THE Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will carry out maintenance and improvement works on the Hunter Valley and North Coast rail corridors this weekend to maintain safety and reliability. The works will take place between: – Telarah in New South Wales to Acacia Ridge in Queensland from 5:00am Saturday 16 May to 7:30pm Monday 18 […]
Mayor Digby Rayward with NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison, Labor spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal MLC, and local schoolchildren on the new bridge.
As one bridge closes, another opens in Clarence Town
Mayor Digby Rayward with NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison, Labor spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal MLC, and local schoolchildren on the new bridge. The Clarence Town community is celebrating the progress with their bridges. Local schoolchildren are some of the first to cross the bridge, alongside project team members and local politicians. THE first […]
Local government inquiry: Road funding fix needed for rural councils
RURAL residents are crying out for reliable roads, the state’s peak farming body has told an inquiry into local government funding and fiscal sustainability. Last week, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport held hearings with more than 20 councils in Wodonga, Wagga Wagga and Taree. Also present were representatives […]
The majority of services will be operated by modern coaches featuring wheelchair accessibility, improved seating and seatbelts, mobile phone charging points, onboard defibrillators and toilets.
Revitalised regional coach network unveiled
NEW routes and modernised coaches have been unveiled as part of a major upgrade to NSW TrainLink coach services. A 36 percent funding increase across the NSW TrainLink coach network will lift total funding to $290 million over the next nine years. From 1 July, 14 coach operators will run 49 routes across the NSW […]
MACH Energy sought to double the mine's output to 21 million tonnes per year and extend its life to 2048. Photo: MACH Energy.
Global eyes on the Upper Hunter as Mt Pleasant mine case hits the High Court
THE first ever climate change case to reach the High Court of Australia will be heard on Wednesday, 13 May. The landmark moment will set a national precedent on whether Australian planning authorities are legally required to consider the local climate impacts of fossil fuel project approvals. The case, MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd v […]
Change to opening hours at Stroud Customer Service Point
REDUCED operating hours at the Stroud Customer Service Point and Library were adopted at MidCoast Council’s 29 April meeting. The facility will now operate from Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 12pm. The move comes after a three month trial and a community feedback period open from Tuesday 27 January to Monday 2 March 2026. The […]
Data from the 2021 Census showed a significant shift in where people live, with more than 184,000 people moving to regional areas over the previous five years. Photo: supplied.
Less than 100 Days to Census: Regional Australia encouraged to be counted
THE 2026 Census is less than 100 days away, with Census night to be held on Tuesday 11 August 2026. The Census is an important tool for regional and rural communities, as it shows what local areas need to help them grow, including transport, schools, healthcare, roads and buildings. Emily Walter, Census National Spokesperson, said […]
Concern about climate change increasing in Hunter: poll
SOME 30 percent of Hunter locals are more concerned about climate change than they were a year ago, a new poll has revealed. The polling of 302 Hunter residents, completed on 20 March, was part of a broader poll of 1,965 residents across key renewable energy zones. Renew Australia for All commissioned research firm 89 […]
Hunter Water aerating water pumped from the Tomago Sandbeds before treatment and supply to the network.
Hunter Water to operate Tomago Sandbeds as dam storages decline
HUNTER Water has begun supplying drinking water from the Tomago Sandbeds to supplement surface water storages as dam levels continue to decline across the Lower Hunter. Overall water storages have reduced by more than 20 percent since the start of November due to below-average rainfall, with storages currently around 63.7 percent capacity. The Bureau of […]
From Army to SES leader, Peter Todd keeps giving back
FOR Brookfield’s Peter Todd, service has never been just a job – it’s been a lifelong commitment to community, family, and country. Growing up in Wentworthville in Sydney’s west, Peter’s early years were grounded in local schools and a strong sense of community. But at just 18, he made a decision that would shape the […]
