_Dungog Shire Archives - Dungog Shire News Of The Area

Review into response of Reconstruction Authority to floods

A REPORT has been published examining the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s response to the severe weather event that hit the east coast in May 2025. The review was undertaken by the Joint Select Committee on the NSW Reconstruction Authority, composed of MPs from across the political spectrum. “This inquiry had a focus on the severe weather […]

Dungog Shire

3M to fight lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ at defence sites including Williamtown

MANUFACTURING heavyweight 3M is vowing to fight a multibillion-dollar lawsuit over widespread use of “forever chemicals” at Australian defence sites – including the RAAF base at Williamtown. The federal government is suing 3M for more than $2 billion to recover costs from the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam that contaminated 28 defence […]

Government

Index compares connectivity quality across NSW regions

THE NSW Government has released an online tool for comparing connectivity quality across the state, producing some surprising results for Dungog Shire. The NSW Digital Connectivity Index, accessible via the NSW Government website, breaks digital connectivity down into three key areas: – Access: how strong is the coverage, how well the network performs and how […]

Community

Rural grant project seeking projects which build social resilience ahead of drought

MORE than $3,000,000 in grants is now available to empower eligible agriculture-dependent communities to prepare for drought by building and maintaining their social resilience. This is the second round of funding to be delivered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) through the Future Drought Fund’s (FDF) Communities Program, which is funded by […]

Local News

Highlights from Dungog Shire Council’s May meeting

ROAD naming and budget reviews were on the agenda at Dungog Shire Council’s latest ordinary meeting on Wednesday 20 May. Following is a summary of some of the key matters discussed. Quarterly planning and development Council received its Quarterly Planning and Development Report for the January to March 2026 period, highlighting continued development activity and […]

Community

Paterson street party celebrates volunteers

ALMOST 50 volunteers from around 17 local organisations were celebrated during Paterson’s street party on 24 May. The inaugural National Volunteer Week event was held at John Tucker Park to highlight the enormous contribution volunteers make to the local community. Supported by Paterson Rotary, the event provided an opportunity for members of a wide range […]

Government

Lyne MP’s bid to amend legal definition of ‘woman’ and ‘man’

Lyne MP Alison Penfold outside Parliament with Giggle for Girls founder Sall Grover and Nationals Leader Matt Canavan, after introducing her bid to change the Sex Discrimination Act. Photo: Supplied by Office of Alison Penford MP. Alison Penfold showing a copy of her Private Member’s Bill to her followers on social media. MEMBER for Lyne […]

National

Magpies ‘swoop’ into top spot in national bird count

THE results of the 12th national bird count are in, with the Australian Magpie taking out top spot. The Aussie Bird Count was held last October and saw a record breaking five million birds counted over one week. Organiser, Birdlife Australia, said 64,000 citizen scientists took part in the event. Half of all surveys included […]

Community, Event, Government, Health

Turtles, fish bounce back after devastating Mid North Coast floods

NEW research indicates Manning River turtles are being recorded at pre-flood numbers, twelve months after one of the region’s worst floods on record. Waterways in the Hunter and Mid North Coast were battered in the floods of May 2025, with serious concerns held about the long-term effects on fish and animals living in the rivers, […]

Community

Private landholders’ key role in the future of koalas

THE Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative is keen to hear from local landholders interested in having koala habitat trees planted on their properties. The initiative is a collaboration between the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF-Australia) and carbon farming service provider, Climate Friendly, supported by the NSW Government and HP Inc. This first-of-its-kind carbon farming […]