A FORMER traffic engineer has expressed urgent safety concerns over two infamous highway intersections, describing the level of risk as “unacceptable”. As reported in NOTA on 21 January 2026, the NSW Government currently has no firm plans to fix the busy and dangerous Bucketts Way/Pacific Highway intersection in the foreseeable future. “Further investigations are underway […]

THE NSW Government has released a new guide to support councils to undertake land audits to identify vacant operational land that could be used to deliver affordable housing projects. The “Council Led Affordable Housing on Operational Land Guide” released by the Office of Local Government provides step-by-step guidance for councils on identifying and managing affordable […]

ARTS Mid North Coast (AMNC) has welcomed the NSW Government’s launch of “Heartland: A Plan for Regional NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 2026–2035”, backed by a $5.2 million investment aimed at strengthening arts, culture and creative industries across regional NSW. AMNC is the Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) and peak body for arts and […]

Bretti Reserve, on the banks of the Barnard River, as seen by travelling YouTubers Tom and Ash McCarthy. Photo: MCCRAM Adventures. Bretti Reserve, on the banks of the Barnard River, as seen by travelling YouTubers Tom and Ash McCarthy. Photo: MCCRAM Adventures. Gavin Clayton’s photo from six weeks ago shows grass has returned to the […]

FOLLOWING the significant impacts of the May 2025 weather event, MidCoast Council is hosting a “Community and Service Hubs Workshop” facilitated by the Australian Red Cross. “Following large scale events like the May 2025 floods it is important for the organisations that responded to unpack and workshop the experience to identify improvements for future events,” […]

MIDCOAST Council is celebrating one year of ECO Destination Certification for the Barrington Coast, as awarded by Ecotourism Australia. The region is renowned for its exceptional natural assets, including the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of the Barrington Tops and the Ramsar-listed wetlands of the Myall Lakes. The landscapes in the region continue to attract visitors […]

MIDCOAST Council is hosting free workshops during March 2026 to improve road safety across the area. The free workshops are designed to increase participants’ knowledge and awareness of road safety. “The outcome is improved driver behaviour supporting a safer environment for all road users,” MidCoast Council said in a statement. “Three separate workshops are being […]

THE state’s peak body for farmers has presented the state government with a range of suggestions for improvements to firearms regulations. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said that “sudden, sweeping changes” to firearms laws had created adverse and unintended consequences, with ongoing uncertainty causing major problems for food and fibre producers. “At the moment I’m […]

CHARGES have been laid as detectives investigate fraud and stealing offences allegedly committed in car parks in dozens of locations across NSW, including in Port Stephens and the Mid Coast. Officers attached to North West Metropolitan Region established Strike Force Pitstop to investigate incidents reported across the state, from Newcastle to Wagga Wagga and including […]

WALK to Work Day will take place on Friday, 26 March, encouraging Australians to build more walking into their daily routines while raising funds for better mental health outcomes nationwide. The annual campaign, led by the Pedestrian Council of Australia, highlights the physical and mental health benefits of walking and this year supports the Black […]