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 The best local news sent straight to your inbox every workday Make a donation and support the future of journalism and media diversity in the ACT THE suburb of Karabar is responsible for seven of the Queanbeyan area’s 11 new covid cases reported today (October 4) Active cases in Queanbeyan and its surrounding suburbs have now risen to 101 with two new cases in Queanbeyan Southern NSW Local Health District says it has recorded 21 new cases to 8pm last night there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free Become a supporter Two wanted men, 21-year-old Jamie Barry and 29-year-old Elliot Smith-Benzie are urgently being sought by police.  Jamal Fogarty has opened up on informing coach Ricky Stuart he would be leaving Canberra to accept a lucrative contract at Manly for 2026. Labor will move to cut student debt as its first re-election priority with the prime minister claiming a mandate to press forward with housing reform. Make a donation and support the future of journalism and media diversity in the ACT. Get CityNews in your inbox. Daily. The best local news sent straight to your inbox every workday! 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) Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of the Supa IGA store in Karabar NSW has been opposed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Supa IGA Karabar is an independent supermarket that sells a range of groceries and liquor along with an attached liquor store (trading as Liquor Boss) located in Karabar The regulator concluded the transaction of the entities would likely “substantially lessen competition in the supply of groceries in the local area” The decision was made after analysing the spending habits of local consumers including how often and how much local consumers spent at different supermarkets in and outside the local area said: “Local consumers would be left with just one Coles and two Aldi stores as alternatives.” Woolworths already operates two supermarkets in the neighbouring suburbs of Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra while Supa IGA is the only independent supermarket in the local area “The more supermarkets or grocery stores there are who can change where they shop based on the most competitive offerings for their particular needs,” said Gottlieb The proposed acquisition would also affect suppliers supplying to Supa IGA as they may not be stocked by Woolworths “The local Supa IGA competes with its different product mix “It also has the ability to make decisions locally and to dynamically adapt and respond to changes in tastes and preferences of local customers,” said Gottlieb By continuing, you agree to Octomedia Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy THE competition watchdog is looking into Woolworths’ proposed take over of a supermarket in Karabar The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wants to hear from Queanbeyan consumers and businesses about Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of the SUPA IGA supermarket at Karabar Woolworths is proposing to operate a Woolworths Metro supermarket on the Karabar SUPA IGA site It’s not the first time the retail giant has tried to acquire the small supermarket the ACCC opposed Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of the Karabar Supermarket – then trading as Superbarn The ACCC said Woolworths and SUPA IGA Karabar currently compete in supplying groceries to residents in the broader Queanbeyan region “The ACCC wants to know the distance consumers in the area would travel to visit supermarkets and bottle shops the likely impact of the proposed acquisition on pricing or promotions between local stores and the impact on local suppliers or retail wholesalers,” the ACCC said Submissions can be made on the ACCC website. The ACCC expects to make a final decision on the proposed acquisition by November 10 ABC News News HomeTeen charged over schoolyard stabbingShare Teen charged over schoolyard stabbingTopic:Courts Link copiedShareShare articleA 15-year-old boy will face court today charged over an alleged schoolyard stabbing in south-eastern New South Wales. Police allege the boy pulled out a knife at the Karabar High School in Queanbeyan at lunch time on Tuesday, and stabbed a 16-year-old student in the thigh and abdomen. The victim is in a stable condition in the Canberra Hospital. The 15-year-old has been charged with wounding a person with intent to cause serious bodily harm. He is expected to face the Queanbeyan Children's Court today. dozens of people head to St Benedict's Community Centre in Karabar for a good feed of chicken and cheese toasties 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 areaContinueFather Michael Cockayne mans the kitchen passing around sweet baked goods and offering hot drinks Fluttering around downstairs and upstairs to the office is "powerhouse" centre co-ordinator Elaine Lollback She works seven days a week but is only paid for two While the homelessness service is funded to support 320 people Funding for the service will end in June 30 They are hoping to secure an extra $100,000 or more from the NSW government St Benedict's Community Centre co-ordinator Elaine Lollback (left) with Sharyon Moulden (centre) Picture by Karleen MinneyIs Queanbeyan bearing the brunt?As Canberra has grown in size We are five minutes from Parliament House," she said "The problem from Canberra becoming a larger city and being a capital city which draws people from around the country who end up being homeless Queanbeyan is the first stop they come to when they can't get services in the ACT The increase in Queanbeyan's median household income and rental prices from 2006 to 2021 is on par with Canberra and Australia as a whole data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Canberrans are sent over the border to Queanbeyan to use the sleepbus Picture by Keegan CarrollHomelessness is increasing in NSW as rental prices and mortgages skyrockets "We know that homelessness is increasing because services are telling us that they can keep up with demand," she said almost 50 per cent of people who sought support from a specialist homelessness service [in NSW] had to be turned away." Ms Lollback said Queanbeyan still gets an "overflow" from the ACT And people are rarely turned away from St Benedict's police send people across the border to the [Queanbeyan homeless] sleepbus because there's nothing in Canberra," she said Those people then come to St Benedict's to access extra support services "We need to start thinking of [Queanbeyan and Canberra as a] regional area," she said St Benedict's Community Centre co-ordinator Elaine Lollback in the Karabar facility Picture by Karleen MinneyAre residency rules a double standard?Residency rules in the ACT also push struggling people over the border To be eligible for social housing assistance in the ACT someone must have lived in the territory for six months you must prove you live in the state to access social housing and this residency rule can be waived for people living in border towns or fleeing domestic violence The wait time for general Queanbeyan social housing applicants was between five and ten years in June 2022 The average wait time for priority housing in the ACT is less than one year (291 days) more than three years for standard priority and five years for general applicants Parliamentary sitting weeks and big events like Summernats puts more pressure on local homelessness services Many homeless people are put into hotels for emergency short-term care including people being discharged from hospital We then have to move people to somewhere else in the state so they can get a hotel room for a couple of days," Ms Lollback said "it cuts both ways." Sometimes St Benedict's will book a hotel in the ACT for Queanbeyan residents the [NSW] state system can't," Ms Lollback said The ACT and NSW needed better service coordination "Cross-border co-ordination is one of the biggest complexities for services in areas like Queanbeyan where they don't have good communication between ACT and the NSW Government and people are falling between the gap," she said The federal government has promised to deliver a National Housing Plan a 10-year strategy to address the housing crisis nationwide Ms Lollback is desperately trying to find a home for Sharyon Moulden Ms Moulden recently told Ms Lollback she was concerned she would freeze during the night "Sharyon is why we do this," Ms Lollback said describing her as resilient and good-natured She is on the priority waiting list for social housing in Queanbeyan Ms Moulden said: "We need funding to keep people safe and off the streets." "[Bad things] have happened in Queanbeyan .. Sharyon Moulden with St Benedict's Community Centre Coordinator Elaine Lollback Picture by Karleen Minney.There is no single women's refuge in Queanbeyan There is crisis accommodation for people fleeing domestic violence St Benedict's will happily care for people long-term: the services don't stop because someone has a house who is on the age pension after retiring in 2007 said Ms Lollback was the reason he and his wife weren't living on the street Mr Jones and his wife were living in a small local caravan until Ms Lollback intervened and secured them a three-bedroom house The now adult children are both attending university - one in Newcastle and the other at the Australian National University And he still comes to the centre every morning it is open NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson did not respond to a request to comment Lanie is an ACT politics and health reporter at The Canberra Times. She previously worked as City Reporter and was a trainee for the masthead. You can contact her at lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au or lanietindalejourno@protonmail.com. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service. 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. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon. Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers. We've selected the best reading for your weekend. 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! Picture: James HallTwo public high schools in Queanbeyan has been forced to send students back into home learning as the state's education system manages staff shortages as a result of COVID-19 infections Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMost students from Queanbeyan High School and Karabar High School will spend some days learning from home this week Queanbeyan High School principal Jennifer Green wrote to parents on Monday to outline the arrangements "The best place for our students to learn is in the classroom but the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our school's and the department's number one priority," Ms Green wrote "We will continue to monitor the situation and advise you when it is safe for all our students and staff to return to our classrooms." 9 and 10 would attend school for three days in staggered groups this week and learn from home on the other two days Year 11 and 12 students would have scheduled classes for four days in the week but would work in an online classroom environment at the school on Monday Students in those years who could remain at home were allowed to do so Ms Green wrote that the school had cut and combined classes and found local casual teachers to keep the school running due to the number of teachers on leave in addition to the permanent positions we have been unable to fill we are moving to mixed mode delivery options," she wrote in a letter seen by The Canberra Times Students who are unable to stay at home would be supervised in the school's hall by senior executive staff "This mixed delivery of operations allows every teacher to again focus on learning rather than minimal supervision where learning has not been achievable," Ms Green wrote A spokeswoman for the NSW Department of Education confirmed Karabar High School had moved to a similar hybrid arrangement which had been deployed in schools across the state where COVID-induced staff absences were being managed NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in January said it was the right decision for students to return to face-to-face learning amid the Omicron wave "I know many parents are anxious but ultimately we know kids do better in the classroom," he said "Some students in our state have already missed a quarter of their schooling It is what is best for mental health and social outcomes." Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter. Picture supplied Queanbeyan detectives have charged a man after an employee was threatened with a tomahawk during an alleged armed robbery at a store in Karabar Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAccording to police officers attached to Monaro Police District were called to a retail store on Donald Road Karabar at 9.30am last Wednesday following reports of an armed robbery Police were told an unknown man entered the store and allegedly threatened a 48-year-old male employee with a tomahawk and demanded cash The employee was not injured during the incident police released CCTV images to assist with their inquiries with a suspect arrested and charged as a result "Thanks to the community for your information the person depicted in the picture that was distributed yesterday in relation to the armed robbery has been arrested and charged by Queanbeyan Detectives," Monaro Police District said in a statement Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues." No commentsMum escapes assault conviction after 'impulsively' biting 2yo having tantrumNewsletters & AlertsView allDaily Picture by Karleen MinneyWoolworths' proposed acquisition of the Supa IGA in Karabar is likely to "substantially lessen competition in the supply of local groceries in the area" 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 supermarket chain wants to acquire Supa IGA Karabar and Liquor Boss, owned by Canberra developer John Krnc who also owns the Karabar Shopping Mall in which the stores are located The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission opposes the acquisition saying there are benefits of an independent and locally owned supermarket amongst the others Woolworths already operates two supermarkets in Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra - within 5km of this IGA - and the addition of a third would leave customers with only Coles and Aldi as alternatives The IGA is the only independent supermarket in the area "The more supermarkets or grocery stores there are who can change where they shop based on the most competitive offerings for their particular needs," Ms Cass-Gottlieb said An analysis conducted by ACCC found the IGA offers a different shopping experience which generates competition between the different supermarkets and grocery stores It said the acquisition would mean various suppliers that provide products exclusively to the IGA would lose sales "Supermarkets compete not just on the price you pay at the checkout but the frequency and types of promotions they run the quality of these products and the level of service delivered at the store," Ms Cass-Gottlieb said "The local Supa IGA competes with its different product mix "It also has the ability to make decisions locally and to dynamically adapt and respond to changes in tastes and preferences of local customers." The ACCC said its decision was informed by data analysis of the spending habits of local consumers and engagement with a range of businesses and industry bodies A spokesperson from Woolworths said the commission's opposition to the acquisition is saddening "We had been working closely with the current owner of the site and are disappointed that our plan to bring a renewed retail experience to the residents of Karabar has been opposed by the ACCC," they said "We will be taking time to review the ACCC's decision." Supa IGA in Karabah was also contacted for comment the ACCC raised concerns about the sale of the independent chain Supabarn to Coles but faced backlash from shoppers and other independent retailers Sara writes about general Canberra news. She has previously worked as the journalist at Allhomes, writing about property news through a Canberra lens. You can email story ideas or tips to Sara at sgarrity@austcommunitymedia.com.au. Today's top stories curated by our news team Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service 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 Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers We've selected the best reading for your weekend 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 Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The principal of Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre Andrew Turvey has stood by his decision to cancel the Year 10 formal describing it as "a relic of the past" Mr Turvey announced to students last week there would no longer be a year 10 formal. Instead, it will be replaced with an end of year excursion and dinner, the Queanbeyan Age reports Are Year 10 school formals a relic of another age?Credit: Janie Barrett The principal said his reasons for axing the formal had to do with the change in school leaving age 99 per cent of students move on to senior school," Mr Turvey said students would receive their leaving certificate and that's when they would have the formal it's very rare for students to leave in Year 10." While that may be the case, a number of community members described the decision as "disappointing" and "unfortunate" following a post on the Queanbeyan Age Facebook page earlier this week The post attracted more than 80 comments with the majority believing the decision was unfair I think the kids deserve to have it given back to them" Jodie Green said her daughter and friend had already begun planning which dresses to wear She said she was "saddened" by the decision While some had argued there would be students leaving to continue their studies at TAFE or take up apprenticeships Mr Turvey said that was still moving on to further studies "It's a relic of the past," he said "There a very few high schools that hold a Year 10 formal these days." Mr Turvey admitted his decision was not met without criticism Students and some parents expressed their disappointment but that was to be expected "You get the usual complaints but after the initial shock and when people understand the reason then they think 'Oh I have had a couple of parents ring me up but after explaining the situation many say 'That makes sense'," he said "Some parents are thankful as they know the cost and expense of a formal Preparing for a Year 10 and Year 12 formal Year 10 formals are becoming less and less common with Queanbeyan High School doing away with the tradition three years ago Year 10 students are treated to a dinner in term three Queanbeyan High School principal John Clark said "A lot of schools are moving away from the formal because Year 10 is no longer considered the end of school life," he said "We still maintain the dinner as a recognition of the age of the students but it doesn't have the formal status that it used to have." Mr Clark said he too received some backlash when it was first announced they would no longer hold a Year 10 formal he said working with the school community was the best solution "It's a tradition that has been there quite some time but it's a matter of working with the students parents and the community over a long period of time to establish a new routine and culture," he said we still have the formal dinner but we no longer have the photos in the park We reserve that as a rite of passage for year 12 students." - The Queanbeyan Age Do you think Year 10 formals are a relic of another age The principal of Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre Andrew Turvey has stood by his decision to cancel the Year 10 formal describing it as \\\"a relic of the past\\\" Mr Turvey announced to students last week there would no longer be a year 10 formal it will be replaced with an end of year excursion and dinner 99 per cent of students move on to senior school,\\\" Mr Turvey said students would receive their leaving certificate and that's when they would have the formal it's very rare for students to leave in Year 10.\\\" a number of community members described the decision as \\\"disappointing\\\" and \\\"unfortunate\\\" following a post on the earlier this week I think the kids deserve to have it given back to them\\\" She said she was \\\"saddened\\\" by the decision \\\"There a very few high schools that hold a Year 10 formal these days.\\\" \\\"You get the usual complaints but after the initial shock and when people understand the reason then they think 'Oh I have had a couple of parents ring me up but after explaining the situation many say 'That makes sense',\\\" he said \\\"Some parents are thankful as they know the cost and expense of a formal \\\"A lot of schools are moving away from the formal because Year 10 is no longer considered the end of school life,\\\" he said \\\"We still maintain the dinner as a recognition of the age of the students but it doesn't have the formal status that it used to have.\\\" \\\"It's a tradition that has been there quite some time but it's a matter of working with the students parents and the community over a long period of time to establish a new routine and culture,\\\" he said We reserve that as a rite of passage for year 12 students.\\\" about 1pm yesterday and police and family hold concerns for her welfare Chloe is described as Caucasian appearance She was last seen wearing a black hoodie covered in indigenous art Anyone with information about Chloe’s whereabouts is urged to contact Queanbeyan Police Station on 6298 0599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000 21-year-old Jamie Barry and 29-year-old Elliot Smith-Benzie are urgently being sought by police Jamal Fogarty has opened up on informing coach Ricky Stuart he would be leaving Canberra to accept a lucrative contract at Manly for 2026 Labor will move to cut student debt as its first re-election priority with the prime minister claiming a mandate to press forward with housing reform according to new findings from property research platform Sell or Hold managed by the independently run Select Residential Property group each with a median house price of about $500,000 The research identified the suburb of Karabar in Queanbeyan as likely to see the most price growth over the next three years The top five is rounded out by Middle Ridge in Toowoomba Ashtonfield in Maitland and Brompton in Adelaide Sell or Hold chose the price range of close to $500,000 because investors were most likely to target properties around that price point which has a median house price of $1,062,619 were too expensive to be included in the forecast Only significant urban areas with a diversified economy and a population of over 100,000 were part of the study Select Residential Property group head of research Jeremy Sheppard said a three-year analysis period was the most accurate way to predict price trends there isn’t much time for supply and demand to influence price growth supply and demand may have [balanced] again,” he said Mr Sheppard said Sell or Hold’s forecast was based on gathering supply and demand metrics rather than collecting data on individual properties Demand was calculated by using a variety of metrics and the percentage of renters to owner-occupiers Capital city suburbs where population is shrinking Falling house prices don’t apply to Brisbane Mr Sheppard suggested that some suburbs on city outskirts have seen the benefits of a ripple effect in property prices Prices tend to ripple out to fringe suburbs that are possibly less desirable which is tipped to increase by about $150,620 by 2022 is a massive 5 percentage points more than the next suburb on Sell or Hold’s list Karabar is about 20 minutes’ drive to Canberra’s CBD Mr Sheppard said this may help to explain why prices were expected to climb so significantly Aaron Papahatzis of Belle Property Kingston is well aware of that drawcard “For Karabar and for Queanbeyan more broadly the attraction would be the easy access to Canberra as well as affordability and the local shopping and sporting facilities,” he said While the bulk of Mr Papahatzis’ buyers are owner-occupiers he said there was good scope for investors to find strong opportunities in the area “The majority of properties we sell are family homes and the rent does stack up quite well If you’re buying a three-bedder with one bathroom you’d be looking at $520 to $550 in rent payments per week.” He recommended investors seek out low-maintenance properties in Karabar which were already partly renovated and said more affordable rentals would perform well which ranked in second place in the forecast Robbie Witt of NGU Real Estate Toowoomba said most Middle Ridge buyers were owner-occupiers. “You will have no dramas renting a property out,” Mr Witt said, pointing to four-bedroom, two-bathroom houses as an ideal bet for investors. “These properties just get snapped up really quickly on the rental market.” With Middle Park’s large blocks, abundance of parks, and quality schools, Mr Witt said the area was performing comparatively well. Mr Witt said aside from a new land development called The Leas, Middle Ridge itself was not slated for significant development in the near future. According to Mr Sheppard, however, infrastructure in the wider Toowoomba area may have an effect on Middle Ridge prices. He said projects like the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, as well as Toowoomba’s strong economy, were worth considering. Middle Ridge is about a 15-minute drive to the centre of Toowoomba. Mr Sheppard advised buyers to keep an eye on Adelaide, which had two suburbs in Sell or Hold’s top five for price growth. “It seems to have quite a broad range of high demand, relative to supply. There are still plenty of pockets that aren’t going to see much in the way of growth but Adelaide … seems to have clusters of growth,” he said. “This could be down to affordability, or due to the efforts of the state government … starting to show fruit. It’s not clear what the precise cause is, but there’s definitely a lot of heat picking up in Adelaide.” He pointed to Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra as key cities for investors to consider. Mr Sheppard said there was no common thread that tied Sell or Hold’s top-five performers together. He said the results came down to timing and where each suburb sat relative to the broader market. Sell or Hold’s forecast also identified the areas that should see the least price growth. Prices are expected to fall the most in Rosebery in the Darwin area, with a drop of about $3148 expected over the next three years. Wandi in Perth had the second lowest predicted growth rate, where the median house price is forecast to decline by about $2103 for that same period.  Four of the bottom five suburbs were in Perth and Darwin, with Brisbane’s Bahrs Scrub in fifth place. “In real catastrophe areas, [poorer price performance] will be because a major industry has gone belly up, as we saw with the end of the resource boom. Those changes in the economy have had that affect on Rosebery, where prices are still falling,” Mr Sheppard said. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate Picture NSW Police Police swooped on nine homes including at least two in Jerrabomberra and another in Karabar on Tuesday morning in a series of drug-related raids by the NSW South East Region Enforcement Squad Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMore than two dozen police were involved in the Karabar search warrant as part of Strike Force Sulfur The warrants were simultaneous to avoid the offenders alerting each other to the coordinated police activity It is understood that several people have been arrested and are likely to face Queanbeyan Local Court tomorrow although details of the charges are yet to be known Tuesday's warrants by Strike Force Sulfur is believed to be the biggest coordinated police anti-drug operation across the border since 2020 when 10 people were arrested in Cooma and Queanbeyan on more than 60 charges of supplying methamphetamines into the Snowy Mountains and local regional area NSW police would not release any detail about the Tuesday morning search warrants but they are understood to have targeted members of organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs who have been operating in areas of southern NSW and distributing drugs across the southern region and into the ACT although ACT police say they are unable to comment on the outcome because NSW police had primary control of the operation Quantities of weapons and drugs have been seized from a number of the warrants but there are no details provided yet on those arrested The effort had been planned for some weeks South Coast and the Hume police districts brought in to oversee the operations It's also important to tell the story well Contact me at peter.brewer@canberratimes.com.au Telling the truth and holding agencies accountable must matter to us all Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - Today's Paper These photos are available for purchase from the Queanbeyan Age or pop into the office at 108 Monaro Street We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy THE ACT’s seven-day snap lockdown is a “worrying” time for businesses across the border Karabar Takeaway operator Peter Kay said his family-run business of 15 years had already taken a huge hit since last year He said the ACT’s lockdown is a cruel blow to local business still recovering from reduced trade and poor business conditions “Business has dropped around 30 per cent it’s a worrying time,” said Mr Kay The knock-on effects of Canberra’s lockdown was evident across the border yesterday (August 12) when “massive” lines of shoppers queued outside Woolworth’s in Queanbeyan Long-time Queanbeyan butcher Peter Lindbeck said there’s already been a run on fresh meat supplies “I had enough meat to last till next Wednesday and it was gone by yesterday afternoon,” Mr Lindbeck said “There were 30 people lined up outside my store at one stage.” Although the last 18 months have been the “best” in his 43 years in business Mr Lindbeck admitted it’s been a “tiring time” He said the panic running in the community is not healthy “I think people need to relax a bit,” he said Justin Devenish from Karabar’s Home Timber and Hardware said the ACT’s lockdown has brought the covid situation closer to home people are worried,” Mr Devenish said “We’ve had about a 20 per cent decline in business since masks became mandatory Picture by Karleen MinneyThe consumer watchdog is concerned Woolworths' bid to take over a Queanbeyan independent supermarket and liquor store will "substantially lessen competition" in the area 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 supermarket chain wants to acquire SUPA IGA Karabar and Liquor Boss, owned by Canberra developer John Krnc The ACCC previously opposed a takeover of the same grocery store in 2008 The two traders currently compete in supplying groceries to Queanbeyan residents with Woolworths already running two stores within a 5km radius of the IGA ACCC commissioner Liza Carver said there was concern the proposed acquisition "is likely to substantially lessen competition in the supply of groceries in the local area" it would reduce the number of operators of supermarkets with a significant size and range from four to three "We are also considering whether the acquisition raises similar concerns in relation to liquor stores by removing the Liquor Boss as an independent competitor to major liquor store operators." Beyond the potential to drive up prices in supermarkets and liquor stores the regulator is also assessing whether a takeover could have a ripple effect on other IGA stores throughout the ACT and Queanbeyan The loss of the Karabar location could impact the "marketing efficiencies awareness and competitive presence of other IGA" It is also interrogating the implications for Australia's largest independent grocery and liquor wholesaler and the ACCC is considering what impact the loss of this trade would have on Metcash's efficiency and competitiveness "Which in turn may reduce the ability of all independent supermarkets to exert competitive pressure on Woolworths post-acquisition," its statement notes The regulator wants to hear from interested parties about the proposed acquisition by January 12 More information regarding submissions is available here Miriam Webber is a federal politics and public sector reporter, with an interest in integrity, transparency and accountability in government. She has been a member of the federal political bureau since 2023, and previously worked as the city reporter. Reach her at miriam.webber@canberratimes.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 areaContinueCHAMPS: Ananta Bajracharya Maxx Bigg and Tegan Lewis will compete in the regional finals next school term Photo: supplied On Tuesday a special day was held at BCS with two teams from the selective stream at Karabar High coming for six debates with Braidwood’s two teams The team of Charlie Campbell, Jack Wasson, Tess Gurling and Jorja Noye won one of their three debates and improved wonderfully during the day The other team of Maxx Bigg, Tashani Davidson-Fuller, Tegan Lewis and Ananta Bajracharya won all three of their debates and are zone champions. They will go on to compete in the regional finals next school term. Both teams can be very proud of their efforts Both teams debated the same three topics across the competition that: ‘all schools should have compulsory self-defence classes’; ‘no one should be allowed to post online comments anonymously’; and’ the government should impose a curfew on teenagers’.  Debating practise is held Thursday after school and helps develop confidence in public speaking as well as critical and complex thinking skills which are important in senior high school We care about the protection of your data. 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Picture supplied.A man was left in hospital with serious injuries after being shot on a Canberra street this week Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice say a 20-year-old Karabar man approached two people walking on George Street Police allege the 20-year-old stepped out of his car and fired at the man The victim was taken to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries and was later taken to the Canberra Hospital was arrested by NSW Police on Wednesday evening He was extradited to the ACT where he faced charges of unauthorised possession and use of a firearm and discharging a firearm in a public place Cross did not apply for bail and he has been remanded in custody Police have released a photo of the gold or orange hatchback the man was believed to be driving Anyone who has seen the car or who witnessed the event is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website and quote reference 7737538 Email her at lucy.arundell@canberratimes.com.au Lucy is the city reporter for the Canberra Times A Karabar man accused of being an accessory after the fact to the shooting murder of Eden Waugh at his north Canberra unit has been freed on bail Mr Waugh, 37, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to his chest when police were called to the Windeyer Street home shortly before 8pm on November 3 in 2016 is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Eden Waugh.Credit: Alexandra Back Police allege the shooting was an act of retribution after Mr Waugh went to police over an alleged home invasion triggered by a drug deal gone wrong was the second person police charged in relation to the death It's alleged he helped two men being investigated for Mr Waugh's murder Eden Waugh was allegedly killed by a single gunshot on November 3 in 2016 Taniela Pikula has been in custody since he was arrested and interviewed by homicide detectives in July He has not yet entered a plea. Deanne Pikula, 26, was charged earlier this year with accessory after the fact for the murder after she allegedly stashed the murder weapon She pleaded not guilty and was released on bail Taniela Pikula appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday when prosecutors did not oppose his bail application A police statement outlining the allegations against him has not yet been tendered in court He walked free on conditions that included he report to Queanbeyan police station three times a week and not contact a long list of people The case returns to court in two weeks. Police said they found a gun and a crowbar believed to be linked to the alleged murder when they searched the Queanbeyan River in August when police were called to the Windeyer Street home shortly before 8pm on November 3 in 2016 after Mr Waugh went to police over an alleged home invasion triggered by a drug deal gone wrong It's alleged he helped two men being investigated for Mr Waugh's murder earlier this year with accessory after the fact for the murder Police said they believed to be linked to the alleged murder when they searched the Queanbeyan River in August A man was shot on George Street in Oaks Estate at about 12.20am on Wednesday His injuries were serious but non-life threatening and he has been transferred from Queanbeyan Hospital Canberra Hospital Police say a 20-year-old Karabar (NSW) man believed to be driving a gold or orange-coloured hatchback He will be extradited extradited to the ACT to face charges of unauthorised possession and use of a firearm Police have released an image of the hatchback the man was believed to be driving and are asking anyone with information into the whereabouts of the vehicle to contact them Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe youth appeared before the Children’s Court in Queanbeyan on Wednesday morning NSW Police at the scene of a student stabbing at Karabar High School Photo: Karleen MinneyMedia were not permitted into the hearing Bail registrar Michael Wolters referred the boy for a mental health assessment The boy would be held for treatment if he was found to be mentally ill All parties in the case agreed to the referral a local politician whose children went to Karabar High defended the school attributing some of the reaction to “Queanbeyan-bashing” There was a backlash against the school on social media after the incident The parent of one student told Fairfax Media she would consider removing her daughter Former local member and current NSW upper house Labor politician Steve Whan – whose wife is president of the Parents and Citizens’ Association – defended the school on his Facebook page He told Fairfax Media on Wednesday the incident was “out of character” for the school and “a shock to everyone” He urged parents thinking about removing their child from the school to reconsider “I can understand why someone who has just started at the school would feel that that was pretty upsetting ‘‘I think all the parents who’ve experienced the school would say to those people this is not a reflection of what the school is like It’s a terrific school and this is an isolated one-off.” The school of more than 1000 students is the only partially-selective school in the area according to the MySchool website achieves results close to the national average In last year’s NSW Higher School Certificate five Karabar students were named on the top achievers’ list for coming in the top 20 students in the state in individual units Karabar’s list of notable alumni includes sportsmen Brad Haddin The Whans’ son and daughter attended the high school his daughter finishing just over a year ago Mr Whan said he was aware of some of the negative backlash on social media following the lunch time stabbing “I think a lot of what we see some people say is good old Queanbeyan bashing which is unfortunately all too common from people Local NSW member John Barilaro told Fairfax that the safety of students was paramount and the response to the incident from police school staff and department had been commendable "This is a distressing and unsettling incident at the start of a new school year for the entire school community,” he said “Karabar High School is a fantastic school in my electorate and its reputation should not be unfairly judged over this isolated incident.” ACT Firefighters are helping transform the Karabar backyard of workmate with a new pool, pergola and entertaining area. (ABC News: Elise Fantin) Link copiedShareShare articleA group of ACT firefighters have swapped their safety overalls for tool belts to help their mate in need. Firefighter and father of three Simon Fensom was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year. The illness has forced him to give up the job he has loved for 18 years. "Unfortunately I haven't been able to work since and I haven't been able to do things around the home," Mr Fensom said. His colleagues from across ACT Fire and Rescue were keen to pitch in and put their DIY skills to the test. "It was important for us that Simon can enjoy his family time whilst he's getting his treatment so that's why we got together," Rob Thompson said. "The great thing is we've actually had to turn people away because we were inundated with blokes and women wanting to help." Mr Fensom's Karabar backyard has been transformed with a new pool, pergola and entertaining area for the family to enjoy. "We're lucky enough that we've got a benevolent fund within our organisation that we all pay into and they've generously come to the party financially and bought the materials, so we provided the manpower," Mr Thompson said. Crews have been taking it in shifts to complete the backyard blitz. Mr Fensom said support from his workplace and colleagues had helped ease the financial burden. (ABC News: Elise Fantin) "That's what we do. We all pitch together and come out and help," work colleague Dan Town said. Even ACT Chief Fire Officer Mark Brown stopped by to check on the progress at the house. "I might help out with the bacon and egg rolls," he said. Mr Fensom said his firefighting colleagues had been an outstanding source of support. "I'm not at work but I'm not forgotten," he said. The Fensoms' financial security is also in safe hands with a law providing compensation to firefighters diagnosed with some cancers. "I've got a workplace injury. I've got occupational cancer," Mr Fensom said. "The financial burden has been eased from that and it definitely does take the load off things." A few more days of hard work by volunteers and the Fensom family's new backyard oasis should be complete. Students at Karabar High School in Queanbeyan have been exploring the regenerative power of bushfires through dance Planning to share their story through the Wakakirri Secondary School Challenge the NSW Year 10 dance students have been busily .. This story appeared in the April 2017 edition of Australian Teacher Magazine Chelsea is a staff member of Australian Teacher Magazine EducationHQ Australia and EducationHQ New Zealand I have not been diagnosed but suspect I may be neurodivergent also — Gba63727 on ‘Autistic Burnout’: How Staffroom Politics Broke One Neurodiverse Teacher The highly anticipated National Education Summit is returning in 2025 and education professionals across Australia The rapid flooding of edtech products in classrooms worldwide has outpaced regulation and research resulting in many of these tools being adopted without any understanding of their long-term educational or ethical impacts Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to have made the grade as he passed through a public school with flying colours Opposition Leader Peter Dutton appears to have back-tracked on his plans to alter the national school curriculum following his earlier claims that Australian students should be free of being "indoctrinated" by their teachers Half of all adult mental health conditions begin before the age of 14 yet funding pledges from both major parties heading into Saturday’s election – $1 billion from Labor and $400 million from the Coalition – are focused on adolescents and interv.. It seems that hardly a day goes by without news from the USA impacting Australian education A CHILLY morning has seen snow fall in Queanbeyan and throughout the ACT region Residents have taken to social media to report snowfall in Googong Snow has also been sighted on Mount Ainslie This is the best snow I’ve ever seen in Canberra. pic.twitter.com/1NaAOxRJDJ — Christy 😷💉💉💉💉 (@ChristyShenani1) August 22, 2022 snow settled on the hills above Theodore in Southern Canberra It follows the Tuggeranong weather station recording a drop from 8°C to 4.7°C in just 30 minutes early this morning Weather Watch says snow is likely to be falling in the mountains throughout the day The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a rainy and chilly afternoon ahead with the max temperature in Canberra only set to reach 11°C Sabon kwamishinan ‘yan sandan jihar Kano Muhammad Usaini Gumel ya gargadi jami’an rundunar da su kauce wa aikata duk wani laifin karbar cin hanci da rashawa domin ko kadan bazai lamunci abunda zai batawa ‘yan sanda suna ba ya bayyana hakan ne yau Talata lokacin da yake zantawa da manema labarai bayan fara kama aiki da ya yi a matsayin sabon kwamishinan ‘yan sanda Muhammad Usaini Gumel ya kara da cewa rundunar ‘yan sandan Jihar Kano za ta rika amfani da sabbin dabaru na zamani wajen cafke duk wasu masu aikata muggan laifuka a fadin jihar Kano   domin tabbatarda tsaro da zaman lafiya Ya kuma bukaci hadin kan sauran hukumomin tsaro da  kungiyoyin al’umma da kuma ‘yan sandan cikin al’umma da su ci gaba da bai wa rundunar yan sandan  hadin kai domin magance matsalar  tabarbarewar tsaro Na bai wa ‘yan jarida damar samun bayanai yayin mulkina- Shugaba Buhari Karin Mutane 20 sun kamu da zazzabin Lassa a Nigeriya- NCDC