A father of three, who’s previously described himself as “shark bait” has been attacked – his leg mauled, while out for an early morning surf at Nambucca Heads. Joel Mason managed to swim to shore, where he was dragged onto rocks by an off duty lifeguard, whose fast thinking may well have saved his life.

Two motorists are recovering in Coffs Harbour Hospital, following a head on collision on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour this afternoon. The accident occurred at the James Small Drive intersection shortly before 2 o’clock. The driver of a van suffered minor injuries and was transported in a stable condition. The female driver of a Holden sedan was also transported in a stable condition. Highway traffic was disrupted for almost one hour while emergency services cleared the site.

Surf boat action moves to Scotts Head this weekend, for the next two rounds of the north coast surf boat series. In the men’s and women’s competition, just one-point separates the four leading contenders.

After failing to field a first-grade side in the group two competition this year, Bellingen’s Magpies are set to make a return in 20-19. Newly appointed coach, Dan Tempest, who played for the club as a junior, says he is looking forward to the challenge.

In a new development for Group 2 Rugby League, the 2019 season will see the a new points system introduced designed to level the playing field for smaller clubs. It is also hoped to encourage club loyalty from players.

One of Grafton’s most popular sporting venues is set for a major make-over. Ellem Oval, which is both home to cricket and AFL, will receive almost $300,000 from a state government grant. The facelift will include the re-levelling of the playing surface and the realignment of the wicket. The oval’s fencing and irrigation system will also undergo a renewal. Ellem Oval is part of the Fisher Park sporting complex, which also includes hockey fields and tennis courts.

The Coffs Harbour community today marked the International Day of People with Disability with a celebration in City Square. Hundreds of people were there to have fun, and celebrate the achievements of people like wheelchair climber Scott Doolan.

Submissions on the planned bypass of Coffs Harbour have now closed, with more than 600 comments lodged by Coffs locals. The bypass has been embroiled in controversy since plans were released which did NOT include tunnels as first proposed.

Coffs Harbour’s Westside Tennis Club played host this weekend to the Northern New South Wales Wheelchair Tennis Championships. Among the field, two former soldiers who took part in Sydney’s Invictus Games.

A man has been charged with animal cruelty following investigations into the death of a German Shepherd in Coffs Harbour earlier last week. Emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour, about 2pm on Wednesday, after members of the public saw a deceased dog in an unattended Holden utility. Police say the owner of the one-year-old German Shepherd left him in the vehicle for a number of hours without water while he attended a nearby licensed premises. The Queensland man is due to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court in February 2019.