Council is looking to ‘unlock’ housing across the LGA. Photo: Matthew Doyle.
MORE than 1800 new homes are to be fast-tracked across the Port Macquarie-Hastings following a major investment in housing and planning by the Minns Government. Council will receive $200,000 through round three of the NSW Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund for its “Port Macquarie planning control review to unlock housing”. The funding will support the […]
EMERGENCY services volunteers will be recognised for the first time in the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards. The Centre for Volunteering added this seventh category to its annual celebration, following the announcement in March of the Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation. The citation ensures that the unique and vital contributions of emergency responders and […]
2025 grant recipients from across the region.
THE KENDALL Community Op Shop has celebrated a remarkable milestone, announcing that it has now distributed more than $2 million to local groups and organisations since the launch of its grants program in 2009. This year alone, the Op Shop has provided $366,191 in funding, bringing the total distributed to an extraordinary $2,165,292 in 16 […]
AVERAGE speed cameras have been turned on between Kew and Lake Innes, operating in warning mode for light vehicle speeding offences. In a NSW Government trial which started on 1 May, average speeds are now being measured over a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway. The Kew to Lake Innes stretch is one of two […]
National candidate Alison Penfold on the campaign trail. Photo: Alison Penfold FB.
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 […]
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council will revisit its approach to sporting venue sponsorship after unanimously backing a move to consult with the Sports Council before making any final decisions on fees. The motion, put forward by Councillor Nik Lipovac and seconded by Cr Rachel Sheppard, marked a clear departure from the original staff recommendation, which had proposed […]
Firies Chris and Kylie Brown at the Lake Cathie RFS station.
WELCOME to Heartbeat of the Hastings, a regular NOTA feature which highlights the incredible people that make our region so special. If you know of someone making a difference in the community, who is deserving of some recognition, let us know! Email Chan@newsofthearea.com.au. WHEN Kylie Brown moved to Port Macquarie in 2001, she didn’t know […]
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has endorsed a new Draft Master Plan for Port Macquarie Airport, setting out a 20-year vision for the key regional infrastructure asset. At the 17 April meeting, councillors voted unanimously to place the draft plan on public exhibition for at least 28 days, inviting community feedback on the future direction of the […]
Members of the Australian Air Force Cadets 333 Squadron of Port Macquarie. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography.
IN the stillness of the morning on Friday, 25 April, more than 1000 community members gathered in silence at the Cenotaph at Laurie Memorial Park, Laurieton, to commemorate the nation’s veterans on Anzac Day. The annual event embodies the unyielding spirit of remembrance and pays tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives […]
Melanie Barnes, Andrew McAlary, John White, Jamie Bruce, Veteran Mark Albertson, Natasha Hamblin,
Brady Pinkstone and Meg Teasdell enjoying the Aussie favourite at the Birdon Anzac Biscuit Morning Tea.
NO cup of tea or coffee is complete at this time of year without an Anzac Biscuit – or three. Birdon made sure they didn’t run short on Tuesday, when 300 were on offer for staff at its Port Macquarie headquarters. It was part of a company-wide morning tea to honour Australian Defence Force (ADF) […]
