MEMBER for Oxley Michael Kemp says the CSIRO’s National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP) has revealed a staggering leap in koala numbers that “upends years of alarmism”. The 2025 report estimates the listed population across NSW, Qld and the ACT is between 398,000 and 569,000, a dramatic rise from the 2024 estimate of just 95,000 to […]
Emergency response group members attend search and rescue training. Photo: Olivia Katz / IFAW.
Emergency response group members attend search and rescue training. Photo: Olivia Katz / IFAW. Training with plush animals. Photo: Olivia Katz / IFAW. CRITICAL training is being rolled out to help wildlife groups better prepare for bushfire emergencies. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is launching its wildlife search and rescue training course in […]
RENTAL vacancy rates across NSW remain critically low, deepening the housing crisis and leaving tenants competing for limited homes. New analysis from the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) shows that in September, many regions recorded vacancy rates below two percent. The Mid-North Coast sat at 1.6 percent, by comparison Coffs Harbour is at 1.5 […]
EARLY work is underway on the Pacific Highway–Harrington Road intersection upgrade. The Australian and NSW Governments are investing $60 million in an interchange with an overpass that connects Harrington and Coopernook roads over the Pacific Highway. “The project will improve road safety by removing the right hand turns on and off the highway, while also […]
The training has provided accredited firefighting qualifications to members of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Aboriginal community. Photo: supplied.
The training has provided accredited firefighting qualifications to members of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Aboriginal community. Photo: supplied. ABORIGINAL communities across the NSW North Coast are working with Forestry Corporation of NSW to integrate cultural burning into government bushfire management frameworks. These local partnerships, under the Federal Government-funded Fire, Country and People program, aim to strengthen […]
The rezoning application is for the cleared rural land at the back of Lake Cathie, off Forest Parkway and Platypus Road.
LAKE Cathie and Bonny Hills residents say they have been blindsided by a letter detailing plans for the development of 360 homes off Forest Parkway. The letter, addressed only “To The Resident”, was sent to a small group of neighbouring property-owners. It asked them to complete a 10-minute phone survey to identify potential impacts – […]
An aerial view of the Ocean Drive duplication. Photo: PMHC.
IN GOOD news for Lighthouse Beach and Camden Haven commuters, the Ocean Drive Duplication project is entering its final stage of construction. Crews started laying the asphalt atop the newly duplicated road this week with the process expected to take approximately four weeks. Port Macquarie Hastings Council (PMHC) Group Manager Chris Favaloro said while this […]
The Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, and Australian Magpie topped the charts in 2024.
THE 2025 Aussie Bird Count, one of Australia’s largest citizen science events, began on Monday. This national celebration of our unique and diverse birdlife will run to Sunday, 26 October 2025. BirdLife Australia invites people of all ages to take just 20 minutes out of their day to spot, identify, and count the birds around […]
Road users are being invited to contribute to a survey. Photo: TfNSW.
TRANSPORT for NSW is leading a “once-in-a-generation” review of the Roads Act 1993 and is seeking input from councils, community members, peak bodies and industry experts about how the legislation should be reformed. “The aim is to create a more modern, flexible and easy-to-use law that can help enable NSW Government initiatives such as housing […]
A drone shot of some of the 10 or 11 juvenile humpbacks off Port Macquarie on Monday. Photo: Alex McNaught, roving-eye.com.
A drone shot of some of the 10 or 11 juvenile humpbacks off Port Macquarie on Monday. Photo: Alex McNaught, roving-eye.com. This spectacular breach off Port Macquarie’s Town Beach last week has been shared around the world. Photo: Jodie Lowe’s Marine Animal Photography. Whale spotter Leigh Mansfield at Tacking Point Lighthouse. Photo: Sue Stephenson. THERE’S […]
