A bullet blasted through the garage door of a house on The Parade at around 4:15pm - unbeknownst to neighbours busy in their backyards, or families walking by the water.

“You expect to see that on the news, happening in Sydney or Brisbane but not here,” said Malcolm Bell owner of North Haven Takeaway.

Mr Bell said it came as “a shock” to hear a gun had been fired on the same street as his business.

“It really is not something we expect in an area like this, not even anything close to that.”

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the incident, but believe the residents were not at home at the time of the shooting.

The occupants of the house contacted police after discovering a bullet hole in the garage door of the premises, soon after returning home.

Port Macquarie Police Inspector Kim Fehon said the perpetrator may have used an air-rifle or a near silent weapon.

“We have not been able to speak to anyone who says they heard the shot,” Inspector Fehon said.

Last night a number of community members notified police of what they believed to be two gun shots. But those noises have now been dismissed as fireworks.

“The community are on high-alert after Saturday’s incident,” Inspector Fehon said. 

She urged locals to continue to report suspicious noises, or inform police of persons carrying unregistered firearms.

Mrs Fehon said the timing of the attack - during the light of day - made it no more, and no less concerning for local police.

“It is irrelevant,” she said, “The fact is, it was a gun shot and it was fired into a home where people could have been seriously injured.” 

For 23-year-old Brittany Deegan and her roommates, the news came as a surprise.

“It’s a bit scary when you actually think about,” Ms Deegan said yesterday. “It’s really unusual for a gun to be shot in this area.”

But 23-year-old Russell Johnston and 22-year-old Sean Cummings said there was certain parts of the area renowned for drug-related problems.

They said they expected it to be a one-off situation.

Detectives from the Mid North Coast Local Area Command are continuing their investigations into the matter.

They are appealing for anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the vicinity of The Parade between 3:45pm and 4:15pm Saturday, to contact police.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers' online reporting page.

You can also contact your local police station. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.