CITY of Coffs Harbour Council has identified 38 actions in its draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy,  now on exhibition for public feedback. Developed by the City in partnership with the Yandaarra Aboriginal Advisory Committee, the draft is a comprehensive umbrella document, which recognises the cultural, historical, and ongoing contributions of Aboriginal people as […]

A $30 MILLION NSW Government investment will deliver long-awaited upgrades to Summervilles and Gordonville roads in the Bellingen Shire. These roads serve as alternate routes when Waterfall Way is closed between Bellingen and Dorrigo, as was the case when Waterfall Way was closed for nine weeks earlier this year. Transport for NSW will work alongside […]

Chris Hansen. Probus Club secretary Natalie Sheaves and chairman John Williams. PROBUS Club of Coffs City members were regaled with tales of the aviation industry from guest speaker Chris Hansen at their recent annual general meeting (AGM). Mr Hansen said he realised at the tender age of four that he was born to fly. However, […]

WITH 1 June marking the first day of winter, residents are being urged to test their smoke alarms as part of the national safety reminder for Smoke Alarm Action Day. As temperatures drop, the risk of house fires increases due to greater use of heaters, electric blankets, fireplaces, and cooking appliances. At the same time, […]

COFFS Coast photographer Rob Cleary has lived many lives across many postcodes. Perth, Devonport, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Cygnet. Then the Coffs Coast came calling. Offered a Tourism Marketing Manager role with Coffs Harbour City Council, Rob finally put down roots. The tourism career made sense. He’d worked with Tourism Tasmania and Huon Valley Council, knew […]

THE Sapphire Beach public amenities block will be closed indefinitely after a spate of vandalism. In multiple incidents over the past two weeks, the building has come under arson attack, doors have been kicked in, faucets broken and toilet roll holders destroyed. Police have been informed while the City scopes the scale of repair and […]

MORE than a century after first opening its doors to the Dorrigo community, the much-loved Heritage Hotel Dorrigo has been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. Built in 1925 by Greek migrant Michael Feros, the striking Federation-style hotel is a testament to the contribution of migrant communities to the social, cultural and economic life […]

NATIONALS Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan reckons the Labor Government’s Federal Budget fails “the pub test”. In his response to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ far-reaching measures, delivered on 12 May, Mr Conaghan said benefits would not be realised for several years. “The signature cost-of-living piece in Jim’s budget announcement is an ongoing $250 tax offset for […]

ABORIGINAL groups are opposing plans to amend land rights laws, launching a campaign that included marching from Hyde Park to Parliament House in Sydney on Wednesday 6 May. The government introduced the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 into Parliament in March. Despite being described as “minor” and “procedural”, Aboriginal groups say it […]

LOCAL forest protestors left Coffs Harbour District Court with no convictions recorded and no fines, after successfully appealing charges related to a protest in Orara East State Forest in June, 2025. They were among approximately 30 people who took part in a community “walk-on” opposing logging out of concern for the impacts on water catchments, […]