The broader impacts of 'ice' use in the Hunter and other top stories

The broader impacts of 'ice' use in the Hunter

"Over the last two years, the annual average percentage change in the Hunter, excluding Newcastle, has been 71 per cent," he said. "There's [been] a big jump in the last two years. "It's a big problem, particularly in the Hunter and particularly in ... >> view original

Meet the Mob: Ron Robinson

Ron grew up in "red dirt and dirty river country" in the remote town of Charleville, Queensland. He moved to New South Wales nine years ago for a girl. While the relationship didn't work out, he now loves the hybrid country and city lifestyle Newcastle ... >> view original

Meet Cessnock's 2015 State Election Candidates

Cessnock was first created in 1913 but was absorbed into the Newcastle regional seat in 1920 for the period of proportional representation. Re-created in 1927, Cessnock has remained in Labor hands for all but one term in 1988 when the Liberal Party's ... >> view original

Final segments of cliff-top Memorial Walk installed

It's been years in the making, but the finishing line is well and truly in sight for the people tasked with constructing the Anzac Memorial Walk linking Newcastle's Strezlecki Lookout to Bar Beach. Under the cover of darkness on Monday night, heavy ... >> view original

NSW State Election 2015: The train that divides Newcastle

The first time Joan Dawson saw a train she was seven years old. It was a steam train she says, "it trundled on from Dungog to Newcastle". Four years later she first set foot upon the "Newcastle Flyer," the train that ran between Sydney and Newcastle ... >> view original

Meet Swansea's 2015 State Election Candidates

The electorate lies between the Central Coast and Newcastle on the peninsulas separating Lake Macquarie from the ocean. It includes Swansea and Belmont, Valentine, Floraville and Croudace Bay, Gwandalan, Summerland Point, Chain Valley Bay and ... >> view original

Newcastle rail left off NSW election wish-list for national rail association

A national rail association has failed to nominate light rail in Newcastle as one of its election platforms for this month's poll, but says such a service will transform the city. The Australasian Railway Association says its wish-list for the New ... >> view original

Newcastle to consider bidding for the Commonwealth Games

... the parallels between the NSW city of Newcastle and Queensland's Gold Coast have been drawn on a regular basis. The Australian Bureau of Statistics lists the Hunter region's population as almost 547,000 people, while the Gold Coast-Tweed region has ... >> view original

Newcastle shooting: police urge witnesses to come forward

Police know little about what led to the shooting death of a man in Newcastle early on Saturday morning, with public assistance needed. The incident occurred just after 3.00am, with police called to the scene at Wickham after receiving reports of a man ... >> view original

steel yourself for a surprise

From Newcastle Beach, spot dolphins or passing whales in season (June-November). Collect a bicycle from automated stations at Crowne Plaza, or nearby Maritime Centre, operated by Spinway Newcastle. Swipe your credit or debit card, choose a bike and ... >> view original