June 24, 2025
First aid facilities upgraded at Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club The plastic table and chairs will be upgraded with a proper kitchenette for lifesavers on duty. Photo: David Lau.
Community, Health

First aid facilities upgraded at Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club

Newly built walls and false ceilings divide the original space. The frame of the new wall going in. Photo: David Lau. First aid was relegated to a bed in the corner of the old single room. Photo: David Lau. The plastic table and chairs will be upgraded with a proper kitchenette for lifesavers on duty. […]

Read More
Ocean rescue emergency exercise held off Hunter coast Brisbane Water crew searching in challenging conditions.
Local News

Ocean rescue emergency exercise held off Hunter coast

Brisbane Water crew searching in challenging conditions. Lemon Tree Passage volunteers search on board LM 30. A crew member retrieves a mannikin. A volunteer searches from inside the cabin. Coordinating communication from the radio room. A MAJOR multi-agency Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) concluded successfully on Saturday, 14 June off the coast of the Hunter. […]

Read More
NSW Gov committee investigating access to public land and waterways
Myall Coast

NSW Gov committee investigating access to public land and waterways

A NSW Government committee has begun investigating access to publicly owned land and waterways in New South Wales, including national parks, marine reserves, crown land, state forests, water catchments and Aboriginal land. The Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways was established by a resolution of the NSW Legislative Council on Wednesday […]

Read More
Make-up of Australian Senate confirmed The writs were returned to Governor-General Sam Mostyn on 12 June by Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope. Photo: AEC.
Government, National

Make-up of Australian Senate confirmed

RESULTS of the 2025 Federal Election have been finalised and the writs returned to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn. This marks the end of the electoral process for the House of Representatives and Senate and paves the way for the opening of the 48th Parliament on 22 July. Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said the election […]

Read More
Nationals MPs slam disaster relief funding after Barrington visit Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell and Nationals leader Dugald Saunders met with primary producers in Barrington.
Government

Nationals MPs slam disaster relief funding after Barrington visit

Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell and Nationals leader Dugald Saunders met with primary producers in Barrington. NSW NATIONALS Leader Dugald Saunders has slammed the NSW Government over a “complete lack of urgency” to help flood-impacted businesses and primary producers, after visiting residents in Barrington last week. On Wednesday, 11 June, applications opened for grants of […]

Read More
Leak detection program returns to MidCoast Aqua Analytics technicians will be checking leaks from this week.
Local News

Leak detection program returns to MidCoast

TECHNICIANS from Aqua Analytics will again be on the lookout for leaks across the MidCoast when the NSW Government’s Regional Leakage Reduction Program returns to the region from this week. Beginning in Hawks Nest on Monday 16 June, the technicians will spend five weeks using state-of-the-art acoustic technology to uncover leaks in MidCoast Council’s drinking […]

Read More
Regional platypus initiative pushes forward Platypus Becan and the Easter Bunny go head-to-head at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby. Photo: supplied.
Community

Regional platypus initiative pushes forward

Rachel Barry, platypus mascot ‘Becan’ and Callaghan kids at May’s Tocal Field Day. Photo: supplied. Regional Platypus Initiative coordinators Sian Ineson, Rachel Barry and Julie Overton during a planning session. Photo: supplied. Platypus Becan and the Easter Bunny go head-to-head at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby. Photo: supplied. THE “Barrington Rivers Platypus Initiative” has been […]

Read More
Farming body welcomes NSW Gov ag funding Premier Chris Minns with students at Tocal College last Friday.
Government

Farming body welcomes NSW Gov ag funding

Premier Chris Minns with students at Tocal College last Friday. Premier Chris Minns with students at Tocal College last Friday. The state government has committed more than $140 million to the agriculture sector. Photo: DPIRD. THE State Government will invest over $140 million of new funding to “safeguard the future of NSW’s agricultural industry”. On […]

Read More
Home schooled students get their hands dirty with Stroud Landcare
Local News

Home schooled students get their hands dirty with Stroud Landcare

Platypus mascot ‘Yappi’ (platypus in Gathang language) with Connor and Rachel Barry at a Stroud Jr Landcare event. Photo: Rachel Barry. Stroud Jr Landcare Group at a water quality testing workshop for home schooled students. Photo: Stroud Landcare. Jonathon Quaken of Landcare and Worimi Traditional Owner Justin Ridgeway plant a red cedar tree at Mill […]

Read More
Chimney safety warning to avoid winter housefires Craig Baldwin uncovers inappropriate lead flashing, which allowed water to rust the roof below.
Local News

Chimney safety warning to avoid winter housefires

This chimney was originally installed by an amateur and had never been swept. Creosote was visible on the roof. Craig Baldwin uncovers inappropriate lead flashing, which allowed water to rust the roof below. What a perfectly clean and safe chimney looks like, free of ugly black creosote residue. FIRE safety around chimneys is an area […]

Read More