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 […]

PM commits to ‘lasting change’ in second-term agenda
ANTHONY Albanese has pledged to implement lasting and meaningful change in his second term as prime minister, promising his government can meet the moment against challenging circumstances. In his first major speech since winning an expanded majority at the May election, the prime minister said the government had a responsibility to disprove the doubters. Speaking […]
Roads to be repaired after 2022 weather event
CITY of Coffs Harbour says almost $1.5 million worth of remedial works will now be undertaken to the local government area’s (LGA) road network in the wake of a severe storm and flood event in February 2022. City Infrastructure Acting Director Daniel Noble said the 2022 weather event caused pavement failure, ‘crocodile cracking’ where the […]

Appeals upheld for Clouds Creek logging protesters
MEREDITH Stanton and Jane St Vincent Welch have successfully appealed their fines and conviction over a year-long vigil to protect the Clouds Creek Greater Glider Sanctuary and a proposed part of the Great Koala National Park. They were adamant they were acting lawfully and were on private property with the consent of the owner, […]

First-ever DNA mapping of NSW river mouths and estuaries
Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. Dr Maarten De Brauwer of SCU and Fisheries Technician Kait Harris conduct estuarine monitoring in Yamba. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. A MAJOR study of NSW estuaries using a novel […]

Bravery & Betrayal screening draws strong support in Coffs Harbour
A POWERFUL new documentary titled Bravery & Betrayal was screened last week at C.ex Coffs Harbour. The film offers a raw and deeply personal insight into the experiences of the Australian Special Forces during their years of service in Afghanistan. It also examines the media scrutiny and personal toll of official investigations of these elite […]

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 […]
Advocacy on the agenda for Coffs Harbour, Sawtell and Bellingen CWA
CWA members Coffs Harbour Branch, President Ros Hopwood with Ann Rehwinkel. Photo: Pauline Cain. Sawtell branch members (l-r) Lesley Berry, President Jackie England, Kaye Crockett, Jean Beby and Jenny Snodgrass. Photo: Pauline Cain. Bellingen CWA’s Faye Owner and Dorrigo’s Peg Parbury. Photo: Pauline Cain. NEWS Of The Area joined more than 600 delegates and another […]

Knife-edge recounts could decide parliament’s make-up
IT could take weeks to confirm the members of Australia’s next parliament, with one seat sitting on a margin of only eight votes and an incumbent in another requesting a second tally. Independent MP Zoe Daniel has requested a recount in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein. The Australian Electoral Commission finalised a margin of 260 […]

Scamming behaviour tipped to spike following natural disaster
PREDATORY scammer activity is predicted to skyrocket in the wake of the recent rains and flood disasters. In the aftermath of severe flooding, the State Government is urging people to remain vigilant when donating to recovery efforts. As communities recover and rebuild, authorities are warning that scammers may attempt to exploit the situation through fake […]