April 12, 2026
NSW Gov tests confirm blueberries are safe to eat
Local News

NSW Gov tests confirm blueberries are safe to eat

THE NSW Food Authority says consumers can feel confident enjoying locally grown berries, with NSW Government laboratory testing confirming they meet food safety standards for pesticide residues. Twenty-five kilograms of blueberries and raspberries, representing 100 samples of 250 grams each, were purchased from a range of Sydney retail stores in November 2025. They were tested […]

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Women underrepresented on councils across NSW
Government

Women underrepresented on councils across NSW

LOCAL Government NSW ((LGNSW) is calling for more female representation on elected councils in NSW. Council representatives from across the state gathered in Sydney on Friday for the peak body’s International Women’s Day event. Mayor Darcy Byrne, President of LGNSW, said the event was an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the role of women […]

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Iran War causes instant price spikes in basic commodities
Local News

Iran War causes instant price spikes in basic commodities

WAR in the Middle East is having direct impacts on the prices of basic commodities in Australia, including petrol and other fuels that keep the local economy going. Almost overnight, the geopolitical shape of the world instigated panic that filtered through global supply chains. Unleaded petrol is now averaging over $2/litre in many areas of […]

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Progress builds at VUGA as Council seeks agents for major land release An aerial view of Valla Urban Growth Area Stage One, where road-base is being spread over its first internal road, ready for sealing in May 2026. Photo: supplied.
Community

Progress builds at VUGA as Council seeks agents for major land release

WORK is progressing steadily at the Valla Urban Growth Area (VUGA), with the first internal road now just weeks away from being sealed as Stage One construction nears completion. Over the past month, approximately 700 tonnes of road base has been laid as construction contractor AJ Civil Projects prepares the road surface ahead of the […]

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Final weeks of work for Scotts Head Road black spot project SM Complete Concrete’s Brodie Saunders, Spencer Melville and Riven Palmer recently constructed this large, dual culvert base slab for the reconstruction site on Scotts Head Road.
Community

Final weeks of work for Scotts Head Road black spot project

WORKS on a major section of Scotts Head Road are approaching completion, with Council crews estimating the project will be ready for sealing within the next four to six weeks. The current stage of construction forms part of the ongoing Scotts Head Road Black Spots Program, which aims to improve safety along sections of the […]

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Major landslip recovery works continue across Nambucca Valley Works have successfully progressed at the landslip site on Taylors Arm Road, located about 4.7kms west of Macksville, where remediation is expected to be completed this week, weather depending. (Photo: supplied.
Local News

Major landslip recovery works continue across Nambucca Valley

Works have successfully progressed at the landslip site on Taylors Arm Road, located about 4.7kms west of Macksville, where remediation is expected to be completed this week, weather depending. (Photo: supplied. Nambucca Valley Mayor Gary Lee (pictured second from right) visited construction sites for landslip remediations on Thursday 5 March. Photo: supplied. LANDSLIP remediation works […]

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Stargazing: Mars or bust The Tesla continues its lonely orbit around the Sun.
Local News

Stargazing: Mars or bust

ELON’S always in the news isn’t he. Well, he goes way back! In February 2018, the world paused to watch a rocket launch. That’s not unusual. What was unusual was the payload: a cherry-red Tesla Roadster with a mannequin in a spacesuit behind the wheel. The idea came from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, whose company […]

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Jessie’s blonde locks getting the chop for cancer research
Community

Jessie’s blonde locks getting the chop for cancer research

MACKSVILLE local Jessie Weaver will celebrate the final stretch of a mammoth fundraising effort on Saturday as she completes the World’s Greatest Shave surrounded by her Norco AgriSolutions colleagues and the community. Jessie said her involvement with the Greatest Shave has been 10 years in the making, during which she has grown her hair long […]

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CWA  Bellingen releases results of survey of local women CWA Bellingen Branch member Meaghan Burkett reviews the women’s survey results with daughter Xanthe. Photo: supplied.
Community, Health

CWA Bellingen releases results of survey of local women

THE Country Women’s Association Bellingen Branch has released the results of a survey into the needs of local women. Women of Bellingen and surrounding areas were invited to share their experiences, challenges, hopes and ideas, with the CWA planning to use the results to inform their work. CWA member and survey coordinator Meaghan Burkett, was […]

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Weed action program gets an update
Local News

Weed action program gets an update

FOUR-YEAR funding is being made available to local organisations to combat the impact of priority weeds, updating a previously annual grant program. The new $40.7 million NSW Weeds Action Program (WAP) is a key component of the NSW Government’s Biosecurity Action Plan, with funding being provided to 97 Local Control Authorities (LCA). Minister for Agriculture […]

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