🟡 Will this help the youth crime crisis?
Including: Funding announced dedicated to supporting young people on the MNC, a sushi place to try, and details of the alleged road rage attack that hospitalised three people.
Ellie Chamberlain
November 19, 2025
⏱️ The 76th edition of our newsletter is a six-minute read.
🙋♀️ Hello All, Ellie here – your reporter for the Mid North Coaster.
👋 Welcome to all our new subscribers – we have more than 15,700 of you now – and thank you everyone for reading along.
Yesterday morning I drove to Port Macquarie to check out the Wrights Rd and Lakes Rd roundabouts/ intersections near the hospital. I’m aware the congestion between the two is a contentious issue in the community.
I’ve reached out to Transport for NSW and the state government for updates on future plans for upgrades to this area. Keep an eye out for that story and video today.
In todays’ newsletter, we’ll take a look at the NSW Government funding aimed at tackling youth crime, with Kempsey chosen as a recipient, being a “high priority” area.
I’ll also share upcoming events sent in by readers of The Mid North Coaster, a somewhat-secret sushi place in Kempsey, and what happened in an alleged road-rage attack near Forster.
📢 Before we dive in, I have a “Community Call Out” for you all.
Now I know it’s not yet December, but, I want to get together a list of the best streets to see Christmas lights (when the time comes) across the Mid North Coast, and need your help!
🙏 Please reply to this email with the street/s in your neighbourhood known for its festive light displays. Remember to include the town.
Now for the top story…
"Every young person deserves the chance to turn their life around, and this funding will provide practical support through education, skills and diversionary programs. These programs are about supporting families, strengthening community ties, and ensuring our kids have positive choices for the future,"
🟡 "High priority" Kempsey set to receive millions in government funding dedicated to supporting youth
Kempsey is set to receive millions in targeted funding focused on breaking the cycle of young people re-offending while on bail. The funds will also aim to decrease the amount of at-risk youth entering the justice system in the first place.
Kempsey is considered a “high-priority” regional community by the NSW Government.
This means Kempsey has been identified as an area deserving of funding dedicated to helping young people engaging, or at risk of engaging, in crime.
Why it matters: Regional communities in NSW face higher crime rates than cities, and Kempsey, Moree, and Tamworth in particular continue to experience higher than average rates of youth crime.
What happened: Recently, Kempsey was included in the NSW Government’s announced $23 million youth crime prevention funding package.
The package: The youth crime prevention package focuses on bail supervision, intensive case management, and early intervention and diversion across NSW. Kempsey will receive some of this targeted funding.
While the full breakdown of the funding has not been made public, there are some things we know:
$12 million has been allocated to expand “place-based” youth crime prevention responses in Kempsey – as well as in Moree and Tamworth.
The government will work beside local communities to co-design programs that help young people engaging, or at risk of engaging, in crime. This could include youth hubs, after-hours activities, intensive family support, intervention programs and alternative education pathways.
$6.3 million has been allocated for intensive supervision and support for young people on bail, including two new caseworkers based in Kempsey to prevent re-offending and help the youth understand their legal orders.
A further $5 million has been allocated for a new Community Safety Investment Fund to support diversion and prevention projects. It will be open to community and non-government organisations across the state. The fund will support innovative local initiatives that prevent or respond to youth offending.
PCYC helping Kempsey kids: Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) will also benefit from a state-wide $15.6 million funding commitment to deliver youth programs aimed at breaking the cycle of crime.
PCYC currently delivers youth programs in 22 locations across the state, including Kempsey.
The NSW Government is contributing $10 million to a four-year partnership with PCYC, which will contribute $5.66 million.
Over the next four-years, PCYC NSW will deliver 278 programs across regional NSW focused on employability, connection through sports, and resilience.
A PCYC NSW spokesperson told the Mid North Coaster the team is currently identifying which youth programs will be delivered at each location, including Kempsey and the wider Mid North Coast, “based on local community needs”.
Current youth programs: PCYC Kempsey currently offers Fit for Life and U-Nites.
Fit for Life is a fitness and mentorship program where young people participate in physical activity, are mentored by PCYC staff and NSW Police, and are served a nutritious breakfast before being driven to school in a PCYC bus.
U-Nites runs on Friday and Saturday nights to provide a “safe and structured environment” where young people can socialise. Dinner and transportation are provided.
➡️ Read the rest of the article on our website here.
ℹ️ UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
📢 Manning Against Mining (MAMA) Community Meeting
🗓️ Saturday 29, from 1pm
📍Taree at Fotheringham Park
The meeting is being held to let people know about the proposed mining of serpentinite rock in the Manning Valley and potential impacts.
🎅Free photos with Santa
Free photos with Santa and two edited photos provide via email, all for free.
Saturday 29 November, 9am- 12pm at Coastline Bank in Smith Street Kempsey
Saturday 13 December, 9am - 12pm at Echo Voice & Data in Smith Street Kempsey
Thanks to The Macleay Valley Business Chamber, Kempsey Shire Council and Echo Voice & Data.
🚔 Man charged after alleged road-rage attack leaves two men seriously injured
A 50-year-old man allegedly ran over two men, punched a teenage boy in the face, and fled the scene during a road rage incident near Forster on Sunday evening.
What happened: Police say two men and a teenage boy were driving in a sedan along the Lakes Way at Darawank, 10 km from Forster, at about 5pm on November 16 when they became involved in an argument with the driver of a ute. Both vehicles were heading north.
It is alleged the ute driver deliberately rammed the sedan. The two older men in the sedan then exited the vehicle and were allegedly run over by the ute.
As the boy ran to help, police will allege the ute driver punched him in the face before driving from the scene.
All hospitalised: One man, a 56-year-old, was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital for pelvic fractures and head injuries. He has since undergone surgery.
The other, a 39-year-old man, was treated in Port Macquarie Base Hospital for spinal and facial injuries. He is now being treated at John Hunter Hospital.
Both are reported to be in a serious but stable condition.
The 15-year-old boy was treated at Port Macquarie Base Hospital for facial injuries before being discharged.
Man charged: Following the incident, officers from Manning/Great Lakes Police District arrested a 50-year-old man and took him to Forster Police Station.
He was charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The man was formally refused bail in court on Monday to appear at Taree Local Court in January.
Further charges were laid against the 50-year-old, including two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, has been elected as Leader of the NSW Nationals after a partyroom meeting on Tuesday.
What happened: Singh will replace Dugald Saunders, who resigned from his position on Monday after three years leading the state branch of the party.
The full squad: Working alongside the member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson (deputy leader) and Sarah Mitchell (NSW Nationals leader in the Upper House) Singh said the team would represent regional NSW.
“The wellbeing of regional communities is at the heart of everything we do, and I thank my party room colleagues for affording me the opportunity to continue the great work of the Nationals across NSW,” Singh said in a statement.
Singh is also Shadow Minister for Regional Health and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services and the North Coast.
🍣 Sushi place hidden in plain sight
I live in the area and had no idea this Sushi place was here. In the car park of Kempsey Woolworths. Where I shop regularly.
I noticed the sign, but assumed it was a “ghost sign” from past times, until my friends told me about it recently and recommended I try the food.
My partner and I popped in there before our weekly shop to grab some sushi rolls. They were good, and the service was even better.
If you’re looking for a healthy snack, a friendly chat, or need to fill your tummy before getting groceries so you don’t end up with double the amount of items you actually wrote on your list, then note this place down.
Depending on which sign you read, it’s called Mikaya or Miyachi’s Sushi, on Smith Street in Kempsey.
Watch the video below:
@midnorthcoaster Makiya/ Miyachi’s Sushi (depending on which sign you read) is tucked away off a Main Street in Kempsey. #midnorthcoast #sushi #japanese #cheapeats
That’s all for now
I hope you enjoyed reading. I’ll be back on Friday morning with another newsletter.