The improvements for Bulli town centre have been developed in response to community feedback and will include additional parking placemaking treatments and changes to traffic flow We will progress with work on Bulli town centre improvements from mid-2025 Feedback received during the recent Bulli bypass community consultation included strong support for the improvements including extending the clearways along the Princes Highway Further traffic modelling was recently carried and has confirmed the need for the extended clearway hours to reduce queuing impacts associated with the introduction of the right turn green arrow at Park Road With further modelling now complete and the Review of Environmental Factors currently being finalised The Bulli community and visitors to the area will soon experience safer journeys through the town centre with safety improvements that reflect community feedback We have heard the community’s concerns about the extension to clearways on the Princes Highway and will put these changes on hold while we progress the remaining safety improvements Work on the town centre improvements to benefit residents and visitors in and around the Bulli town centre will start next year. Transport will monitor the improvements to determine if the clearways need to be extended long term To subscribe to project updates enter your details below or email southprojects@transport.nsw.gov.au We are continuing to plan for traffic improvements in Bulli Improvements will be implemented based on feedback from community consultation in June and July 2021 Railway Street and Station Street will provide additional spaces for residents and visitors Improvements to walking and cycling facilities will make it easier and safer to move around the Bulli township by: We will improve traffic flow and ease congestion in the town centre by: Placemaking focuses on transforming public spaces to strengthen the connections between people and places There is strong community support for the Bulli town centre improvements The improvements have been developed in response to community feedback received in 2021 which highlighted the need for more efficient and reliable journeys to and through Bulli.  The improvements will provide the community with immediate positive transport and placemaking outcomes It is Transport’s recommendation that improvements be delivered according to the proposed schedule This will be achieved by constructing a new shared path along Railway Street to connect the train station to the shops Transport has worked closely with Wollongong City Council to develop options to support walking and cycling in the area The project also improves access to public transport including Bulli Station and local bus services.  What are the benefits of introducing the 30 km/h speed limit?  The introduction of a 30 km/h speed zone in the town centre east of the Princes Highway will make Bulli a safer and more appealing place to visit The reduced speed limit is one of the traffic calming measures we are putting in place to promote a shared street environment between pedestrians Research tells us that a pedestrian hit by a car going 30 km/h has a 90 per cent chance of survival compared to 10 per cent at 50 km/h.  Further traffic modelling was recently carried out by Transport for NSW and has confirmed the need for the extended clearway hours to reduce queuing impacts associated with the introduction of the right turn green arrow at Park Road.  Feedback received during the Bulli bypass consultation also included strong support for the extension of clearways in Bulli The existing clearway hours are southbound 6.30am to 9.30am Transport for NSW developed options in response to community feedback in 2019 to improve traffic efficiency and reliability of the Princes Highway at Bulli and Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Thirroul we asked for feedback on the proposed options A large amount of feedback was received during the eight weeks of public consultation We received 821 submissions on the Bulli proposal and 903 submissions on the Thirroul proposals.  We engaged an external consultant, as an independent third party, to review and analyse the submissions and prepare reports. The Feedback Summary Report  (PDF, 1.95 MB)for Bulli is now available.  We thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback about their experiences travelling in and around Bulli town centre The feedback provided will help us consider how best to proceed road users and the community to gain an understanding of peoples’ experiences living and travelling in and around Bulli and Thirroul town centres their concerns about the existing road corridor and ideas about future transport needs.  The investigation aimed to identify constraints and issues including on-street parking traffic queuing and delays in peak periods The investigation and feedback from the community will help Transport identify options to reduce travel times improve road safety and maintain the look and feel of both town centres.  receiving a total of 2,539 comments on the interactive map 3627 individual issues were identified across all the feedback received.  The consultation summary report is now available Privacy Statement: Transport for NSW is committed to protecting your personal information We will not publish or disclose your personal information to any third parties unless you consent or as authorised by law Aggregated or depersonalised information which does not identify you may be published or disclosed to third parties Providing personal information is voluntary however we rely on your participation to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information obtained and we may not be able to communicate with you directly if you do not provide your personal information For further information about this project Email: southprojects@transport.nsw.gov.au Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country. We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present. Picture by Surf Life Saving IllawarraA woman has been rushed to hospital with back and limb injuries after a wave washed her out of Bulli rockpool into a steel fence and then into the ocean near-misses and drownings this week that have left emergency services scrambling Early Friday morning a 58-year-old man drowned after being swept off the breakwall at Wollongong Harbour, it came two days after a man in his 50s drowned at Gannet Beach in Bawley Point a surfer was rescued off Werri Beach after a rip took him 500 metres out to sea Gerringong Surf Club lifesavers jumped into a rescue boat and battled "very tricky" three-metre waves to get out to rescue the man Surf Life Saving South Coast Branch president Shane Wicks said A drone was also deployed to help locate the man Three to four-metre swells are failing to deter some people from entering the ocean as waves slam into the coastline a woman was swimming with her husband in the rockpool when she got washed out View +7 Photos"Some huge sets rolled through resulting in a lady in her 40s being washed out [of the rockpool] through a steel fence and into the ocean," SLS Illawarra duty officer Anthony Turner said As six to eight-foot waves pounded down on the woman her family members rushed to save her from the swell Big waves hitting the breakwall in Wollongong on Friday Picture by Adam McLeanThree paramedic crews were called to the beach and she was treated on scene before being taken to St George Hospital "She hit the side wall of the rockpool and has back and limb injuries," a NSW Ambulance spokesman said "She was fully conscious and in a stable condition." Surfers in big waves at the Gravel Loader in Shell Cove +on Friday Picture by Adam McLean"High risk" behaviour by beachgoers in the water is putting their lives and the lives of emergency services personnel at risk "Even though all the beaches are closed there's a lot of people entering the water," he said they're coming through from an easterly direction "There's a number of people doing high-risk behaviour." Mr Turner urged people to stay out of the ocean when beaches are closed and to consult beachsafe.org.au for more information on local beach conditions. A hazardous surf warning remains in place for the Illawarra on Saturday, April 19. Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Get the latest property and development news here Find out what's happening in local business tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords A waterfront property for sale in Bulli has an awesome Pacific Ocean aspect and flourishes straight from the galleries of MoMA in Manhattan. At 22 Blackall Street in Bulli, the cool coastal house takes design cues from the Dutch master Piet Mondrian, a pioneer of 20th-century abstract art. Mondrian’s work, displayed at MoMA and an offshoot of the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, is some of the art world’s most admired and replicated. Also admired is the plum position of the property, listing agent Daniel Hastings of MMJ Wollongong says. “It is as good as anything in this area,” he says. “This is genuinely one of the nicest pockets in the Illawarra, and on the South Coast.” Mondrian moments in the home include striking primary colours and geometric forms on the gabled facade. Even the tones of nature across the road – rich green foreshore lawns and the big blue of Sandon Point Beach – could be from Mondrian’s own palette. Incredible 'invisible' Tassie house you won't see from the street No blue and white in sight: Bright red beach house hits the market Got a spare $275k? Buyers must pay cash for this coveted beach box The surf here is “something to behold” when it is in full force, Hastings says, and keen surfers come from far and wide to ride the swell. The covered deck is positioned at the front of the property – not the rear – to soak up the scenery. This smart design decision is one of the highlights of the home, Hastings says. The red kitchen bench and yellow, red and blue joinery mimic the scarlet and sunshine splashes on the front porch pillars. Large windows in the loft-style bedroom act as a picture frame, encasing an endless horizon view of the Pacific. Sunset over the water drenches the sky in a soft orange that any artist would approve of. The home is on the books of Hastings and colleague Cooper Read, with an auction pencilled in for noon on May 3. There is no public price guide at this stage of the campaign, Hastings says, but other properties in the street, albeit on much larger blocks of land, have fetched $4.5 million to $5 million. The historic former mining mecca is now a weekender paradise, only 75 minutes from Sydney. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing Neat as a pin from the front and with verdant, foothill views, the real wow moment is out at the back – a cascading, tiered garden of decks and lawns, with a mosaic pool and Balinese-style retreat. 3 Baths2 ParkingView listing Relax in the treetops in this private pocket of Bulli, but still conveniently close to the village and three kilometres from the breaking waves of Sandon Point Beach. 3 Baths2 ParkingView listing The impressive pool zone is set up for spending hours reading, sipping wine, barbecuing and floating, all beneath the shade of swaying palms. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Regional roads are more dangerous at night with higher rates of off-road and head-on crashes compared to urban areas over a third of fatal crashes occur at night and 70% of road deaths happen in regional areas Transport for NSW is testing glow-in-the-dark road line markings to improve night-time visibility and safety These markings use photoluminescent paint that absorbs sunlight during the day and glows at night providing a clear guide even in bad weather They are a practical alternative to streetlights and have already proven effective in controlled tests The first live trial is on Bulli Pass (Princes Highway) a steep descent with a hairpin turn and a high number of near misses nearly double the average for regional roads The trial starts on 3 December 2024 and will run for six months glow road markings could be rolled out to other locations to improve safety on regional roads The trial started on 3 December 2024 and will run for six months This consultation is open for contributions until Thursday 13 March 2025 We'll share with you insights we learn from your feedback Email: SouthProjects@transport.nsw.gov.au Call 131450 for the free interpreter service Arabic: بالرقم 131450 لاستخدام خدمة الترجمة المجانية اتصل Vietnamese: Gọi 13 14 50 để sử dụng dịch vụ thông dịch miễn phí Greek: Καλέστε το 13 14 50 για τη δωρεάν υπηρεσία διερμηνέα Italian: Chiama il 13 14 50 per il servizio di interprete gratuito Tagalog: Tumawag sa 13 14 50 para sa libreng serbisyo ng interpreter Hindi: नि: शुल्क दुभाषिया सेवा के लिए 131450 फोन करें Privacy collection notice for Glow Road Markings Have your say consultations are run by the NSW Department of Customer Service (McKell Building We are interested in hearing from the community and will use the information we collect from you to help develop the programs and services that NSW Government provides We may collect basic personal information like your name and contact details You may provide some personal information in response to questions that we ask you we may ask you about your experiences or opinions about a particular topic Having your say is voluntary and you are not legally required to provide any personal information to us In this consultation your name and contact details are being collected for this consultation We may provide your personal information to other areas of the Department of Customer Service (for example the Data Analytics Centre and Customer Insights) so that we can conduct analysis across all consultations and refine our engagement methodology The personal information will be stored on the DAC’s secure platform which is hosted in a secure commercial cloud data centre in Australia Where we conduct a consultation with or on behalf of a partner agency we would usually share the information that we collect with that agency For privacy information about your use of the NSW Government website generally, please see the NSW Government’s website privacy statement. 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Sign up today We will send you instructions to reset your password Back to Log in Creating an account helps us better understand your needs and the needs of the community Completing the questions below helps us better understand the diverse range of people who contribute their ideas Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates 12-year-old Sonny Lawford-Miles rushed to defend his family All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe terrifying incident left residents in Westmacott Parade fearing for their lives as the man jumped fences and ran through backyards and into a residential garage on Thursday When the man with the machete approached Sonny's house his older brother was in another room chatting on the phone to their father Marcus Lawford-Miles who was driving home Marcus overheard Sonny say "there's a man with a mask in the house" A panicked Marcus was miles from home and he knew his partner Michelle and three of their kids were in the house so he logged onto the CCTV cameras hooked up to their home "I saw a man jumped the fence and then went into the garage and into the backyard That was where my youngest was and he [his son] ran into the house," he said Michelle grabbed the kids and pulled them away from the man "He told the man to stay outside," Marcus said The man with the machete also jumped the fence into another backyard on Westmacott Parade leaving a mum fearing for the safety of herself and her eight-year-old daughter who asked not to be named due to fears of safety spotted the man in her backyard before walking to their back door Then I noticed a machete in his hand," she said Sydney man Tiva Aukuso Taelase, aged 20, being arrested by police in Westmacott Parade, Bulli on Thursday, February 20. Picture supplied"He approached the back door, which was locked, and seemed to be indicating to me to call the police "I thought it may have been someone pursuing him had him handcuffed and sitting on the ground within minutes of me making the call." In Wollongong Local Court the following day pleaded guilty to three counts of enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse and carry cutting weapon upon apprehension Magistrate Geraldine Beattie fined him $1350 and sentenced him to a six-month community corrections order with supervision - meaning he was released from custody I saw the intruder straightaway and was able to act swiftly in this instance what if I had been somewhere else in the house or if the doors had been unlocked?," she said who admitted he will be having a talk to Sonny about stranger danger "We try not to think too much about the 'what ifs' and only what happened The residents praised the police for their quick response to the terrifying situation "It happened at 5.15pm and by 5.33pm he was in custody," Marcus said Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. 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Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRangers were at the house on Point St on Thursday afternoon following the latest complaints after a pack estimated to number between seven and 10 dogs had again been running wild this week Council rangers picked up two of the dogs at Sandon Point on Wednesday morning after being called by NSW Police Some nearby residents have said the dogs have been running wild for several months and others said they were afraid for loved ones and pets in the area One woman said she was left shaken after she and her dog were "mobbed" by the pack - a witness described it as an attack - while the Mercury understands a nearby preschool had to postpone its "bush kinder" walk after hearing reports dangerous dogs were loose A spokesman for Wollongong City Council said there had been a history of complaints about dogs from that property and this would be considered when deciding on further action "Council continues to investigate the matter and is working with the owner to ensure the dogs remain effectively contained to their home," the spokesman said "Council has investigated previous complaints relating to the dogs and their behaviour and as per our Compliance and Enforcement Policy this prior history will be taken into consideration when determining what compliance action is taken regarding this incident "Council shares the concern of residents who may encounter intimidating behaviour from off-leash dogs and urge any residents who experience or witness such incidents to immediately contact council or police to ensure proper safety and compliance action can be carried out "We encourage our community to report instances of bad dog behaviour so that we're able to monitor for repeated behaviour and escalate compliance action if required." Some residents have said they were told the council would not take further action unless the dogs physically attacked or were acting aggressively towards people It is not clear whether this behaviour has been witnessed The house is known in Bulli as it stands out on Point St - several conspiracy theory and anti-vaccination signs cover the front while piles of debris and a falling-down fence catch the eye The fence appears to have been unable to contain the dogs which have become the talk of the town in Bulli as well as on social media pages in neighbouring Woonona and Thirroul People can report a stray or roaming dog to Wollongong City Council by phone on 42277111 or online via this link. the man behind the gelato at Millers' Local Bakehouse in Bulli the tagline of cult Illawarra bakery Millers' Local Bakehouse has been "The baker is in" Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNow a new sandwich board outside the Bulli premises declares "Gelato is in" the bakery has been trialling selling gelato so after its coveted baked goods sell out each morning people can now get an icy treat in the afternoon The experiment has been such a success Millers' will make it a summer staple This is great news for the northern Illawarra which has been surprisingly lacking in gelato or ice cream options until now The man behind the ice cream is Riccardo Malvicini an Italian who joined the Millers' team in May 2023 He had been thinking about opening his own gelato place in Italy but after travelling to Australia decided he wanted to stay he had to relocate to a regional area to get his work visa Picture by Anna WarrRealising a dreamHe set off on foot with a handful of resumes and scored a job at the Millers' hole-in-the-wall on Crown Street But the dream to open his own gelato shop was still in the back of his mind I was going around trying some gelato and I never found anything like a real Italian gelato," he said Fortuitiously for Mr Malvicini, Emma Huber, owner of Millers' Local Bakehouse decided to take a punt and offered him the chance to make gelato at her Bulli shop Choosing which flavour to have is always the hardest part Picture by Anna WarrWith the Millers' operation expanding and the bakehouse relocating to larger premises at North Wollongong the empty Bulli shop was Mr Malvicini's for the taking some of them classics like chocolate or vanilla and others a bit more experimental cinnamon bun and even pumpkin for Halloween "I tried the peanut butter," Mr Malvicini said "Something that I really love in Millers is that they like to collaborate with the places around them "I have an idea to find a local brewery that has dark beer and try to make the gelato with that dark beer." A recent experiment: cinnamon bun pastry topped with cinamon bun gelato Picture by Anna WarrSo what does it taste like?Ms Huber said customers described the gelato as "incredible" "We've had people come back saying: 'I've just got back from Italy and this is better than better than the stuff that I've had there'," she said "I've actually been really surprised by how much I enjoy the really "It's light and refreshing and just all those things I never knew gelato could be." Picture by Anna Warr"We also had a beautiful lemon myrtle sorbet last week "It was crazy because it tasted just like a lemonade Icy Pole "And the funny thing was that because he's Italian he'd never actually had an Icy Pole before and I was so excited because it was so nostalgic for me." Picture by Anna WarrDiggies and His Boy Elroy look to have lost out on their bid to take over at the Bulli Beach Cafe All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWollongong City Council had recently called for tenders to operate the beachside cafe with those two well-known hospitality outlets throwing their hats into the ring according to the business papers for Monday night's Wollongong City Council meeting The recommendation from council staff is that the Birloom Unit Trust which is also behind Thirroul Beach Pavilion and North Beach Pavilion "The tender evaluation panel utilised a weighted scoring method for the evaluation of tenders which allocates a numerical score out of five in relation to the level of compliance offered by the tenders to each of the evaluation criteria as specified in the tender documentation," the business papers stated The largest weighting - at 30 per cent - was for the amount of rent each tenderer proposed to pay to the council The amount each tenderer offered was not contained in the council report If approved at Monday night's council meeting the successful group will get a five-year lease with two options of a further five years However the new lease would not start until late next year with the cafe to be vacated after the summer period "to allow Council's project delivery team to undertake a capital works project to the building which includes the replacement of the outdoor awning structure and the grease trap" "The proposed works are estimated to be completed by September 2025 and the proposed new lease will then commence for the cafe," the business papers stated I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. She feels some of her older clients might find it hard to get to the salon once the new extended clearways are in force Picture by Adam McLeanExtending the Princes Highway clearways at Bulli could make it harder for hairdresser Nicole Apps' older clients Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMs Apps owns The Strand Hair Design on the eastern side of the highway where the clearway hours are 6.30am to 9.30am - largely before she opens her doors After putting the extended clearways on hold in November 2023, Transport for NSW has now decided to proceed with them At present the clearway hours are southbound 6.30am to 9.30am The changes will see clearways in force on both sides of the highway from 6.30am to 9.30am and 3pm to 6pm with a southbound restriction on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm "I do have some clients that like to be able to park on the highway and walk in or be picked up by families or taxis so that will be a bit of a problem if they can't pull up in front of the salon," Ms Apps said Most of her clients have made bookings in advance so they are travelling in specifically for that and will park in the railway car park to the rear some clients will even park at Woolies and walk up," she said "But I've been hairdressing for a long time and have a lot of elderly clientele so it's going to be harder for some of them to get here." Thao Pham from Bulli's Black Diamond Bakery felt the clearways would just allow drivers to travel through the suburb faster Picture by Adam McLeanShe said extending the clearways wouldn't slow the traffic down and could see Bulli lose "that nice little village atmosphere" Also on the eastern side is Thao Pham's Black Diamond Bakery and he felt street parking helped ensure the traffic slows down "People up from the other end and they don't see us on this part of the hill because they're accelerating," Mr Pham said "So it's better for them to merge to the right and then go straight down." The plan to extend the clearways on both sides has him scratching his head partly because he didn't think the southbound side needed to have a clearway in the morning "I've noticed the traffic here in the morning," he said "I never see cars piled up here on this side cars pile up on the other side in the morning I never see cars stopped in a line along here." He said heavy vehicles would turn left and use the parking at the rear - as they do already "They just want to go in a straight line," he said Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe long-time performer I want to be able to do a great job and continue that fantastic legacy of the Illawarra Folk Festival Ms Moon volunteered to be the festival's new director and is already very well known in Illawarra for being able to run a great event She helped establish the long-running Wollongong Comedy at the Master Builders Club was entertainment manager at the University of Wollongong's UniBar and then student engagement officer at O-Week celebrations in 2019 and 2020 She co-founded the Great Gong Clothes Swap and her company, LadyMoon Productions, ran a show called Generation Woman Her involvement with the Illawarra Folk Festival began 15 years ago when she performed in a belly dance troupe and in the Flamenco band Ruido Since then she's been in the festival's marketing team and managed the event's website She loves live music and performance so much that back in 2014 the Mercury photographed her at the folk festival with her two-day-old baby girl who was the youngest festivalgoer that year (on left) and the duo together in 2014 when Harriet was two weeks old but overall the festival will stay in its current format for the moment "I'm just looking at tweaks it's all about getting my hands into it to work out exactly how it runs and all that the learning curve's going to be quite steep," she said She is keen to create more opportunities for First Nations people "[Former director] Cody [Munro Moore] implemented it last year and I just want to keep making that a bit bigger and a more permanent position in the Illawarra Folk Festival," she said As part of this process, she's collaborating with local storyteller Lily Pang and Yuin and Dharawal woman Dr Jodi Edwards Since its inception almost four decades ago the festival has grown and then shrunk during COVID but it's growing again and the crowds keep coming back with musicians from across the globe performing "There's a lot of areas where you can just sit on the grass and enjoy it from afar or if you want to you can be right in the middle of a dance floor," Ms Moon said Illawarra Folk Festival's new director Shane Moon at Bulli Showground Picture by Robert Peet"We have that range of doing yoga in the morning then you can go to a poetry session and then you can go and see some amazing acoustic folk music "I think that range of things is absolutely sensational." When the hugely popular festival returns to Bulli Showground from 15-18 January 2026 Black Joak Morris performs during the 2025 Illawarra Folk Festival Picture by Adam McLean"It's the largest volunteer-run festival in Australia I like to call it my 'folky family' every year," she said Applications to perform at the festival opened this week Find out more, apply to perform or be a home host at illawarrafolkfestival.com.au. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTransport for NSW had planned to extend the hours along the highway several years ago as part of a series of congestion-busting measures The extension will see those same hours apply to both sides of the highway with the addition of no parking southbound on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm After lobbying from local businesses MPs Maryanne Stuart and Ryan Park got Transport for NSW to hold off on introducing extended clearways in November 2023 This was despite them having overwhelming support from motorists Transport has concluded the new clearway hours are required to reduce queuing impacts associated with the introduction of the right-turn green arrow northbound at Park Road The right-turn arrow and clearways are parts of a range of measures which also include banning right turns in and out of Station Street as well as providing extra parking spaces in the street behind the Bulli CBD A new 30km/h speed zone will be introduced on Park Road and Station The push for extended clearway hours was also supported by many motorists who provided feedback to the Bulli bypass consultation, which was released earlier this year "Right now it's a game of dodge-em to snake your way around right-turning cars parked cars and parked buses to get through to Bulli Pass," one motorist said Another said removing street parking altogether would provide "a simple fix that's so much cheaper than building an entire bypass" Transport for NSW is yet to confirm the order the works will take place "These town centre improvements for Bulli will provide improved journeys for our community and those visiting the area," Ms Stuart said and changes to traffic flow along the Princes Highway "We were told through consultation and feedback that community members and visitors largely welcome the changes and anticipated improved traffic flow in the area "I am looking forward to seeing the work on this project kick-off mid-2025." Picture by JMH Living DesignThe Bulli Workers Club will get a second-storey dining area as part of a planned $2.4 million upgrade One covered outdoor entertaining area will be built along the club's Princes Highway frontage and a second uncovered area on the southern side The new play area will be built off the existing dining area Plans for the small second-storey addition show a dining area with a small bar and seven tables "The existing building has no redeeming architectural values and the development proposal offers the opportunity to present a more attractive contemporary building whilst retaining its predominately single-storey height and scale," the application's statement of environmental effect said "The proposed works are aimed at 'modernising' the club facilities to the benefit of current membership that is a fundamental business decision that all clubs face." The proposed new look for the main entrance of the Bulli Workers Club Picture by JMH Living DesignThe existing car parking at the club will be realigned but will retain the provision of 72 spaces with 11 dedicated to staff parking "The development will retain an appropriate level of on-site car parking," the statement of environmental effects said this is not significant and none of this increase arises as a result of the need to modernise and address current shortfalls in how services and facilities can be provided to the club's members and guests "The proposed development is not aimed at fundamentally changing the purpose of the club as a modest scaled local venue favoured by local residents." A traffic study lodged as part of the development application said the renovations were expected to generate up to 10 vehicle trips in the evening peak "This scale of traffic generation is relatively minor and as such no noticeable impacts to the surrounding traffic environment are expected as a result of the proposed development," the study stated The development application is on public exhibition until January 28 Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Picture by Anna WarrScores of swimmers of almost all ages took to the water at Bulli Beach on Wednesday morning in a Christmas Day tradition that stretches back more than 60 years Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBulli Surf Life Saving Club's 2024 Christmas Day Handicap Swim attracted 106 registered swimmers who had to race out around cans and back to the sand to claim glory George and Josie - swim every year in the event and it has become part of their Christmas tradition Ms Wheaton said they really valued being outdoors and active as a family so this was a good chance to get out and do something before the day became hectic She said itt was also a good chance to catch up with friends and other people in their local community Entry fee for adults was two stubbies of beer or with the overall winner taking all and shouting everyone a drink Picture by Anna WarrCategory winners also took home prizes dug out from what's known as 'Aladdin's Cave' a cupboard of goods stashed away by club president Jamie Caldwell's late father Keith This year the sought-after prizes included schooner glasses Picture by Anna WarrOne of those vying for that title was Lachlan O'Grady who used body paint to turn himself into the Gingerbread Man Mr O'Grady said he did the swim every year and usually dressed up with his mate Coen Taylor who was unable to make it this Christmas due to work While competition for best-dressed could be fierce - the Mercury heard there was a particular rivalry with club vice president Lincoln Costello who this year donned a festive patterned vest and trousers - Mr O'Grady said it was a bit of fun Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBed 5 | Bath 4 | Car 3 Positioned just a short stroll from the pristine sands of McCauleys Beach this ultimate seaside sanctuary redefines effortless coastal living With an impressive 310 square metres (approx.) of internal space this modern masterpiece is truly in a class of its own Listing agent Adam McMahon from Dignam Real Estate in Bulli said from the moment you arrive this home sets the stage for something truly special "Step through the striking entrance and be swept away by the sense of scale and opulence," Adam said "The foyer opens to a luxe home office and a private cinema room perfect for indulging in work and leisure at the highest level." The heart of the home is nothing short of breathtaking Designed for entertaining on an epic scale the dining area flows seamlessly to a chic bar zone combining sleek modern cabinetry with premium appliances "The alfresco entertaining area is a true masterpiece and effortlessly blends indoor and outdoor living," Adam said offers the perfect retreat for guests or the ultimate entertainer's hub." Ascend the statement floating staircase to the private accommodation retreat plush carpets and a second living area provide space for families to unwind The main bedroom suite is nothing short of palatial and a serene balcony with sweeping escarpment views The additional bedrooms are equally impressive with private and shared luxury bathrooms ensuring every family member enjoys five-star comfort "This property offers an unparalleled lifestyle just 405 metres (approx.) from McCauleys Beach," Adam said with scenic walking and cycling tracks along the coastline." this location offers the perfect balance of relaxation I enjoy highlighting businesses and events in our community through features and special publications and have been doing so for more than 21 years. If you have a story for me email ndavey@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture via Facebook/Ashlee AdamThree knife-wielding people who allegedly threatened a man while stealing his motorbike from a Bulli caravan park are on the run from police Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt was reported to police the three were armed with knives when they stole the trail bike from the tray of a ute before fleeing when confronted by the owner Ashlee Adam took to a Woonona/Bulli social media page to plead for help to find the motorbike The KTM trail bike that was allegedly stolen from Bulli Beach Tourist Park on Wednesday Picture via Facebook/Ashlee Adam"Long shot but if anyone sees this motorbike around Bulli we had it stolen last night from Bulli tourist park," she posted "Offenders threatened my husband with a knife and it's been a scary experience for us all Ms Adam said she saw the bike being ridden around Bulli on the same day as the theft and the rider was wearing no helmet with stickers featuring the number '33' on the sides of the vehicle "Please message me or contact Wollongong police station if you've seen this bike," she pleaded Police were called to Bulli Beach Tourist Park, off Farrell Road, about 2.30am on Wednesday, February 5, after the theft was reported. Police confirmed an investigation was underway and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 'landmine of drugs' uncovered in routine Bulli property searchEmotional scenes have played out in a Wollongong courtroom as a Bulli dad accused of stashing a 'landmine of drugs' and a telltale ledger under his house sought release on bail Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe court heard Jamie Gibson was subject to regular unannounced police checks at his home under the terms of an unrelated firearms prohibition order Police attended the property about 9.450am on Wednesday Police allege they found a bag containing $10,800 cash in the front room and clear resealable bags containing various amounts of cannabis weighing 789 grams in total which they later used to unlock a safe in a room under the house officers allegedly uncovered an indictable amount of methylamphetamine a cash counter and a notebook containing a drug ledger The house was declared a crime scene and officers attempted to place Gibson under arrest He allegedly pushed an officer to the chest and threw his phone towards his partner before officers wrestled him to the ground eventually fixing handcuffs around his wrists and seizing his phone police allege they seized almost $20,000 cash from the home Gibson fronted Wollongong Local Court on Thursday charged with eight offences including two drug supply charges and a proceeds of crime offence The court heard police had seized 8.6g of methylamphetamine and a 10ml vial of a liquid believed to be GHB/GHL defence lawyer Stewart Holt told the court his client's father-in-law was terminally ill and he needed his freedom in order to support his family Mr Holt vowed his client would abstain from drugs abide by a curfew and said that having come under such close recent police scrutiny would ensure he was law-abiding But the prosecution strenuously opposed bail noting Gibson had previously been on bail and subject to multiple court orders - an intensive corrections order among them - "and those things haven't deterred him" Magistrate Claire Girotto agreed the case against Gibson was strong "Police are there to check a firearms order and they come across this landmine of drugs," she said prompting open tears from Gibson and his partner Gibson's partner told the court she would personally expel Gibson from the home if he resumed drug activity Gibson was released under strict conditions including daily reporting to Wollongong Police Station a curfew and a requirement to attend the MERIT drug program Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture by Anna WarrThree well-known businesses are contending to operate a Bulli cafe with an enviable oceanfront location Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWollongong City Council has received three tenders to operate Bulli Beach Cafe on Waniora Point: the existing operator Tenders closed in November 7 and the council will announce the successful bidder once it has completed a tender review process and resolved to award the lease A council spokesperson has said the tender process is a confidential process and the council cannot disclose detailed information during this time "Council continues to work through the tender process for Bulli Beach Cafe and hope to award a tender for this location before the end of the year," the spokesperson said while to the north lies Sandon Point Beach The existing lease is held by the same group behind Thirroul Beach Pavilion and North Beach Pavilion Diggies is also well-acquainted with waterfront dining with its two cafes at North Wollongong Beach and overlooking Kiama Harbour (plus the North Beach kiosk) while His Boy Elroy has become a favourite for casual dining in the Wollongong CBD Wollongong City Council is required by legislation to run a competitive process for a commercial business to operate from a council-owned facility Wollongong City Council has three café business opportunities that will support you to do just that we’ve tenders open for Bulli Beach Café Bulli Beach Tourist Café Kiosk and Corrimal Tourist Park Café Kiosk “This is a really exciting opportunity for the city and for café operators looking for opportunities in prime beach front locations,’’ Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said “The three premises we currently have tenders out for are in much sought after locations that are already well-known to local foodies and café lovers I’m looking forward to seeing what comes through the tender process and I’m optimistic we’ll have some great new businesses for locals and tourists to support.’’ The proposed lease term for the tender is a five plus five years with the option for a longer lease term option subject to approval The details of the tenders are available on the Wollongong City Council e-Tendering Portal. This is also where interested parties can register Mr Doyle said Council regularly goes to market and undertakes competitive processes for capital and maintenance works projects across the city the provision of certain services like road marking and kiosks and for the use of our facilities for commercial programs like swim schools “While it is a legislative requirement for Council to carry out a competitive process when allowing for a commercial business to operate out of a Council owned and managed facility it also allows us to ensure the service being delivered meets Council and the community’s needs,’’ he said “I have no doubt our community wants us to carry out this process in a fair I also know that our community will want to enjoy a nice flat white beachside on a sunny Sunday morning so I look forward to seeing these spaces thrive.’’ Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. You can also use the number above for after hours Council-related emergencies Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au Webchat Picture by Robert PeetThe extension of timed parking area on a busy Bulli road is up for debate at Monday night's Wollongong City Council meeting Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueParking and congestion along Hospital Road has become a frustration for both residents and workers at Bulli Hospital One worker said her brand-new car had been keyed while she was at work With housing planned for the old hospital site across the road residents fear the parking situation could get worse At the council meeting Cr Richard Martin has put forward a motion calling on council to "consider increasing the timed parking area on the north side of Hospital Road Bulli from the hospital east to the Princes Highway" He also wants the council to consult with the residents impacted by the change Also on the agenda is a proposal to classify temporary events as exempt development on council-managed land fairs and festivals as well as one-off sporting events and would reduce the number of approvals organisers needed "Event organisers will still need to obtain an Event Approval from Council and possibly other licences or permits required under other relevant legislation," the business papers stated Ongoing events like monthly markets would still be required to get a development application The councillors will decide whether to place the planning proposal out on public exhibition The councillors will also vote on whether to accept two tenders to carry out road repair work It is recommended the council accept the tenders of Bitupave Limited and Fulton Hogan Industries for asphalt patching and resurfacing services "Council has a network of more than nine million square metres of asphalt on our road pavements and carparks that need to be maintained and renewed," the business paper stated "It is recommended that council endorse the recommendations of this report for this work to continue." The contracts are worth $3.8 million per year being arrested after PolAir circled Bulli for hours on January 31 Picture suuppliedA man has been charged with stealing hundreds of dollars worth of clothes and breaking into a home after PolAir circled Bulli to hunt for him on Friday afternoon Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice were called to Panmills Drive about 1.40pm on January 31 following reports a wanted man had been seen by a member of the public suspiciously dashing through the area had been at large since October 17 after he allegedly stole $650 worth of clothing from a SUV parked outside Stockland Shellharbour He attempted two break-ins on Alroy Street and Hutton Avenue in Bulli on Wednesday morning prompting PolAir to be called in to assist after a perimeter was established to hunt for him It's alleged the man stole a bicycle from a house on Pass Avenue in Thirroul He was arrested after he was found hiding in a backyard The man was charged with aggravated break and enter with intent while knowing a person was there and four counts of entering a prescribed premises of any person without a lawful excuse He was also charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception The accused man was refused police bail and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday File picture by Adam McLeanUpdate 2.14pmAn Endeavour Energy spokesman said power was restored to all properties by 1.45pm on Monday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEarlier 7.50amA fallen tree has brought down powerlines in Bulli and cut power to 1538 homes and businesses with the tree taking out the high voltage feeder for the area "We'll have most of the houses back on in the next couple of hours except those directly supplied from where the tree damaged the powerlines," Endeavour Energy's Peter Payne said "The majority of people will have their power back on by 9.30am or 10am the rest will depend on how significant the damage is." The outage comes following wild winds and heavy rain overnight in the Illawarra with another thunderstorm possible late in the afternoon or evening on Monday Stay up-to-date with breaking news here A severe weather warning was issued at 5.50pm on Sunday with damaging winds and heavy rain predicted to hit the Southern Highlands before moving on towards the Illawarra Kiama recorded the most rain (23.6 millimetres) followed by Albion Park (21mm) and Bellambi (16mm) SES volunteers received 30 calls for storm damage help in the South Eastern Zone, which includes the Illawarra. "Storms have mostly moved away from densely populated areas, however there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout Monday," the SES said. The SES urged people to keep clear of damaged buildings, fallen trees and powerlines. "Do not go sightseeing as this may hinder recovery efforts and put you and others at risk," the authority said. If you need help with storm damage call the SES on 132 500. Julio Miranda (left) will step down as Bulli FC IPL coach and Rob Bemi and Ryan Emerton will come in Pictures by Adam McLean and Anna WarrIllawarra Premier League clubs Bulli and Helensburgh have announced their new coaches for the 2025 season and now Bulli and Helensburgh have followed suit A Bert Bampton Cup triumph marked a fitting way to cap off Julio Miranda's coaching tenure with second grade coach Rob Bemi set to take over and with Bulli legend Ryan Emerton coming on as assistant After coming in from the Wolves system, Miranda was Bulli's head coach for five seasons, where he saw them reach the finals four times and claimed the BBC in July this year with a 1-0 win over Shellharbour "The club extends its sincere gratitude to Julio Miranda and Scott Nicholls for their invaluable contributions," Bulli president Dane Hamilton wrote on social media "We are currently collaborating with both Julio and Scott to ensure their continued involvement within the club's coaching and support staff Julio has been pivotal in developing a youthful squad promoting an attractive style of football that has led to four finals appearances and a Bert Bampton Cup victory "He has also fostered a fun and inclusive culture across the men's teams." Miranda's departure means that Bulli's second grade coach of seven years Bemi will take the reigns of first grade He has previously coached in the IPL with Woonona Sharks Meanwhile Bulli stalwart Emerton will return to the club he spent nearly a decade playing with to take up the assistant coaching reigns He returns following a year of playing at Corrimal Meanwhile, fellow IPL Helensburgh will be coached by former UOW District League mentor Scott Regent in 2025. Regent will take over from outgoing Thistle coach, Paul Michlmayr. The club made the announcement via social media on Friday "Scott is a talented young coach with a fantastic footballing philosophy," the statement read "He has honed his skills over the past few years coaching at Wollongong University in the District League and he's now ready to take on the challenge of coaching in the Premier League We can't wait to see what he brings to the club." Illawarra Mercury sports journalist. Feel free to get in touch jordan.warren@austcommunitymedia.com.au. The Jason Magri-trained son of Fernando Bale and prolific producer Sweet City Woman won through to the $40,000-to-the-winner decider with a gritty 26.10 heat success last weekend over fellow finalist Ali Tango Chief Lightning's Gold Cup presence will be the third group race decider the 16-time winner has tackled in recent months having finished third in both the Maitland and Gosford Cups at Group 2 level FIELDS AND FORM BULLI SUNDAY But if successful at Bulli it will also provide Magri with an overdue victory in the south coast feature having finished runner-up in the event on three occasions previously. "It's a race I've always wanted to win but I just can't get over the line – I've run second a few times but that's as close as I've got," Magri said. "This final on Sunday is very even – a lot of the dogs can go 9.80 early and run around the 26 second mark so it's going to be a matter of who comes out and gets into the right spot. "There's no real standout but it's a hot race. My dog is going well but from box seven I am concerned. He might struggle to get across. "The key to the race is Good Odds Cobber and what he does from the red. If he dwells at the start he could get crossed and that opens the race up." Holding favouritism for the star-studded final is group 1 star Good Odds Cobber from box one at $3 ahead of fastest qualifier Tattooed at $4.40. Tattooed, a sizzling 25.85 heat winner drawn in box six, is one of two finalists for Victorian trainer Anthony Azzopardi, also lining up Warragul Cup hero Pass The Buck from box eight as a $5 chance. Chief Lightning is at $13 in early betting for the race. Suzy Pickles and her family bought a former department of housing property on a 1000 square metre block in the northern Illawarra which was bare but for one small tree out the front Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFast forward four and a half years and they are producing 500 kilograms of fruit after transforming the block into a miniature urban farm "We wanted to get out of Sydney and live a slower and more considered lifestyle," she said A PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong Ms Pickles is part of a larger project to record and study the Illawarra's food landscape amid rising food costs and health issues Fill out UOW's Let's talk about Food survey here. Bulli resident Suzy Pickles in her home garden which provided her family with 500 kg of food last year Picture by Sylvia LiberAs well as looking into community gardens and commercial food production in the region Ms Pickles has turned her research lens to her own property aiming to show that it's possible - even when short of time and money - to grow a decent amount of food at home "I did an audit last year of this farm - it's 1000 square metres and there's about 200 square metres of productive cultivated area but a lot of the fruit trees aren't productive yet because they're quite young," she said "I was really busy last year - studying full-time and working pretty much full-time - but I grew nearly 500kg of food here "People often think that it takes too much time which has been transformed from an empty grassed block into productive land Picture by Sylvia Liber"So we're a busy working family with two kids and we pretty much met our fruit and vegetable needs from the garden at our family home." She said her family had also managed to keep costs low - around $400 a year - by using freely available fertilisers from her worm farm as well as horse and chicken manure and seaweed and employing techniques like seed saving and propagation "We are really lucky in the Illawarra Shoalhaven that we have an amazing climate for growing food - it's temperate we get a decent amount of rain and there are lots of bits of land," she said "The argument is that in an urbanised environment you can't grow food but actually there are pockets of land everywhere if you look around that can be used for private gardening for community gardens or for commercial enterprises." A map from Suzy Pickles' research showing the locations of community gardens in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Picture supplied by UOWThe Illawarra's urban food landscapeIn her broader research Ms Pickles had identified 25 community gardens in the Wollongong with the bulk of these located in Wollongong Forty-eight commercial and social enterprise producers were identified in the same region which were located primarily on private land (78 per cent) and were most likely to produce honey With the cost of buying food rising sharply - to $957 a fortnight according to a new study published by the Mercury last week - Ms Pickles said understanding alternative ways to access food had the potential to help many households "There's a trend globally for cities and regions to grow food for a variety of reasons including sustainability reasons like shorter supply chains," she said "There's also evidence that when people can see food growing so if people live near a farm like a veggie farm or a poultry farm it makes people feel connected to their food system and makes people eat healthier." She said there had been evidence that people's interest in food production rose during the pandemic but said environmental concerns and cost-of-living pressures could drive more people into buying locally produced food A map of Suzy Pickles' research showing the locations of commercial or social food producers in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Picture from UOWSuzy's advice for people who don't know where to startStart small If you don't if you have any area in your house or garden or backyard that has access to sunlight stick a pot out there and start growing some herbs or some leafy greens that you like and you'll be surprised by how easy it is," she said even if you don't think you've got much to swap it's also for knowledge - people talk about how to grow things there are seedlings and seeds there and you can start to learn what's in season and what works in your micro-climate," she said you could turn up with a batch of muffins - and you'll see that people turn up with 10 bags of lemons because there's so much produce and then someone might take two bags home and make marmalade and then bring the marmalade back next time with the recipe that they use for the marmalade." Leafy greens growing in Suzy Pickles' garden Picture by Sylvia LiberLearn about foraging "There's a lot of food around the streets that you can eat - fruit trees in public places or often fennel and dill on the side of the road," she said "It's not going to completely solve your food needs and you also can start to build skills," she said "These might have locally produced food that you can buy," she said Next week (August 27) Ms Pickles will co-host a free event called Food Talks at Bulli's Millers Bakehouse which will highlight the various share economies in the Illawarra This will be the sixth event from the social enterprise which started in 2023 which allows residents to meet other growers chefs and home cooks with a passion for food Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2011, I'm an award-winning reporter who has helped the paper set the news agenda across our region for more than a decade. Watch 57sIt's believed the truck was travelling southbound on Bulli Pass when it lost control, broke through a guardrail at a hairpin and landed at the bottom of an embankment. fenced off for maintenance work on November 21 Picture by Anna WarrNo one has put their hand up to operate either of two cafes located in Wollongong beachside caravan parks But at the close of tenders for the Bulli venue on November 19 and 24 hours later it was the same story for the Corrimal cafe A council spokesperson said there had been no "satisfactory" tenderers A painter touches up the railings on the Bulli Beach Tourist Park cafe Picture by Anna Warr"We plan to go out to tender again for both Corrimal Cafe and Bulli Beach Tourist Park Cafe and will readvertise both on our website in the upcoming weeks," the spokesperson said "We are seeking submissions from experienced food operators who have a commitment to the community and offer fresh affordable food options "This is an opportunity to make a mark in a prime coastal location an area much loved by locals and visitors alike." The proposed lease term was five plus five years with the option of a longer term subject to approval A decision on the new operator for each site will be made after the tender review process and once the council has resolved to grant new lease agreements The council spokesperson said the council aimed to award the tenders in early 2025 The Bulli cafe is currently fenced off as the council undertakes minor capital works on the building The council spokesperson said they expected these to be finished in December The need for maintenance works on the building before offering a new lease was responsible for pushing back the call for tenders by a month The council is legally required to run a competitive process when letting a commercial business run from a council-owned property At present the council is working through a master plan for the showground and Cr Whittaker's motion aimed to ensure the festival was part of that mix People get on the dance floor at the 2025 Illawarra Folk Festival One Wollongong councillor wants to make sure the event isn't priced out of its Bulli Showgrounds home Picture by Anna WarrHer motion stated that "every effort is made to ensure an affordable and suitable venue continues to be available to the Illawarra Folk Festival" Cr Whittaker said it was "an exemplary festival of national significance" "Its success is a credit to the organising community who have survived the challenges of climate "In an era when many other festivals have folded this not-for-profit model is growing in the quality and diversity of performers number of attendees and volunteer participation." She was quick to point out there was no talk of the festival being moved from the showground; her motion was driven by the desire to see it stay there "I want everyone else to be aware of how important this festival is for the community and what a great success it is," she said "And that if we do any improvements to the showground we just don't want to make that venue unaffordable for not-for-profit events like this "If you commercialise it into a big venue that you have big concerts but we wouldn't want to push the folky out." the 2024 festival had an economic impact of $1.7 million and had 5070 people attending - more than half of whom were not from Wollongong "I just want council to be aware of what an important event this was," Cr Whittaker said "I think I was the only city councillor that was at the event So I just wanted to draw others' attention to what a great event it is "We had some amazing indigenous artists from the Northern Territory and Arnhem Land attend "There was 300 volunteers that gave their time for three days to put the festival on It's a not-for-profit model and while other festivals are really struggling this festival is growing and going really well." Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Tokyo-listed energy giant Electric Power Development Co is wasting no time shuffling the deck at Australian renewables developer Genex Power which it acquired for $380 million in July Genex boss Craig Francis:“This would position the Bulli Creek Solar Farm as the largest solar farm connected to the National Electricity Market.” Brian Cassey SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Picture by Anna WarrBrayden Woodford and Jack Wilson will head into their HSC exams this week feeling good about themselves after the Bulli SLSC athletes enjoyed success in the opening round of the Sydney Water Surf Series Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSuperfish and current World Youth Surf Swim champion Woodford proved too strong crossing the line first in the surf race on Saturday at Bulli Beach who is the current Edmund Rice College captain finished second in the board race and a hard fought third in the ski race But it was Charlie Morris from Elouera who had the best day, with wins in the iron man and board race Thankfully I could execute my skills under fatigue which I've been working hard on," Morris said Warilla's Levi Willis worked through the field for a well deserved second in the iron man and backed it up with a third in the board completed a clean sweep in the female events with wins in the swim The ski race victory was particularly satisfying for Locke as she snuck across the line in front of sister Jasmine a current Australian kayak team representative View +65 PhotosPictures by Anna Warr"It was pretty flat today which made the racing long Luckliy some extra sessions I've been doing were useful," Locke stated victories in the male events where shared between Mollymook's Ashton Neall and Jake Lynch (South Maroubra) North Cronulla's Emily Rampoldi secured the sprint and flags double in the female beach events Leading competitors in the Under 17 water events included Warilla's quartet Max Miller Clubmate Kyah Shipley was the best performed local in the U17 female event Bulli's Oscar Sheppard used the great confidence from his Coolangatta Gold placing as he raced to victory in the U11 ironman Younger brother Rio was not to be outdone securing wins in the swim and board on his home beach The Series returns for a double-header weekend at Warilla on November 2-3 Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.