YOUNG rural women and non-binary students in Years 10 to 12 from across Australia will have the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime ‘Power Trip’ to the nation’s capital. Country to Canberra’s (C2C) prestigious Leadership Competition launched on Monday, opening the door for young rural leaders to embark on a four-day leadership experience designed to help […]
New PFAS guidelines released for drinking water
THE National Health and Medical Research Council has published updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which confirm new, lower values for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian drinking water supplies. PFAS are a class of more than 4,000 manufactured chemicals that are not found naturally in the environment. These chemicals have been widely used in […]

Development surge coming to Raymond Terrace
PORT Stephens Council says Raymond Terrace is experiencing a “wave of development growth”, with a sharp rise in applications and renewed interest from investors. In the past financial year, Port Stephens Council has approved 77 new residential homes in Raymond Terrace. A further 27 units are currently under assessment. Mayor Leah Anderson said the current […]
Council backs drainage review across Port Stephens
DRAINAGE across Medowie will be evaluated following unanimous support for a motion put forward at last week’s council meeting. Port Stephens councillors Chris Doohan and Ben Niland, and Port Stephens Deputy Mayor Jason Wells, said that poor drainage was particularly impacting residents in Medowie, Salt Ash, and in the Hinterland. “We need to get community […]

Backlash over ‘quiet cut’ to train passes
LIBERAL MLC Aileen MacDonald has called for the NSW Government to immediately reinstate three-month and six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Passes, describing the removal as a “quiet cut” that disproportionately hurts regional communities. Speaking in the Legislative Council last week, Ms MacDonald moved a motion highlighting the significant impact of the removal of the passes on […]

Budget funding for Stockton sand erosion
A TOTAL of $21.5 million has been allocated in the 2025-26 NSW Budget to continue sand renourishment works at Stockton Beach. According to the City of Newcastle, Stockton suffers from coastal erosion as its sand naturally moves north, but the Newcastle Breakwater impacts this movement from the south. “Beaches naturally move – not only landward […]

Nationals MPs slam disaster relief funding after Barrington visit
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell and Nationals leader Dugald Saunders met with primary producers in Barrington. NSW NATIONALS Leader Dugald Saunders has slammed the NSW Government over a “complete lack of urgency” to help flood-impacted businesses and primary producers, after visiting residents in Barrington last week. On Wednesday, 11 June, applications opened for grants of […]
Flood clean-up efforts continue in Port Stephens
CLEAN-UP efforts continue following severe flooding in the Port Stephens area. Lake Macquarie City Council offered its support in clearing flood-affected waste in Raymond Terrace this week. Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson was grateful for the help. “It is greatly appreciated by our community and Port Stephens Council,” she said. Minister for Emergency Management Kristy […]
Council approves plan to accelerate road improvements
PORT Stephens Council has approved a motion that will see up to $9 million made available for the improvement of roads across the local government area (LGA). The motion was introduced at the most recent council meeting on Tuesday 10 June by Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson. Reading from a prepared report on the matter, […]
Council to investigate shuttle bus proposal for Tomaree Headland
PORT Stephens councillor Mark Watson successfully moved a motion on 10 June requesting that Council investigate trialling a Shuttle Bus Service at the Tomaree Headland and Shoal Bay, in order to address traffic and parking issues at peak times. The Tomaree Headland Heritage Group (THHG) strongly supports the proposal, as the issues were identified during […]