BELLINGEN Shire Council is inviting the community to have its say on local library services as part of a comprehensive Library Service Review. Residents are encouraged to share feedback on what is working well, what could be improved, and how libraries can continue to meet the needs of the community into the future. The survey […]
Record remand numbers drive growth in NSW prison population
NEW data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows the state’s prison population reached 13,133 in December 2025, an increase of 8.5 percent (1,026 people) over the past two years. The growth has been driven by a sharp rise in the number of people held on remand. Between December 2023 […]
$15 million investment in state’s renewable energy workforce
THE NSW and Federal governments are investing $15 million over four years to train the skilled workforce needed for the state’s renewable energy rollout, set to create thousands of jobs in regional NSW. The investment underpins the state’s Renewable Energy Skills Strategy, launched last week by Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe and Minister for Skills, […]
Motorcyclists and riders ready for charity Dice Run
The ‘Open to all Motorcyclists and Riders, Charity Dice Run’ takes place on Saturday 21 February. The ‘Open to all Motorcyclists and Riders, Charity Dice Run’ takes place on Saturday 21 February. WITH dozens of motorcyclists riding in the Mid North Coast Charity Dice Run on Saturday 21 February, organisers are hoping for clement weather […]
Meeting to provide update on Nambucca Council’s LEP amendment
A PUBLIC meeting will be held in Macksville to update the community on the progress of an amendment to Nambucca Valley Council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP). The amendment proposes changes to the rules for intensive horticulture in the Nambucca Valley, in an attempt to tighten regulations following a ramp-up in blueberry production in the region. […]
City of Coffs Harbour Council to raise Boambee concerns with Reflections
CITY of Coffs Harbour Council will write to the Chief Executive Officer of Reflections Holidays Nick Baker, to formally raise community concerns regarding the maintenance of local Reflections-managed reserves. The condition of Boambee Creek Reserve, which comes under the auspices of Crown Land manager Reflections, was raised in a Notice of Motion by Councillor Paul […]
Coffs strata agent disqualified after $2m taken from customers
NSW Fair Trading has cancelled the licence of Coffs Harbour strata manager Jessica Marrie Carah and permanently disqualified her from the property and strata industry. The regulator made the decision after finding Ms Carah had fraudulently converted over $2 million from dozens of strata schemes accounts into her own personal account. Due to the fraudulent […]
EPA project aims to monitor impacts of pesticides on region’s waterways
A 12-MONTH pesticide water quality monitoring project is underway on the Mid North Coast to better understand the presence of pesticides in the region’s waterways. Led by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the project builds on previous monitoring work and aims to provide a clearer picture of pesticide detections in waterways in the Coffs […]
NSW residents encouraged to be alert to signs of avian influenza in poultry
THE NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is encouraging everyone to be alert to signs of avian influenza in commercial and domestic poultry, and wildlife. Australia remains free from the H5N1 strain that is causing concern globally, however there is a risk the disease may be introduced by wild birds that migrate […]
Doctors hail Medicare changes as win for rural patients
SOME elderly rural cancer patients live on farms with limited connectivity, hundreds of kilometres from the closest computer and even further from their doctor. These are the kinds of marginalised patients who will be helped by hard-fought new telehealth Medicare rebates, allowing for longer telephone consultations with specialists, medical oncologist Christopher Steer says. The new […]
