Category: Newcastle News

Food and garden waste recycling in the Hunter and surrounding areas has been future-proofed thanks to Australian and NSW government grants totalling two million dollars. 

Recognising the success and ongoing potential of REMONDIS’ Lake Macquarie Organics Resource Recovery Facility (ORRF) at Awaba, the Federal Government has awarded a one-million-dollar expansion grant through its Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund.

The grant has been matched by the New South Wales Environmental Trust.

The funding will support expansion work that will lift processing capacity by 16,000 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes and assure operations for another twenty years.

Lake Macquarie ORRF facility manager Gunther Neumann said the funding was a turning point for the facility.

“Given REMONDIS’ experience with operating more than 80 such organic recycling facilities around the world, we always knew the potential of the Lake Macquarie facility,” Mr Neumann said.

“Community demand for organics recycling via Lake Macquarie City Council’s green bins has exceeded expectations, and this support enables us to match growing demand.

“Homes and businesses are more attuned to environmental responsibility these days, which is why so many people are filling their green bins with food scraps and garden waste or delivering such waste themselves.

“People and businesses are just as eager to buy the compost products we produce, which is used for many things including landscaping, farming and erosion control.”

REMONDIS said it was eager to commence expansions as soon as possible, subject to development approvals.

Central to the expansion will be the addition of further composting tunnels enabling more processing capacity, increased retention time and improved compost quality.

Lake Macquarie City Council engages REMONDIS to perform waste management and recycling services. The city’s Mayor, Kay Fraser, said the grants were a win for the community.

“Lake Macquarie City Council, in partnership with Remondis, has been a trailblazer in organics waste processing and we are pleased to see both the federal and state governments supporting our innovative and sustainable approach to waste management,” Cr Fraser said.

“The Organics Resource Recovery Facility at Awaba keeps waste out of the ground, which is not only better for the environment but reduces pressure on our limited capacity for landfill and is a more cost-effective outcome for our ratepayers.”

REMONDIS’ grant application was prepared in-house by Gunther Neumann and Technical Manager Jan Duebbelde, with support from Environment & Sustainability Manager Helen McCarthy.    

FUTHER INFORMATION

www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/food-waste/food-waste-for-healthy-soils-fund/projects

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-support/nsw-environmental-trust/grants-available/organics-infrastructure/stream-1-processing-infrastructure

—————————–

REMONDIS is one of the world’s largest privately run recycling, service and water companies with around 900 business locations in over 30 countries and across four continents. Founded in 1934, this family-run business employs more than 38,000 people and generates a turnover of €8.3 billion (2020). Each year, it processes more than 30 million tonnes of recyclable materials and provides services for local authorities, small and medium-sized businesses and industrial firms as well as for around 30 million people. Operating in many different fields of business, REMONDIS makes an important contribution towards protecting the environment and conserving natural resources – from recovering valuable raw materials from industrial and household waste, to producing high quality recycled raw materials, all the way through to transforming non-recyclable materials into a range of different fuels. Moreover, the company is increasingly helping to advance the switch from fossil fuels to renewables by using biomass as a source of energy. REMONDIS sees itself as an adviser and point of contact for industrial, commercial and retail businesses as well as for local authorities as it helps them to find regional and bespoke solutions. REMONDIS Australia commenced operations in 1982 and now services more than 20,000 customers nationally.

A man will appear in court next month over alleged assault and intimidation offences at a correctional centre in the state’s Hunter Region.

On Sunday 20 February 2022, detectives from Hunter Valley Police District commenced an investigation after receiving reports a female Corrective Services NSW officer had been allegedly assaulted and detained by an inmate at a Muswellbrook correctional facility.

Following inquiries, a 50-year-old man was arrested at a correctional facility in Goulburn about 9am yesterday (Tuesday 3 May 2022).

He was taken to Goulburn Police Station, where he was charged with five offences:

– Inflict actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse with victim,

– Kidnap with intent to commit serious indictable offence occasion actual bodily harm,

– Assault law enforcement officer (not police) inflict actual bodily harm,

– Stalk/harass/intimidate law officer (not police officer), and

– Commit s114 offence, having previous conviction.

The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice and remanded in custody, to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 28 June 2022.

A man has been charged with high range PCA near Newcastle today.

About 1.50pm (Tuesday 3 May 2022), emergency services were called to Nelson Bay Road, Fern Bay, following reports a Subaru Tribeca had hit a brick fence.

The driver – a 47-year-old man – was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he was uninjured during the incident.

Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attended, and the man was subjected to a roadside breath analysis which returned a positive result.

The man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he underwent a secondary breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.316.

The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range PCA and his NSW drivers licence was suspended.

He will appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 20 June 2022.

A man has died following a fatal two-vehicle crash near Muswellbrook today.

About 12.40pm (Monday 2 May 2022), emergency services were called to the New England Highway, about 1km north of Muswellbrook, following reports a utility travelling south and a Pantech truck travelling north had collided.

The driver of the utility – a man believed to be aged in his 70s – died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

The 36-year-old male driver of the truck was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.

The New England Highway remains closed in both directions, diversions are in place with motorists advised to avoid the area. Heavy vehicles are urged to check the Live Traffic NSW website for the latest information: https://www.livetraffic.com.

A man has died after a car crashed into a home in the Hunter region yesterday.

About 3pm (Sunday 1 May 2022), a Toyota Landcruiser was travelling north on High Street, Largs, when it left the roadway and hit the front of a home at the intersection of Morpeth Street.

The home sustained structural damage and the occupant, an 74-year-old man, who had been asleep in a front bedroom, was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition, where he died earlier today (Monday 2 May 2022).

The driver, a 69-year-old man, was also taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and established a crime scene.

The Toyota has been seized for forensic examination.

Initial inquiries suggest the driver suffered a medical episode prior to the collision.

As inquiries continue, police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have dashcam footage to contact Maitland Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.

Two men have been hospitalised after a car crash into a home in the Hunter region today.

About 3pm (Sunday 1 May 2022), a Toyota Landcruiser was travelling north on High Street, in the Maitland suburb of Largs, when it left the roadway and hit the front of a home at the intersection of Morpeth Street.

The home sustained structural damage and the occupant, an 84-year-old man, who had been asleep in a front bedroom was injured.

Officers from Port-Stephens Hunter Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics.

The driver, a 69-year-old man was revived and both he and the 84-year-old man were taken to John Hunter Hospital where they remain in a critical condition. 

A crime scene was established, and the Toyota has been seized for forensic examination.

Initial inquiries suggest the driver have suffered a medical episode prior to the collision.

Analysis of coal mining electorates has found that over a quarter of a billion dollars a year is lost from local economic activity in the Hunter region due to aggressive wage cutting-strategies by mining companies.

A new McKell Institute report released today analyses the impact on local economic activity of mining companies’ widespread replacement of permanent mining jobs with lower-paid labour hire workers. 

It found that in the electorates of Hunter and Paterson, which have the highest proportion of coal employment in NSW, up $235.85 million per year is taken out of the local economy. 

The report contains a detailed analysis of how the labour hire employment model has systemically been used to reduce wages that would otherwise have circulated through local mining regions. Across the five electorates with the highest proportion of coal mining activity nationally, there is nearly a billion dollars a year in lost economic activity. 

“Outsourcing jobs to labour hire companies is a way for mining companies to get around Enterprise Agreements that have been negotiated by workers over decades,” said Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams.  

“By using this wage-cutting strategy, some of our wealthiest corporations have been able to strip up to 40 per cent from the wages of Hunter Valley coal miners and remove conditions like redundancy entitlements. 

“In our local towns like Singleton, Cessnock and Muswellbrook, well-paid mining jobs have traditionally formed the backbone of local economic activity. 

“Secure jobs have been an important part of the social compact between mining companies and host communities. But this report shows how mining companies have washed their hands of this responsibility and communities are being ripped off.” 

One Hunter Valley labour hire coal miner said she joined the industry over five years ago hoping to learn new skills and progress her career.  

“Due to the industry employment practices in the Hunter Valley, this is no longer something that I consider a possibility going forward. I do not see the prospect of moving into a permanent role in the near future, and I now have to consider my options for the security of my family,” said the mineworker, who did not want to use her name for fear of losing her job.

“You can spend years at a site working the same job, on the same roster only to earn up to $60,000 less annually than a permanent mineworker. 

“It is degrading and demoralising to have no choice but to be put in this position just to get a start in the industry with a very minimal chance of gaining a permanent shirt for years to come.” 

Mr Williams said the Mining and Energy Union would continue to campaign for ‘Same Job Same Pay’ laws in the upcoming federal election, so labour hire could be used to address genuine temporary or specialist labour needs but not to undercut wages and conditions in existing Enterprise Agreements. 

Read the report.  

A man is facing 13 offences in Newcastle court tomorrow after a stolen car was involved in a high-speed crash on the M1 overnight.

Emergency services were called to the Motorway at Cooranbong shortly before 11pm (Friday 29 April 2022), after a southbound Toyota RAV4 allegedly hit the rear of Mitsubishi Triton ute at high speed.

This forced the ute into trees on the median strip, trapping the driver, a 31-year-old man.

Members of the public and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District released the driver, who was examined by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, did not need further treatment.

The driver of the SUV – which had been reported stolen from Warriewood earlier that day – allegedly left the scene and was unable to be found despite a search by a Police Dog Unit.

Southbound traffic on the Motorway was disrupted for more than two hours while the vehicles were recovered, with the stolen SUV towed for forensic examination.

A search for the driver was unsuccessful until about 7am today (Saturday 30 April 2022), when the driver of a Mazda2 reported she’d been stopped down by a man standing on the roadway not far from crash scene. He then allegedly used a metal pole to smash her windscreen.

The 52-year-old female driver accelerated away before alerting police; she and her 17-year-old daughter were shaken but uninjured.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended the scene and arrested a 31-year-old man nearby a short time later. The man was taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with 13 offences,

• Destroy or damage property (two counts)
• Armed with intent to commit indictable offence (two counts)
• Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (two counts)
• Negligent driving
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV)
• Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV)
• Common assault (DV)
• Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
• Steal property in dwelling-house
• Not give particulars to other driver.

The domestic-violence-related charges relate to the alleged assault of a 30-year-old woman at Warriewood yesterday morning. She was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

The man, who is from Umina Beach, has been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Bail Court tomorrow (Sunday 1 May 2022).

A man will face court today charged following investigations into numerous property and traffic offences in the Hunter and Central Coast areas.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have been conducting inquiries into a number of offences relating to break and enters, stolen motor vehicles, the theft of petrol and pursuits with police.

Following inquiries, police attempted to stop a Lexus – reportedly stolen from a Merewether home – at Charlestown about 3.30pm on Tuesday (26 April 2022); however, the vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated due to safety concerns.

Police monitored the Lexus as it travelled through Lambton, Broadmeadow, Waratah and surrounding suburbs until about 5pm when it was found abandoned at a shopping centre on Blue Gum Road at Jesmond.

The Lexus was seized and forensically examined.

Following inquiries, officers attached to Lake Macquarie, Newcastle City, Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts and specialist resources attended a Morpeth café about 11am yesterday (Thursday 28 April 2022) and arrested a 21-year-old man.

He was charged with 26 property and traffic offences, and breach of bail.

The Wallsend man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Friday 29 April 2022).

Sustainability principles with a view to creating less waste are the driving force behind an innovative Newcastle Libraries initiative, which aims to teach people new skills to fix broken or damaged items instead of throwing them away.

Newcastle Libraries has launched the free Newcastle Repair Café with the expertise of providers such as Newcastle Toy Library, Upcycle Newcastle and local repairers, which will operate at the recently re-opened Lambton Library on the last Saturday of each month until June.

Image: Bicycle repairer Nick Grinpukel, Councillor Margaret Wood and City of Newcastle Library Partnerships Facilitator Christina Robberds At Lambton Library

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the emphasis on circular economy principles and sustainability aligns to the community’s vision for Newcastle.

“Creating a sustainable City has been at the centre of all our decisions, which is why Newcastle Repair Café is a great innovative initiative, fixing items are reused ensuring they don’t end up being sent to landfill prematurely,” Cr Nelmes said.

Ward 3 Councillor Margaret Wood said a visit to Newcastle Repair Café is a great way to renew unused household items, with the potential for people to also learn new skills.

“The aim of the repair café is to teach sustainable living skills to our local community through the repair and re-use of old household items, and best of all is that the events are free to attend,” Cr Wood said.

“The Newcastle Repair Cafe is a place where people with items that are in need of repairs can meet skilled repairers to breathe new life into their old items and have the opportunity to learn new skills to use for future repairs.”

The first of four Newcastle Repair Café events at Lambton Library planned for 2022 was held in March, which focused on clothing, small hand tools and bikes. The next repair café on Saturday 30 April will offer repairs for toys, clothing and bikes.

Further Newcastle Repair Café events will be held in May for textiles and clothing, and June for furniture, small hand tools, clothing and toys. The June event will also feature a plant and seed swap to promote the benefits of growing your own produce.

Newcastle Libraries will also commence weighing items presented to the Repair Café, in order to track the volume of items that would have otherwise been disposed of in landfill.

Repair cafés originated in Europe and have since become popular throughout Australia. The Newcastle Libraries initiative is the only free repair café currently offered in Newcastle.

Lambton Library re-opened with extended opening hours in March following extensive renovations including restoration of heritage features and installation of OPEN+ technology.

Bookings are not required for Newcastle Repair Café sessions. For further information on upcoming sessions visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/library