🟡 See you in the new year
Including: NSW Nationals leader's plan for the Mid North Coast, patrolled beaches, and has the cost of living impacted the holiday season for locals?
Ellie Chamberlain
December 19, 2025
⏱️ The 84th edition of our newsletter is a 6-minute read.
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Hi Mid North Coaster, Ellie here.
It’s the final newsletter for the year, and my one-year anniversary as well. The Mid North Coaster launched with me in December 2024 with my first story going live on the 18th.
And what a huge year it’s been, from covering the federal election, to the numerous severe weather events, showcasing local legends and small businesses, and everything in between.
It’s so exciting see the subscriber list growing, the engagement on social posts rising, and the regular replies to these newsletters. It means the world to know we’re reaching people across the Mid North Coast, because I truly care about this place and it’s people, and love to celebrate and connect this region!
Thank you so much for following along, reading my newsletters, and supporting local independent news!
I’ll keep this edition short and sweet because I’m busy creating content to go live over Christmas break for you all. Oh, and rustling up the Whats On coverage, including live music and kids events for January. So keep your eyes peeled.
Today we’re looking at:
Which beaches are patrolled these holidays through to late April
Long and short-term plans of the newest NSW Nationals leader, Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh
And whether or not the cost of living has impacted the holiday season for locals. Let’s start there…
I visited Woolgoolga late last month, met a handful of friendly residents, and asked them a bunch of questions about the festive season, including this one:
❓Has the rising cost of living impacted your holiday spending? Have you had to cut back, slightly change usual plans, or continued as per usual? Reply to this email to let me know.
🌊 Patrolled beaches on the MNC this summer
Earlier this month, a reader responded to a newsletter asking if I could please include a section on beach safety.
“Most people (like me) have no idea how to spot a rip. Most people (like me) need to be reminded it’s best to just stick to patrolled beaches,” they said.
Here’s some hopefully helpful information for this summer break and beyond.
Patrol season is already underway, beginning on September 27. It will continue until April 2026. This means beachgoers can expect to see Surf Life Saving volunteers patrolling on weekends and public holidays, as well as professional lifeguards.
Links to a list each LGA’s patrolled beaches:
Surf Life Saving NSW has a Beachsafe website and App including current information and conditions for every beach in Australia. It shows patrol services, hazards and facilities as well as weather, swell and tide details.
You can also complete Beach Passport which is a 10-minute online course to help you stay safe at the beach.
Incase you missed it: Here’s some info on the new shark mitigation program announced earlier this month…
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
🟡 Santa’s Christmas parade at Harbourside Markets
Santa is coming to the Harbourside Markets for the Christmas parade in Coffs Harbour – and he’ll arrive in style. In the past, Santa has arrived in a vintage Ute, on a bouncy unicorn, and on a Harley. How will he rock up this year?
As well as the parade, there will be market stalls, food and live music to enjoy. All ages and pets welcome. Small gifts will be given to children.
There will be photo opportunities with Santa, writing letters to Santa, and colouring in Christmas cards.
Organisations wanting to participate in the parade and book a free stall can get in touch with Kim on 0407661990 or message the Harbourside Markets website www.harboursidemarkets.com.au
📍The markets run from 8am to 2pm at Jetty Foreshores every Sunday.
🗓️The annual Santa’s Christmas parade will kick off at 9:30am on Sunday 21.
🟡 Community meeting in Kindee over bridge closure and access safety concerns
Residents of Kindee are holding a community meeting this Sunday to discuss safety and access concerns following the closure of Kindee Bridge, leaving Pipeclay Road as the only access route in and out of the area.
Concerns being raised include road risks of single-lane sections, school bus access, emergency evacuations issues during bushfire season and isolation of residents.
🗓️ Sunday 21 December, 4pm
📍The Chalkboard, Kindee (opposite side of the river currenty only accessible via Pipeclay Road)
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, sat down with the Mid North Coaster last month to talk about his plans as the new NSW Nationals leader.
Singh spoke of both long and short term focuses, including cost of living, regional healthcare, youth crime, and ways to help keep younger people on the Mid North Coast, including job opportunities.
Watch the video below to hear what the leader had to say:
That’s all for now
Thanks again for subscribing and reading these newsletters. I hope you’ve found them insightful and informative. I’ll be back early January! Talk to you then and in the meantime, take care.
If you get value from the Mid North Coaster and are able to chip in to back local news in our end-of-year-appeal, please hit the button!
👋 Happy holidays,
Ellie