December 13, 2025
Residents invited to help shape how roads and streets are managed in NSW Road users are being invited to contribute to a survey. Photo: TfNSW.
Local News

Residents invited to help shape how roads and streets are managed in NSW

TRANSPORT for NSW is leading a “once-in-a-generation” review of the Roads Act 1993 and is seeking input from councils, community members, peak bodies and industry experts about how the legislation should be reformed. “The aim is to create a more modern, flexible and easy-to-use law that can help enable NSW Government initiatives such as housing […]

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SES and RFS joint training keeps volunteers’ skills sharp
Regional

SES and RFS joint training keeps volunteers’ skills sharp

The car’s roof safely peeled down, with sharp edges protected against accidental contact. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. One of the many large cutting tools that allow emergency workers access to otherwise impenetrable wrecks on the road. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Many tools laid out to begin a standard car crash rescue. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. SES and RFS […]

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MidCoast Council to visit communities for a conversation
Local News

MidCoast Council to visit communities for a conversation

MIDCOAST Councillors and senior staff are heading back out to visit 15 communities across October and November. Mayor Claire Pontin said everybody is welcome to attend a Community Conversation, whether they wish to simply listen, ask questions or chat with a senior staff member or Councillor. “We’ll talk to you about plans and projects across […]

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Add your voice to the CWA’s annual women’s survey
Community

Add your voice to the CWA’s annual women’s survey

COST-OF-LIVING pressures and the impact on access to basic needs like health services is one of the key issues emerging from the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW Annual Women’s Survey. The survey is now in its second year and is currently open to all women in communities across the state. “Last year’s survey really […]

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Practice in Community: Investing in artists working in regional Australia Penny Dakin, Scott Howie, Ros Abercrombie, Andrew Barker, Danielle Fusco and Imogen Castledine.
Community

Practice in Community: Investing in artists working in regional Australia

REGIONAL Arts Australia is launching a “transformative” new funding initiative with $2.4 million dollars in support from Minderoo Foundation. The program offers multi-year grants of $160,000 to support independent artists living and working in regional communities across Australia. “Practice in Community” will deliver two funding rounds for independent artists working in Community Arts and Cultural […]

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Farm fire vehicle scheme launched after series of trials Farm Firefighting Vehicles are commonly small trucks, utes or trailers with fixed water, pumps or fire management equipment, kept on farms to be rapidly deployed in the event of a fire.
Local News

Farm fire vehicle scheme launched after series of trials

FARMERS and rural landholders can now register to use Farm Firefighting Vehicles (FFVs) to respond to emergency bushfires near their property. On Wednesday the NSW Government launched a conditional registration scheme to enable typically unregistered FFVs to be used legally and under the protection of insurance. FFVs are commonly small trucks, utes or trailers with […]

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Megan Joins Fire and Rescue
Community

Megan Joins Fire and Rescue

TEA GARDENS has a newly minted on-call firefighter, with local Megan Markham recently completing her rigorous training and tests. Megan had recently returned from her two-week ‘phase training’ in Wellington, central NSW, where she met new recruits from across the state. Phase training comes after the extensive medical and physical checks, where they put new […]

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Strategic vision set to boost public transport in the Hunter
Regional

Strategic vision set to boost public transport in the Hunter

THE Hunter needs more public transport. That’s the key takeaway from the NSW Government’s just-released Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan, which sets out 49 short and medium-term actions across public and active transport, and roads and freight. Over the next five years, 30,000 new homes are expected to be built across the Lower Hunter […]

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Nature at the doorstep: how to bring biodiversity to your yard
Community, Health

Nature at the doorstep: how to bring biodiversity to your yard

IT is often said that there are many benefits associated with spending time in nature. “Increasingly, being in nature is recognised as being important,” explains Mat Bell, Senior Ecologist with MidCoast Council. “Contact with nature benefits human health and well-being by reducing stress, improving mental health, enhancing physical health, and improving cognitive function, like concentration […]

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Hunter builders rank among nation’s largest
Myall Coast

Hunter builders rank among nation’s largest

THREE leading builders based in the Hunter region have been ranked among the largest residential builders in the nation, according to the HIA-COLORBOND® steel Housing 100 Report for 2024/25. The annual report ranks Australia’s top 100 builders by the number of homes commenced. Leading the way with a total of 2,898 starts in 2024/25, NEX […]

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