February 25, 2026
Nambucca Valley takes next step toward stronger tourism identity Nambucca Valley Council Manager Economic Development and Tourism Janice Rooney and Destination North Coast General Manager Michael Thurston. Photo: supplied.
Community, Government

Nambucca Valley takes next step toward stronger tourism identity

Nambucca Valley Council Manager Economic Development and Tourism Janice Rooney and Destination North Coast General Manager Michael Thurston. Photo: supplied. Tourism businesses and accommodation providers at the destination branding workshop and networking event. Photo: supplied. TOURISM operators from across the Nambucca Valley gathered last week for a networking event and workshop aimed at shaping the […]

Read More
Australian social media ban both a success and failure While gaining global traction, Australia's social media ban might not be ideal in addressing harm. Photo: Nadir Kinani/AAP PHOTOS.
Government, National

Australian social media ban both a success and failure

WHEN Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez revealed plans to ban children younger than 16 from social media, he did so based on a precedent set in Australia. His announcement at the World Governments Summit came two months after an Australian law directing tech giants including Google, Facebook and TikTok to take “reasonable steps” to prevent […]

Read More
Emergency Services Levy reform to face parliamentary inquiry
Government

Emergency Services Levy reform to face parliamentary inquiry

OPTIONS to reduce household insurance costs and fix an “unfair funding model” for emergency services will be put to a NSW parliamentary inquiry. While emergency services benefit everyone, most of their funding comes from a levy not everyone pays. The NSW Government says it is committed to removing this Emergency Services Levy (ESL) and replacing […]

Read More
Council votes to not appeal polytunnels decision Polytunnels are not farm buildings, according to the Land and Environment Court. Photo: Val Vannet.
Government

Council votes to not appeal polytunnels decision

THE NSW Land and Environment Court (NSW LEC) recently decided in favour of an appeal against a Development Control Order issued by the City of Coffs Harbour on 6 December 2024, requiring a landowner to stop construction of polytunnels on the basis of them being a form of ‘farm buildings’, which required development consent. The […]

Read More
NSW Government invests $1 million to fund biocontrol research to manage weeds Dr Ben Gooden, CSIRO research scientist, surrounded by fleabane weed. Image GRDC
Government

NSW Government invests $1 million to fund biocontrol research to manage weeds

THE NSW Government has granted $1 million to Australia’s national science agency the CSIRO to carry out biocontrol research to help control invasive weeds. Biocontrol reduces weeds by deploying natural biological agents, such as fungi or insects, and is considered increasingly important as an environment-friendly, self-sustaining and cost-effective weed-management tool. Invasive weeds cost Australian agriculture […]

Read More
Australian social media ban both a success and failure While gaining global traction, Australia's social media ban might not be ideal in addressing harm. Photo: Nadir Kinani/AAP PHOTOS.
Government, National

Australian social media ban both a success and failure

WHEN Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez revealed plans to ban children younger than 16 from social media, he did so based on a precedent set in Australia. His announcement at the World Governments Summit came two months after an Australian law directing tech giants including Google, Facebook and TikTok to take “reasonable steps” to prevent […]

Read More
Roadworks mark major milestone for Valla Urban Growth Area
Government

Roadworks mark major milestone for Valla Urban Growth Area

CONSTRUCTION is now underway on the first internal road within the Valla Urban Growth Area (VUGA), marking a major milestone for the long-planned mixed-use precinct. Works began in late January on the 260 metre east–west road, which will link 14 large-scale Stage One industrial lots to Red Ash Road, Valla and provide direct access to […]

Read More
Government launches “Name and Shame’ list of property agents Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong launched the ‘Name and Shame’ list on 25 January. Photo: minister’s website.
Government

Government launches “Name and Shame’ list of property agents

THE State Government has launched a “Name and Shame” list of real estate agents, property managers and strata managing agents who have faced enforcement action. Available through the NSW Fair Trading website, it allows homeowners, buyers and renters to check if an agent has been fined, suspended or had their licence cancelled. It also includes […]

Read More
Government flags tougher penalties for animal cruelty including jail time for leaving dogs in hot cars Even if parked in the shade with the windows partially down, dogs can die in a car in less than six minutes. Photo: GabesDotPhotos/Pexels.
Government

Government flags tougher penalties for animal cruelty including jail time for leaving dogs in hot cars

DOG owners tempted to leave their pet in the car when they run to the shops, will soon risk tougher penalties. The State Government is delivering on its election promise to review the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (POCTAA), flagging heavier fines and longer jail sentences. Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW, […]

Read More
Drilling success marks major step for VUGA Pipeline drillers, a subcontractor of Ledonne Constructions, successfully underbored the sewer gravity main for VUGA Stage One. Photo: supplied.
Community, Government

Drilling success marks major step for VUGA

CRITICAL infrastructure works connecting the Valla Urban Growth Area (VUGA) to Nambucca Valley Council’s existing water and sewer networks have reached a major milestone, with a key package of horizontal directional drilling works successfully completed. The final component of the works was finished last week when a 450mm sewer gravity main, made from high-density polyethylene […]

Read More