AS heavy rain continues to wreak havoc up and down the coast, the surf community is calling upon Huey to deliver the goods for this weekend’s 45th Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic. At 6pm on Friday, surfers, families and friends will firstly gather at the Bird Rock memorial at Town Beach Headland to honour the […]
Port Macquarie to host major photography conference
PORT MACQUARIE will welcome photographers from across regional NSW on Friday 23 May, as the Panthers Photographic Club hosts the 2025 Northern Zone Annual Conference. The event, held at Panthers Port Macquarie, is expected to attract around 350 photographers and their partners from nine regional clubs including Forster, Grafton, Armidale, and Port Macquarie. Commencing at […]
Mixed stats for homelessness on Mid North Coast
THE Mid North Coast has had mixed results in the 2025 Street Count, the NSW Government’s sixth annual count of people sleeping rough. Counts of homeless people sleeping rough on a single evening were completed in local government areas across the state between 4 February and 26 February 2025. Half of the counts took place […]
Council calls for a rethink on sporting venue sponsorship to ease pressure on clubs
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council will revisit its approach to sporting venue sponsorship after unanimously backing a move to consult with the Sports Council before making any final decisions on fees. The motion, put forward by Councillor Nik Lipovac and seconded by Cr Rachel Sheppard, marked a clear departure from the original staff recommendation, which had proposed […]
Blackmans Point rider and horse using hooves to create art
Lara Coventry-Cox with her American Paint Horse, Bolt. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. An aerial view of Lara and Bolt creating their unique artwork. Photo: hello@roving-eye.com. An aerial view of Lara and Bolt creating their unique artwork. Photo: hello@roving-eye.com. An aerial view of Lara and Bolt creating their unique artwork. Photo: hello@roving-eye.com. From training Bolt to training […]
Heartbeat of the Hastings: Kylie Brown
WELCOME to Heartbeat of the Hastings, a regular NOTA feature which highlights the incredible people that make our region so special. If you know of someone making a difference in the community, who is deserving of some recognition, let us know! Email Chan@newsofthearea.com.au. WHEN Kylie Brown moved to Port Macquarie in 2001, she didn’t know […]
Wauchope community pays tribute on Anzac Day
Members of the Military Brotherhood MMC Wilson Sub Branch. Port Macquarie Wauchope RSL Pipe and Drums supported the service. Port Macquarie Wauchope RSL Pipe and Drums supported the service. Wauchope CWA members served tea and biscuits after the service. THE Wauchope community gathered in solemn reflection at the town’s cenotaph for an Anzac Day dawn […]

Flags come down on Surf Life Saving’s patrol season
THE flags came down on the 2024/2025 surf patrol season on Sunday, although lifeguards will remain on duty at Town Beach in Port Macquarie during the cooler months. It will be the only patrolled beach in the area during Winter, so beachgoers are encouraged to head there to swim between the red and yellow flags. […]
Last chance to visit Koala Hospital before redevelopments begin
FOR the first time since 2004, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is closing its doors. Ahead of the site’s redevelopment, Koala Conservation Australia is inviting the community to attend a farewell event on Saturday 3 May, to experience the current hospital for one last time. “The whole Community Open Day is free and is our way […]
Airport’s 20-year vision takes flight: draft master plan heads to public exhibition
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has endorsed a new Draft Master Plan for Port Macquarie Airport, setting out a 20-year vision for the key regional infrastructure asset. At the 17 April meeting, councillors voted unanimously to place the draft plan on public exhibition for at least 28 days, inviting community feedback on the future direction of the […]