MidCoast Council

18/06/2026

💳 Don't forget about your Shop MidCoast Gift Card!

If you've still got a card tucked away in a wallet or drawer, now's the time to use it. Enjoy a meal, pick up a gift, or support one of the many local businesses that accept Shop MidCoast Gift Cards.

👉 See where you can use your card: www.whyleavetown.com/community/midcoast/

17/06/2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the MidCoast Big Rural BBQ on Friday night at the Manning Entertainment Centre.

With more than 80 local landholders, farmers, small business owners and rural families attending, the evening was a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from community connection.

Led by one of Australia’s leading mental health speakers, Warren Davies - The Unbreakable Farmer, the event provided an opportunity to reconnect, share stories, connect with support services and enjoy a community BBQ together.

The Big Rural BBQ marks an important milestone, rounding out almost 30 flood recovery events held across the MidCoast over the past eight months.

Thank you to Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW, Legal Aid NSW Disaster Response Legal Service, Hunter Local Land Services, Farmgate Support Program, Rural Adversity Mental Health Program - RAMHP, Taree & Wingham Produce, Gloucester Rural Supplies, Elders Rural Taree, Mograni Rural - NorcoGloucester, Dillon Rural, Nabiac Produce, Bulahdelah Rural, Wesley Mission and the NSW Reconstruction Authority for helping make these events possible.

17/06/2026

ℹ️ Today’s update from Mayor Claire Pontin.

I welcome the recent decision by the NSW Government to take back financial ownership of Rural Fire Service assets, also known as the Red Fleet.

This follows years of advocacy from local government, with the transfer of ownership to take place from 1 July 2027.

Here on the MidCoast, this will include around 150 RFS vehicles.

Managing the ownership of these assets has placed a significant financial burden on Council, so it is positive to see the NSW Government taking responsibility for these assets into the future.

17/06/2026

🐾 PET OF THE WEEK 🐾
Last Pet of the Week update: Jaz has recently been adopted!

MEET FLY! 🐶

Fly is a beautiful young Bull Arab cross with a heart full of love just waiting to be shared. While she can be a little shy when meeting new people, it doesn’t take long before her sweet personality shines through. Once Fly gets to know you, she transforms into an absolute bundle of joy who will have you smiling every day.

This lovely girl is smart, affectionate, and full of goofy charm. She has a gentle nature and is incredibly well-behaved around other dogs, making her a pleasure to have around. In fact, Fly has formed a special friendship with Jaz here at the pound, and the two can often be found enjoying each other's company.

As she is only young, Fly is still discovering the world and has so much love, loyalty, and fun to offer her future family. She enjoys spending time with her people and would thrive in a home that can continue building her confidence and helping her become the amazing dog she's destined to be.

📋 All About Fly:
Breed: Bull Arab x
Age: Approx. 1 year
Gender: Female
Personality: Sweet, smart, affectionate, goofy, gentle.
Loves: Dog friends, attention, learning new things, and spending time with her people.

🏡 Fly's Ideal Home:
1️⃣ Fly would love a home that can provide:
2️⃣ Patience and understanding while she settles in and builds confidence.
3️⃣ Plenty of love, affection, and companionship.
4️⃣ Ongoing positive training and guidance.
5️⃣ Opportunities for exercise, play, and enrichment.
6️⃣ A friendly canine companion would be a bonus!

Fly may be shy at first, but once she trusts you, you'll gain a loyal best friend with a beautiful nature and a heart of gold. She's ready to leave pound life behind and start her next adventure with a family who will love her as much as she deserves.

🐾 Help Us Help Them
Please remember to:
✅ Microchip your pets
✅ Keep your details up to date
✅ Commit to responsible, lifelong care

📍 To meet Fly or learn more about adopting, please contact MidCoast Council on (02) 7955 7777 during business hours or alternatively email our team at [email protected]

16/06/2026

We’ve searched NSW to find the coastal waterway with the least amount of microplastics - and it’s the stunning Myall Lake on the Mid North Coast.

Beyond its low contamination, Myall Lake is:

• Great for canoeing, kayaking and sailing
• A favourite for campers and holidaymakers
• Home to one of NSW’s largest freshwater lake systems

As part of Australia’s first large-scale microplastic study, 120 coastal waterways were assessed to understand where contamination exists and where action is needed most.

The lowest levels were found in minimally disturbed catchments, with Myall Lake ranking number one, followed by Nadgee Lake, Middle Lagoon, Myall Broadwater and Wallaga Lake.

Find out more: bit.ly/ReportCardMicroplastics

15/06/2026

⏰ Happening tomorrow! Builders, tradies and apprentices - don't miss HIA's free Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop.

Learn practical site practices to help keep waterways clean, protect local fishing spots, stay compliant, and avoid costly fines.

📅 Wednesday 17 June
⏰ 4pm to 6pm
🎓 2 CPD points available

Whether you're working near the coast, a creek, or in a catchment area, you'll pick up practical tips to stop sediment washing into local waterways and keep your site on track.

Register now via HIA: https://bit.ly/4vNWTNM

15/06/2026

A healthier future for our southern estuaries 🌿💧

The Southern Estuaries Coastal Management Program has now been adopted, providing a 10-year roadmap to help protect and improve the lakes, lagoons and river systems from Wallabi Point to the Karuah River.

The program identifies 15 key challenges facing our southern estuaries and includes 63 actions to improve the health and resilience of local waterways and surrounding environments.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback, ideas and local knowledge throughout the process.

You can read the program and learn more at www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/OurSouthernEstuaries

12/06/2026

Go behind the lens and into the deep with a true Australian legend. 📸

The "Valerie Taylor – An Underwater Life" exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the life of a global icon. See Valerie's groundbreaking achievements through never-before-seen images, personal stories, and incredible 3D scans of items from her collection.

👉 If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s now on exhibition at the Forster Civic Centre.

Discover more: https://bit.ly/42hzYO8

11/06/2026

Have your say on where the MidCoast grows next 🏘️

We are reviewing the MidCoast Urban Release Areas Report and inviting community feedback on proposed updates to guide future growth areas.

The changes include removing some areas that have already been rezoned, are no longer identified for future growth, or require significant future infrastructure investment.

Now we’re inviting the community to review the proposed amendments and provide feedback.

👉 View the report and make a submission: www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/URAreview
Submissions close Tuesday 7 July.

We are reviewing the MidCoast Urban Release Areas Report 2021 and inviting community feedback on proposed updates to future growth areas. Submissions close Tuesday 7 July

11/06/2026

🌿 W**d of the Month: African Olive 🌿
Have you seen this w**d in your area? African Olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata) is a widespread environmental w**d impacting bushland across NSW.

This invasive plant forms dense thickets that block sunlight, outcompete native plants and reduce biodiversity. Over time, it can permanently change natural bushland and ecosystems.

African Olive spreads easily when birds eat the fruit and drop the seeds into new areas, allowing infestations to establish and grow quickly.

👉 African Olive can grow as a small tree or large shrubs up to 10 metres tall. Look out for glossy green leaves that are yellow-brown underneath underneath, small creamy-white flowers, and purple-black berries when ripe.

ℹ️ How you can help:
• Keep an eye out for African Olive on your property and in local bushland
• Learn how to identify the plant and its fruit
• Report any sightings to help prevent further spread

If you think you’ve spotted African Olive, it’s important to act early:
🚫 Do not place this w**d in your green bin
👉 Take a photo and note the location
👉 Contact Council’s Biosecurity team
🔎 Report this w**d or learn more about our w**d management programs here: www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/w**ds

ℹ️ Learn more about African Olive here: https://w**ds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/W**ds/AfricanOlive

📷 Image credit: NSW Department of Primary Industries