March 4, 2026

Dungog Shire News Of The Area

Modern media delivering relevant community news
Nationals urged to ‘come clean’ over gun reform The reforms include a cap limiting individuals to four firearms, with exemptions for primary producers up to ten. Photo: Michael Kemp MP.
Government, Police

Nationals urged to ‘come clean’ over gun reform

NSW MINISTER for Police Yasmin Catley is calling on the NSW Liberals and Nationals to “come clean” about a plan to “water down” the state’s new gun laws passed in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack. Minister Catley cited comments made on radio by Shadow Minister Anthony Roberts (Liberals), which suggested that the Coalition […]

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Illegal, high-power e-bikes to be crushed in crackdown NSW Police will be able to crush non-compliant, high-powered e-bikes. Photo: NSW Police.
Police

Illegal, high-power e-bikes to be crushed in crackdown

POLICE will get extra powers to seize and destroy illegal e-bikes that officials say are fuelling anti-social behaviour. Mirroring a move made in WA, NSW Police will be able to crush non-compliant, high-powered e-bikes including so-called ‘fat bikes’ and other throttle-only devices. The move responded to a controversial social media video that showed a group […]

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Port Stephens-Hunter Police step up community engagement this summer S/C Fred Saba and Inspector David Donovan with the Sista Speak students at Lemon Tree Passage police station. Photo: PSHPD.
Community, Police

Port Stephens-Hunter Police step up community engagement this summer

Kids and families checked out the paddy wagon at Karuah police station. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Karuah locals touring the station. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Youth Liaison Officer S/C Leanne Mann, S/C Michelle Chandler, and S/C Fred Saba from Lemon Tree Passage. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. ACLO Jemma McLeay, YLO S/C Leanne Mann and Inspector David Donovan at […]

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NSW Police launch another statewide domestic violence operation Across the four days, 752 people were arrested and charged, with 275 arrest warrants executed. Photo: NSW Police.
Police

NSW Police launch another statewide domestic violence operation

A TOTAL of 752 people have been charged with domestic violence offences during a four-day statewide operation. Headed up by NSW Police, Operation Amarok XII ran from Wednesday 12 November to Saturday 15 November 2025. The Domestic and Family Violence Command-led operation also involved officers from each regions’ Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team (DVHROT), […]

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Investigation into damaged Optus tower The fibre break impacted Optus customers in Port Stephens, Maitland and surrounding areas. Photo: Optus.
Police

Investigation into damaged Optus tower

AN investigation is underway in relation to an Optus communications tower being damaged at Hexham. About 3.15pm on Wednesday 5 November, officers from Newcastle City Police District responded to reports of a communications tower situated along Maitland Road being maliciously damaged. The fibre break impacted Optus customers in Port Stephens, Maitland and surrounding areas. Mobile […]

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Leaders urged not to mess with criminal responsibility Changing a long-standing youth conviction principle would only lead to future criminal offending, advocates say, following the release of a review. Photo: NSW Police.
Government, Police

Leaders urged not to mess with criminal responsibility

LEGAL advocates have welcomed a report’s recommendations into a presumption that children under 14 are “incapable of evil”, urging a state not to tinker with the long-standing principle, despite a drop in youth convictions. A NSW review of doli incapax was released on Saturday after it was launched by the state Labor government in May […]

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New recruits join the Port Stephens Hunter Police District Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison welcomed the new recruits at Maitland Police Station.
Police

New recruits join the Port Stephens Hunter Police District

PORT Stephens Hunter Police District welcomed seven new probationary constables last week, who will be stationed at Maitland and Port Stephens police stations. The new recruits were officially welcomed into the NSW Police Force at the Goulburn Police Academy last month. The class of 314 officers was the largest in 13 years, delivering a significant […]

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Police blitz on drunk and drugged drivers Police conducted 9166 drug tests during the three-day blitz. Photo: NSW Police.
Police

Police blitz on drunk and drugged drivers

NSW POLICE have targeted motorists affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue during a three-day operation. Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) ran from 21-23 August across all NSW roads. During this period, police conducted more than 87,000 breath tests and 9166 drug tests. There were 186 drink driving offences detected and 660 positive drug samples. […]

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Rookhurst man’s whereabouts remain a mystery
Community, Police

Rookhurst man’s whereabouts remain a mystery

THE mystery surrounding the disappearance of Rookhurst local Garry Conwell seems no closer to being solved since he vanished without trace on 26 June 2024. “Garry Conwell, aged 71, was last seen about 11am on Wednesday 26 June 2024, riding a quad bike on a property at Craven Creek Road, Rookhurst, approximately 20 kilometres northwest […]

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Appeal to find missing man Scott Hayden
Police

Appeal to find missing man Scott Hayden

THE family of Tinonee resident Scott Hayden is pleading for the public’s help to help locate the missing 46-year-old. Scott was last seen on the evening of 30 May in his car on Thunderbolts Way, Tibbuc. The vehicle was found abandoned the following day, parked on the side of the road near Tibbuc Road. The […]

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