Former investment banker Peter Hunt and his wife Tania de Jong, a soprano and social entrepreneur, have relisted their five-bedroom Manly penthouse with a $35 million price guide, down $5 million from February. Hunt said the couple are selling because they now spend more time at their home near Byron Bay, adding that the apartment is special and unlikely to be matched. A sale at or above the guide would surpass the Manly suburb record of $34 million set in 2024. Hunt bought the beachfront unit for $12.2 million in 2010.
Cattle prices jumped this week after heavy rain fell across key production areas in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Meat and Livestock Australia's benchmark Eastern Young Cattle Indicator rose above 1,000 cents a kilogram. The national processor cow indicator reached a record $4 a kilogram, and the heavy steer indicator hit $4.77. Analyst Simon Quilty said tight supply and competition between processors and feedlots drove demand, and he forecasts heavy steer prices to rise about 20 per cent next year.
Crews have filled more than 625,000 potholes on New South Wales state roads since April 2023, with thousands of those repairs in the Hunter. Since June, 1,668 potholes have been fixed across the region's state roads. The state has set aside $1.85 billion for road maintenance in the 2026-27 budget, including $1.3 billion for regional routes. Works are often scheduled overnight to limit disruption. Hunter councils will receive over $17.2 million to maintain local roads, and motorists are urged to report potholes.
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Jack Bowd, 25, has told the Dubbo District Court he is dead set he was not driving when his ute hit a van head-on near Tomingley, killing four people. Bowd has pleaded not guilty to four counts of dangerous driving causing death. Prosecutors allege he was driving, while the defence says his friend Lochlann Jacobs had taken over the wheel before the crash. Under cross-examination, Bowd conceded he could not recall seeing Jacobs get into the driver's seat. Judge Michael Smith is expected to deliver his judgment in December.
A new guide has been launched in Dubbo to help healthcare workers identify and respond to signs of modern slavery. NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner James Cockayne said the abuse is often hidden, with control exercised through manipulation and contracts rather than physical restraints. The booklet does not set out mandatory reporting, but teaches staff to ask trauma-informed questions and shows where to turn for help. Jennifer Neil of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said modern slavery causes both physical and mental health problems. The resource was developed for NSW but may be used elsewhere.
A dozen young people in Brewarrina have completed an accredited Bronze Medallion lifesaving course during the spring school holidays. The full-day practical course, run by Dubbo First Aid and Lifeguard Training at the Brewarrina Memorial Pool, covered CPR, rescue tows, underwater search techniques and survival skills. Council General Manager David Kirby said the course builds real-world skills and job opportunities for young people. The training provider said the graduates can now take up pool work over the summer. The course was part of a wider school holiday program that included pool days, BBQs and activities at the Youth Centre.
Aqua Fitness classes are set to return to pools in Molong, Manildra, Cumnock, Yeoval and Cudal. The low-impact program uses water resistance to build strength, mobility and cardiovascular health without straining joints. Local volunteers will first train in Dubbo to become instructors or refresh their qualifications. The sessions are free, though attendees pay standard pool admission. Anyone aged 16 or older can join after registering in advance.
The Colour City Dragons, a dragon boat club based at Lake Canobolas, has grown to 55 members aged 11 to 81 since it began in 2008. Training runs three times a week from October to April, and newcomers can borrow equipment and receive instruction. Members have competed internationally and raised money for cancer research through rowing challenges. The club will host its Western Region Regatta at Lake Canobolas on Sunday 1 November. A free one-month Dragon Pass is available to new paddlers.
Orionid meteors peak on 21 October, and viewers are advised to watch in the early hours before dawn, after the moon sets around 3am. Dubbo Observatory owner Peter Starr says the Central West offers dark skies for stargazing. Venus and Mercury appear close together in the western sky after sunset, while Saturn is visible in the east. Looking further ahead, Mr Starr says a total solar eclipse will cross Australia on 22 July 2028, plunging observers on its path into darkness for two to four minutes.
A man died after his vehicle crashed into a ditch on the Mitchell Highway at Apsley, near Wellington, shortly after 4am on Thursday. NSW Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, and the driver has yet to be formally identified. It is the second serious crash on that stretch of highway in six months. Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders called for more overtaking lanes and better upgrades, saying the highway has been left behind. Transport for NSW says it is working on safety improvements at six locations between Orange and Wellington.
Parramatta Lanes recorded its biggest year yet, attracting more than 386,000 visitors over four nights from 21 to 24 October. The free festival used the city centre's streets, laneways and car parks for more than 400 performers, 70 food vendors and 10 stages. Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean said the event showcased the city's cultural diversity and its growing appeal in Western Sydney. The City of Parramatta said the festival was funded by the council and the NSW Government, with a $350,000 Open Streets grant to help deliver the event over three years.
Blacktown pilot Aglaya Papadokokolakis flew the first commercial aircraft out of Western Sydney International Airport on Sunday. She said the milestone was a career highlight, launching operations in her home region. Her father is also a pilot, and she encouraged young women to pursue aviation despite its male-dominated reputation. The airport opened after about eight years of construction and is set to run around the clock. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened it at a Sunday morning ceremony, and its first international flight arrived on Monday.
As part of Small Business Month in October, three New England and North Coast businesses are being highlighted. Steve Shaw runs GH Innovations in Thrumster, helping local firms attract customers through online search and sales improvement. Di Wade runs Rawspice Boutique in South West Rocks, offering independent fashion and lifestyle products. Meagan Hudson and Rory Taylor run Beardy Downs in Emmaville, making small-batch tallow and beeswax products through BD Collection.
Drivers travelling between Armidale and the coast on Waterfall Way should allow extra time from Monday, 26 October, to Sunday, 8 November. Transport for NSW says a string of maintenance jobs and projects may cause cumulative delays, with some sections of up to 10 minutes. Vehicles wider than 3 metres face restrictions on parts of the route, and a permit is needed. Motorists can follow signs and directions from traffic controllers, or use alternative routes including the Oxley Highway, Gwydir Highway or New England Highway.
A black-and-white cat named Max has been reunited with his family in Cherrybrook after two anxious weeks. His owner, Katy, put up 200 missing posters and searched local streets, reaching out to schools, daycares and students. After Max was sighted, animal rescue volunteer Jen safely captured him and returned him to Katy within 24 hours. Katy then posted Found posters to thank the community for its kindness and teamwork.
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Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has taken up a part-time professor of practice role at the University of Sydney. She will guest-lecture, run masterclasses and mentor students and researchers in the school of public health. Her work will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Ardern, who led New Zealand from 2017 to 2023, said she has been focused on leadership since leaving office. University vice-chancellor Mark Scott said her leadership showed that empathy and resolve can strengthen each other.
A 28-year-old man has been charged after an alleged fight on Banna Avenue in Griffith. Police allege he threw punches at another man in the middle of the street at about 2 am on Sunday, October 25, after being refused entry to pubs. Officers had earlier told him to leave, and police say he later swore at them and kept approaching despite being directed to leave. He was arrested, charged with behaving in an offensive manner in a public place, and granted bail. He is due to appear before Griffith Local Court on November 18.
Sydney will host the 2027 Super Netball Grand Final for the first time since the competition began. The event is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors and inject more than $4 million into the NSW visitor economy. The match will be played on Saturday 31 July at Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, and is proposed rather than confirmed. Netball Australia chair Liz Ellis said the event would celebrate the sport's passion across New South Wales. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state would invest more in netball, one of its biggest participation sports.
New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley has defended the state's gun buyback scheme after 150 applications were lodged in its first hours. Bookings opened on Monday, and the government plans to remove up to 274,000 firearms from the community. Catley said fewer guns in circulation would make the community safer, pointing to firearms stolen across the state. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has criticised the scheme, arguing it focuses too heavily on licensed owners rather than illegal guns used by organised criminals.
Credit Corp Group, which buys bad debts at a discount and collects them, is on track for another record result this year. The listed business posted a record $105.5 million net profit in 2025/26 and is targeting between $112 million and $120 million this financial year. Chief executive Thomas Beregi told shareholders the purchase of one of HSBC's run-off credit card books was a key driver. Its consumer lending arms grew almost a fifth in the September quarter, led by its Wallet Wizard loans, which carry an annual interest rate of 47.8 per cent.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway Ramp has been officially named Patyegarang, after a Cammeraygal woman who helped bridge colonial and Indigenous communities. The name was chosen through a collaborative process with local Aboriginal community members. Transport for NSW has also unveiled new bronze signage and a cyclist counter board, which shows live usage statistics. The ramp's opening in January has led to a 30% increase in cycleway usage, averaging 1,600 daily riders over the past six months.
