New toolkit to help New England councils strengthen Closing the Gap partnerships
Tamworth’s landmark Aboriginal partnership is being highlighted as NSW launches a new Closing the Gap toolkit for local councils.
Women’s week seeks to break barriers with deadly science
Girls in Gunnedah, Manilla and Quirindi will be at the centre of a statewide celebration next week, as culturally grounded STEM workshops roll into New England schools for NSW Women’s Week.
Face-to-face scam support rolled out for NSW seniors during festival
NSW seniors will receive free face-to-face help to combat rising scam losses during next month’s Seniors Festival.
Cutting red tape to lift small business productivity
Business NSW New England has welcomed a NSW Government push to cut red tape for small businesses, promising to simplify approvals, reduce duplication and make compliance clearer for cafés, restaurants and local retailers across the state.
Local News
Women trades surge: How an Armidale teen is helping build the local construction workforce
A 19-year-old Armidale apprentice is part of a sharp rise in women entering the construction trades across NSW.
‘Ready, Set, NEGS’ open morning for pre-K this Tuesday
New England Girls’ School will open its Junior School classrooms to local families next Tuesday as part of its “Ready, Set, NEGS” event, aimed at parents considering Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enrolment.
Free wellbeing workshops to reach New England women ahead of NSW Women’s Week
Free wellbeing workshops are coming to the New England to help rural women manage stress and prioritise self-care ahead of NSW Women’s Week.
Grants to back community-led digital initiatives in rural Australia
Rural and regional community groups can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to strengthen digital inclusion and resilience under Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program.
Events
Turtle Lab Open Day@ UNEEnds: February 28, 2026
AJ @ TattersallsEnds: February 28, 2026
80s & 90s Day PartyEnds: February 28, 2026
The Complete PackageEnds: February 28, 2026
Armidale BirdwatchersEnds: March 1, 2026
Politics
Council strategic cooperation raises the A word
A new Northern Tablelands regional organisation plus a strategic working group on regional water security has prompted one councillor to raise the A word: do we need to start talking about amalgamation?
Barwon leads the state in rooftop solar
Regional NSW is dominating rooftop solar adoption across the state, with nine of the top 10 electorates for installations located outside metropolitan Sydney
Calls for urgent action on community preschool pay after Fair Work recommendation
The NSW Government is facing renewed pressure to lift funding for community preschools after the Fair Work Commission backed a union push to increase wages
Cumberland tragedy raises questions about security at Banksia
The escape of two patients from a Sydney mental health facility has prompted NSW upper house member Mark Banasiak to demand urgent answers from the Government about staffing and security at Tamworth’s Banksia Mental Health Unit
Australian-first crime fighting drone trial takes flight in Moree
An Australian-first drone trial underway in Moree is helping frontline police prevent, disrupt and respond to crime in the community.
Quirindi’s Killara feedlot sold to AMG
Elders Limited has entered into an agreement to sell its Killara Feedlot operation near Quirindi to Australian Meat Group Pty Ltd (AMG) in a deal worth approximately $195.8 million.
Rural women set to connect at national agriculture conference
Rural and regional women from across the country will head to Orange from 27 to 29 July 2026 for the 2026 Australian Women in Agriculture National Conference.
Energy and Environment
Renewable manufacturing boost for Moree fertiliser project
Hiringa Energy has been awarded $9.4m to further green ammonia production near Moree.
NSW Farmers takes “weird” move on Narrabri gas project
In what has been described as a ‘weird’ and ‘dumb’ move by some former NSW Farmers Board members, President Xavier Martin is backing a resolution seeking support from Members to invest $1m in a court case against the Narrabri Gas Project.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
“People deserve health”: local gastroenterologist looks at the bigger picture
For local gastroenterologist Dr Pran Yoganathan, better health is at the intersection of clinical science, lived experience, and a deep curiosity about the systems shaping modern health.
Unleash epic adventures with the X Series RV Toy Hauler X Terra from Tow World
Whether you’re chasing rugged trails, beachside sunsets, or mountainside campfires, the Tow World X Series RV Toy Hauler X Terra is your ticket to a life lived outside the ordinary.
BUSINESS
Narrabri Shire to host 2026 DNCO Visitor Experiences Summit
Narrabri Shire will host the 2026 Visitor Experiences Summit, bringing tourism operators from across Country and Outback NSW to the region.
INDIGENOUS
New plan to address violence against Indigenous women and children
Australia’s first standalone national plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children has been launched
SPORT
TAS through to regional Douglas Shield final
The Armidale School’s First XI advanced to the regional final of the Douglas Shield with a commanding win over St Philip’s Christian College.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Opinion: Four years on, where are the homes and the flood mitigation?
Federal Member Kevin Hogan reflects on the four-year anniversary of the 2022 floods, questioning the lack of housing delivery and engineering work to reduce future flood levels. The post Opinion: Four years on, where are the homes and the flood mitigation? appeared first on New England Times Engage.
> Submit your own opinion, letter or comment to New England Times Engage
Good News
Glen Innes approves Mayoral community impact fund and school leadership awards
Glen Innes Severn Council has approved a Mayoral Community Impact Fund, creating a new program to support community-led initiatives, recognise volunteers, and respond to urgent local needs.
The platypuses are back: Uralla Creek shows signs of renewal
There’s a quiet sense of excitement building along Uralla Creek, with recent sightings suggesting one of Australia’s most iconic native animals may be making a long-awaited return.
