steam train ride to explore stunning Hunter destinations.

Step back in time at The Bloomfield Group Steam Rally at the Garnham Grounds, where a vast display of antique machinery, including traction and portable engines, showcases how things were done in days gone by.

Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Altapac Show ‘n’ Shine, bringing Maitland Park to life with over 500 classic cars, plus food stalls, live entertainment, and fun for the whole family.

A Maitland City Council event.

In short:

Hundreds of dead and dying birds have fallen from the sky across Newcastle.

The EPA is investigating, collecting samples, and testing to rule out bird flu.

What's next?

Anyone with information is urged to call the EPA's environment line.

In short:

A Sydney man, identified by the NSW Game Fishing Association as Paul Barning, fell overboard during a fishing competition north of Newcastle on Sunday.

Police say Mr Barning was dragged into the water by the shark when he became tangled in tackle and that it was not a shark attack.

What's next?

An air and sea search for the missing man will continue further south.

Man refused bail on traffic, drugs and firearm offences following Wickham crash

By Matthew Kelly

Updated January 15 2025 - 1:03pm, first published 1:00pm

📷 The overturned police car in Albert St, Wickham. Picture by Marina Neil.

A 26-year-old man has been refused bail on traffic, drug and firearm charges following a pursuit and crash outside the Wickham Park Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Aaron James Forster of Woodberry did not enter pleas to 11 offences during a brief appearance in Newcastle Local Court.

The pursuit began shortly after 6pm on Tuesday when police attempted to stop a Ford Everest on Acacia Avenue, Waratah, which had been reported stolen from a Cooks Hill address earlier in the day.

A pursuit was initiated when the vehicle failed to stop.

The pursuit continued throughout several suburbs before allegedly driving through a red traffic light at the intersection of Fern Street and Maitland Road, Wickham, colliding with a motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider - a 27-year-old man - suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The vehicle allegedly continued to Albert Street where it collided with a police vehicle, causing the police vehicle to roll onto its side.

No police officers were injured.

The stolen vehicle was immobilised as a result of the crash and the driver and passenger ran from the car.

Following a foot pursuit, police arrested Forster, who police allege was a passenger in the vehicle.

Police allege Forster discarded a backpack shortly before his arrest. It allegedly contained a shortened firearm, $2175 cash, and amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis.

📷 Police inspect the damaged motorbike. Picture by Marina Neil.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with 1:

• Possess shortened firearm without authority,
• Possess loaded firearm public place,
• Not keep firearm safely,
• Use, supply, acquire, possess stolen firearm or part,
• Possess unauthorised firearm,
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen,
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner,
• Hinder or rest police in the execution of duty, and
• Three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

Forster will reappear in Newcastle Court on January 29.

Investigations are continuing to locate the driver.

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/16873523

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-new-species-of-sydney-funnel-web-has-been-discovered-and-it-s-a-monster-20241211-p5kxmz.html

Scientists have declared the Sydney funnel web – hallowed and feared as the world’s most venomous spider – is in fact three separate species. And one of the spiders, new to science, is a certified monster.

“They’re actually a totally new species. They’re restricted to about 25 kilometres around Newcastle,” Smith said. “So we’re calling that the Newcastle funnel web.”

“So if you translate that to the Newcastle funnel web, yes, the biggest spiders are more likely to inject enough venom to cause envenoming. I suspect what they’re calling the ‘big boy’ is more likely to be dangerous.

... the exact locations of the Newcastle funnel webs have been obscured from maps due to conservation fears.