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 […]

BELLINGEN Shire Council has released the findings of its Waterfall Way Business and Community Impact Survey, capturing the far-reaching effects of the nine-week road closure on residents, businesses and community organisations. The key link road connecting Bellingen to Dorrigo and beyond was closed after a landslip at Gordonville Cutting on January 19. The survey, which […]

A NOTA reader recently noticed shops in Coffs Harbour that appeared to have a few groceries on their shelves and not much else. Customers would enter, they said, and the proprietor would go to the back of the shop and return with cartons of what appeared to be cigarettes. Cigarettes are a source of revenue […]

A HEAVILY-WOODED 3.22-hectare (32,230 sqm) piece of land on Langsford Way, Valla Beach has been sold at auction for $1.9 million, following months of community action to stop potential residential development on the site. As previously reported in NOTA, the land was formerly owned by the NSW Department of Education and identified as surplus during […]

NAMBUCCA Valley Council has placed its 2026–27 Draft Annual Budget on public exhibition, giving the community an opportunity to provide feedback on proposed spending and priorities. The draft budget will remain on exhibition until Wednesday 27 May 2026. Nambucca Valley Acting General Manager David Moloney said community members can now have their say on the […]

Janelle McKay of Legacy Mid North Coast delivering a poignant Anzac Day address at Nambucca Heads. Photo: Nambucca Heads Public School. Nambucca Heads RSL sub-Branch President Denis Lane is joined during the march by grandchildren Maverick and Pearl Lane, whose great-grandfather was an original ANZAC. Photo: supplied. Soldiers from 41 RNSWR provided the Catafalque Party […]

THE State and Federal Governments have committed more than $56 million in new funding to support Mid North Coast communities as they continue to rebuild following the severe weather of May 2025 and ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The nearly $56.3 million package, delivered through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), targets the long-term work […]

A NEW multi-agency taskforce has been launched to accelerate hazard reduction and better protect communities across NSW. Launched by the NSW Government, Taskforce Fire Guard will bring together fire agencies and land managers to strengthen coordination and prioritise high risk areas over the coming months. Operating from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) State Operations […]

ARTIFICIALLY intelligent cameras detected more than 1100 bushfires in Australia over summer, including some that would have been missed by humans until they posed a greater risk. One fire outbreak caused by lighting strikes, for example, could have damaged a pine forest if cameras had not alerted firefighters. Pano AI revealed the findings on Tuesday […]