| Cold snap brings snow: Snow fell at Barrington Tops this week, bringing locals and tourists out to take a look. A cold snap forced temperatures down to -5 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, with snow falling sporadically since. Temperatures remain below average across the Hunter. Some people even travelled from Sydney to show their children snow for the first time.
Image credit: ABC News/Amelia Bernasconi
Calls for more DV funding: A Hunter domestic violence service provider is calling for more funding to keep up with high demand. The federal government has announced 720 new "safe places" will be built across Australia in the next three years to support women and children fleeing domestic violence. It's still unclear how many will be in the Hunter region. Carrie's Place acting chief executive Ange Kiley says the service is experiencing record high demand for support and services from women and children escaping domestic violence. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Phone 1800 737 732.
Cars set alight at hospital: Upper Hunter police have been examining CCTV footage as they investigate multiple community health vehicles being set on fire at the Muswellbrook Hospital. Emergency crews were called to the hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning. Eight vehicles were on fire when emergency services arrived, seven of which were community health vehicles. All were destroyed.
Company addresses biomass concerns: The company proposing to restart the Redbank Power Station near Singleton using biomass has assured those concerned about the project that waste from native forestry logging won't be used. The plans involve processing 700,000 tonnes of dried biomass each year to power about 200,000 homes. Out of the 420 submissions on the project, 256 were against it and 164 in support. A key issue raised was biodiversity impacts because of native forest or invasive native species clearing. In its response to submissions proponent Verdant Earth Technologies says the biomass to be used will exclude all waste from native forestry logging. It says it won't request government approval to use these residues.
New drug support centre opens: A new alcohol and drug support centre has opened in Singleton, providing free substance use care for people in the Upper Hunter. The Bridge is a walk-in service funded by the New South Wales government and delivered by not-for-profit organisation Social Futures. Social Futures chief executive Tony Davies says it will be crucial for the region, where access to these services is limited.
Hospital shuttle returns: A shuttle bus service to the John Hunter Hospital has been reinstated after it was axed in 2015. The free service transports people from Hunter Stadium to the hospital on weekdays between 6am and 6pm and aims to address parking and traffic issues for patients and staff. Reinstating the service was an election commitment by the Minns government.
Knights outclassed by Manly: Newcastle went down to the Sea Eagles 44-6 at Brookvale Oval on Sunday. Both sides were missing key players because of State of Origin duties, but Knights coach Adam O'Brien says his side's lack of star power was no excuse for the team's performance. The team will be looking to bounce back against Brisbane at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.
Hunter Olympians to look out for: The Australian Olympic Committee has finalised its team for the Paris Games later this month, with 10 Hunter Valley athletes set to compete. Here are the locals to look out for:
Emily van Egmond, football Clare Wheeler, football Ky Willott, hockey Brin Liddell, sailing Rhiannan Brown, sailing Jacqueline Nichele, weightlifting Tyler Wright, surfing Genevieve Janse Van Rensburg, modern pentathlon Spencer Turrin, rowing Rose Davies, athletics Nathan Power, water polo | 