ARTS Mid North Coast (AMNC) has welcomed the NSW Government’s launch of “Heartland: A Plan for Regional NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 2026–2035”, backed by a $5.2 million investment aimed at strengthening arts, culture and creative industries across regional NSW. AMNC is the Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) and peak body for arts and […]
Operation Shore Safe is a joint initiative designed to address increased motor vehicle, e-micromobility, and pedestrian activity during the peak visitor season. Photo: NSW Police.
Coastal safety operation concludes across Hunter shoreline
THE summer iteration of NSW Police’s “Operation Shore Safe” has concluded, with a focus on education across coastal communities from the Central Coast to Port Stephens. Launched in October 2025, Operation Shore Safe is a joint initiative between Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Northern Region, designed to address increased motor vehicle, e-micromobility, and […]
New guide to support councils in identifying land for affordable housing
THE NSW Government has released a new guide to support councils to undertake land audits to identify vacant operational land that could be used to deliver affordable housing projects. The “Council Led Affordable Housing on Operational Land Guide” released by the Office of Local Government provides step-by-step guidance for councils on identifying and managing affordable […]
Record remand numbers drive growth in NSW prison population
NEW data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows the state’s prison population reached 13,133 in December 2025, an increase of 8.5 percent (1,026 people) over the past two years. The growth has been driven by a sharp rise in the number of people held on remand. Between December 2023 […]
Workshop to explore flood response on the MidCoast
FOLLOWING the significant impacts of the May 2025 weather event, MidCoast Council is hosting a “Community and Service Hubs Workshop” facilitated by the Australian Red Cross. “Following large scale events like the May 2025 floods it is important for the organisations that responded to unpack and workshop the experience to identify improvements for future events,” […]
Emergency Services Levy reform to face parliamentary inquiry
OPTIONS to reduce household insurance costs and fix an “unfair funding model” for emergency services will be put to a NSW parliamentary inquiry. While emergency services benefit everyone, most of their funding comes from a levy not everyone pays. The NSW Government says it is committed to removing this Emergency Services Levy (ESL) and replacing […]
$15 million investment in state’s renewable energy workforce
THE NSW and Federal governments are investing $15 million over four years to train the skilled workforce needed for the state’s renewable energy rollout, set to create thousands of jobs in regional NSW. The investment underpins the state’s Renewable Energy Skills Strategy, launched last week by Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe and Minister for Skills, […]
Big welcome for new Kindy kids at Tea Gardens Public School
TGPS kindies start their educational journey. Photo: TGPS. New kindies ready to start ‘big school’ at TGPS. Photo: TGPS. New TGPS kindies receive a new book at their first school assembly. Photo: TGPS. NEW Kindergarten students have been welcomed to their first year of “big school” at Tea Gardens Public (TGPS). Nineteen new starters have […]
Local Family Research group finds new home at Tea Gardens Library
Members’ at their first ‘show and tell’ in the new space. Photo: TGHNFR. The family research group gathers for their first day at new digs. Photo: TGHNFR. Kerrie Jeffreys’ spoke in January about history related to the ferry. Photo: TGHNFR. MEMBERS of the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Family Research and Local […]
Molly Croft, the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year, with Minister Jodie Harrison (left), her mother Ange, and Minister Jihad Dib. Photo: Salty Dingo.
Nominations open for 2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards
NOMINATIONS for the 2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are now open, with family, friends and work mates urged to help celebrate the enormous positive impact of volunteers across the state. The awards are in their 20th year and are run by The Centre for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding work of volunteers in […]
