THE Rotary Club of Nelson Bay is planning an extension to Tomaree Community Hospital Rotary Garden. It was completed two years ago and has been called an “outstanding success”. “The garden was built on a barren area adjacent to the patient wards and is in constant use by patients and visitors to the hospital,” a […]
Residents are demanding action on Oyster Cove Road’s potholes
Signs have been posted to warn drivers to slow down due to the dangerous conditions. Oyster Cove Road has been full of potholes for weeks now. PORT Stephens residents are once again voicing their concerns about hazardous road conditions. Oyster Cove Road has been a recent source of frustration, with potholes covering the full length […]
Concept plans for Tomaree Lodge unveiled at community information session
Around 200 people attended the public information session. A snapshot of the proposed precinct concept, as presented by architect Justin Hamilton of SHAC. Tomaree Lodge is situated in Worimi Country and is state heritage-listed. CONCEPT plans for Tomaree Lodge were shared with around 200 community members during a public information session on Wednesday 27 August. […]
Local pub joins ‘Steptember’
“STEPTEMBER” is Australia’s leading virtual health and wellness fundraising challenge, supporting life-changing research, therapy and services for people living with cerebral palsy. This September, the team at The Salamander Hotel are using their bar steps as fitness steps as they take part in STEPtember. From bartenders to kitchen crew, the whole team is committed to […]
Changes to government payments and deeming rates
A NUMBER of changes to social security payments, rates, and limits will commence from 20 September 2025. People receiving the full single rate of Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment will see a $29.70 boost to their fortnightly payment. People receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance, JobSeeker, ABSTUDY (aged 22 and over), and Parenting Payment […]
Australians warned to pay attention to superannuation paperwork
MILLIONS of Australians are putting their superannuation at risk by not following-through with proper, and legally binding, beneficiary paperwork, according to a nation-wide survey. Research conducted by Super Consumers Australia, an advocate for people on low and middle incomes in Australia’s superannuation system, shows that more than one in three Australians with super say they […]
Shoaly Collective awarded $200k grant to transform Shoal Bay
THE Shoaly Collective has been awarded $200,000 through the NSW Government’s Uptown Grant Program. The Collective includes Port Stephens Paddle Sports, Shoal Bay Newsagency, The Café, Port Stephens Community Arts Centre, Ramada Resort Shoal Bay and the Shoal Bay Country Club. The group is planning to use the funding to transform Shoal Bay into a […]

New Code of Meeting Practice for local councils
A NEW Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils has been released and will come into effect in local councils from 1 January 2026. All councils will need to adopt a code of meeting practice that contains the mandatory provisions of the updated Model Meeting Code by 31 December 2025. Key changes to the […]

Vietnam Veterans Day commemorated in Tea Gardens
Artillery gunner and ‘Nasho’ Merv Mills spoke about the Battle of Long Tan, and his own Vietnam War experiences. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. The skies miraculously cleared after days of rain for the intimate ceremony at Tea Gardens. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Merv Mills with the M2A2 Howitzer at Tea Gardens’ Anzac Park, the same model he […]
Stargazing: that big ball of nuclear fire
THE next time you see the sunrise, take a moment. That big ball of nuclear fire lighting up your morning sky is not just sitting there politely waiting for you to make coffee. It’s racing around the Milky Way at an eye-watering 828,000 km/h, dragging Earth and the rest of the solar system along for […]