PORT Stephens councillors have unanimously endorsed a set of community advocacy priorities to put to state MPs ahead of the NSW Budget. The priorities outline key funding needs and were discussed at their latest meeting. They include support for road repairs, drainage infrastructure, housing, employment and economic growth, liveable communities, tourism, and sport and recreation. […]

CHANGES to Port Stephens Council’s Code of Meeting Practices have divided councillors, with amendments formally endorsed at their April meeting. In October 2025, Council started reviewing the time councillors and the public were allowed to consider business papers ahead of meetings. It has now voted to amend clause 3.8 of the Code of Meeting Practices, […]

THE ongoing housing crisis across the region was discussed in a livestreamed event hosted by Port Stephens Council on Wednesday, 22 April. Utilising a Facebook Live stream, Mayor Leah Anderson was joined by Council staff Zoe Pattison, Ryan Falkenmire and Brock Lamont in an hour-long conversation, attempting to answer the community’s questions about housing supply […]

THE Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has provided $3.25 million to MGA Thermal in Tomago for up to five front-end engineering design studies to help commercialise its thermal energy storage technology and support industrial electrification. MGA Thermal’s technology stores renewable energy as heat, which can then be used on demand for industrial processes, aimed at […]

The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history. The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history. THE Sydney to Grafton XPT train service is set to return from 28 April, after a year of coach replacements during fleet upgrades. Sydney to Grafton train services – travelling through the Central Coast, Hunter […]

ROADWORKS on East Seaham Road are now complete, following investments from all levels of government. The project included reconstructing the entire 3.1km unsealed section of East Seaham Road to become sealed and match road widths of previously constructed stages; upgraded drainage infrastructure to cater for large storm events and flooding; and installation of road safety […]

THE NSW Government has inspected just under 1800 petrol stations for fuel price compliance, issuing 93 penalty infringement notices. Over the last fortnight, the government fast-tracked a statewide fuel price compliance blitz to “strengthen fuel price transparency and protect motorists from misleading pricing”. Around 75 percent of stations in NSW were inspected by the beginning […]

MIDCOAST Council is seeking community feedback on its plans to change the rules around paper subdivisions. These are lots of land in non-urban areas that were historically recognised on paper but have no formed roads, drainage, sewerage or other infrastructure. Council is seeking to amend the State Environment Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) […]