144 of the world’s top women’s golfers have arrived in Bonville ahead of the Australian Ladies Classic. In its second year, the tournament, which is sponsered by the New South Wales government, carries a prize purse of $350,000.

Sporting organisations at Lake Cathie were today counting the cost of vandalism to the town’s sporting field. Over the weekend, hoons drove cars over the surface causing serious damage. “they were on there a little while and did quite a lot of damage to the playing surface which is disappointing given the effort the staff and volunteers put in to maintaining a playing field for community use.” The field, which is used by a number of sporting codes, will be out of use for at least several days while the damage is repaired.

Coffs Harbour’s food rescue charity, Ozharvest, says it has never been busier with demand for its services continuing to grow. The service now provides meals for 750 people each day, mostly school aged children.

There was a good turn out yesterday at Beechwood, near Wauchope, for the annual sevens cricket carnival. The fundraiser saw six clubs from across the Hastings Valley take part in the event. Teams playing a format which allows for six members of each team to bowl two overs each – guaranteeing some free hitting. “the whole day is about getting fellas together having a game of cricket, little more fast flowing with seven-a-side so there’s more opportunity for batsman to score runs, we’ve had heaps of sixes today, so we have a most sixes competition.” The carnival at Beechwood has been running for 23 years.

12,000 of the state’s best junior footballers hit Port Macquarie this weekend for the Northern Conference Touch State Cup. The comp provided a chance for local players to test themselves against tough city opponents. And they did well – the Under-10s Port Macquarie girls took out this afternoon’s final. “up in this area Macksville have presented really well, Port Macquarie has had some teams get through to the final eight and we also had teams from the Hunter Valley and Central Coast.” 450 teams took part in this year’s event.

Local basketball teams tested their skills at a pre-season tournament in Coffs Harbour this weekend. Former Coff Suns captain, Robbie Linton, who now plays for the North Gold Coast Seahawks, was among those taking part.

An independent candidate for the seat of Coffs Harbour has accused the Nationals of pork-barrelling in an attempt to buy votes in next month’s state election. Coffs councillor Sally Townley says pledges of $25-million in funding show the Nationals are in trouble.

Labor’s candidate for Coffs Harbour, believes he’s in with a chance of stealing the state seat away from the Nationals. Tony Judge says 27 years of consecutive economic growth, has not delivered for average Australians, and change is needed.

Anti-logging protesters have staged a rally outside the Forestry Corporation offices in Coffs Harbour, calling for the creation of a Great Koala National Park. State greens candidate for Coffs Harbour, Jonathan Cassell, says koala habitat is under threat. “we are raising awareness of the impact logging is having on our local forests, there is no doubt we are seeing the impacts on our threatened species such as koalas.” Mr Cassell says a national park stretching from Woolgoolga to Scotts Head has the potential to become a major tourist attraction.

Bellingen’s environmental monitoring group, Ozgreen, says it has fears for water quality in the Bellingen River catchment. It’s members say current conditions are almost identical to those in 2015 when thousands of Snapping Turtles died from the Bellinger River virus.