The NSW government has intensified its scrutiny of motor vehicle inspection services, with 207 operators facing licence cancellations or suspensions and 223 issued warnings for fraudulent practices. Inspections across Sydney and regional areas revealed widespread issuance of pink and blue slips without proper vehicle checks, compromising road safety. These documents, required for vehicle registration, were often marketed as convenient online solutions but posed serious risks by allowing unroadworthy vehicles to operate. Transport for NSW's regulatory team has removed 1300 unsafe vehicles from roads after identifying over 6000 defects.
Spring festivals, town shows, markets and food and wine events fill the Riverina this week. The Victorian State Ballet performs its retelling of Aladdin in Albury on 23 and 24 October. Griffith Spring Fest runs from 23 to 25 October and includes a citrus sculpture garden, while the Junee Show marks 125 years on 24 October. Womn-Kind holds a day of conversation for young women in Wagga Wagga, and the North East Food and Wine Festival runs in Wodonga from 23 to 25 October.
Molong will become part of New South Wales' emergency response network, with Fire and Rescue NSW deploying one of three new bulk water transfer units there. The $3.89 million investment in pumping systems and transport vehicles aims to strengthen responses to major fires and floods. Each Hytrans unit can pump up to 8000 litres of water a minute over a kilometre of hose, and draw water from depths of up to 60 metres. Other units are based at Bangalow and Albury. An earlier model cleared floodwater from Kempsey's main streets during the May 2025 Mid North Coast floods.
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Independent MP Joe McGirr has surveyed 697 people who want more frequent and reliable train services to Wagga at times that suit regional travellers. Many respondents said late-night and early-morning arrivals made getting home difficult, and that morning departures between 6 am and noon were the most popular. McGirr told the NSW Legislative Assembly that the state government should use the arrival of new trains to review timetables. The NSW Government is replacing its ageing trains with 29 new ones, but no date has been set for them to run through Wagga.
Smith's Hill High School's basketball team from Wollongong is heading to the national championships on the Gold Coast. Coach Dan Muller says the team can win. The school estimates the trip will cost about $20,000 and is seeking donations from businesses and individuals. The team travels from 28 November to 4 December. The Illawarra Hawks, through parent company Crest, have donated $1000 towards the trip.
Special Olympics table tennis players in Albury have moved their weekly sessions to the larger court space at PCYC Albury. The group outgrew its earlier venue at a Salvation Army hall in Lavington. PCYC Albury manager Tim McLaren said the club wanted to support community sport and offer space where it was needed. Player Erina is set to compete at the Special Olympics National Games in Melbourne, starting on 19 October. Table tennis makes its competitive debut at the Games in 2026.
Asking rents for houses in regional New South Wales have risen over the past year, led by smaller towns, according to Domain data. The median weekly rent reached $640 in the September quarter, up 4.9 per cent. Berrigan recorded the steepest rise at 18.5 per cent, followed by Bellingen at 18.2 per cent. Experts say tenants priced out of nearby areas are moving further afield, while new workers and limited housing supply add pressure. Local agents report strong demand and few available rentals.
A NSW coroner has found serious failures in mental health services at Junee Correctional Centre before a prisoner died by suicide in February 2023. Alexander Gavranic, 40, waited at least 305 days for an assessment, far beyond the three-month maximum for his referral. Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found the delay likely caused distress and deterioration, but could not establish that earlier treatment would have changed the outcome. The inquest heard two mental health nurses were serving a prison population of up to 1,000, and Lee made two recommendations, including better documentation of prisoners' requests.
The Hay Magpies women's squad reached the grand final of the Albury Thunder Nines Carnival at Lavington Sportsground, despite playing with a short bench. Hay lost 26-0 to the undefeated Australasia Barbarians in the decider. Earlier, Hay had beaten the Wangaratta Knights 26-0 and the Steam Bears 32-0 in pool matches. Coaches Jessie Carter and Neil-John Nisbet have been re-appointed for the 2027 Group 20 season, as the side chases a fourth consecutive premiership.
The family of Shannon Royal, a 28-year-old father of two, has spoken of their grief after he died from a stab wound in North Albury. He was found on Calimo St on the morning of September 27 and treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. His family made the decision to switch off his life support on October 4. Police are treating the death as murder and have renewed an appeal for CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage. No arrests had been made at the time of publication.
The UC Capitals open their WNBL season against the Bendigo Spirit on Saturday at AIS Arena, with a 3 pm tip-off. The Spirit roster includes six former Capitals players, including three former Canberra captains. Bendigo's general manager, Dan Jackson, previously worked as the Capitals' operations manager. Only three players from last season's roster remain, so the new-look Capitals must build combinations quickly. Coach Paul Goriss is known for developing young players, and former Bendigo point guard Meg McConnell is the club's main signing.
Tesla has applied for a permit to build a $3.5 million charging station in the Albury suburb of Thurgoona, which it says would be Australia's largest electric vehicle charging hub. The 37-car site would sit on a vacant lot about 2.5 kilometres from the Hume Highway and include solar panels on canopies. A development application lodged with Albury City Council says the station would mainly serve long-distance drivers. Industry figures say charging infrastructure is growing quickly as electric car sales rise. Albury Council's public notification runs until October 21, with its assessment report due by the end of November.
Albury councillors have voted 5-4 to defer consideration of a proposed rate rise of almost 30 per cent. The revised plan included annual increases of 14 per cent over two years, costing the average ratepayer an extra $375 a year. Councillor Jess Kellahan said the process had been flawed and council should first identify its true financial position and savings. Ratepayers and residents have called for further cuts before any increase. The decision defers the matter until April or May 2027.
Residents of Reid, in Canberra, will hold a free centenary celebration on Sunday to mark 100 years since the suburb's first cottages were built. The event runs from 2.30 pm to 4 pm at Dirrawan Gardens, with draught horses, a sausage sizzle, games and a talk by local historian Tony Maple. Built from 1927 as public servants moved from Melbourne, Reid followed a garden-city design, and 99 original homes remain largely standing. Residents say strict planning rules protect the suburb's character, though they are petitioning against speeding and rat-running on its streets.
Shaun Sargeant, formerly a farmhand in the Indigo Valley, has started a new career as a surveyor. After seeking advice from a TAFE NSW careers counsellor, he completed a Certificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information Services through online classes. He now works as a surveyor's assistant at Axis Surveys in Ipswich and is studying for a Certificate IV. Jobs and Skills Australia reports about 9700 surveyors nationally, with a predicted shortfall of 2000 by 2029.
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The Riverina region will host a variety of festivals and performances this week, including stage productions of The Wizard of Oz and Disney’s Frozen. Griffith will hold its Spring Festival, featuring citrus sculptures and garden tours, while Leeton celebrates its annual town show. Other events include the Spirit of the Land Festival in Lockhart, the Illabo Show, the Mirrool Silo Kick, and Hay Glow, offering activities for all ages.
Federal Member for Farrer David Farley is calling on regional NSW residents to contribute to a House Standing Committee inquiry examining healthcare access disparities. The investigation focuses on travel distances, wait times, out-of-pocket costs, and public versus private system access. Residents from Hillston to Albury can submit formal feedback until October 16 or complete an online survey by November 20. Farley emphasises the importance of sharing experiences to drive meaningful change and improve health outcomes. The committee will assess current access levels, referral pathways, and innovative care models to address these challenges.
