Fast rail Newcastle to Sydney push: Now or never, say experts

A man who created a high-speed rail strategy for NSW says time is running out to connect the Hunter region to the rest of the state.

The daughter of Stacey Klimovitch, who was fatally shot in Newcastle last year, testifies at the trial of her mother's alleged killer, Jason Paul Hawkins.

Police allege Dee Folpp could have already been dead when they did a welfare check at a Muswellbrook unit before officers left and then returned later to find her body.

The NSW pricing regulator has released a final report into its rate peg review. It comes as rising rates add to the cost of living crisis.

Dry conditions across the state are forcing farmers to make tough decisions to either sell stock or spend heavily on feed to keep animals alive as they wait for rain.

The potential impacts of varroa mite on Australia are being realised as a feral bee die-off is predicted, potentially leading to increased production costs for farmers who relied on them for pollination.

The domestic violence helpline takes 18,000 calls a year from women who may have few other options to find help, as statistics reveal 37 per cent of women in NSW over the age of 15 are experiencing physical and/or sexual violence.

The family of the 57-year-old "larger than life" Jindabyne man who went missing after his helicopter crashed two weeks ago expect up to a thousand people at a memorial in Berridale.

New South Wales women's groups say they're "absolutely stunned" by the recent publication of development applications for domestic violence shelters by local councils.

State of Origin coming to Newcastle: The women's State of Origin series will be played in a three-game format for the first time, with Hunter Stadium set to host game two on June 6. It's the only New South Wales game of the series, with the other two games to be played in Queensland and the first time Newcastle has hosted the event. Meanwhile, the NRL and NRLW draws for next season have also been released. The Knights women will begin their season on July 25 with a home game against the Sydney Roosters. The men will kick off the season with a Thursday night home game against the Canberra Raiders on March 7.

Photo AAP: Scott Radford-Chisholm

Hunter tops coastal erosion report: Port Stephens has been named the suburb most affected by coastal erosion in New South Wales in a new report. Property analysis company Groundsure has listed the top 20 suburbs affected by coastal erosion. Port Stephens topped the list, while Pindimar and Stockton were ranked fourth and fifth respectively. Swansea and North Arm Cove also made the top 20. The report aims to give residents and prospective buyers clarity on climate risks in different regions. Groundsure boss Dan Montagnani says that while he doesn't predict the findings will affect property values in sought-after coastal locations, it's important people are aware of risks to plan for the future.

Future of Tomaree Lodge still unclear: Disability Inclusion Minister and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says she hasn't made consultation papers on Tomaree Lodge public yet because they don't address "constraints" on the site. The former residential centre for people with disability closed in May of 2021 and has been vacant ever since. The New South Wales government completed community consultation on the future use of the site in November last year but Ms Washington says there is still work to do before the consultation papers can be released. She says the paper that went to the community asking for ideas for the site didn't discuss the constraints on the site.

Rate rise affecting construction industry: The Housing Industry Association says increasing interest rates are continuing to affect the Hunter. After keeping rates on hold for the past four months, the Reserve Bank lifted rates last week by a quarter of a percentage point, bringing the cash rate to 4.35 per cent, the highest it's been since 2011. HIA executive director in the Hunter Craig Jennion says it's slowing consumer confidence and finance approvals and it's putting the industry in a bit of a boom and bust cycle.

New DV facility: A new facility for domestic violence victims is expected to open in Singleton by the end of next year. Housing Plus plans to build a facility with units to give privacy and security to women and children. Mary Spora from Upper Hunter Homeless Support says it's the first of its kind in Singleton. People needing confidential information, counselling or support around domestic family and sexual violence can visit the 1800RESPECT website or phone 1800 737 732.

Vandalism halts trains: The Australian Rail Track Corporation and NSW Police are continuing to investigate vandalism that brought trains to a halt in parts of the Hunter last week. The incident involved the theft of cabling at Telarah, resulting in a power failure along the North Coast Line. The failure affected freight and passenger services, with buses replacing trains between Dungog and Maitland while repairs were carried out.

Hunter doctor awarded: The 2024 New South Wales Senior of the Year recipient hopes his award helps highlight the extent of housing problem for older Australians. Hunter-based geriatrician Dr John Ward has received the accolade for decades of work providing medical care for ageing Australians. He's a co-founder of the Hunter Ageing Alliance and has focused on ending elder abuse and improving care for people with dementia. Dr Ward says housing availability for older Australians is getting worse.

Mixed results for Jets: The Newcastle Jets men's team secured its first A-League win under coach Rob Stanton, defeating Western United 1-0 at the weekend. The Jets took the lead in the 44th minute with striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos scoring his fourth goal in as many games. The result wasn't so good for the Jets women. After a second-half pile-on it went down 4-0 to Melbourne Victory.