Photos show a kangaroo moments before being rescued from a dam in Central West NSW, after it became bogged in mud while searching for water in an increasingly barren landscape.  

Water users in part of the Murray-Darling Basin are anxious that a proposal to protect their interests during droughts has been abandoned, as the dry conditions continue to worsen.

A leading researcher is calling for the platypus to be recognised as a threatened species in NSW, saying a lack of data is the only reason it has not been reclassified.

Greyhound Racing NSW warns it cannot guarantee a new track approved for Orange will receive registration due to industry challenges.

Australia's weather pattern is in a reset, and the weather events happening this month will act like the ingredients to determine the flavour of our climate for the rest of the year. 

If it feels like everything is getting more expensive, that's because it is. With the rate of inflation rising this week, we've tracked how the price of everyday items has increased.

Schoolgirls rescue hiker: A group of high school students have rescued an injured hiker from Dubbo in the Warrumbungles during a Duke of Edinburgh Award excursion. Year 11 student, Steph Blake, says the students built a makeshift stretcher out of a hammock to carry the man who had broken his leg while hiking in the National Park. The students from Presbyterian Ladies' College in Armidale hiked for around two hours before finding a place the man could be safely evacuated by National Parks. Miss Blake says the students felt proud to successfully put their training into a real life scenario.

Photo: Supplied/ PLC Armidale 

Spray drift concerns: Community groups and a Greens MP are calling on the state's environmental regulator to begin monitoring airborne agricultural chemicals in Dubbo and other Central West towns. Sue Higginson joined the Community Overspray Groups NSW and Healthy Rivers Dubbo at a park next to Dubbo Hospital on Thursday to demand action.The groups say their own monitoring has detected harmful and banned chemicals in public areas, including at a playground next to the hospital. Ms Higginson says the EPA needs to act despite the challenges of the task. In a statement, the EPA said it has already launched a proactive pesticide compliance campaign in the state's north last December, issuing 88 notices to landholders requesting information on pesticide use and record keeping.

More people turn to charities: Local charities are facing an unprecedented shortage of non-food aid, with eight in 10 reporting demand for essential goods has never been higher. New research from charity Good360 Australia shows nearly two-thirds of charities are also seeing more people ask for help for the first time. The report, 'Bridging the Recovery Gap' warns rising living costs and more frequent natural disasters are driving the surging demand.

Fuel blitz cracks down on service stations: The Cobar mayor has welcomed a compliance blitz by the state government to crack down on petrol companies that may be misleading motorists around pricing. More then 70 per cent of fines issued were in regional New South Wales with Cobar being one of the most sites targeted by Fair Trade NSW. Cobar Mayor Jacob Marsden says he's spoken to many residents who believe they are not getting a fair deal on petrol and would encourage more people to report unfair practices.

A warm welcome gets an expansion: A free government service to help essential workers relocating to regional towns is expanding in the Orana region. The Welcome Experience started in 2023 to connect essential workers moving to a new regional area with a local resident to help them settle in.With the program's expansion, RDA Orana is seeking expressions of interest from local connectors in eight LGAs including the Brewarrina, Cobar and the Warrumbungle Shires.