The NSW Rural Fire Service has announced that fire permits are now required for open burning across the region, with applications available online or on paper and property inspections conducted before approval is granted, according to IndyNR.
Parks Australia has opened public consultation on proposals to expand Commonwealth marine protections in Lord Howe Marine Park and is developing a new management plan to replace the current plan expiring in 2028, Australian Rural & Regional News reports.
A second site of the rare orchid Oberonia complanata has been discovered on Lord Howe Island's Intermediate Hill, with weed control staff counting 16 plants including some in flower during a survey on 24 July 2026. Australian Rural & Regional News notes this marks a significant find for conservation efforts on the island.
The Billinudgel Pub has reached its 120th anniversary, marked by the unveiling of three recreated historic mirrors on its front verandah last Friday as part of ongoing celebrations of the venue's resilience through floods, fires and other challenges over its long history, The Echo reports.
A refugee education initiative that began with a $200 donation and a two-room school in Indonesia is coming to Federal Hall this month, bringing with it two of the people instrumental in its creation, according to The Echo.
Take-home assessments for HSC students will be significantly reduced starting with 2027 cohorts as part of measures to limit artificial intelligence use in examinations, IndyNR reports.
Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has criticised the Federal and NSW Government's new gun buyback scheme announced following the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, arguing it will waste millions without improving public safety. Australian Rural & Regional News reports Dalton's concerns over the scheme's effectiveness.
Subscribers and those interested in local news can now access The Lord Howe Island Signal newsletter, which became available for purchase and subscription as of 31 August 2026. Australian Rural & Regional News notes the publication is available to those seeking regular updates from the island.