NSW Local Government Week: Connecting councils to communities
Gunnedah Shire Council is celebrating Local Government Week by highlighting staff, community services, major projects and local career opportunities.
nbn removes high-speed plan requirement for FTTC fibre upgrades
More than 1,200 Tenterfield homes and businesses can now upgrade to nbn full fibre without taking out a high-speed broadband plan.
Man on the run after ramming police car near Yetman
A man is still on the run through bushland near Yetman after ramming a police car during a pursuit, with officers urging locals not to approach him.
Pimples, parties and pornography: PLC Armidale forum tackles modern parenting
Puberty hasn’t changed, but the world teenagers navigate it in has. PLC Armidale is bringing in police, lawyers and educators to help New England parents catch up.
Local News
Tenterfield prepares to host Australia’s biggest demolition derby weekend
Tenterfield will welcome thousands of visitors when DerbyMania II – Back 2 the Bush brings Australia’s biggest demolition derby weekend in August.
Local leaders urge New England residents to “make your count count” ahead of Census night
Mayors and community leaders across the New England North West are urging residents to fill out their Census forms, with Census night just a week away on Tuesday, 11 August.
$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.
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.
Events
Lonely Love @ Lodge TheatreEnds: August 7, 2026
International Film FestivalEnds: August 8, 2026
Armidale Farmers’ MarketEnds: August 9, 2026
New England Sporting Car Club KhanacrossEnds: August 9, 2026
ARC Closed Restricted Dressage CompetitionEnds: August 9, 2026- International Film FestivalEnds: August 9, 2026
Politics
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.
Tenterfield council defends secrecy around audit committee minutes
Tenterfield residents want to know why audit committee minutes were kept secret. Council says the answer comes down to guidelines, and the growing threat of cyber attacks.
Reardon brings a lifetime of agriculture to NSW Farmers presidency
Rebecca Reardon has been elected NSW Farmers president, bringing a lifetime in agriculture and a commitment to strengthening the industry’s future for generations.
Armidale scientists turn satellites into nitrogen advice for cotton growers
Armidale researchers are turning satellite images into real-time fertiliser advice for cotton growers; in a project the University of New England hopes will change how the industry manages one of its biggest costs.
Energy and Environment
Green light for Sundown Solar Farm
A 360-megawatt solar farm between Inverell and Glen Innes has been given the green light, right on schedule, with sheep set to keep grazing beneath the panels and 144,000 homes to be powered.
Clean energy body admits trust problem, proposes royalty scheme
The Clean Energy Council admits regional Australia doesn’t trust renewables, but it’s solution is not likely to fix the problem.
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
Electric vehicle sales soar during fuel price crunch
Australian motorists are voting with their feet and wallets as electric cars drive a path through the market.
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
Daley makes right call after rewriting Origin legacy
Laurie Daley faced enormous criticism during his time as NSW coach but he ensured he finishes a winner after stepping down from the role.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Begin rant: Sorry everyone, I don’t agree again
RK Crosby writes that she is very good at having unpopular opinions, and today she's at odds with her industry and does not support Albanese's love of doing things the hardest way possible. The post Begin rant: Sorry everyone, I don’t agree again 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.
