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 […]
Port Authority of NSW Port Officer Tilley Murgatroyd. Photo: Port Authority of NSW.
HUNTER trainee Tilley Murgatroyd is taking her first steps into a maritime career as a Port Officer with Port Authority of NSW, after completing a hands-on traineeship delivered through a unique collaboration with Port of Newcastle and Svitzer. Through the Newcastle-based industry traineeship, Ms Murgatroyd rotated across towage, pilotage support, on-water safety and port operations, […]
A close-up of a worm farm.
AFTER a long career in the coal industry, Jacqui Purcell from “In Our Hands Family Farm” decided to study agriculture and transition to a lifestyle of low environmental impact. At a workshop organised by Port Stephens Council, Jacqui shared her secrets for turning waste into a valuable resource for any garden, through composting and worm […]
Volunteers Ing, Hannah and Katherine with Take 3 co-founder Tim Silverwood at Birubi Beach.
TAKE 3 For The Sea has come to the Port Stephens region. On Saturday 21 February, the environmental initiative joined Port Stephens Council and NSW National Parks in hosting a clean-up day at Birubi Beach. It started with Take 3 volunteer Leela Siva giving a presentation detailing the effects of plastic pollution on Australian beaches. […]
Danielle Godfrey in one of her Girl Aware self defense workshops. Photo: supplied, Danielle Godfrey. Taking a student through self defence strategies. Photo: supplied, Danielle Godfrey. FORMER detective Danielle Godfrey has swapped her police badge for a powerful new mission: equipping women and girls with the skills and confidence to stay safe. After a 12-year […]
SENIOR Constable Alison Stewart has been recognised as Port Stephens Local Woman of the Year for 2026. She was honoured as part of the NSW Women of the Year Awards, which shine a spotlight on visionary thinkers, everyday heroes and trailblazing role models who make a meaningful difference in their communities. This year, 94 women […]
Eva Wilson with some of her self-designed and produced Litter Ninja badges. School Captain Eva Wilson, leading the charge against litter ending up in waterways. Photo: supplied, Tomaree Public School. A PROMISE made during a school leadership campaign has grown into an environmental movement at Tomaree Public School. In 2025, Eva Wilson pledged that if […]
Demonstrating Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in CSIRO's Renewable Energy Integration Facility.
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 […]
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe speaks in Kurri Kurri.
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 […]
FOUR-YEAR funding is being made available to local organisations to combat the impact of priority weeds, updating a previously annual grant program. The new $40.7 million NSW Weeds Action Program (WAP) is a key component of the NSW Government’s Biosecurity Action Plan, with funding being provided to 97 Local Control Authorities (LCA). Minister for Agriculture […]
