Push for police drones to patrol Mid North Coast skies
Kempsey Shire has the second worst motor vehicle theft rate in NSW, and Michael Kemp wants police drones overhead. Turns out the state may already have Kempsey in its sights.
Fire returns to Country at Scotts Head for the first time in decades
Fire returned to Scotts Head for the first time in decades, as Traditional Owners and the RFS carried out a cultural burn along an ancient songline stretching back to Guyra.
Northern NSW hospitals brace for busiest winter yet
Northern NSW hospitals are seeing 22 more patients a day than this time last year. Health bosses reveal where locals should go instead of the ED, and it might save you hours in a waiting room.
Return help available for illegal farm workers, department says
Workers told the ABC they couldn’t afford to fly home. The Department of Home Affairs says return costs are usually covered, and help is available for those who need it.
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Local News
Coffs Harbour fine-tunes Aboriginal heritage plan
Coffs Harbour has fine-tuned its Aboriginal heritage protections, easing the path for low-risk developments while keeping the framework that protects local cultural sites intact.
Southern Cross University to lead $4 million push to grow Australia’s own coffee industry
Less than one per cent of Australia’s coffee is home-grown. A new $4 million research program led by Southern Cross University wants to change that, five years, five partners, one big brew.
Stabbed, cars stolen, then a dramatic pursuit after Port Macquarie home invasion
Stabbed at his own front door, then a chase to Kempsey. Detectives say three to five people forced their way into a Port Macquarie home and stole two cars.
Locals wanted to help shape South Murwillumbah’s future
Flood-hit South Murwillumbah is getting a new master plan, and council wants locals in the room while it’s drawn up. EOI for the Community Reference Group close 23 August.
Students’ vision sparks $750,000 push for safer South Kempsey streets
A student pitch to Kempsey councillors has turned into $750,000 in state funding. Now council is mapping out safer walking and cycling routes between South Kempsey and Crescent Head.
What's On
Undercount on census night could distort more than just funding
A university researcher says an inaccurate census count doesn’t just cost councils funding, it could distort the independent research regional Australia relies on to understand itself.
Locals wanted to help shape South Murwillumbah’s future
Flood-hit South Murwillumbah is getting a new master plan, and council wants locals in the room while it’s drawn up. EOI for the Community Reference Group close 23 August.
Tape drive funds rural mental health push
One piece of tape, worn by NRL stars from Cairns to Melbourne, has turned into more than 50 mental health programs for communities that have never had this kind of support.
Lifestyle
Manning Valley Choral Society marks 40 years of song
The Manning Valley Choral Society (MVCS) is celebrating its Ruby Anniversary this year, marking 40 years of music-making that has taken choristers from church halls to shopping centres across the region.
Regional Tech Hub shuts its doors after six years
It helped 80,000 households navigate patchy internet, the 3G shutdown and Triple Zero outages. Now the Regional Tech Hub has closed, after funding for the free service ran out.
Duped by the ABC: Food fraud investigation may be rotten
The ABC’s food fraud special ‘Duped’ made Australians afraid of what’s in their fridge. A closer look at the evidence, the lab behind it, and the sources it relied on tells a very different story.
Environment
Confusion reigns over new forest carbon credit scheme
Farmers, foresters and green groups are all furious about a new forest carbon credit scheme, just not for the same reasons. Here’s what it means for the North Coast.
Lismore households throw away $670,000 in container refunds as recoverable waste fills red bins
Lismore households discarded an estimated $670,000 in container refunds while nearly half their red-bin waste was recoverable, audit.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
New England Business Technology: the local team behind smarter business systems
New England Business Technology (NEBT) is focused on helping organisations “do business better” through tailored technology and communication solutions designed specifically for regional conditions.
Tow World trusted for honest service and practical know-how
Helping people tow, travel and explore with confidence is what drives the Tow World team every day – and they’re expanding their service capacity with a move to new premises.
HEALTH
Tape drive funds rural mental health push
One piece of tape, worn by NRL stars from Cairns to Melbourne, has turned into more than 50 mental health programs for communities that have never had this kind of support.
EDUCATION
Democracy on the Move: Parliament of NSW Regional Roadshow heads to Macksville
Parliament of NSW will bring its Regional Roadshow to Macksville on 12 August, giving regional students opportunities to engage democracy.
POLITICS
Lyne MP wants businesses to ‘get it off their liver’ after gambling survey scores a result
Her gambling survey already rattled Canberra. Now Lyne MP Alison Penfold wants Hastings to Hunter small business owners to get it off their liver too, before the clock runs out.
INDIGENOUS
New initiative puts Aboriginal communities in the driver’s seat of licensing support
Transport for NSW is launching an Australian-first program training Aboriginal driving instructors to expand culturally safe licensing support statewide.
CRIME
NSW reviews assault survivor privacy laws
NSW is reviewing whether sexual assault survivors’ therapy notes should be able to be used against them in court, after victim-survivors and counsellors spoke out.
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
On North Coast Times engage now
- Opinion: Neurodivergent Children Are Asking to Be Seen, Not Fixed
Laetitia Andrac from Understanding Zoe says too often, we talk about neurodiversity as though awareness alone is enough - in reality, it isn’t. The real problem is the disconnect in how support is organised. The post Opinion: Neurodivergent Children Are Asking to Be Seen, Not Fixed appeared first on North Coast Times Engage.
