March 24, 2026
Volunteers plant 300 trees on National Tree Day Volunteers from Hastings Landcare.
Community

Volunteers plant 300 trees on National Tree Day

Volunteers from Hastings Landcare. Over 300 trees were planted by the volunteers More than 20 volunteers joined Hastings Landcare and local landholders on National Tree Day, planting over 300 native trees to restore habitat, boost biodiversity and create a vital wildlife corridor. The planting took place on private land that was once a cleared paddock […]

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Wauchope fundraiser to support flooded farmers and businesses The Port Macquarie-Hastings region’s farmers and businesses are still recovering from May’s floods. Photos: Wauchope SES.
Community, Event

Wauchope fundraiser to support flooded farmers and businesses

  The Port Macquarie-Hastings region’s farmers and businesses are still recovering from May’s floods. Photos: Wauchope SES.   The Port Macquarie-Hastings region’s farmers and businesses are still recovering from May’s floods. Photos: Wauchope SES.   RAISING vital funds for flood-affected farmers and agricultural businesses across the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, the “Hastings + Hinterland Town and […]

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Breakthrough for rural landowners as NSW inquiry launched John Ruddick MLC, Cr Mark Hornshaw and Libertarian Party President Ross Cameron.
Regional

Breakthrough for rural landowners as NSW inquiry launched

John Ruddick MLC, Cr Mark Hornshaw and Libertarian Party President Ross Cameron. Comboyne residents Tony and Josie Makin with daughters Adelle and Sofia, son-in-law John, and granddaughter Catherine. OWNERS of rural properties across NSW are celebrating a major breakthrough with the establishment of an Upper House inquiry to simplify the rules around building second dwellings […]

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MPs call for new disaster declaration
Government

MPs call for new disaster declaration

THE Members for Lyne, Myall Lakes and Upper Hunter are calling on the state and federal governments to declare last weekend’s flooding across the region as an additional disaster event, enabling affected landholders and primary producers to access further support. With farms and paddocks across the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions once again inundated, […]

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Port Macquarie family’s 300km walk in honour of former INXS manager Chris M Murphy OAM At the ‘INXS Never Tear Us Apart Mini Series’ launch in Sydney: (l-r) Jack Murphy, Jeri Wambeek, Chris M Murphy OAM, Stevey and Nick Arena. Photo: supplied.
Community

Port Macquarie family’s 300km walk in honour of former INXS manager Chris M Murphy OAM

“MY DAD was an absolute whirlwind,” said Jeri Wambeek, the proud daughter of former INXS manager Chris M. Murphy OAM. “He was ‘go, go, go’. Determined, bold, brave, and often ruthless. But always with a heart for dreaming big.” On 14 October, however, it will be Jeri and her brother Jack, along with her sons […]

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Amputee ‘Delungra Nigel’ an ambassador for Guulabaa and koala conservation ‘Delungra Nigel’ in his new ‘digs’. Photos: KCA.
Local News

Amputee ‘Delungra Nigel’ an ambassador for Guulabaa and koala conservation

‘Delungra Nigel’ in his new ‘digs’. Photos: KCA. Nigel after his rescue. MUCH-LOVED koala amputee “Delungra Nigel” is now a permanent resident of the Wild Koala Breeding Visitor Centre at Guulabaa. After months of dedicated care and rehabilitation, he will serve as an ambassador for Koala Conservation Australia (KCA) and for wildlife resilience and conservation […]

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Security bodycams to be rolled out at Port Macquarie Base Hospital The type of cameras to be worn by security staff at PMBH. Photo: file.
Local News

Security bodycams to be rolled out at Port Macquarie Base Hospital

SECURITY staff at Port Macquarie Base Hospital (PMBH) will wear body worn cameras as part of a 12-month trial to reduce incidents of violence and aggression. The cameras will be activated whenever there is a risk of harm to staff, patients and visitors. In the most serious cases, the footage may be used as evidence. […]

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Experienced Mid North Coast fire specialist deploys to Canada Chris Scollen has flown out to assist the fire containment effort in Canada.
Local News

Experienced Mid North Coast fire specialist deploys to Canada

FORESTRY Corporation’s Chris Scollen, a seasoned Crew Leader and Operations Planner, deployed to Canada this week to assist with the nation’s fire containment efforts. Chris, who is based at Taree, has worked with Forestry Corporation for five years and volunteered with the NSW Rural Fire Service for 25 years. He flew to Winnipeg, Manitoba with […]

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Dunbogan parents ‘disappointed and confused’ by response to road safety concerns Longworth Road is split and separated by bush. The sign has been placed at the end of two unnamed lanes approx. 100m from The Boulevarde.
Local News

Dunbogan parents ‘disappointed and confused’ by response to road safety concerns

THE parents of “little” Longworth Road in Dunbogan say they are “disappointed” and “confused” at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s response to their traffic concerns. As reported in News Of The Area on 6 April, GPS systems have been sending trucks, caravans and even semi-trailers down their narrow cul-de-sac. When drivers realise it is not a through […]

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Survey reveals patients mostly satisfied with public hospitals Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
Local News

Survey reveals patients mostly satisfied with public hospitals

THE Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has released a report showing how 25,658 patients rated the care they received in NSW public hospitals between January and December 2024. BHI Acting Chief Executive Hilary Rowell, said the Adult Admitted Patient Survey 2024 showed that more than nine in 10 patients (92%) rated their experience of overall […]

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