WANDERING around a graveyard may seem like a strange thing to do, but that’s exactly what Debbie Hicks has been doing for the past several years.  “I moved to Gloucester in December 2020 during Covid and you were allowed to go about on your own,” she told NOTA. “Gloucester Cemetery was close by and I […]

THE MidCoast Council Koala Safe Spaces team will host an interactive stall at the Nabiac Market on Saturday 28 March, helping residents to improve koala habitats across the region. Visitors can collect free koala feed trees to plant on their properties and speak directly with experts about how to establish and maintain koala-friendly landscapes. Attendees […]

COAL mine expansions are on the cards for at least another 25 years under NSW’s new mining road map at odds with its environment commission. The NSW government announced its coal industry outlook for 2026-2050 on Thursday, saying it will no longer consider new coal mines but applications to extend existing mines will be assessed. […]

ALMOST 40 years since the Tangara trains were built in Newcastle, the work to extend their life is coming back to the Hunter, with the establishment of two new production lines at the rail facility in Cardiff. This NSW Government investment will create around 100 new jobs and 20 apprenticeships in the Hunter region. The […]

GLOUCESTER Garden Club members took part in a comprehensive discussion on recycling and waste management at their first meeting for 2026. Guest speaker Jessie Summerville, the Water Resilience Officer with MidCoast Council, highlighted different recycling programs and what waste each bin can take. “Your recycled waste is sent to a Visy material recovery facility where […]

MIDCOAST Council’s Bootawa koala research program has yielded some fantastic results, especially for one koala nicknamed “Drake”. Drake was caught along with 37 other koalas when Council partnered with The University of Sydney’s Koala Health Hub team to conduct the research program in 2025. When caught, Drake was in poor condition, tested positive for chlamydia, […]

HUNTER residents are being urged to change a child’s life and become a foster carer, with the State Government launching a local foster carer recruitment drive. Right now, there are over 160 children and young people across the Hunter who cannot live safely with their families. There is a particular need for people to care […]

GLOUCESTER Environment Group members undertake a bushwalk in the local area each month, with their February walk featuring highlights of the Barrington Tops. The late summer jaunt was led by Steve Robinson. “After so much hot weather, our group of 16 enjoyed visiting the alpine plateaux where temperatures were a good ten degrees cooler than […]

GLOUCESTER State Emergency Service (SES) members were honoured at an awards ceremony at Taree on 10 March, some for bravery and other for years of dedicated service. Among the award recipients were Rob McNeice and Robert Seale, who received the Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage for the rescue of a person from fast flowing floodwaters. On […]

A FIFTH-GENERATION family timber operation in Bulahdelah says it is absorbing an almost $8000 weekly fuel surge to keep hardwood moving to Australia’s cities. Anthony Dorney and his brothers operate two hardwood sawmills, SA Relf and Newells Creek, continuing a timber cutting tradition which has lasted for more than a century. Last week, Anthony pulled […]