June 23, 2026
Stinker’s History: The war years Local trawler ‘Dawn’ dressed for war. The trawler and her Captain Archie Thompson conducted valuable service in New Guinea.
Local News

Stinker’s History: The war years

DURING the early years of the Second World War, when there was a large Army presence in the Nelson Bay area, US army engineers constructed a sealed road, which was to form part of the Nelson Bay Road. In the 1940s wartime era there was an army camp for Australian troops (Far North Coast 2/2nd […]

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MP calls for NDIS pricing changes to be revoked Lyne MP Alison Penfold recently met with NDIS providers from across the region.
Regional

MP calls for NDIS pricing changes to be revoked

FEDERAL Member for Lyne Alison Penfold is calling on the Federal Government to urgently revoke the latest National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) pricing changes, warning of the “significant negative impacts on people with a disability living in regional and remote areas”. The changes, announced following the Government’s NDIS Annual Pricing Review, came into effect on […]

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Annual farm census underway across NSW The Annual Land and Stock Return helps paint a picture of agricultural land use and livestock across NSW. Photo: Leanda Connor.
Regional

Annual farm census underway across NSW

NSW LANDHOLDERS are being asked to report their livestock numbers and land use information as part of Local Land Services’ annual farm census. The Annual Land and Stock Return collects information that helps shape the delivery of animal health and biosecurity services and prepare for emergencies such as bushfires and biosecurity outbreaks. Landholders must lodge […]

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Category D support for primary producers A rally in Taree calls for Category D funding to be announced.
Local News

Category D support for primary producers

ADDITIONAL support has been announced for primary producers in New South Wales affected by the extreme flooding event from 18 May 2025. This funding is provided under Category D of the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments. The package will be available through grants administered by the NSW […]

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Port Stephens Council launches new Community Funding Program Council has launched its new Community Funding Program. Photo: Megann Evans Photography.
Local News

Port Stephens Council launches new Community Funding Program

WITH over $450,000 available across various grants and scholarships, the 2025 to 2026 Port Stephens Community Funding Program offers vital financial support to community groups, event organisers, athletes, businesses and schools, dedicated to enhancing the Port Stephens region. Mayor Leah Anderson said the launch of this year’s program ensures the continued support of initiatives that […]

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Worimi Conservation Lands’ beach driving open for school holidays Visitors are reminded to exercise caution along the beachfront. Photo: WCL.
Local News

Worimi Conservation Lands’ beach driving open for school holidays

THE Worimi Conservation Lands reopened at first light on Saturday 5 July following severe weather from the recent East Coast Low. The following entry points remain closed to vehicles: Fern Bay 4WD entry at Fern Bay, and selected sites in Ganyamalbaa campground. Visitors are reminded to exercise caution along the beachfront as well as the […]

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Flooding and power outages hit Port Stephens as wild weather returns The beginning of the storm from Shoal Bay Beach.
Regional

Flooding and power outages hit Port Stephens as wild weather returns

THE POWERFUL low-pressure system that hit the NSW coast this week resulted in flooding and power outages across Port Stephens. The extreme weather event comes just over a month after Port Stephens was last impacted by severe flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of large waves on the coastline. “We saw fairly significant wave action […]

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Public wharves close to commercial use
Government

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 […]

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Fire ants discovered in Tweed Heads Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Photo: DPI.
Local News

Fire ants discovered in Tweed Heads

FARMERS are calling for a government crackdown to stamp out fire ants in NSW after the pests were discovered in Tweed Heads this week. Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are prohibited under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and high-risk materials are restricted from infested areas of south-east Queensland. On Wednesday the NSW Government confirmed an immature […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: The good old days
Community

Stinker’s Fishin’: The good old days

DO you remember the good old days when catching calamari squid was simple? Inside the harbour, excited “squidders” gathered around the Nelson Bay Marina or drifted over the sea grass in Shoal Bay on calm days. Tossing a squid jig and slowly retrieving it ensured a bucket or so of thumping squid to be prepared […]

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