News Archives - Gunnedah Times

Charlie's Charts

Reading challenge reaches halfway point

LIBRARY LINKS with FIONA SILLS, GUNNEDAH SHIRE LIBRARY Spotlight: READING CHALLENGE Are you completing our reading challenge for 2026? We are passing the halfway point, but there is still plenty of time to get reading! It is easy to enter: just read one book for each month that fits any of the 12 criteria. You can read them in any order you wish, and it is open to all reading levels and material types. Perhaps an adult fiction book with a green cover, an audiobook set in Australia, or a picture book set at the beach. Make it a family […]

Jun 25, 2026

Mayor for a Day program a valuable opportunity

I’M excited to invite applications from our secondary students to participate in council’s Mayor for a Day program. Year 10, 11 and 12 students from the Gunnedah Shire are eligible to apply for the interactive program as part of NSW Local Government Week, which aims to give the community a closer look at the inner workings of local government and celebrate our diverse and talented team. I believe the Mayor for a Day program gives young people a valuable opportunity to understand the roles, responsibilities and challenges involved in leading Gunnedah Shire Council. They can discover these things by joining […]

Jun 25, 2026

Be alert for parthenium weed after recent rain

THE state’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has encouraged North West communities to be on the lookout for new parthenium weed germinations following recent rainfall. State priority weeds coordinator Bill Davidson said it will be easier to spot the distinctive parthenium weed plants, which can flower as early as three weeks after germination, in areas which have bare soil and sparse ground cover. “With bare ground and warm soil temperatures for this time of year, small weed seeds such as parthenium have ideal conditions to germinate,” Mr Davidson said. “Local council biosecurity officers across the state are […]

Jun 25, 2026

Feral pig action in coalition’s sights

THE coalition has unveiled its $300m biosecurity investment, including further measures to address feral pig numbers, if it is successful at next year’s state election. Agriculture is a leading contributor to the NSW economy, worth $25.5bn per year. The North West region is a significant contributor to the state’s agricultural economic output. Acknowledging the importance of the sector, The NSW Liberals and Nationals said it is one of the state’s most important industries yet farmers face a system weighed down by excessive regulation, rising costs, and decisions made far from regional communities. The coalition’s plan includes improved on-ground action and […]

Jun 25, 2026