THE State Government has announced $30.4 million for a new crisis intervention package to “ensure more vulnerable people can access homelessness services and find a safe place to live”. The 2025-26 NSW Budget will include $20 million to expand existing crisis and transitional housing, and $10.4 million over four years for homelessness charity the Bill […]
STATE and Federal governments are delivering more funding to help communities recover from the recent severe flooding. Support available includes: ● Grants of up to $25,000 for eligible small businesses (with fewer than 20 employees) and non-profit organisations to help clean up and restore their business. ● Grants of up to $25,000 for eligible primary […]
Photos taken by the operators of the Ginger’s Creek Roadhouse, show the damage from one of last week’s landslips.
THE Oxley Highway between Forbes River and Clay roads will remain closed until further notice because of landslips. More than 100 new landslips have been detected on this section of the highway since heavy rainfall over the past week. Engineers are urgently assessing damage and planning clean-up operations and long-term repairs. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) […]
Local favourite, the Diamond Head campground. Photo: NSW National Parks.
WITH the cost-of-living already making holidays inaccessible for many families, there are fears a proposed increase in National Park camping fees is set to deliver another blow. Member for Oxley Michael Kemp says some fees could increase so dramatically that a week-long stay at a national park campground may exceed $600, potentially pricing out local […]
Sixty-nine people were sleeping rough in February across the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area. Photo: AAP Image/Darren England.
THE NSW Government’s annual street count shows the number of people sleeping rough across the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area (LGA) has increased over the past 12 months. Sixty-nine people were sleeping rough in February, up from 53 in 2024 and 43 in February 2023. Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer said the increase was […]
A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry was established on 7 May to report on the illegal tobacco trade in New South Wales. Among a broad remit, the committee will inquire into links between organised crime syndicates and tobacconists, and the utilisation of money laundering schemes by tobacconists. The inquiry will also explore the impact of the illegal tobacco […]
Tropical Soda Apple. Photo: NSW DPI.
THE NSW Government will deliver $10 million to local councils to target high-risk weeds across the state. The Weeds Action Program funds local councils, known as Local Control Authorities (LCA), to detect and respond quickly to incursions of new high-risk weeds. The program focuses on prevention and early intervention to stop the spread of problem […]
Rob Dwyer is congratulated by Liberal Party leader Mark Speakman after making his maiden speech in the NSW Parliament.
NEWLY elected Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer has used his inaugural speech in Parliament to call for an overpass at Houston Mitchell Drive between Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie. He also highlighted the growing traffic congestion on the Oxley Highway, the need for surf club upgrades, and improved housing affordability. Backed by his new […]
“OVER the past 40 years the share of votes going to independents and minor parties has risen in both state and federal elections,” the Australia Institute stated in a research article in October 2024. “In the 1980 federal election, the combined primary votes for minor parties and independents accounted for only eight percent.” At the […]
Council is looking to ‘unlock’ housing across the LGA. Photo: Matthew Doyle.
MORE than 1800 new homes are to be fast-tracked across the Port Macquarie-Hastings following a major investment in housing and planning by the Minns Government. Council will receive $200,000 through round three of the NSW Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund for its “Port Macquarie planning control review to unlock housing”. The funding will support the […]
