Every try from North Sydney Bears v Warriors in Round Nine The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Magpies v Dragons The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Panthers v Raiders The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Roosters v Bulldogs The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Eight - Raiders v Bears The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Seven - Warriors v Dragons A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out As if inspired by the club’s NRL Magic Round heroics and second straight Harold Matthews Cup premiership the One New Zealand Warriors celebrated at a cricketing institution by knocking up a tidy half century in their round nine New South Wales Cup encounter today It wouldn’t have been a pleasurable experience for the North Sydney Bears as the Warriors imperiously hit them to all parts of the North Sydney Oval by scoring 10 tries in a sumptuous 56-14 victory The Warriors’ biggest win of the season returned them to the top of the top of the ladder after Parramatta had briefly held the honour The points feast that would unfold had a false start with the Bears opening the scoring through prop Ben Talty before the Warriors found their range Once again playmaker Te Maire Martin was in the middle of almost everything taking on the line and off loading for centre Moala Graham-Taufa to get the Warriors on the board The same combination was at it again as the centre had his second off a Martin off load before the third try saw interchange forward Jason Salalilo steam up the middle off dummy half Makaia Tafua to score between the posts Closing in on halftime it was Martin yet again who was the central figure penetrating 50 metres out on the left and sending left winger Setu Tu over to hand the Warriors a 24-8 halftime lead NSW Cup Highlights: Running rampant against Bears The second half was just under way when prop Toby Crosby shrugged defenders for try five sparking a spree which would see the Warriors score 32 points Crosby also provided the impetus for the side’s sixth carrying defenders within centimetres of the line Tafua serving it up for Freddy Lussick who drove low from close range to score Now it was 34-8 and soon more points came through a delightful shift left the sweetest of passes from Martin freeing Tu for his second Martin was the provider once more for the next his grubber ricocheting off legs for Graham-Taufa to collect for his hat-trick Second rower Kayliss Fatiaofa had the ninth try taking a pass from Tanah Boyd and running through some threadbare defence to score Boyd’s conversion bringing up the half century the Warriors capped the day from long range right centre Morgan Harper bending the line getting an off load to Boyd inside who fed Luke Hanson in support for a 35 metre dash to the line for the 10th and last try Boyd provided his eighth conversion of the day boasting the most points scored (275) and the fewest conceded (140) They play the sixth-placed Canberra in Wollongong next Saturday Ashford: It’s a special club and a special group of boys HMC Highlights: Potent comeback seals more history On replay #6: Metcalf's match-turning try saver Match Highlights: Turning on another Magic Round stunner The affiliate content associate producer role is based in our North Sydney office working in the Nine Digital team alongside the digital news writing and publishing shopping content for 9Product Reviews across tech Nine is Australia’s largest locally owned media company – the home of Australia’s most trusted and loved brands spanning News We pride ourselves on creating the best content accessed by consumers when and how they want – across Publishing major mastheads such as The Sydney Morning Herald The Age and The Australian Financial Review subscription video platform Stan and a majority investment in Domain Group Our Purpose: We shape culture by sparking conversations We bring people together by celebrating the big occasions and connecting the everyday moments We bring our purpose to life via three shared values: We walk the talk Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: you'll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work and will be supported to perform at your best We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people backgrounds and cultures as we recognise the importance and value of diverse perspectives Should you require any adjustments to the recruitment process Work rights: Please note to apply for this role you must already have the right to lawfully work and live in Australia By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive the Featured Jobs newsletter from Pedestrian Group. View our Privacy Policy here offers and more from Pedestrian and its partners You are subscribed to the Mailchimp newsletter I accept the terms of service The NRL is set to welcome the newest franchise into the competition soon with an agreement in-principle reportedly reached between the game and the Western Australian Government The expansion effort will see the return of the North Sydney Bears as the stroried club will up sticks and head across to the west for a new lease of life in Perth The joint bid comes with a host of questions including whether the club will be called the Perth or Western Bears what colours will they adorn on their jerseys and what are the early aims for the venture MORE: Who will be named Western Bears head coach? Brad Arthur the frontrunner for proposed 18th NRL club "This is a unique propostion and we’ll be successful but there’s going to be a huge number of challenges," North Sydney Director Billy Moore told SEN. "We are so excited about this opportunity but it is tough. "When you formed the Dolphins off a very similar runway of time, you moved players from one side of Brisbane to the other into an existing club that had been going for 75 years. "We’re going to be moving players from one side of Australia to the other. "The whole operation is going to be set up in Perth," Moore continued. "No one has ever done a merger between old and new, east coast and west coast in Australian sport." Moore highlighted how he believed one of the main goals of the club was to build a viable pipeline of WA talent to bring into the fold. However, he acknowledged how this would be a gradual progress with participation numbers currently sitting at around 6,000 youth players in the state. "We’ll get that up to 20,000 in 10 years," Moore declared. "Inside 10 years, we want to get five bonafide WA players in our top 30 squad. That will mean we will have done our job in pathways and production. "We’ve got to make sure we do our part. I know WA is bursting at the seams and there is a truckload of young talent over there waiting for an opportunity. "We’ll give them that opportunity and they’ll grow and develop." Moore believed that the similarities between the Western Reds and North Sydney made for a relatively simple colour design for the jerseys. "The red and black will always be the traditional colours of the Bears," Moore said. "The Reds' colours were red, black, white and gold. So, they’re not a quantum leap apart. "There will be an evolution and I suppose the marketing people will come into play and take part. "Just think of Penrith last year when they won the comp in a pink jersey," Moore added. "So, the colours will evolve but the foundation will always be the Bears and their traditional colours will always be red and black." In regards to a possible logo design, Moore stated that this component was straightforward. "Without trying to be coy about it, a bear is a bear," he said. "The logo will be a bear - that’s guaranteed." "I don’t think it’s going to happen until around next week," Moore revealed about when fans can expect an announcement from the NRL. "Then you’ll start to see some crystallisation of it all. It will move fast. There is no doubt it will move quickly." When the club is confirmed to enter into the comp, the focus will turn to appointing the main figureheads to steer the ship. Brad Arthur has been heavily linked to the position of head coach, while Peter Parr has also been spoken about to oversee the construction of the roster. "We’re certainly not kidding ourselves about how hard this is going to be," Moore said. "What this is all about is getting the right people in the front office with the coaching and administration." However, one man who Moore didn’t expect to be involved in the nitty-gritty of the build was WA Premier Roger Cook. "He’s been the engine behind making this work, especially from the WA side," Moore said. "I think he’ll be the number one ticket holder and fan. But I think he’ll leave it to the people who have had years of experience in this. "There’s rugby league and then there’s rugby league politics. "When you’re dealing with player managers [and agents] you’re dealing with a certain level of shrewdness and I’m saying that in exclamation marks." Mark Molyneux is a freelance writer covering the NRL and UFC for Sporting News Australia. He has previously worked in the music industry and as a teacher around the world. The NRL has finally reached an in-principal agreement to launch a Perth-based franchise featuring the North Sydney Bears in 2027. After months of ongoing negotiations, a deal has been made including a controversial key compromise, with the Western Australian (WA) government not having to pay a license fee to join the competition as the 18th team. The agreement comes after the NRL rejected a previous bid led by Cash Converters boss Peter Cumins, which also included no license fee. The NRL had expected a $20 million offer, but when a revised $30 million bid was also dismissed, talks were shifted directly with the WA government. On Wednesday morning, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) approved a new deal put forward by WA Premier Roger Cook, which included a no license fee provision. “Over the past few weeks, the State has engaged in further negotiations with the Australian Rugby League Commission about establishing an NRL club in Western Australia,” a Western Australian government spokesperson told The Sydney Morning Herald. “While we have taken a strong negotiating position, these discussions have been positive and respectful.” “As part of these negotiations, we put a revised and final position to the ARLC. “Should approval be provided by the ARLC, the State will be transparent about the terms of any agreement reached. “Should we not reach agreement, this will be a massive lost opportunity. “The guiding principles for the State in these negotiations have been: 1. That any financial assistance provided to the club be spent in Western Australia; 2. That the club not be charged a license fee for participating in the NRL; and 3. That the deal represent a positive return for WA taxpayers in terms of economic benefits.” The NRL must first secure approval from all 17 clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) before it can formally present its position to the WA government. Sources with knowledge of the matter, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Sydney Morning Herald that a subcommittee of clubs will meet Thursday to consider how they could benefit from expansion. A figure of $1 million per club has reportedly been discussed as part of the financial arrangements. This breakthrough caps off over six months of intense negotiations that all but fell flat earlier this month. At the time, Premier Cook accused the NRL of treating WA as a “cash cow.” The state government had offered a $20 million investment in a new centre of excellence at Malaga Sports Precinct and pledged up to $35 million over five years in grassroots development. Meanwhile, the NRL sought $120 million over a decade. It was reported that both sides made concessions to find middle ground. The proposed operating model will see the NRL run the new team for the first five years of operation, before handing over control to club members and elected directors. The WA government will continue to support development, community, and infrastructure projects linked to the team. “We continue to have those negotiations; we haven’t had a formal response from the NRL,” Cook said during a press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “I assume they have a number of processes to go through before they consider anything in relation to these conversations. “I will say the conversations are positive, and we look forward to those conversations continuing.” The return of the Bears who exited the first-grade competition in 1999 is a symbolic beacon of the NRL’s modern day success. “There isn’t a bigger day for the Bears since 1922,” said former North Sydney great and club director Billy Moore. “Our supporters have waited 26 years to hear this news.” “This is a day for the true believers… there is no negative in this.” Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett agreed, calling it a smart move. “The premier over there is a great supporter of rugby league, full stop… I think it’s a great decision.” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan highlighted that with proposed timeline only 18 months away, that there will be a “mad scramble” to get signatures. “We’ve had that in the back of our mind… we’ve secured most of our juniors, which is a good thing.” Meanwhile, Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson dismissed any suggestion that the two team expansion including the Perth based Bears and Papua New Guinea teams would stretch the league’s talent pool too thin. “We’ve got enough talent, and it’ll come through,” he said. Perth will be the 18th team to join the NRL under the current expansion which includes Papua New Guinea joining the competition in 2028 as team number 19. A hold will be put on expansion in the meantime, quashing the short-term hopes of consortiums from Brisbane, New Zealand, and Fiji who had aimed to secure the 20th NRL licence. © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved Teal candidate Nicolette Boele is edging closer to winning the traditionally Liberal Sydney seat of Bradfield Link copiedShareShare articleThe independent candidate on track to win the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Bradfield in Sydney's north shore says Australians have voted to reject "negative Nicolette Boele is ahead of Gisele Kapterian who replaced retiring Liberal member Paul Fletcher by more than 1,600 votes with a 3.3 per cent swing the teal candidate posed a significant challenge reducing the Liberal Party's stronghold in the heartland seat from the Climate 200 group that backed a number of independents told ABC local radio "she got it over the line this time" It is Nicolette Boele's second tilt at running in the Liberal stronghold seat of Bradfield But with some counting taking place on Sunday the tight race may take days to be resolved "The count in Bradfield is extremely close and we expect it will be several days until the AEC has a final result," Ms Boele said in a statement this community has made it clear that we expect our representative to listen to and respond to the concerns of this community "The nationwide result shows that Australians overwhelmingly reject the negative toxic politics we've seen during this campaign." Teals in the other three NSW blue ribbon seats solidified their position prompting Mr Holmes à Court to declare that the "community independents movement is here to stay" who won the seat of Warringah for a third time said she thought independents in NSW had "done really well" positive community independents have held their ground or increased And I think that's what Australians are looking for," the independent MP said Zali Steggall has won the seat of Warringah for a third time "I think the world has moved on from that traditional convention of how we see political parties now the Liberal Party's NSW leader Mark Speakman said the election results are "devastating" and the focus of the party's federal arm's should be rebuilding and reconnecting but we can and must relate them to modern day NSW including for women and people from non-English speaking backgrounds," he said "If we want sustained solutions to cost-of-living and housing crises but instead a national conversation on substantial tax and productivity reform to reverse declining prosperity." Sophie Scamps held onto the seat of Mackellar while Allegra Spender also kept her eastern suburbs seat of Wentworth once held by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull Ms Spender said that for the past three years her electorate had seen their values represented and they had voted for that to continue "This community is very socially progressive and I think that was not borne out at all in the Coalition's campaign." the Liberal Party has been removed from what is important to locals and they will have to "really try" to win them back "I feel that the Liberal Party that used to represent this community has gone so far to a conservative party that was not in chime with the values of this community "I don't really want them to win back this seat I'm really proud to represent this community." Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverage Other independents not backed by Climate 200 also had a strong showing. In the traditional Labor seat of Fowler, candidate Tu Le failed to win back the seat the party lost to independent Dai Le at the last election. Tu Le, who was on track to be the Labor candidate in 2022, was replaced by high-profile former premier Kristina Kenneally, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently admitted was a mistake. Independent Dai Le (centre) retained the south-western seat of Fowler which Labor lost at the 2022 election. (ABC News) On Saturday night, Dai Le thanked supporters at a function not long after the polling booths had closed. She lashed out at Labor Party ads that claimed a vote for her would be a vote for Peter Dutton. "My understanding is that they spent over a million dollars to campaign against me, and as the mayor [Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone] said, he's never seen any major party do that to one individual," she said. Patrick Belcher has lived in the area for 12 years. He told the ABC that he was surprised Labor was not able to reclaim Fowler. "She [Dai Le] may be in for the long haul … it's hard to say, she's pretty popular and didn't win by much either, it was a close result," he said. In the western NSW seat of Calare, incumbent member Andrew Gee won after his counterpart conceded on Sunday morning. Mr Gee, who had defected from the Nationals in 2022 over the party's stance on the Voice referendum and ran as an independent, claimed victory on election night. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The North Sydney Bears drew their biggest crowd in decades to North Sydney Oval over the weekend, as speculation mounted about a possible NRL return for the storied foundation club. A crowd of 2,259 attended the Round Nine NSW Cup clash against the New Zealand Warriors, marking the Bears’ first home game of the season due to the late handover of the venue from cricket. It was their largest home crowd since their final NRL seasons prior to the club’s exclusion in 1999. A post shared by North Sydney Sun (@north.sydney.sun) This year’s delay in returning to Bear Park came with added anticipation following reports that the Western Australian Government and the NRL had reached an in-principle agreement to base a reincarnated NRL Bears team in Perth from the 2027 season WA premier Roger Cook last week described the discussions as “positive” and said the state government looked forward to them continuing the club capitalised on the momentum with a full slate of junior gala matches and a strong showing from local community groups Sponsors including St Leonards-based disability provider Danny Met Sally and Artarmon’s Depot Brewery were visible around the ground while Mary’s House Services hosted a marquee The Hills and Mollie Dive Stand were filled to capacity with additional spectators crowding the O’Reilly and Bob Stand A post shared by North Sydney Bears (@northsydneybearsofficial) While the Bears fell 14–56 to the Warriors on the field Sentiment around the bid suggests an official announcement could be imminent with finer details reportedly being negotiated around ownership structure and operational responsibilities between the WA government A post shared by North Sydney Sun (@north.sydney.sun) Media reports have suggested that the club may already be sounding out coaching and playing talent ahead of a potential re-entry into the national competition The Australian Financial Review reported that existing NRL clubs could be offered a one-off payment of $500,000 if the Bears meet or exceed commercial expectations in their first season back as a way to gain broader support for the expansion Crowd-pulling potential may also prove persuasive with Norths demonstrating last year they could still draw strong Sydney attendance—attracting more than 10,000 fans to their NSW Cup Grand Final appearance against Newtown The club’s next home game at North Sydney Oval is scheduled for Sunday 18 May at 3:00PM Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" U704 6A Glen St Milsons PointNSW 2061 Australia 02 8208 6077 Copyright © 2023 Decisive Publishing Pty Ltd The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Bears v Warriors Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Three more ageing Sydney aquatic centres are set to close for renovations worth a combined $160 million as councils attempt to avoid the cost blowouts and delays of the North Sydney pool fiasco The closures come as North Sydney Council warned the beleaguered $122 million revamp of its Olympic pool could be further delayed until November – raising the prospect it might not reopen before summer The mid-century pool will close on April 27 for renovations Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre is one of a slew of public pools built in the 1950s and 60s which have reached the end of their lifespan Work has already started on building a new children’s pool and the centre will close for construction of new 50m and 25m pools the local government would not increase residents’ rates to help fund the $55 million project “There are a lot of pools coming to the end of their life cycle at the same time … [locals] understand if you don’t undertake the renovations and plan for it properly what happens is what we’ve seen across other councils in Sydney – these things end up closing,” he said After watching North Sydney swimmers go without their pool for years Leichhardt Swimming Club secretary Peter McDonald said locals were nervous about this project running on time Construction on North Sydney Olympic Pool continues “The flow-on from potentially losing all those squad swimmers is on the club – are they going to go to other clubs are they going to not go to squads and give up swimming?” he said Locals love the retro vibe of the 1960s Botany Aquatic Centre but Bayside Mayor Ed McDougall said after nearly 60 years of use essential pool infrastructure such as pumps and water filters are failing The pool will close on April 27 for a $63 million renovation including new 50m and 25m pools and a children’s play area with slides and is expected to reopen for the 2027 swim season the Mount Druitt Swimming Centre is also set to close when construction begins in 2026 The $40.6 million project is expected to open in 2028 the new centre will be open year-round and include a 25m indoor pool Construction of the North Sydney pool was slated to be completed in May but after developer Icon further pushed back the forecast completion to August a recent council update said it now may not “achieve completion” before November The pool would then likely reopen to swimmers about six to eight weeks after construction is completed North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker said staff from councils including the City of Sydney and Inner West had contacted the council to discuss the “pitfalls and lessons” of the Olympic pool revamp Andrew (Boy) Charlton in The Domain remains closed after shutting in May 2024 for re-tiling and the installation of a new heating system The pool is expected to reopen in September The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool last underwent a major refurbishment in 2011.Credit: Dallas Kilponen Epping swimmers have been without their pool since last April but the fate of a $26 million renovation is up in the air after Parramatta Council discovered estimated construction costs had blown out The council is now exploring reopening the centre without the upgrades completed – which will likely come with additional costs – but the site sits dormant Willoughby Leisure Centre closed in 2022 for a planned $38 million revamp and was due to open in 2024 but the pool remains closed after the discovery of asbestos and the need for extra building materials caused cost blowouts and delays Canterbury Leisure and Aquatic Centre is also closed for upgrades and is due to open next year A report by Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) found most pools built in the 1950s of Australia’s public swimming pools will require replacement in the next decade While pool renovations can be costly and inconvenient RLSA chief executive Justin Scarr said councils needed to get these projects done to ensure access for the next 50 years the politics of the pool is really complex with many communities having diverse needs and noisy voices – that combined with the tragedy of North Sydney pool means that many councils really fear development and refurbishment,” he said Scarr believes greater federal investment in public pools could help these projects run smoother and help councils feel more confident planning renovations The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here could be further delayed until November \\u2013 raising the prospect it might not reopen before summer Work has already started on building a new children\\u2019s pool and the local government would not increase residents\\u2019 rates to help fund the $55 million project \\u201CThere are a lot of pools coming to the end of their life cycle at the same time \\u2026 [locals] understand if you don\\u2019t undertake the renovations and plan for it properly what happens is what we\\u2019ve seen across other councils in Sydney \\u2013 these things end up closing,\\u201D he said \\u201CThe flow-on from potentially losing all those squad swimmers is on the club \\u2013 are they going to go to other clubs are they going to not go to squads and give up swimming?\\u201D he said including new 50m and 25m pools and a children\\u2019s play area with slides a recent council update said it now may not \\u201Cachieve completion\\u201D before November North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker said staff from councils including the City of Sydney and Inner West had contacted the council to discuss the \\u201Cpitfalls and lessons\\u201D of the Olympic pool revamp The council is now exploring reopening the centre without the upgrades completed \\u2013 which will likely come with additional costs \\u2013 but the site sits dormant It\\u2019s expected to open later this year of Australia\\u2019s public swimming pools will require replacement in the next decade the politics of the pool is really complex with many communities having diverse needs and noisy voices \\u2013 that combined with the tragedy of North Sydney pool means that many councils really fear development and refurbishment,\\u201D he said The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories The 19th century house Heatherlie – described as the finest property in North Sydney – is about to reset the suburb record The High St home last traded in 2017 for $6.075m but after a three-year renovation including excavating sandstone for a triple garage and installing a lift to all levels, the six-bedroom house at 116 High St is set for auction this month with a $15m guide The current record for a house in North Sydney is $13.5m set in January this year for a waterfront property in Adderstone Ave Real Housewife’s insane property portfolio exposed Incredible 180-degree views from the terrace The family employed Liskowski Architects to transform the home only 5 per cent of residential homes in North Sydney are freestanding houses The Tyler family engaged Liskowski Architects to create a world-class home with views of the harbour and the Bridge; and they transformed every room of Heatherlie as well as adding a self-contained flat a large entertaining terrace and a state-of-the-art kitchen Vendor and project manager Mairead Tyler also commissioned interior designer Sarah Jayne Marriott of SJS Interiors to decorate the formal and informal living and dining rooms the five bathrooms and the vast kitchen with its Castillo marble island bench and Falcon induction cooktop The kitchen has a Castillo marble island bench and Falcon induction cooktop the bathrooms are finished in natural stone and there are 3.5m high ceilings European oak floors and original fireplaces but also modern additions such as ducted airconditioning and home automation especially in winter when the sunshine floods into the room via the conservatory windows She also loves the terrace off the main bedroom which has the highest and widest view of the harbour “This house is whisper quiet yet we are so close to the hive of activities in Kirribilli And we have the best views of the New Year’s Eve fireworks,” she says It was built circa 1899 with 180-degree views over Sydney Harbour The High St wharf and Kirribilli dining are a short stroll away This landmark property goes to auction on March 29 third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. you will be responsible for campaign coordination of inventory sales across the Metro TV portfolio working across a client base of national brands your primary function will be to support the Sales Executive and work collaboratively with external stakeholders such as media and advertising agencies as well as internal stakeholders across the business who shows commitment to the team's purpose and effectively contributes and shares skills/knowledge with others You’ll have an ability to absorb information and act accordingly Being part of our Nine Sales team means you will benefit from: Nine is Australia’s largest locally owned media company – the home of Australia’s most trusted and loved brands spanning News subscription video platform Stan and amajority investment in Domain Group Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: we are committed to fostering a workforce that embraces all aspects of diversity and inclusion and where practices are equitable to ensure our people experience a sense of belonging Should you require any adjustments to the recruitment process in order to equitably participate we encourage you to advise us at the time of application Motorists say a large number of cars were left stuck on the side of the road after being damaged by metal shards that spilled from a truck The NRMA says it is getting hundreds of calls from motorists across Sydney for help A trucking company based in Sydney's west has admitted it was their truck that accidentally dropped the debris Link copiedShareShare articleMotorists have described the chaos caused by hundreds of vehicles being damaged by shards of metal that spilled from a truck along a vast stretch of the country's busiest roads Drivers were left stranded and waiting for help after their tyres were pierced by the debris from a truck on the M1 southbound from the NSW Central Coast to Sydney on Friday morning Some vehicles suffered multiple tyre punctures between Palmdale and the Mooney Mooney Bridge after 5am A truck carrying metal debris lost its load An almost 30-kilometre section of the motorway was closed between Ourimbah and the Calga Interchange with the clean-up expected to take all day The southbound lanes reopened on Friday afternoon Roger told 702 ABC Radio Sydney he got onto the freeway at Kariong and felt the debris under his tyres "There was a warning sign of debris on the Mooney Mooney Bridge," he said Roger said he was able to change the tyre himself several kilometres down the motorway "I got as far as Berowra and I had one flat tyre as the people next to me had two tyres affected and had to wait for help." Some motorists suffered multiple punctures One driver told ABC Radio Central Coast he saw around 20 to 30 cars stranded on the M1 all with their hazard lights on and tyres flat his car didn't escape unscathed having two of his tyres busted by the debris "It's just a disaster at the moment…I am just waiting for a tow truck hopefully get me back to Gosford so I can get my two tyres sorted out," he said Hundreds of cars have had their tyres shredded Shabby said he managed to escape damage while driving southbound this morning dozens of other vehicles were stuck by the side of the road "I heard the problem was at Ourimbah further north so maybe I was lucky because I got on to the M1 at Gosford so maybe a lot of the debris had not trailed down that far." All southbound motorists are being diverted onto the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah He said he then drove slowly in case he had a flat tyre "I got out when I got to Wahroonga (Sydney's north) and just checked my poor tyres a caller named Janet told 702 ABC Radio Sydney she was amazed how many cars were affected "We could just see all of these cars pulled over and we thought obviously it's the southbound Those poor darlings were just stranded." NRMA Roadside manager Simon Denic said the situation was worsening as people realised they had tyre damage Mr Denic said even if people could not see damage now they should still have their tyres checked just in case "Motorists have pulled up at their destination and can see damage with a potentially slowly deflating tyre." An almost 30-kilometres stretch of the motorway is closed Simone told 702 ABC Radio Sydney she was struck in traffic trying to head south from the Central Coast and get onto the M1 a trip that normally takes 30 minutes and we are in gridlock for two hours." The trucking company NJ Ashton, based in Sydney's west, has admitted it was their truck that accidentally dropped the debris and has set up a website for affected motorists, saying "all reasonable costs are covered under our [insurance] policy". Emergency crews are responding to a major incident on the M1 motorway, with hundreds of drivers pulled over with flat tyres, because of shards of metal on the road. General manager Daniel Falconer said the driver loaded his vehicle late yesterday. "Just little bits of steel … so we're talking tonnes, 40 tonnes of it in the back of our truck … it's called flock, so it's just like scrap metal and we transport the material." Mr Falconer said investigations were ongoing into what happened. "The pins holding the trailer gate were secure, so it's a mystery how it came to spill." Link copiedShareShare resultsBy chief election analyst Antony Green posted Fri at 2:00pmFriday 2 May 2025 at 2:00pmFri 2 May 2025 at 2:00pm Updated 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 12:05pm updated 4h ago4 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 8:20am Braddon | Brand The retiring Liberal MP is Paul Fletcher who has represented the seat since a December 2009 by-election. Bradfield is one of the most affluent electorates in Australia, covering 105 sq.km of Sydney's upper North Shore with a spine running along the Pacific Highway. It includes the suburbs of Willoughby, Killara, Lindfield, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Wahroonga, Roseville, Castle Cove and parts of Chatswood. (Victories by a party of government are indicated by thick coloured underlining.) The map below explains why the Liberal margin for Bradfield has been cut by the redistribution. The areas transferring from the old Bradfield recorded a Liberal two-candidate preferred vote of 54.3%, the areas lost to Berowra voted Liberal 53.6%, but the 29,000 voters transferred from North Sydney recorded a Liberal two-candidate preferred of only 47.1%. (Click on polling place for results) Yin serves as the Chairman of the Australia National Chinese Business Forum and has held senior advisory roles in both state and federal governments. McCallum grew up in Castle Hill but has lived on the North Shore for 15 years. She is a small business owner, operating a recruitment agency from her home in Lindfield. We know Sydney traffic can be frustrating, especially in peak hour. The Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade will change the way you travel across Sydney Harbour. This project will get you to places faster by improving capacity and providing new direct routes and reliability on both sides of the harbour. This much needed new crossing of Sydney Harbour will be a game changer for our city. You will save time on your journeys and enjoy more direct bus routes between the Inner West, Sydney and North Sydney, with seamless connections to the future Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains. On 8 September 2023, the NSW Government confirmed the decision to cancel the Beaches Link project. Transport for NSW will write to the Department of Planning and Environment to withdraw its State Significant Infrastructure Application for this project. Transport will continue to carry out a road network review to assess what, if any, network improvements may be required in northern Sydney and other impacted areas to ensure a safe, efficient and reliable road network for motorists. The Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade projects are currently under construction. Please visit the project portals to find out more: Visit the Western Harbour Tunnel interactive portal. Visit the Warringah Freeway Upgrade interactive portal. Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country. We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced It was only a matter of time before Sydney's rapidly expanding food and drink scene broke through the confines of Sydney city and started spilling north of the bridge North Sydney has always had a few standout spots with red-hot new destinations like Genzo opening their doors to eager diners Part of the Walker Street Precinct, Genzo brings "a taste of Tokyo" to North Sydney's miniaturised CBD. Tokyo's izakaya street-style dining has become quite the rage in Sydney, with Genzo joining the fray to bring traditional Japanese snacks with a twist to the lower North Shore Those dishes come in great and small sizes alike Simple starters like shiitake tempura and ponzu and tuna onigiri with stracciatella and umeboshi are joined by a mix of nigiri and sushi rolls but hungrier diners should turn their eyes to the hot food skin and more creatively paired with ingredients like toasted rice miso glazed Glacier-51 toothfish or a cold bowl of soba noodles you've got the pick of house beers and wines Japanese sodas and an impressive offering of saké in flights or by the bottle get around everything from creative house specials with Japanese ingredients or the ever-popular Japanese highball made with high-quality spirits like Toki Whisky Visit Genzo this April and May to experience a Suntory Toki Whisky Highball and snack pairing. More details at the Suntory Time hub here The changes are to enable better connections with Sydney Metro bus services will operate from an existing bus stop close by Bus stops no longer operating in North Sydney: Plan ahead by visiting www.transportnsw.info there will be timetable changes designed to provide passengers in the Sydney North West and Hills District with better connections and a more reliable bus network The changes will also make it easier for commuters to access stations along the new Metro line to provide alternatives to driving and offer a smoother combined commute North West and the Hills District are being adjusted to better align to the community’s public transport needs This will improve connections with Sydney Metro and the newly opened Parramatta Light Rail. Some trips may require an interchange, however we encourage passengers to plan their trip in advance using Transport’s Trip Planner Transport introduced bus timetable changes designed to provide the community with better connections and more reliability in Sydney’s North West bus network Some areas will see more services and extended operating hours The changes will also make it easier for commuters to access stations along the new Metro line to provide reliable alternatives to driving and offer a smoother combined commute Find out more about the North and North West bus changes Visit Bus changes at Transport for more information For more information check out our Frequently Asked Questions document on this page or contact Transport services Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present visitors to Stanton Library may detect the rhythmic clicking of knitting needles as local crafters work their magic on colourful yarn But there’s more to this knitting clan than meets the eye highlighting important causes while putting a smile on the faces of those who live or work in North Sydney Past projects have included covering Brett Whiteley Place in woollen breasts for cancer awareness and an artwork featuring thousands of poppies and the names of North Sydney area nurses who served during World War I It’s community craft taken to a clever new level and member Linda Brooke says she hates to miss a meeting Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines “There’s such a range of people and interests people from different countries and different age groups It’s also indicative of a side of North Sydney that’s not so obvious to the thousands who move in and out of the suburb for work on a daily basis and the library is so supportive of the community and any activities that get people involved and bring people together.” Real estate agent Dino Gatti says the suburb has blossomed in recent years as new restaurants and cool cafes opened their doors while the metro has elevated the already-impressive public transport connectivity Marrickville: This 'burb celebrates the best of multiculturalism 'Impeccably crafted': Cinema and sauna Harbourfront home with ‘floating’ tennis court for sale in Sydney “It’s just a huge advantage for North Sydney residents,” he says “They can be anywhere in Sydney within 20 minutes.” people used to turn their nose up at North Sydney because it was a very commercially oriented area with some older apartment buildings,” he says as the office buildings are being converted into high-end apartments with high-end shops a lot of people from out of the area are taking notice.” with Dino Gatti from The Agency North Glorietta is quite a large Italian restaurant with a great energy and vibe and impeccable service. It suits casual dining, cocktails with friends and also business meetings and dinners. It’s slightly elevated from the street so it’s got a really good feel about it. Not everyone is aware of the diversity and volume of sporting attractions at North Sydney Oval. A lot of the club sports are played there – you might see a heavily promoted rugby union or cricket game – and you can also catch outdoor cinema or a concert. There’s been an uptick in interest in North Sydney due to the great location and fantastic transport links. A lot of younger people don’t want to have a car or have the expense of owning a car, so being within walking distance of public transport is really, really important. 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 Tickets: Adults $15 | Kids FREE Adult tickets are just $15 and kids under 16 years go FREE! Click here to buy now! The Box Office will be open for ticket sales on match day Patrons can purchase tickets until the innings break Entry is free for all Sydney Sixers members Simply scan your digital membership card at the gate The Membership Marquee will be located at the main entrance at Ridge St if members require any assistance Want to Be Like A Sixer? Click here to check out our membership packages, starting from $32 Look out for Sixers staff as you enter the ground We’ll be handing out a mix of freebies including flags and face cutouts Fans will also have the opportunity to collect one of 25 limited edition prints of Lauren Cheatle and Sarah Aley at match Keep an eye on our socials on match day for more details! Plus be sure to check out the following activities within our Fan Zone precinct located at Ridge Street gates: North Sydney Oval is located in the south-west corner of St Leonards Park at the intersection of Miller and Ridge Streets Food & drinks are available from the kiosk located adjacent to the Fig Tree at the Northern end Alcohol is usually sold from the lower floor of the Mollie Dive Stand at the Northern end Please be aware that North Sydney oval is a fully licensed venue – no glass or alcohol is permitted a council car park is located in Ridge Street and is free to use on weekends For more information refer to the North Sydney Council website The North Sydney Oval is just a 5 minute walk from Victoria Cross Station and a 15-minute walk from the North Sydney train station and public transport via Sydney Metro and Sydney trains is included in your WBBL ticket Regular buses operate directly from North Sydney Railway Station to the Oval and travel along Miller Street To plan your trip click here and search North Sydney Oval Merchandise will be available for purchase at the Membership Marquee located at the main entrance Click here to check out our full range online. Hang around after the match to meet your Sixers heroes The whole WBBL playing squad will be signing autographs and taking selfies at the conclusion of play Stay up to date on all the action and news from the match by following Sydney Sixers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram broadcasted live on Channel 7 and Fox Cricket CNSW acknowledges and pays respect to the land and waters across New South Wales We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have walked upon and cared for this land for thousands of years We acknowledge their ongoing connection to this country as the Traditional Owners and we commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation so that together we may bring about equity and equality built on strong and trusting relationships Japan is having a moment right now, both as a holiday destination and as a trending cuisine, with all sorts of Japanese venues appearing all over Sydney. One of the most colourful and dynamic among this new wave of arrivals is Miji Bar and Grill — a neon-lit izakaya that's bringing a taste of Tokyo's laneway culture to the North Sydney CBD If you're one of the lucky travellers who's given Japan a visit but are still yearning for the streets of Shibuya or Shinjuku Miji's interior is fully decked with imported Japanese signage neon lights and even a replica of Shinjuku's famous red archway floor-to-ceiling windows and the fact that you're on the first floor of a North Sydney office building and it feels like a unique combination of two different worlds Chef Jacob Lee has Michelin-starred experience in kitchens the world over and it shows with an air of inventiveness across the menu donburi bowls and a mix of cooked and raw bar snacks These skewers are the real deal and a must-try on your first visit but the chicken thigh and enoki wagyu roll are our picks of the lot as the dinner menu also treads in the realm of small plates (like the insanely moreish deep-fried whitebait with shichimi spice mix and honey sour cream) like gloriously grilled king prawns or rainbow trout with yuzu butter sauce and salmon roe one of Miji's specialties is a help-yourself drinks service that's practically unheard of in Sydney: a self-serve sake bar Just grab a pre-paid membership card to tap bartenders behind the counter will happily take your order A creative cocktail menu is especially alluring Try the Doraemon to sip apple sake and vodka mixed with blue curaçao The North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment is now expected to be completed in the second half of the year with contractor Icon revising its forecast practical completion date to 17 July 2025—over 12 months later than the current contractual date of 11 July 2024 According to a council report to be considered at the 24 March meeting program slippages continue to impact the project timeline despite ongoing onsite activity including completion of structural steel over the grandstand area and waterproofing on Level 3 but several critical components remain in progress Erection of steel for the main Alfred Street entrance and the final structural elements of the Ripples Café reconstruction are underway Icon has now submitted 157 claims for extension of time with the project superintendent currently assessing four outstanding claims totalling 32.5 days 37 new Requests for Information have been submitted since the previous report in February The high volume of RFIs is attributed to the construct-only nature of the contract along with latent conditions and design issues Council remains concerned about the certainty of the contractor’s program forecasts and has begun applying liquidated damages from the original 11 July 2024 practical completion date Ongoing delays are also driving increased project costs due to extended consultancy The revised construction contract sum now stands at $91.78m with total project costs remaining within the $122m forecast budget Council has received 415 variation claims to date Icon has indicated a further 119 potential variation claims totalling approximately $4.2m that are yet to be lodged Recent assessed and agreed variations since the last reporting period total $35,530 mostly stemming from design changes to mechanical and electrical services and access adjustments in the plant room due to corrosion concerns Council officers have reiterated their focus on ensuring quality and compliance as the project progresses Legal proceedings related to the project are ongoing (22 November – I’ve been through and finalised the split and merged SA1s to produce my final version of the margins They have been incorporated into the table inside the post.) (UPDATE – the final boundaries have been released confirming the abolition of North Sydney There are some very minor changes of at most 0.1% and these have been updated in the table.) (UPDATE – Friday 13 September – a discrepancy where the new electorate file coded Mcmahon rather than McMahon caused an error in my calculations The significant changes are that Blaxland drops back from 13.9% to 13.1% while the new margin for McMahon is now 10.5% as opposed to the original estimate of 13.1% There is also a minor adjustment for Fowler the Redistribution Committee for New South Wales released the final version of the state’s new Federal electoral boundaries Draft boundaries were released in June and opened for public comment This final version will be formally gazetted later this month and used for the first time at next year’s Federal election The redistribution has taken place to decrease the number of NSW federal divisions from 47 to 46 The final boundaries have confirmed the abolition of the Independent held seat of North Sydney The draft boundaries were released when I was overseas so this post is my first analysis of the draft boundaries Today’s release includes a string small number of minor adjustments to the draft boundaries none of which alter the analysis in this post I will make minor adjustments to this post once the AEC publishes the datafiles required for calculations Re-calculating margins is a complex task of processing AEC polling place data files on where people voted in 2022 and comparing them with Bureau of Statistics files listing the low level SA1 (Statistical Area 1) composition of new electorates Complicating the process is a re-numbering of many SA1s between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses The 2022 AEC files used the old SA1 identifiers and the new electorate files use the new SA1 identifier This has required a lot of fiddling with data to resolve inconsistencies between SA1 identifiers Not all of the SA1 inconsistencies could be resolved but I do not believe they significantly affect any calculations The AEC will release its own versions of new margins next year as the election approaches The AEC has many more resources to resolve SA1 inconsistencies and splits than are available to me Based on traditional two-party preferred results including for the underlying Labor-Coalition nature of Independent held seats the changes in two-party preferred holdings are – The changes are brought about by the abolition of Independent-held North Sydney a flow on impact of which is to flip neighbouring Bennelong from being a marginal Labor seat to as very marginal Liberal seat The three-way carve up of North Sydney along council boundaries is shown in the map below The main political implications of the changes are – The new margin estimates in this post have not taken into account the adjustments included in the final boundaries the list of adjustments released seem unlikely to change the estimated margins below Seat tables can be found inside the post.Read More »2024 Federal Redistributions – Final Boundaries for NSW Released Neve | Powered by WordPress Tickets: Adults $15 | Kids FREE Selfies and Signatures Game 1: End of Match Selfies and signatures Game 2: End of Match Adult tickets are just $15 and kids under 16 years go FREE! Click here to buy now! Sydney Sixers Members - don’t forget to collect your exclusive Sixers WBBL player badge outside at the Ridge Street gate before you enter Fans will also have the opportunity to collect one of 25 limited edition prints of Alyssa Healy and Marizanne Kapp at match Plus be sure to check out the following activities within our Fan Zone precinct located at Ridge Street gates: And don’t miss the dance performance from our Hype Crew at innings break we are excited to be kicking off our home game series by taking our game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs to Industree Group Stadium on the Central Coast on Sunday 13th April across the Central Coast to come out and support this exciting game day We have waited a long time to play at this stunning stadium that was built on the blood Now is the time to come out and cheer on the red & black Let’s fill the stadium and show the NRL our fans are hibernating no more The two foundation clubs will kick off game one of the 2025 Mario Fenech Cup at the iconic ground the game is played annually with the winner determined on aggregate points across two games The Bears Footy Fun Zone will be on from 1.30pm – 3pm with heaps of fun activities for the whole family including NRL inflatable skills course 1pm Asquith Magpies vs Narrabeen Sharks A-Grade 1.30pm – 3pm Bears Footy Fun Zone located on the Western side of the stadium Game Day Tickets at Box Office: Adults $23 All North Sydney Bears 2025 members with game day access included in their membership tier will be given free access to the Bears game at Industree Group Stadium as part of their 2025 allocation Simply present your 2025 Members Card at the gate to be scanned for entry This game will then count as one of your allocated game days for the season For all members who do not have game day access included (Bear Essential and A New Era) please purchase a ticket via the link below then grab one of our newly released CENTRAL COAST ONE GAME memberships for only $25 This membership gives you access to the Mario Fenech Cup game day at Industree Group Stadium on Sunday 13th April plus an Admit One Pass to a Home Game at North Sydney Oval during 2025 season 10% of merchandise and Members Card and Sticker entry to the stadium will be via the West Entry Gates that are parallel to Central Coast Highway All spectators will be seated in the Western Stand Gosford Train Station is located approximately 300m from Industree Group Stadium with regular train services running to and from Sydney’s CBD, North Shore and Newcastle. For up-to-date train info including trackwork alerts check transportnsw.info Bus services operate from all over the Central Coast. Telephone Busways on (02) 4368 2277 or 1300 69 2929 or visit transportnsw.info to plan your trip Nearby ferry stops include Woy Woy, Ettalong, Daviston and Patonga. Visit centralcoastferries.com.au or FantaSea Cruising for details of getting the ferry to the venue The Stadium is accessible by bike with cycle ways running from Woy Woy and Erina to the Stadium Bike racks are located at both entry points to the stadium No parking locations exist in the vicinity of Industree Group Stadium in Wilhemnina Street George Street or under the Brian McGowan Bridge Motorists are advised not to park on footpaths and nature strips to avoid being issued a fine and to park within designated parking areas only We're opening the 2024 NAB AFLW season THIS FRIDAY from North Sydney Oval when we clash with Collingwood It's set to be a vibe with activities for the kids Plan your game day below and visit our Match Day Hub for more information Round 1Sydney Swans v Collingwood - North Sydney OvalFriday August 30Gates open: 5:15pmTeam entry: 6:45pmFirst bounce: 7:15pm TICKETSTickets can also be purchased at the box office at the Ridge Street gate AFLW Members are invited to redeem their member item at one of our membership marquees located at the Miller Street and Ridge Street gate You will receive an SMS this week to download your digital redemption pass Your mobile member ticket(s) will be available on the Sydney Swans App from Tuesday. Simply add your tickets to your Apple or Google Wallet, steps HERE. For Ruby Club and AFLW Premium Members who have selected Round 1 for their match day hamper this can be collected at the membership marquee at the Miller St Gate If you need any help on game day please visit the membership support marquees at the Miller Street or Ridge Street Gate for assistance Super Disco Club - the DJ duo Andy and Cassie Van - will be performing pre-game quarter time and three quarter time to keep the good vibes rolling all night long The Hill Bar inside the ground will be serving after work drinks from gates open including a selection of beverages from our partners White Bay Brewing Enjoy Friday night dinner with Food Truck Alley from 5:15pm - 6:00pm we will be holding Happy Hour - grab a drink and meal for just $20 - at food vendors inside the ground The QBE Fan Zone will be up and running again the QBE Ball Tower also returns - guess the number of balls in the tower to win a $400 online Sydney Swans voucher Join us outside the venue for Volkswagen's Pedal Car Power Hop into a pedal car against your opponent Pedal as fast as you can to generate maximum power Don’t forget to pick-up your Volkswagen Clap Banner on entry to the game and remember to hold it up at half-time to win This year each home game our winner will receive a $500 Ticketek Experiences Voucher Get in the spirit of game day and have your face painted by the team at Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation The best way to support our AFLW team is by purchasing a membership. From $37 you can get access to ALL home and away games this season, plus many more perks. Join today! Five Sydney Swans stars have polled votes from the coaches in Derby XXX The importance of connecting with local youth was not lost on Sydney Swans defender Nick Blakey as he reflected on his time as a junior footballer during a visit to his junior club The QBE Foundation hosted its annual Goals for Good event at Sunday’s AFL clash between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants Preparations are underway for a Qualifying Finals clash with the GWS Giants but Joel Hamling finally kicks his first goal in AFL footy Will Hayward takes a great mark and kicks our fifth consecutive first quarter goal to give the Swans the dream start Corey Warner finishes off a piece of brilliant team build up to extend our lead late in the third quarter Enjoy Peter Ladhams' standout VFL performance for Sydney the Swans VFL side were unable to overcome the top-of-the-table Giants on Sunday at the SCG The Sydney Swans acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country across all the lands on which we operate and play our great game Elders are the knowledge keepers of our culture and we respectfully acknowledge and pay our respects to the elders past THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE LEISURE INDUSTRY Back to Latest News back North Sydney Council has voted to increase rates by more than 87% over two years the Council will need to get approval for the special rate variation from NSW’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal One of the biggest drivers in the need for a rate increase has been the cost blowout of redeveloping the heritage-listed North Sydney Olympic Pool - now estimated to cost about $120 million The Council has advised that the rising costs for the project have been driven by lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic increase in service delivery costs and declining revenue from other sources North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said the rate increase was the "harsh reality" of the former Council's "bloated vanity project" to redevelop the pool She advised “now is the time to make the difficult decisions for the greater good "And now we are here at the crunch time for the clean-up Late last year, Royal Life Saving Society - Australia Chief Executive Justin Scarr wrote on social media that “the true cost of the North Sydney Pool refurb is much more than $91 million (and is) drowning out hope of a pool rebuild or refurbishment for many more communities across Australia.” Pointing to Royal Life Saving having previously reported the urgent need for upgrades to 500 community pools over the next decade Scarr went on to state “rapid urban development means many more people in densely and diversely populated suburbs have to pack a picnic to get to a good place to swim or wait in line to get lessons for their kids whenever the idea of a comprehensive targeted investment strategy for community pools is raised the most common response is ‘what about North Sydney’ “Busting through the cynicism is a challenge but it’s not impossible Those reaching beyond the Speedo wearing cohort make a real additional contribution to health and social cohesion for those who need it most." Images: Concept for the redevelopment of the North Sydney Olympic Pool (top) and the refurbishment of the pool includes preservation of its heritage elements which date back to is construction in 1936 (below) 6th January 2025 - Royal Life Saving to stage symposium on future of aquatic facilities 20th December 2024 - Australian Swim Schools Association and NSW Aquatic and Recreation Institute to stage joint conference in 2025 1st November 2024 - Rising costs of North Sydney Olympic Pool rebuild set to impact ratepayers 3rd September 2024 - North Sydney Council installs defibrillators in parks and offers CPR training 23rd July 2024 - Council to commence legal proceedings against North Sydney Olympic Pool architects 6th May 2024 - North Sydney Council cuts staff as Olympic Pool redevelopment drains budget 6th March 2024 - Royal Life Saving fears 500 public pools may close without strategic investment 12th February 2024 - Cost of North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment set to exceed $100 million 1st December 2023 - Further delays in redevelopment of North Sydney Olympic Pool 29th August 2023 - APP Group appointed to project manage redevelopment of North Sydney Olympic Pool 27th August 2023 - Refurbishment of North Sydney Olympic Pool maintains heritage elements 9th May 2023 - Costs rise and delays lengthen in North Sydney Olympic Pool rebuild project 1st November 2022 - North Sydney Council calls for independent review of Olympic Pool redevelopment 20th September 2022 - Delays and rising costs impact North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment 13th January 2021 - Builder appointed for North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment 11th April 2020 - Council moves forward with plans to redevelop North Sydney Olympic Pool 27th February 2020 - North Sydney Olympic Pool classed as a ‘regional facility’ when gaining Federal grant funding 27th March 2019 - North Sydney Olympic Pool refurbishment needs another $30 million we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news Click here to view our subscription options Click here to view our subscription options product and event updates delivered right to your inbox The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services See more see more See the directory see all Get your business noticed in our targeted directory Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week Website by Costs blowout — The North Sydney Council pool debacle is one of the reasons rates are jumping 87 per cent Tenants in North Sydney may face a rent hike and some older home owners “feeling the pinch” forced to sell because of an 87 per cent rise in council rates Many said the council rate hike would affect property investors the most encouraging some to sell and others to try to make renters pay for it “Any cost that a landlord bears does eventually get passed on to tenants which is not a great thing,” says the Real Estate Institute of NSW president Thomas McGlynn Insane amount you’ll save from interest rate cut Residents line up to attend last night’s North Sydney Council meeting to protest the proposed rate rise And with more than half of the households in the North Sydney council area renters he says the council’s decision is “disappointing” amid a housing crisis “At a time when we need as many rental homes as possible this move may see some investors reconsider their decision to own an investment property,” he said this definitely will pinch the purse strings particularly in the current cost of living crisis.” called on landlords not to pass on the extra costs saying tenants in North Sydney had already suffered huge rent increases in recent years and further rises were unjustified rents for two bedroom apartments have gone up $400 and since Covid they’ve gone up four grand a year,” Mr Patterson Ross said “We’re very concerned about the cost of rent in North Sydney … it’s not clear there’s any justification for these rises so we should be looking at mechanisms to reduce the cost of rent to let people live there to do their job MORE: Nude model’s $12m problem Experts warn tenants will ultimately pay for the rate increase “We need to make sure rents remain affordable but we don’t think that this council rate rise is going to make that harder.” BresicWhitney’s lower north shore specialist Stephen O’Sullivan says he’s already taken calls this morning from worried homeowners many of them are cash poor and asset rich,” he said “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the market place people aren’t sure what to do … there are a lot of pissed off people.” He believes many will “swallow it” and there won’t be a surge in listings from older people forced to sell who has just opened a new McGrath McMahons Point office says listings are already well up on last year and if there was a flood of property listings prices could drop “It’s a supply and demand issue — every area is different for example in Kirribilli there are very few houses but there are lots of apartments on the market there and elsewhere that definitely will affect the market and agents will be fighting over the buyers.” MORE: Secret Aussie homes owned by Hollywood stars Former councillor Ian Mutton says the current council has a lack of empathy for people both older or young people starting out with families Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Former councillor Ian Mutton described the decision by current council to increase rates and particularly blaming the former council “They’re creating an illusion of a financial crisis He said many of the repair works they used to justify the rate increase didn’t need to be paid for in the current accounting period He fears that a lot of older home owners will be forced to sell “Homeowners that are asset rich but income poor will struggle to make ends meet and it will create pressures that will inevitably lead to people having to sell,” Mr Mutton said “The current council has a lack of empathy for people both older people or young people starting out with families.” MORE: Gen Z’s wild money expectations exposed we are excited for what 2025 is set to bring On Wednesday 19th February we brought together our corporate and community partners staff and our playing group to help kick off the 2025 season and celebrate another year in the red & black 130 people attended the launch held at Depot Brewery in Artarmon a new partner of the Bears that we will formally launch in the coming weeks Guests mingled and chatted excitedly about the season ahead shnitty sliders and gourmet freshly made wood fire pizzas the new Bear Park Beers were thoroughly enjoyed straight from the brewery’s taps including the very popular new recipe Ginger Bear Formal proceedings kicked off with club CEO Gareth Holmes and Chairman Daniel Dickson welcoming guests and officially announcing the start of the 2025 season for our Knock-On Effect NSW Cup when round 1 commences on the 9th March hosted a Q&A with new Head Coach Tony Barnes and Assistant Coaches Joel Scrivener Barnes discussed how his 25 years in high level rugby league coaching would benefit the Bears and what he had learned as opposition to the club when he was Assistant Coach for the 2024 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Premiers Scrivener talked to the team’s recruitment process for the season and applauded the club’s high retention from the 2024 season with 9 out of the 12 Bears contracted players who featured in the 2024 Grand Final re-signing with the club for 2025 He further expanded to highlight the players who will fill the big shoes left by those three players Florimo proudly announced our 2025 Team Captain as Jesse Marschke with a leadership group consisting of Jake Toby Marschke then introduced his full squad and asked the players to make their way to the stage for a group photo Our 2025 team is now complete and ready for round 1 Gareth Holmes introduced the two brand new playing kit designs for the 2025 season calling up players Harradyn Wilson and Chase Chapman to model the new kit to the guests applause We finished the night by meeting two new club partners our game days and is represented on all of our team jerseys from Junior Reps up to Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Organisation representatives Lulu and Janine spoke passionately about Mary’s House and how much the connection with the iconic North Sydney Bears means our staff and our partners to stand up to domestic violence CEO Rick Dalton of our newest major partner spoke with great pride about the organisations alignment with the Bears for the next two years and how we will work together to ensure inclusiveness and awareness for people with visible and hidden disabilities across the Bears wider community Check out some of the photos from the night below and keep an eye out on the club’s social media pages for video clips from our guest speakers A reception area at Fortinet $75m McMahons Points headquarters US cybersecurity company Fortinet opens its $75m data centre and Sydney headquarters on Friday after the company more than tripled its local headcount The company has hired between 60 and 70 staff per year for the past three years rising from 72 to now more than 260 – 200 of whom will be based at its new office Fortinet bought the building at 162 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point, about 450m from North Sydney Station, from private property company Kingsmede in 2021 for $60m The company has spent $15m fitting a ground level data centre with 30 racks as well as generators on-site batteries and solar panels which provide about 9 per cent of the building’s total energy use that was enough to keep the lights on for about 15 minutes during a power outage Fortinet country manager Dale Nachman told The Australian Having its own local data centre was crucial as more companies sought sovereign cyber capabilities Fortinet has a data centre in its new $75m Sydney office “It’s become a big issue from a sovereignty point of view Customers in Australia don’t want to see their data moving offshore,” Mr Nachman said “They are quite comfortable sometimes if it’s moving to another ‘Five Eyes country’ but that also came with latency issues.” Regulators are increasingly cracking down on Australian companies whose data is being hosted by offshore servers, and this is driving up demand for local cloud and data centre offerings. Fortinet, which also has an office on Collins St in the Melbourne CBD, focuses on cyber security for government and critical infrastructure providers, such as banks, telcos and energy providers. The company found itself in the right place at the right time during Covid-19, when critical infrastructure increased their cybersecurity practices. “We went through a very steep growth curve during Covid. During that time we were seeing growth because of the cyber requirements and also because of the growth of remote work,” Mr Nachman said. “We did see massive growth through the years of Covid but it has definitely plateaued out now and for the last two years it has been a much more consistent and normalised market.” Mr Nachman said Fortinet wanted to grow in the Australian market and use the new headquarters to manage its Asia Pacific operations. The company would seek to build a data centre in New Zealand. The company picked up a contract with the South Australian Department for Education to teach staff in public schools about security awareness and training. realcommercial.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Fortinet bought the building at 162 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point, about 450m from North Sydney Station, from private property company Kingsmede in 2021 for $60m Regulators are increasingly cracking down on Australian companies whose data is being hosted by offshore servers and this is driving up demand for local cloud and data centre offerings which also has an office on Collins St in the Melbourne CBD focuses on cyber security for government and critical infrastructure providers The company found itself in the right place at the right time during Covid-19 when critical infrastructure increased their cybersecurity practices “We went through a very steep growth curve during Covid During that time we were seeing growth because of the cyber requirements and also because of the growth of remote work,” Mr Nachman said Mr Nachman said Fortinet wanted to grow in the Australian market and use the new headquarters to manage its Asia Pacific operations The company would seek to build a data centre in New Zealand The company picked up a contract with the South Australian Department for Education to teach staff in public schools about security awareness and training North Sydney Council executive staff engaged consultancy firm Morrison Low to prepare the groundwork for an 87% rate rise proposal months before the September 14 local government elections—without informing councillors or ratepayers Documents obtained under the Government Information (Public Access) Act show that Morrison Low submitted a proposal to North Sydney Council on August 5 outlining a strategy for securing the rate increase The document states that the consultancy was responding to a request from Council and a schedule included in the proposal suggests that work on the project had commenced as early as June 2024 Council staff received the Morrison Low proposal 40 days before the election yet at subsequent meetings on August 12 and August 26 did not inform councillors that preparations for a rate rise proposal were underway Despite procurement policies recommending multiple quotes for expenditures between $50,000 and $150,000 Council Director Corporate Services Luke Harvey stated that “there are no other consultancies with the depth of experience and capability of Morrison Low to offer this SRV consultancy assistance.” He recommended engaging Morrison Low without a second formal quote Harvey’s memorandum further noted that the Service Unit Manager Customer and Communications had met with Morrison Low to discuss the approach Council Chief Executive Therese Cole approved the engagement and Morrison Low formally acknowledged the commission that same day An extraordinary council meeting was held on October 8 to swear in the new councillors followed by the first general meeting on October 14 At neither meeting did council staff report that an SRV application was in progress stating only that “Council must take strategic steps to address its financial performance and position during the 2025 Financial Year.” The proposal was not disclosed at the November 11 meeting either when an SRV consultation plan appeared as Item 10.7 on the agenda councillors voted 7-3 in favour of proceeding with the Morrison Low-developed consultation and the public engagement campaign commenced the next working day The vote was backed by four Real Independents The SRV application is now before the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal which is accepting public submissions until March 24 Three councillors from the previous term—James Spenceley Ian Mutton and Jilly Gibson—confirmed they were not informed of the SRV plan before the election Mutton stated: “The matters of council’s finances and the engagement of Morrison Low were not on the agenda or raised for council meetings held on August 12 and 26—meetings held prior to the September election The concern is that councillors and the electorate were left in the dark about an issue that should have been reported to the electorate.” Council staff actioned the Morrison Low engagement on the first working day after the election Harvey wrote to Cole recommending the engagement of Morrison Low for the SRV proposal at a cost of $82,450 despite votes still being counted and the council effectively in a caretaker mode Further reading: COMMENTARY: North Sydney Council doesn’t have a financial deficit but a trust one – North Sydney Sun Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Sydney without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Sydney share-style grilled seafood and self-serve sake we reckon Miji Bar & Grill will be a hit with the after-work crowd Find yourself on Miller Street in North Sydney and looking for a place to eat and drink Follow the flashing neon lights and pass under a replica Shinjuku arch – you’ve made it to Miji Bar & Grill a cool new izakaya joint that’s giving off major Tokyo vibes Picture a Japanese casual eatery where food and drinks flow freely and friends gather to unwind after work the first thing you'll notice is the self-serve wine bar – after all it’s all about convenience and choice dried fruits and lollies – so you can make your dream drink You can try one of their signature cocktails at the bar Head chef Jacob Lee’s focus is on taking classic Japanese dishes and giving them a fresh twist Having worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in New York and Seoul he aims for inventive dishes that will give you a taste of Tokyo in the heart of North Sydney And there’s no need to commit to a full sitting – simply pop in for a quick drink and snack and head off when you're ready – just like they do in Japan Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitter instagram pinterest About us Contact us Good Beer Group has sold the Union Hotel in North Sydney to Ashton Waugh’s Watering Holes Hotels. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily The Good Beer Group has sold The Union Hotel in North Sydney to Ashton Waugh’s Watering Hole Hotels business for $22m. The purchase took Watering Hole to 15 venues across NSW. “We’re delighted to acquire this significant Sydney freehold hotel and, in doing so, continue to deliberately expand our group into both metro and regional areas,” Mr Waugh said. The sale was brokered by HTL Property agents Dan Dragicevich, Andrew Jolliffe and Sam Handy. The Good Beer Group has a stable of mainly CBD assets, including the Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Coronation Hotel and the KB Hotel in Surry Hills. The group has the Harold Park Hotel up for sale. The Union Hotel sits on a 784sq m site and has a midnight licence and 26 gaming machines. “In such fluid times from a global perspective, we are seeing a noticeable uptick in buyer inquiry as a patent flight towards hard asset backed hotel properties emerges, and which have, as an investment class and over multiple cycles, proven themselves to be both resilient and recession-proof,” Mr Dragicevich said. Good Beer Group has sold the Union Hotel in North Sydney to Ashton Waugh’s Watering Holes Hotels The Good Beer Group has sold The Union Hotel in North Sydney to Ashton Waugh’s Watering Hole Hotels business for $22m The purchase took Watering Hole to 15 venues across NSW “We’re delighted to acquire this significant Sydney freehold hotel and continue to deliberately expand our group into both metro and regional areas,” Mr Waugh said The sale was brokered by HTL Property agents Dan Dragicevich The Good Beer Group has a stable of mainly CBD assets Coronation Hotel and the KB Hotel in Surry Hills The group has the Harold Park Hotel up for sale The Union Hotel sits on a 784sq m site and has a midnight licence and 26 gaming machines “In such fluid times from a global perspective we are seeing a noticeable uptick in buyer inquiry as a patent flight towards hard asset backed hotel properties emerges as an investment class and over multiple cycles proven themselves to be both resilient and recession-proof,” Mr Dragicevich said.