March 15, 2026
Coffs Botanic Garden opens Nature Discovery Centre The new architect-designed Nature Discovery Centre with yarning circle in forest surrounds at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
Local News

Coffs Botanic Garden opens Nature Discovery Centre

The new architect-designed Nature Discovery Centre with yarning circle in forest surrounds at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden. The new architect-designed Nature Discovery Centre with yarning circle in forest surrounds at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden. A koala in the central forest area of the Botanic Garden, Coffs Harbour. THE launch of the […]

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Linda Coomber fills empty spot on Bellingen Shire Council
Local News

Linda Coomber fills empty spot on Bellingen Shire Council

LINDA Coomber has joined Bellingen Shire Council as a councillor, following the completion of a countback election administered by the NSW Electoral Commission. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the recent resignation of former councillor Ellie Tree, who stepped down from her official duties due to personal reasons in May 2025. In line with […]

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Make-up of Australian Senate confirmed The writs were returned to Governor-General Sam Mostyn on 12 June by Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope. Photo: AEC.
Government, National

Make-up of Australian Senate confirmed

RESULTS of the 2025 Federal Election have been finalised and the writs returned to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn. This marks the end of the electoral process for the House of Representatives and Senate and paves the way for the opening of the 48th Parliament on 22 July. Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said the election […]

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Digital creators added to line-up at Australian Children’s Content Summit Mary Ellen-Mullane (ABC), Kate Morton (BBC) and Adriano Schmidt (PBS Kids) during the 2024 Australian Children’s Content Summit.
Local News

Digital creators added to line-up at Australian Children’s Content Summit

DIGITAL creators and gaming industry representatives will join the conversation for the first time at the Australian Children’s Content Summit in Coffs Harbour between 25-28 August. The digital, YouTube and games sectors have been added to the four-day program with industry sessions and collaborative meetups to be held. The addition of these new voices to […]

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Backlash over ‘quiet cut’ to train passes The six-month Discovery Pass, previously available for $420, offered unlimited travel across NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network.
Local News

Backlash over ‘quiet cut’ to train passes

LIBERAL MLC Aileen MacDonald has called for the NSW Government to immediately reinstate three-month and six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Passes, describing the removal as a “quiet cut” that disproportionately hurts regional communities. Speaking in the Legislative Council last week, Ms MacDonald moved a motion highlighting the significant impact of the removal of the passes on […]

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City centre revitalisation kick-started with CODA James Boyd, Cowper MP Pat Conaghan, David Doyle, Mayor Nikki Williams and John Rafferty.
Local News

City centre revitalisation kick-started with CODA

James Boyd, Cowper MP Pat Conaghan, David Doyle, Mayor Nikki Williams and John Rafferty. The CODA apartments. Photo: C.ex Group. THE official opening of the CODA Apartments, a modern, high-quality residential development on Harbour Drive, is a major milestone in the revitalisation of Coffs Harbour’s city centre. Saturday 14 June saw community members gather in […]

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Humpback whale migration begins with prime viewing from Coffs Coast A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS.
Regional

Humpback whale migration begins with prime viewing from Coffs Coast

A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. A playful humpback close to the shoreline. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. HUMPBACK whales are passing the Coffs Coast on their annual migration. Each year, approximately 40,000 humpback whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds and travel north to the warmer waters off NSW and […]

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Mayors and MPs up the ante in push for alternate route to Plateau and New England Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison with MPs Pat Conaghan, Gurmesh Singh and Michael Kemp, Bellingen Mayor Steve Allan, and City of Coffs Mayor Nikki Williams.
Government

Mayors and MPs up the ante in push for alternate route to Plateau and New England

Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison with MPs Pat Conaghan, Gurmesh Singh and Michael Kemp, Bellingen Mayor Steve Allan, and City of Coffs Mayor Nikki Williams. Michael Kemp, Pat Conaghan and Steve Allan at an earlier inspection of Waterfall Way. COFFS Coast mayors and MPs have met in State Parliament to continue lobbying for […]

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Sawtell’s Viv Simpson volunteers ‘just because’
Community

Sawtell’s Viv Simpson volunteers ‘just because’

VIV Simpson hates to see people feeling lonely or abandoned. The Sawtell resident, who’s in his early seventies, spends much of his time with aged care residents or dementia patients who have no one else visiting or looking out for them. “I consider it an honour,” he told News Of The Area. “Just listening and […]

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Coffs Colon Care support group spreading bowel cancer awareness Coffs Colon Care (CCC) support group members Sharen Hackfath, Donna Harper and Julie Williams with colorectal surgeon Wilson Petrushnko and Baringa Private Hospital CEO Jo Brown.
Community, Health

Coffs Colon Care support group spreading bowel cancer awareness

Coffs Colon Care (CCC) support group members Sharen Hackfath, Donna Harper and Julie Williams with colorectal surgeon Wilson Petrushnko and Baringa Private Hospital CEO Jo Brown. Cancer survivor Julie Williams. COFFS Harbour’s Coffs Colon Care (CCC) support group is raising awareness of bowel cancer and Red Apple Day. Organised by Bowel Cancer Australia, Red Apple […]

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