Letter to the Editor: A delusion of the energy-illiterates
DEAR News Of The Area, THE likely demise of the Tomago Aluminium facility without government subsidy is due to rising electricity costs with the increasing proportion of renewables (actually weather-dependent intermittents) in the electricity grid. The mantra: ‘renewables are the cheapest form of energy’ is a delusion of the energy-illiterates. Sunbeams and breezes are there […]
Letter to the Editor: Big thanks to fire volunteers
DEAR News Of The Area, IT’S truly humbling that almost 50 people volunteered their time to undertake a hazard reduction burn that will help keep our property, the wildlife and nature that lives here, and our family safer this summer. Volunteers like you all are the fabric that knits our community together. I would like […]
Kate Washington MP and Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Minister for Roads, with Maritime officers in Port Stephens.
Locations confirmed for powered vessel trial
Kate Washington MP and Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Minister for Roads, with Maritime officers in Port Stephens. The three locations for the trial. Photo: NSW Gov. THE locations for a powered vessel exclusion zone trial in Port Stephens have been announced. The trial will run from 24 December 2025 to 26 January […]
The cost to farmers of grain for feral pig trapping and baiting can be significant. Photo: supplied.
Free grain and bait on offer in statewide offensive on feral pigs
LANDHOLDERS across NSW are being encouraged to take advantage of $850,000 worth of free grain and bait on offer as part of a statewide crackdown on feral pigs. The funding is part of the Government’s Feral Pig and Pest Program with funding from the State’s more than $1 billion biosecurity budget. It is the third […]
War on waste: more single-use plastics banished
PESKY plastic tags on loaves of bread, tiny soy sauce fish bottles and detachable bottle tops are all being binned by a state government battling a mounting rubbish crisis. The ambitious clean-up is part of an expanded ban by NSW coinciding with the start of National Recycling Week. The NSW Plastic Plan 2.0, will see […]
Letter to the Editor: Call for inquiry Into AUKUS nuclear subs
DEAR News Of The Area, IN May’s Federal Election, Australians voted against dangerous nuclear reactors, so why is the Australian Government persisting with the AUKUS nuclear submarines deal? More than 30,000 people have signed a petition calling for an independent parliamentary inquiry into the AUKUS pact. Is it in our national security and best interests? […]
Chris Bowen says you don't have to have solar panels on your roof to reap the benefits. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
Fears ‘free’ electricity could come with hidden costs
ENERGY retailers say they’ve been blindsided by reforms promising free electricity to hundreds of thousands of Australians during peak solar power hours. The Solar Sharer program, announced by the federal government last Tuesday, would give consumers free access to electricity for three hours each day as part of the default offer available. Households in NSW, […]
The fibre break impacted Optus customers in Port Stephens, Maitland and surrounding areas. Photo: Optus.
Investigation into damaged Optus tower
AN investigation is underway in relation to an Optus communications tower being damaged at Hexham. About 3.15pm on Wednesday 5 November, officers from Newcastle City Police District responded to reports of a communications tower situated along Maitland Road being maliciously damaged. The fibre break impacted Optus customers in Port Stephens, Maitland and surrounding areas. Mobile […]
Netball coach and official Ashlee Hall was named Nelson Bay Netball Association’s Volunteer of the Year for 2025.
Dedicated Ashlee Hall is Nelson Bay Netball’s Volunteer of the Year
NETBALL is a 12 month commitment for experienced Nelson Bay Association mentor Ashlee Hall. Whether she’s guiding the district’s elite junior talent and senior representative squads on and off court, teaching young hopefuls the game’s finer points at the start of their netball journey, or devoting her spare time to committee duties, the indefatigable Hall […]
