April 20, 2026
Sydney to Grafton XPT service to resume this month The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history.
Government

Sydney to Grafton XPT service to resume this month

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 […]

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Works on East Seaham Road now complete Port Stephens Council Mayor Leah Anderson, State Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington and Federal Lyne MP Alison Penfold.
Government

Works on East Seaham Road now complete

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 […]

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1800 petrol stations inspected for fuel price compliance
Government

1800 petrol stations inspected for fuel price compliance

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 […]

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MidCoast Council proposes tighter controls on paper subdivisions
Government

MidCoast Council proposes tighter controls on paper subdivisions

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) […]

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Council developing a plan for Raymond Terrace’s growth Council says the Place Plan will outline the community's vision for Raymond Terrace and identify practical actions to achieve it.
Community, Government

Council developing a plan for Raymond Terrace’s growth

PORT Stephens Council is calling on residents to help shape the future of Raymond Terrace as part of a new Place Plan. The Raymond Terrace–Heatherbrae Strategy has been guiding the direction of Raymond Terrace since 2015, with Council seeking to produce an updated plan in response to the area’s rapid growth. “Our Local Housing Strategy […]

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What goes into your petrol pump price? The prices of petrol and diesel at Tea Gardens on Friday, 20 March. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Government, National

What goes into your petrol pump price?

GLOBAL events, most notably the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, have seen petrol and diesel prices skyrocket in the last few weeks, with a jump of 10 cents per litre (c/l) seen in a matter of days. As of Sunday 22 March 2026, crude oil prices are around US$122 per barrel – high by […]

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Women underrepresented on councils across NSW
Government

Women underrepresented on councils across NSW

LOCAL Government NSW ((LGNSW) is calling for more female representation on elected councils in NSW. Council representatives from across the state gathered in Sydney on Friday for the peak body’s International Women’s Day event. Mayor Darcy Byrne, President of LGNSW, said the event was an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the role of women […]

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Motorists celebrate as bottleneck cleared at Hexham
Government

Motorists celebrate as bottleneck cleared at Hexham

THE long-awaited widening of the Hexham Straight is complete, clearing a bottleneck infamous across the Hunter. Motorists can now travel on three lanes in each direction, along the full six-kilometre stretch. The speed limit has also been increased to 80 kilometres per hour. With all lanes now open, teams are carrying out minor finishing work […]

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CSIRO unveils $3M upgrade to flagship renewable energy lab Demonstrating Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in CSIRO's Renewable Energy Integration Facility.
Business, Government

CSIRO unveils $3M upgrade to flagship renewable energy lab

THE CSIRO has officially launched the $3 million upgrade of the Renewable Energy Integration Facility (REIF) at its Energy Centre in Newcastle. The national science agency says the upgrade will significantly expand Australia’s capability to test, validate and commercialise technologies needed for a more sustainable, reliable and secure electricity system. The expanded facility includes a […]

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Construction begins on renewable energy zone Energy Minister Penny Sharpe speaks in Kurri Kurri.
Government

Construction begins on renewable energy zone

CONSTRUCTION is officially underway on the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), a project the state government says will generate enough energy to power more than all the homes in the Hunter. REZs aim to group new wind and solar power generation and batteries into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across […]

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