January 10, 2026
Koala monitoring to begin at Bootawa Dam Wildlife handlers will catch, collar and tag koalas for research purposes. Photo: file, KCA.
Local News

Koala monitoring to begin at Bootawa Dam

MIDCOAST Council is assessing the health of the koala population within the Bootawa Dam area with key research partners including the Koala Health Hub at the School of Veterinary Science of The University of Sydney. Starting this spring, qualified wildlife handlers will catch, collar and tag koalas in a bid to understand the following points: […]

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Council releases waterway report card Each year between October and April Council works with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to undertake monitoring in our waterways.
Local News

Council releases waterway report card

MIDCOAST Council has released its annual Waterway and Catchment Report Card. Water sampling is undertaken across the LGA’s six major catchments – Manning River Estuary, Wallis Lake, Karuah River and The Branch Estuary, Myall Lakes, Kappinghat and Smiths Lake – to check in on their health and allow for a greater understanding of the patterns, […]

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Children suffer as hidden victims of coercive control
Local News

Children suffer as hidden victims of coercive control

BARNARDOS Australia warns that children in regional NSW are bearing the brunt of coercive control, as new crime statistics reveal rural communities are experiencing dramatically higher rates than other areas. The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research quarterly report shows regional NSW recorded 170 coercive control incidents from July 2024 to June 2025 compared […]

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National Climate Risk Assessment alarms more than scientists United Firefighters Union of Australia National Secretary Greg McConville, said the reports highlighted the urgency of the task ahead of policymakers. Photo: UFUA.
Local News

National Climate Risk Assessment alarms more than scientists

THE release of the “National Climate Risk Assessment” (NCRA) earlier this week has alarmed climate groups around the country. The assessment analyses 11 priority risks under three scenarios of 1.5°C, 2°C and 3°C warming. The 3°C warming by 2090 scenario includes warnings that heat-related deaths will rise by 444 percent in Sydney and 423 percent […]

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Barber’s pole worm warning for livestock producers
Local News

Barber’s pole worm warning for livestock producers

LIVESTOCK producers are being reminded to monitor their stock for barber’s pole worm, with the recent wet and warmer weather increasing larval pasture burdens, making stock more vulnerable. Barber’s pole worms (Haemonchus contortus) are about 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres long and are blood feeders, which attach to the lining of the stomach of livestock including […]

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Info session to cover flood impacts on the Manning Estuary The Manning Estuary suffered significant impacts from the May flooding event.
Local News

Info session to cover flood impacts on the Manning Estuary

AN INFORMATION session is being held for the community and flood affected land holders to uncover how the May flood impacted the riverbanks of the Manning Estuary. The free expert led information session will be hosted at the Taree University Campus on Saturday 27 September from noon to 2.30pm. Environmental specialists Damon Telfer and James […]

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Parliamentary committee to review NSW Reconstruction Authority’s response to May floods
Local News

Parliamentary committee to review NSW Reconstruction Authority’s response to May floods

A PARLIAMENTARY committee will review the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s response to May’s record-breaking flood event. After entire townships were left isolated and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged, the NSW Reconstruction Authority has been leading recovery operations, including coordinating clean-up and repair efforts. A NSW Parliament Joint Select Committee has recently commenced an inquiry […]

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The story of Lynda Holden: A forced adoption and a mother’s fight for justice Lynda Holden with her book ‘This Is Where You Have to Go’.
Local News

The story of Lynda Holden: A forced adoption and a mother’s fight for justice

GLOUCESTER writer and human rights advocate Lynda Holden is a testament to what an individual can achieve against the odds. The published author holds degrees in nursing, midwifery and adult education, a Master of Law, Criminology and Human Rights, and is a member of the NSW Ministerial Advisor Council on Ageing. But her journey wasn’t […]

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Direct flights to Perth a ‘huge win’ for tourism QantasLink, the airport, Council and the state government are celebrating the flights as a ‘huge win’ for the Hunter’s tourism industry.
Local News

Direct flights to Perth a ‘huge win’ for tourism

NEWCASTLE Airport’s first direct flight to Perth took off last Monday, ending the need for Hunter travellers to drive to Sydney for westbound journeys. The three-times weekly service, operated by a 150-seat QantasLink Airbus A319, aligns with the NSW Government’s recently announced Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which commits to improving access to and from regional […]

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Planning approval for Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone The project is set to be the first renewable energy zone in Australia to upgrade existing grid infrastructure such as distribution poles and wires.
Local News

Planning approval for Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone

THE Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone project has received planning approval after a review of environmental impacts and consultation. The project has an intended network capacity of one gigawatt (GW) and stretches from the Upper Hunter in the north to the Central Coast in the south. It is set to be the first renewable energy […]

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