A NATIONAL childcare worker register should show the employment history of staff after revelations an accused child abuser was sacked from one facility but continued working unimpeded. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, has been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims aged under two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Authorities have […]
FARMERS from all corners of NSW will meet in Sydney this week to discuss critical issues such as the future of farming and the energy transition. NSW Farmers’ Chief Executive Annabel Johnson said the NSW Farmers’ Annual Conference was a chance to bring the perspective from the paddock to the city as Australia faced a […]
MIDCOAST Council formally adopted its four-year Delivery Program for 2025-2029, Operational Plan and budget for the 2025-26 financial year at its 30 June Council meeting. The budget provides a boost for local roads, with Council redirecting funds from other operational areas to allocate an additional $6.7 million to roadworks in 2025-26, bringing total road investment […]
MIDCOAST Council is attempting to make it “easier and faster to build homes in the region”, with progress discussed at last week’s Council meeting. Council has been addressing the recommendations identified in the 2023 Housing Barriers Review, which identified problems that slow down the building process and offered ways to fix them. A statement from […]
LOCAL Government NSW (LGNSW) is partnering with the state government to support councils in addressing the root causes of domestic, family, and sexual violence. The initiative is part of the NSW Government’s Pathways to Prevention Strategy, which aims to address the drivers of violence. Under the three-year primary prevention partnership, the state government will provide […]
THERE were few surprises for the Hunter and little relief for businesses battling challenging economic conditions from a conservative NSW Budget handed down last week, according to the region’s peak business body. Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes described Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s third budget as “anti-climactic for the Hunter”, with the big-ticket new investments having been […]
THE NSW Government tabled the 2024 State of the Environment Report last week. Compiled by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the report is published every three years. According to EPA CEO Tony Chappel, the 2024 report indicates that climate change is already a major factor impacting many environmental trends. “In 2021-22, greenhouse gas emissions […]
AN E-PETITION is now available on the NSW Parliament website calling for upgraded support to assist Hunter and Mid North Coast communities devastated by the May flood. The petition calls on the NSW Government to maximise Category C funding and urgently declare Category D funding for devastated small businesses, primary producers and communities in the […]
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 […]
MIDCOAST Council Mayor Claire Pontin has written to Premier Chris Minns requesting him to seek a “Category D” disaster classification from the Federal Government. Cr Pontin recently met with key NSW Ministers, including Minister for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin, to push for a more substantial and long-term funding commitment – including Category D disaster funding […]
