North Coast venues bring Sydney Writers’ Festival to local audiences
North Coast and Mid North Coast communities will host livestreams of the Sydney Writers’ Festival, bringing major authors and ideas locally.
Bellingen Show Returns with Community at Its Heart
The much-loved Bellingen Show is set to return on 9 and 10 May, bringing with it a rich blend of tradition, community spirit, and local creativity that has defined the event for well over a century.
Man charged over alleged $2000 fuel drive-offs across Northern Rivers
Police allege a driver used stolen plates and hit the same servo 10 times in a string of fuel thefts across Lismore and Ballina.
Lismore sets long-term direction with expert-led planning framework open for community input
Lismore City Council has endorsed an expert-led planning framework outlining growth targets, with community consultation on the city’s long-term future starting May.
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Local News
North Coast surf clubs secure share of $5.45m funding boost
North Coast and Mid North Coast surf clubs will upgrade facilities after securing funding under the NSW Government’s $5.45 million Surf Club Facility Program.
Honouring “Women in Agriculture” at This Year’s Coffs Harbour Show
The much-loved Coffs Harbour Agricultural Show 2026 is set to return to the Coffs Harbour Showgrounds on May 1–2, promising a vibrant weekend that blends tradition, entertainment, and community spirit.
Coffs Harbour secures return of National Youth Championships
Coffs Harbour has secured a major boost to its events calendar, with the city confirmed to host the 2026 DoorDash National Youth Championships for a third consecutive year.
Taree man charged over alleged incident in shopping centre toilets
A Taree man has been charged over an alleged incident in a shopping centre’s women’s toilets. Read more here.
Man charged after drugs, firearms and ammunition allegedly seized in Forster
A man has been charged after police allegedly seized drugs, firearms and ammunition during a property search on the NSW Mid North Coast.
What's On
Bellingen Show Returns with Community at Its Heart
The much-loved Bellingen Show is set to return on 9 and 10 May, bringing with it a rich blend of tradition, community spirit, and local creativity that has defined the event for well over a century.
Honouring “Women in Agriculture” at This Year’s Coffs Harbour Show
The much-loved Coffs Harbour Agricultural Show 2026 is set to return to the Coffs Harbour Showgrounds on May 1–2, promising a vibrant weekend that blends tradition, entertainment, and community spirit.
ANZAC Day 2026: North Coast service times from Port Macquarie to the Tweed
North Coast communities will gather this Saturday, April 25, for ANZAC Day services, with dawn commemorations, marches and ceremonies planned from Taree, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, through to the Coffs, Grafton, the Northern Rivers and Tweed.
COMING SOON! We’re celebrating all the great locally made products on the North Coast. Whether you grow it, brew it, stitch it, mould it, build it, or any other way you make it, we want to tell the world about it! Nominate your business or creations now.
Lifestyle
Survey shows surge in visitors to North Coast national parks
Visitor numbers to North Coast national parks are surging, with more than 6.8 million visits recorded last year.
Great Southern Nights expands to record program with strong regional focus
Great Southern Nights will return bigger than ever, with 320 artists performing across NSW, including northern hubs like Byron Bay and Boggabilla.
Wage increase delivered for midwives, nurses
Thousands of nurses and midwives have won a landmark pay rise for the first time in more than two decades after an industrial umpire ruled in their favour.
Drivers fuel crackdown as ‘Bowser Busters’ expose price mismatches
NSW drivers are behind a surge in fuel enforcement, reporting discrepancies and helping regulators crack down on non-compliant service stations.
Environment
Annual dredging begins at Tweed River entrance
Annual dredging at the Tweed River entrance is underway, with up to 150,000 cubic metres of sand to be removed.
Light shone on ‘deceptive’ anti-renewables campaigns
A parliamentary inquiry has found ‘astroturfing’ and deliberately deceptive campaigns were common in the last federal election.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
Restoring the Past, Reimagining the Future at Jolly Good Emporium
Behind the doors of 168–170 Beardy Street, a 150-year-old building is being lovingly restored and reimagined, not simply as an antiques store, but as a heritage-inspired space where history, craftsmanship and community…
Unleash epic adventures with the X Series RV Toy Hauler X Terra from Tow World
Whether you’re chasing rugged trails, beachside sunsets, or mountainside campfires, the Tow World X Series RV Toy Hauler X Terra is your ticket to a life lived outside the ordinary. Designed for…
HEALTH
NSW expands access to the pill, putting women’s healthcare closer to home
NSW women will soon be able to get the pill directly from pharmacists under a $4.5 million reform to improve access and cut delays.
EDUCATION
North Coast, Mid North Coast schools share in $100m Easter maintenance blitz
Schools across the NSW North Coast and Mid North Coast are undergoing upgrades during the Easter holidays as part of a statewide $103 million maintenance blitz.
POLITICS
Country mayors launch ‘Invest in Us’ campaign calling for more federal funding
Regional mayors are calling for more federal funding, launching a new “Invest in Us” campaign to support local councils and services.
INDIGENOUS
First ever plan to deal with violence against Indigenous women and children
Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek has launched Australia’s first standalone national plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
CRIME
Local man charged with murder years after body of pregnant woman found
A Bucca resident has been arrested and charged with murder nearly nine years after the death of a pregnant 21-year-old woman in Sydney’s west.
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
On North Coast Times engage now
- Opinion: There’s a hole in our bucket
Annabel writes we are all fossil fuel junkies, currently living a perfect demonstration of collective addiction. The post Opinion: There’s a hole in our bucket appeared first on North Coast Times Engage.
Good News
Local woman smashes military glass ceiling
Kyogle born and former 12/16 Hunter River Lancers reservist Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will be the first ever female Chief of Army.
Maclean stalwart honoured for decades of community service
A Maclean community stalwart has been honoured for more than 60 years of service at this year’s Highland Gathering.
Top state honour for Lismore health professional
Lismore podiatrist Helen McGregor has been named NSW Allied Health Professional of the Year.
Celebrating 40 Years of Caring: Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre marks a milestone
For four decades, the Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre has been a cornerstone of support, care, and advocacy for women and gender-diverse people across the Mid North Coast.