September 16, 2026

Port Stephens News Of The Area

Modern media delivering relevant community news
Less than 100 Days to Census: Regional Australia encouraged to be counted Data from the 2021 Census showed a significant shift in where people live, with more than 184,000 people moving to regional areas over the previous five years. Photo: supplied.
Local News

Less than 100 Days to Census: Regional Australia encouraged to be counted

THE 2026 Census is less than 100 days away, with Census night to be held on Tuesday 11 August 2026. The Census is an important tool for regional and rural communities, as it shows what local areas need to help them grow, including transport, schools, healthcare, roads and buildings. Emily Walter, Census National Spokesperson, said […]

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Lower Hunter records highest April water usage in 20 years Chichester Dam, April 2026.
Local News

Lower Hunter records highest April water usage in 20 years

Chichester Dam, April 2026. Grahamstown Dam, April 2026. HUNTER Water is urging customers to make smart water choices as the Lower Hunter records its highest April water usage in 20 years, alongside declining dam levels and ongoing dry conditions. Residential water use topped 3.7 billion litres in the month, equating to 189 litres per person […]

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700-plus drivers caught during traffic operation Operation RAID was conducted across NSW. Photo: NSW Police.
Local News

700-plus drivers caught during traffic operation

MORE than 708 drivers have been detected allegedly driving with drugs in their systems during a statewide police traffic operation. Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers), which ran from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 May, focused on roadside testing to identify people who may be driving while affected by alcohol and drugs. During the operation, […]

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Nelson Bay locals protest against planned pathway between Halifax and Harwood Avenue Part of the area near Harwood Avenue that will be converted into a concrete shared pathway. Photo: Nico Lombardo.
Local News

Nelson Bay locals protest against planned pathway between Halifax and Harwood Avenue

Part of the area near Harwood Avenue that will be converted into a concrete shared pathway. Photo: Nico Lombardo. The red line shows where the pathway will be once constructed. Image: Port Stephens Council. NELSON Bay residents are protesting the creation of a 500-metre long and three-metre wide concrete shared pathway between Halifax and Harwood […]

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BUSINESS SHOWCASE: Exposed to asbestos or silica dust?
Business

BUSINESS SHOWCASE: Exposed to asbestos or silica dust?

FOR many in our community, hard work in industries like timber, farming, power generation, construction and mining has been a way of life. But for some, that work has come at a hidden cost. Diseases caused by asbestos and silica dust often take decades to appear. By the time symptoms develop, the connection to past […]

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Police charge more than 900 people during domestic violence operation Evidence seized during investigations in the Hunter region. Photo: NSW Police.
Police

Police charge more than 900 people during domestic violence operation

NSW POLICE have charged over 900 people following a four-day statewide operation targeting offenders with a history of domestic violence. Operation Amarok XIII ran from Wednesday 13 to Saturday 16 May. The operation is described as an “intelligence-led, offender-focused operation that aims to ensure the safety and wellbeing of domestic and family violence victims and […]

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Art competition highlights annual bird migration The Latham’s Snipe. Photo: supplied, Port Stephens Sister Cities Committee.
Community

Art competition highlights annual bird migration

THE enigmatic Latham’ s Snipe, after departing early autumn on an epic non-stop 8,500-kilometre flight from the Hunter Estuary wetlands, is now taking time out to breed in northern Japan. Come July, Latham’s Snipe and other migratory species will commence their journey back to the Hunter wetlands to fatten up on invertebrates, insects and seeds […]

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Fuel transparency differing between regions NSW Fair Trading’s compliance inspections have taken place across the state. Photo: NSW Government.
Government

Fuel transparency differing between regions

THE NSW Government’s ongoing FuelCheck inspection program has revealed which regions across the state have the best and worst compliance rates for price transparency. While approximately half of all inspections have taken place outside of Sydney, around 70 percent of all fines have been issued in regional NSW. The Central Coast comes out on top […]

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Budget brawl escalates over rival tax cut proposals The federal government has continued back its budget tax reforms despite opposition criticism. Photo: Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS.
Regional

Budget brawl escalates over rival tax cut proposals

A ROW has broken out over the cost of cutting taxes for millions of Australians as Labor and the opposition try to sell rival economic plans to voters. After a week dominated by the state of the nation’s finances, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused the opposition of failing to properly price its plan to bake […]

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Farmers urged to act early on feral pig control Feral pigs are highly adaptable and reproduce rapidly, making ongoing control essential.
Local News

Farmers urged to act early on feral pig control

WITH dry seasonal conditions being experienced in many parts of the region, Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) is urging producers to act early on feral pig control. As feed and water become limited, feral pigs are concentrating around remaining resources, increasing the risk of damage to crops, pastures and infrastructure, and putting additional pressure on […]

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