The New England Highway has been closed in both directions between Glen Innes and Armidale due to hazardous conditions caused by snow and ice. Transport for NSW has urged motorists to avoid the area altogether and to delay travel where possible. Authorities are also advising drivers to avoid unnecessary travel in the region more broadly. “If you must drive, be careful,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said. The wintry conditions have created dangerous driving conditions on one of the region’s key transport routes. Motorists are encouraged to monitor traffic updates and weather warnings for the latest information before setting out.
Glen Innes Severn Council has supported recovery efforts in the MidCoast Council area following the severe flooding event that struck the Mid North Coast in late May. The flood, classified as a 1-in-500-year event, caused widespread damage to infrastructure and local road networks across the region. In response, a coordinated inter-Council support initiative—led by Lake Macquarie City Council—was launched to assist with emergency recovery works. As part of the initiative, Glen Innes Severn Council was contracted to carry out urgent road repairs in the Gloucester area. Council deployed a jetpatcher truck, operated by staff member Stephen Crabbe, to assist with…
Yardings were down this week, with a total of 1,484 head offered. The sale featured a majority of well-finished lambs, alongside a mix of heavy and store mutton. The usual buying group was present, including JBS along with some strong re-stocker competition. It was an extremely strong sale overall, with heavy, well-covered XB lambs selling from $265 up to a record-breaking $410. Prepared by Daryl, Dawn, Brian Lewis and Roshien Mercer, these lambs estimated to weight 85+kg liveweight and were bought by Thomas Foods Tamworth. Well-finished, lightweight lambs ranged between $220–$260. Limited numbers of store XB lambs were yarded, making…
Emergency services responded to a cabin fire at the Blue Sapphire Caravan Park in Glen Innes on Thursday evening. Fire and Rescue NSW Station 302 Glen Innes was called to the scene at 5:25pm on July 31. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy smoke coming from the cabin. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the structure with a 38mm hose and were able to bring the blaze under control. The fire was fully extinguished within 30 minutes. Multiple emergency services attended the incident, including the 302 CAFS Pumper, Hazmat Tanker, Police and Ambulance. The cabin’s occupant was not at home…
The NSW Government has announced new laws to tackle the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco, drawing support from Northern Tablelands MP Brendan Moylan, who has been advocating for stronger action. The move follows a push by the NSW Opposition, who recently introduced a Bill aimed at making New South Wales the most difficult place in the country to sell illicit vaping and tobacco products. Mr Moylan welcomed the government’s response, saying the reforms are long overdue. “Our regional communities have been calling for change on the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco for months and now the Government is…
The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) has confirmed that the Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP) will commence on 1 August 2025 across the Glen Innes Severn, Inverell, and Tenterfield Local Government Areas. From Thursday, fire permits will be required for the lighting of fires in the open. The BFDP marks a period where increased precautions are needed to prevent bush fires, and landholders are reminded to ensure that tasks like burning off vegetation are conducted safely and legally. NSW RFS Northern Tablelands District Manager, Superintendent Glenn Colling, said early planning and preparation can make all the difference in preventing…
Following the recent resignation of Cr Arandale, the NSW Electoral Commission has confirmed that a countback election will be held to fill the resulting vacancy on Glen Innes Severn Council. Under NSW electoral law, a countback election is used when a councillor resigns mid-term and was originally elected through proportional representation. Rather than holding a full by-election, the Electoral Commission reviews ballots from the previous council election to identify which unelected candidate is next eligible to take the seat, based on the preferences expressed by voters at that time. The process avoids the cost and time associated with a fresh…
Glen Innes Severn Council’s General Manager, Bernard Smith, has issued a public message urging the community to uphold respectful and constructive engagement with Council and its staff. In a statement shared via the Council’s official Facebook page, Mr Smith addressed the challenges of misinformation, personal attacks and a decline in civility, while reaffirming Council’s commitment to the wellbeing of its workforce. The message, that was posted on Facebook on Thursday evening, said: "As General Manager of Glen Innes Severn Council, I’m proud to lead an organisation committed to delivering for our community. This year has started strongly, and following extensive…
Glen Innes Celts Junior AFL Club hosted Round 5 of the AFL North West Junior Gala Days on Sunday 27 July 2025. Players who had travelled from Gunnedah, Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell along with our Glen Innes Celts, braved the icy conditions for 8 games of AFL across the day. This year, our Under 12 and Under 14s players have joined forces with the Inverell Saints, resulting in two strong teams in both divisions. AFL continues to grow in Glen Innes with Auskick and Superkick on a Thursday afternoon during Term 2 and into Term 3 for 5-12 year olds along…
The Hon. Ron Hoenig, NSW Minister for Local Government, visited Glen Innes on Tuesday 29 July to meet with Glen Innes Severn Council. The visit began at Glen Innes Town Hall, where Mayor Margot Davis and General Manager Bernard Smith welcomed the Minister for a wide-ranging discussion. Key issues raised included the financial pressures on rural councils, structural challenges, and concerns about the current Special Rate Variation (SRV) process. “Rural councils are expected to deliver core services and infrastructure with increasingly limited resources,” Cr Davis said. “It’s vital that state decision-makers understand the pressures we face and support reforms that…
