Numerous Australian bus and coach operators have announced the start of new services as part of a revamped New South Wales TrainLink network.

CDC secured four new seven-year contracts covering nine routes across Victoria, regional NSW and Canberra.

These contracts form part of an uplift to NSW TrainLink coach services announced by the NSW government in May. Commencing on July 1, CDC, alongside other operators, has started running services across the NSW TrainLink coach network.

CDC’s Victorian business CDC Victoria will operate one of the new contracts, covering one route with four services, strengthening connections between Broken Hill, Mildura and surrounding regional communities. Operating between Broken Hill and Mildura, these services will run twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays from commencement, as part of the new seven-year contract.

CDC’s regional NSW operations, through CDC NSW and CDC Canberra, will operate the other three contracts covering eight routes in regional NSW across the Far North Coast, North West Slopes and Southern NSW, including key corridors such as Tweed Heads to Casino, Ballina and Moree to Grafton, Queanbeyan and Young to Yass, Goulburn and Jindabyne to Canberra as well as Narrabri, Burren Junction and Wee Waa.

YOUNG, bright and curious minds from across the region were buzzing with excitement at the 2026 National Science and Engineering Challenge, held at The Crossing Theatre last week.
The popular annual event aims to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and address the skills shortage in science and engineering.

Engaging hundreds of North West primary and high school students, from Gunnedah to Moree, Narrabri to Burren Junction, the three-day event offers students hands-on, competitive science and engineering activities.

The Narrabri Courier, Gunnedah Times and Wee Waa News will return on June 11, a month after publishing what many believed would be their final editions.

The three newspapers, which ceased publication on May 7, have been acquired by Times News Group and are expected to resume serving their communities in the coming weeks.

The announcement brings an abrupt end to fears that Narrabri, Gunnedah and Wee Waa could lose their local newspapers permanently.

For generations, the three mastheads have reported on everything from droughts and floods to council decisions, sporting triumphs, agricultural developments and community milestones.

Businesses across the New England North West are being encouraged to nominate for the 2026 New England North West Business Awards, with the official launch of the program taking place in Tamworth on Tuesday.

Hosted by Business NSW in partnership with Joblink Plus, the awards celebrate outstanding business achievement, innovation and leadership across the region.

The awards are open to businesses located throughout the New England North West, including Armidale, Boggabri, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Guyra, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Walcha, Warialda and Wee Waa.

The official launch will be held at Connections Café in Tamworth, where media and invited guests will hear details of the 2026 awards program, including award categories, nomination processes and opportunities for regional businesses to showcase their success.

Stephanie Cameron, Regional Director – New England North West for Business NSW, will formally launch the awards and outline the importance of recognising excellence within regional business communities.

A wave of mild hysteria swept across the region this week as towns up and down the highway reported dwindling fuel supplies. Drivers were spotted forming queues longer than a Centrelink phone wait, clutching jerry cans like they were rare artefacts from a bygone civilisation. Rumours spread faster than a harvest fire: “No fuel by lunchtime!”, “Servo’s dry!”, “Someone filled a Hilux AND a boat—selfish bugger!”

Local councils issued calm, measured statements encouraging residents to “avoid panic buying,” which of course triggered even more panic buying. One town reportedly saw a man attempt to siphon petrol from his own lawnmower “just in case.”

But in the midst of the chaos, one community remained perfectly, serenely unfazed.

Burren Junction.

While the rest of the region scrambled, Burren locals simply shrugged, sipped their coffees, and carried on with their day. When asked how they were staying so calm during the crisis, one resident replied:

“Mate… Burren Junction ran out of petrol 15 years ago.”
 

Author - Stephen Gardiner