THE MidCoast Council Koala Safe Spaces team will host an interactive stall at the Nabiac Market on Saturday 28 March, helping residents to improve koala habitats across the region. Visitors can collect free koala feed trees to plant on their properties and speak directly with experts about how to establish and maintain koala-friendly landscapes. Attendees […]
Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos (left) talks through the coal industry outlook for 2026-2050. Photo: Courtney Houssos MP.
No new mines but coal expansions given green light
COAL mine expansions are on the cards for at least another 25 years under NSW’s new mining road map at odds with its environment commission. The NSW government announced its coal industry outlook for 2026-2050 on Thursday, saying it will no longer consider new coal mines but applications to extend existing mines will be assessed. […]
New Stroud SES building set to finish on time
THE construction of Stroud’s new State Emergency Service (SES) building is progressing well and set to finish on time, according to an update from MidCoast Council. Council is managing the project on behalf of the SES as the new building is situated on a Council-owned road reserve. The slab has been laid, and crews have […]
FuelCheck is the NSW Government’s real-time fuel price transparency tool and provides motorists with instant access to prices from around 2,400 service stations across the state. Photo: NSW Gov.
Statewide compliance blitz on fuel prices
THE NSW Government has fast-tracked a statewide fuel compliance blitz to “strengthen fuel price transparency” and protect motorists from misleading pricing. At the NSW Fuel Security Roundtable held last week, retailers agreed to use the FuelCheck app to inform the Government when they have run out of fuel. FuelCheck is the NSW Government’s real-time fuel […]
Train manufacturing jobs coming back to the Hunter
ALMOST 40 years since the Tangara trains were built in Newcastle, the work to extend their life is coming back to the Hunter, with the establishment of two new production lines at the rail facility in Cardiff. This NSW Government investment will create around 100 new jobs and 20 apprenticeships in the Hunter region. The […]
Kerrie casts off with visitors in Tea Gardens for the Hot Rods Run on 7 March. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Original Tea Gardens Ferry a finalist in national awards
LOCAL business the Original Tea Gardens Ferry is a finalist in the 2026 Australian Small Business Awards. The owners of this much-loved local service, which carries a large chunk of local tourism back and forth across Port Stephens Bay, will head to Sydney on 2 May for the awards. “The ferry has such a special […]
Government extends funding for two key programs
THE state government has extended funding for both the No Interest Loan Scheme (“the NIL Scheme”) and Aged-Care Supported Accommodation (“the ASCA Program”). The Government committed $21.5 million in funding to administer the NIL Scheme for another five years, continuing its history of providing fee and interest-free loans to low-income earners since its establishment in […]
Development continues apace in the MidCoast
MIDCOAST Council had the highest number of development applications lodged in regional NSW for the October-December 2025 quarter, representing a value of $392,358,034. Between 1 October 2025 and 31 December 2025, Council received 1,521 individual customer requests. During this period, Council assessed more applications than any other regional NSW council, at 469 applications. Decisions have […]
Auto enthusiasts celebrate the 21st year of Motofest
An antique hauling an antique, with another antique car trailing behind. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Pindimar/Tea Gardens RFS firefighters showed off their new Tatra truck and its fire-stopping power. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Two Jaguars from very different times. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. This centenarian Nash Tourer was not the oldest on the field. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. TGHN […]
Council seeks support on disaster recovery and pension rates
MIDCOAST councillors have thrown their support behind issues of funding for disaster recovery and increased financial assistance for pensioners. The issues will be raised at the Australian Local Government Association’s national conference to be held in Canberra in June. Mayor Claire Pontin proposed two motions to take to what is the largest annual gathering of […]
