is taking its next step – families today exploring what will become a major dining 10,000 people are expected to eventually live in the estate Our Customer Service Centre is temporarily located at Speers Point Library opposite Council's Administration Building Fire and Rescue NSW will be carrying out hazard reduction works near Cooranbong Colliery with planned burns scheduled for Saturday 7 September (weather permitting) The map below is an indication of the general burn area and boundaries are not precise it is important that you consider the following safety precautions:   Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering homes  Keep outdoor furniture under cover to prevent ember burns Retract pool covers to prevent ember damage  keep windows up and turn headlights on  If smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice  Never fly drones or Remote Piloted Aircraft near bush fires or hazard reductions where other aircraft may be operating (penalties apply)  Hazard reduction is an important part of preparing for bush fires To stay up to date with hazard reduction activities in your area, download the Hazards Near Me app or call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737) Click here for more information on this hazard reduction activity.(PDF, 323KB) We remember and respect the Ancestors who cared for and nurtured this Country It is in their footsteps that we travel these lands and waters Lake Macquarie City Council acknowledges the Awabakal people and Elders past Telephone Interpreting Service 131 450 National Relay Service 133 677 A $1.5 million pedestrian and cyclist route will connect residential areas with the town common funded through the Australian Government’s Active Transport Program expected to share in $16 million to build new or upgrade existing walking and bicycle tracks across the state Lake Macquarie City Council will receive $1,563,202 to design and construct 480m of shared path between the Cooranbong Town Common and Kurnell Street It’ll link the Cooranbong Growth Area and the Watagan Park residential estate with the Town Common (sports fields and playground) Cooranbong Public School and Avondale University “This will make a real difference to the way locals move around in Cooranbong,” Hunter MP Dan Repacholi said we’re making it safer and easier for people to choose active transport options “Not only will this help ease congestion on our roads but it also encourages a healthier lifestyle and supports a more sustainable future for our region.” Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said it was important to offer residents additional travel alternatives we’re investing in active transport options right across NSW to shape the way locals and visitors move around our great towns,” she explained we’re making it easier for people to get to school “This is about so much more than bike lanes and footpaths “It’s about reshaping our cities and regional centres and making our towns better to live in and easier to visit.” Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Click through to read our latest Issue of Newcastle Weekly Subscribe to Newcastle Weekly. News, Community, Lifestyle, Property delivered direct to your inbox! 100% Local, 100% Free. walkers and runners in Cooranbong will be able to access a 500-metre stretch of shared pathway connecting the sports fields and playground with residential areas after a $1.5 million funding boost 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 federal government has announced $1,563,202 for Lake Macquarie City Council to go towards designing and constructing a 480-metre shared path between the Cooranbong Town Common and Kurnell Street The path will link the Cooranbong Growth Area and the Watagan Park residential estate with Cooranbong Public School where there are sports fields and a playground It's one of 10 protects to share in a $16 million cash splash to build new or upgrade existing bike and walking paths across NSW Hunter MP Dan Repacholi said it was a fantastic investment for Cooranbong we're making it safer and easier for people to choose active transport options," he said "Not only will this help ease congestion on our roads but it also encourages a healthier lifestyle and supports a more sustainable future for our region Federal transport and infrastructure minister Catherine King said the government was investing in active transport to shape the way locals and visitors move about towns we're making it easier for people to get to school without having to jump in the car," she said "This is about so much more than bike lanes and footpaths it's about reshaping our cities and regional centres and making our towns better to live in and easier to visit." 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 Don't miss your weekly Knights update Get the latest property and development news here 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 17 January 2025 11:34 am · Hunter News · Ian Crouch Police believe they’ve found the copper thieves allegedly responsible for bringing down telecommunications in Morisset and Cooranbong this month. Late yesterday, Lake Macquarie Police attempted to stop a Ford sedan and a pursuit was initiated. At Wyee two people ran from the vehicle when it crashed, a 26-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman.  Both were arrested and a search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of copper wiring, which police believe are the proceeds from a recent break and enter at a telecommunications facility at Dora Creek. The alleged driver, a 26-year-old man, was charged with three outstanding warrants linked to more than 30 offences dating back to 2021. The woman was charged with drug related offences. Following inquiries, police arrested a 39-year-old man at Crangan Bay in a separate car chase, he’s been charged with theft of the cables. All three will appear at Belmont Local Court in coming days. 2NUR FM acknowledges Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders both past and present. 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) The 2024 NSW Local Government Election is on Saturday 14 September 2024 If you are unable to making it to a polling centre on election day there are several ways to vote leading up to election day Postal voting applications are now open. You can apply online or download an application form and return it to the NSW Electoral Commission Learn more about postal voting For the 2024 NSW Local Government elections, pre-poll voting is available from Saturday 7 September to Friday 13 September 2024* (excluding Sunday) for eligible electors. Find out who is eligible to vote early. Electors will be asked to verbally declare the reason they are voting early You must vote at a venue that is located within your enrolled council area (or ward if you live in a divided council area). Use the address lookup tool to find your council or ward.  *Please note: The pre-polling venue at Cooranbong Community Centre is closed Saturday 7 September and will not open until Monday 9 September for voting Braille ballot papers will be available for the 2024 NSW Local Government election. Electors who wish to vote using braille ballot papers can apply by calling us on 1300 135 736 or by email to [email protected] Applications for braille ballot papers are open from Monday View more information on braille ballot papers Telephone assisted voting is only available to people who are blind or have low vision.  Find more information about telephone assisted voting including key dates and hours of operation Residents are reminded that it is compulsory to vote in local government elections Fines apply for people who do not vote.  For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders by 9 May 2022 A development application will soon be lodged for an off-the-grid holiday park in Lake Macquarie Lake Macquarie City Council has won NSW Government grant funding to develop part of the 30ha site off Freemans Drive north of Cooranbong near the foot of the Watagan Mountains Aimed at eco-tourists and adventure travellers the Cooranbong Eco Adventure Retreat will include 20 bespoke cabins made from recycled shipping containers rainwater harvesting and onsite sewage treatment,” Holiday Parks Coordinator Garry Ellem said The proposed holiday park will be located a short distance from bushwalking sites Awaba Mountain Bike Park and horse riding facilities Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the new venue would help cement Lake Macquarie’s status as an adventure tourism playground “This will provide further motivation for people to head to Lake Mac for the weekend or longer to enjoy all the amazing outdoor activities we have on our doorstep,” she said “The retreat is only an hour from Sydney’s northern suburbs so this is a very realistic weekend getaway for millions of potential visitors.” Development of the planned $2.5 million retreat which will sit on land already owned by Council will include a $1.7 million grant from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund the Cooranbong Eco Adventure Retreat is expected to open in mid-2023 Privacy Policy Our simplified product lineup offers bespoke and affordable advertising options designed to capture the attention of our hyper-local audience We create original and engaging media to tell your story sell your tickets and get people through the doors it’s on Newcastle Live – the Hunter’s source of entertainment and lifestyle news and information We’re devoted to all the great things happening in the region We’ll keep you up to date with what’s on in Newcastle and across the Hunter region 13 May 2024 4:40 am · Hunter News · · Ian Crouch An unlicensed driver is due to face the children’s court today (Monday 13 May 2024) charged over a fatal cash at Cooranbong last month.Emergency services were called to Freemans Drive at about 12.15am on Sunday April 14 understood to be a marked mobile speed camera vehicle.An 18-year-old front seat passenger died at the scene.The 17-year-old driver was freed from the wreckage and taken to the John Hunter Hospital while the 43-year-old SUV driver suffered minor injuries.The driver was arrested at Newcastle Police Station on Saturday and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death.He’s been granted conditional bail to face Broadmeadow Children’s Court today 2NUR FM acknowledges Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures with $195 million worth of development set to be welcomed in coming years.  Named after the local Awabakal First Nations people’s term meaning “water over rocks” Cooranbong came out tops when it comes to the list of Lake Macquarie suburbs with approved developments Cooranbong accounted for almost 15% of the total list.  The once-sleepy town located on the west side of the lake is fast emerging as one to watch.  Lake Macquarie City mayor Kay Fraser said with its capacity for new housing proximity to the M1 and rail and major developments like the Cedar Mill precinct already in the works the city’s south-west had been identified as a key growth centre for NSW “There is incredible potential in this part of our city and it is good to see developers and investors realising this,” she said.  Cr Fraser said a Morisset Place Strategy under development would help guide future development and growth in the area.  “This is an area of strategic significance for population and jobs growth but we need to ensure it is the right type of growth and the right type of development,” she said.  Cooranbong accounted for $195 million worth of the city’s $1.3 billion approved developments.  Neighbouring Morisset was sixth on the list with $59 million worth of development.  Warners Bay and Belmont rounded out the top five suburbs for the highest value developments in the past financial year.  assessment and certification Amy Regado said Lake Macquarie approved 2383 DAs in 2022-23 Key approvals included a $29 million health services facility at Charlestown multiple approvals worth a total $29 million for the new Watagan Park Town Centre in Cooranbong and multiple DAs worth $50 million for a total 170 new homes on George Booth Drive at Cameron Park The median time taken to process a DA in Lake Macquarie has dropped by almost 40% in the past four years from 28 days in 2018-19 to just 17 in the past financial year “Timely decisions on DAs are a key factor to ensure housing can be delivered as quickly as possible,” Ms Regado said “Fast processing times also reduce the risk of the financial shock that comes with delays in processes like DA assessment “We’re constantly working with the development industry and our community to understand how they are affected by supply chain issues rising interest rates and increasing costs of living and how our actions and decisions can take these into account.”  Council approved almost 400 new homes across the city over the past 12 months Ms Regado said council was working to increase necessary housing stock by promoting ‘infill’ housing in established suburban areas investigating rezoning in some places to allow for medium density development Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here A 17-year-old unlicensed driver has been charged following a fatal crash which killed the 18-year-old passenger last month in Lake Macquarie Emergency services were called to Freemans Drive Cooranbong around 12.15am on Sunday the 14th of April 2024 after a northbound car hit the rear of parked SUV speed camera An 18-year-old man in the front passenger seat tragically died at the scene The 17-year-old driver was freed by emergency services and taken to John Hunter Hospital while a 43-year-old man in the SUV suffered minor injuries Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene before the investigation was taken over by specialist officers from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit was arrested when he attended Newcastle Police Station yesterday and has now been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous He has been granted conditional bail to appear in Broadmeadow Children’s Court tomorrow A major upgrade to the road network in the heart of Cooranbong is helping unlock the potential of one of the state’s fastest growing regional centres The Alton Road intersection upgrade project was officially opened on Tuesday morning with Minister for Hunter Yasmin Catley and Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper joining Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser to christen the crossroads Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the project was a game-changer for the increasingly busy thoroughfare “The NSW Government and Lake Macquarie City Council have teamed up to future-proof this important intersection for motorists in Cooranbong so they will have less congestion and a safer road to travel on,” he said “With more than $195 million in approved developments flowing through Cooranbong in the past financial year alone it’s vitally important to support the rapid expansion of Lake Macquarie’s south-west.” The project involved construction of signalised intersections at Alton Road and Freemans Drive businesses and visitors would benefit from the upgrade “Not only will this intersection upgrade improve traffic flow safety and connectivity through Cooranbong it comes as a massive boost to accessibility for emergency services and to goods and services in the town centre,” she said “This is another example of how Council and the NSW Government strive to support communities across Lake Mac with the infrastructure they need and deserve.” The project was funded by $4.95 million from the NSW Government through the Department of Planning via development contributions secured by State Voluntary Planning Agreements and contributions from Lake Macquarie Council The State Voluntary Planning Agreements program aims to collect development contributions to reinvest into local communities to deliver essential infrastructure Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePharmacist Hamish Graham officially acquired the business this week Mr Graham had worked for Mr Kalaf for seven years "Hamish is the best employee I've ever had," Mr Kalaf said "I could have put the business on the open market but to be able to sell it to Hamish meant everything to me." Mr Graham said he was rapt to continue the legacy Mr Kalaf had created and in doing so has given me a great opportunity," Mr Graham said The pharmacy was known for its quality of personalised care and Mr Graham said he planned for that to continue The sale comes three decades after Mr Kalaf opened the business at the Avondale Shopping Village he helped to create Mr Kalaf had previously worked as chief pharmacist at Sydney Adventist Hospital and not much more at the Cooranbong site in 1989 "But I felt there was opportunity here," he said Residential and commercial growth in the district continues apace and that included the advice Mr Kalaf offered Mr Graham when he handed over the keys "It's the same advice I gave Hamish when he started working here and that is when anyone walks in the doors think 'What can I do to ensure that person comes back in the door?' And that can mean anything from offering them a kind word to giving them a little box of chocolates," Mr Kalaf said Mr Graham said the pharmacy had a clear objective It was a pharmacy that didn't stock shelves full of perfumes or products the pharmacists didn't believe in "We focus on doing pharmacy in the correct manner Behaving in a virtuous fashion is important," Mr Graham said "What really matters is making sure that people are getting adequate care and that they have access to it when they need it." Mr Kalaf said in retirement he would most miss the people - the staff and customers - who had become his friends Being a pharmacist meant being able to help people in need I couldn't have imagined myself in any other industry There's a real joy in being able to help them." Mr Kalaf was awarded the medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the general division for his service to the Cooranbong community He is a former president of Cooranbong Chamber of Commerce Traffic signal boxes given colourful facelift in Toronto | photos Float your Boat parade set to illuminate the lake: Mayor's Message Council confirms money for Wangi Wangi jetty rebuild a teenager lost his life when the car he was travelling in collided with a parked mobile speed camera vehicle at Cooranbong emergency services were called to Freemans Drive following reports of a crash It’s understood a Subaru Impreza was reportedly heading northbound when it lost control and ran into the rear of a Hyundai Santa Fe – a fully-marked mobile speed camera vehicle – parked on the side of the road was freed by emergency services and taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment The 43-year-old man seated in the Hyundai suffered minor injuries Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene which will be forensically examined by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit An investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 about 1900.WEET-BIX maker Sanitarium has announced it will close its Cooranbong factory making the 185 employees at the site redundant Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWEET-BIX maker Sanitarium has announced it will close its Cooranbong factory On Thursday the company announced the start of a three-year transition period that will see it relocate to its larger Berkeley Vale factory by the end of 2018.  The company’s general manager Todd Saunders said the company was making the announcement to give employees there years of ‘‘visibility’’ ‘‘We wanted to give our people a three year window of visibility so that they can either transfer to the Berkeley Vale site or have time to retrain and transition into other employment,’’ he said There will be about 20 positions available at Berkeley Vale but Cooranbong employees will also have the opportunity to fill any vacancies that opened up in other parts of the company in the meantime Mr Saunders also said that there were no changes to employment anticipated in the first 12 months of the transition The move ends a long association between the company and the Lake Macquarie town that Mr Saunders said was ‘‘emotional’’ ‘‘It was an incredibly difficult decision to make but the reality of modern manufacturing is that the building in Cooranbong is not suitable to invest in for the future,’’ he said but the site dates back to Sanitarium’s original factory from 1899 when the company produced peanut butter and granola Today it is the company’s second-largest site Light n Tasty cereal and Corn Flakes at the site The company said the move will be supported with an estimated $50 million investment into Saitarium’s operations in the next three to five years A new flood-proof bridge over Dora Creek is set to link pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Cooranbong and Morisset near the former Sanitarium factory at Cooranbong supplementing the nearby narrow swing bridge that has served the community for almost 90 years Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Development Assessment and Certification Amy Regado said the original bridge was only one metre wide and moved when in use “The purpose of the new bridge is to allow users of the shared path from Cooranbong to Morisset to safely pass over Dora Creek,” she said which allows for two-way pedestrian movement.” The $1.6 million bridge and shared path leading to the structure from both directions was funded by developer Johnson Property Group as part of the North Cooranbong Voluntary Planning Agreement “The bridge has been designed to withstand significant flooding so it should provide a safe crossing for many years to come,” Ms Regado said The project included use of a product known as FiltaPave used in place of concrete where tree roots were present at ground level “This means trees close to the structure were retained rather than removed,” Ms Regado said The new bridge forms part of a 13km walking and cycling route connecting the city’s growing south-west communities Go to lakemac.com.au for more information and an online map outlining key shared paths across Lake Mac The once-sleepy town of Cooranbong is fast emerging as one of the region's growth hotspots taking out top place for the second year running in a list of Lake Macquarie suburbs with the highest value of approved development Cooranbong accounted for $195 million worth of approved development in the 2022-23 financial year – almost 15 per cent of the city's $1.3 billion total Neighbouring Morisset was sixth on the list with $59 million worth of development Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said that with its capacity for new housing the city's south-west had been identified as a key growth centre for NSW "There is incredible potential in this part of our city and it is good to see developers and investors realising this," she said Cr Fraser said a Morisset Place Strategy under development would help guide future development and growth in the area "This is an area of strategic significance for population and jobs growth but we need to ensure it is the right type of growth and the right type of development," she said Warners Bay and Belmont rounded out the top five suburbs for the highest value developments in the past financial year Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Development Assessment and Certification Amy Regado said Council approved 2383 DAs in 2022-23 The median time taken to process a DA in Lake Mac has dropped by almost 40 per cent in the past four years "Timely decisions on DAs are a key factor to ensure housing can be delivered as quickly as possible," Ms Regado said "Fast processing times also reduce the risk of the financial shock that comes with delays in processes like DA assessment." "We're constantly working with the development industry and our community to understand how they are affected by supply chain issues and how our actions and decisions can take these into account." Ms Regado said Council was working to increase necessary housing stock by promoting 'infill' housing in established suburban areas Go to shape.lakemac.com.au to have your say about the Morisset Place Strategy Highest value suburbs for development approvals The Weekly SOURCE is published by DCM Media Residents were smiling from ear-to-ear at Cooranbong Gardens on Monday.  construction finally began on their community centre. Called The Pavilion the centre will provide the residents with the “lifestyle they deserve” large auditorium with lounge area and library visiting medical practitioners’ rooms beauty salon and outdoor BBQ area.    Sales and marketing manager Tracey Andrews says the village is excited for its completion.  “This is a big deal for the residents,” she said “The village has been operational for just over two years we’ve experienced our fair share of delays was held on Monday (21 February) just before construction commenced The project is likely to be finished by the end of the year “We’re now looking forward to celebrating Christmas together as a community in The Pavilion,” Tracey said The $5.5 million facility is already impressing residents.  “It was great to attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the community centre,” Jenny and Stafford Ormsby said.  “This will add to the exciting dynamics of village life.” the duo says their life has changed for the better.  confident and social and go as far as saying we wish we had done it sooner,” Jenny said.  Newcastle Weekly would love to hear from you about a story idea you have in the Hunter region. Click here to submit a news tip. Picture suppliedNew development approval figures show the south-west Lake Macquarie suburbs of Cooranbong and Morisset are among the Hunter's most popular growth spots Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe towns accounted for one fifth of Lake Macquarie City Council's $1.3 billion in approved development activity in 2022-23 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Lake Macquarie's population grew 5.9 per cent in the five years to June 2022 compared with 3.4 per cent from 2012 to 2017 4.2 per cent from 2007 to 2012 and 1.2 per cent from 2002 to 2007 The population of Morisset and Cooranbong grew 18 per cent from 18,741 to 22,150 in the five years from 2016 to 2021 The council said in a media statement that "once-sleepy" Cooranbong had led the area with $195 million in development approvals taking out top spot for the second year running Morisset was sixth on the list with $59 million worth of approved development Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said the city's south-west was booming due to its capacity for new housing proximity to the motorway and rail transport and major developments like Cedar Mill and Trinity Point but we need to ensure it is the right type of growth and the right type of development." The NSW Department of Planning and Environment's Hunter Regional Plan 2041 names Morisset Cooranbong and Wyee as "the largest future growth area in the Central Coast and Hunter" Warners Bay and Belmont rounded out the top five suburbs for the highest value of approved development in the financial year The council approved almost 400 homes and 2383 development applications in 2022-23 The approvals included a $29 million health services facility at Charlestown multiple approvals worth a total $29 million for the new Watagan Park Town Centre in Cooranbong and DAs worth $50 million for 170 new houses on George Booth Drive at Cameron Park Cr Fraser has been vocal about the need to speed up state infrastructure spending to unlock housing supply in Lake Macquarie She launched a broadside at Transport for NSW in March over delays and a cost blowout to the Mandalong Road upgrade at Morisset The council said its median net processing time for DAs had dropped from 28 days in 2018-19 to 17 in the past financial year Join the discussion in the comment section below Find out how to register or become a subscriber here Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily 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. 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. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. Get the latest property and development news here. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! fuel and convenience chain OTR has revealed its plans for a $50 million rival stop just down the road Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe company has released a render of its Cooranbong 24-hour twin service station project which is expected to offer weary travellers the choice between McDonald's "OTR is pleased to have council approval to commence construction of the M1 twin service station development at Cooranbong works on this exciting development are expected to commence early quarter three KFC and Taco Bell food outlets will be on offer." Construction at Cooranbong is expected to begin between July and September this year Each side is expected to have more than 150 car parks with bus Lake Macquarie City Council approved the development in March News the McDonald's restaurants at the Wyong twin servos would close in mid-July and early 2024 respectively shocked commuters who rely on the pit stop for a serve of McHappiness between Sydney and Newcastle A McDonald's spokeswoman told the Newcastle Herald previously that its lease had expired at Wyong which owns the north and southbound locations confirmed the two McDonald's restaurants would be replaced by Hungry Jacks To see more stories and read today's paper download the Newcastle Herald news app here. A TEENAGE girl was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint forced into a car boot and held overnight by a man before she managed to raise the alarm with police on the weekend has been charged with a string of allegations after police were alerted that a 16-year-old girl had allegedly been taken at Martinsville on Friday afternoon Lake Macquarie police were told the girl had been threatened by a man just before 4pm on August 23 on Martinsville Road The girl was allegedly forced into the boot of a sedan then driven to a house on Freemans Drive at Cooranbong and detained for the night Police said the girl was taken to a nearby church on Saturday where she was able to alert emergency services at about 11am Brownlowe was arrested a short time later and taken to Toronto Police Station Police allege he had wielded a loaded gun in public while he was subject to a firearms prohibition order He was charged with taking a person and intending to commit a serious offences; possessing a loaded firearm in a public place; carrying a firearm in a way that was likely to injure a person; and two counts relating to being subject to a firearms prohibition order Brownlowe spent the weekend behind bars before fronting court at Toronto on Monday where he made no application for bail and it was formally refused He will face Newcastle Local Court again on October 23 Lake Macquarie City Council has released plans to upgrade two busy intersections at Freemans Drive Cooranbong to reduce congestion and improve safety They are inviting members of the community to attend a virtual information session next Thursday 14 October to learn more about the proposed upgrades. Council’s Assets Manager Helen Plummer said the intersections are some of the busiest in the Cooranbong area and this project would deliver safer “We know this is an important project to the local community and the Alton Road intersection upgrade project will ease traffic congestion and improve safety and accessibility for road users and pedestrians alike,” Ms Plummer said Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser added the delivery of the upgrade would ensure road infrastructure in the area meets the needs of the growing community “The continuation of the Watagan Park residential development in Cooranbong is attracting more families to move to Lake Macquarie City,” she said “It is vital that these areas have the infrastructure they require to support the additional residents in the area “Road infrastructure projects like this one also provide positive economic benefits for the local economy in terms of jobs and spending particularly in a post-COVID recovery period.” The project involves the construction of signalised intersections at Alton Road and Freemans Drive construction is expected to commence within 12 months The NSW Government has provided $4.95 million for the Alton Road Intersection Upgrade through developer contributions secured by State Voluntary Planning Agreements The information session will begin at 5pm on Thursday 14 October. To register for the session or to submit a question, visit lakemac.com.au/projects/alton-road-intersection-upgrade Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here shocking residents who feared for the lives of their two horses Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe horses emerged unscathed - but not much was left of the tree Property owner Malcolm Robson said "it blew the tree to pieces" spreading timber shards and bark across a Freemans Drive paddock "I've never seen a tree destroyed like this," Mr Robson said Resident Margaret Orrell said she "nearly died" when she saw it but we didn't hear the tree explode," Mrs Orrell said on Monday "We only noticed this morning when we got up." Mrs Orrell was relieved to find the two horses safe Bureau of Meteorology NSW weather services manager Andrew Treloar said "we've been in a very tropical regime" over the past week "Afternoon storms are a part of that," Mr Treloar said he said "it appears unusual in that the length of the outbreak has been quite long" Seven consecutive days of storms had been recorded at Sydney Airport "That's up on the number of days recorded previously This is probably not the page you’re looking for Pictures from FacebookA PRIMARY school community is reeling after vandals busted their way into a canteen at Lake Macquarie and wreaked havoc Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueParents of Cooranbong Public School students have rallied during the holidays to raise funds replace broken items and fix damage after chaotic scenes were discovered on Friday It's understood the intruders broke a door and lock smeared products around and left graffiti 'tags' before fleeing to be honest," Cooranbong Public School parent Daena Lyon told the Newcastle Herald so to know people are getting around and doing this to the school in our area is not very pleasant .. She said the incident had sparked some fear but she had tried to reassure her child that school was a safe place Attention has now turned to making sure the canteen is up and running before school holidays end next week Ms Lyon said members of the small school's Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association had given up time during the break to help get the facility back on track The wider community has been supportive, with people rallying to donate to the P&C via PayID details posted to their official Facebook page and to a GoFundMe page set up by a parent Local businesses had also reached out with offers of assistance "The community has been amazing," Ms Lyon said She said the school's P&C had overcome a lot in the past few years and this was a setback Ms Lyon said the school was small and in a beautiful bush location but called for more security measures to be put in place "We need to do something to try and prevent this happening again," she said Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers or Lake Macquarie officers A statement from Cooranbong Public School's P&C said security had become a concerning issue in the aftermath of the break-in our beloved school has been targeted by a series of break-ins casting a shadow over what should be a joyous time of the year," it said "The safety and security of our school are paramount and we are committed to taking every necessary measure to protect our students "We urge each member of our community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately we are immensely grateful for the unwavering support and solidarity of our community." A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed it was aware Cooranbong Public School's canteen was broken into "overnight" between April 11 and 12 causing damage to the door and kitchen equipment "The school community has been advised that repairs began on Friday and will be completed over the holidays," they said Federal MP for the Hunter Dan Repacholi slammed the offenders in a public post on social media "The scum who did this were so arrogant that they even tagged their work," he said Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe proposal boasts two sports fields catering to soccer, rugby, cricket and AFL along with a two-storey multi-purpose centre with activity rooms, office spaces, change rooms and amenities. The $9.6 million development would include an off-leash dog exercise area, skate park, off-street parking, a network of walking and cycling paths and a public art element. JPG chief development officer Bryan Garland said he anticipates it will take 12 months to build once construction starts, with some preparatory bulk earthworks and levelling already under way. "The Watagan Park Sports Facility has been identified since around 2007 as a facility needed as a result of the population growth within Watagan Park," he said. "Strategically co-located within the recently approved shopping centre precinct, now also incorporating Woolworths, the Watagan Park Sports Facility will form part of the heart of the project by providing and contributing to a variety of functions to promote social interaction and healthy lifestyles for Watagan Park residents. View +3 Photos"We expect the facility to be very popular, like the popularity of the sports facility we recently delivered at nearby Cooranbong Park." The multi-purpose centre will have three carparking areas with a total of 106 parks, along with spectator seating for 200 people. Under an agreement with Lake Macquarie City Council, JPG has to deliver the sports facility before it can release its 1250th residential lot. If approved, it will be handed over to the council and will be available to residents of Watagan Park estate and the wider Cooranbong community. JPG put two options for the skate park out to the public in November and December, last year. Mr Garland said public consultation on the two designs will close September 29. "Once the community determines a preferred option after the consultation period closes, that option will be further details and progressed through to construction approvals," he said. Watagan Park residential estate is being developed by JPG. File picture The council indicated it preferred a 'street plaza' style given a 'flow style' skate park is already available at Morisset. The sports facility would be located north of Avondale Seventh Day Adventist School and east of the future town centre and medium density residential development at Watagan Park. It would be bounded by Pilot Drive to the east, Cessna Avenue to the north and an unnamed road to the east. The Watagan Park development makes up most of the North Cooranbong Urban Release Area, after the state government set aside areas for low and medium density housing, schools, a new town centre, parks and community facilities in 2008. Its 2500 lots will be spread across 356 hectares on the border of Watagan National Park. A number of development approvals have been issued since then with parts of the residential areas already built or under construction. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Picture: David Stewart BRONZE AUSSIE: A sculpture of an Australian soldier created by Alan Somerville watches over Sydney's Anzac Bridge.SITE INSPECTION: Alan Somerville and Cr Daniel Wallace get a feel for the lie of the land at Cooranbong.THE sculptor who created the bronze soldiers who watch over Sydney's Anzac Bridge is in talks with Lake Macquarie officials about creating a military sculpture for Cooranbong Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAlan Somerville visited Cooranbong Park on Thursday to discuss plans for a sculpture of a mounted Australian soldier of the Light Horse brigade "I just wanted to have a look at the location and get a feel for the place today," Mr Somerville said Mr Somerville's works adorn Centennial Park (a likeness of Sir Henry Parkes) Manly Public School (Sir Roden Cutler) and the Anzac War Memorial in Canberra The Cooranbong sculpture would be a landmark on the proposed Anzac Memorial Circuit The circuit would be a shared pathway loop linking Morisset It would feature rest stops displaying images and information about Australia's military history and local ex-services personnel Mr Somerville's site inspection was at the invitation of Anzac Memorial Circuit Committee members John and Maryke Hayward He also met a delegation of locals including Lake Macquarie councillor Daniel Wallace and Cooranbong Chamber of Commerce president Bob Kalef Mr Somerville said he was excited about the prospect of creating the sculpture of a soldier on horseback "I've been drawing horses since I was a kid and have loved horses from a very young age," he said He has also created several sculptures of horses including one of the celebrated race horse Sir Tristram design and exact location of the Cooranbong sculpture are still to be worked through Among the discussion points on Thursday was the possibility of having the sculpture mounted high on a sandstone block and under solar lighting Cr Wallace said it was important to make the most of the chance for the region to benefit from a man of Mr Somerville's calibre Cr Daniel Wallace's clan has strong ties to Australia's military history He was a 21-year-old locomotive driver prior to enlisting on August 16 Cr Wallace has his great uncle's diary from the war and in one entry the soldier wrote: "We left trench at 2am a mass burial ground was located at Pheasant Wood containing the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers including Private Cressy He was reinterred in the newly created Fromelles Military Cemetery Cr Wallace said the sculpture proposed for Cooranbong was fitting because the Light Horse brigade truly captured the Anzac spirit Picture: David StewartIMPRESSING business award judges is challenging but having finicky chefs scrutinise your entire operation can be eggs-hausting Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt's a good thing that the free-range egg team at The Local Yolk The company recently won the outstanding specialised business category in the 2019 Local Business Awards - Hunter The company - a spin-off from the A C Moncrieff and Sons business - has been operating for three years Founder Neal Moncrieff said The Local Yolk eggs had quickly found new markets "This is solely a free-range egg-producing company with a capacity for 36,000 birds," Mr Moncrieff said "We grade and pack eggs for retail and wholesale markets We run The Local Yolk and Lake Macquarie Free Range Egg brands." The Local Yolk eggs are found in stores across Lake Macquarie And they're fast becoming the eggs of choice at some cafes and restaurants Mr Moncrieff said chefs visited the Cooranbong operation to assess the eggs for their kitchens Picture: David StewartThe Local Yolk philosophy is to treat the birds well and to get the resulting eggs to customers quickly Eggs laid today are in the shops within 48 hours They pick up on the poaching rate - that is the proportion of eggs that hold their form perfectly during poaching Mr Moncrieff said the company was a certified Level 3 free-range egg producer "Elise is our business development manager and she has made a big difference," he said "This award is an enormous achievement for them all." Bypassing Morisset: Council's road map for city's 20-year growth Mobile phone detection cameras 'visiting a road near you' this summer Kids couldn't get enough of croquet at Toronto | photos Pictures: Simone De Peak and Wolter PeetersMICHAEL Chamberlain saw the world in black and white Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFrom that tragic night in 1980 The world around him was imperfect – and so was he Hundreds of people packed Avondale College’s Seventh Day Adventist Church to farewell Cooranbong’s most famous citizen who died aged 72 last week after a battle with leukaemia Among those attending was his first wife Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton all those who fought alongside him on that long and bitter road to justice and wife Ingrid – who gave him a new lease on life who fought a long and bitter battle for justice Picture: Wolter PeetersMourners were told Dr Chamberlain’s life could be split down the middle – the “36 years pre the rock paid emotional tribute to her husband from her wheelchair and said she was “so proud” of her “darling man” who gave their marriage “so much passion” “He was not a perfect man – but he was perfect for me,” Mrs Chamberlain said.  with her father's 1977 Torana hatchback Picture: Simone De PeakParked outside the church was the striking yellow Torana used in the 1998 film Evil Angels Proudly on display on the stage inside were some of Dr Chamberlain’s possessions – from his books to work boots Halfway through the nearly three-hour service was a photo tribute which painted a picture of a happy man who spent his time swimming in Lake Macquarie; the intellectual man who pursued an academic career at the University of Newcastle after being appointed adjunct professor; and the man who spent half his life in the public eye as he battled to overcome a grave miscarriage of justice Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton leaves the memorial service Picture: Simone De PeakAll speakers acknowledged the strain the disappearance of Azaria who called it the “pinch point” that couldn’t be ignored.  Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton sat in the second row and did not speak.  friend and Dr Chamberlain's solicitor since 1980 confided that despite the convictions being overturned and compensation awarded he still awaited a formal apology from the Northern Territory government.  Brodie Owen is a police reporter for the Newcastle Herald. Frances and Kevin Dunn look forward to welcoming Father Richard Shortall to St Patrick's and St Brigid's Catholic Church at Cooranbong on Saturday Picture: David StewartA PRIEST in a motorhome will take up residency on the manicured lawn of the Catholic church at Cooranbong from Saturday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFather Richard Shortall will spend a week in the grounds of the historic St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s Church His visit is part of the Catholic church’s Year of Mercy Pope Francis deemed 2016 the Year of Mercy in the church and 70 priests were commissioned in Rome to spread the message of “unmerited acts of kindness” around the globe Morisset parishioner Frances Dunn said Father Shortall was one of only two Missionaries of Mercy in Australia “Father Shortall has chosen to go to churches in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle which don’t have a resident priest,” Mrs Dunn said “His door will be open throughout the week and he wants it known that all are welcome to see him Catholic churches everywhere have been encouraged by Pope Francis to focus on the Year of Mercy message and to do what they can for their entire communities Mrs Dunn said Father Shortall was happy to lend a compassionate ear and to talk with locals about any issues of concern or interest “As a Catholic community we’re very conscious of the challenges we face at the moment,” she said so he’s very grounded in Catholic teachings.” Mrs Dunn said Father Shortall was known for his erudite discussions “Pope Francis has brought about a paradigm shift in thinking for the church but there has been a paradigm shift in the way we deal with them at the coalface,” she said Father Shortall has dubbed himself the “Missionary on Wheels” A welcome Mass will be held for him at the church on Saturday But Father Shortall’s motorhome won’t be the only unusual set of wheels at the church on the day Stage 3 of the Port to Port mountain bike race will be based at the adjacent Cooranbong Park in the morning and the church has made its grounds available for parking for the event Some 300 riders will begin the race stage when they exit the park onto Freemans Road before tackling a gruelling 64km ride into the wilds of the Watagan Mountains Picture: SuppliedA "resort-style retirement village" offering residents an around-the-clock medical alert system and home maintenance service will open in Cooranbong on Sunday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSeniors could look forward to a retirement in which they'd "never have to call a plumber or clean a gutter again", Catalina Village general manager Tracey Palser said Residents would have secure long-term tenure of their home and land and enjoy peace of mind that comes from having a 24/7 medical alert system "Catalina provides our residents the perfect combination of companionship and community with beautiful homes and contemporary facilities," she said rich and fulfilling lives surrounded by caring friends and staff our homes have been designed to meet best practice for disability and ageing in place standards." The village features homes built by award-winning Yarrum Designer Homes and a Catalina Community Centre with a terrace billiard room and resident lounge with stone fireplaces featuring 31 freestanding ground-level homes and villas is now open to view Visit catalinavillage.com.au MP's tears of anger and grief after Pell sentence Alan, 91, still swimming early morning laps in Toronto | photos Your general waste and recycling bins are collected fortnightly (alternating weeks) and your green waste bin is collected weekly.  Enter a street address to find your bin collection days If a scheduled waste collection service was missed, please report the issue to us Mr Kalaf has been a longtime servant of the district Picture: David StewartA man who who has played a significant role in the development of Cooranbong has been included in the Australia Day Honours list Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRobert (Bob) Kalaf was awarded the medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the general division Mr Kalaf has been well known by locals as the pharmacist in Cooranbong What some locals might not realise is that Mr Kalaf helped to establish the Cooranbong shopping village and Morisset industrial estate, and built the Waratah Medical Centre in Cooranbong And through his involvement in Cooranbong Chamber of Commerce Mr Kalaf played a significant role in achieving some of the infrastructure and services that locals have long taken for granted Mr Kalaf was president of the chamber from 1990 to 2006 and again for three years at the start of this decade “We were able to get the sewer connected,” Mr Kalaf said of his time with the chamber blossomed because of that sewer connection.” It was a feat that required a fulltime commitment to bring to fruition as well as the cooperation of Hunter Water and local parliamentarians Mr Kalaf said he gave up work for a period to ensure the service was delivered The chamber also planted 40 kilometres of callistemons (bottlebrushes) in Cooranbong and some of the rows of the surviving flowering trees can still be seen in the towns Ten years ago Mr Kalaf was invited to get involved as a project manager a charitable organisation that in that time has restored the sight of 6,000 blind people in India “These people are the poorest of the poor,” he said “It does the soul good to witness a three-year-old child seeing for the first time Mr Kalaf also served as a volunteer swim coach at Avondale School and Cooranbong Public School for 11 years He said he felt “rather humbled and privileged” to receive the medal Work comes naturally for OAM recipient Bob Porter Outstanding service in three roles Research advocate Citizen of the Year All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThursday brought the coldest maximum temperatures to Cooranbong (10.9C) Scone (8.2C) and Murrurundi (3.2C) on record at the Bureau of Meteorology Newcastle had its coldest day in almost six years The maximum temperature for the day at Nobbys was 12.6 degrees The last time the daytime temperature topped out so low was on July 11 2015 when the mercury only reached 12.4 degrees A thick layer of snow also coated the Barrington Tops throughout the day Meagan Blanch made the trek to see the sight at Polblue and said it snowed the whole two hours she was up there "There was so much snow compared to when we went last time Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020. Picture: David StewartWARATAH Medical Services will open its new GP clinic at Cooranbong on Monday easing the pressure on its busy GP Super Clinic in Morisset which sees about 400 patients each day Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe new bulk-billing practice will initially be staffed by Dr Casper Badenhorst and Dr Trevor Hurlow who had both been based at the Morisset clinic Practice manager Sharon Jarvis said a female doctor would start at Cooranbong in July “Our staff will grow as our patient numbers and doctors grow,” Ms Jarvis said The new practice will also provide nursing services (including care plans preparing for the opening of the clinic on Monday Picture: David Stewart“A lot of people are happy that we’ve come to this area,” Ms Jarvis said “A lot of patients now won’t have to travel so far for medical treatment.” The new practice includes a suite of modern health care equipment “The Surgitron is used to remove marks off people’s faces in a way that doesn’t leave scarring,” Ms Jarvis said Four nurses and three receptionists will join Ms Jarvis and the doctors on staff next week The building is owned by pharmacist Bob Kalef who has leased the premises to Waratah Medical Services Mr Kalef’s Cooranbong Pharmacy and Compounding is adjacent to the new clinic “It means that patients can get their scripts filled here right away,” Ms Jarvis said The Cooranbong practice will be open from 8.30am to 5pm Waratah Medical Services opened its Kanwal practice in 2004, its GP Super Clinic at Morisset in 2006 The GP Super Clinic in Morisset currently draws people from as far afield as Cessnock Waratah Medical Services principal Dr Wolf du Plessis said Picture by Fire and Rescue NSWFire crews were kept busy early on Saturday morning as two Hunter homes went up in flames Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA Charlestown unit was destroyed by a fire while a resident had to evacuate a Cooranbong home after it caught alight Multiple people made triple zero calls about the Charlestown blaze at a two-level Fraser Parade property just before 4am Saturday More than 40 firefighters battled the fire which had completely engulfed one of the units Crews were able to stop the fire from spreading through the whole complex There were no reported injuries and police are investigating the cause one evacuated an Alton Road home after it went up in flames just before 1am The top floor of the two storey residence was extremely damaged in the blaze Recent heavy rains have damaged road surfaces and infrastructure leading to changed conditions along roads in the Lake Macquarie suburbs of Cooranbong The speed limit at Deaves Road at Cooranbong will be reduced from today The usual speed limit of 80km/h will be reduced to 60km/h along a significant stretch of the road with a 40km/h speed limit introduced at some sections where the road has deteriorated significantly due to the recent wet weather Council’s Asset Manager Helen Plummer said the temporary speed limit reduction was being introduced to make sure the road is safe “Speed limits need to be suitable for the individual road environment,” Ms Plummer said the ongoing wet weather has deteriorated the road surface to a point where some sections are becoming difficult for motorists to navigate at the current speed “The temporary speed limit reduction will make the road safer for motorists until we can carry out heavy patching potholing and other rehabilitation works to improve the surface condition of the road “We are also in the process of reviewing our current works program to determine when we can undertake more substantive road rehabilitation works along Deaves Road.” Motorists driving in the area are asked to slow down and adhere to the new speed limits in place Minor landslips have also affected the roadway at Goulburn Street Pedestrian access to the beach from Goulburn Street at Dudley has been closed while detours are in place at Lake View Road and Dobell Drive for residents of Beach Road Beachgoers are urged to use the Dudley Beach car park access while closures are in place Council staff will undertake geotechnical investigations as a first step to designing permanent repairs to the affected roads To stay up to sate with what’s happening on the roads across Lake Mac, visit lakemac.com.au/For-residents/Roads/Road-closures All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe company has released a render of its Cooranbong 24-hour twin service station project in her classroom at Cooranbong Public School with some of the challenging words she's encountered on her way to the state final of the Premier's Spelling Bee tomorrow Picture: David StewartELLA Huber has a tried and tested technique for correctly spelling difficult words – including words that she’s never seen before Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueElla is among the best spellers for her age in NSW the Cooranbong Public School student will represent the region in the state final of the Premier’s Spelling Bee She’s one of two children who will represent the Central Coast (yes Cooranbong is considered part of the Central Coast in this competition) in the junior division of the spelling bee at the ABC Centre Each of the 100 state finalists who will compete tomorrow has won their school Along the way the juniors have correctly spelled words such as cutaneous Especially when she’s asked to spell a work she’s not familiar with “I start by saying the word really slowly and thinking about it,” Ella said. “Then I’ll try and break it up Being a keen reader and committing to spelling practice in the classroom and at home have also helped to develop her skill STATE FINALIST: Champion speller Ella Huber is headed to Sydney on Friday to challenge the state's best young spellers Picture: David Stewart”We do spelling words in class I started the year on 15 words and I’m up to 30 words now,” the year 4 student said ”I do lots of reading and lots of practice for my spelling at home Ella said she was encouraged to become a better speller by trying to keep up with her big sister  Roald Dahl is Ella’s favourite author ”I really like the imaginative stuff,” Ella said of Dahl’s stories. “The Twits is probably my favourite book.” The Premier’s Spelling Bee was introduced in 2004 as a fun and educational way for primary school students to engage in spelling The program includes activities to encourage students to improve their vocabulary and spelling and to promote literacy skills in combination with the English K-6 syllabus It’s also edge-of-the-seat entertainment for audiences Each contestant must repeat the word to the satisfaction of the announcer before they spell Rathmines Community Hall could open next June Another big Lotto win for Toronto Truck rollover causes long traffic delays on M1 at Cooranbong