Mega fires hit the Hunter, kittens left for dead, and tough new water restrictions

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The week of the 'mega fire'

It's been another week of raging fires and hazardous smoke across the Hunter. Several major bushfires burning from the Central Coast into the Hunter Valley joined on Friday into what's being described as a 'mega fire'.
Local fire crews are exhausted and residents have been calling for the Army to intervene.

Kittens left to die in box

Imagine finding these cuties inside a taped-up box on the side of a road on a scorching hot day? That's exactly what happened in the Hunter this week ... and the RSPCA is on the case.

No money for masks

Fire crews on the Central Coast had to go cap-in-hand to the community this week, seeking funds to buy proper protective masks.
As the community choked on bushfire smoke along the coast, there was outrage that local firefighters were forced to crowdfund to get the right gear to protect their airways.

Schoolies nightmare for Newcastle family

Newcastle teenager Lawson Rankin remains in hospital after crashing his scooter while on a Schoolies trip in Bali. He's now back in Australia, much to the relief of his dad Phillip, who spoke to the ABC about his son's prognosis.
Locals rallied to help the family raise the funds needed to pay for his medical evacuation home.

Beach rescue! Sand trucked into Stockton

Heavy equipment has been busy along Stockton Beach this week as 5,500 tonnes of sand is trucked in to restore the eroded shoreline.
Up to 50 trucks have been arriving each day as part of the nourishment project organised by Newcastle Council ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Newcastle tourist lucky to skip volcano tour

ABC Newcastle has spoken to a local woman who was on board the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, which was caught up in the deadly volcanic eruption on New Zealand's White Island earlier this week.
Phoebe Bayliss, 20, described the sombre mood of her fellow passengers as they waited for news of the injured and missing.

Tougher water restrictions are coming...

Hunter Water is ramping up water restrictions for Newcastle and the Lower Hunter next month as the drought continues to bite.
Water storages are at their lowest level since 1980 and with no rain on the horizon, residents and businesses will be on Level 2 restrictions from January 20.

It's a big week for...

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