Port Stephens Council Christmas and New Year trading hours

See which closures are taking place over the next few weeks while some of our business units and facilities take time off for the festive season.

Council Admin Building, Raymond Terrace

• Closing: 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025
• Opening: 8:30am Friday 2 January 2026

Household garbage bins

Due to public holiday closures, there’ll be no bin collections on Christmas Day. This will have a flow-on effect to collections on subsequent days.

Kerbside bin collections will take place one day later than usual, as outlined below:

Please put your bins out the night before collection as service times may change with bins being collected earlier or later due to the public holiday impacts. There’ll be no other bin servicing changes over the Christmas Holidays.

Don't forget to download the Port Stephens Council Waste App to see if there are any service disruptions over the break.

The app is available for download on Google Play for Android devices, and on the App Store for Apple devices.

Alternatively, contact the Waste Customer Call Centre during business hours on 1300 734 470.

For emergency Council matters (Maintenance/Rangers) please call 4988 0255.

Salamander Bay Waste Transfer Station

From Friday 2 January, the Salamander Bay Waste Transfer Station will return to normal hours.

Visitor Information Centre, Nelson Bay

From Friday 2 January, the Visitor Information Centre will return to normal hours Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and Saturdays and Sundays during 10-3pm during January.

Libraries

Please note: after hours return chutes will be unavailable during the closure period and loans will be extended to cover due items while the libraries are closed.

Raymond Terrace Library

• Closing: 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025
• Opening: 9am Friday 2 January 2026

Tomaree Library

• Closing: 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025
• Opening: 9am Saturday 3 January 2026

Mobile Library

• Closing: Saturday 14 December 2025
• Opening: Monday 12 January 2026

Tilligerry Community Library

• Closing: 12pm Monday 22 December 2025
• Opening: 10am Monday 12 January 2025

Thrive Kids

The Administration Team will finish at 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025 and return on 9am Friday 2 January 2026 with limited staff.

OOSH Services

• Closing: Friday 19 December 2025

Vacation Care

Medowie, Raymond Terrace and Tomaree centres:

• Starting: Monday 5 January 2026
• Ending: Friday 23 January 2026

Clarence Town and Grahamstown centres:

• Starting: Monday 12 January 2026
• Ending: Friday 23 January 2026

Mobile Preschool

• Closing: Friday 19 December 2025
• Opening: Monday 2 February 2025

Family Day Care

Family Day Care will be available throughout the entire Christmas period as we have educators still operating.

The team will be available on call via the Family Day Care After Hours Mobile at 0409 823 346.