THE Barrington Coast and other select NSW locations are set to receive a tourism boost under a new NSW Government marketing strategy designed to attract more visitors, support local businesses and create jobs across the State. The first phase of the campaign will promote the Barrington Coast, Shoalhaven, Port Stephens, Byron Bay and Sapphire Coast […]
Port Stephens Council road safety officer Anna Brown with motoring journalist Glenn Torrens. Photo: Nico Lombardo.
Port Stephens Council road safety officer Anna Brown with motoring journalist Glenn Torrens. Photo: Nico Lombardo. NSW police officers were available to answer any questions from drivers. Photo: Nico Lombardo. It’s not often that learner drivers get to crawl inside a truck to learn where the blind spots are. Photo: Nico Lombardo. Police demonstrated just […]
MidCoast Council Mayor Claire Pontin. Photo: MidCoast Council.
MIDCOAST Council Mayor Claire Pontin has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to take back financial ownership of Rural Fire Service (RFS) assets, commonly known as the ‘Red Fleet’. The transfer of ownership will include around 150 RFS vehicles across the MidCoast region and is scheduled to take effect from 1 July 2027. The announcement follows […]
Have your say on changes to Urban Release Areas.
MIDCOAST Council has conducted a review of the Urban Release Areas report conducted in 2021 and made several changes. Council is now calling on residents to provide feedback on the amendments. Urban release areas are identified sites that may be considered for future housing or employment opportunities, subject to planning approvals. Urban release areas are […]
FORMER Australian Defence Force members are being encouraged to check whether they are eligible for veteran recognition and support through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). Many former service men and women still believe that the term “veteran” only applies to those who have seen active combat or served in war zones. However, the definition […]
NEW data suggests that rates of rough sleeping have remained steady across parts of the Hunter region in the past 12 months, while significant increases have been seen in the MidCoast local government area. Each year the NSW Government partners with local organisations across the state to complete “street counts” to provide a point-in-time count […]
WORKERS will now be assisted to relocate to local government jobs in regional and remote areas, through an expansion of the NSW Government’s Welcome Experience program. Launched as a pilot in 11 local government areas (LGAs) in 2023, the Welcome Experience is a free service supporting workers and their families to relocate for roles in […]
THE NSW Government has released an online tool for comparing connectivity quality across the state, producing some surprising outputs for the Hunter and MidCoast regions. The NSW Digital Connectivity Index, accessible via the NSW Government website, breaks digital connectivity down into three key areas: Access: how strong is the coverage, how well the network performs […]
MEMBER for Lyne Alison Penfold has introduced a Private Member’s Bill to the Australian Parliament to amend the Sex Discrimination Act. Ms Penfold wants to reinstate the Act’s 1984 definitions of a man and woman, which were based on biological sex, not self-identification. In a statement, she said, “The Parliament has a responsibility to provide […]
Vehicles queueing at the Bucketts Way/Pacific Highway intersection in early 2026.
A SERIOUS accident on Friday 15 May has brought safety issues at the Bucketts Way/Pacific Highway intersection into sharp focus once more. In April, News Of The Area reported on the strong concerns held by former Roads and Traffic Authority senior engineer Gordon Chirgwin about the dangerous state of the intersection. “I believe that the […]
