Community workshop set to spark new opportunities
THE Community Builders Program has been making waves across Dungog Shire and Stroud over the past 12 months, inspiring residents to think critically about what it means to build a strong and thriving community.
The program is now entering its next phase, and locals are invited to take part in shaping their towns through a series of Community Opportunity Workshops (COWs).
Facilitated by renowned community development expert Peter Kenyon from the Bank of Ideas and sponsored by Rural Aid, these workshops have already given residents of Dungog, Vacy and Stroud a platform to CONTINUED Page 2
QUARRY HEARINGS
Hearings underway for Martins Creek Quarry appeal
By Joseph RICHARDS
DARACON’S appeal for approval of the proposed expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry continues, with hearings now underway and
continuing until 28 March.
On 17 March, the public portion of the case hearings were held at Tocal Hall.
The commissioners heard from seven local speakers representing the Paterson/
Martins Creek community.
After the hearing, the commissioners, solicitors for all parties and expert witnesses toured the quarry site and the proposed haulage route.
After day one, the hearings
continued in Sydney where both sides were able to testify. On day three of the hearings, Daracon revealed plans to upgrade Paterson to
CONTINUED Page 3
q The Clarence Town Community Builders Task Team: Terry Anns, Robyn McKenzie, Heather Kilparick, Sue Shillington, Cathy Schneider, Trudy and Tobi Balstad, Sacha Anderson, Karen Drinan, Sandra Hastedt, Rose and Dusty Roberts. Absent: Chris O’Neill, Alan Green, Bec Towers, Christine Penderson and Michael Anderson.
Lisa WISEMAN 0437 315
Shannon BENTON 0400 163 360 benton@newsofthearea.com.au
Doug CONNOR 0431 487 679 doug@newsofthearea.com.au
EDITOR
Coronation Park play area completed
By Lisa WISEMAN
NEAR the corner of Abelard and Mackay Streets in Dungog, the Coronation Park playground is now officially completed.
An accessible seesaw called "the Dragonfly”, and springy “soft fall” surfaces are the most recent additions.
The changes to the area make it more inclusive, as well as safer for a range of users.
Coronation Park originally had a small play area.
The new, larger play
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area is the result of a substantial three-stage project undertaken by Dungog Shire Council.
An “Everyone Can Play” grant totalling $60,000 from the NSW State Government, allowed Council to upgrade the first part of the playground, closest to the corner.
A Federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Funding grant paid for the second stage.
Finally, in a fortunate or unfortunate twist, the January 2022 storm severely damaged the
park. Natural disaster funding from the Federal Government paid for the final stage.
Some of the colourful features of the park are a ninja area, exercise balls, musical instruments and a large climbing frame.
Council’s Community Project Officer, Tracey Lowrey said she was “most excited about the quiet end of the park”. It features a sheltered, shaded area fitted with tactile and sensory games, from which a person seated inside can watch the play outside, while
DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCIL
DEVELOPMENT CONSENT PUBLIC NOTIFICATION APPROVED DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND COMPLYING DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES
not being bombarded by sound.
The Dragonfly, with long, curving seats and side rails, is suited for users with mobility issues, who can lie on the seesaw.
Not only children were considered in planning the modifications.
Safe seating which allows a clear view all around was added inside the park, on the advice of local adults.
Car parking, paths and solar lighting help to link the playground to nearby
sporting facilities like the new junior cricket ground. Further work will be done in future to improve the entire Bennett Park Sporting Precinct, and join it to the proposed Hooke Street Precinct.
The new play equipment and surrounding structures at Coronation Park were planned with community consultation.
Council welcomes feedback on the playground, and input on the Bennett Park Precinct.
Notice is hereby give pursuant to Section 4.59 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (as amended) that the following applications have been granted consent during the period of 1 February - 28 February 2025
q Violetta exploring the quiet corner.
q Having fun on the new ‘dragonfly’ seesaw.
q Local children Evelyn and Violetta climbing high.
Police launch crackdown on youth crime
NSW Police have launched rapid response units to tackle youth crime across the state.
Operation Soteria is a high-profile strategy
involving around 60 officers.
Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said that over the next three months, police will target offenders aged
between 11 to 16 years of age and specifically focus on aggravated break, enter and steal offences, stealing motor vehicles and “post and boast” offences shared on social media.
“The operational arm of this operation will consist of high-visibility policing, targeting a defined cohort of hundreds of repeat offenders believed to be responsible for 90 percent of youth crime across regional NSW,” he said.
The new unit will target regional hotspots including Newcastle, Taree, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour.
An extra 20 officers will supplement the unit in the form of surge operations each week, to bolster operational numbers to 80.
Polair and roaming
QUARRY HEARINGS
make
These
a pedestrian island on the post office corner, less on-street parking and building a new parking lot next to the Paterson Country Café.
This is the latest in a series of cases and appeals regarding the quarry expansion and its output over the last ten years.
Project opponents say the expansion would affect
the village's way of life due to the amount of truck traffic set to travel through the main street of both towns.
They have also raised concerns over environmental and health impacts arising from the extraction process.
The Martins Creek Quarry Action Group have represented the broader community throughout the proceedings.
“The Commissioners for the Land and Environment Court are reviewing the merits of the proposal and the
parties are calling and cross examining various experts in traffic, civil engineering, acoustics and social impacts among others,” Action Group president Luke Barker told NOTA.
“The community is relying on the Court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the Independent Planning Commission's February 2023 decision to refuse the proposal.”
Public submissions on the appeal are open until 26 March.
response units will complement high visibility operations.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the fear of crime is having a significant impact in rural communities.
"Nobody deserves to be frightened in their own home and in regional NSW that has been the case, it has to stop,” she said.
Under Soteria, which is also underway in the state’s western region, command hubs will be established and investigators will use realtime intelligence to identify social media trends.
As part of the prevention arm of the operation, police will aim to identify and refer young offenders into
programs such as YAMS (Youth Action Meetings) - a multi-agency forum designed to help at-risk young people from re-offending.
Other youth programs through the NSW Police Crime Prevention and Youth Command (CPYC) will be used.
"Part of this mission is to lock up the ring leaders and divert others away from a life of crime,” Deputy Commissioner Pisanos said.
Soteria will oversee Operation Regional Mongoose, which was established in September 2023 and has been arresting, on average, 13 young offenders every week.
Crisis meetings with
aged care and more.
voice their ideas, concerns, and aspirations.
Upcoming workshops will be held in Clarence Town and Paterson.
Clarence Town’s COW is set to take place on Thursday 27 March from 5.30pm at Clarence Town Bowling Club.
The local task team, led by Sacha Anderson and Trudy Balstad, encourages everyone to attend.
“The more voices and perspectives we have, the more dynamic and cohesive our community vision will be.” Ms Anderson said.
“Everyone from long term residents, newcomers, parents, young people, teenagers, parents, community members, retirees, business owners, employees, farmers and children are all welcome to the conversation.”
Key topics will include economic development, culture and arts, tourism, youth engagement, the environment, agriculture,
Some ideas generated so far include: town sculptures and arts events; cinema and outdoor movie nights; improved waste management; expanding sports offerings; childcare and vacation care; revamped street signage and town welcome gateways; expanding community gardens; creative workshop hub; initiatives to keep seniors in their homes longer; music and cultural festivals; horse trails and events; bike trails and mountain bike tracks; playgrounds and landscaped parks.
The local task team is also connecting with local schools.
Student workshops will be held with Peter and Steph on Wednesday 26 March to engage young people in the community building dialogue.
An exhibition of “BIG IDEA” artworks from students at Clarence Town and Glen William public schools, along with local
social media platforms, and the E-Safety Commissioner will also be called to shut down the novelty of posting criminal activity.
"To be clear, posting and boasting criminal activity will not give young offenders notoriety; it will land them in custody.”
Since new “post and boast” legislation came into effect 12 months ago, 53 people have been charged - 27 of those were under the age of 16.
Operation Soteria will also work with community leaders to provide regular updates on progress to engage with victims of crime in impacted areas.
homeschool students and pre-schoolers, will be showcased at the COW event.
Feedback from the meetings will help the local task team to work with Rural Aid to develop a 'Community Action Plan' for the town.
“This is a communityled initiative which will be backed by up to $10000 of seed funding from Rural Aid to commence one of our top identified priority community projects,” Ms Anderson said.
To book your spot, visit TryBooking and search for Clarence Town Community Opportunity Workshop.
A free light dinner will be provided at the start of the evening.
While the event is free to attend, RSVPs are essential for catering purposes.
“This is a very child friendly event, so bring the whole tribe along; there will be activities set up for the kids.”
FROM Page 1
FROM Page 1
q Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the fear of crime is having a significant impact in rural communities. Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi.
q Many in Paterson are not pleased with Daracon’s plans for the quarry site or the village.
Appeal against quarry development
By Joseph RICHARDS
AN appeal has been lodged in the Land and Environment Court against an approved
The Stone Ridge Quarry is located in Balickera, which is 10 minutes north of Raymond Terrace.
Covering 189-hectares of the Wallaroo State Forest, it will be used to extract, process, and transport 1.5 million tonnes of hard rock per annum, for 30 years.
The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC)
approved the proposal on December 16 2024, with the group “Save Balickera” filing an appeal.
“It is an extremely inappropriate development for a State Forest and a drinking water catchment and will have devastating
By Lisa WISEMAN
TEST your knowledge, have some laughs, and help a local organisation by attending the upcoming Trivia Night at the Dungog Memorial RSL.
The Dungog Tea Party is holding one of their two Trivia Nights per year at 6.30pm on Saturday 5 April 2025.
Group secretary and Dungog local Erika Seck said the event would be “quirky, fun and laid back”.
To add to the enjoyment, the
DUNGOG Shire Council has approved a submission to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) concerning its approach to road recategorisation.
The motion raised at the 19 March meeting sought to provide “context to the state government on what it is like for councils like Dungog who manage extensive
evening has the theme of “Your Favourite Colour”.
Trivia buffs are encouraged to get a group of eight people together and book a table.
Around 100 people are expected to attend.
Proceeds go toward running costs of the four-day-long Tea Party event in September.
The Tea Party is a display of tea cosies and trivets, with competitions and prizes in a range of categories.
Tea cosy and trivet enthusiasts of all ages are invited to make and
road networks but lack any state-classified roads owned and maintained by the State Government, and the pressure this places on council to maintain their infrastructure”, Council said in a statement.
The submission outlines key recommendations and proposed amendments to
impacts on biodiversity and the environment, as well as the local community,” group president Anna Kerr said.
The project by the Australian Resource Development Group, is located in the Eagleton Volcanics, which is one of the few areas in the lower Hunter considered suitable for quality hard rock extraction.
It is made up of volcanic
enter a piece.
School students from preschool to high school can enter with individually-made artworks, trivets and cosies, or make displays with a group from their school.
While most of the competitions are for new handmade items, there are also “Treasured Memories” categories for antique or vintage pieces.
These do not need to be made by the entrant.
The Tea Party exhibition is held at the James Theatre, Dungog.
This year’s Tea Party will run
ensure that roads within the Dungog local government area (LGA) are appropriately classified based on their function, strategic importance, and contribution to the regional transport network.
The submission also highlights concerns with the current assessment criteria
rock formed over 340 million years ago.
Ms Kerr and other locals are staunchly against the development.
In the original application process in 2024, there were 32 public submissions made against the quarry.
“The dust, noise and vibration from the quarry will negatively impact the homes, air and drinking water of
from 10-14 September.
The Tea Cosy of the Year prize is $500, while the seven other categories each have a first prize of $100 and second prize of $50.
The Trivet of the Year will win $100, with the prizes awarded in each Trivet category being $50 for first place and $25 for second place.
Prizes are provided by sponsorship from local businesses.
For your business to sponsor a Tea Party prize, or to book a table for the Trivia Night at $10pp, please call Erika on 0429185794.
and proposes amendments to better reflect emergency access, freight movements, tourism, public transport, and regional connectivity.
“Importantly, the document identifies network equity issues, particularly noting that Dungog Shire Council is the only LGA in NSW without a State Road,
local residents," she said.
"The clearance of almost 70 hectares of native forest to make way for the quarry will result in the loss of habitat for many threatened and endangered species including koalas, squirrel gliders and brushtail phascogales.”
The Land and Environment Court will start hearing the appeal on 22 July.
creating a disproportionate financial burden on local road maintenance,” Council said in a statement.
Councillors noted the current road classification framework does not adequately reflect the strategic importance of roads in the Dungog Shire, increasing the
risk of underfunding and deteriorating road conditions.
It was also noted that if road classifications remain unchanged, Council will continue to bear the full cost of maintaining regionally significant roads with limited state assistance.
q The proposed quarry development is located in State Forest, 10 minutes north of Raymond Terrace. Photo: Joseph Richards.
q The proposed site is in close proximity to a series of approved quarries. Photo: Independent Planning Commission.
q Erika Seck is looking forward to the Trivia Night and Tea Party.
Major parties neck and neck as election draws closer
By Andrew BROWN, AAP
LABOR and the coalition have drawn level with voters as the prime minister prepares to call the federal election.
The latest YouGov poll provided to AAP shows the opposition clawing back ground on the government, with the major parties tied 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis.
The result comes after two weeks of Labor holding a narrow 51 to 49 percent lead in the polls, off the back of the response to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred and public reaction to the government's backing of Ukraine.
While the coalition gained ground in the lead-up to the election, Anthony Albanese is still ahead of Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister.
The poll showed 45 percent of those surveyed backed Mr Albanese as preferred leader compared to 40 percent for Mr Dutton.
YouGov's director of public data Paul Smith said the election would be tight.
"It is a very close race but the prime minister has now consolidated his lead as preferred leader and that is significant," he told AAP.
Labor's primary vote remains unchanged since the
last poll at 31 percent.
However, the coalition has increased its voter share, gaining one point to 37 percent.
The primary vote also went backwards by half a percentage point for the Greens and One Nation, down to 13 and seven percent respectively, while
independents also fell by one point to eight percent.
Mining magnate Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots party stands at just one percent.
The YouGov poll also showed Mr Dutton retaking the lead for satisfaction among voters.
The opposition leader's
satisfaction is at minus five percent, with 42 percent satisfied and 47 percent dissatisfied.
Mr Albanese's net satisfaction stands at minus nine percent, with 41 percent satisfied and 50 percent dissatisfied.
The polling came as Labor prepared to hand
down its fourth federal budget on Tuesday.
The financial outlook prompted many to forecast the government would not deliver a budget and would instead call an election.
However, the threat from Alfred in Queensland and northern NSW prompted Mr Albanese to defer his plans to
visit the governor-general.
The election must be held by May 17, with Mr Albanese expected to call the poll in the days after the budget.
The YouGov poll surveyed 1500 people between March 14 and Wednesday, with a margin of error of 3.4 percent.
Authorised by Dave Layzell MP,
q YouGov polling shows the major parties have drawn level as the federal election looms. Photo: Joanna Kordina/AAP PHOTOS.
Plans to help more into 'disaster' housing market
By Jack GRAMENZ, Samantha LOCK and Jacob SHTEYMAN, AAP
MORE Australians could get help to purchase homes but opponents of an expanded
scheme say they would rather use their retirement funds than share with the government.
Changes to the Labor government's Help to Buy scheme will lift income
home.
and price caps for first homebuyers sharing equity with the government.
Single parents and couples earning up to $160,000 could buy million-dollar homes in some of Australia's biggest cities with a minimum two percent deposit.
"We've got a generation of young people growing up in our country who can't see a pathway to home ownership, and our government wants to change that," she told reporters on Saturday.
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil said 40,000 eligible buyers "who would otherwise have no chance of home ownership" could secure a
Assistance of 40 percent for new homes and 30 per cent for existing homes would allow purchases with smaller deposits and loans.
The shared-equity
scheme previously only benefited singles earning less than $90,000 and couples or households earning less than $120,000 but will increase to $100,000 for singles and $160,000 for households.
The maximum price will also rise to $1.3 million in Sydney, $950,000 in Melbourne and $1 million in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Rural and regional price caps will also increase.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the housing market was a "disaster" but young people did not want to co-own with the government.
He said the coalition would let first-homebuyers access up to $50,000 of their superannuation.
"Five years ago if somebody had been able to do that... their net position today would potentially be tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars better off because they had purchased a house and they'd got into the housing market," he said.
The government has also pledged $54 million for prefabricated homes and modular building to speedup construction.
Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive Tom Forrest said it moved construction towards the 21st century, with offsite builds embraced globally.
"Here in Australia, we have been slow on the uptake," he said.
Koalas 'closer to extinction' with new disease outbreak
By Sam MCKEITH, AAP
A POTENTIALLY lethal sexually-transmitted infection has been detected
in the last disease-free koala population in one major city, heightening extinction fears for the endangered native marsupial.
Two koalas, part of a population in southwest Sydney already under threat from development, were found infected with
chlamydia in September, the NSW environment department said in a statement on Friday.
The koalas returned a
positive result for the disease following their rescue in the suburb of Appin after they were hit by cars.
Chlamydia, a highly contagious bacteria that causes infertility in koalas, has decimated their numbers in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, where they are listed as endangered.
In NSW, Labor made a 2023 pre-election pledge for a new national park in a bid to save the state's koalas, but the Minns government is yet to fulfil the promise, drawing criticism from the Greens and conservation groups.
Subsequent testing uncovered no further evidence of the disease in the southwest Sydney population, the department said.
Officials would "continue to monitor and expand testing in the coming months, using drones east of Appin to locate koalas and collect their scats for chlamydia testing", it said.
Greens MP Sue Higginson said it was extremely concerning chlamydia had entered one of the state's few disease-free koala populations as the park sanctuary continued to be delayed.
"I am devastated but not surprised about this tragic find in the koala population of southwest Sydney, this marks a horrid and significant further challenge for the ongoing survival of koalas in the wild in NSW," she said.
"It is clear that koalas in NSW are still on the path to extinction here," she added, claiming the government was failing on its "promise to do more to stop koalas edging any closer to extinction".
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe was contacted for comment.
The proposed koala sanctuary, to be called the Great Koala National Park, could cover up to 176,000 hectares on the mid-north coast, according to the government.
Earlier in March, the government said it was still committed to establishing the park but had not yet determined its size.
In addition to chlamydia, the nation's koala populationestimated at up to 524,000 - is under threat from deforestation, introduced predators and climate change sparking increasingly severe bushfires.
q The Labor government plans to lift Help to Buy scheme income and price caps for first-time buyers. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS.
q Chlamydia has been found among the last koala population in Sydney that had been disease-free. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS.
BEST ON THE BOX
FRIDAY
BETTANY HUGHES’ LOST WORLDS: NABATAEANS
SBS, 8.30pm
For centuries, travellers have been fascinated by the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, and this eyeopening documentary sees historian Bettany Hughes (pictured) investigate the ancient civilisation that created it. Hughes delves into the people of the enigmatic kingdom of Nabataea, following their incense trade routes from the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean and accessing new research across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Greece, Italy and Oman. She finds Petra, their iconic capital built in the 1st century BC, was part of a vast empire only now revealing its secrets.
FRIDAY, March 28
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Gardening Australia. Hannah Moloney health checks her worm farm.
8.30 Under The Vines. (PG) Daisy bonds with her future daughter-in-law.
9.15 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R)
9.45 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
10.15 Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala. (Mls, R) Hosted by Mel Buttle.
12.10 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)
1.00 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
SATURDAY
FATHER BROWN
ABC TV, 6.10pm
The fictional Cotswolds village of Kembleford sees its fair share of devilish activity. Luckily, Father Brown (Mark Williams, pictured) is on hand to help the police solve the multitude of murder cases on his patch. Set during the early 1950s, the affable and astute Father and his band of helpers are a favourite of cosy mystery fans. Season 11 begins with this episode that sees rivalries escalate to murderous heights during the 1955 “Olimpicks” – an event held by Kembleford and neighbouring village Hambleston, though not since 1952. When a Hambleston contestant is poisoned during the spinacheating contest, Father Brown has to find someone with a grudge against the victim and is not short of candidates.
SUNDAY NOTRE
DAME:
THE RENAISSANCE CONCERT
SBS, 8.40pm
Almost six years have passed since the world watched on in horror as France’s renowned Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral was damaged by a devastating fire in April, 2019. Though the painstaking reconstruction and restoration work goes on, the historic heart of the city reopened to visitors at the end of 2024, marking the occasion with this glamorous concert. Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and featuring the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, this moving spectacle also includes breathtaking light shows and performances from Yo-Yo Ma, Pharrell Williams, Marion Cotillard and Angélique Kidjo.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 James May: Our Man In Italy. (PGal)
8.30 Bettany Hughes’ Lost Worlds: Nabataeans. (Premiere, PG)
9.30 Scotland’s Scenic Railways. (R)
10.25 SBS World News Late.
10.55 A Body That Works. (Ml)
12.00 Romulus. (MA15+av, R)
1.55 Elizabeth. (PGa, R)
3.40 Hugh’s Wild West. (R)
4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 8.30 MOVIE: Green Book. (2018, Ml, R) Based on a true story. In the ’60s, a distinguished African-American pianist hires a tough-talking Italian-American bouncer as his chauffeur for a concert tour through America’s Midwest and Deep South. Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini.
11.15 The Americas. (PG, R)
12.15 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGlv, R)
1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 4. Dolphins v Brisbane Broncos.
9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Dolphins versus Brisbane Broncos match, with news and analysis.
10.45 MOVIE: Assault On Precinct 13. (2005, MA15+lv, R) A cop battles rogue colleagues. Ethan Hawke.
12.45 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)
8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Pretty
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Sam Pang Tonight. (Mals, R) Presented by Sam Pang. 8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Mlv, R) Guests include Jodie Foster, Olivia Colman, Austin Butler, Wanda Sykes and Lorraine Kelly. 10.50 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.15 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R)
SATURDAY, March 29
6.00 Morning Programs. 11.55 Rage Closer. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) 1.30 Darby And Joan. (PGa, R) 2.15 Under The Vines. (PG, R) 3.00 Extraordinary Escapes: Christmas Special. (Final, R) 3.50 A Life In Ten Pictures. (PG, R) 4.40 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 5.10 Landline. (R) 5.40 Australian Story. (R)
6.10 Father Brown. (Return, PGav) Rivalries escalate at a local athletics event.
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma) The team investigates a family with secrets.
8.30 Vera. (Ma, R) DCI Vera Stanhope investigates after a young man is found dead following a collision with a car. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is not an accident and is more than a hit and run.
10.05 Unforgotten. (Mals, R)
The team investigates Gerry Cooper.
10.50 Boat Story. (MA15+av, R) Janet and Samuel try to find a buyer for the drugs. 11.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 6.05pm PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35
Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. (Premiere) 8.10 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament Of Houses. 8.50 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.35 Speechless. 9.55 Officially Amazing Goes Bunkers. 10.25 Late Programs.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The Wonders Of Europe. (Return)
8.30 Blenheim: The People Behind The Palace.
9.25 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy. (R) 10.15 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 11.15 All Those Things We Never Said. (Ma, R)
3.30 Icons. (PGav, R)
4.25 Bamay. (R)
4.55 China Bitesize. (R) 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
(31)
(32)
6am Cheerful
Weather For The Wedding. Continued. (2012, PG) 7.00 Goddess. (2013, PG) 8.55 Every Day. (2018, PG) 10.45 Shiva Baby. (2020, M) 12.10pm Stand By Me. (1986, M) 1.45 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. (1993, PG) 3.55 Capricorn One. (1977, PG) 6.10 Sabrina. (1995, PG) 8.30 The Peacemaker. (1997, MA15+) 10.45 Body Double. (1984, MA15+) 12.55am Late Programs.
SUNDAY, March 30
6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 Monty Don’s French Gardens. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs: 25 Years And Counting. (PGl, R) 4.30 The Jubilee Pudding. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Compass. (Return, PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Darby And Joan. (PGa) Joan and Jack are invited to an island resort.
8.15 Unforgotten. (Ml) The team discovers Gerry’s nationalist views.
9.05 Boat Story. (MA15+l) Janet and Samuel celebrate their newfound riches.
10.05 MOVIE: Two Hands. (1999, MA15+lv, R) Heath Ledger.
11.35 You Can’t Ask That. (Mal, R) 12.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.00 Ask The Doctor. (PG, R)
3.30 Outback Ringer. (PG, R)
4.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.10pm Tiddler.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral Pt 2. (R)
8.40 Notre Dame: The Renaissance Concert. Coverage of an event to celebrate the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
10.40 Windsor Castle Fire: The Untold Story. (PGa, R) 11.40 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Gent-Wevelgem. Men’s race. 1.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Gent-Wevelgem. Women’s race.
3.40 Britain’s Great Outdoors. (R)
4.10 Bamay. (PG, R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera.
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6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Athletics. Maurie Plant Meet. 9.00 MOVIE: Apollo 13. (1995, PGal, R)
Three NASA astronauts find their lives in danger after a potentially catastrophic explosion. Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon.
11.50 Motorway Patrol. (PGadl)
12.20 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGalv, R) Sketch comedy series.
1.20 Harry’s Practice. (R) Information about pet care.
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve.
5.00 My Greek Odyssey. (PG, R)
Domino Masters. 6.30 Abandoned Engineering. 7.25 Abandoned Americana. 8.15 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Volta a Catalunya. Stage 7. 10.15 Abandoned Americana. 11.10 Late Programs. 6am Shopping. 8.30
MOVIES (32)
6am Capricorn One. Continued. (1977, PG) 7.15 The Farewell. (2019, PG) 9.10 Little Nicholas’ Treasure. (2021, PG, French) 11.05 Dirty Dancing. (1987, M) 1pm The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. (2012, M) 2.55 Cheerful Weather For The Wedding. (2012, PG) 4.45 Topkapi. (1964, PG) 6.55 Children Of Heaven. (1997, PG, Farsi) 8.30 Paradise Road. (1997, M) 10.35 My Own Good. (2018, M, Italian) 12.25am Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Australian Idol. (PGl) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie. 8.40 The Hunters: Bondi Hate Murders. (Mav) A look at attacks on the gay community.
10.10 Tabloids On Trial. (Premiere, Mal)
11.40 Pembrokeshire
Murders: Catching The Gameshow Killer. (Mav, R)
12.40 The Bay. (Malv, R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Space Invaders. (PG) A woman’s collecting has filled her small home.
8.30 MOVIE: San Andreas. (2015, Mlv, R) A rescue helicopter pilot searches for his daughter. Dwayne Johnson.
10.45 MOVIE: Volcano. (1997, Mv, R)
12.40 Bondi Vet. (PGm, R)
1.30 Hybrid Horizons. (Final, R)
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Hosted by Neale Whitaker and Andrew Winter. 8.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 9.30 Ambulance Australia. (Madl, R) A man claims to have jumped off Brisbane’s Story Bridge and the team races against time to save his life. 10.30 Elsbeth. (PGlsv, R) 11.30 FBI. (Mav, R) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
6.00
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls) 8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.
9.40 9News Late.
10.10 See No Evil: She’s Fake. (Ma) 11.10 The First 48. (Mav)
Oz Off Road TV. (PG, R)
Destination WA.
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 Drive TV: Drive Car Of The Year. (R)
Today Early News.
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MONDAY, March 31
6.00
6.00
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Lisbon With Michael Portillo. (PG)
8.25 Pompeii: The New Dig. (PGa, R)
9.30 24 Hours In Emergency.
10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Syndrome E. (MA15+av) 12.05 The Night Manager. (MA15+v, R)
2.20 Australia Uncovered: Our African Roots. (PGa, R)
3.20 Hugh’s Wild West. (R)
4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 Australian Idol. (PGl) 8.30 9-1-1: Lone Star. (Ma) The 126 races to contain a toxic chlorine cloud. 9.30 Suits L.A. (M) 10.30 The Agenda Setters. 11.30 St. Denis Medical. (PGals)
12.00 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGals, R) 1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 To Be Advised. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
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6am Fantastic
Mr. Fox. Continued. (2009, PG) 6.35 Sabrina. (1995, PG) 8.55 Capricorn One. (1977, PG) 11.10 My Own Good. (2018, M, Italian) 1pm Man Who Didn’t Want To See The Titanic. (2021, M, Finnish) 2.35 Tourism. (2017) 4.00 The Farewell. (2019, PG) 5.55 Selkie. (2000, PG) 7.30 Within Sand. (2022, M, Arabic) 9.40 Hajjan. (2023, M, Arabic) Midnight Late Programs.
TUESDAY, April 1
3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R)
8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 Guillaume’s Paris. (R) 11.00 Snow. (Premiere, PGas) 11.55 Illegals. (Malsv, R) 1.50 Hugh’s Wild West. (R)
3.55 Inside The Modelling Agency. (R)
4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) 7.30 The Americas: Mexico. (PG) 8.30 The Hunting Party. (M) 9.30 The Irrational. (Mav) Alec helps Rose when an attorney general is threatened by a scandalous deep fake video that puts lives in danger. 10.30 The Agenda Setters. 11.30 St. Denis Medical. (PGal) 12.00 MOVIE: House Of Chains. (2022, MA15+av, R) Mena Suvari. 2.00 To Be Advised. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) 9.00 100% Footy. (M) 10.00 9News Late. 10.30 The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard. (Mad) 11.30 Police After Dark. (Mlv, R) 12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Little
Nicholas’ Treasure. Continued. (2021, PG, French) 7.50 Topkapi. (1964, PG) 10.00 Paradise Road. (1997, M) 12.05pm Within Sand. (2022, M, Arabic) 2.15 Children Of Heaven. (1997, PG, Farsi) 3.50 Dafne. (2019, PG, Italian) 5.35 Belle. (2013, PG)
7.30 The Grump: In Search Of An Escort. (2022, M, Finnish) 9.35 My Neighbor Adolf. (2022) 11.25 Late Programs.
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9GO!
WEDNESDAY, April 2
6.00
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Alone Australia. (Ml)
8.40 Eurostar: Minding The Gap. Looks at the Eurostar.
9.40 Rogue Heroes. (MA15+v)
10.45 SBS World News Late.
11.15 Blackwater. (Malsv)
12.20 My Brilliant Friend. (Malv, R)
3.50 Bamay. (R)
4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
3.40
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG)
8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.
9.30 Unfiltered. (PGal) Hosted by Hamish McLachlan.
10.00 Lawrence Mooney: Embracing Your Limitations. (MA15+s, R)
11.30 Autopsy USA. (Mad)
12.30 Covert Affairs. (Mv, R)
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (Return, PGs)
8.30 The Grand Tour. (Return, MA15+l)
9.50 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)
10.50 9News Late.
11.20 The Equalizer. (MA15+v, R)
12.10 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.05 Hello SA. (PG)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 The Project. 7.30 Airborne: Nature In Our Skies: Catching
6.00
THURSDAY,
6am Tourism.
Continued. (2017) 6.25 Belle. (2013, PG) 8.20 Selkie. (2000, PG) 9.55 Dafne. (2019, PG, Italian) 11.40 Hajjan. (2023, M, Arabic) 2pm The Movie Show. 2.35 The Kids Are Alright. (2021, PG, Spanish) 4.15 Viajeros. (2022, PG, Spanish) 5.50 Eat Wheaties! (2020, PG) 7.30 Made In America. (1993, M) 9.35 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. (1997, M) 11.15 Late Programs.
April 3
Grand Designs Revisited. (R)
ABC Late News.
The Business. (R)
Darby And Joan. (PGa, R)
Grand Designs. (PG, R)
Long Lost Family. (PG, R)
Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R)
Gardening Australia. (R)
7.30. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Finding Your Roots. (PGa)
8.30 Sydney’s Super Tunnel. (Return)
9.30 Virdee. (M)
10.35 SBS World News Late.
11.05 Breaking Point. (Mlsv)
11.55 Blinded. (Madl, R)
1.40 Hugh’s Wild West. (R)
3.45 Inside The Modelling Agency. (Ml, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
3.45 WorldWatch. 5.40 History’s Crazy Rich Ancients. 6.05 Are You Autistic? 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: Goodfellas. (1990, MA15+) 11.15 MOVIE: The Handmaid’s Tale. (1990, MA15+) 1.10am Late Programs. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 The Movie Show. 12.05pm WorldWatch. 12.35 Hoarders. 2.15 Planet A. 2.45 Insight. 3.45 News. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 History’s Crazy Rich Ancients. 6.15 Over The Black Dot. 6.45 Travel Man. 7.15 Jeopardy! 7.45 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 10.10 The UnXplained. 11.00 Homicide. 11.55 Late Programs.
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6am Dafne. Continued. (2019, PG, Italian) 6.45 Viajeros. (2022, PG, Spanish) 8.20 The Kids Are Alright. (2021, PG, Spanish) 10.00 My Neighbor Adolf. (2022) 11.50 The Grump: In Search Of An Escort. (2022, M, Finnish) 1.55pm Belle. (2013, PG) 3.50 The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PG) 5.55 Fantastic Mr. Fox. (2009, PG) 7.30 Gambit. (2012) 9.10 The Duke. (2020, M) 11.00 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. (PGa) An Australian labradoodle won’t stop licking.
8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. (PG) Auditions begin as weird, wacky and wonderful acts compete in front of celebrity judges.
9.45 The Amazing Race. (PG)
11.15 The Chernobyl Disaster. (Ma, R)
12.15 Damnation. (MA15+asv)
1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today. 6.00 NBN News.
A Current Affair.
Rugby League. NRL. Round 5. Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks.
Thursday Night Knock Off.
9News Late.
Outback Opal
9GO! (83)
9GO! (83)
This Friday 28th March @ 11:30am
Dungog Saleyards
Proudly Sponsored by Norco Rural Store, Dungog
$250 Norco Voucher to Best pen of Steers (6 or more)
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Chumbra Angus – 15 angus steers 9mths
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On theCouch
When I was a kid, just one year younger than your son, I was given my first bike.
E-bikes, with the speed factor, multiply that risk.
DEAR Jasminda, MY 13-year-old son wants an E-bike for his birthday.
He has offered to pay half. All his friends have E-bikes and he can't keep up with them.. Should I relent even though I think he's better off riding a normal bike for his health.
I'm also worried about the safety aspects.
Lisa C.
Dear Lisa
I can feel that annoying 'when I was a kid' sentence coming out of my mouth with a barrage of reasons to avoid buying your son an E-bike at all costs, but I'm going to refrain .. no, no, I'm not. I can't help it.
I can't begin to tell you the excitement I felt learning to ride with trainer wheels, going 'round and 'round the backyard, pedalling furiously to get over the grass and then enjoying the increasing speed down the steady slope of the driveway.
Later, when I'd mastered the skill, I rode as far away from the family home as I could.
My parents would have been worried sick if they'd known that my friends and I had progressed from training wheels to Cirque du Soleil wannabe performers.
We'd ride down hills with no hands on the handlebars, double each other, and even hold on for grim life while standing on the seat.
This was in the days before bike helmets and it was sheer luck that we weren't severely injured. It gave me a love of bike riding that I still have, along with some pretty decent calf muscles, but it's incredible that one of us didn't end up with life-threatening injuries.
I think there's a place for them, for commuters, for example, or more mature-aged riders who may not have the same pedal-power they had when they were young, but at 13, I just can't see that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
The faster your son goes, the harder he's going to fall if he comes off.
It goes without saying that young people like pushing boundaries and their awareness of potential dangers is still developing, as my childhood riding days demonstrates.
The cost, even if he's willing to contribute, is thousands of dollars, and with such an expensive item, there is more likelihood of the bike getting stolen.
There are also the ongoing servicing costs, which will be a lot higher and general repairs like changing a tyre can be trickier too.
E-bikes are heavier, as your son will discover the hard way when he has to cart the bike up a flight of stairs or push it home if the battery runs out.
Lisa, I reckon the E-bike could be a good long-term dream for your son to save up for, and he will if he really wants one that desperately, but your misgivings are reasonable given his age.
There has been a concerning increase in young
people with injuries relating to E-bikes and E-scooters, and while it's impossible to prevent young people doing the stupid things we did at the same age, we can try to minimise the harm as much as possible.
Carpe diem, Jasminda
Dorin’s Draws
By Paul DORIN
Kids Boot Camp
Cross-party nod for probe into 'rogue' childcare firms
By Farid FARID, AAP
SHOCKING allegations of children being sexually abused, restrained for hours and served low-quality meals have prompted a government-backed parliamentary inquiry into the childcare sector.
The NSW probe is the first called since an ABC investigation revealed widespread failings in the nation's burgeoning forprofit childcare system.
Greens MP Abigail Boyd, who will chair the NSW inquiry, said a parliamentary committee would investigate failures in the early childhood education and care sector.
"Dropping your child off at an early learning centre in the morning is an enormous act of trust but it doesn't need to be a blind leap of faith," she said on Friday.
"Families deserve transparency and accountability, and that's what a parliamentary investigation can help to deliver."
An ABC Four Corners investigation exposed alleged
child sexual abuse being ignored by regulators and service providers prioritising profit over care amid lacklustre enforcement.
Up to 47,000 children were attending for-profit facilities that were failing to meet national standards, the program said.
Almost three-in-four childcare services nationwide are privately owned in a
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sector beset by soaring fees and shortages in many rural and lower-income areas, despite governments providing billions in annual subsidies.
Premier Chris Minns said his government supported the inquiry to ensure children were safe.
"Any kind of information or spotlight that's been shined on the sector is absolutely important," he said.
Private operators' domination of the sector in NSW, relative to states such as Queensland and Victoria, meant there needed to be "strong oversight and a tough regulator", Mr Minns said.
"We need to make sure that the systems are in place to crack down on those that are breaching the rules ... and to wipe out the bad and rogue elements from the industry."
Ms Boyd said securing unanimous support from all sides of politics showed the revelations had touched a nerve.
"The safety and wellbeing of the children of this state is an issue that transcends political persuasions," she said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously ruled out calls to establish a royal commission, saying the evidence presented on the program represented what were already clear regulatory breaches.
q Claims of poor care and abuse at childcare centres around Australia have prompted a NSW inquiry. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS.
Coles, Woolies guilty of increasing margins: watchdog
By Jacob SHTEYMAN and Andrew BROWN, AAP
COLES and Woolworths are two of the most powerful and profitable supermarkets in the world but should not be split up, the competition watchdog has found in a major review of the sector.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released its final report into supermarkets on Friday, finding major chains had little incentive to be competitive on pricing due to their large market share.
The commission said Coles, Woolworths and Aldi faced little competition and had increased average product margins over the past five years, but stopped short of accusing them of price gouging.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government accepted all 20 recommendations from the report, in principle, and was already taking substantial steps in most areas.
Others would take long lead times and require consultation, meaning it may be a while before consumers notice the changes in their daily shop.
As part of the government's initial response, Tuesday's budget will include $2.9 million over three years to help educate suppliers on how to stand up to the supermarkets.
"Cracking down on the supermarkets is all about getting a fair go for families at the checkout and farmers at the farm gate," Dr Chalmers told reporters on Friday.
"Even with the progress that we've been making on inflation, we know that people are still under the pump, and we know that the weekly trip to the supermarket can be a source of that pressure."
The ACCC, in its 441page report, said there was no "silver bullet", delivering a suite of recommendations to address issues including barriers for new entrants, supermarkets' power imbalance over suppliers and lack of choice in remote locations.
It recommended increased transparency, such as mandated publication of price and package size information, to help clamp down on shrinkflation and dodgy discounting.
The watchdog did not, however, back a coalition proposal to break up major supermarkets.
Dr Chalmers said the risk of divesting supermarket chains outweighed the benefits.
"If you make one of the big chains sell in the community, there's a risk that it's just snapped up by the other big player in the supermarket sector and that would be counterproductive," he told ABC TV.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the report was a "flaccid" response from the government to address cost-ofliving concerns.
"I didn't hear any tough measures that are actually going to put a very strong incentive for our supermarkets to behave better," she told Sky News.
"They haven't actually taken a big stick to it."
The large scale of Australian supermarket chains has resulted in a relatively efficient food supply system, benefiting consumers, the commission acknowledged.
"In particular, ALDI, Coles, Metcash and Woolworths
have a scale and scope that provides convenience to many Australians and benefits them through efficiencies in their procurement, logistics and other business functions," the report said.
Coles and Woolworths have vigorously rejected claims of price gouging, arguing their preferred profitability metrics showed their margins are comparable to their peers
Clarence Town Flood Study
Dungog Shire Council is undertaking a Flood Study for Clarence Town and the surrounding environs to improve the understanding of flood behaviour and impacts, and better inform the management of flood risk. The study will also support the concurrent development of the Clarence Town Structure Plan.
Whilst previous studies have been undertaken in the area, there is no comprehensive investigation covering all flood mechanisms throughout the area. Also, these studies are now relatively old and significant changes have subsequently occurred in both the methodologies and policies in floodplain risk management.
Your local knowledge of the catchment and personal experiences of flooding will help us to undertake this flood study. Survey closes 31 March, 2025
in countries like Canada, the UK and the US.
"Coles believes Australia's grocery sector is highly competitive, is evolving rapidly, and offers consumers greater choice than ever before," the supermarket giant said.
Coles also warned against measures that will "increase red tape and drive up costs".
Woolworths CEO Amanda
Bardwell welcomed recommendations that improved transparency for customers, "where they don't have unintended consequences".
Bran Black, chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, said it was a good thing the supermarkets are profitable because they support jobs, pay taxes and their shares are included in superannuation accounts.
Alfred triggers further calls for climate action
By Andrew VIVIAN
WITH the recent brush with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred still on everyone’s minds, climate action groups are voicing concerns about the consequences of ineffective action to combat climate change.
In a joint statement, 38 former Australian fire and emergency service chiefs said they are “deeply concerned about the trend of worsening extreme weather disasters, fuelled by climate change”.
“Many Australians are increasingly being impacted by consecutive, compounding climate disasters including heatwaves, drought, fires, storms and floods, leaving little time for recovery,” they said.
Former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW and founder of Emergency
Leaders for Climate Action, Greg Mullins said, “In my decades of service in NSW I never had to deal with a tropical cyclone reaching so far south. This is deeply disturbing and something climate scientists had warned us about.
“As we head to a federal election it reinforces why Australians simply can’t afford to go backwards on climate action.”
Few Australians will be untouched by Alfred.
The Federal Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers, has warned that the cyclone will affect the Federal Budget by $1.2 billion, and that inflation will be affected by damage to food producing areas.
Other effects may not be as evident.
David Crosbie, CEO of the independent charity Community Council for
Get ready to run
STORY STARTS on BACK COVER Page 16
driven event has something for everyone.
“For 2025, the long-
distance event has been upgraded from 20km to 21km, perfectly aligning with half-marathon standards,” said Jess Watkins from Run Dungog.
Australia, said one of the remarkable things about Alfred was the slow-motion unfolding of havoc and the prolonged rekindling of trauma from not-so-long-ago disasters.
“There was a sense of ‘we are all in this together’, there was a collective goal to see each other through, to keep people safe, and to restore lives and communities,” he said.
“And, there was urgency.”
Mr Crosbie said the same sense of urgency is not being attached to investing in the community’s capacity to prepare, respond, recover and adapt to future disasters and climate change.
“A lot of what we do seems to involve wishful thinking about communities coming together.
“Why aren't we investing more in supporting
Participants can choose from 21km, 10km, or 5km races, each offering breathtaking scenery and fresh country air.
Rain or shine, organisers say the festival will be on.
Participants are also welcome to bring their dogs along, and can even enter them in the best-dressed dog contest on the day.
The 21km trail run offers avid runners and casual participants alike a chance to experience Dungog’s stunning bushland, while the 10km takes runners through rolling hills and scenic tracks, with the occasional curious cow watching from the sidelines.
The 5km “Dash & Dawdle” allows entrants to participate
community-building infrastructure?
“When we are focused on the experience of people and community, we begin talking less about the science, the forecasts and the responses in big amorphous terms, and more about what they mean for our everyday lives and our local community.
“It’s no accident that those who seek to undermine climate action by dividing communities are very good at this. “They talk about local jobs, power lines, your power bill and the intrusion of windfarms on the local countryside.
“They divide communities by working from the ground up.”
Mr Crosbie said that until people discuss the impacts of climate change and the opportunities for energy transition in the same
solo or as a three-person team, with local businesses encouraged to join in the fun.
Families can enjoy a local coffee cart, fresh brunch produce, music, and a dogfriendly atmosphere.
Kids aged 5-12 can join Wildcraft Australia’s outdoor adventure day - all fully supervised while parents participate in the races.
Tickets are discounted before race day with Early Early Bird, Early Bird, Third Release, and Race Day pricing. Kids 12-and-under run free in all races.
Organised by a volunteer committee, all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Dungog Shire Community Centre.
conversations they have about their communities and children, there will be a disconnect.
President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Dr Michael Wright, is urging leaders to fully fund the implementation of the National Health and Climate Strategy.
“Cyclone Alfred has severely impacted Queensland and NSW communities, and my heart is with everyone affected, including all our GPs caring for patients after the storm,” he said.
“The RACGP recognises climate change as a global public health emergency.”
Dr Wright said GPs have been seeing the social, emotional and physical impacts experienced by those in the path of extreme
weather for some time.
“Year after year Australian communities have been subjected to the damaging and traumatic effects of fires, floods, droughts and storms, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.”
RACGP Climate and Environmental Medicine Specific Interests Chair Dr Catherine Pendrey said, “The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called climate change the greatest threat to public health in the 21st century.
“Extreme weather events like Cyclone Alfred cause more injuries, diseases and deaths.
“We can and must stop emitting fossil fuel pollution to safeguard the health of our future generations in the face of the worsening climate crisis.”
Paterson Golf Club
By Ramsey VANE-WOOD
SATURDAY 22nd March
2025, Individual Par FIELD | 27 members & 2 visitors.
DIVISION 1 (<15) | Winner Stephen Watson (13) 3 Up, Runner Up Greg Scott (5) 1 Down, 3rd Place Nick Howell (12) 1 Down
DIVISION 2 (16-36) | Winner Greg Sainsbury (18) 3 Up, Runner Up Michael Croucher (19)
2 Up, 3rd Place Stuart Heathwood (16) Square BALL COMP | Stefan Stasziewicz (26) [Magnetic Island CC] Square, Paul Howell (16) Square, Andrew Woodley (16) Sqaure, Stephen Pilgrim (17) 1 Down & Paul Bennetts (23) 1 Down. NEAREST THE PIN | 1st/10th - Stephen Watson (13), 5th/14th - Greg Sainsbury (18), 7th/16thGreg Scott (5) MEMBERS DRAW | No.36, Jackpot, $88 MEMBERS EAGLES NEST | Unclaimed - 1 Ball
q Run Dungog is family friendly, with activities planned for the kids.
q Local runners are stepping up preparation for Run Dungog 2025.
q Divisional Par Winners: Stephen Watson (l) and Greg Sainsbury (r).
By Shannon BENTON
Relief from Labor’s cost-of-living crisis including affordable and reliable energy.
Fixing our roads. Improving community infrastructure. More affordable housing.
Improving access to GP services, quality health and aged care.
Fixing mobile and internet connections.
Authorised by David Gillespie, 14 Manning Street, Taree NSW 2430
Local runners are stepping up preparation for Run Dungog 2025.