April 11, 2026
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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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Autonomous Bluebottle vessels to patrol Mid North Coast marine parks over Australia Day long weekend The Bluebottle, unmanned marine surveillance vessel. Photo: Ocius Technology - naval-technology.com
Government

Autonomous Bluebottle vessels to patrol Mid North Coast marine parks over Australia Day long weekend

UNMANNED marine surveillance vessels known as Bluebottles will patrol Marine Parks between Coffs Harbour and Camden Haven over the Australia Day long weekend. The deployment aims to deter and detect illegal fishing activity in protected Green Zones along the Mid North Coast. Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer said the vessels will focus on detecting […]

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Weather Bureau updates unpopular $96.5m website The rain radar and weather map were at the top of the Bureau’s list of fixes. Photo: Sue Stephenson.
Government, National

Weather Bureau updates unpopular $96.5m website

THE Bureau of Meteorology has implemented the first round of changes to its heavily-criticised $96.5m website. Since launching, the site has attracted 400,000 “items of feedback”. As a result, the rain radar and weather map have been improved and there is more information about daily temperature highs and lows on state, territory and district pages. […]

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Valla Urban Growth Area stage one earthworks near completion State Member for Oxley Michael Kemp, Nambucca Valley Council Director Engineering Services David Moloney, and AJ Civil Projects Project Manager Jack Gilchrist.
Business, Community, Government

Valla Urban Growth Area stage one earthworks near completion

THE Valla Urban Growth Area (VUGA) is quickly taking shape, with bulk earthworks for Stage One now 90 percent complete. Construction began in May 2025 to transform the site into a new hub for industry, investment and jobs in the Nambucca Valley. Local contractor AJ Civil Projects has moved a staggering 120,000 cubic metres of […]

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Nationals ditch net zero as Liberals ponder policy The Nationals make their net zero announcement at Parliament House. Photo: supplied.
Government

Nationals ditch net zero as Liberals ponder policy

THE Nationals have set up a possible showdown with their political ally the Liberals after unanimously agreeing to scrap their commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. The regional party argues Australia is doing more than its fair share to reduce carbon pollution, and emissions reductions should instead be tied to an average of similar […]

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Leaders urged not to mess with criminal responsibility 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.
Government, 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 […]

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Council and state services explored at Nambucca Valley business breakfast Small business owners and residents from across the Nambucca Valley region heard the latest on Council’s projects and strategies, as well as opportunities available through TAFE NSW and the Service NSW Business Concierge program. Photo: supplied.
Community, Government

Council and state services explored at Nambucca Valley business breakfast

BUSINESS owners and community members gathered in Nambucca Heads this week for the Valley Business Leaders Breakfast, a Small Business Month event designed to share the latest updates, opportunities, and support services available to local enterprises. Held at the TAFE Connect Campus, the breakfast featured presentations from TAFE NSW Associate Director of Engagement Partnership & […]

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