Mid North News

Wauchope’s main street has opened up to Christmas shoppers just in time for the busy season. Fencing has been temporarily taken down along High Street to provide more parking spaces and pedestrian access. The first two stages of the precinct’s upgrade are now complete, and work is expected to resume in January. The multi-million dollar development is a jointly-funded initiative between Council and the state government to improve the town’s CBD. It’s expected to be finished by late next year. (NO AUDIO)

Students from Nymboida Primary School traded books for the salty waters of Grafton today. They’re the latest class to take part in the government’s ‘Get Hooked’ fishing program.

Wingham Beef Exports is in the running for the ultimate award in agricultural excellence and innovation. Its product, ‘Manning Valley Naturally Beef,’ has a one-in-six chance of winning the President’s Medal this year. Judges are touring the region to finalise a winner. The winner will be announced at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2019. (AUDIO IN PARTS)  

There’s a brand new way to travel between Taree and Coffs Harbour. The New South Wales Trainlink coach service is about to start up a six-month trial, with stops in Port Macquarie and Kempsey along the way.  

It’s one of Port Macquarie’s largest housing estates, and it’s rapidly expanding. Now, after years of anticipation, a new road has opened up in Sovereign Hills – to not only fill a missing link, but eliminate dangerous traffic congestion.

Port Macquarie could soon receive a new tidal pool, with the state government commissioning a $50-thousand-dollar feasibility study. It comes after thousands of locals signed a petition calling for the development. “Eighteen-thousand signatures can’t be wrong, it demonstrates very clearly this community is passionate about it, and I think it’s exciting that we can at least provide them with some funding to find some answers about where the pool should go, what it might look like, and then have a look at how much it’s actually going to cost.” – Leslie Williams, Port Macquarie State Member. (AUDIO IN PARTS)

Plans for significant upgrades to the Coffs Harbour Golf Club are in full swing, with $300,000 worth of funding announced this morning. Part of the upgrade will cater for golfers with disabilities.

A 34-year-old man has been extradited from Queensland, in relation to the alleged kidnapping of a man at Bellingen, near Coffs Harbour. He was arrested near Brisbane on Monday and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station. The arrest was part of an investigation into the alleged aggravated robbery and kidnapping of a then 31-year-old man in May. He was charged with a number of offences and will face court later today.

A second man has been arrested after he allegedly impersonated a police officer in Port Macquarie last week. He was one of two men who approached a parked car on Crestwood Drive last Sunday night. Both men searched the the car and allegedly took cash from a wallet before leaving in a different car. The 28-year old was charged with a string of offences including possession of a prohibited drug and unauthorised firearm. He’ll appear in Port Macquarie court on the 6th December. (NO AUDIO)

Three people have been charged with allegedly attempting to smuggle weapons and opiods into a Correctional Centre in Kempsey. They include one woman who tried to hide opioid strips and tobacco in her bra and handbag while attempting to visit an inmate. Officers refused entry to a further 12 people during a contraband blitz at the facility. Some of the items found during searches of vehicles outside the facility include syringes, knives, drugs and alcohol (NO AUDIO)