Hunter residents and health professionals spoke out in another of a series of articles critical of mining’s affect on health in the valley, published in the Sydney Morning Herald today [19 March 2010].
It described conditions for Jerrys Plains residents:
A blasted moonscape of 500 square kilometres of open-cut mines stretches in a thick arc from beyond [...]

NSW Shadow Minister for Small Business, Don Page, wants the State Government to find an alternative solution to the massive electricity price increases recommended by IPART yesterday.
A 64% price increase over the next three years recommended by IPART yesterday is just not viable for small businesses and low income earners in NSW,” Mr Page said.
The [...]

Saturday, 20 March 2010 ~ Greens NSW MP John Kaye addresses supporters at Newcastle Foreshore Park, Wharf Rd, Newcastle at 12pm.
Dr Kaye joins local opponents to Tillegra Dam to highlight the damage the needless $477 million project will do to the Williams River and the Hunter Estuary.
Walking along the banks of the Williams River [...]

Workers at the Bulga Open Cut mine in the Hunter Valley today endorsed a new three-year collective agreement.
The agreement includes:

Paid union meetings and payroll deductions for union membership;
Up to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave as if at work;
Two days of paid paternity leave;
Increased accident pay as if at [...]

The Hunter Medical Research Institute’s (HMRI) plans for a state-of-the-art building have been approved by the NSW Government.
The University of Newcastle welcomed the NSW Government’s development approval for the new Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) building.
The $90 million research facility will house 400 medical researchers from the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England [...]

The Hunter-Central Coast Regional Wind Ensemble, already used to national and international success, plays a farewell concert this weekend before heading to Japan.
The Ensemble was formed in 2005 and at any one time has about sixty senior primary to senior secondary student members, auditioned from government schools in the Hunter – Central Coast Region. [...]

The Roads and Traffic Authority and their contractors have refused to acknowledge that cracking and other damage in homes at Nerong are due to blasting operations,” said Nationals Member for Myall Lakes, John Turner.
Mr Turner said a number of residents had approached him outlining the damage that had occurred to their property following blasting associated [...]

Monday 22 to Friday 26 March 2010 ~ A team of local and international Conservation Volunteers will be regenerating the dunes through weed removal and the re-establishment of native species.
The team of keen volunteers will be travelling to the site each day for the conservation activities. Community members can join the team for a [...]

Sunday, 21 March 2010 ~ The Native Animal Trust Fund Wildlife Rescue Service (NATF) is hosting a day of celebration and education of the Hunter’s local wildlife at the Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland on Sunday 21st March. The Wildlife Rescue Service is an organisation run entirely by volunteers who spend many hours of their time, [...]

The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) was advised by an Expert Working Group that breakthroughs in the science of learning, including brain function, motivation and the practice of teaching, have the potential to transform how individual Australians acquire and retain knowledge throughout their lives.
The ‘Transforming Learning and the Transmission of Knowledge: [...]

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) today released its final electricity regulated retail price determination for the 3 years to June 2013. This determination will apply to the majority of small NSW customers that have not entered into a negotiated tariff.
As a result of this determination, these electricity prices will increase substantially:

From [...]

A war of words accompanied the first coal train delivering export coal to Newcastle’s new billion-dollar coal loader.
As Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay lauded the “significant achievement,” a Sydney Morning Herald article sparked a ferocious exchange between Greens Lee Rhiannon and a defensive NSW Minerals Council CEO Dr Nikki Williams.
In the SMH article [...]

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon won support today in the NSW Upper House for a Greens motion that calls on the NSW Government to scrap its plans to sell off beds in the Carramar Nursing Home in Leeton.
Ms Rhiannon moved the motion following a recent meeting with the Carramar Carers* Group.  Over [...]

Parents Not Doing Enough To Protect Children Online
Sixty-five percent of Australian parents do not take any precautions to protect their children online, according to research released by Microsoft.
Microsoft’s “For Safety’s Sake” research, found that while two thirds of Australian parents surveyed are concerned about  the safety of their kids online, more than 60 percent [...]

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) welcomes the introduction of a single national consumer law.
The Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009, passed today by the Senate, represents significant reform of consumer protection laws in Australia.
The Australian Consumer Law heralds a new era of protection for consumers’, said PIAC Chief Executive Officer, [...]

Thursday 18 March 2010 ~ Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann MP will lead debate about the NSW Government’s handling of the Myall River and Corrie Island issue in NSW Parliament. Craig will be joined by former Shadow Environment Ministers Pru Goward and Michael Richardson in the debate, at NSW Parliament, Sydney.

Hunter homes and businesses taking part in Earth Hour this month are being reminded about 10 simple tips to reduce energy use on the night and beyond.
Earth Hour is 8.30pm on Saturday, March 27, 2010. EnergyAustralia’s energy efficiency expert Paul Myors said Earth Hour was a powerful reminder of the importance of being energy efficient [...]

NSW Housing Minister Mr David Borger today revealed a plan to help low income families buy their own homes.
Mr Borger said Housing NSW will soon offer discounted land to not-for-profit organisations to increase availability of affordable housing.
Housing NSW regularly receives requests from not-for-profit organisations for financial assistance or through the transfer of property [...]

A community survey found Lake Macquarie residents most satisfied with garbage and recycling services.
One thousand randomly selected residents were asked their opinion on 62 services and how satisfied they were with them.
Other highly-rated services were the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale, City libraries, beach patrol services, and the bulk waste collection service.
Council’s Manager Customer Service [...]

The University of Newcastle is the first university in Australia to partner with Lonely Planet and release a customised travel guide for prospective students.
Study Newcastle is an innovative new marketing approach highlighting the Newcastle lifestyle and giving an overview of campus facilities and services.
The pocket sized guide provides information on study programs, student [...]