Hillvue Public Preschool opens as first new regional public preschool in 20 years
Tamworth has landed the first new public preschool built in regional NSW in more than 20 years, with Hillvue Public Preschool now open to 80 children a week.
Tamworth Skywalk nears completion ahead of grand opening
Tamworth’s newest tourism drawcard, the Tamworth Skywalk, will officially open to the public on Saturday, 29 August, giving locals and visitors their first chance to walk the elevated path through Victoria Park to the Oxley Scenic Lookout.
Moree’s Freedom Ride history gets a Blue Plaque, as nominations open for the next round
Moree’s role in the 1965 Freedom Ride will be marked with a Blue Plaque this Thursday, as the NSW Government opens nominations for the next round of the state’s heritage program.
Two men die in separate New England crashes within a day of each other
Two men have died in hospital after separate crashes near Armidale within a day of each other, a road train collision and a cyclist struck by a bus at Dangarsleigh.
Local News
New project aims to give Southern New England’s farm dams a health check
Workshops at Kentucky and Uralla, demonstration sites and even carbon-monitoring floats, Southern New England Landcare wants your farm dam in better shape within 12 months.
Undercount on census night could distort more than just funding
A university researcher says an inaccurate census count doesn’t just cost councils funding, it could distort the independent research regional Australia relies on to understand itself.
Narrabri Shire honoured for turning vandalism into art
A vandalism hotspot turned into public art, and it worked so well the tagging stopped. Narrabri Shire has picked up two Local Government Week awards, its fourth year running.
Wee Waa Health Service extends opening hours after years of lobbying
Wee Waa Health Service is extending its hours to 7am to 10pm from October, more than three years after a staffing crunch forced them back. But the fight for a full emergency department isn’t over yet.
What's On
LONG READ >
Duped by the ABC: Food fraud investigation may be rotten
The ABC’s food fraud special ‘Duped’ made Australians afraid of what’s in their fridge. A closer look at the evidence, the lab behind it, and the sources it relied on tells a very different story.
Events
International Film FestivalEnds: August 12, 2026
Craft Your Own Vintage Keepsake JournalEnds: August 15, 2026
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: August 16, 2026
The Ladies Lounge – Celebrating Women of Rock & PopEnds: August 22, 2026
Nemingha Community Garden Build a Wildlife Pond WorkshopEnds: August 29, 2026
Stained Glass Art WorkshopEnds: August 30, 2026
Politics
Saffin wins national Human Rights award
Tenterfield’s state member has won Labor’s top human rights honour. Nearly 72 and still “skiing down the hill on one ski,” Janelle Saffin’s fight has spanned four decades, Timor-Leste and Myanmar.
Joblink Plus Artist Bursary returns to support emerging artists
Applications are now open for the 2027 Joblink Plus Artist Bursary Program, which will support artists performing at the Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival.
New England REZ rollout caused ‘avoidable harm’
A NSW parliamentary inquiry has found the New England REZ rollout caused “avoidable harm” due to a lack of a coherent, enforceable, whole-of-government planning framework.
NSW Farmers moves to strip MLA of NLIS database project
NSW Farmers moved to ask the government to strip MLA of the NLIS database uplift project at last week’s conference, after years of what one delegate called “lip service” from the agency running it.
Regional councils claim historic win in national funding shake-up
A new national deal has just delivered a big funding win for councils. Here’s what mayors and MPs say it means for your rates, roads and jobs.
Grain groups combine for national advocacy strength
Social media excerpt: Three grower groups, one national voice. NSW Farmers, GrainGrowers and GPSA have signed pacts to tackle the toughest operating conditions grain growers have faced in years.
Southern Cross University to lead $4 million push to grow Australia’s own coffee industry
Southern Cross University researchers will lead Australia’s largest-ever coordinated coffee research program, a $4 million national initiative aimed at helping local growers claim a bigger slice of the nation’s coffee habit.
Energy and Environment
Uralla council calls for stronger local voice in REZ rollout
Uralla Shire Council says it backs the New England renewable zone, but wants a real seat at the table before more substations and transmission lines are locked into law.
Expanded solar rebate welcomed, batteries are the next step
In a flurry of announcements and changes in the renewable space announced this week are a number of big wins for mid-scale solar projects, including an expanded solar rebate scheme and $100m in concessional funding.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
From open homes to open hearts: Professionals Armidale’s community BBQ making a difference
A real estate agency might not be the first place you’d expect to find a community fundraising program, but Professionals Armidale is quietly becoming as well known for its local giving as…
Is your IT structured? Or just functioning?
Many regional businesses only review their IT support when problems escalate. But more businesses are reassessing how their technology systems are managed, and the story of what happened to Acacia Medical tells…
BUSINESS
Regional Tech Hub shuts its doors after six years
It helped 80,000 households navigate patchy internet, the 3G shutdown and Triple Zero outages. Now the Regional Tech Hub has closed, after funding for the free service ran out.
INDIGENOUS
New initiative puts Aboriginal communities in the driver’s seat of licensing support
Transport for NSW is launching an Australian-first program training Aboriginal driving instructors to expand culturally safe licensing support statewide.
SPORT
$1.42m safety upgrade underway at Tamworth precinct
Work has begun on a $1.42 million project to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility at Tamworth’s Sports and Entertainment Precinct.
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- Roy’s Roundup: Attorney General visits Barwon, Cobar water storage update and bilateral trade with India.
Read the latest newsletter from Member for Barwon Roy Butler The post Roy’s Roundup: Attorney General visits Barwon, Cobar water storage update and bilateral trade with India. appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
Nominations open for women in local government awards
Rising stars, mayors and general managers alike, nominations are open for the state’s top awards recognising women in local government.
ASC recognised for refugee pathways
As Armidale became a regional refugee home, a team from Armidale Secondary College rebuilt the pathways from school to work and study. Now their “Pathways to Belonging” program has earned a NSW Humanitarian Award.
