MIDCOAST Council voted to close the Nabiac Library at its meeting on Monday 30 June. According to Council, the library branch was flagged by the State Library of NSW in 2023 as not meeting public library minimum standards, which triggered Council to undertake a review of the facility. Council says approximately $100,000 in building works, […]

WITH some of the region’s sports fields still soggy after the recent floods, MidCoast Council has been trialling innovative ways to keep them maintained. Heavy equipment including tractors with slashers and zero-point mowers are usually used to keep growth under control, but the sheer weight of the machines causes damage to the playing surface. Instead, […]

FORESTRY Corporation is reminding residents to purchase firewood authorisations before collecting wood from State forests. Recent updates have been made to Forestry Corporation’s online firewood permit page. The conditions for firewood collection have also been updated and should be understood prior to entering State forests. The system now distinguishes some locations between pine and native […]

THE Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is inviting pilots of all licence categories to attend an upcoming pilot safety seminar in Taree this weekend.  Each year, CASA’s aviation safety advisors host free seminars across Australia to help pilots refresh their skills, enhance their knowledge, and improve flight safety.  Effective communication is essential to flight safety, […]

NEW research has uncovered the immense potential of ‘working from home’ to regional Australia, with data capturing the nation’s growing desire to live in a regional setting but work in an urban one. A nationwide survey, commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), showed two-in-five city dwellers would consider a move to regional Australia, up […]

TEN new paramedic interns set to begin the on-road component of their 12-month internships in the Hunter region, taking their next steps towards becoming fully qualified paramedics. Four of the interns will be based in Hunter Zone 1, with the remaining six heading to Hunter Zone 2. Zone 1 is a smaller geographical area which […]

  Rachel Barry, platypus mascot ‘Becan’ and Callaghan kids at May’s Tocal Field Day. Photo: supplied.   Regional Platypus Initiative coordinators Sian Ineson, Rachel Barry and Julie Overton during a planning session. Photo: supplied.   Platypus Becan and the Easter Bunny go head-to-head at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby. Photo: supplied.   THE “Barrington Rivers […]

The nearly completed new bridge. The bridge adjacent to the present crossing. THE long-awaited Billabong Park footbridge is set to be open for pedestrians very soon. In March 2021 parts of Gloucester were inundated by floodwaters which reached parts of the central business district, flooding several shops. As the torrent pored through the nearby Billabong […]

Some of the damage caused by May’s floods in Mid North Coast and Hunter State Forests. Photos: Forestry Corporation. THE region’s State Forests are progressively reopening following the floods and severe weather of May but the Forestry Corporation is urging users to check the status of trails and campgrounds in advance, and to exercise extreme […]

THIS year’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Golf Day Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, 28 June. The emergency service has been operating in the Hunter region, including Gloucester, since 1975. It proudly provides emergency aeromedical assistance 24/7, encompassing search and rescue operations as well as inter-hospital transfers. In May 2025, the Rescue Helicopter completed a total […]