News & Media

Lake Macquarie City Council is set to roll out surveys over the next 18 months to help identify koala populations throughout the local government area.
Manager Environmental Systems Brendan Callander said that to conserve and protect koalas in Lake Macquarie, more information was required about their population, habitat use, distribution and barriers to movement.
Surveys will likely initially use detection dogs to establish the presence of koalas in koala habitat areas.

Moonshadow-TQC Cruises, a leading eco-cruise and marine tourism experience provider based in Port Stephens, has been awarded Best Commercial Marine Tourism Operator at the 2025 Australian Marine Industry Awards.

The Australian Marine Industry Awards Gala Dinner, a signature event of the Australian Superyacht Conference 2025, was held on Tuesday 20th May 2025 at The Langham Gold Coast, welcoming 264 guests from across Australia and around the world. Created to celebrate the outstanding dedication, excellence and innovation driving Australia’s world-class marine industry, the Awards recognises eleven exceptional winners across the superyacht, commercial and export sectors.

Disaster assistance has been announced for Central Coast, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter Local Government Areas (LGAs) following the impacts of severe weather, including heavy rainfall.

The assistance measures announced will support councils and their communities to meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation and essential items.

The Minns Labor Government is charting the course for Port Stephens to become a global sailing destination when Newcastle Airport’s upgraded international terminal opens in August 2025.

The region’s pristine waters will again welcome thousands of sailors and spectators to Sail Port Stephens, one of Australia’s largest regattas proudly supported by the Minns Labor Government.

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to ensure regional communities thrive, with $50 million in grants becoming available for initiatives that promote regional economic development and support employment creation and retention. Businesses, consortiums, local governments, associations, Aboriginal corporations, not for profits and other eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for a share of the $50 million Community Investment Program, delivered by the NSW Government’s $400 million Regional Development Trust.

The Albanese Government continues to strengthen regional communities, with over $117 million to flow to Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees over the next five years. The new funding agreements – to take effect from 1 July 2025, will support all 50 RDAs across the country to provide critical assistance to local communities and businesses. This includes identifying government and private funding opportunities, and supporting organisations to develop their proposals. RDAs play a key role in bringing all levels of government together to address issues affecting their region, by providing localised advice on challenges and opportunities.

Today’s topping out ceremony for Newcastle Airport’s International Terminal and the placing of the last steel piece, marks a major milestone in the transformational project.

With major construction now complete, the new terminal will next year connect the Hunter region to the world – unlocking jobs and opportunities in aviation, tourism and business.

The Australian Government committed $55 million to the international terminal project, which will provide enhanced international passenger and border processing facilities.

Finishing works continue on the terminal, which is scheduled to open by mid-2025.

New South Wales continues to lead the way. See the update for:

• How NSW are tracking
• What we have achieved
• Supply
• Demand
• Where to next?
• Ways to get involved.

The NSW Government today announced new regulatory and financial support for music festivals struggling under the pressure of increasing costs.

This comes after the NSW Government committed to review the Music Festivals Act. The review found the regulatory framework would benefit from a closer focus on harm reduction, industry sustainability, and ensuring costs for festivals in NSW are at a level comparable to other states, while still prioritising health and safety at festival events.

The forthcoming review into the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy recommends the Minns Government ‘adopt an experience-led strategy’ that takes visitors beyond the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House to experience the true depth and breadth of the state’s nature and culture. Responding to research on demand trends and consultation with the industry, the review finds that visitors seek interactive experiences that enable them to connect deeply with local culture, natural landscapes and the people of NSW. This includes nature-based experiences, culinary and agritourism, art and culture, nightlife, First Nations experiences and wellness.

The NSW Government has taken an important step in supporting Newcastle Airport to become a global gateway when its upgraded international terminal opens in 2025.

The government’s tourism and events agency Destination NSW has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Newcastle Airport to help the airport secure agreements with airlines for new international and domestic routes.

This agreement makes available financial support to Newcastle Airport from the Aviation Attraction Fund for a two-year period from when new routes commence. The funding package includes route incentives for airlines and strategic marketing support.

Sensory Tourism Australia has worked with local tour businesses across Port Stephens to develop an engaging itinerary for blind and low-vision travellers. The itinerary generates excitement, creates repeat visitation, and improves confidence in local businesses to embrace inclusive tourism.

The Export-Ready Tourism Marketing Strategy (the Strategy) has been prepared as part of the Hunter Global Tourism Strategic Business Case, a partnership project between Destination Sydney Surrounds North, Newcastle Airport and lead by Hunter Joint  Organisation. The Hunter JO represents ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) and facilitates projects that deliver regional benefits. The member Councils are the City of Newcastle, Port Stephens, Upper Hunter Shire, Muswellbrook Shire, Dungog Shire, Cessnock City (Hunter Valley), Singleton Shire (Hunter Valley), Lake Macquarie City, MidCoast and Maitland City. For the purpose of this strategy, we have referred to the Hunter JO region as the Hunter Region.

The inaugural Bar Awards are happening in Newcastle on Monday, August 5, 2024. Presented by HUNTERhunter, Newcastle’s leading digital publication that has been supporting the local hospitality industry since 2013, Bar Awards will further elevate the owners, bartenders, mixologists, and brewers who are moving Newcastle’s drink culture forward. Bar Awards will bring together those who energise the city’s bar and drink scene, championing a standard of quality drinks and service anchored in talent, craftsmanship, and diversity.