The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history.
The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history. The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history. THE Sydney to Grafton XPT train service is set to return from 28 April, after a year of coach replacements during fleet upgrades. Sydney to Grafton train services – travelling through the Central Coast, Hunter […]
MIDCOAST councillors viewed reports on the progress and expenditure of capital works and roadworks programs at council’s last Ordinary Meeting. As of 13 March, Council is 70 percent of the way through the 2025-26 financial year, while the total maintenance expenditure is at just over 74 percent of the budget. Council says the effects of […]
Restoration of Scone Road.
RECOVERY continues across the MidCoast following the May 2025 flood event, however completion of works is not expected until 2029. The recovery program – one of the biggest in the region’s history – includes repairs to roads, bridges, drainage, and landslips. While work is underway, with Council working closely with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Mayor […]
MIDCOAST Council is seeking community feedback on its plans to change the rules around paper subdivisions. These are lots of land in non-urban areas that were historically recognised on paper but have no formed roads, drainage, sewerage or other infrastructure. Council is seeking to amend the State Environment Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) […]
Gloucester Preschool teachers and educators highlighting pay rate discrimination.
THOUSANDS of early childhood educators, including at Gloucester, wore pink to highlight the “Start Strong, Pay Fair” campaign on Wednesday 18 March, calling for urgent government action to address what has been described as a deepening workforce crisis in the sector. Rallies and community events were held, with educators, parents and advocates arguing that those […]
The prices of petrol and diesel at Tea Gardens on Friday, 20 March. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
GLOBAL events, most notably the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, have seen petrol and diesel prices skyrocket in the last few weeks, with a jump of 10 cents per litre (c/l) seen in a matter of days. As of Sunday 22 March 2026, crude oil prices are around US$122 per barrel – high by […]
THE long-awaited widening of the Hexham Straight is complete, clearing a bottleneck infamous across the Hunter. Motorists can now travel on three lanes in each direction, along the full six-kilometre stretch. The speed limit has also been increased to 80 kilometres per hour. With all lanes now open, teams are carrying out minor finishing work […]
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe speaks in Kurri Kurri.
CONSTRUCTION is officially underway on the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), a project the state government says will generate enough energy to power more than all the homes in the Hunter. REZs aim to group new wind and solar power generation and batteries into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across […]
Demonstrating Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in CSIRO's Renewable Energy Integration Facility.
THE CSIRO has officially launched the $3 million upgrade of the Renewable Energy Integration Facility (REIF) at its Energy Centre in Newcastle. The national science agency says the upgrade will significantly expand Australia’s capability to test, validate and commercialise technologies needed for a more sustainable, reliable and secure electricity system. The expanded facility includes a […]
The reforms include a cap limiting individuals to four firearms, with exemptions for primary producers up to ten. Photo: Michael Kemp MP.
NSW MINISTER for Police Yasmin Catley is calling on the NSW Liberals and Nationals to “come clean” about a plan to “water down” the state’s new gun laws passed in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack. Minister Catley cited comments made on radio by Shadow Minister Anthony Roberts (Liberals), which suggested that the Coalition […]
