OPERATION Christmas and New Year 2025, the annual statewide road traffic safety campaign, has concluded, with eight people losing their lives on NSW roads during the 17-day period. The high-visibility operation, which ran in conjunction with the double-demerits period, began on Friday 19 December and concluded on Sunday, 4 January. The operation involved Traffic and […]
THE State Government has launched a “landmark strategy” to respond to the perpetration of domestic and family violence (DFV) in New South Wales. “Building Better Responses: NSW Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence 2026–2030” is NSW’s first dedicated plan aimed at disrupting DFV and focusing on those who cause or […]
PALLIATIVE Care Australia (PCA), the peak body for palliative care in Australia, has suggested ideas on how to relieve “bed block” in public hospitals in its 2026 Federal Budget submission. PCA CEO Camilla Rowland said palliative care is a practical, compassionate way to free up hospital beds while giving people the care they need at […]
A MINISTERIAL Direction will require NSW Government agencies to take stronger action to address modern slavery risks. Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos has directed all NSW Government agencies to include modern slavery tender clauses in procurement categories identified as ‘high risk’. The change will come into effect in January, with a […]
COUNCIL has endorsed the Draft Clarence Town Flood Study for public exhibition. The study was jointly funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Dungog Shire Council under the NSW Floodplain Management Program and represents the first comprehensive and unified assessment of all flood mechanisms affecting Clarence Town and its […]
DUNGOG Shire Council has received an update on progress of the new Clarence Town Bridge at its 10 December meeting. The major infrastructure project is being funded through a combination of Federal, State and Transport for NSW contributions totalling $20.581 million. Recent achievements on the project include the completion of the bridge abutments, piers and […]
IMPROVED methane capture at six high-emission coal mines appears the state’s best bet to hit climate targets. A report released by climate advisory group Common Capital said NSW could help reach emissions targets with best-practice abatement at the six mines, which produce half the state’s coalmine emissions despite delivering less than 10 percent of the […]
THEY said it couldn’t happen, but the Federal Labor Government has worked with the Greens to pass reforms to the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act after negotiations fell through last November. The reforms include a new environment watchdog agency; national standards to safeguard nature; federal laws to apply to native forest logging by mid-2027; […]
MAYOR Digby Rayward is seeking clarification from the NSW Government around the interpretation of new rules for subdivision works across riparian zones. At Council’s 26 November Extraordinary Meeting, Cr Rayward put forward a Mayoral Minute outlining his concerns regarding recent advice from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the interpretation […]
UPPER Hunter dog owners are being urged to be vigilant following four confirmed cases of canine parvovirus at Gloucester District Vets since Friday, 21 November. Parvovirus is a highly contagious and potentially fatal illness that primarily affects unvaccinated puppies and dogs. The virus is extremely resilient and can survive in the environment for many months […]
