April 28, 2026
Chimney safety warning to avoid winter housefires Craig Baldwin uncovers inappropriate lead flashing, which allowed water to rust the roof below.
Local News

Chimney safety warning to avoid winter housefires

This chimney was originally installed by an amateur and had never been swept. Creosote was visible on the roof. Craig Baldwin uncovers inappropriate lead flashing, which allowed water to rust the roof below. What a perfectly clean and safe chimney looks like, free of ugly black creosote residue. FIRE safety around chimneys is an area […]

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Stinker’s History: Recreational shooting at Myall Lakes The Korsmans on the water for a shooting excursion (c 1905) hunting with shotguns. The boat is the ‘Greyhound’ brought to Tea Gardens by ‘Diver’ Duncan.
Local News

Stinker’s History: Recreational shooting at Myall Lakes

THE main recreational activities at Port Stephens have traditionally been fishing and boating. From the 1880s up until the Second World War, there was an additional outdoor sporting activity in the Myall Lakes district – recreational shooting. Groups would travel to Port Stephens for the combined activities of fishing and shooting. For many years from […]

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Mayor calls for increased disaster funding
Myall Coast

Mayor calls for increased disaster funding

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 […]

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New terminal gets tested during Mass Passenger Exercise Participants from across the Hunter volunteered for the exercise.
Regional

New terminal gets tested during Mass Passenger Exercise

NEWCASTLE Airport’s new international terminal came to life last week as more than 120 local volunteers helped test the facility during a full-scale Mass Passenger Exercise. With surfboards in tow, guitars slung over shoulders and bags packed to the brim, participants from across the Hunter took on the role of international travellers. They moved through […]

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Offshore wind continues to divide opinions in the Hunter The development of an offshore wind industry off the Hunter coast has divided opinions in recent years.
Regional

Offshore wind continues to divide opinions in the Hunter

A COALITION of unions, business groups, industry representatives and environment advocates have called for a “full-scale commitment from both federal and state governments” on the “responsible” delivery of an offshore wind industry in the Hunter. “While offshore wind became a campaign issue in the seat of Paterson, voters ultimately backed Labor’s renewable energy agenda,” said […]

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Humpback whale migration begins with prime viewing from Port Stephens A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS.
Local News

Humpback whale migration begins with prime viewing from Port Stephens

A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. A playful humpback close to the shoreline. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. HUMPBACK whales are passing Port Stephens on their annual migration. Each year, approximately 40,000 humpback whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds and travel north to the warmer waters off NSW and Queensland. […]

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Youth crime committee tables first report
Police

Youth crime committee tables first report

THE first report of an inquiry into community safety has been tabled, highlighting an urgent need for early intervention to deal with the complex social drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW. Since adopting the inquiry on 20 March 2024, the Committee of Law and Safety received almost 200 submissions and conducted hearings […]

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Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFB welcomes vintage truck to new home The new recruit hitched a ride with Green and White Transport to get from Lochinvar to Tea Gardens.
Community

Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFB welcomes vintage truck to new home

The new recruit hitched a ride with Green and White Transport to get from Lochinvar to Tea Gardens. Captain David Bright, with ‘maintenance men’ Gary, Keith and Karl (driving) near the Tea Gardens Station. David and Karl air out the compartments. THE latest addition to the Pindimar-Tea Gardens Rural Fire Brigade fleet is a vintage […]

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First-ever DNA mapping of NSW river mouths and estuaries Dr Maarten De Brauwer of SCU and Fisheries Technician Kait Harris conduct estuarine monitoring in Yamba.
Regional

First-ever DNA mapping of NSW river mouths and estuaries

Dr Maarten De Brauwer of SCU and Fisheries Technician Kait Harris conduct estuarine monitoring in Yamba. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. A MAJOR study of NSW estuaries using a novel […]

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Road repairs prevented by high water levels
Myall Coast

Road repairs prevented by high water levels

WITH residents still cut off in some rural parts of the region, MidCoast Council’s immediate focus for roads is to re-establish access to these areas and ensure damaged roads and bridges can be safely used. Council staff have been out inspecting the damage to the road network in the aftermath of last month’s devastating floods, […]

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