OVER the past few weeks, we have made several important submissions to the State Government on planning and marine protection issues. Of these, the most significant was in relation to the draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041. This plan proposes a strategic land use framework for the region. While it presents many opportunities for

  WHY grow kale (Brassica oleracea)? I mean sure it's nutrient dense, reliable for ten months of the year and bombproof… Kale is jammed full of vitamins and minerals. It's a prolific plant which is always what you want in your veggie garden. Make life easy. Harvesting is simple. Just snap off the lowest leaves as you

  DEAR News Of The Area, ONCE again our regular self-proclaimed BS exposer W Duesbury, (‘Teal Independents’, p25, Coffs Coast NOTA, Opinion and Letters, 11 March Edition) has uncovered the supposed dark heart of local independent politics. Apparently an organisation called Climate 200 with a ‘green’ agenda (now there’s a misleading name!) is

  DEAR News Of The Area, MY name is Karl Attenborough and I am the Greens candidate for Lyne in the forthcoming Federal Election. On 15 March 2022, I attended a town meeting at Bulahdelah regarding the imminent closure of the Cedar Wharf Lodge. Present at the meeting was Anglican Bishop Peter Stuart and

  DEAR News Of The Area, I HAVE recently read an original account of Australia and the First World War! And what an extraordinary account it was. Never in all my years have I been so personally drawn into the respective lives and roles of those, and their families, who so gallantly and unhesitatingly

  IN May this year, Burrapine Community Hall, situated approximately fifteen kilometres inland from the famous ‘Pub with No Beer’ at Taylors Arm, will be celebrating its Centenary. Originally thriving dairy country, Burrapine now boasts a population of around 80 residents, mostly beef cattle and a few hobby farms. It all started for the

  DEAR News Of The Area, MY wife and I visited our daughter and grandson in Brisbane at the beginning of March. We filled our car in Coffs for 183.9 cents per litre, which was five cents cheaper than here in Woopi. The weather conditions saw us getting caught a few extra days in

  GIINAGAY News Of The Area, I HAVE been watching the development of the Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School with interest. It was gratifying to read in the News Of The Area (‘Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School Opens Its Doors’, Andrew Vivian, p12, 11 March Edition) of the opening of this school. It has been shown

  DEAR News Of The Area, I AM concerned about proceeding with the intended plan to fix the silting problem at Coffs Harbour boat ramp. As a commercial fisherman I started netting Coffs beach and walls in 1947, retiring about ten years ago. The nets used were rather large, so the pull on them

  DEAR News Of The Area, WELL, here we go. Yes, ratepayers were right. The cultural centre is running $50 million plus over budget. Thank you ex-Mayor Knight, ex-Councillor Adendorff and Councillors Cescato and Townley for your dogged persistence in forging ahead with this doomed project. How timely that we have a nearby flooding disaster at