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Sport
The ocean is a natural focus for summer on the Far South Coast, but every two years that interest and view to the east gets an added hit of colour, movement and power with the George Bass Surf Boat Marathon. Thirty-six surf boats and 25 ski paddlers will take to the water at Batemans Bay on Sunday, December 29. Over...

News
Jan Harris and her family lost their proud Vimy Ridge home in the Tathra and District Bushfire of March 18, 2018. Just a few months later at the 2018 Festival of Open Minds, Jan spoke of her loss, "I am adrift without the anchors of my life" she told the 35o people gathered before a standing ovation. Click play on...

News
Local frustration around climate action took the first flush of headlines around the Acting Prime Minister’s visit to the Bega Valley yesterday, masking some worthy local projects that had 'their moment in the sun' all be it flanked by bush fire smoke from afar. Michael McCormack started his day at the Bega Saleyards were he opened new facilities aimed at improving...

News
Two people have been injured during an aircraft incident at Moruya this afternoon. "Just after 1 pm (December 19), a single-engine Cessna crashed into bushland near the northern end of the Moruya Aerodrome runway after encountering engine problems," police report. "A man and woman on board suffered head and leg injuries and have been taken to Moruya Hospital. Their injuries...

News
Update - 3:30 pm, Thursday 19 December Both the Currowan Fire and Tianjara Fire that were initially rated as emergency level fires have returned to watch and act. "Conditions are easing across the fire ground," the NSW Rural Fire Service says. "Strong winds are forecast for Saturday. This may see an increase in fire activity." 2:00 pm, Thursday 19 December As...

Economy
Tourism operators on the Sapphire Coast have gathered for the launch of the industry's plan for growth. Over 1 million visitors were drawn to the Bega Valley in the year ending June 2018, spending $499 million. The industry generates 3,500 local jobs and has a multiplier effect in the wider regional economy of 1.9, so for every $1 a tourist...

News
Acting Prime Minister, Michael McCormack flew into a loud and passionate climate protest under skies thick with bush fire smoke at Merimbula today. There to open the new terminal building at Merimbula Airport, with Bega Valley Shire Mayor Kristy McBain and State MP Andrew Constance, the Nationals leader was mobbed, heckled and questioned by around 40 protesters. Shortly into his...

News
Old industrial land in central Bega is being reborn with a dynamic childhood led by education at the heart of its new future. Mumbulla School for Rudolf Steiner Education begun earthworks on the former Spenco site this week. The school announced in term 1 this year that it had purchased a 2.3-acre section of the site on Bega Street from Spotlight...

News
Two important draft land use strategies are currently on public exhibition; summer reading for residents of Bega Valley Shire Council. Council says, the draft Residential and Commercial Land Strategies works towards the community’s vision outlined in the Bega Valley Shire Community Strategic Plan 2040 and the South East and Tablelands Regional Plan 2036, and once adopted will inform the Bega Valley...

News
Aboriginal health and well-being services in the region are about to be supercharged with an aged care facility in Bega being re-purposed into an Aboriginal health clinic. The vacant Casuarina facility on Bega Street, Bega, operated by Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care has been sold to Katungul, the region's Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation. “We’re so excited to officially share with the...

News
A NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer from the Bega Valley charged with a spate of deliberately lit fires in the region has pleaded not guilty in Bega Local Court today. Between October 27 and November 26 this year, there have been seven fires in the Bega Valley, which police believe to have been deliberately lit. “Officers from South Coast...

News
Given the close ties and connections much of Southern New South Wales has with Victorian border communities, NSW Health is warning all sexually active people in the region to be more aware of their sexual health following a major spike in an infectious bacteria. Victorian officials have reported 22 cases of syphilis in the Mildura area, compared to 11 cases at...

News
Conservation groups are outraged at the relaxation of rules within the protected waters of the Batemans Marine Park. Member for Bega, Andrew Constance and NSW Agriculture Minister, Adam Marshall last week announced that five sites had been identified for increased access prior to the summer school holidays – Brou Lake (South), Clarks Bay (Freshwater Bay), Forsters Bay, Montague Island (East and...

News
The Kings Highway has been closed between Braidwood and Batemans Bay once again due to unsafe conditions. Live Traffic NSW issued the closure notice at 4:30 pm on Sunday (15 December), saying the Highway is closed in both directions until further notice. The Highway is closed east of Braidwood between Narranghi Road at Monga, down to the Kings Highway and...

News
The Kings Highway between Nelligen and Braidwood has reopened this afternoon after being closed for almost a week. Volunteers from the State Emergency Service and Rural Fire Service as well as NSW Forestry Corporation and Transport for NSW have been working day and night to clear trees and rocks damaged by the Currowan Fire burning north of Batemans Bay. Various...

Economy
With the Currowan Fire still looming in the landscape as a threat to all who love Batemans Bay and surrounds, a new campaign has been launched to strengthen and keep those connections in these challenging times. “With devastating bushfires threatening our beautiful region, it is even more important that our colourful new local pride campaign, Love the Bay, generates positive...