Council will continue to advertise events and activities, as well as some legislated notices, as needed in local newspapers. Hard copies of public notices will also be made available each week at Raymond Terrace, Tomaree and Tilligerry libraries.

Port Stephens Council Communications Section Manager Steve Bernasconi said the changes will mean cost savings and improvements to how Council communicates with the people of Port Stephens.

“Our community is incredibly diverse and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to communication.

“We spend a significant amount on newspaper advertising every year — this is money that can be redirected to innovating how we communicate and connect with our whole community,” Mr Bernasconi said.

“Since 2017 we’ve moved to targeted advertising through social media, innovated how we deliver community engagement activities and events, and we’re continuing to build our audience for our enewsletter.

“The best part about all these methods is that we can track what’s working and what’s not and make changes as we need to. We simply can’t do this with newspaper advertising.

“We understand that not everyone in Port Stephens is online. Redirecting funds as a result of these changes to advertising legislation will mean we can research and deliver more tailored communications for areas without internet access, and engage more directly and meaningfully with people right across Port Stephens.”

Mr Bernasconi said the Council website was constantly improving.

“Our website is being accessed more than ever before — people are using our online services, and users are finding the information they need faster and easier. We have an innovative, dedicated team that is focused on making our existing website as easy and accessible as possible.

“All current public notices are on our public exhibition page, accessible directly from the homepage of our website, and people can have their say directly from here,” Mr Bernasconi said.

Council is currently undergoing a review of how these recent changes may impact on the fees and charges associated with development applications.

The NSW Government regulatory changes announced on 17 April 2020, abolished the requirement for council notices to be advertised in newspapers and instead requiring notices to be published on council websites.

The changes are intended to ensure council resources focus on COVID-19 response efforts and allow councils to provide financial relief to businesses and residents.