October 26, 2026
Thunderbolts Way and Barrington Tops Forest Road remain closed Despite the road closures, Gloucester and Stroud are open for business and eager to welcome visitors.
Local News

Thunderbolts Way and Barrington Tops Forest Road remain closed

KEY routes north and west of Gloucester remain closed due to extensive landslip damage and bridge washouts. Thunderbolts Way (north of Gloucester) remains closed in multiple locations due to landslips and washed-out bridge approaches. Repairs are underway, with reopening expected in approximately four weeks, restoring access to Walcha and the New England region. Barrington Tops […]

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Category D support now available for primary producers A rally in Taree calls for Category D funding to be announced.
Local News

Category D support now available for primary producers

ADDITIONAL support has been announced for primary producers in New South Wales affected by the extreme flooding event from 18 May 2025. This funding is provided under Category D of the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments. The package will be available through grants administered by the NSW […]

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Thursday Walkers group continue to explore across the Hunter Feed time at the wetlands centre at Shortland on 5 June. Photo: Bea Watkins.
Community, Health

Thursday Walkers group continue to explore across the Hunter

Feed time at the wetlands centre at Shortland on 5 June. Photo: Bea Watkins. Across Tilligery Creek on 12 June. Photo: Robyn Thompson. Puddle Jumping at North Arm Cove on 19 June. Photo: Bea Watkins. The long ‘up’ along the Trolley Trail on Alum Mountain on 26 June. Photo: Rebecca Jacobs. THE inexorable Thursday Walkers […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: The good old days
Community

Stinker’s Fishin’: The good old days

DO you remember the good old days when catching calamari squid was simple? Inside the harbour, excited “squidders” gathered around the Nelson Bay Marina or drifted over the sea grass in Shoal Bay on calm days. Tossing a squid jig and slowly retrieving it ensured a bucket or so of thumping squid to be prepared […]

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Councils and state gov to address root causes of DV
Myall Coast

Councils and state gov to address root causes of DV

LOCAL Government NSW (LGNSW) is partnering with the state government to support councils in addressing the root causes of domestic, family, and sexual violence. The initiative is part of the NSW Government’s Pathways to Prevention Strategy, which aims to address the drivers of violence. Under the three-year primary prevention partnership, the state government will provide […]

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Business Hunter: Few surprises for Hunter in ‘conservative’ Budget
Myall Coast

Business Hunter: Few surprises for Hunter in ‘conservative’ Budget

THERE were few surprises for the Hunter and little relief for businesses battling challenging economic conditions from a conservative NSW Budget handed down last week, according to the region’s peak business body. Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes described Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s third budget as “anti-climactic for the Hunter”, with the big-ticket new investments having been […]

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Trial to keep soggy grounds maintained Staff have worked with local contractors to use lightweight robotic mowers.
Local News

Trial to keep soggy grounds maintained

WITH some of the region’s sports fields still soggy after the recent floods, MidCoast Council has been trialling innovative ways to keep them maintained. Heavy equipment including tractors with slashers and zero-point mowers are usually used to keep growth under control, but the sheer weight of the machines causes damage to the playing surface. Instead, […]

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More Aussies wanting to live regionally, work remotely RAI CEO Liz Ritchie with her partner Tom, daughter Chloe, and dog Cricket at their new home in the Bega Valley.
Local News

More Aussies wanting to live regionally, work remotely

NEW research has uncovered the immense potential of ‘working from home’ to regional Australia, with data capturing the nation’s growing desire to live in a regional setting but work in an urban one. A nationwide survey, commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), showed two-in-five city dwellers would consider a move to regional Australia, up […]

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NAIDOC celebrations at Tea Gardens Aaliyah , Kyan and Levi Briffa at a previous NAIDOC Week event.
Community

NAIDOC celebrations at Tea Gardens

NAIDOC Week will be celebrated on Thursday 24 July at Tea Gardens Public School from 10am to 2pm. The event is free, with the whole community invited to attend. NAIDOC stands for “National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee”, and is synonymous in Australia with celebrations of Indigenous culture and history. In 1975, it was […]

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Scammers on prowl as Tax Time begins
Regional

Scammers on prowl as Tax Time begins

  A Commonwealth Bank infographic illustrates that Aussies are scam-aware, but a third of us still miss the clues. Image: CBA.   A recently received scam email.   THE clock is now ticking to get annual tax returns in before the 31 October deadline. Sadly, this window provides a veritable hunting ground for scammers, prompting […]

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