THE Minns Government is extending free vehicle access to National Parks to all Commonwealth Veteran Card holders. Park entry fees for motor vehicles apply at 45 of NSW’s 895 national parks and reserves. A 2025-26 budget measure will enable veterans from around Australia to apply for a pass to enter for free. The pass is […]

Locals demand urgent action at Valla Beach intersection after string of crashes
Member for Oxley Michael Kemp MP criticised Transport for NSW for dismissing repeated crashes as driver error, despite what he described as consistent concerns raised by locals and frontline responders. Michael Kemp MP engages with the more than 70 concerned locals at the intersection of Valla Beach Road and Giinagay Way last week. THE frustration […]

Estimated thousands trapped in Australian farm slavery
A BACKPACKER hoping for a memorable working holiday on an Australian farm finds himself crammed into a house with 17 people, eating dry bread and deprived of sunshine and fresh air. After arriving on a visa from China, the young man had headed to a small town on the NSW coast in 2024 to pick […]

First-ever DNA mapping of NSW river mouths and estuaries
Dr Maarten De Brauwer of SCU and Fisheries Technician Kait Harris conduct estuarine monitoring in Yamba. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. A MAJOR study of NSW estuaries using a novel […]

Mayors and MPs up the ante in push for alternate route to Plateau and New England
Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison with MPs Pat Conaghan, Gurmesh Singh and Michael Kemp, Bellingen Mayor Steve Allan, and City of Coffs Mayor Nikki Williams. Michael Kemp, Pat Conaghan and Steve Allan at an earlier inspection of Waterfall Way. COFFS Coast mayors and MPs have met in State Parliament to continue lobbying for […]

Animal advocates shoot down bill for enabling ‘yahoos’
ENVIRONMENTALISTS have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a “fringe minority of men” to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable […]

King’s Birthday Honours for Mid North Coast police chief and region’s first dog handler
Superintendent Shane Cribb. Photo: NSW Police. Sgt Sean McDowell with Jago, who retired from service in 2023. Both assisted in dozens of arrests in the Coffs command. Photo: NSW Police. THE Mid North Coast’s most senior police officer and a dog handler who assisted in dozens of arrests in the Coffs command, have been recognised […]

PM commits to ‘lasting change’ in second-term agenda
ANTHONY Albanese has pledged to implement lasting and meaningful change in his second term as prime minister, promising his government can meet the moment against challenging circumstances. In his first major speech since winning an expanded majority at the May election, the prime minister said the government had a responsibility to disprove the doubters. […]
Congarinni man to tackle Australia’s toughest desert race
AT 61-years-old, most people might be slowing down. But for Congarinni man Martin Russel, life is still moving full throttle, literally. This June, Martin will take on Australia’s most gruelling motor endurance event, the Tatts Finke Desert Race. Held annually on the King’s Birthday long weekend, the Finke is a world renowned off-road, multi-terrain race […]

Advocacy on the agenda as Nambucca Valley Evening CWA branch attend state conference
NEWS Of The Area joined more than 600 delegates and another 200 observers at the Country Women’s Association’s 103rd State Conference in Wagga Wagga last week. In a statement to media ahead of the conference, CWA of NSW president Joy Beames said, “The high number of motions delegates will be asked to vote on this […]