RENTAL vacancy rates across NSW remain critically low, deepening the housing crisis and leaving tenants competing for limited homes. New analysis from the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) shows that in September, many regions recorded vacancy rates below two percent. The Mid-North Coast sat at 1.6 percent, by comparison Coffs Harbour is at 1.5 […]
Penny Dakin, Scott Howie, Ros Abercrombie, Andrew Barker, Danielle Fusco and Imogen Castledine.
REGIONAL Arts Australia is launching a “transformative” new funding initiative with $2.4 million dollars in support from Minderoo Foundation. The program offers multi-year grants of $160,000 to support independent artists living and working in regional communities across Australia. “Practice in Community” will deliver two funding rounds for independent artists working in Community Arts and Cultural […]
Speaker Port Macquarie MP Robert Dwyer and MC Deputy Mayor Nik Lipovac.
Locals gathered at the Town Beach Amphitheatre for ‘Reclaim the Night’. Speaker Port Macquarie MP Robert Dwyer and MC Deputy Mayor Nik Lipovac. RECLAIM The Night is an international movement that started in the 1970s and is a mainstay of Sexual Violence Awareness Month, which is observed in October. Marked this year on 25 October, […]
A NEW deputy mayor was elected at the October meeting of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, following the conclusion of Councillor Lauren Edwards’ term. Unlike the mayoral position, which is decided by popular vote at council elections, the deputy mayor is chosen annually by councillors. This year, Councillor Nik Lipovac was elected to the role. Cr Lipovac […]
Emergency response group members attend search and rescue training. Photo: Olivia Katz/IFAW.
Emergency response group members attend search and rescue training. Photo: Olivia Katz/IFAW. Training with plush animals. Photo: Olivia Katz/IFAW. CRITICAL training is being rolled out to help wildlife groups better prepare for bushfire emergencies. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is launching its wildlife search and rescue training course in Port Macquarie in collaboration […]
Leo Clayton from the Mental Health Commission, MNCLHD’s Sarah Fox, Suicide Prevention and Aftercare Coordinator Sage Green, MNCLHD Chief Executive Jill Wong, member of the Lived Experience of Suicide Group (LEOS) Lea Harvey, Kelly Saidey from Lifeline Mid Coast, Senior Peer Worker Karen Miller, Vanessa Brunker from the Mental Health Commission and Consumer Partnership Coordinator Nicholas Kosseris.
MID NORTH COAST Local Health District (MNCLHD) has officially opened a purpose-built Safe Haven building in Port Macquarie, providing a safe space and immediate support for people who are experiencing mental health distress. Safe Havens are non-clinical settings that offer support in a calm and welcoming environment as an alternative to attending a hospital emergency […]
Foster carers are in high demand on the Mid North Coast.
MID NORTH COAST residents are being urged to consider becoming foster carers due to a significant demand for children needing the love and support of a safe and stable home. Life Without Barriers’ NSW regional director for NSW Family Base Care North services, Benn Anderson, said many children are unable to live with their families […]
THE chance of large-scale flooding in a specific catchment area can increase by as much as 700 percent if widespread deforestation has occurred. That is the finding of a new paper by academics who analysed decades of flooding data from regions in Australia which frequently suffer forest fires. The loss of forest canopy has long […]
THE State Government is currently finalising a business case for staged intersection upgrades along the Oxley Highway between John Oxley Drive and Hastings River Drive. This update was provided in NSW Parliament by Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Transport and Roads Anna Watson on Thursday, 23 October, following a speech by Port Macquarie MP Robert Dwyer […]
Council staff respond to concerns about the lack of maintenance at the Gaol Point Lookout. Photo: Sue Stephenson
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has responded at length to community complaints about the growing number of property eyesores, graffiti, and overgrown parks and reserves. It follows the release of the City Heart Master Plan for public exhibition, which has inadvertently drawn attention to the current state of the CBD and surrounding areas. Council’s Director of Community, […]
