May 19, 2026
Letter to the Editor: Sawetell Pool issues
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Sawetell Pool issues

DEAR News Of The Area The contempt that Coffs City Council has for the residents of Sawtell and the southern regions was clearly on show last week at the Sawtell Swimming Pool. It would appear that the purpose of this hastily arranged meeting, brilliantly set down for 2pm-4pm on a workday, was to educate local […]

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Legal Hypothetical: barking up the wrong tree
Hypothetical

Legal Hypothetical: barking up the wrong tree

BARBARA and Wally have been in a de facto relationship for six years. There is one child of the relationship, their four-year-old daughter. When their relationship breaks down, Barbara and Wally seek legal advice and are able to negotiate consent orders, which resolve parenting issues in relation to their child. They are also able to […]

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On the couch with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

On the couch with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, Frequently when I go shopping someone pushes a trolley into my ankles. How do I avoid this painful scenario? Jim R. Dear Jim, In the wrong hands, a trolley can be a weapon of mass destruction, thrust into the legs of an unsuspecting shopper when they are simply trying to reach for a […]

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Letter to the Editor: Draft Aquatic Strategy
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Draft Aquatic Strategy

DEAR News Of The Area In regard to the draft aquatic strategy, what is on offer disregards (as usual with draft strategies) the needs and wants of the community. Why is it that the community is never asked what it wants BEFORE a strategy is drafted? And why does the Council always engage external consultants? […]

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Letter to the Editor: government workplace hub
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: government workplace hub

DEAR News Of The Area I refer to the NOTA article on the “New government workplace hub to house 600 staff ” (Friday 19 December, 2025).  The article claims a number of advantages for the construction of the proposed Coffs Harbour Workplace Hub, including consolidating 26 existing leases, accommodating 600 staff from six government departments […]

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Letter to the Editor: the human paradox
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: the human paradox

DEAR News Of The Area The paradox of being human [is that] Intelligence asks, “Can we?” and Wisdom asks, “Should we?” Humans are the only creatures capable of inventing weapons that could end civilisation, and writing poetry about why we shouldn’t destroy ecosystems and grieving the loss. Or of building machines of war, and dreaming […]

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Legal Hypothetical: the dreaded smartphone will
Hypothetical

Legal Hypothetical: the dreaded smartphone will

FOLLOWING a recent health scare, Peter opens the Notes application on his iPhone and creates a document entitled “last will”. The note appoints his brother William as his executor, gifts his house and contents to his brothers and after some monetary gifts to friends and family, gifts the balance of his bank accounts to William. […]

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