A NEW deputy mayor was elected at the October meeting of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, following the conclusion of Councillor Lauren Edwards’ term. Unlike the mayoral position, which is decided by popular vote at council elections, the deputy mayor is chosen annually by councillors. This year, Councillor Nik Lipovac was elected to the role. Cr Lipovac […]
Leo Clayton from the Mental Health Commission, MNCLHD’s Sarah Fox, Suicide Prevention and Aftercare Coordinator Sage Green, MNCLHD Chief Executive Jill Wong, member of the Lived Experience of Suicide Group (LEOS) Lea Harvey, Kelly Saidey from Lifeline Mid Coast, Senior Peer Worker Karen Miller, Vanessa Brunker from the Mental Health Commission and Consumer Partnership Coordinator Nicholas Kosseris.
Port Macquarie Safe Haven offers essential mental health support to those in need
MID NORTH COAST Local Health District (MNCLHD) has officially opened a purpose-built Safe Haven building in Port Macquarie, providing a safe space and immediate support for people who are experiencing mental health distress. Safe Havens are non-clinical settings that offer support in a calm and welcoming environment as an alternative to attending a hospital emergency […]
New domestic violence rental laws take effect as vacancy rates hit record lows
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 […]
NSW Government finalising business case for Oxley Highway upgrades
THE State Government is currently finalising a business case for staged intersection upgrades along the Oxley Highway between John Oxley Drive and Hastings River Drive. This update was provided in NSW Parliament by Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Transport and Roads Anna Watson on Thursday, 23 October, following a speech by Port Macquarie MP Robert Dwyer […]
Life member Pam McLeod and Show Society President Ron Porter during the official opening of the Camden Haven Show. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography.
The 74th year of the Camden Haven Show
Life member Pam McLeod and Show Society President Ron Porter during the official opening of the Camden Haven Show. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Avid show enthusiast Lacey Cullen. Some of the many ring events. Photos: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Some of the many ring events. Photos: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. The 2025 Camden Haven Show featured a notable increase in […]
Fisherman’s Co-op keen to rebuild ‘as soon as possible’
NATHAN Poole, Kim Poole, and Billy Roelandts are descendants of families that have been fishing out of the Camden Haven for generations. Passionate members of the Laurieton Fisherman’s Co-op board of management, they are keen to see the iconic fishing institution recover quickly from the fire which destroyed their riverfront premises and Laurieton Seafoods on […]
Free men’s health checks at LUSC
THE Men’s Health Education Rural Health Van (MHERV) will visit Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC) next week. An initiative of Rotary, MHERV is a mobile home-style vehicle which travels throughout rural and regional NSW, providing free health checks for men for issues that are often ignored or overlooked, like high blood pressure, high blood sugar […]
Kemp and Minns clash over bail laws
MEMBER for Oxley Michael Kemp and Premier Chris Minns butted heads in NSW Parliament last week over youth crime and bail laws. During Question Time on Tuesday, 21 October, Mr Kemp asked whether it would take a death from crime before the Government acted to tighten youth bail laws. The Oxley MP’s question came days […]
Sudden stratospheric warming causes weather chaos
RISING temperatures over Antarctica have been a major contributing factor to recent volatile weather along the East Coast, according to new information from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). A “sudden stratospheric warming” (SSW) is to blame. This is a documented weather scenario in which air temperatures high above the South Pole rise by 30 degrees […]
Changing a long-standing youth conviction principle would only lead to future criminal offending, advocates say, following the release of a review. Photo: NSW Police.
Leaders urged not to mess with criminal responsibility
LEGAL advocates have welcomed a report’s recommendations into a presumption that children under 14 are “incapable of evil”, urging a state not to tinker with the long-standing principle, despite a drop in youth convictions. A NSW review of doli incapax was released on Saturday after it was launched by the state Labor government in May […]
