Lake Macquarie records second-highest NSW road toll
Confronting 2025 data reveals Lake Macquarie had the state's second-worst road toll. Speed was the leading killer as NSW lost 355 lives. Read the full analysis and official pleas for safer driving.
Confronting 2025 data reveals Lake Macquarie had the state's second-worst road toll. Speed was the leading killer as NSW lost 355 lives. Read the full analysis and official pleas for safer driving.
A jack-up barge has positioned itself off Nine Mile Beach, signalling the start of complex offshore works for the Belmont Desalination Plant. The project will secure the Lower Hunter's water future.
Western Australia sees a decrease in road fatalities for 2025, contrasting with a sharp rise across Australia. Explore the latest figures and safety analysis.
A series of dangerous incidents across Queensland, including a snake bite and vehicle crashes, left seven people in hospital during New Year's celebrations. Read the full details.
Hunter SES crews faced their busiest year ever, responding to over 5000 incidents and 10,000 volunteer hours in 2025's severe storms and floods. Read about their heroic efforts.
More than 600 school cleaners in the Hunter and Central Coast begin 2026 as permanent NSW public sector employees, marking the first shift to public hands in 30 years.
A look at the Hunter region's clean energy transition in 2026: battery storage surges, coal lingers, and offshore wind faces delays. Discover the key projects shaping NSW's power future.
A Townsville resident's ordeal worsens as a driver crashes into their fence and faulty council CCTV fails to capture the incident. Read the full story of the frustrating aftermath.
A 32-year-old man faces multiple charges after police seized $20,000 cash, methylamphetamine, heroin, GHB and stun guns during a firearms prohibition search in Cessnock. Read the full details.
From a fatal beach shooting to devastating floods and a major health initiative, revisit the stories that defined the Hunter region in 2025. Read the full year in review.
A rubbish fire at the Singleton waste management facility blanketed parts of the Hunter region in smoke on December 31. Follow live updates and safety alerts.
Police appeal for public help to locate an elderly woman missing from Swansea. Follow live updates on this breaking news and other local stories from the Newcastle Herald.
A teenage boy and two adults were injured in a serious dog attack in Raymond Terrace. Police euthanised the loose Staffordshire Bull Terrier-Mastiff cross. Read the latest details.
State projections reveal the Hunter Region is set to grow by over 184,500 people in two decades, nearing a million residents. Local leaders warn housing and infrastructure must keep pace.
A man in his 60s was flown to John Hunter Hospital with chest and back injuries after a glider crash near Ravensworth. Emergency services, including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, responded to the incident.
A rollercoaster year for Hunter sport gets its own awards. From the Knights' wooden spoon to the Jets' Cup win and Kalyn Ponga's bizarre endorsement, we recap the highs, lows and wacky moments of 2025.
As the Hunter Region looks towards 2050, three critical issues—coal mining's legacy, unchecked urban sprawl, and lagging education—will define its future success. Explore the cumulative impacts.
A NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer was hospitalised after a stick lodged near his eye while fighting the Hollydeen blaze. He has since been released after surgery.
Police urge motorcyclists to ride within their limits after a devastating spike in fatalities on northern NSW roads. The road toll rises as double demerits remain in force.
Newcastle and the Hunter Region experience a cooler, wetter Boxing Day. Stay updated with live news, traffic, and weather from the Newcastle Herald.
Upper Hunter farmers celebrate as the critical Coulsons Creek Road reopens just before Christmas, ending a costly five-year detour. The $60 million project fixes a botched council upgrade.
Police urge drivers to imagine their final days before getting behind the wheel this holiday season. With 141 lives lost already, a major operation with double demerits is underway to prevent more tragedy.
Construction on the $600m Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone begins early 2026, creating nearly 600 jobs and connecting 1.8GW of clean power. Read about the region's energy future.
A man has been flown to hospital following a serious collision between a car and a minibus in the Hunter Region. Follow live updates on the crash and road conditions.
Construction on the $4 billion Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone will begin early 2026, creating nearly 600 jobs and connecting 1.8GW of clean power. Read more about this major NSW project.
A 61-year-old driver and her dogs escaped injury after a teen failed to give way, causing a car to smash into a Norwood Chinese restaurant. The business faces major disruption.
An urgent search is underway for Barry, 78, missing from Cliftleigh. Follow live updates and learn how you can help. The community is urged to report any sightings.
Newcastle's vibrant theatre community celebrated a record-breaking 47th CONDA Awards, with Opera Hunter's 'Sweeney Todd' and local talents taking top honours. Discover all the winners.
A jack-up barge has positioned itself off Nine Mile Beach, signalling the start of complex offshore works for the Belmont Desalination Plant. The project will secure the Lower Hunter's water future.
The NSW government's draft planning framework proposes merging the Hunter and Central Coast into a single region. The Property Council calls for a clear metropolitan strategy to unlock housing and jobs.