Newcastle and Hunter local news briefing: Friday, November 13, 2026

Detailed summary

Here's what's making news in the Newcastle and Hunter regions today. Strong opposition to Kurri Kurri data centre. Almost 90 per cent of public submissions oppose plans for a majo…

Almost 90 per cent of public submissions oppose plans for a major data centre in Kurri Kurri.

Air Trunk is proposing to build the 550-megawatt facility on the former Hydro Aluminium smelter site.

The 671 opposing submissions raised concerns about noise, power usage and fears the project would attract more data centres to the region.

Submissions in support cited the potential for more jobs and a boost to the local economy.

Cessnock Mayor Daniel Watton said the submissions were a resounding rebuke.

"For what it's worth if [the NSW planning department] wanted to hear what the community had to say, they've spoken loud and clear," he said.

A man has died during an incident involving police in the Hunter Valley last night.

Officers were called to a service station on Wine Country Drive at Nulkaba at about 6:20pm yesterday, following reports of suspicious activity in a car park.

Police said they attempted to speak to a man in his 30s on arrival, but he ran from the scene and jumped into a nearby dam.

Opening of the article, excerpted from ABC Environment. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.