THE Australian Hotels Association (AHA) reckons the Hastings’ pubs are among the state’s best when it comes to food, music and generally being “the heart of the community”. Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie, Wauchope, Beechwood and Long Flat all feature on the list of finalists for this year’s AHA NSW Awards of Excellence. These are the […]

NSW Government invests $2 million to create low-carbon concrete jobs on Mid North Coast
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe tours the site with Solidcast owners Will and Sarah Hynes. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe tours the site with Solidcast owners Will and Sarah Hynes. Precast walls in use. Photo: Solidcast website. WAUCHOPE-BASED Solidcast will expand production of its patented low-carbon concrete panels after […]
Port Macquarie businesses dive into digital future at innovation event
Mayor Adam Roberts opens the Digital Deep Dive business event. Photo: Sis Higgins. Host Ollie Brooke moderates the Process & Systems Panel with David Young from Never Late Electrical, Jane Whitfield from Drawn to Art and Stuart Goodfellow of Ripple Ag. Photo: Sis Higgins. PORT Macquarie-Hastings businesses turned out in force for Digital Deep Dive, […]
Teen entrepreneur’s marshmallows win bronze at Sydney Royal Fine Food Awards
SWEET Tooth Marshmallows, a growing name in artisan confectionery, has received national recognition after its Raspberry Marshmallows won a Bronze Medal at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Awards. The handcrafted treats are the creation of 14-year-old Patrick Dale, who has already made a mark in the gourmet food world with his modern take on the […]

MBF launches new leadership and free events for Small Business Month
OCTOBER marks Small Business Month in NSW, and Port Macquarie’s Micro Business Forum (MBF) is celebrating with a new leadership team and two free community events. MBF elected a refreshed committee of local business leaders on 17 September, to drive its mission of supporting micro and small business owners across the Hastings. The 2025 committee […]
Rate cuts welcomed, but cost of living still looms over regional Australia
THE Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates by 0.25 percent on Tuesday 13 August, has been welcomed as a positive step for households across the nation, particularly the three million families managing mortgages. The reduction equates to a saving of $74 per month on a $500,000 mortgage. Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan, who is […]
CSU searching for business and community partners needing free IT solutions
PORT Macquarie-based Senior Computing Lecturer Dr Arash Mahboubi is searching for community groups and businesses with IT problems to solve. His Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have just delivered 3500 hours of free IT solutions as part of the capstone unit of their Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Development). These solutions, which were for organisations […]
Local businesses urged to nominate for a place in the tourism spotlight
TOURISM operators across the Mid North Coast are encouraged to put themselves forward for one of the industry’s highest honours, with nominations now open for the 2025 NSW Tourism Awards. This year marks a new era for the awards program, which has undergone a national review to streamline the entry process. With new categories, simplified […]
Urgent action sought at North Arm Cove hoon hotspot
THE North Arm Cove Community Association (NACCAi) continues to push MidCoast Council for action on an infamous hoon hotspot, with council recently deciding against the installation of CCTV surveillance at the site. The intersection of Gooreengi Road and Somerset Avenue, North Arm Cove has been the site of ongoing anti-social behaviour, illegal burnout gatherings […]