Station upgrade: The state government plans to turn the former Newcastle railway station into a tourism and hospitality precinct. Plans are in place to restore the heritage-listed site, so the buildings can be used for cafes, bars, restaurants and short-stay accommodation. Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley says the move will inject more life into the city's east end.
Image: An artist impression of the former Newcastle railway station as a tourism and hospitality precinct. Image supplied: NSW government
Job numbers up: The Hunter jobs market has bucked the state and national trend recording a fall in unemployment in February. The latest Bureau of Statistics figures show a drop in unemployment from January in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie from 4.6 per cent to 4.4 and in the Hunter Valley it dropped from 4.5 to 4 per cent. The state and national unemployment rate climbed from 4.1 to 4.3 per cent in the same month. Job ads were also up in the region, rising 2.5 per cent.
Hunter popular with movers: Three Hunter suburbs are among the nation's most popular destinations for movers a new report has found. The latest Regional Movers Index reveals Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock all rank in the top 10 for their share in net internal migration. Lake Macquarie continues to attract people moving from capital cities, while Maitland is second in the country for regional to regional movers. Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie says the Hunter's proximity to Sydney could be a key factor driving the growth in migration.
Regional flight concerns: Regional airlines say the current fuel crisis is adding further pressure to regional services that are already strained. Fly Pelican runs flights linking major cities with regional New South Wales, including Newcastle, Narrabri and Cobar. The airline says its fuel costs have more than doubled since the Iran conflict began and warns some routes may need to be reviewed if prices remain high. CEO Marty Hawley says the service is essential for regional communities and is calling for greater government support.
Calls for major road upgrade: The Hunter Regional Development Committee says the Golden Highway is in need of major upgrades, with freight volumes expected to increase by around 150 per cent over the next decade. Hunter and Orana industry and government representatives have formed a taskforce to push for significant improvements to the Newcastle to Dubbo corridor. It's been endorsed by NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison. Hunter Regional Development Committee chair Ian Pedersen says the renewable energy transition will place more pressure on the corridor.
Water storage dropping: The Hunter's water storage dam levels are dropping rapidly, down more than 17 per cent from this time last year. Hunter Water says the average storage level across the Grahamstown and Chichester dams and the Tomago and Tomaree sandbeds is 66.9 per cent. Without good rain, the combined storage is tipped to be at 54 per cent, within six months. The desalination plant being built at Belmont is expected to be finished by 2028.
Knights win: The Newcastle Knights have three wins from four games to start the NRL season. Newcastle defeated the Bulldogs 24-16 in Sydney on Saturday, in what many have described as an upset win. Knights winger Dom Young scored a hat-trick. Newcastle are at home on Easter Sunday, taking on the Canberra Raiders.
