THE Hunter Region Botanic Gardens are reopening after suffering significant damage during storms on 15 January. Hundreds of trees were knocked down throughout the 125 hectare site and the Gardens have been closed to the public since then. “It was…
TWO canines – Daisy and Henry – are aiding Port Stephens Council crews to detect the invasive weed known as Chinese Violet. Council’s Natural Systems Coordinator Kate Drinan said the initiative will help map and manage the spread of the…
AFTER 26 years living on the Tomaree Peninsula, active and community-minded couple Nikki and Nigel Waters have returned to their original homeland of England. On 21 February, the Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association (TRRA) co-ordinated a very well-attended thank you…
THREE people have been charged following a pursuit which started in Newcastle and culminated in Hexham. About 2.50am on Friday 14 March 2025 officers attached to Newcastle City Police District observed an allegedly stolen SUV travelling on Glebe Road, Hamilton…
THE son of mining engineer “Snapper” Williams from West Wallsend, James “Bunger” Williams arrived in Nelson Bay in 1920. Not keen to follow in his father’s footsteps and enter the coal mines, Bunger reckoned that it was to be a…
A NEW program will give regional NSW councils the chance to share in $1 million for projects to upgrade roads at public level crossings. Applications opened on Monday for the NSW Government’s Level Crossing Improvement Program – Regional Council Minor…
PROMPTED by recent severe weather, the RSPCA is sharing important tips for managing animals during storms and natural disasters. The key is preparation, according to the animal protection not-for-profit. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for…
TRANSGRID has launched its annual bushfire prevention program, including helicopter inspections and 3D laser scanning, to ensure the safe operation of the transmission network in the lead-up to next summer. LiDAR inspections by plane are underway across parts of the…
MURDERS have spiked in Australia’s most populous state, driven by multiple-victim homicides including a shopping centre massacre in which six people were killed. A total of 85 people were murdered in NSW in 2024, up from 56 in the previous…
A COALITION of rural organisations has called for immediate action to address the mental health crisis in agriculture. More than 30 rural and healthcare organisations launched a joint statement to address the crisis this week. Advertise with News of The…