MAYOR Adam Roberts is calling on locals to support small businesses to get back on their feet after recent flooding. Trading has now resumed for several impacted businesses along low-lying areas such as Short Street, Hastings River Drive and Settlement Point. “As the dust starts to settle on a tumultuous four weeks for the region, […]
Failure to vote notices issued after Port Macquarie by-election
FAILURE to vote notices will be issued this week to electors who appear not to have voted at the Port Macquarie by-election on Saturday, 15 March. NSW Electoral Commissioner Rachel McCallum encourages recipients of these notices to respond via the Electoral Commission’s online self-service portal. “The NSW Electoral Commissioner is required by law to issue […]
NSW Gov committee investigating access to public land and waterways
A NSW Government committee has begun investigating access to publicly owned land and waterways in New South Wales, including national parks, marine reserves, crown land, state forests, water catchments and Aboriginal land. The Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways was established by a resolution of the NSW Legislative Council on Wednesday […]
Youth crime committee tables first report
THE first report of an inquiry into community safety has been tabled, highlighting an urgent need for early intervention to deal with the complex social drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW. Since adopting the inquiry on 20 March 2024, the Committee of Law and Safety received almost 200 submissions and conducted hearings […]
Review launched into ‘doli incapax’
A NEW study by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has found a significant decline in the number of young people aged 10 to 13 years found guilty of a criminal offence in NSW, following a landmark High Court of Australia decision in 2016. The decision in the case of RP v […]
Draft budget, fees and charges show cost of successive rate freezes
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has endorsed a range of draft budget documents for public exhibition, including the 2025-26 Revenue Policy, Fees and Charges, and Rating Maps. At the Ordinary Meeting on 17 April, councillors unanimously supported a 28-day display period. Community feedback will be sought on proposals that include reallocating funds to maintain parks and stormwater […]