MIDCOAST Council says rangers will be “out in force” during the holiday period, with a focus on illegal parking, driving on beaches without a permit, illegal camping and rubbish dumping. “While we want to welcome visitors, we also have a responsibility to our local communities and our environment,” said Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De […]
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with workers at the Tomago smelter.
MORE than 1000 jobs at a troubled aluminium smelter are secure after the federal government confirmed it would keep the site running with taxpayer support. Rio Tinto, majority owner of the massive Tomago smelter, had for months been threatening to shut down the plant due to spiralling energy costs after 2028, when its electricity contract […]
Stockton Beach bream.
THIS Christmas give rock fishing a miss and concentrate your efforts on the beach. Family-friendly, the local beaches have loaded up with cracker whiting and thumping big snowy white bream. Unlike their cousins that live in the estuary, beach bream are broad shouldered and pearly white. In the kitchen the beach bream can be filleted […]
PEOPLE living in communities impacted by recent bushfires who require essential medicines, including diabetes, heart and asthma medicines, can now access a limited supply without a prescription at pharmacies. NSW Health has issued an Authority under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation that enables pharmacists to supply prescription medicines to people without a prescription who […]
Scone Road disaster recovery repairs.
THE May 2025 flood resulted in over 28,000 defects to the MidCoast road network, with Council crews and contractors continuing flood recovery works. Assessment of 680 bridges, 1,800km of unsealed roads and 1,800km of sealed roads has been undertaken so far. Approximately $34m of emergency works and immediate reconstruction works have been completed to date. […]
THREE teens and a child have been charged after an alleged highway pursuit. About 6.50am on Tuesday 9 December 2025, officers attached to Port-Stephens Hunter Police District attempted to stop a vehicle on the Pacific Highway, Heatherbrae. When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle allegedly continued towards […]
The number of emergency and urgent care patients is the highest since reporting began.
THE latest Bureau of Health Information report shows increased demand for hospital care and urgent surgery across the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD). The quarterly report is based on the period between July – September 2025. There were 108,152 presentations to emergency departments (EDs) across the district, which is 2174 fewer than in […]
FOLLOWING the record-breaking floods which hammered the region in May, impacted residents were instructed by the NSW Government’s Reconstruction Authority to apply for Disaster Relief Grants. According to MidCoast Council, the Authority is now refusing some grant applications due to homes being classified as within a flood zone. Council says this is despite the Authority […]
A Marine Rescue crew member with a rescued sailor.
MARINE Rescue NSW volunteers across the state returned 823 people safely to shore during November, completing more than 370 search and rescue missions including 108 emergency responses. Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews said demand remains high for the volunteer service. “Following successive record months in September and October, our volunteers were in high demand throughout November, […]
The historic old shops at Raymond Terrace. Photo: Bea.
The historic old shops at Raymond Terrace. Photo: Bea. Along Stockton’s shipwreck walk. Photo: Robyn. Through the rocks at Glenrock. Photo: Robyn. View from Leichhardt’s Lookout at Glenrock. Photo: Judy. THURSDAY Walkers laced up their year of trekking around the region with several successful and fair-weather outings during November. The first Thursday took the Walkers […]
