Thomas McKinlay displays his winning entry. Santa, Mrs Claus and Santa’s helper. THE Gloucester branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) hosted a successful Santa’s Christmas Cave fundraiser on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 November. The idea came from CWA member Sandy Tebbet after she spent Christmas 2023 in New York City. Sandy was inspired […]
THE recently-released annual report of the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board reveals that 62 patients in the MidCoast Local Government Area had a first assessment for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) during the 12 months to 30 June 2025. Only six other local government areas had a greater number of first assessments, with the Central Coast […]
Band leader Sarah Soupidis with the 2025 Windstars band. Photo: supplied.
GLOUCESTER Public School (GPS) is expanding its band program in 2026, offering opportunities for students at each stage of their primary education. The program aims to provide clear pathways to a high school band and, ultimately, a possible community band. For many years the school has had a basic band known as Windstars. Presently during […]
MIDCOAST Council will move forward with plans to build an off-river water storage in the Peg Leg Creek area, near Tinonee, following last Wednesday’s Council meeting. A report was presented to Council reviewing three possible sites for the new water storage, along with potential sizes and construction methods. Councillors unanimously endorsed the recommendation to build […]
The Bretti Reserve river crossing.
A REPORT on a tragic incident during flooding at Bretti Reserve in March has been prepared and forwarded to the NSW Coroner. On 29 March, emergency services were called to Bretti Reserve on Thunderbolts Way after reports that an SUV towing a caravan had been swept into floodwaters from the reserve. A coordinated multi-agency search […]
The initiative utilises dash-mounted cameras on waste collection vehicles to collect digital imagery of road defects, including potholes, cracks, street litter, faded line markings, and damaged signs and guideposts.
THE Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) NSW & ACT, in collaboration with Transport for NSW, is conducting an innovative trial using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist maintenance teams in planning, managing, and repairing roads. According to the MidCoast Council Roads Strategy, the Council’s road network spans over 3,600km, approximately the same distance as […]
Virtual fencing works by producing light and sound that deters wildlife from crossing the road until the vehicle has passed.
MIDCOAST Council is installing approximately four kilometres of virtual fencing along the Bucketts Way, Tinonee, with the aim of sparing more koalas and other wildlife from vehicle strike. The first section of virtually fenced road is from the Bootawa Road/Bucketts Way intersection extending westward. Another two kilometre section is also planned from the Gloucester Road/Bucketts […]
A MAN has tragically died following a single-vehicle crash on The Bucketts Way. About 1.50pm on Sunday 30 November, emergency services were called to The Bucketts Way at Craven, about 14km south of Gloucester, following reports of a crash. Officers attached to Manning/Great Lakes Police District arrived to find a Kia SUV had collided with […]
MIDCOAST Council is finalising a contract to take over management of the Gloucester Holiday Park. According to a statement from Council, the existing lease for the park’s management lapsed in October 2019. The lease has continued on a month-by-month basis since then. “Council has considered various options for the future management of the park,” said […]
The community is encouraged to give the gift of happiness.
DONATIONS for the annual Salvation Army Christmas Toy Drive Appeal are now being accepted at Newcastle Permanent and Greater Bank branches until 12 December. The joint appeal has supported local families for nearly 40 years. Last year the community donated a record 7500 gifts through the branches. Salvation Army Auxiliary Lieutenant Bernie Muendel said the […]
