More cocaine washes up on Newy beaches

More cocaine has washed on beaches between Sydney and Newcastle, with a large haul drifting into Botany this week, which has taken the total found over the past two weeks to 170 kilograms.

Police are renewing efforts to solve the murders of Robert Pashkuss and Stacey McMaugh, revealing the man, who was trying to escape the world of drug dealing, had possible links to organised crime.

A tribunal found that granting a gun licence would not be in the public interest despite Diamond arguing he could be trusted.

From derelict malls to aquariums and World War II bunkers, Nev Dennard's photographs tell the story of places we may have forgotten.

The number of child pedestrian deaths is not decreasing in Australia, according to new research, and advocates are calling for more educational campaigns and vehicle safety measures to address the issue.

The beacons will be installed at 35 unpatrolled beaches along the state's coast, with recent drowning data to inform decisions about where they are located.

Ava Towers stopped attending school, refusing to get out of the car at drop-off. Her father didn't know what to do, until a specialist team reached out to help.

With fangs that could pierce a human fingernail, the largest male specimen of the world's most venomous arachnid has found a new home at the Australian Reptile Park.

It is the elusive "holy grail" for shark documentary filmmakers, but to date nobody has seen great whites mating, nor do researchers know where they give birth.

There is no shortage of snakes this summer, or ideas on how to avoid them — especially from so-called experts on social media — but those in the field say one simple action might be the most effective of all.

Calls for tourist info centre: The Tomaree Headland Heritage Group says parking issues in the area must be addressed following a busy Christmas. Members of the group spent 11 days during the holiday period providing information and directions to an influx of visitors about getting to the summit and the Tomaree Coastal Walk. There is currently no visitor information centre. President Peter Clough says it highlighted the need for one with a kiosk, along with better parking and traffic management.

House prices jump: Hunter house prices increased by up to six per cent in 2023. The latest statistics from property data analyst CoreLogic shows home values across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie jumped by 5.7 per cent across the year. The median house price in those areas is now more than $840,000. Values rose by more than 3.5 per cent in the Hunter Valley, with a median price of almost $680,000.

Chicken allegedly thrown to alligator: A Salt Ash wildlife park says it's deeply distressed by the death of one of its chickens in an alleged animal cruelty incident last week. A 57-year-old man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he allegedly threw a chicken into an alligator enclosure at the Oakvale Wildlife Park on January 2, where it was devoured. In a statement, a spokesperson for the park says the silkie chicken, called Betty White, had played a "crucial" role in an endangered species breeding program by acting as a surrogate mum, and was an easy target because of her quiet nature. The man will face Raymond Terrace Local Court next month.

New trains a step closer: The first phase of testing on the new intercity trains to be used on the Newcastle-Central Coast line has been completed. The trains have been sitting idle at Kangy Angy and Broadmeadow for several years. Transport for NSW says phase one of testing has been completed, which will inform the development of critical safety software. Physical modifications are scheduled to begin in the coming months, with the trains expected to be taking passengers by the second half of the year.

Grape picking underway: Winemakers are off to an early start with harvesting in the Hunter Valley. Last year grapes couldn't be picked until February after flooding and wet weather caused problems. Fifth-generation winemaker Chris Tyrrell says conditions are much better this harvest after a dry and mild year. Fruit pickers have begun gathering grapes at vineyards across the region after some welcome rain over Christmas.

Council removes food pantries: A not-for-profit organisation says it's disappointed free food pantries have been removed around Newcastle. Food Not Bombs set up free shops around the city where residents can drop off essential items and non-perishable food to help people in need. Last month the Newcastle City Council removed pantries in Wickham and Islington, saying they ''presented a safety risk on public land''. Quinn Squires from Food Not Bombs says many people have relied on the pantries for essentials.

Busy year on the water: The Lake Macquarie Marine Rescue unit was the busiest in the state last year, completing almost 700 jobs. Volunteers responded to more than 36,000 phone calls and helped out with 681 requests for assistance across the region. The Port Stephens unit was the fourth busiest in the state, responding to nearly 300 calls for help, while Newcastle responded to 67.

Jets snag draws in soccer: Both the men and women took away a point for the Newcastle Jets in the weekend's A-League games. The women played out a thrilling three-all draw against Canberra on Saturday. The men secured a one-all draw against Macarthur. Both the men and women will take on the Brisbane Roar this weekend.