Published on 21 January 2026
Happy new year! Hopefully you’re well-rested, you’ve spent some quality time with loved ones, and you’ve finished the last of the leftover ham. Sincere thanks to those who worked through the holidays, ensuring our community remained well supported. While it was a tough end to the year for many, let’s look towards 2026 with optimism for the future.
Australia Day is around the corner. In Cessnock LGA, we will be joined by our 2026 ambassador Robyn Moore – the iconic voice of Blinky Bill – for our awards and citizenship ceremony at Performance Arts Culture Cessnock. Seventy-seven new Australians will be sworn-in as citizens – a record cohort for our LGA. We will also acknowledge those who work tirelessly for our community with awards across 10 categories including Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year. There will be free entry to Cessnock and Branxton pools, with a free sausage sizzle, lamingtons and icy poles, as well as DJs and roving entertainers. Hope to see you there!
You may have heard Council is introducing an opt-in fortnightly red-lidded bin collection schedule. There seems to have been a little confusion in some of the chatter on social media of late. I want to emphasise that changing from a weekly to fortnightly collection is totally your choice – it’s simply an opportunity to reduce waste and save money (about $95 a year for those who opt-in during the initial registration period). The change of service for those who apply by 30 January will take place on 23 February. If you don’t want to opt-in, you don’t need to take any action. Opt-in through the online form here.