Employers struggle to find STEM qualified professionals. Bellingen High school students exploring water quality monitoring at an OzGREEN workshop. Despite growing demand, the number of students studying Year 12 physics, chemistry and biology has halved over the past 30 years. There’s a critical STEM teacher shortage in northern regional NSW. OzGREEN is bringing its STEM […]

TfNSW launches ‘Animals on Country Roads’ campaign
WIRES Volunteer Skye*, with a carpet python rescued from the road. A gravid lace monitor, hit and left on the road and a juvenile eastern grey kangaroo that had to be euthanised. A WIRES volunteer caring for an orphaned eastern grey kangaroo joey, found next to its dead mother. MOTORISTS […]
Consultation period extended on Jetty Foreshores rezoning
THE period for community members to have their say on the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore planning proposal has been extended until 30 June 2025. The consultation period was originally set to end on 16 June. Property and Development NSW has lodged a planning proposal for development of land at the Jetty Foreshores with the Department […]
Restoring local oyster reefs talk at Solitary Islands Aquarium
A FREE public lecture at the Solitary Islands Aquarium will highlight the history and current restoration of local oyster reefs. The aquarium is part of Southern Cross University’s National Marine Science Centre at Coffs Harbour. The talk, titled “Exploring the rich history of natural shellfish reefs – the NSW Oyster Reef Restoration and Research project”, […]
Heavy rain submerges new flood warning signs in Nana Glen
FLOOD warning signs installed in late April at Morrows Road and on the Bucca side of the Edward Sharpe Bridge in Nana Glen were no match for the recent rain. They were submerged to the base of the flashing lights and stopped working after the predicted 400mm to 600mm deluge. Locals warned this might happen. […]

Mosquito numbers set to soar after long rains
Aedes aegypti mosquito ready for a meal, followed by laying eggs in your birdbath. Photo: Dr Cameron Webb. This backyard birdbath, filled by the recent rains, contains dozens of mosquito larvae that can mature within a week. The black spots are mosquito eggs or pupae, ready to hatch. MOSQUITO numbers are set to soar due […]

Beanie for Brain Cancer’s Coffs Harbour stopover
FORMER Newcastle Knights player Mark Hughes and Professor Mike Fay are returning to Coffs Harbour on 7 June for Beanie for Brain Cancer. The co-founder of the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) and Director of the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research, will stopover as part of a regional road trip. The pair are hitting the […]

Holden Special Vehicle Show and Shine attracts performance cars
Show and Shine judge Bob Carle, Holden HSV Nation Club President Lucas Jacobsen and National Holden Motor Museum’s Chris Paynter. A display Holden HSV receives a quick spruce up after the journey from Dorrigo. A well-attended Show and Shine event at the Bunker’s National Holden Motor Museum. Two exhibitors ‘tech talk’ the differences in Holden […]
Fodder drops provide lifeline to flooded farmers
HELICOPTERS have provided isolated farmers with emergency fodder for their stranded livestock, as part of a range of support available to flood-affected farmers across the Mid North Coast, North Coast and Hunter. As of midday Saturday, 24 May, there had been 43 helicopter aerial drops of fodder, and nearly 131 emergency fodder drops by other […]
Eligible residents can now apply for disaster recovery payments
DISASTER assistance payments are now available to people whose home or livelihood has been affected by recent flooding. There are two payment streams: 1. Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the NSW East Coast Severe Weather (from 18 May […]