Rivers of antimony: Hillgrove Mine officially reopened
Australia’s oldest new critical minerals mine is up and running near Armidale, expected to generate close to a billion dollars a year. Locals say it’s bringing families back to the village, and antimony for solar panels is just the start.
Tamworth ambulance staff honoured for courage and outstanding service
NSW Ambulance staff have been honoured in Tamworth for courage, clinical excellence and dedication while responding to emergencies across the region.
Man dies in single-vehicle crash near Tamworth
A man believed to be in his 20s has died in a single-vehicle crash near Tamworth.
A park worth barking about to open in Glen Innes
Best dressed dogs, waggiest tails and a hot dog sizzle for a good cause: Glen Innes opens its new off-leash dog park this Saturday.
Local News
Coalition ramps up attack on Saffin over expenses
“One night, out of a year,” she said of a Ballina hotel stay. Now the Coalition is dragging Minister Janelle Saffin to the Auditor General to explain that and dozens of other travel claims that may not be right.
Anฤwan language reawakens at UNE
Lost to colonisation, kept alive by a decade of research and a handful of archival recordings, the Anฤwan language is being spoken at UNE again, every Thursday morning.
Tickets on sale for CREATE opening
new public sculpture, a Water-themed art exhibition and $55 canapรฉs and cocktails: Narrabri’s CREATE Festival opens 2 October, and tickets just went live.
Nominate your Australia Day heroes now
From Guyra to Nundle, nominations are open for 2027 Australia Day honours. Know a quiet achiever? Now’s the time to say thanks.
What's On
LONG READ >
The real climate policy threat to Australia’s agricultural land
WEEKEND LONG READ: Australia’s system of carbon credits is swallowing up millions of hectares of prime farming land and locking it up for a century, while polluters like Woodside and Chevron look clean on paper. Farmers, investors and economists all want it fixed.
Events
The Organist Entertains – David BaileyEnds: September 12, 2026
The Organist Entertains โ David BaileyEnds: September 12, 2026
Bachianas: EphenStephen and Sarah LawrenceEnds: September 12, 2026
The Tamworth Antique & Collectables FairEnds: September 13, 2026
September Art Gallery Exhibition openingEnds: September 13, 2026
Weekly Womenโs Tea & TalkEnds: September 14, 2026
Politics
F4CA report says farmers carry industry’s climate load
Farmers are already propping up Australia’s climate accounts for free, while coal, gas and oil buy their way out of cutting pollution at the source, according to a new report from Farmers for Climate Action.
Chaffey urges tobacco excise cut to break black market’s grip on New England
Parkes MP Jamie Chaffey says a 30 per cent rise in tobacco use proves Labor’s approach has failed, as he pushes an 80 per cent excise cut to smash the New England North West’s black market.
Glen Innes Severn Council to consider response to state performance order
Glen Innes Severn Council faces a make-or-break meeting this week, as councillors decide how to respond to a state order over financial management failures dating back to 2022.
Three strikes and still not out: the weak council rules unable to deal with populist politicians
They run the same playbook as Pauline Hanson and Donald Trump: turn every sanction into persecution. Inside the NSW rules that still can’t make badly behaved councillors stop.
Moree Plains council releases confidential pool report, but reveals nothing new
Moree Plains Shire Council released the confidential report behind its pool decision – but it didn’t reveal anything the community didn’t already know.
GLENRAC’s Fit Farmer returns
Succession planning, pest control, mental health and a new pasture forecasting tool: GLENRAC’s Fit Farmer day packs it all in at Glen Innes Showgrounds this month.
The real climate policy threat to Australia’s agricultural land
WEEKEND LONG READ: Australia’s system of carbon credits is swallowing up millions of hectares of prime farming land and locking it up for a century, while polluters like Woodside and Chevron look clean on paper. Farmers, investors and economists all want it fixed.
Energy and Environment
Guyra water treatment upgrades bolster blue-green algae preparations
Guyraโs drinking water supply is better prepared for blue-green algae season following major upgrades to the townโs water treatment plant.
Inverell Council to renew Yetman’s water mains
Yetman’s water mains have been breaking down for decades. Inverell Shire Council has now signed off on a $485,853 fix for the ageing asbestos cement network.
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 asโฆ
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 tellsโฆ
BUSINESS
Agribusiness group warns pesticide fee hike will push up grocery prices
ndependent analysis says a looming pesticide fee hike could shrink farmers’ access to new products and push grocery prices even higher. Here’s the industry’s warning.
INDIGENOUS
Thomas Mayo to give 40th Frank Archibald lecture at UNE
Thomas Mayo will deliver UNE’s 40th Frank Archibald Memorial Lecture in October, asking whether Australians are as divided as some would have us believe.
SPORT
World Tennis Series returning to Tamworth
Tamworth will welcome international tennis players back to the city next month, with the Capital of Country International returning for a second year.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Begin rant: Growth means more than moving on
RK Crosby has been reflecting on the Armidale Secondary College series from 2023, and says we need to be brave enough to say stop. The post Begin rant: Growth means more than moving on appeared first on New England Times Engage.
> Submit your own opinion, letter or comment to New England Times Engage
Good News
Tamworth students shine in 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Tamworth students have claimed several top honours in the 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, including the Senior Secondary and Primary School awards.
PLC Armidale students buck national NAPLAN slide
National NAPLAN scores are sliding, with one in three students missing basic benchmarks. PLC Armidale’s girls are heading the other way.
