PROJECT proponents Equinor and Oceanex Energy have made the decision not to proceed with the Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm. The project partners had, in February 2024, been offered a licence to explore the feasibility of a two gigawatt offshore wind farm off the coast of the Hunter, however this has now been turned down. Minister […]

NSW POLICE have targeted motorists affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue during a three-day operation. Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) ran from 21-23 August across all NSW roads. During this period, police conducted more than 87,000 breath tests and 9166 drug tests. There were 186 drink driving offences detected and 660 positive drug samples. […]

THE State and Federal Governments have announced a $50 million Housing Support Package to assist eligible homeowners, renters and primary producers impacted by recent severe flooding. Caravans and self-contained pod homes will be deployed for eligible flood-hit residents and primary producers whose homes were uninsured and uninhabitable so they can stay on their property during […]

Illustrator Estelle Leishman, Uncle Justin Ridgeway, and Author Rachel Barry. Photos: supplied by Rachel Barry. Illustrations from the book, ‘Waiting for the platypus’. Illustrations from the book, ‘Waiting for the platypus’. Illustrations from the book, ‘Waiting for the platypus’. The book is titled ‘Where Ripples Rise’. STROUD local Rachel Barry has been announced as a […]

IF you’ve ever needed a reason to step outside, tilt your head back, and marvel at the heavens, August is it. This month, the night sky becomes a stage for some of the most breathtaking celestial performances you’re likely to witness in years – and here in Australia, we have front-row seats. It all began […]

A GROWING number of female pilots are making their mark in one of the most male-dominated industries in Australia, saying more women should fly planes. “The aircraft doesn’t care what gender you are. It responds to skill and judgment,” pilot Amelia Johnson tells AAP. “The feeling of flying yourself for the first time is unlike […]

FEDERAL Member for Lyne Alison Penfold has announced the Bulahdelah Men’s Shed as one of the recipients of funding under Round 9 of the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Program. The $12,000 grant will support the purchase and installation of a solar power and storage system for the new Men’s Shed facility, currently under construction on […]

POLICE are appealing for information following a serious motor vehicle crash north at Nerong. On Friday 8 August 2025, emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway, Nerong, 80km north of Newcastle, following reports of a crash between a black Mercedes sedan and a Kenworth semi-trailer. The driver of the Mercedes, a 26-year-old woman, and […]

MULTIPLE sea turtles have been found washed up on beaches between Anna Bay and Hawks Nest in recent weeks. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters has confirmed that up to 16 turtles have now been found – some dead, others alive and in distress – around the region in the last three weeks alone. One such […]

EVERY year around mid-August, the sky puts on one of its most spectacular performances – the Perseid meteor shower. A favourite for stargazers and amateur astronomers alike, the Perseids are famous for their brilliance, speed, and sheer number of meteors. This isn’t just a quiet trickle of falling stars – it’s a fireworks show written […]