DEAR News Of The Area, ON September 14 everyone over eighteen is required to vote at the Council elections. At the 2016 election, 80.6 percent of the 54,174 enrolled voted with 8.82 percent informally. At the 2021 election, 82.91 percent of the 56,687 enrolled voted with 7.26 percent informally. With the Optional

DEAR News Of The Area, I FEEL praise is due to the Coffs Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association (CCRRA) for their attempt during last week’s organised ‘Community Meet the Candidates’ meeting in bridging the current gap between the community and council through their assistance in developing mutual understanding between residents and

DEAR News Of The Area, SUSTAINABILITY has thousands of definitions but primarily means meeting the needs of the current community without harming the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It's a common sense approach involving stewardship of our environment, its assets and resources. This protects and conserves our environment, benefits

DEAR News Of The Area, HAVING devoted 30 years to public service in the Coffs Harbour region, I have seen many councils come and go. Throughout these years, I’ve worked with a variety of local leaders and witnessed both successful and ineffective governance. Unfortunately, the current council has demonstrated an alarming

DEAR News Of The Area, MY wife Becky and I last week attended a "meet the candidates" meeting at Port Bowling Club. The format of the meeting allowed us to get a good idea of the policies and personalities involved from all groupings and candidates except the Adam Roberts ticket. Given that this

DEAR News Of The Area, IT is sad to hear the business people of Coffs Harbour whinging about losing a council subsidy. Their Chamber of Commerce is little more than a ‘businessmen’s union’. Since when has the council been responsible for subsidising union fees? The fact that the subsidising practice has been going