THE wait for XPT replacement trains looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, with Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Camilla Drover unable to put a date on when the new trains would come into service. “I’m not willing to commit to a hard and fast date,” she said at a recent Parliamentary budget estimates […]
Port Stephens Council to tighten moderation on social media
PORT Stephens Council has resolved to improve moderation on its social media accounts. The motion was introduced by Mayor Leah Anderson in response to a perceived increase in negative comments and interactions on various social media pages related to the Council and local community groups. “For too long, we have been tolerating poor behaviour on […]

Port Stephens Council votes to remove carbon emissions targets
PORT Stephens Council has voted to suspend Carbon Neutral and Net Zero emissions targets for at least the next five years. At the council meeting on Tuesday 8 July, the Emissions Reduction Action Plan was on the agenda for discussion. By offsetting emissions, Port Stephens has reduced its carbon footprint by 40 percent since the […]
$40k Heritage Grant to help protect Birubi Point Aboriginal Place
PORT Stephens Council has received a grant of $40,000 for the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place. The grant was awarded under the NSW Heritage Grants Program. This year the program awarded a record $8.56 million to 140 grant recipients, with the aim to protect and restore heritage sites across NSW. “Our record investment highlights the Minns […]

Council launches ‘Local Voices’ competition to raise awareness of safe speeds
COUNCIL is inviting local budding content creators, safety advocates and creatives to educate the Port Stephens community on safe driving speeds. The Local Voices competition gives Port Stephens residents the opportunity to get creative in sharing their perspectives, telling their stories and raising awareness of the importance of safe speeds on our local roads. “Local […]
Frustrated residents calling for a permanent fix to Port Stephens roads
RESIDENTS near Lemon Tree Passage Road are questioning why it was not sealed in the days leading up to last week’s forecasted storms. The road has been subject to multiple repairs in the past few years, with the adequacy of the work a subject of debate. Local Warwick Williams wants to see a permanent fix. […]
Public wharves close to commercial use
THE commercial use of public wharves in the MidCoast LGA has been discontinued as of 1 July, including the Yallinbah wharf on Marine Drive, Tea Gardens. The decision looks set to impact catamaran operator YKnot Cruises, which currently utilises the wharf for its Nelson Bay-Tea Gardens service. MidCoast Council resolved to discontinue the commercial use […]
Leadership competition invites young leaders to life-changing Power Trip in Canberra
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 […]