A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. A playful humpback close to the shoreline. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. HUMPBACK whales have been sighted off the coast of Port Macquarie, signalling the start of their annual migration. Each year, approximately 40,000 humpback whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds and travel north […]

Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
CONSUMERS must be told why their phone or internet service has been disconnected during major outages and when they can expect it to return under stricter telecommunication rules. Providers will also have to improve the way they deal with triple-zero outages under the regulations and issue detailed plans to prevent recurrences. The Australian Communications and […]

Pests, weeds to cost $30 billion a year without action
MORE than 350 invasive plant and animal species are causing about $2 billion worth of damage every year in one of Australia’s most populated states. But that annual figure could balloon to a whopping $30 billion by 2030 without investment in a long-term biosecurity management system, a government body has warned. A report released on […]
Mixed stats for homelessness on Mid North Coast
THE Mid North Coast has had mixed results in the 2025 Street Count, the NSW Government’s sixth annual count of people sleeping rough. Counts of homeless people sleeping rough on a single evening were completed in local government areas across the state between 4 February and 26 February 2025. Half of the counts took place […]
Alison Penfold succeeds Dr David Gillespie as Lyne MP
THE National Party’s Alison Penfold will be the next Federal Member for Lyne, succeeding the long-serving Dr David Gillespie. As of Monday morning, Ms Penfold held 60.55 percent of the Two candidate preferred count over Labor’s Digby Wilson (39.45 percent) after Saturday’s federal election. Ms Penfold took 37.20 percent of first preference votes, with Mr […]
NSW Gov moves to crackdown on illegal tree clearing
THE NSW Government has promised action to address the growing number of cases of illegal tree clearing in NSW. An Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) has been released, offering stakeholders the opportunity to consult on reforms to the urban tree clearing framework. A new resource to help planners, developers and builders tackle urban heat has […]

Funding committed for Rainbow Beach sports complex
NATIONALS candidate for Lyne Alison Penfold has committed to provide $350,000 for improvements to the Rainbow Beach sporting complex, if the Coalition is elected after the 3 May Federal election. Ms Penfold said the funding would install lighting at the existing multi-purpose court and three cricket nets on the grounds. “These sports fields offer district […]

Cardinal mourns ‘death of much-loved’ Pope
AUSTRALIANS have recalled Pope Francis’s profound love for the poor, diverse people and all of humanity as millions mourn the pontiff’s passing. His death, on Monday after a recent serious battle with double pneumonia, was marked by tolling church bells and preparations for scores of memorial masses for the Catholic figurehead. It may also prove […]

Laurieton RSL sub-Branch keep Anzac spirit alive with community programs
THE Laurieton RSL sub-Branch has been providing community education programs and commemorative services in schools and aged care facilities in the lead up to Anzac Day. Sub-Branch President Allan “Buster” Beatty and School Liaison Officer Pat Slee have engaged with a variety of groups in recent weeks, helping to foster a deeper understanding of Australia’s […]
Dangerous beach conditions close Bennetts Beach
DANGEROUS surf conditions in the wake of gale-force winds and rain closed Bennetts Beach last weekend. ‘Beach Closed’ signs in the middle of the school holidays are never a happy sight, but the visible churning of the waters, and waves averaging two metres in height, were more than enough to bring out the signs […]