News

(Video) Cessnock Council 'Learnt a Lesson' : NBN News

Date: Thu 26-Jan-12
Author: NBN News
Cessnock Council has welcomed the state government's decision to return its planning powers, saying it's learnt a lesson.

But the local Labor MP says it's too early to scrap the interim planning panel, claiming council is yet to prove itself.

Cessnock Councillors back in the drivers seat

Date: Thu 26-Jan-12
Author: ABC Newcastle
Cessnock Council has its full planning powers back, around 18 months after they were taken away.

The previous Labor Minister for Planning Tony Kelly stripped the council of its powers in August 2010 after concerns were raised about lengthy delays in determining development applications.

A Planning Panel that was put in place was yesterday disbanded.

Greens Councillor James Ryan says the move is long overdue.

Cessnock council has the power

Date: Thu 26-Jan-12
Author: Donna Sharpe (The Herald)
PLANNING powers will be returned to Cessnock City Council tomorrow after the state government announced it will scrap the council's planning panel which was appointed in August 2010.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard said yesterday that the government was disbanding three panels established by the former Labor government at Ku-ring-gai, Wagga Wagga and Cessnock.

Mr Hazzard said the government promised to ensure a new focus by returning local planning powers to communities through their councils.

Cessnock council was stripped of its authority to determine major development applications after former planning minister Tony Kelly appointed a three-person planning panel to assess projects with a value of more than $1 million.

Woeful Wollombi Road (Video)

Date: Wed 25-Jan-12
Author: NBN News
The state of roads in the Hunter has again been thrown into the spotlight by concerned locals.

Wollombi Road is the latest said to be in desperate need of attention.

Hunter gas plans to go public

Date: Tue 24-Jan-12
Author: Frances Thompson (The Herald)
GAS explorer AGL's Hunter Gas Project will be be under public scrutiny today when the company reveals is latest exploration plans.
AGL proposes two-dimensional seismic exploration in sections of two large licence areas extending from Raymond Terrace and Lake Macquarie to Merriwa in the Upper Hunter.

The chosen sites are concentrated between Cessnock, Broke and Singleton and around Scone.

AGL said seismic exploration used sound waves to create a map of the structures beneath the earth's surface. Geologists and geophysicists interpret the data for possible gas reserves and develop a plan for exploration drilling.

AGL said it was"non-intrusive" and planned to start in autumn.

The public information session will begin at midday and will be held at AGL offices in John Street, Singleton.

Coal hard facts

Date: Fri 20-Jan-12
Author: Briony Snedden (Maitland Mercury)
Lee Rhiannon has no doubt the side effects of coal mining are floating downstream to Maitland farmers.
But the Greens Senator from NSW is calling for a study to measure how coal mining impacts on the Hunter River.

And she wants it done before any new coal mines are approved for the region.

Senator Rhiannon embarked on a two-day tour of the mid-Hunter on Thursday to meet with landholders affected by coal mining around Singleton, Camberwell, Bulga and Jerrys Plains. She said when it came to coal mining and the Hunter River, the issues were not confined to one area.

"One thing we've been asked about, and what we'll be calling for, is a regional water study for the current mines," she said.

(Video) Coal Seam Gas Concerns

Date: Wed 18-Jan-12
Author: NBN News
The state government remains open to AGL exploring for gas in the Hunter Valley, despite desperate calls from farmers.

AGL's current exploration licence expires tomorrow, and agriculturalists want MPs to come good, on a pre-election promise.

Cessnock LEP approved: Planning controls updated

Date: Wed 18-Jan-12
Author: Cessnock Advertiser
The Cessnock Local Environmental Plan 2011 has been approved by the NSW Government, updating planning controls that have been in place for more than 20 years.
The Cessnock Development Control Plan (2010) also came into force on December 23, 2011, meaning that all development applications submitted on or after that date will be assessed under the new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (2010) controls.

Development applications that were submitted prior to that date will continue to be assessed under the old LEP 1989 provisions and the old DCP, with due consideration of the new LEP.

"Like all NSW councils, Cessnock was required to prepare a new comprehensive Local Environmental Plan in accordance with a standard format set by the NSW Government," Mayor of Cessnock, Cr. Alison Davey said.

"The preparation of this new LEP involved an extensive consultation process and has taken almost five years to reach gazettal. Its finalisation is most welcome."

Gas's seep recognised

Date: Tue 17-Jan-12
Author: Matthew Kelly (The Herald)
ENERGY Minister Chris Hartcher has acknowledged coal seam gas exploration is a potentially divisive issue for some Hunter communities.
''The NSW government recognises the concerns of some communities affected by coal seam gas exploration and would encourage concerned parties to work together,'' he said yesterday. Mr Hartcher's comments follow a report in Saturday's Newcastle Herald highlighting the rifts that are appearing in Hunter communities affected by the coal seam gas industry.

Some individuals have reported malicious property damage after signing gas exploration agreements. Many are looking to the government's forthcoming strategic Hunter land use policy to clarify which areas will be open to future gas and mining activity.

Tinkler tailors French ties

Date: Tue 17-Jan-12
Author: Huon Hooke (SMH)
This Hunter Valley winemaker is proving that exploration can bring big discoveries.

The death of David Clarke in April was a great loss to the Hunter Valley wine industry, where his Poole's Rock Winery was a leader. The winery was sold to the Agnew family, owners of Hunter vineyard Audrey Wilkinson, while its original vineyard, in the Hunter's Broke-Fordwich sub-region, was sold to AGL. The gas company is controversially exploring for coal seam gas in the area.

Winemakers put heat on O'Farrell

Date: Mon 16-Jan-12
Author: Frances Thompson (The Herald)
HUNTER wine industry leaders say they hold Premier Barry O'Farrell accountable for a "promise" they said he made before the 2011 election to protect vineyards by removing them from coal seam gas exploration areas.
Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association president Andrew Margan said the verbal assurance was made during a formal meeting with Mr O'Farrell, Nationals leader Andrew Stoner, present Planning Minister Brad Hazzard and Environment Minister Robyn Parker in November 2010.

"A number of promises were made at the meeting; money to fix Broke and McDonald roads [in the vineyards] . . . and to excise coal seam gas out of declared areas of viticulture in the Lower Hunter," Mr Margan said.

Channel 7 star Chris Bath marries sports reporter Jim Wilson in a secret wedding ceremony

Date: Sat 14-Jan-12
Author: Debbie Schipp (The Sunday Telegraph)
WEARING a secret smile and pre-loved Armani, Channel 7's star newsreader Chris Bath has married sports reporter Jim Wilson.
And as The Sunday Telegraph's exclusive pictures show, the bride got just what she wanted - an intimate, fuss-free wedding, "without any hoo-ha".

After a three-year romance, Chris Bath and Jim Wilson tied the knot late on Thursday at an ultra-private family gathering at Wollombi in the Hunter Valley, keeping the news secret from even close friends until late yesterday. Just 19 guests attended the nuptials.

Attend the AGL meeting

Date: Fri 13-Jan-12
Author: Di Sneddon (Singleton Argus)
AGL will hold public meetings to outline its plans for seismic studies and exploration in the Hunter Valley.
Given Singleton is within this area of exploration, any resident who is concerned about the impacts should attend these meetings and keep informed.

Much is being said and written about coal seam gas exploration.

The process is complicated and controversial. Reports of the impacts and experiences from other areas in Australia and throughout the world are adding to the debate.

Meetings will reveal all on gas

Date: Fri 13-Jan-12
Author: Louise Nichols (Singleton Argus)
THE gas company, AGL, will hold a series of information sessions in coming months to provide the public with information about its proposed two dimensional (2D) seismic exploration in the Hunter region.
The information sessions, which begin on Tuesday January 24, at AGL's Singleton Information Centre in John Street, starting from noon, will be attended by AGL staff who will explain what the 2D process involves and answer questions about 2D seismic activities, and in particular what AGL was proposing.

As part of the company's Hunter gas project, investigating coal seam gas production, AGL will be seeking government approval to conduct 2D seismic exploration.

The timing and location of the 2D seismic exploration would be partly determined from public feedback said AGL's media manger, Karen Winsbury.

New Year Resolution - Improved Roads!

Date: Sat 31-Dec-11
Author: Frederic Aubineau
The New Year is upon us. With a New Year, we all expect some improvement on what the previous year had to offer. It just seems to be the nature of human kind!

Our bureaucracy seems to be getting involved more and more in areas where our 'species' (homo sapiens) is no longer able to be accountable for its own actions. In doing so, it is neglecting its own responsibilities of maintaining a standard of infrastructure that our exorbitant rates should reflect.

It is time we (the community and rate payers) gave our Council and State Government representatives a wakeup call and demanded better service. Our roads are a disgrace, we all know that! We are a tourism destination and rather than getting a reputation for what our region has to offer from our vineyards, attractions, local produce, holiday destinations and friendly hospitality, we are known for our "roads"; our BAD roads, that is!

Pothole danger on Cessnock roads

Date: Sat 31-Dec-11
Author: Donna Sharpe (The Herald)
SEVERAL weeks of persistent rain has taken its toll on the already debilitated Cessnock road network, prompting councillor Ian Olsen to warn motorists of dangers, particularly in Pokolbin.
Cr Olsen was concerned that roads in the vineyard area were especially hazardous and posed a threat to motorists and their vehicles if caution was not exercised.

Cessnock council's group leader community services, Waid Crockett, said the rain had exacerbated the city's road problems and said more staff had been put on to cope with the growing problems.

Mr Crockett said the council would spend $5million a year of state government money for the next four years to fix Broke and McDonalds roads at Pokolbin, with the work starting in April.

''Wet weather always causes problems with our road network,'' Mr Crockett said.

Valley Artists continues its proud record of presenting fine theatre !!

Date: Tue 20-Dec-11
Author: Peter McCloy
A Streetcar Named Desire revolves around Blanche DuBois. The arrival of Blanche in New Orleans triggers a series of events that affects everybody in the neighbourhood. I don't know too many plays in which one character plays such a major role. Probably half the dialogue is Blanche's; if Blanche doesn't work it's unlikely that any of the other characters will have an adequate platform on which to strut their stuff.

Public school will stay open

Date: Fri 16-Dec-11
Author: Singleton Argus
MILBRODALE Public School has had a closure reprieve.
Parents and citizens association secretary Narelle Harris said it was a fantastic early Christmas present to hear that the school would remain open next year.

New South Wales Education Department officials were considering closing the school when student numbers dropped to three earlier this year.

"In term four the numbers significantly increased, to seven, and we'll have another kindergarten pupil next year," she said.

"The future is looking very positive, with a healthy playgroup and the promise of the mobile preschool in 2012.

Mine cops fine for creek pollution

Date: Wed 14-Dec-11
Author: ABC Newcastle
The Environment Protection Authority says the polluting of a Cessnock creek could have been avoided by a Hunter Valley coal mine.

The Austar mine has been fined more than $115,000 after wastewater from an onsite septic system seeped into Bellbird Creek in July last year.

The EPA says the incident could have been prevented if Austar had an appropriate system in place to inspect, monitor and maintain the 90 year old septic system.

EPA Regional Manager Graham Clarke says it was not a minor incident.

Austar coalmine fined

Date: Wed 14-Dec-11
Author: Ian Kirkwood (The Herald)
THE Chinese-backed Austar underground coalmine near Cessnock has been fined more than $115,000 for a septic tank spill into nearby Bellbird Creek in July last year.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority took Austar to the Land and Environment Court, where the company pleaded guilty.