It’s taking a while but summer will arrive in all its hot gusto. Summer where it’s so hot you can’t sleep at night, and the flies are beating at your back door trying to find a cooler place to muck in.

Hot summer days might be great beach weather but if it’s turning your place into an oven, it’s time to cool things down.

Here’s ten ideas that could help. More »

A lack of pet-friendly accommodation is leading renters to give up their pets or have them put down.

“It’s very heart-breaking, people euthanising their beloved pet because they can’t find accommodation,” he said.

The People and Pets veterinarian is pushing for more pet-friendly rental properties to be made available to encourage more families to adopt animals and stop the displacement of loved family members. More »

Goods left behind in a rental property are a problem for the landlord, who can’t rent it out until the previous tenant’s things have been removed. It can also prove costly to tenants.

Between July and September 2011, Consumer Affairs Victoria dealt with over 900 cases of goods left behind in rental properties. More »

KEEP MUDGEE BEAUTIFUL: Hugh Bateman is urging everyone to step up and stamp out littering in the Mid-Western Region.

Local identity Hugh Bateman is calling on the region to work together to stamp out littering and keep our area of the world beautiful.

“As a whole it’s not an untidy district, it’s just as much about prevention and creating awareness that littering won’t be accepted as the region grows,” Mr Bateman said. More »

The thought of increasing a tenant’s rent is not something most Landlords look forward to.

Most landlords actually dread the situation, worried it may damage relations, lead to confrontation or result in a good tenant deciding to vacate the property. More »

An appeal from the Salvation Army for toys for needy families has resulted in an avalanche of gifts and donations from the community and local businesses.

Salvation Army Lieutenant Dean Clutterbuck made the appeal after wet weather affected donations to the annual Mudgee and District Bikers Club’s annual toy run. More »

With Christmas and the holidays fast approaching, now is a good time to remind everyone to plan ahead and ensure their home is safe and secure, so that you, hopefully, don’t become a victim of opportunistic crime. More »

The Mid-Western region is being sold as an escape to beat “coastal congestion” this holiday season.

Mudgee Region Tourism Inc. CEO Lucy White said the region had plenty of greenery to admire, many museums to visit and an abundance of adventure experiences.

“For instance Mudgee has become a popular destination for cyclists and their families,” she said.

“You can cycle your way around the vineyards or other areas and not have to worry about coastal traffic.” More »

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates by 0.25 per cent.

The official interest rate is now 4.25 per cent.

Each 0.25 per cent drop in interest rates slices about $60 off the monthly interest cost of an average Australian mortgage.

Boyd says, coupled with last month’s cut, the drop represents a double windfall for borrowers because if they can keep their repayments at the same level they will be able to pay down their mortgages faster.

“It’s a smart idea to keep your repayments at the same amount as you were paying before this cut, and the one on Melbourne Cup day,” she says. “That way you can pay your mortgage off sooner but have no less money in your pocket than you did last month. There’s plenty to gain here with no extra pain.”

Many lenders don’t automatically readjust repayments when rates are cut, meaning borrowers often have to simply sit back and watch their loan shrink faster when rates fall.

Mudgee Men’s Shed will now be a more modern workplace as a result of The Property Shop’s annual Tradies’ Night which raised $3,400 for Mudgee Men’s Shed.

The Tradies’ Night is held each year with The Property Shop inviting all its associated trades people along for a night of fun including drinks and a barbecue. More »