THE 2026 NSW Budget contains $130 million destined to improve visitor facilities and infrastructure across the state’s national parks network, helping meet growing demand for affordable outdoor recreation. The funding will support upgrades to walking tracks, campgrounds, picnic areas, amenities, lookouts, roads and visitor centres across NSW, while also improving accessibility and strengthening infrastructure against […]

Members of the working bee battle the invasive strangler vine, Claw Creeper. Photos: submitted Members of the working bee battle the invasive strangler vine, Claw Creeper. Photos: submitted RIVER sheoaks and weeping lilly pilly that are hundreds of years old are being strangled by the rapidly growing and highly invasive Claw Creeper growing along the […]

RABBITS, guinea pigs, rats and mice who were formerly used in research are now up for adoption and looking for their forever homes as pets and competitions. The Liberty Adoption Centre, at Wyong, on the Central Coast, is now home to Australia’s first adoption centre for small animals transitioning out of research facilities into the […]

BARRINGTON Tops wildlife sanctuary Aussie Ark will welcome visitors back to its popular Devils in the Wild tours from August, following a short winter break. The fully guided two-hour experiences take guests behind the scenes of the organisation’s conservation work at its Tomalla sanctuary in the Barrington Tops. Upper Hunter MP David Layzell highlighted the […]

THE Lions Club of Stroud held a community information event in Allen Park on Sunday 17 May. Residents were treated to a free morning tea and BBQ lunch and were invited to have their say on two proposed projects: the installation of outdoor exercise equipment in a local park and a new walking trail. The […]

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 […]

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 […]