Snakes are drawn to gardens that offer food, shelter and warmth, according to South Gippsland snake catcher Jake Condotta. Messy garden beds, compost heaps and long grass attract the rodents, frogs and lizards snakes eat. Bird seed, pet food, ponds and piles of timber can also draw them in. Condotta says people should keep their distance from snakes and never try to catch or kill them. If someone is bitten, they should call 000 immediately.
Honey bee colonies keep harmful microbes under control, and new research suggests the hive's layout helps make this possible. Researchers sampled 24 colonies from five apiaries in New South Wales, examining honey, propolis, pollen and wax. Different parts of the hive use different antimicrobial chemicals, from hydrogen peroxide in honey to flavonoids in propolis. The strongest factor in the chemical strength of hive materials was the apiary location, not disease history. Researchers say diverse flowering plants around hives may support colony health, and that the same may apply to other social insects.
ChromeFest returns to The Entrance this weekend, starting on Friday, October 23. The festival marks 18 years of classic cars, rock and roll and retro entertainment.
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The City of Greater Geelong has asked the state government to rezone a site at the entrance to Point Lonsdale so it can be used only for tourism. If approved, the site could not host a supermarket. Coles says the project is at a pre-application stage and no planning permit has been lodged. Community members opposed to the store cite concerns about nearby Ramsar-listed wetlands, the visual impact and effects on local traders. The Borough of Queenscliffe has joined the council in opposing the development. A community meeting on October 22 will discuss possible tourism uses for the site.
A teenage boy was rescued from Brisbane's stormwater drains after becoming trapped in the underground network near Kangaroo Point. Five firefighting crews located the boy, who was with his brother, about 20 metres from the entrance. The operation, which took around half an hour, involved using an inflatable rescue boat. The teenager was unharmed and did not require hospital treatment. Authorities cautioned against exploring such drains, especially after rainfall, due to their extensive and complex layout.
One of Lake Macquarie's best-known venues has reopened seven years after a fire gutted Awaba House. The rebuild cost $6.5 million, and the total project reached $7.8 million. The revitalised building includes a lakeside function room, an outdoor terrace, upgraded kitchens and landscaped grounds. Visible scars from the 2019 fire have been preserved near the entrance. The Catering Group will operate the venue, with the cafe opening for breakfast and lunch from Monday and the restaurant serving lunch and dinner from Thursday to Sunday in early November.
A man who believed he was a reincarnation of racing legend Peter Brock has been sentenced to four years and 10 months in jail. Giriwa May, high on drugs, rammed a police car last June and then drove a stolen Landcruiser through the entrance of the Northland Shopping Centre in Preston. Judge Stewart Bayles said people could have been killed, and witnesses described shoppers screaming and crawling to escape. No one was hurt, though the damage was estimated at about $145,000.
Liban Ali, 31, has faced court for the first time over the alleged murder of 21-year-old Jayda Allen Bonner. She was found dead in an apartment block on Cardigan Street in Carlton, Melbourne, shortly before 2am on Saturday. Ali was arrested early on Tuesday after presenting himself to a police station. Police sought extra time to prepare their brief of evidence, and Ali was remanded in custody to appear again in March. A 60-year-old man arrested after the incident was released pending further inquiries.
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller-coasters across the United States and Canada after a man was thrown from a ride and died at Six Flags over Georgia. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was ejected from the Goliath coaster and fell to his death, striking several people on the way. Police and a state agency that oversees ride inspections are investigating how he came out of his seat and whether his restraints were faulty. Six Flags has not said why the other coasters were shut or what checks will be done before they reopen.
Construction has finished on the Warrawong Community Health Centre, built on the former Port Kembla Hospital grounds in the Illawarra. Once it opens in the coming weeks, residents will be able to reach antenatal care, child health checks, sexual health testing, mental health counselling and drug and alcohol support in one place. The building includes landscaped spaces, an outdoor play area for children and local artwork chosen from submissions by regional creatives and students. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the milestone as important for community-based care, while local members of parliament highlighted the wider investment in regional facilities.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested over the alleged killing of 21-year-old Jayda Allen Bonner at a Carlton apartment complex. Tributes have been left at the site, with a smoking ceremony and protest planned. A fundraiser for funeral expenses has raised over $7,000 in 24 hours. Police say the suspect was known to the victim and is being interviewed by Homicide Squad detectives.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested over the alleged killing of 21-year-old Jayda Allen Bonner at a Carlton apartment complex. Tributes have been left at the site, with a smoking ceremony and protest planned. A fundraiser for funeral expenses has raised over $7,000 in 24 hours. Police say the suspect was known to the victim and is being interviewed by Homicide Squad detectives.
The Victorian Liberal and Nationals opposition has promised $1 million to improve road access to Sikh Volunteers Australia's emergency relief precinct in Langwarrin. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the works would include a dedicated entry lane, a wider driveway for buses, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles, and a left-in, left-out arrangement. The commitment is an election pledge, and its delivery would depend on the Coalition winning government at the November state election. The organisation's chief executive, Jaswinder Singh, welcomed the announcement.
Rotary Kincumber will present the annual Putt-Putt Regatta and Wooden Boat Festival over three days, from November 6 to 8. The event will be held at Davistown and Woy Woy on the Central Coast.
Firefighters from Narara Rural Fire Service were called to a truck fire on Mangrove Road, Somersby, on Saturday night, October 24. On arrival, crews found a single-cab truck fully involved in flames.
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Members of the German Friendship Group dressed up to celebrate Oktoberfest at Gosford RSL Club recently. The Central Coast Friendship Group is open to people beyond German speakers, as the headline notes.
Paterson Builders of Avoca Beach has won the top prize at the 2026 HIA Hunter/Central Coast Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards. The firm received the Home of the Year award.
Central Coast Council is inviting developers, investors, businesses, organisations and institutions to share ideas for the future of the Warnervale Business Precinct. Council is welcoming ideas for an area of up to 16.14 hectares.
Dee Bocking has been named the Liberal candidate for Gosford. She is an aged care specialist and disability support worker, and a small business owner. She is also a former Gosford City councillor.
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.
Brendon and Emma Reynolds have put the historic Junee Hotel on the market so they can move closer to family. The couple took over the lease in 2023 and later bought the property, restoring its rooms, bathrooms and bar. They have added community events, including a singles night that Emma says led to five relationships. Emma criticised government taxes on regional pubs and staffing rules that limit backpacker workers. The couple plan to live in the hotel while a sale progresses, which they say can take six to 12 months.
Griffith Police Station will begin accepting eligible firearms from 2 November under the NSW Government's gun buyback scheme. The scheme follows the Bondi Beach terror attack in December 2025, which killed 15 people. Owners must book an appointment online through Gun Safe, and compensation ranges from $450 for an air rifle to $1000 for a centrefire rifle or revolver. Local firearms dealers, including Anthony Mancini of Riverina Firearms Centre, say the reforms have hurt their businesses and that the payments are too low. Further police stations will join the scheme from 1 December and 18 January 2027.
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.
