NATIONALS Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan reckons the Labor Government’s Federal Budget fails “the pub test”. In his response to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ far-reaching measures, delivered on 12 May, Mr Conaghan said benefits would not be realised for several years. “The signature cost-of-living piece in Jim’s budget announcement is an ongoing $250 tax offset for […]

FOREST and Wood Communities Australia Chair Steve Dobbyns says the NSW Government’s justification for the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) is increasingly contradicted by its own scientific evidence. He said it appears to be driven more by carbon credit generation than koala conservation. “The NSW Government’s Environment Minister Penny Sharpe continues to promote the Great […]

NEW routes and modernised coaches have been unveiled as part of a major upgrade to NSW TrainLink coach services. A 36 percent funding increase across the NSW TrainLink coach network will lift total funding to $290 million over the next nine years. From 1 July, 14 coach operators will run 49 routes across the NSW […]

ONE of Bellingen’s favourite theatrical exports recently delivered his inaugural performance as support artist for the touring cabaret show “Max to the Max”. Raji Renshaw is already well known locally and farther afield, having starred in commercials for AAMI, McDonalds and Toyota. He has wowed audiences on fashion runways in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the […]

THE forestry industry has been a contested space in NSW for many years, with some supporting the continuation of native hardwood logging and others strongly opposing it. The issue was brought into sharper focus recently with the announcement by the NSW Government of its intention to create the Great Koala National Park (GKNP). The establishment […]

Deborah Neale (second from left) and Bernd Ruf (fourth from left) with emergency helpers. Emergency Pedagogy at work. Emergency Pedagogy at work. Suzanne Polaris has witnessed Australia’s disasters first-hand. BELLINGEN-based educators Deborah Neale and Suzane Polaris are extending the reach of Emergency Pedagogy, a registered charity that is part of a global network spanning 41 […]

LifeHouse Care’s Mike McCue, Kellie Small and volunteer Donna Ball. There’s always time for a chat at LifeHouse Care, Urunga. Morning tea on a Thursday morning. Two satisfied customers of the Pantry. LIFEHOUSE Care’s Urunga Pantry has been growing its offerings since moving into a new space within the village’s Lifehouse Church. After relocating from […]

THE coalition remains confident its devastating loss at the Farrer by-election will be a one-off, rejecting suggestions it should form a political alliance with One Nation. David Farley became One Nation’s first candidate to be elected to the House of Representatives, breaking more than 70 years of coalition rule in the southern NSW seat on […]

THE 2026 Census is less than 100 days away, with Census night to be held on Tuesday 11 August 2026. The Census is an important tool for regional and rural communities, as it shows what local areas need to help them grow, including transport, schools, healthcare, roads and buildings. Emily Walter, Census National Spokesperson, said […]

NAMBUCCA Valley Council is preparing to publicly exhibit its updated Rural Residential Land Release Strategy, marking the first major review of the document in 17 years. At its 22 April meeting, Council resolved to include probable maximum flood mapping in the draft strategy before placing it on public exhibition, giving the community an opportunity to […]