dungogshire NOTA, Author at Dungog Shire News Of The Area

Community, Government, Local News, Regional

State’s historic wooden bridges subject to review

THE State’s historic timber truss bridges are in the spotlight, and potentially the cross-hairs, of a Transport for NSW review into the management of these structures and their place in modern road networks. Today, Transport for NSW manages, maintains and preserves 27 historic timber truss bridges across the state dating from 1880 to 1930. “Steeped […]

Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Stop blaming migrants and start fixing problems

DEAR News Of The Area, A CONVERSATION with an Uber driver on my way to Brisbane Airport got me thinking about where Australia is heading. We talked about youth crime, housing, cost-of-living pressures and immigration. I came away wondering whether our political debate focuses too much on who to blame and not enough on what […]

Featured

$150 million investment in Lower Hunter water security

HUNTER Water is proposing to invest more than $150 million to strengthen long-term water security for the Lower Hunter through the replacement of a critical section of the Chichester Trunk Gravity Main (CTGM). The proposed project is now on public exhibition, with community members invited to review the plans and provide feedback before 4 October […]

Community, Health, Local News, Regional

A sweet way to support palliative care volunteers from Dungog and the Hunter Valley

THEY are the ‘win-win’ mangoes. Win #1: You get a tray of delicious Bowen mangoes. Win #2: Every tray Friends of Palliative Care (FOPC) sells in its Mango Fundraiser funds more support for Lower Hunter people with life-ending illnesses. FOPC receives a percentage of the $29 from each tray sold. As of last week, 54 […]

Sport

Newcastle Knights to face Sydney Roosters in NRL 2026 grand final

NEWCASTLE are through to their first grand final in 25 years, holding on to beat Penrith 22-14 with 12 men after Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary suffered an ankle fracture in a hip-drop tackle. In an afternoon of high drama at Accor Stadium, Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland was sent off for the tackle that left Cleary […]

Sport Results

Paterson Golf Club

2026 Paterson Open Division 1 Winner, Clayton Small. Divisional Individual Stableford Winners, Greg Scott (l) & Michael Shanley (r). 25 MEMBERS & 35 visitors. DIVISION 1 (<12) SCRATCH | Winner Clayton Small (+4) [Maitland] 67 Gross, Runner Up Max Wallington (+2) [Cypress Lakes] 68 Gross, 3rd Place Jamieson Reading (3) [Maitland] 70 Gross DIVISION 1 […]

The Write Direction

WRITE DIRECTION: A super situation

NEW battle lines are being drawn for the next Federal Election, which is due by 20 May, 2028. Many of us might be thinking that 20 months is too early to offer policies for scrutiny, but the Government seems to be desperate to change direction away from its present economic malaise. Surprisingly they have chosen […]

Jasminda's Advice

ON THE COUCH WITH JASMINDA: The dog dishwasher

DEAR Jasminda, MY friend lets her dog ‘prewash’ the dinner plates and dessert bowls by licking up any leftovers before she puts them in the dishwasher. As much as I love going there for dinner, I am disgusted by this unhygienic act. How do I sensitively raise this issue? Isla F. DEAR Isla, PEOPLE with […]

Dungog Shire

Dungog Chamber of Commerce continues search for new committee members

DUNGOG Chamber of Commerce will continue to operate, despite failing to find anyone to join its committee at a poorly attended annual general meeting last week. Following the decision by several office bearers to resign, president Alan Green had warned the business group could shut down until it could attract at least three replacements. However, […]

Opinion

STARGAZING: Robots first to colonise the moon

ELON Musk has built a career on chasing ideas many people once thought impossible. Now the SpaceX founder has revealed perhaps his boldest dream yet: creating permanent human settlements on the Moon and, eventually, Mars. The first steps could begin before the end of 2026. But instead of astronauts leading the way, Musk wants fleets […]