Mid North News

Police on the Mid North Coast are appealing for witnesses after shocking allegations a 3-year-old girl was touched inappropriately at a public pool. On Tuesday between 9:30am and 3pm the young girl was swimming at Nabiac pool on a supervised excursion. Police say she told her parents that evening she was approached by an unknown man and touched inappropriately in the toilet block. The incident has been reported to the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Unit. Together with Manning-Great Lakes police, an investigation has been launched and it’s appealing to the community to assist. Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Waterman, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander has said, “Detectives have conducted a significant canvass and we’ve established that the pool was very busy throughout the day.” “We would like to hear from anyone who went to the pool on Tuesday …

The state Coalition’s pre-election sweep of the Mid North Coast included Taree, the Deputy Premier handing over $2.5-million of taxpayers’ money for a community centre. The new ‘First Steps Count’ facility will benefit parents and their children.  

It’s a cold case that’s gone unsolved for 35 years. Now, Aboriginal Justice spokesperson David Shoebridge is calling for an inquest into the death of Lewis Buddy Kelly. The teenager was found dead on railway tracks in South Kempsey in 1983, but still his family has no answers. Last year, the matter was referred back to police for further investigation, including interviewing witnesses who weren’t spoken to at the time. “And unlike police, if witnesses are unwilling to corporate, they can be forced to give evidence in a coronial inquest” – David Shoebridge.

It was an all-out political assault on the mid-north coast today, as the Coalition moved to consolidate power in the region. And it looks like motorists, small businesses and members of the South Kempsey community will be the biggest winners.

Divers and their families are being invited to join an underwater treasure hunt…of a very different kind. The first ever ‘sea slug census’ is being conducted from Brooms Head to Sawtell, to find out just how many of the brightly-coloured creatures are lurking in our waters.

Grafton’s Regional Gallery is currently hosting two major exhibitions, in what’s being hailed a coup for the region. Hand-crafted shell necklaces, which rarely leave Tasmania, are now on show In the Clarence Valley.

Former independent Rob Oakeshott is no stranger to the mid-north coast political scene, confirming he will try to end 100 years of National Party dominance, contesting the seat of Cowper.

A boat owner had an unlucky start to the day, when his vessel fell off a trailer, while disembarking the ferry at Settlement Point. The incident forced the ferry service to stop for a number of hours, disrupting commuting traffic to and from the North Shore. A crane was brought in to remove the vessel.

Police are appealing for information after a violent home invasion in Port Macquarie. Three people gained entry to a home on Chisholm Circuit at about 4 o’clock this morning and allegedly assaulted residents. A 21-year-old man suffered wounds to his abdomen and head and was taken to hospital… It was later discovered he had been shot. Detectives are also investigating an earlier home invasion at Moondarra Terrace.

Bridges are at the top of MidCoast Council’s to-do list this year. The state government has announced 15 new bridge projects are in the pipeline, being built or have already been completed in the region in 2019.