Picture by Adam McLeanA man remains in hospital after a dramatic shooting shut down a suburban street in Corrimal 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 areaContinueShots were reportedly fired at a unit on The Avenue at 4pm on Wednesday, April 16, with police and paramedics swarming the quiet street A 58-year-old man who was involved in the incident was assessed at the scene by paramedics and he remains in Wollongong Hospital receiving further treatment A 46-year-old man was also treated by paramedics "Inquiries allege the two men were known to each other," a NSW Police spokeswoman said No charges have been laid so far and police investigations continue A quiet residential street in Corrimal was swarmed by police on Wednesday afternoon after shots were reportedly fired at a unit Emergency services were called to The Avenue police officers found a man with a firearm lying in front of him Police were told that a number of shots were fired at a unit in The Avenue from the street but paramedics attended to a 58-year-old man at the scene He was then taken to Wollongong Police Station to help police with their inquiries NSW Police believe that the two men are known to one another Picture by Adam McLeanThere is no risk to public safety Dillon Clegg lives in the unit block and said he was about to have a shower when he heard four bangs He didn't think anything of it until his sister knocked on the door and told him to call police He said people working on the lawns scattered as the shots rang out a volunteer with the emergency service VRA Rescue NSW thought someone was injured and ran out with gloves and a tourniquet to help Police officers responding to reports of a shooting in The Avenue at Corrimal on Wednesday Picture by Adam McLeanHe said he then witnessed a man walk out holding a rifle before he threw the firearm down and got on the ground Mr Clegg said everything was quiet before the shooting although there was a history of animosity between the two men allegedly involved A crime scene has been established and police are investigating the circumstances of the incident with a large number of police officers attending Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 mostly covering social affairs and education 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 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 East Corrimal Medical Centre is a family-owned practice that has serviced the local community for over 75 years Dr Puja Mehrotra and Dr Rahul Mehan joined in 2013 and have worked hard to build it into a steady practice of five doctors supported by a team of nurses and administrative staff the business operates a regional clinic with 22 GPs and staff known as the Kruger Medical Centre in the Murrumburrah – Harden township in New South Wales That practice provided medical and allied health consultations and smaller branch clinics that deliver localised services in Boorowa and Cootamundra particularly steadily rising operational and wage costs the latter escalating at a faster rate than the Medicare schedule fee have also weighed more heavily on the practice’s budget Rahul explains that building East Corrimal Medical Centre into a five-doctor practice has taken hard work over many years attracting and retaining staff is difficult especially given the workloads and stress during Covid led to some doctor turnover the difficulty keeping GPs tends to be heightened in Harden and regional branch clinics because “most applicants for rural and regional positions are registrars and international medical graduates who stay for three to four years then leave whereas city doctors typically settle for the longer term” Puja says that offering above average wages for nurses and admin staff as well as lower facility fee rates for doctors has proven successful in attracting and retaining talent to the practices She points out that this also ensures continuity of care for patients Puja and Rahul are also passionate about supporting the future of general practice by encouraging younger doctors to join privately-owned GP practices where they can have a say in not only their future but also the future of the community they support Rahul says that investment in digital tools has been a long-held strategy for the practice Technology is applied to help streamline the administrative workload and subsequently reduce administration and wage costs while increasing practice efficiencies and automated recalls and appointment reminders are just some of the digital options that help improve the patient experience and practice operations Telehealth and e-scripts have delivered efficiency gains for the practice and convenience for patients Multiple other electronic platforms deliver time and cost savings including secure booking and appointment management apps software for patient video conferences and solutions that make claiming Medicare rebates easier for patients investment in high-speed internet and cloud-based servers supports these digital technologies Puja adds that while digital tools afford significant benefits training staff to use them must be a focus for the practice She says this can be time-consuming and challenging given little training is offered by technology providers Retaining and building patient numbers is an ongoing work in progress Puja and Rahul suggest the key to their growth has been continuity of patient care with regular doctors who build long-term relationships Another factor is offering extended practice hours to cater to patient needs without putting too much strain on doctor and staff workloads finding the right approach to billing has been critical in offsetting higher costs and ensuring ongoing access for lower-income patients as has offering service diversity to match the needs of patients and doctors’ specialties Having managed the business for over 10 years Rahul says there are certain attributes of independent practices that can aid sustainable growth which East Corrimal Medical Centre introduced in 2021 The second is running a multi-doctor practice with around five supporting GPs to enjoy the economies of scale across a larger patient book owning the practice premises to help reduce rental costs and build equity in the asset for the longer term The 2024 Patient Experience Insights Report identifies opportunities to improve non-clinical aspects of patient care Explore the report The report is based on a quantitative survey of 204 decision-makers and senior influencers at general practices across Australia. This included 100 business owners and 104 practising physicians. Fifth Quadrant conducted the general practice and patient surveys on behalf of CommBank Health between January and February 2024. All references to patients and general practices in the report refer to those participating in the surveys unless stated otherwise. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 234945. ©2025 Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL and Australian credit licence 234945 We’ll be making big improvements at Murray Road East Corrimal so that your journey to catch the train is a safer one This is one of many infrastructure improvement projects across the Wollongong LGA under a Transport Integration and Placemaking program supported by $6.7 million in grant funding from Transport for NSW Murray Road at East Corrimal will receive a significant investment of more than $3 million from this active transport infrastructure investment between Duff Parade to the west and Cawley Street to the east we are planning a shared use pathway to provide connection to nearby shops the foreshore area and to the existing shared path There will also be crossing safety upgrades to support cyclist and pedestrian movements These improvements will be made over the next few years We’re currently in the early planning phases of design and will consult with our community later this year with a more detailed plan Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that the projects are a great investment for our community and visitors alike We know public transport is essential and that’s why it’s important we continue to look at ways to improve access for people’s trips to key services “The works aim to build safer environments where people are comfortable to walk the projects will create long term benefits to support multi-modal transport,” Cr Bradbery said “We’ve identified Murray Road to be a key connection for people travelling from Corrimal Train Station to the beach as well as a popular street for our community It was previously listed for safety improvement works in our Infrastructure Delivery Program for 2023/2024 with an approved budget of $180,000 we’re pleased the project has been boosted with additional funding The deferral of this project allows us to explore more improvement options that will best suit the area “The grant funding is an example of how our advocacy and collaboration with Transport for NSW provides positive results for our community We look forward to continuing this work as part of our ongoing commitment to improving transport across Wollongong.” Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said he is pleased that the NSW Government has provided $6.7 million to help deliver improved active transport infrastructure in and around Wollongong “This is a significant investment by the NSW Government and it’s great to see more that $3 million being directed towards constructing the missing link in the shared path network on Murray Road in East Corrimal," Mr Scully said “This will lead to better and safer connectivity for local residents in the area.“ Under the Transport Integration and Placemaking Project program we’re planning a range of works to improve access around selected train stations across our city The funding will be used for various works such as: The planned completion for all projects is 2026 Proudly funded by the NSW Government led by Transport for NSW 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 Pictures/artist's impressions suppliedAs The Works Corrimal continues to evolve it is fitting they step up once again as the major sponsor for the IWIB Business Women's Awards in 2025 and support the women who are tailoring the future of our community 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 transformation of the former Coke Works from a derelict industrial property into a contemporary With the demolition of old structures completed they are now laying the groundwork to deliver an inspiring community offering innovative lifestyle opportunities for both private residents and the broader public community The Stage 1 bulk earthworks are well advanced and the boxing out of internal roads provides a floorplan for Wollongong's first five-star green star-rated community with certification awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia Design elements for the Stage 1 apartments have been finalised with their partner who have creatively balanced the raw industrial aesthetic of the site's history with contemporary living features for homes that meet the diverse needs of the community large balconies for balancing indoor/outdoor living and lots of natural light are hallmarks of the apartments in the initial stage and the response to this vision has been welcoming The Works has always been viewed as a future community asset with its intergenerational residents enjoying a variety of landscapes housing types and leisure facilities along with active transport links The Works is being built on a vision of an inclusive and connected community and Legacy Property is proud to foster that ideal with its support of organisations charities and community groups which share its values Design elements for the Stage 1 apartments include large balconies for balancing indoor/outdoor living.In 2025 Legacy Property returns as the sponsor of the major categories of the IWIB Business Women's Awards - IWIB Business Woman of the Year and IWIB Young Business Woman of the Year The women and companies across all categories in these awards make for incredible stories of drive and Legacy Property congratulates all nominees Legacy Property also sponsored the 2025 IWD Illawarra Women's Day luncheon which raises funds for Illawarra charities and provides scholarships to women making their mark in the region Legacy Property works in partnership with the Disabled Surfers Association Corrimal Rangers Football Club and supported the Corrimal Community Carols and Outdoor Cinema event "The Corrimal Coke Works had a long history in the region and it is important that The Works creates a vibrant new chapter in that story for future generations," Legacy Property senior project director Steve Ball said "This transformative project will not only deliver much-needed homes and community infrastructure in Corrimal but foster strong community ties through its integrated living public open spaces and recreational benefits "We want Corrimal to be proud of this modern and we will support the community in the same way that they have supported us "For the finalists in the IWIB Business Women's Awards we wish you success in all of your endeavours and thank you for the amazing work you do for the region." For more information about The Works Corrimal go to theworkscorrimal.com.au or visit the display centre at 237 Princes Highway 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 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. Get the latest property and development news here. Find out what's happening in local business. 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! Picture by Robert PeetA teenager with a "plastic toy knife" has forced Corrimal High School into lockdown in what is the region's fourth high school lockdown in six days Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA 13-year-old boy with a knife was spotted outside the high school's grounds at 9.10am on Monday with multiple police vehicles rushing to the scene "The school was placed into lockdown as [a] precaution," a NSW Police spokeswoman said police apprehended a 13-year-old boy and seized a plastic toy knife No further action will be taken by police." This is the fourth high school lockdown in the Illawarra during the past week after a teenage boy with a knife forced Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and neighbouring Kiera High School into lockdown at about 2.10pm on Friday The 15-year-old boy at the centre of this lockdown has since been charged with multiple offences and has faced Children's Court students and staff at Kanahooka High School were put into lockdown students were kept in for 15 minutes just before lunch while staff and police resolved an issue with a student and no one was hurt," a NSW Department of Education spokesperson said They declined to provide a reason why the school went into lockdown The NSWDoE spokesperson said Monday's lockdown was "brief" and all staff and students are safe "The school re-opened shortly after," they said. "The school is providing ongoing support for anyone impacted by this incident." Picture by Adam McLeanSonia Milgate freely admits she's praying to the weather gods Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueShe's spent dozens of hours organising and arranging all she can as the musical director of the first Corrimal Community Carols and Moonlight Cinema "I'm thinking if I do a rain dance on Thursday morning and get it out of the way that might be the way to go," Mrs Milgate said With more than 1000 tickets already booked for the community get-together which features 200 students from five schools there are performers and families galore counting on that dance Corrimal East and Corrimal public schools will join with Corrimal High School's choir to lead the carols along with a number of special guests Kirsten Jones; Illawarra-raised opera star and now voice coach Jennifer Turnbull and her husband Jason who was a member of the Ten Tenors; and a bevy of young performers who have shone at Schools Spectacular The evening will be split in two - with carols from 6pm and moonlight cinema Corrimal High School principal Paul Roger is deeply involved and will be the night's MC "There will be 35 carols and we'll have booklets with the words so everyone can join in "And that's just the best part of carols: it's a chance for people to sing freely in public - it's beautiful." Mrs Milgate praised the community groups that have thrown their weight behind the event - from Corrimal Cougars, Corrimal Rotary Club and Corrimal Rangers to South Coast Disabled Surfers Association and the Illawarra Hawks to name a few. She also thanked the Works Corrimal for its collaboration on the first event of its kind in the suburb. "There's a really great community spirit in Corrimal and they way individuals and groups have responded to this first event has just been so inspiring," Mrs Milgate said. "Now we just need the weather to play along." Don’t mind the gap – Corrimal’s much-loved green train will be back later this year after some R&R (or restoration and repainting) This week the train will be moved from its permanent home in Corrimal Park for about four months for the restoration works The project will involve the removal of rusted steel before it’s repainted green The train will be taken off-site for the works with the train to be craned onto a truck after hours to minimise impact to road and footpath users “This train is well-loved by many in our community It has been a regular fixture in and around Corrimal since 1909 when it was originally used to haul coal from the South Bulli Colliery to the jetty at Bellambi,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said “She has taken pride of place in the park at Corrimal for more than 50 years after being donated by the Bellambi Coal Co to the Lions Club of Corrimal for installation in the park Council has cared for and maintained the train and now it’s time for a little TLC and another coat of fresh green paint We look forward to seeing her back in the park in a few months’ time.’’ This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wollongong City Council 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 and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People or a legion of LEGO?  Trade them for something fresh at Corrimal Library’s Toy Swap on 21 January 2025 Hosted by Wollongong City Council and not-for-profit Joy of Giving the free community event invites families to exchange pre-loved toys for new treasures Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown highlighted the 27 million toys that end up in Aussie landfills each year* “Lots of us have toys and kids stuff sitting around gathering dust They might have been outgrown but still have life and adventures to share,” said Cr Brown Council is helping families to reclaim their playrooms and let those unwanted toys games and clothing continue their story with another child where items are used to their fullest and then recycled for future use making the most of the raw materials and energy used in production “Get the kids to fill a bag and bring it along help the planet and have fun finding new treasures to play with.” Toy Swap at Corrimal Library Tuesday 21 January 2025 10am to 12pm Registrations are encouraged via Eventbrite If you’re not able to attend but keen for a playroom clean out, consider donating them to your local secondhand store (good condition only!), selling online or hosting a garage sale. See our previous release: Finding new love for your old stuff Cr Brown said another way to support a more circular economy was keeping quality front-of-mind when making purchases “Just because a price tag is low doesn’t mean you pay less overall those smaller amounts can add up and end up costing more,” she said “I encourage residents to do their research and buy quality goods from the start Even better if those goods are made or bought locally to support local workers “It’s on all of us to reduce our waste More considered purchasing is a great place to start.” *Source: Clean Up Australia Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown and Cr Richard Martin with the green train that has been returned to Corrimal after a restoration project that included a new coat of paint Picture by Robert PeetCorrimal's beloved Green Train is back where it belongs But the loco - which was originally used back in 1909 to haul coal from the South Bulli Colliery to the jetty at Bellambi - wasn't stolen Wollongong City Council had used a crane to take it away for a make-over The green train had its rusted steel removed and then was given a fresh coat of paint The green train being taken away in the dead of night back in July for some restoration work Picture by Wollongong City CouncilOn Friday it was back in place at the park where it has sat for more than 50 years since it was donated by Bellambi Coal Co to the Lions Club of Corrimal "There are many people who have a special place in their hearts for Corrimal's green train that celebrates an important part of the suburb's history and identity,'' Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said "The park hasn't looked the same since it was craned off for refurbishment "I'm sure many locals will be thrilled to see it back in place and that it looks so fresh and a very bright shade of green It's certainly a stark contrast to how it looked before!'' The restoration work was jointly funded by the NSW Government and the council with local MP Ryan Park happy to see the train return our beloved train has returned home to Corrimal," Mr Park said "Holding a place in our hearts for the past 50 years I'm pleased that this icon has been lovingly refurbished and can now steam ahead into its next chapter." 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. which was presented to him by Skills Minister Steve Whan (left) and Wollongong MP Paul Scully Picture by Robert PeetCorrimal High School student Tejas Aggarwal has a one-of-a-kind cricket bat - one signed by the entire NSW Labor Cabinet Tejas had a few bats on hand and approached the minister why not ask him if he can get it signed so that it's more valuable for my project," Tejas said "So I just asked him and he agreed to it." But Mr Whan didn't just agree to sign it himself he took it away and got the entire Cabinet - including Premier Chris Minns - to add their signatures to the willow "I have to say everyone was quite delighted to be involved in it," Mr Whan said "The Cabinet members are always pleased to do something like that particularly when it's the initiative of one of our students in a wonderful local public high school." Collecting the signatures took a few months as the bat travelled from one minister's office to the next "I did think about just taking the bat into Cabinet but people might have felt a bit threatened by that," Mr Whan joked was quite impressed with the effort the minister went to they don't do anything like that," he said it's really important that he did it for me A worker who was affected by the incident had won damages in court Picture by Robert PeetA $1.2 million damages payout to a Corrimal shopping centre employee who claimed he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after death of a man in the car park has been overturned 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 areaContinueOn October 26, 2020 an elderly man was fatally run over by a semitrailer at Corrimal Village's northern loading dock Andrew Hodson was employed as a cleaner with labour hire company Hurex which was then known as Lederer's Corrimal He was called into work on the morning of the death to replace a co-worker who could not remain at work Mr Hodson attended the northern loading dock - where he claimed he had seen the dead body of the The cleaner took the Lederer Group and Hurex to court claiming he had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and a major depressive disorder as a consequence of being exposed to the accident In April this year District Court Judge William Fitzsimmons found both Hurex and Lederer breached their duty of care to Mr Hodson He apportioned 85 per cent of the liability to Lederer and the remainder to Hurex - with a combined payout of $1.2 million with the result that the payout was scrapped NSW Court of Appeals President Julie Ward noted Mr Hodson had seen a range of medical professionals with several of their reports offered in evidence stating he had seen the crushed body parts of the victim she said the CCTV footage of the time Mr Hodson arrived showed the body covered by a tarpaulin making the claims in the medical evidence "simply impossible" "Indeed it would appear that the only occasion when Mr Hodson saw the deceased uncovered body was when he walked into a colleague's office at the centre some days later at a time when the colleague had the CCTV footage open on his computer and Mr Hodson then viewed the CCTV footage," President Ward's ruling stated She said he was not directed to view the CCTV footage and it was not mentioned as a breach of his employer's duty of care in the original claim Lederer employee Sonja Necovski had called Mr Hodson to the accident site and President Ward said she was not expected to have "foreseen that a person of normal fortitude might suffer a psychiatric injury if confronted with such a scene" She compared it to the instance when a motorist slowed down to look when passing a motor accident "I do not accept that there was a reasonable probability that his mere attendance at the northern dock .. would cause him to suffer psychological injury," President Ward stated She did agree with Lederer's claim that the trial judge had placed too much weight on the medical evidence given the suggestion it was based on an "incorrect history" of events President Ward ruled the reliance on such evidence was "limited" Justice Mark Leeming and Acting Justice John Basten agreed with President Ward's ruling They both noted the inconsistency between what could be viewed on the CCTV footage of Mr Hodson's actions at the loading dock and what he told the medical experts Acting Justice Basten agreed that Mr Hodson never saw the uncovered body and that he faced a "forensic dilemma" If Mr Hodson were to rely on a factual account for the court where he only saw the body under a sheet it would mean the medical opinions needed to alter their opinions "To do that would mean accepting at least the possibility that his accounts recorded in the medical reports were inaccurate," Justice Basten wrote "Not to do so carried the risk that the court would find his accounts to be inaccurate and dismiss the expert opinions on that basis He found the actual events were "manifestly inconsistent" with the accounts given to the psychiatrists and that should have seen Mr Hodson's original claim fail That did not mean Mr Hodson had deliberately lied "It is a simple example of the unreliability and malleability of memory especially when a witness is repeatedly called upon to recollect traumatic events." The final ruling was that the District Court decision be set aside and Mr Hodson pay both Lederer and Hurex's costs in the original trial and the appeal Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA man was working alone at the 7-Eleven on Princes Highway when a male is accused of walking into the store and demanding cash just after 1am on Tuesday "Officers attached to Wollongong Police District were told a man armed with a knife entered the store and demanded money. He left the scene a short time later with an amount of cash," a NSW Police spokeswoman said. The worker was not injured during the robbery. Police were called to the service station about 1.30am, and they established a crime scene by taping off the area to the public. The 7-Eleven service station on Princes Highway at Corrimal on the day of an alleged robbery on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Picture by Robert PeetThe incident led to an outpouring of shock and sympathy from the community for the service station's workers. "Gee, doesn't sound good. Staff are so nice there," Janeene Julius posted to Facebook. Tahnz Barwick also praised the store's staff: "Hope the staff are OK they're such lovely people in there" she wrote. Adam Bhuda Anderson wrote that they are "the nicest peaple [sic] who work there, always so friendly". A 7-Eleven spokesman said support services are offered to employees affected by this type of incident. "Our first priority is to make sure the people in store are OK," he said. He declined to advise how much cash was stolen and said 7-Eleven had provided police with CCTV of the incident. The incident is under investigation by police. If you have any information that could assist contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. File picture by Adam McLeanWarning: Distressing content Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAn East Corrimal father who gave a 13-year-old girl cannabis and methamphetamine before filming himself sexually assaulting her will spend several years behind bars A jury found Daryl Simmonds, 47, guilty in February of six counts of sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14 supplying methamphetamine to a child under 16 and the aggravated use of a child over 10 to make child abuse material Simmonds had pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis The jury acquitted Simmonds on several other charges including aggravated sexual intercourse with a child - aggravated because the Crown alleged he had taken advantage of the victim being drug-affected - another count of sexual intercourse with a child He was sentenced for his crimes at Wollongong District Court on Wednesday Simmonds and the victim did not know one another when he invited the young and vulnerable girl into his home after he encountered her distressed in the street on a night in 2022 which she smoked from a bong and a glass pipe respectively The offending was captured on cameras inside his home Simmonds and the child then went to the bedroom "Every act that involves the sexual exploitation of a child is a serious crime," Judge Andrew Haesler said Judge Haesler said the victim did not appear to actively oppose the sexual activity but noted that children were unable to give informed consent and the absence of an aggravating feature did not minimise the seriousness of the crime He said the victim's drug use contributed to her ignorance that the sexual activity was being filmed Blood and urine tests showed the presence of cannabis and meth in the girl's system Simmonds told the court during the trial that the girl must have known there were cameras inside the home because she knew there were CCTV cameras outside He also said that he could not have known the girl was under 16; she told police she had said she was 15 Judge Haesler said it was open for the jury to find that while the victim had used drugs Simmonds had not taken advantage of her intoxication in sexually assaulting her because the video did not appear to show her drug-impaired He concluded the jury relied upon the video footage and expert certificates to corroborate what the victim said and had not based their verdicts solely on what she nor Simmonds claimed Judge Haesler noted that during the trial the child victim had to give evidence and was subject to cross-examination The jury also had to watch the explicit child abuse material Simmonds had made Simmonds was considered a person of good character with nothing except an old traffic matter on his record Friends and family were reportedly shocked by the allegations Simmonds was married for 15 years but his use of meth increased after the breakdown of the relationship and a psychologist put his behaviour down to his rising drug use Judge Haesler said this did not excuse the offending but helped him understand the offender before him The psychologist also found he might meet criteria for a voyeuristic disorder Defence barrister Ben Hart said the offending was not planned and Simmonds would need help in the community to deal with his drug addiction Judge Haesler sentenced Simmonds to nine years' imprisonment backdated to May 2024 to account for time served with a non-parole period of five and a half years who appeared via video link from Goulburn Correctional Complex sat with his head bowed and his hands clasped in front of him as he learnt his sentence Simmonds' convictions mean he is subject to high-risk offender laws and as a result other conditions - including further time in custody - could be imposed when it comes time for his release Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. suppliedA man accused of forging the will and obtaining the $6 million estate of an East Corrimal man has made an unsuccessful bid for his conditional freedom four months after his arrest Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMatthew Barnes dialled into Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday where it was revealed he has been in protective custody for the last few weeks after being assaulted by an inmate Barnes is accused of fraudulently obtaining the multimillion-dollar estate of Marino Mikleus Police confirmed a year after Mr Mikleus' death they were investigating allegations of fraud regarding his will and estate with a strike force set up following reports of a break-in at his unoccupied home Defence lawyer Analise Ritchie argued for Barnes' release stating the Crown case was weak in relation to allegations he broke into Mr Mikleus' home with no witnesses or forensic evidence linking him to the incident "These weaknesses flow through to the fraud offences," Ms Ritchie said house arrest-style bail conditions Barnes could abide by a significant surety and to not contact his co-accused Police prosecutor Kylie Talty opposed Barnes' release on account of the seriousness and the strength of the case She said the police allegations go into "significant detail" for 27 out of the 28 charges laid against Barnes Tendered court documents state Barnes, who police say was a stranger to Mr Mikleus, allegedly broke into one of his Lake Parade homes and swiped his identification documents Barnes allegedly created a fake will dated 2021 listing himself as Mr Mikleus' spouse and beneficiary of the entire estate Investigators allege the fraudulent document was later co-signed by Barnes' de facto, Magnolia Farmer and a 67-year-old man under the agreement they would receive a financial advantage But detectives allegedly uncovered Mr Mikleus' will that outdated the 2021 one which allegedly revealed the intended beneficiaries It's alleged Barnes commenced probate proceedings with investigators stating he was "armed with extensive knowledge" of Mr Mikleus which allowed him to successfully lodge the application Probate was granted to Barnes on January 23 Police began their investigation a week later after the suspected fraud was reported It's alleged Barnes spent the estate in excess and also sent $50,000 to Farmer for her involvement in signing the will a jetski and a Ducati H9 motorcycle were among items purchased with the proceeds Detectives executed a crime scene warrant at 31 Lake Parade in September 2024 and allegedly found Mr Mikleus' original will on the dining room floor Barnes was arrested and is now facing with 28 offences two counts of making a false document and two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial property by deception Farmer has been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said cause was not shown as to why Barnes detention was not justified and refused him bail She noted Barnes was serving an intensive corrections order at the time of the alleged offending and noted the evidence against him Barnes and Farmer's matters will return to court on May 7 The culprit accused of "disturbing" and "horrific acts of cruelty" against almost 30 chickens at Corrimal High School has been unmasked but it won't be charged or thrown behind bars "These animals have been subjected to horrific acts of cruelty," Acting Inspector Allison Guthrie said in a statement last month "It is clear this was not the act of a fox or a feral cat - these chickens were well cared for by the facility and for someone to do this is beyond belief." authorities confirmed the beloved chooks that were secured in a large pen enclosure had been ravaged by a lone fox police have been advised the chickens were killed by a fox," a police statement issued on January 3 said A Department of Education spokesperson said last month that the school had a dedicated farm manager who looked after the animals during the holidays "The animals in the school farm are much loved by the students and well cared for by dedicated staff," they said "School principal Paul Roger has been at the school to assist police in their investigations." The school is the only one in the northern Illawarra with an agricultural farm which its website said can "provide practical hands-on engaging learning opportunities which develop a range of skills" hydroponics and paddock management," the website reads Picture by Anna WarrAlmost 6000 new homes will be built around Corrimal station as part of the state government's Transport Oriented Development plan Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAlso Planning Minister Paul Scully said only "a portion" of the 550 dwellings proposed for the cokeworks housing estate will be counted under the TOD plan The TOD plan would see an easing of development restrictions to allow for increased density for 400 metres around selected train stations So far only Corrimal and Dapto stations have been approved under the TOD plan with developers now free to lodge applications under the new rules The figures on how many homes were expected to be built around each station in the plan was previously cabinet-in-confidence but was released to a parliamentary inquiry in response to questions on notice The documents stated the target at Corrimal was to see 5932 new dwellings built over the next 15 years Dapto's expected housing target is much lower However the government has suggested these housing targets were more aspirational than set in stone The numbers have been calculated by using the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure's "development capacity model" to see how many homes could be built over the next 15 years the actual number of homes would be dependent on land owners wanting to develop the land to take advantage of the easing of the rules as well as the development approvals granted by Wollongong City Council The actual number of dwellings that will be built in each location will depend on decisions made by landowners wanting to develop and DA approvals made by councils Planning Minister Paul Scully said the government had worked closely with the council in setting up the plan boundaries around Corrimal and Dapto stations the area for residential uplift is greater than the Dapto TOD accounting for the difference in the number of estimated homes over the next 15 years," Mr Scully said "The Dapto TOD area includes the Dapto Mall and Dapto CBD the Corrimal TOD is predominantly zoned for residential uplift with the town centre sitting adjacent to the TOD site "A portion of the Cokeworks site has been included in the calculation of the dwelling capacity." Picture by Adam McLeanA man accused of firing a barrage of gunshots into a Corrimal unit and assaulting a woman is behind bars 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 areaContinueA dispute erupted in a quiet suburban street when shots were allegedly fired towards a unit on The Avenue at 4pm on Wednesday, April 16. Police were called to the street and detained a 58-year-old man Officers then allegedly found numerous firearms inside his unit "It will be further alleged that a 55-year-old woman residing with the man at the unit had earlier been assaulted by him She was not injured," a NSW Police spokesperson said "A 46-year-old male occupant of the unit that had been shot at was uninjured." Police believe the two men are known to each other The older man was taken to Wollongong Hospital as a precaution He was later discharged and taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with 13 offences and use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol/drugs Click on the photo to see more pictures from the scene View +17 PhotosHe was also charged with numerous offences relating to the possession and storage of firearms He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Thursday April 17 and was remanded in custody to re-appear at the same court on June 11 Stay up-to-date with more crime and court news here. File picture by Grace CrivellaroPolice have charged a man with forging the will and obtaining the $6 million estate of an East Corrimal man who died almost 18 months ago 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 areaContinueMatthew Barnes, 38, was arrested on Wednesday morning and faced Wollongong Local Court the following morning on 27 fraud He is accused of fraudulently obtaining the multimillion-dollar estate of Marino Mikleus Police confirmed a year after Mr Mikleus' death that they were investigating allegations of fraud regarding his will and estate Strike Force Sarina was set up after police received reports in January 2024 of a break-in at Mr Mikleus' unoccupied home police searched a home in East Corrimal and seized several documents and on Wednesday morning raided the same home where they arrested Barnes In court documents outlining the charges against Barnes police alleged he broke into Mr Mikleus' home in Lake Parade - next door to his current listed address - between August 17 and December 5 and stole identification and financial documents belonging to the deceased man Barnes is accused of forging Mr Mikleus' last will and testament to secure his $6 million estate Picture suppliedPolice say the alleged fraud involved four homes and two bank accounts Police also allege Barnes contributed to the activity of a criminal group through fraud Barnes is charged with multiple counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime which include a two-bedroom unit in Lake Parade It was alleged he stole a Toyota Celica in East Corrimal on August 18 last year Barnes also stands accused of possessing several firearms and ammunition without a licence including a side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun six gel blaster pistols and two gel blaster rifles Police have laid charges of possessing and supplying methamphetamine Firearms police seized during a raid on January 16 Pictures supplied by NSW Police ForceBarnes did not seek bail on Thursday but his lawyer Graeme Morrison signalled his intention to apply for his release later this month A tearful woman sat in court in support of Barnes during his brief appearance Barnes' charges include breaking and entering a dwelling and committing a serious indictable offence making a false document to obtain financial advantage making a false document to obtain property dishonestly obtaining property by deception dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception seven counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime nine counts of unauthorised firearm possession possessing more than three firearms without a licence Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time NSW Police are investigating “horrific acts of animal cruelty” at a high school south of Sydney Police officers arrived at Corrimal High on Sunday morning to find 29 chickens had been killed in a pen at the school which specialises in agricultural education Some of the animals at the Eco Hub at Corrimal High School Inspector Allison Guthrie from Wollongong police said the incident was deeply disturbing “These animals have been subjected to horrific acts of cruelty,” Guthrie said “It is clear this was not the act of a fox or a feral cat These chickens were well cared for by the facility and for someone to do this is beyond belief.” The alleged killings occurred after school hours between 2pm on Friday and 9.30am on Sunday A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said it was appalled by the attack on the chickens in their enclosure “The animals in the school farm are much loved by the students and well cared for by dedicated staff,” the spokesperson said “School principal Paul Roger has been at the site to assist police in their investigations As the attack is the subject of a police investigation the only school in the northern Illawarra with a farm promotes its agriculture education facilities to students hydroponics and paddock management,” it says on its website Students at the school have described the farm “as a dream come true” The chicken pen produces three dozen eggs a day “It’s really fun because we make some bonds with the alpacas or the chickens,” one student said in a video posted by the Education Department to the school’s website “They just come running up to you at the end of the day NSW Police declined to comment on how the chickens were killed “We are urging anyone who may have any information about this matter – or who were in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Wollongong police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” Guthrie said Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert NSW Police are investigating \\u201Chorrific acts of animal cruelty\\u201D at a high school south of Sydney \\u201CThese animals have been subjected to horrific acts of cruelty,\\u201D Guthrie said \\u201CIt is clear this was not the act of a fox or a feral cat These chickens were well cared for by the facility and for someone to do this is beyond belief.\\u201D \\u201CThe animals in the school farm are much loved by the students and well cared for by dedicated staff,\\u201D the spokesperson said \\u201CSchool principal Paul Roger has been at the site to assist police in their investigations \\u201CThis includes working with the sheep hydroponics and paddock management,\\u201D it says on its website Students at the school have described the farm \\u201Cas a dream come true\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s really fun because we make some bonds with the alpacas or the chickens,\\u201D one student said in a video posted by the Education Department to the school\\u2019s website \\u201CThey just come running up to you at the end of the day and you\\u2019re their best friend.\\u201D \\u201CWe are urging anyone who may have any information about this matter \\u2013 or who were in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage \\u2013 to contact Wollongong police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,\\u201D Guthrie said Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens Wollongong City Council is introducing a trial voucher system for Corrimal and Dapto Heated pools for this summer The new program is being subsidised by Council and will be available at the two heated pools for the school holidays All of Council’s other public pools remain open and free to visit At all Council’s facilities parents and guardians are required to supervise children aged 14 years and under when they’re at our pools “At a time when families are being asked to stretch their incomes further and further this is a small way that Council can help facilitate family-friendly activities during the school holidays,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “While some days are definitely beach days there is also something really refreshing on a hot summer’s day about splashing about or floating in a pool This trial makes it a little easier for families to choose the option that works best for them it’ll complement the free activities we offer in our libraries as well as the opportunities offered at Wollongong Art Gallery Wollongong Youth Centre and the Wollongong Botanic Garden to keep the kids entertained.’’ each child will be entitled to 10 free visits to the city’s heated pools To get your 10-day visit pass you can visit Corrimal or Dapto pools and a parent or guardian must be present and show a photo ID to staff as proof of address and to confirm the age of their children Get your 10-day visit pass from Corrimal Pool from Monday 23 December 2024 The introduction of the trial will coincide with the reinstatement of fees at Dapto pool The fees had been paused while Council worked to replace the pool’s heating infrastructure which had become unreliable “I’d like to think that with this pass families can set themselves a summer challenge to visit all of Council’s swimming spaces over the holidays,’’ Cr Brown said “Between our public pools with a lifeguard service rock pools and 17 patrolled beaches we have an amazing 35 places to swim That’s a pretty good challenge to test yourself against given there are 31 days in January and the program starts from 23 December.’’ The trial program starts on Monday 23 December at Corrimal Pool and from Monday 6 January – when fees will also be reinstated – at Dapto Pool Picture by NSW PoliceA sawn-off rifle was seized in Corrimal during police operations targeting illegal weapons Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice in the region took part in two separate operations from Thursday to Saturday Operation Foil saw police target locations known for violent offending possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour officers from Public Transport and Public Safety Command were taking part in Operation Ares The officers used electronic metal-detecting 'wands' in Crown Street Mall and Wollongong station to search people for illegal weapons On Friday at 5pm as part of Operation Foil officers attached to Southern Operation Support Group went to a house in St Andrews Place for a firearms prohibition order compliance check police looked behind a television cabinet and allegedly found a shortened Winchester rifle Police also allegedly located a pen gun - a firearm that resembles an ink pen - in a bedroom A 34-year-old man at the home was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station He was later charged with possessing a shortened firearm possessing a prohibited firearm and not storing a weapon safely among other charges The man appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday where he was remanded to appear at Wollongong Local Court on January 7 40 officers carried out a handheld scanning operation at Crown Street Mall between noon and midnight Nine people were arrested and 10 charges laid The following day the officers were on duty at Wollongong train station where 203 people were scanned and four weapons seized Eight people were arrested at the train station as part of Operation Ares Both operations also ran in other parts of the state 62 weapons were seized with 70 people arrested and more than 350 charges laid "Operation Foil was again a success with police seizing 49 knives demonstrably fewer weapons in the hands of potentially high-risk individuals," North West Metropolitan Region's Operations Manager "Operations such as this are about keeping members of the public safe from people who may potentially use them to frighten "We know knife violence can have devastating consequences for both victims and those people carrying or using knives: their decisions can change lives." Police from the Public Transport Command were also at Parramatta and Blacktown as part of Operation Ares During the operation 1112 people were searched with a scanner Police arrested 55 people and laid 82 charges while others rode bicycles up and down the street watching 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 areaContinueDetectives and forensic officers arrived in unmarked vehicles at the home on Lake Parade at about midday on Monday "Police will allege the home was broken into some time between Sunday September 1," a NSW Police spokeswoman said No one was living at the single-story red brick home at the time of the offence The Mercury understands the property is a deceased estate dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Wollongong Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000," the police spokeswoman said "Information can be provided anonymously." There were 489 break and enters at homes in the Wollongong local government area during the 12 months to March 2024. This is down slightly on the 512 recorded during previous 12 months. View +7 PhotosIncidents have increased in Shellharbour and Kiama during the same time period, data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows. In Shellharbour there were 121 reported incidents (up from 116) and there were 33 in Kiama (up from 20. insets from FacebookAn East Corrimal mum says her son has come away lucky after a group of balaclava-clad teenagers circled his brand new e-bike while he was kicking a footy with his friend Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueKelly Kreillis said her son had ridden to Elizabeth Park in Bellambi and locked his fat tyre e-bike he got for Christmas when two older teenagers arrived and started looking at it "He continued playing because they (the teenagers) only rode past But soon after he noticed they had come back with more kids - eight in total - all older than him," Ms Kreillis said "My son and his friend vacated as fast as they could and felt like they were going to get surrounded and cornered "They managed to get away with no dramas except a lot of fear afterwards If they left any later I'm guessing the outcome would have been a lot different "There seems to be a herd of kids around at the moment taking a lot of bikes and just bolt cutting them." A fat tyre e-bike chained up at Bulli Beach on January 1 Picture by Anna WarrAfter reporting it to police Ms Kreillis felt compelled to share the incident on social media due to the apparent influx of Corrimal Bellambi and Bulli residents having their locked e-bikes stolen throughout the holiday period "We're seeing on community pages ourselves almost daily someone's bike is being stolen," Ms Kreillis said "If it's not being stolen from being chained up somewhere in public it's being stolen from their garage or house It's really sad that some people's entitlement has come to this." Dozens of similar posts have flooded in detailing similar thefts including a boy's e-bike being stolen from Woonona Beach on December 30 he only got the bike five weeks ago," the post read Anthony Fikkers was visiting Wollongong from Victoria when he had two locked bikes stolen from Corrimal Caravan park on December 28 Others have reported suspected stolen e-bikes being found en masse within garages across the Wollongong Karl Goldman, who has worked at the Illawarra Cycle Centre for the last 41 years, believes thefts of e-bikes have ramped up in the last 12 months as they're the new hot item on the market. which is a hardened steel shackle that resists bolt cutters and leverage attacks Mr Goldman also advised people to get bike insurance and log stolen bikes on Bike Vault. he said when it came to thieves taking bikes: "If they want it "They probably just strip them for parts." Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Picture by Anna WarrKids will be able to cool down for free at Corrimal and Dapto pools over the summer school holidays 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 Councillors made the decision at Monday night's meeting though it would cost the council up to $60,000 in lost revenue "This is a motion about equity and fairness for children that live in our city," Cr Linda Campbell said "The mere fact that those that live furthest away from the coast in our city are the very same ones that aren't able to have a free swim anywhere in our LGA that's close to them their closest pool they have to pay to use "As someone that spent a number of summers hanging out at Dapto pool The thought of kids in Dapto who don't have a beach to access I find really difficult to deal with over the summer holidays." The trial is set to begin at Corrimal from December 23 and at Dapto from January 6 which is when entry fees would be reintroduced at that pool Fees at Dapto were waived in September 2023 due to the failure of the heating system at the site causing unreliable heating of the pool and are expected to return in early January Under the trial a digital voucher system would be used allowing children aged five to 16 the equivalent of two free pool visits each week of the school holidays A parent or guardian will be required to take receipt of the 10-visit pass and to show proof of address to confirm residency in the Wollongong LGA through photo identification The vouchers will not be valid for learn to swim classes or squad lessons nor can a supervising parent use one for a spectator entry fee Paper vouchers either picked up at a city library or mailed out with rates notices were rejected as options in part because of the ease in which someone could copy them At Monday night's meeting Cr Jess Whittaker suggested an amendment that would extend the scheme to include those with a refugee background regardless of their age including questioning whether that change would make it hard for council staff to roll out the trial next Monday Cr Hayes then suggested an amendment that the later review of the trial looks at the possibility of expanding the program to adults from refugee backgrounds The motion with Cr Hayes' amendment was passed unanimously Picture from GoogleA gang of youths accused of stealing bottles of vodka Malibu and dozens of alcopops in a brazen snatch and grab at a Corrimal retailer are wanted by police Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSix boys and girls armed with backpacks and cooler bags allegedly walked into Liquorland in Corrimal Park Mall The youths allegedly covered their faces and wore sunglasses and hoodies during the alleged robbery "Police are seeking the assistance of the public for anyone who may have seen or taken videos or photos of a group of juveniles stealing alcohol from the Liquorland in Corrimal on Sunday, December, about 6pm," Wollongong Police District officers said "There was a group of people standing outside that may have taken some images of the offenders. Police would like to speak with these people." Liquorland Corrimal was targeted in a separate alcohol theft incident on November 27. Police have not indicated if it is the same alleged offenders. Police have urged anyone with information, or who has footage or video from any cases of people stealing alcohol to ring Wollongong Police Station on 4226 7899 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000 and quote police report number E98911556. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services were called to the corner of Towradgi Road and the Princes Hwy about 2.15pm on Tuesday after two cars collided at a set of traffic lights A red Mazda station wagon came to rest on its roof NSW Ambulance paramedics assessed three patients on the roadside One was taken by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital NSW Ambulance was unable to provide any details of the persons condition Traffic to the area was heavy until the vehicles were removed 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 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThis is despite approval for the construction of the first five apartment blocks not yet being given by Wollongong City Council Growthbuilt, the builder behind the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Shell Cove and the renovations at Port Kembla's Steelworks Hotel has been appointed by developer Legacy Property Construction on the first stage of the apartments - five buildings totalling 180 units - is expected to start early next year the start date for construction will be dependent on the completion of earthworks "Growthbuilt brings extensive experience in residential construction particularly in the Illawarra and Southern Sydney regions and their ICIRT rating underscores their commitment to quality and trust," Legacy's Senior Project Director The development application for the five apartment blocks were lodged in August last year "The proposal will deliver a vibrant and contemporary residential-led urban renewal of the site which celebrates the site's industrial history and leverages its highly accessible and strategic location in proximity to the existing Corrimal town centre and local amenities and services," according to the statement of environmental effects lodged as part of the application The five apartment blocks are yet to be approved by Wollongong City Council with the issue ending up in the Land and Environment Court revised documents have been lodged with the council Among the revisions include a redesign of apartment block 1.5 to redistribute 707 square metres of gross floor area from levels one to four to a new level five This will result in that building being 2.55 metres over the maximum height allowed under the Wollongong Local Environment Plan and a request for an exemption has been lodged Other changes to the development application include alterations to the bus loop within the site - which has reduced the lot size of building 1.5 - and changes to the layout and configurations of some apartments Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBed 2 | Bath 2 | Car 1 this two-bedroom apartment within The Works development at Corrimal is a showcase of understated contemporary luxury inspired by the hues and textures of the coastline Harnessing glorious coastal and escarpment views as well as natural light floor-to-ceiling glass frames the living area extending to a large balcony for effortless indoor/outdoor living and creating a strong connection to the outdoors Engineered timber floorboards add warmth to the spaces air-conditioning ensures year-round comfort and LED downlights create ambience A collaboration of award-winning developers interior designers and landscape architects have reinterpreted this important site creating a visionary address conceived with a focus on livability and sustainability Steve Ball said The Works will deliver a safe accessible and culturally rich community that caters to all generations "The Works will be Wollongong's first five-star Green Star rated community designed to celebrate the site's rich history while providing the stylish modern residential and leisure facilities pertinent to a modern urban village," he said Corrimal"Our residents will enjoy generously proportioned homes featuring indoor/outdoor living and luxurious fittings within a connected Modern communities are diverse so we're incorporating a variety of landscapes housing types and leisure facilities while respecting the site's heritage parks and First Nations cultural trail that everyone can enjoy to the coastal-inspired peacefulness of our generous one The Works offers a cohesive lifestyle for every stage of life." This inspiring new address marries heritage architecture with modern living Set on the former Corrimal Coke Works site it has an industrial significance and its continued use for over a century has cemented it within local cultural and social heritage In setting a new benchmark for urban renewal The Works has been designed to meet rigorous criteria for sustainable design as well as creating a healthy place for the wider community to enjoy Corrimal strikes a perfect balance between laidback living and urban excitement with everything from scenic coastal attractions to wonderful restaurants transport and educational institutions conveniently close by Stage 1 is selling now. For more information visit theworkscorrimal.com.au or pop by the brand new display centre 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 club sits on the Princes Highway with a gravel lot to the north and a building housing a massage business and a conveyancing firm next to that on the corner of the highway and Collins Street In plans lodged with Wollongong City Council the club aims to take out the gravel lot and those two businesses to add a further 629 square metres of space on the ground floor along with another 30 square metres on the first floor The plans show the stage one development to include an outdoor entertainment area with video screen two spaces for pop-up bars or food vendors a new children's playground and a cabana to be built along the Collins Street The second stage of construction would see another cabana and the children's area moved to the space now occupied by the two businesses A public meeting was held at the club in July to inform club members and residents know about the proposed construction Plans for stage one of the Corrimal RSL redevelopment."The proposal will clearly provide both social and economic benefit both via employment during the construction and providing better operational practices for the premises," the application's statement of environmental effects said "Submissions from a community group to the exhibition of the Wilga Street Block Planning Proposal queried the future plans for the Corrimal RSL site noting that entertainment and accommodation facilities are lacking in the area." An acoustic report recommended the outdoor entertainment area be closed at 10pm due to the presence of an apartment block next-door The installation of a sound barrier to the north between the club and Collins Street was also recommended "The Corrimal RSL recognises that noise will occasionally be generated beyond the recommended times and levels (eg Anzac Day New Years Eve) that will impact on nearby residential receptors and a process of community consultation has commenced in relation as to how this will be best managed," the statement of environmental effects said There are no plans to increase the existing car park at the club with a traffic study stating that any overflow parking would use nearby streets It also said any extra traffic generated by the extensions would result in "no adverse impact to the performance" of nearby intersections The development application is on public exhibition until November 1 Picture suppliedThe alleged forged will of an East Corrimal man is under investigation a year on from his passing Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEarlier this year Wollongong police received reports of allegedly forged will documents of Marino Mikleus a linesman affectionately known as 'Mingo' who died suddenly at his home on August 17 Inquiries into the matter are ongoing with police urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers "Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence," NSW Police said in a statement Police have also issued a warning to be aware of others who seek to take advantage of vulnerable people by forging will and estate documents particularly the elderly and their families "Will fraud can occur when misleading or deceptive conduct is used when preparing a will," the police statement read "Executor fraud can occur when an executor - who is a person appointed to administer an estate - uses deceitful practices to gain estate assets for themselves or for someone who is not the rightful beneficiary "Other examples of estate fraud include: a person signing a will that was a different document then they intended to sign; a person signing a will when they limited mental capacity; and an executor could pay themselves advances or unreasonable expenses from the estate." ACARA calls this list 'schools making a difference' Warilla Public School's year 3 students performed well above similar schools in reading grammar and numeracy and above average in writing Year 5 students performed well above average in numeracy year 7 students scored above average compared to similar schools in reading while year 9 students did the same in writing Both schools have student bodies that are generally more socio-educationally disadvantaged than the average Australian school: 51 per cent of Corrimal High School students fall within the lowest quartile of socio-educational advantage and at Warilla Public School Corrimal principal Paul Roger said the NAPLAN results were a celebration of the work of the school "We've been working towards this improvement for a long time now making sure we've got the right people in the right place and then being able to work through that with the kids," Mr Roger said Corrimal High School year 9 students Curtis Boyton Picture by Adam McLeanEfforts to improve educational outcomes for students begin when they're still in primary school: Corrimal's learning support team visits the feeder schools to learn more about its future students This information means teachers go into the school year equipped with knowledge about who is in their classes what challenges they might have and what support they might need Students are also put into classes where their needs can best be met and they can get the appropriate level of support Learning support teacher Roslyn Mahon said the information gathered about incoming students was not just about their academic needs but helped the school get to know and care for them as individuals "We don't just focus on the academic; we focus on the wellbeing I think the academics will come because the kids feel connected and they feel a real sense of belonging to the school," Ms Mahon said Year 9 student Curtis Boyton said everyone in the school "cares about who you are and who you want to be" without the pressure to succeed in a particular way Curtis is a mentor in a program for male students called Boost which supports those who might be disengaged from school to stay focused on their learning Fellow year 9 student Elise Wills said she was proud of herself and her peers for their NAPLAN results which represented an improvement on previous years She said she had improved academically and emotionally since starting at the school in year 7 thanks to the work of teachers like Ms Mahon Ahmed Nassamo said the school had facilities and teachers always available to students to help them our mentors always push us to be better," the year 9 student said it's not just the teachers who help: her group of friends provide another level of support always available to give a hand to each other as they learn Every school's NAPLAN results for 2024 are now available on the My School website cocktail of drugs before filming sex: trialWarning: Distressing content Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAn East Corrimal man who was captured allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old girl on cameras he installed in his bedroom has claimed in court he thought she was 16 to 18 is facing trial at Wollongong District Court and has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges including six counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 He has also pleaded not guilty to possessing or using a prohibited weapon four counts of supplying a prohibited drug aggravated using a child under 14 years to make child abuse material and intentionally recording an intimate image without consent Crown prosecutor Nerissa Keay in her opening address on Monday said Simmonds saw the teenage girl crying on the street near his home and invited her inside for a drink of water on October 30 CCTV cameras in Simmonds' home showed him giving her marijuana in a makeshift bong made out of a milk bottle Mr Keay said Simmonds then smoked meth before handing the girl an ice pipe with her memory becoming "patchy" after she smoked it Simmonds allegedly went into his bedroom by himself and started recording from a device that was inside a cabinet and showed a view of the bed Simmonds and the girl went into the bedroom and he removed his pants The Crown alleges he then had sexual intercourse with her eight times Cameras allegedly captured Simmonds leaving the bedroom before he returned and continued to have sex with the girl The court heard the light turned off and they both fell asleep about 4am The girl left the premises early in the morning and called a friend and a relative She underwent a sexual assault examination When asked by police in an interview why his DNA was found Simmonds allegedly said: "She basically raped me." "She woke me up by sitting on top of me .. jumped on top of me while I passed out," he told police "As far as I knew she was between 16 and 18 Ms Keay told the jury if Simmonds "honestly and reasonably believed" the complainant was above 16 then that is a defence to having sexual intercourse with a child She submitted Simmonds "told a number of lies" including that he did not have sex with the girl and that he didn't give her certain drugs Defence barrister Ben Hart said Simmonds denied the offending and urged the jury to not make up their mind too quickly before hearing the entirety of the evidence The trial before Judge Andrew Haesler continues Corrimal’s much-loved green train has returned to pride of place in the park near Luke’s Playground The train was taken off-site in late July for restoration and a fresh paint job The project also included the removal and replacement of rusted steel to ensure the popular fixture is around for many years to come “There are many people who have a special place in their hearts for Corrimal’s green train that celebrates an important part of the suburb’s history and identity,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “The park hasn’t looked the same since it was craned off for refurbishment “I’m sure many locals will be thrilled to see it back in place It’s certainly a stark contrast to how it looked before!’’ The train has been in the park for more than 50 years and was donated by Bellambi Coal Co to the Lions Club of Corrimal to install in the park Before it became a local landmark and meeting point it was actively used to haul coal from the South Bulli Colliery to the jetty at Bellambi and Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast The Hon Ryan Park MP said he was pleased to see the train return to Corrimal our beloved train has returned home to Corrimal Holding a place in our hearts for the past 50 years I’m pleased that this icon has been lovingly refurbished and can now steam ahead into its next chapter,’’ he said and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.