The plan includes extra bus services across the Hunter. Photo: Transport for NSW. The area covered by the Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan. THE Hunter needs more public transport. That’s the key takeaway from the NSW Government’s just-released Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan, which sets out 49 short and medium-term actions across public […]

LIVING in one of Australia’s fastest growing regional areas, Anna Noon was watching in despair as nature made way for sprawling housing developments. “There was a lot of land clearing happening,” she says of her home at Lake Macquarie in the rapidly-expanding Hunter region. “I knew that was leading to habitat loss, species extinction and […]

NEW data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in the period 2023–24, more than 6000 children across NSW without a parent or guardian, sought help from a specialist homelessness service. More than 80 percent of these children did not receive support. In addition to those who are without guardianship and […]

AS bat season nears in the Hunter, health authorities are warning residents to take extra care and avoid all contact with flying foxes or microbats. A spike in sick and distressed bats arriving at wildlife hospitals across Northern NSW and Southern Queensland in recent weeks has prompted the alert. Historic monastery opens its doors Authorities […]

DUNGOG Day Care Centre was the venue for the August meeting of the Dungog branch of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW. On the third Wednesday of each month from March through November, the group gathers at 1.30pm for a cuppa and chat before the meeting begins at 2pm. At present the Auxiliary currently has […]

REPRESENTATIVES of local businesses and community groups recently met online for a workshop covering the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW). These workshops, or webinars, are being run by Arts Upper Hunter, led by Susannah Jones, in collaboration with the Dungog Visitor Information Centre. The ATDW is a nation-wide database for the tourism sector. It distributes […]

PARENTS and advocates say reforms to improve working-with-children checks are a step in the right direction but they want more action to keep kids in childcare safe. Fast-tracked reforms unveiled on Friday will ensure that by the end of the year, anyone prevented from holding a working-with-children check in one state or territory will be […]

Across the four days, 865 people were arrested and charged, with 269 arrest warrants executed. Across the four days, 865 people were arrested and charged, with 269 arrest warrants executed. Across the four days, 865 people were arrested and charged, with 269 arrest warrants executed. POLICE have charged 865 people with 2,028 offences during a […]

AUSTRALIA is failing its younger generations and the chair of the Productivity Commission believes a policymaker “growth mindset” can help. Danielle Wood says the generational bargain is in peril. “Young people today believe they won’t live better lives than their parents did,” the head of the nation’s economic think tank will say at the National […]

THE first widened section on the Hexham Straight is now open to traffic with three lanes in each direction. Motorists turning left onto Maitland Road from the Newcastle Inner City Bypass are now benefiting from an additional lane for about 650 metres, including an extension to the turning lane from the bypass. There is also […]