the federal election is coming to a close this weekend with in-person voting to take place on Saturday While millions of Australians have cast their ballot in pre-polling you'll need to go to a polling station between 8am and 6pm you'll have to pass the gauntlet of party volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards but it's important to note that these are only suggestions - you can number your preferences in any way you want you'll be asked your name and address and whether you've already voted If you're voting outside your own electorate Pre-poll voting closes at 6pm on Friday, May 2. The federal election's coming up this Saturday and we've rounded up all the places to vote Picture fileHere's a list of polling places across the Blue Mountains: Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Evacuation Road Resilience Program aims to improve road resilience to local flash flooding and increase the number of cars that can evacuate during major flooding events We are now seeking community feedback on the proposed drainage improvements on Springwood Road Targeted drainage improvements at key low points will help direct water away from the road surface and keep roads open for as long as possible in an event of flood evacuation Find out more information on the proposed improvements Have your say by Sunday 24 November 2024. There are 3 ways to give feedback Phone: 1800 684 490 See consultation methods We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture has been hospitalised following a crash at Springwood on Saturday the two-vehicle crash happened at around 8.41pm on Magellan Road One woman was taken to Logan Hospital with head injuries A second woman was also taken to the hospital in a stable condition with a leg injury Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The best way to contact MyCity Logan is via email to media@mycitylogan.com.au We look forward to hearing from you about story ideas We see this as your site and value your opinions like our own Please see our terms and conditions Please see our privacy policy Please note, all information published on MyCity Logan is subject to copyright, including text, design, photography and video. If you wish to reproduce any content, please email media@mycitylogan.com.au I understand and agree that my personal information will be collected, stored and used, in accordance with the PGA of Australia's privacy policy American Richard Gilkey and Queenslander Terry Price produced the only under-par rounds at Springwood Country Club to share top spot at the Fidelity Capital Group Charity Legends Pro-Am giving Gilkey his first win since 2020 and Price his second title for 2024 With aspirations to play PGA TOUR Champions Gilkey is a huge fan of the PGA Legends Tour with this result helping to ensure he has playing rights again next year “I’d love to keep coming here until I can’t walk and play this Tour The joint winner at Hurstville on Wednesday was part of a group of four players who finished T3 at 1-over-par Gilkey tackled the back nine first and offset birdies on the 11th and 15th with bogeys on 14 and 18 Two birdies and a bogey followed on the front nine to have him well placed in the clubhouse watching what would happen with the afternoon field 11 and 13 had him at 2-over-par through his first 10 holes The recovery started with a three on the par-4 16th and he added in birdies on the second and fourth to make his way under-par for the day It’s been four years I think since my last win so I was kind of wondering ‘do I still have it’ Price said: “It was tricky out there today but I’m a bit surprised that score has been good enough considering what Andre Stolz did here last year which was a fantastic score I had more like 4-under or 5-under in mind.” -1: Terry Price (Qld); Richard Gilkey (USA) +1: Mark Gibson (NSW); Mark Boulton (Vic); Guy Wall (NSW); Stuart Ford (NSW) +2: John Wade (Vic); David McKenzie (Vic); Brad Burns (Qld); Andre Stolz (Qld); Mark Tickle (Qld); Peter Lonard (NSW); Steven Aisbett (NSW) The PGA Legends Tour’s Blue Mountains double continues with The Blackheath Centenary Year Legends Pro-Am at Blackheath Golf Club on Friday For the latest news and scores on Australian golf Subscribe © 2025 PGA of Australia | Powered by Advertise with us international trombone sensation - and Blue Mountains local - James Greening returns home for a special one-night-only performance alongside jazz legend Dan Barnett Picture Chris CannellBoth masters of the trombone - and with Barnett also hailed as one of Australia's finest jazz vocalists - this dynamic duo brings a mix of humour With larger-than-life personalities and an astonishing list of collaborations Greening and Barnett have performed everywhere from Arnhem Land to the Caucasus and whatever else they can dream up - to an intimate audience in Springwood for an evening of unforgettable music and connection Visit liveatthevillage.com.au for tickets and more details Live at the Village has had the honour of presenting world-class musicians in the heart of the Blue Mountains their concerts span genres and generations - offering something to delight every musical taste intimate atmosphere of the Springwood Presbyterian Church Hall It's more than a venue; it's a space where music lovers come together to connect A mystery $100,000 lottery prize remains unclaimed in Springwood with only 12 months left before the ticket becomes invalid purchased from NewsExtra Springwood Mall was part of Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 10280 unclaimed lottery prizes expire seven years after the draw date This means the winner – who could be a Springwood local or a visitor – has until 1 April NewsExtra Springwood Mall team member Dane Macgibbon said the shop hasn’t sold a major winning ticket since “We have a lot of regular customers that come in each week so this mystery winner might have been a local or it could’ve been someone visiting the area,” he said “It would be amazing for them to check their ticket and discover their win.” The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said it was possible the winner had forgotten about the ticket or never realised it was a winner “It’s highly likely our mystery winner has been going about the past six years as normal with no idea they’ve been holding a winning ticket worth $100,000,” she said She encouraged players to check gloveboxes and other places where tickets may have been stashed “If this player had registered their ticket to The Lott Members Club they would have already been united with their good fortune six years ago,” she said Players who believe they may have the winning ticket are urged to contact The Lott on 131 868 voicing concerns around traffic and the survival of other nearby businesses Helen Yoxall and Mary Schulha are both long-time locals of Springwood and both are unsatisfied with Woolworths' development application (DA) currently on exhibition Mary Schulha (left) and Helen Yoxall are part of a small group raising concerns about a proposed Woolworths development in Springwood Picture by Tom WalkerMs Schulha said the group is not opposed to seeing another supermarket "Our main concern is the impact that that's going to have on traffic [and] on businesses in Springwood," Ms Schulha said The proposed site for the new Woolworths is 8-12 Raymond Road adjoining The Oriental Hotel and neighbouring the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub Between the scale of the shopping centre and its distance from other shops Mrs Schulha said she fears Springwood will lose businesses competing with anything Woolworths offers If Woollies comes in with a bakery - which they do every Woollies has got a bakery - that would mean [one or more] of those shops will go "No one is going to be walking down to buy flowers at the florist when Woollies will have their buckets of [roses].. The DA proposes new roundabouts and pedestrian crossings on streets around the site and includes a traffic report which concludes that the road network will be able to cater to the proposed development Ms Yoxall said the group still sees several possible traffic issues that have not yet been addressed in the DA on a Friday afternoon and a Saturday morning They call those the 'peak periods' - but that's not our peak period," she said our peak period is when there's anything on at the Hub; something at the theatre It's also the drop-off and pickup of the childcare centres [nearby] "They just haven't factored that in at all The group expressed concerns that on-street parking at Springwood Avenue and Raymond and David Roads could be lost to crossings The group's further traffic concerns include roundabout congestion possible traffic bottlenecks to Hawkesbury Road the close distance between the driveways of Woolworths and the Hub and pedestrian access to Springwood village from David Road The group will be holding information sessions about the proposed Woolworths on Monday Submissions on the Springwood Woolworths DA close on February 10. Visit: https://www2.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/datracking/Pages/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=990410 Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 5 May 2025 11:42:26 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); was a visual arts teacher at St Columba's Catholic College Springwood (main picture).A popular teacher at St Columba's Catholic College has died after collapsing while cycling to Springwood was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital following the incident on Wednesday Mr Commerford's wife Anne said her husband was cycling into Springwood for a coffee about 6am when he collapsed unexpectedly on Macquarie Road near Short Street Passing joggers heard Mr Commerford fall and performed first aid "I know that people were immediately on the scene and everything that could have been done was done That is an enormous comfort to me," said Mrs Commerford St Columba's Principal Phillip Scollard said the school is devastated by the tragic loss Mr Commerford was in his third year of teaching at the school "Chris was a very valued member of our staff who was loved by his students and colleagues," Mr Scollard said "This is a very sad day for our college community." Mrs Commerford thanked the school community for their support "I'm so grateful to them as well," she said The school community gathered on March 24 to pray for Mr Commerford and his family and counsellors have attended the school to offer support to both staff and students Picture Damien MadiganHe's been a friendly and familiar face at the Springwood IGA supermarket for more than 25 years but shoppers will soon have to get used to not seeing Neale Pearce The supermarket manager will retire on Friday May 2 after starting work at the Springwood business in November 1999 "The scariest part of the whole thing is how quickly 25 years have gone by," he said This attitude is testament to how much Mr Pearce "I love supermarket retailing for one thing.. But it's all about the people - the customers and the staff," he said "It's a great community [in Springwood] and what I love about it is you get to know the customers - and they know you too." Mr Pearce was just as likely to be stacking shelves on the floor as he was working behind the scenes in his office I don't think I ever looked at my watch and thought 'Is it home time yet?" He gets visibly emotional when he thinks about all the young people the supermarket has employed over the years and the role those jobs have played in their lives "Some of the young people who worked here that you see go on to bigger and better things it makes you feel proud to have been a part of," he said Springwood Supa IGA manager Neale Pearce outside the supermarket Picture Damien MadiganApart from holidaying in either a caravan or on a cruise ship in the next 12 months Mr Pearce said he doesn't have concrete plans for his retirement but isn't retirement all about having no plans?" he said Having worked from 7am to 5pm most days for decades Mr Pearce admits it will probably feel "quite strange" to walk out of the Macquarie Road store on his final day The father-of-four lives across the river in Cranebrook so he won't have a reason to keep a regular eye on his old workplace and colleagues in the Mountains either But his association with IGA supermarkets will continue Mr Pearce's two teenage grandsons will shortly start jobs at the soon-to-open IGA supermarket in Cranebrook - and their grandfather is sure to take as keen an interest in their progress as he did the hundreds of staff who worked with him at Springwood's IGA Veterans were applauded as they made their way up Macquarie Road at 10.30am joined by students from primary and high schools from the Springwood district as well as groups like the Australian Red Cross Springwood High School students Harry Holloway and Kai Chesterman emceed the service at the cenotaph in Buckland Park where the crowd spilled out onto Macquarie Road saying Anzac Day "is not a time for celebrating or glorifying war but rather a time to understand the effects of war" "To remember those women and men who have served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom and peace," he said He acknowledged all the wars and conflicts that Australians have served in before bringing their sacrifice home to the local level "In the [Blue Mountains Community] Hub across the road there is a wooden honour roll that lists the people of the Springwood district who served in the First World War," he said Springwood was a very small village with just a population of a few hundred These losses would have had a significant impact on such a fledgling community." READ MORE: Big crowds turn out for Anzac Day services across Blue Mountains Picture suppliedA popular bike riding skills program for children aged 5-12 years is about to start for a new term Ride Blue Mountains is delivering the national AusBike program in Springwood for eight consecutive weeks from Monday The program will take place at the Churchill Place netball courts from 4-5pm "AusBike teaches kids to ride safely in a fun inclusive environment and caters for kids with all levels of bike riding experience - whether they're just off training wheels or further down the track with their cycling journey," said Ride Blue Mountains vice president Ride Blue Mountains has been delivering AusBike in the Blue Mountains since 2023. "This is fourth course we have run and each time the program grows in popularity as it delivers successful outcomes for children," said Mr Tritton The AusBike program has been designed by expert coaches and has been rolled out progressively across AusCycling clubs around the country by accredited instructors To sign up for AusBike in Springwood go to: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/ridebluemt/events/290391 Main picture, concept art of the 2024 design for a Woolworths supermarket in Springwood. Inset, the 2020 proposal by Woolworths, which was withdrawn in 2022. Pictures suppliedThe DA, lodged in December last year, went on public exhibition on January 13 and can be viewed on Blue Mountains City Council's website The application details plans for a full-line supermarket on Raymond Road worth an estimated cost of more than $33 million A Woolworths spokesperson told the Gazette: "We are excited by the opportunity to invest in Springwood by delivering a high quality retail development The updated plans have been revised based on feedback from council "We're grateful for all the interest and support we've received for this project so far including from residents who have already given supportive feedback." Proposed features of the centre include both underground and rooftop parking and upgrades to the adjoining heritage-listed Oriental Hotel An economic needs assessment included with the DA (written originally in 2019) projected the centre would earn around $47 million in sales within its first year The same assessment estimated an impact of $7.8 million on shops in the Springwood Town Centre The highest impact is estimated to be on Winmalee at around $13.1 million The new plans have moved the loading dock entry from Macquarie Road the centre would take an estimated 15 to 18 months to construct Woolworths' DA submission comes nearly five years after the centre was first announced and more than eight years since the site's former Supa IGA closed its doors The supermarket giant submitted a DA for a shopping centre in 2020 but withdrew their plans for revision in March 2022 after new guidelines were released by the state government During the DA's initial public exhibition in 2020 several concerns about the centre's design were raised by the community and experts With the new DA submission, Woolworths has launched its own website on the proposal. Visit: www.woolworthsspringwood.com. Submissions on the DA close on February 10. Details: www2.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/datracking/Pages/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=990410 concept art of the 2024 design for a Woolworths supermarket in Springwood Pictures suppliedWoolworths has revealed new plans for a supermarket in Springwood two years after it withdrew its original proposal for the town Concept art in the new plans shows an overhauled appearance described "to more closely resemble the adjoining Hub's architecture and blend in with the suburb" The loading dock has also been shifted underground four direct-to-boot pickup bays have been added and new pedestrian crossings are proposed for surrounding streets The planned centre will be a similar size to Katoomba Woolworths with 150 parking spaces and room in the building for one independent specialty retailer Additionally the new plans propose a swathe of upgrades to the Oriental Hotel a heritage-listed building which directly adjoins the supermarket site Concept art of the new design for a Woolworths shopping centre in Springwood Picture supplied The changes include restoring the hotel facade to resemble its 1930s style new outdoor beer gardens and pavilion spaces A Woolworths spokesperson told the Gazette: "We're excited about the opportunity to deliver a high quality retail development at Springwood "We believe our plans will contribute positively to Springwood and the lower Blue Mountains region creating hundreds of new jobs and providing a wider range of fresh produce grocery and household products for the community." Upgrades to The Oriental Hotel are included in the newest plans from Woolworths Picture suppliedYears in the makingThe proposed site for the new Woolworths at the corner of Raymond and David Roads in Springwood formerly operated as a Supa IGA supermarket until its closure in 2016 File pictureWoolworths submitted a development application (DA) for a planned shopping centre in 2020 While the supermarket giant continuously expressed ongoing commitment to establishing a site in Springwood no hard details were available until the unveiling of these latest plans An artist's impression of the 2020 plans by Woolworths for a supermarket in Springwood. File pictureA series of public meetings in 2020 were focused on traffic concerns Blue Mountains City Council also expressed concerns about noise from the centre affecting performances at the neighbouring Blue Mountains Theatre the majority of the centre's plant has been moved to a mezzanine inside the building Parts of the plant that require fresh air have been moved to a condenser deck at the centre's south side (fronting David Road) and surrounded with acoustic screens to reduce noise Concept art includes proposed pedestrian crossings for streets surrounding the planned Woolworths in Springwood Picture suppliedIn addition to the pedestrian the entrance to the loading dock has been moved from Macquarie Road to David Road Past plans for the supermarket have estimated it will take 15 to 18 months to construct if approved It would follow a construction management plan to reduce noise impact on the theatre and The Oriental Hotel would remain open throughout the period Woolworths plans to submit an updated DA shortly The Woolworths spokesperson said: "We're working very closely with Blue Mountains City Council and look forward to receiving feedback on our proposal once it's submitted." A Noise Impact Assessment has been prepared and will be submitted with the DA Joshua and Daniel; and great Granny of Elodie Requiem Mass for the eternal repose of the In lieu of flowers and in loving memory of Kathleen a donation to the Lung Foundation would be appreciated But Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill described the announcement by Liberal Macquarie candidate as a "dud" that falls half a million dollars short of what is required for the project "Mr Creed has made an announcement about council infrastructure without consulting us and Liberal candidate for Macquarie Mike Creed Chairman of Springwood United Football Club Picture Facebook"This announcement won't be happening in this form because it is about half a million dollars short and we don't have that sort of money lying around while we are trying to fund a $400 million repair bill thanks to La Nia "In making an announcement about council's infrastructure, Mr Creed also ignores a current resolution of council that aims to consider synthetic and organic options. Mr Creed nominates just one option that may not be the best." The mayor said council was due to be briefed on the best options for the park on April 15 adding that "synthetic surfaces appear to be unsuitable for bushfire prone areas" Mr Creed's "announcement cannot be delivered for the funding he sets out and appears to be the wrong surface for a bushfire-prone area" But Mr Creed said he was disappointed "the mayor has taken such a counterproductive view of this significant announcement" "You'd think he would welcome this investment into our community and how it has the potential to transform Summerhayes Park," he said Mr Creed announced the election promise on his campaign's Facebook page on April 12 Chairman of Springwood United Football Club Inc. to announce that an elected Coalition Government will invest $1.82 million to upgrade one of the club's fields at Summerhayes Park to a new synthetic surface," he said in the post and a stronger future for grassroots sport in the Blue Mountains." Mr Creed said the funding commitment "will make playing at Summerhayes Park safer allow for all-weather play and ultimately grow the sport of football amongst young women and girls" Cr Greenhill said the council has been in "constructive talks" with Macquarie MP Susan Templeman over the issue and "she continues to take account of what the council actually needs" Scaffolding around the Macquarie Road building was erected on Tuesday The Gazette understands the works will include a new roof and fresh painting of the building "Australia Post is currently undertaking essential maintenance to the heritage Post Office building in Springwood and also significantly improving disabled access," said an Australia Post spokesperson a temporary Post Office has been established 200 metres away at 135 Macquarie Road [frontage from Greenway Lane parcel lockers will be unavailable and Post Office Box holders are asked to collect mail over the counter at the temporary site." Australia Post expects the maintenance work to be completed in less than six months but could not put a definitive timeline on the work "We thank customers for their patience and understanding during the works which will help preserve this historic landmark," the spokesperson said A history of the building by Blue Mountains City Council's Local Studies Collection states it was built in 1901 and while it has undergone many changes since then "In a central location in the main shopping area of Springwood the post office retains an important part of the community," it states Springwood's first postmaster was appointed as early as 1880 following lobbying by prominent citizen Charles Moore. March 26 at Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub in Springwood from 5.30-7.30pm Showcasing the diversity of services and groups open to 12 to 18-year-olds carers and young people with an easy way to get to know what's available in the Mountains It's a free event including pop up performances from local groups circus workshops and an aerial performance and a free barbecue from the Rapid Relief Team "We met with students from high schools across the Mountains last year to discuss their priority issues and things to do were a common theme," said Blue Mountains City Council's youth development officer '"The Upper Mountains Expo [on March 18] was great fun - fencing demos and a tonne of really great activities from local services and groups." You can find out more about local services and events for young people on the Blue Mountains Youth Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YouthBlueMountains/ By Eliza Wregg first published at 2 April 2025 - 8:52 am The time to claim a life-enhancing $100,000 Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot prize is running out with one Springwood resident or visitor yet to check their ticket and come forward The mystery Logan player held the 1st Prize winning entry in Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 10280 lottery prizes must be claimed within seven years after the draw date The winning entry was purchased at NewsExtra Springwood Mall NewsExtra Springwood Mall team member Dane Macgibbon said he and his team hoped the mystery winner checked their ticket soon “We can’t believe it’s been six years since we sold the $100,000 ticket We thought that it would’ve been claimed by now,” he said so this mystery winner might have been a local or it could’ve been someone visiting the area “We haven’t sold a major lottery ticket since selling this $100,000 ticket in 2019 We had five major lottery wins leading up to it We’re sure another win is just around the corner “It would be amazing for the mystery winner to check their ticket and discover their $100,000 win We really hope the mystery winner can be united with their prize before time runs out.” With only 12 months left to claim the life-enhancing prize The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell urged all players in the area to check their tickets “Time is running out for this mystery winner to claim their exciting prize lottery winners have seven years from the draw date to claim meaning there’s only one year left to claim “We know other big winners have stashed their winning tickets in all sorts of places – from the fridge door to the car console – so it’s worth searching all nooks and crannies for unchecked tickets “This is a great reminder to all players to register their tickets to a player card or online account If this player had registered their ticket to The Lott Members Club they would have already been united with their good fortune six years ago “If you discover you are holding the winning ticket contact The Lott on 131 868 immediately to begin the process of claiming your prize.” 147 Lucky Lotteries 1st Prize and Jackpot winning entries across Australia won more than $52.2 million Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot and Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot are raffle-style games which means there is a set number of tickets in each draw As each ticket number is unique there is no sharing of prizes Each game has two draws – one that determines the winning numbers and one that determines the jackpot number If the jackpot number matches one of the winning numbers If the jackpot number does not match one of the winning numbers the Jackpot Prize will climb for the next draw Tickets can be purchased at any licenced lottery outlet online from thelott.com or via The Lott mobile app The official home of Australia’s lotteries, The Lott operates and markets Australia’s leading lottery games customers know and love creating everyday winners Last financial year Australia’s official lotteries contributed more than $1.8 billion via state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Matthews continued to serve Springwood in a variety of ways – for some time as a board member “I am honored to lead the school in fulfilling its mission of developing the whole child I believe that a Springwood education continues to be a tremendous opportunity for students that live in East Alabama and West Georgia Students that matriculate from Springwood School are prepared to make choices at the next level due to their extensive preparation and the academically focused environment present on campus I look forward to meeting all the current families as well as individuals interested in learning more about what a private school education entails.” Matthews graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Lagrange College in Lagrange She continued her studies by earning a Master of Arts in Instructional Leadership from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville Matthews enjoys hiking and traveling with her family Springwood has served the Valley area by developing students who have grown to serve their own communities as leaders and influencers for the next generation Matthews as we all work together to continue the excellence of independent education in our area the Brooklyn Nets (21-39) square off against the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) at 6… Ranked squads are on Monday’s college basketball schedule in two games including the Kansas Jayhawks squaring off against… The Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Florida Panthers is a game to see on a Monday NHL schedule… Ranked squads will be on Monday’s college basketball schedule for two games including the Kansas Jayhawks playing the… There is no shortage of excitement on Monday in college basketball play including the McNeese Cowboys playing the… Picture suppliedIt's showtime at The Royal Hotel in Springwood as the curtain goes up on an exciting new season of entertainment Actor Mark Lee - who starred in one of Australia's most acclaimed and popular movies Gallipoli - kicks off a series of rehearsed play readings with a sci-fi classic on May 1 adapted by local playwright Frank Gauntlett has been performed around Australia to great acclaim Now it's Springwood's turn to share this apocalyptic journey into the future Picture suppliedThe Playground readings - performed and directed by and for Blue Mountains artists - will be staged at The Royal on the first Thursday of every month offering everything from classics to brand new work Admission is by donation to the Australasian Order of Old Bastards especially at Westmead Children's Hospital there's still no fix in sight for the frequent traffic jams clogging travel between Springwood and Winmalee The road often grinds to a halt in mornings and afternoons leaving kilometres of queued cars stretching from the roundabouts to beyond St Columba's A traffic jam on Hawkesbury Road reaching nearly four kilometres away from the roundabout Picture suppliedWard 3 Councillor Daniel Myles said Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has "failed the Springwood and Winmalee community" by not yet putting out their design concepts "The people of the [area] need a solution to this problem which will be catastrophic in a bushfire emergency if a large-scale evacuation is required," Cr Myles said "Transport for New South Wales know that and they've still failed to act In March 2024 TfNSW showed Blue Mountains City Council several possible solutions under consideration for easing traffic strain on Hawkesbury Road These concepts included traffic lights at the road's roundabouts and a slip lane connecting Hawkesbury Road to the Great Western Highway off ramp One year later no concept has progressed to community consultation and Cr Myles said the situation isn't improving Councillor Daniel Myles in 2024 at the Hawkesbury Road entrance to one of the roundabouts connecting Springwood and Winmalee File picture by Tom Walker"The traffic actually seems to be getting even worse with reports of extremely long queues tailing back even further than before the delays have started almost from the White Cross road shops," he said A TfNSW spokesperson told the Gazette that options for improving traffic flow on Hawkesbury Road are still being considered "Further modelling will be carried out to inform a long-term solution for what is a complex problem Transport will carry out community consultation and seek funding to implement the solution," the spokesperson said Transport is continuing investigating interim measures that may provide some immediate relief." A short term solution could help reduce the more severe effects of Hawkesbury Road congestion such as traffic spilling onto the highway from Macquarie Road during peak hour Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle said the request for funding against some of the considered options is currently with the minister "My aim is to work alongside the community and Transport for New South Wales to address those issues as soon as possible," Ms Doyle said Picture by Damien MadiganSpringwood's latest police recruit won't have to try too hard to get up to speed on the new job going to Xavier College at Llandilo and Werrington County Public School so knows the neighbouring Blue Mountains well Working as a wardsperson at Nepean Hospital before joining the NSW Police Force the career change is the fulfilment of a childhood dream "It's always something that I've wanted to do," Tayla said The 24-year-old is part of the 'Class of 363' - a total of 110 new probationary constables in NSW who attended an attestation ceremony at the NSW Police Academy on August 16 Recruits reported to their stations on Monday August 19 and will complete 12 months' on-the-job training and study by distance education with Charles Sturt University NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the attestation was an unforgettable moment that marked the beginning of a rewarding and challenging career for the new probationary constables "Those attesting today have worked hard over the past eight months and I am proud to welcome them all into our world-class police force," Commissioner Webb said "They will have an integral role to play in serving their local communities and in keeping NSW safe in 2024 the graduating cohort is also made up of students from diverse backgrounds including from Iraq Cheryl Anna 20th February 1948 – 15th February 2025 Passed away peacefully Beloved wife of Peter creative and gentle soul Family and friends are warmly invited to attend Cheryl's thanksgiving service at Springwood Baptist 313 Macquarie Rd Springwood Wednesday 26th February 2025 commencing at 11:00am Picture suppliedThe highly anticipated Buttenshaw Park pump track in Springwood is ready for riders Located within the park's youth play space the pump track is designed to provide a fun and safe environment for cyclists to enhance their skills "We are thrilled to see the Buttenshaw Park Pump Track open and ready to enjoy," said Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill "We've worked closely with local bike groups and the community to ensure the design creates an exciting and safe experience for young riders and it's wonderful to see our vision come to life "I'm looking forward to seeing the track buzzing with activity." "We are planning a special event in May to officially open the track and invite everyone to enjoy it," said Cr Greenhill "It will be a fantastic day for the community and we can't wait to share more details soon." Construction on the pump track started in January 2025. A pump track was first announced for the park in 2021 as part of an upgrade to the park's youth play spaces but it was shelved the following year after costs blew out. At the time Blue Mountains City Council said postponing the construction of the pump track was not a decision it had taken lightly but labour and material shortages and a corresponding escalation in the project costs meant it wasn't achievable at this time," the council posted in 2023 when other upgrades to the park were opened The project is part of the Neighbourhood Parks Program funded by the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant program For more information on the track go to https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/buttenshaw-park-stage2 Picture suppliedSpringwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre is turning 20 - and the community is invited to celebrate the milestone August 24 marks 20 years since the new centre opened on August 24 this year there will be free entry to the whole centre And it wouldn't be a birthday party without cake Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said this is a wonderful milestone for an important community facility "Springwood is one of our five leisure centres and is open all year round and the staff are second to none," he said This birthday celebration is as much to celebrate 20 years as it is to celebrate the team that make it a first-rate facility Picture supplied"The current centre was opened in 2004 but a public pool has stood on the site for nearly 60 years "The original pool was the vision of a dedicated group of residents who worked together with council to bring it to life and provide their community a fantastic facility "Council replaced the original outdoor pool with the indoor facility The centre in Plateau Road will be open and group fitness classes will be running as normal For more details visit: bmcc.nsw.gov.au/SpringwoodBirthday Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The distraught father of two boys allegedly stabbed to death by their mother has farewelled his “beautiful little kids just becoming beautiful young men” at a funeral service just a few kilometres from their Blue Mountains home Dressed in white and nestled together in a single casket the brothers were on Wednesday morning carried into St Thomas Aquinas Church in Springwood by their father Nick Smith and three other pallbearers Mourners attended the funeral of the two boys on Wednesday in Springwood.Credit: Rhett Wyman In a pre-recorded video eulogy played to hundreds of mourners Nick Smith didn’t acknowledge their mother Trish Smith or the horrendous circumstances surrounding the deaths of the boys “ [They were] the most amazing boys I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting beautiful little kids just becoming beautiful young men “One of the things the boys always loved was their family and even tracing their family tree right back That was something they were very proud of.” Smith told stories of his sons going camping and fishing with their grandparents of sitting in their Penrith Panthers members’ seats watching games and of their love of music – from rappers Post Malone Childish Gambino and Lil Nas X to indie artists like The Rubens and Imagine Dragons Hundreds of mourners farewelled the boys in Springwood close to their Faulconbridge home in the Blue Mountains.Credit: Rhett Wyman and there were weird looks [but] we had a great time … I promised boys Smith ended his eulogy with a request to their school friends The service opened with an anthem from the boys’ school Our Lady of Nativity Primary School in Lawson “You are going to go on and have these amazing lives … but one thing I do ask is every time you come back to the Blue Mountains … please go visit the boys [and] tell them all the great things you’ve done since you last saw them … Make sure they always live inside all of you.” Smith discovered his sons’ bodies two weeks ago at their house in Faulconbridge with his former partner arrested later that day and taken to hospital with self-inflicted injuries She’s since been charged with the boys’ murders and remains in custody who were aged 9 and 11.Credit: Rhett Wyman Father Chris del Rosario said the boys’ father had been “incredibly hard on himself” when the pair met while making preparations for the funeral “You should be so proud of yourself … and of these two boys Reader Amy Hawkes read a prayer: “For those suffering mental illness especially when we are suffering and vulnerable.” The service will end with a private burial and a wake at the Penrith Leagues Club Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter The distraught father of two boys allegedly stabbed to death by their mother has farewelled his \\u201Cbeautiful little kids just becoming beautiful young men\\u201D at a funeral service just a few kilometres from their Blue Mountains home Nick Smith didn\\u2019t acknowledge their mother Trish Smith \\u201C [They were] the most amazing boys I\\u2019ve ever had the privilege of meeting \\u201COne of the things the boys always loved was their family That was something they were very proud of.\\u201D of sitting in their Penrith Panthers members\\u2019 seats watching games and of their love of music \\u2013 from rappers Post Malone \\u201CYou were the only kids at Snoop Dogg and there were weird looks [but] we had a great time \\u2026 I promised boys and I\\u2019ll be dancing the hardest,\\u201D he said The service opened with an anthem from the boys\\u2019 school \\u201CYou are going to go on and have these amazing lives \\u2026 but one thing I do ask is every time you come back to the Blue Mountains \\u2026 please go visit the boys [and] tell them all the great things you\\u2019ve done since you last saw them \\u2026 Make sure they always live inside all of you.\\u201D Smith discovered his sons\\u2019 bodies two weeks ago at their house in Faulconbridge She\\u2019s since been charged with the boys\\u2019 murders and remains in custody Father Chris del Rosario said the boys\\u2019 father had been \\u201Cincredibly hard on himself\\u201D when the pair met while making preparations for the funeral \\u201CYou should be so proud of yourself \\u2026 and of these two boys Reader Amy Hawkes read a prayer: \\u201CFor those suffering mental illness especially when we are suffering and vulnerable.\\u201D Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories The Brisbane Metro rapid bus service would be expanded further into the suburbs and out to the airport in time for the 2032 Olympic Games under a joint push from the council and the state government Premier Steven Miles and the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors have launched a plan to extend Brisbane Metro services to Carseldine in the north Springwood in the south and out to Brisbane Airport The council and state government have now joined forces to expand the Brisbane Metro Brisbane City Council had previously flagged plans to extend the bus service to Chermside and Springwood but Miles and Schrinner have since written to the federal government seeking funds to launch a feasibility study into 22 new suburban stations The $1.4 billion Brisbane Metro was designed to deliver rapid bus services across the city with a new fleet of high-capacity electric buses 60 high-capacity buses would run along Brisbane’s existing busways as well as a new tunnel beneath Adelaide Street in the CBD connecting 18 stations from Eight Miles Plains to Roma Street and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to the University of Queensland The first stage from Eight Mile Plains to the UQ would open on October 21 The Brisbane Metro will integrate with existing busways.Credit: Brisbane City Council The state government long resisted backing the council bus project but recently signed up to an agreement to split the operational costs for the Metro Transport Minister Bart Mellish said modelling by his department indicated the corridor north to Chermside and Carseldine was “the priority” The estimated costs of expanding the project and a timeline were yet to be confirmed How the plan would be affected by the Airtrain exclusivity agreement, which bars other public transport links to the airport until 2036 Schrinner said $450 million earmarked for a new Metro bus station at Woolloongabba under the federal government’s South East Queensland City Deal could be reallocated He said the federal government had been “receptive” to early discussions “I think the stroke of a pen from the federal government can get us going on this and the [Federal Infrastructure] Minister Catherine King has been receptive to those discussions,” Schrinner said “I think she understands what we’re pitching here During the Sydney 2000 and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games overall public transport patronage increased by almost 1 million trips a day Brisbane grew faster than any other Australian capital city over the past 10 years with another 1.55 million people expected to move to the city by 2041 Brisbane public transport advocate Robert Dow supported the expansion plans but reiterated calls to rename the project BERT is good bus rapid transit but let’s not pretend it is something it is not,” Dow said Logan City Council mayor Jon Raven said the expansion plan was “huge” for his region “Rapid public transport from Springwood to Brisbane would be an absolute game-changer for both our residents and our roads,” he said The independent Brisbane councillor for Tennyson Ward questioned why the proposed extensions ran “mainly parallel to existing train lines” and ignored the western suburbs – a criticism also levelled by the Greens The proposed expansion of the Brisbane Metro.Credit: Brisbane City Council The dotted green line shows the expansion out to Carseldine from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital through Kedron The dotted pink and orange lines show where services would be extended out to the airport The dotted purple line illustrates where Metro services would run out to Capalaba the dotted blue line shows an extension from Eight Mile Plains to Rochedale and Springwood 60 high-capacity buses would run along Brisbane\\u2019s existing busways connecting 18 stations from Eight Miles Plains to Roma Street and the Royal Brisbane and Women\\u2019s Hospital to the University of Queensland Transport Minister Bart Mellish said modelling by his department indicated the corridor north to Chermside and Carseldine was \\u201Cthe priority\\u201D How the plan would be affected by which bars other public transport links to the airport until 2036 Schrinner said under the federal government\\u2019s South East Queensland City Deal could be reallocated He said the federal government had been \\u201Creceptive\\u201D to early discussions \\u201CI think the stroke of a pen from the federal government can get us going on this and the [Federal Infrastructure] Minister Catherine King has been receptive to those discussions,\\u201D Schrinner said \\u201CI think she understands what we\\u2019re pitching here \\u2018Brisbane Metro\\u2019 is bus rapid transit BERT is good bus rapid transit but let\\u2019s not pretend it is something it is not,\\u201D Dow said Logan City Council mayor Jon Raven said the expansion plan was \\u201Chuge\\u201D for his region \\u201CRapid public transport from Springwood to Brisbane would be an absolute game-changer for both our residents and our roads,\\u201D he said questioned why the proposed extensions ran \\u201Cmainly parallel to existing train lines\\u201D and ignored the western suburbs \\u2013 a criticism also levelled by the Greens from the Royal Brisbane and Women\\u2019s Hospital through Kedron Introducing Springtree a new name in the lifestyle resorts along the Murray region dedicated to creating vibrant welcoming communities for downsizers who are ready to embrace their next adventure Springtree creates thoughtfully designed land lease communities and inviting spaces that nurture lasting friendships and meaningful connections From Cobram’s serene countryside to Yarrawonga’s lively lakeside Springtree resorts are located in places people know and love Springtree’s second community in the region is also set to release their first homes in the coming months Yarrawonga offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure Yarrawonga offers the best of both worlds: tranquil retreats and easy access to a vibrant local dining and shopping scene perfect for those seeking a balance of relaxation and activity Springtree's first location at Cobram could be your perfect new home Imagine waking up each day to golden sunlight and the gentle chorus of nature nestled in a community embraced by expansive open spaces and lush native bushland The Springtree Cobram community is set to feature more than 150 modern homes open plan layouts – as well as a central clubhouse bowling green and gymnasium for residents to enjoy To find out more and register your interest for Springtree Cobram or Springtree Yarrawonga call the sales team on 1300 200 240 or visit springtree.com.au Amelia Steadman has already taken to the skies as a solo glider pilot The Springwood teenager completed her first independent flight on November 22 circling the airspace around Camden Airport with total control of the glider Picture suppliedTaking on the challenge at the minimum possible age she said the experience was daunting but rewarding "I realised it was the most alone I had ever been in my whole life "When I landed it felt like a million years between the end of the roll and getting out of the aircraft but apparently it was really quick and I could hear the Air Traffic Control guys saying 'she's jumping up and down on the runway right now'." A Year 10 student at St Columba's Catholic College Springwood Amelia trains and flies with Southern Cross Gliding Club and is younger than most of the other club members by decades While she had flown alongside a supervisor multiple times already her solo flight at 3000ft above ground level was a completely different hurdle said watching the flight from the ground felt like an incredibly long 15 minutes "I just had to keep myself very calm and very grounded because I knew that she'd had really great instruction and was very capable with what she was doing An example of the view from within the gliders taken during one of Amelia's previous supervised flights because I know how hard she's worked at this .. persisting in something [alongside no one] of her demographic." More than just an accomplishment within a hobby Amelia's solo flight marks one step closer to her dream of flying as a career - ideally for an air ambulance She said training and flying can be challenging but it also helped her build confidence and she would encourage other girls her age to consider it "I always did really love it when I was young I thought it would be so cool to know how to fly 5 May 2025 11:45:01 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 5 May 2025 11:45:04 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); View +1 PhotosThe Mounties Care CareFlight Helicopter was deployed to Springwood by NSW Ambulance about 8am on Wednesday May 29 after the woman sustained chest and arm injuries after being hit by a car CareFlight's specialist doctor and NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the woman before she was flown to Liverpool Hospital in a stable condition Blue Mountains City Council in January discussed the possibility of laying synthetic turf top overcome flooding and noted that it would be considered in a master plan currently being developed for the park File pictureBut Greens Cr Sarah Redshaw brought a notice of motion to the February meeting asking council to further consider the issue including a report prepared for the NSW environment department that noted "best practice natural turf design and maintenance has the potential to improve the capacity of existing natural turf fields to support increased sporting use" ruled the notice of motion was out of order as the matter had already been voted on at the previous meeting he told Cr Redshaw that "all the issues you have raised [in the notice of motion] will be dealt with in a briefing We should not look at just one option - we should look at all options." Cr Redshaw spoke on the issue later in the meeting and said she would like council to consider ways of preserving the viability of using the field for regular soccer games while avoiding "problems in the future that synthetic turf will create" Natural turf fields are "much better for the bush and for people who play on them" She said there were organisations that can advise on ways of using natural turf that can be played on for many more hours than other fields and can withstand more of the water problems that are occurring at Summerhayes now Cr Greenhill added "if there's an organic option You can’t go wrong with our BHG x Walmart line Home   News   Article Our weekly Memory Lane Schooldays feature focuses on a Springwood High School production in 1981… Forty-five pupils from Lynn’s Springwood High School put on their own production of the epic poem Odysseus in May 1981 a dance and drama production by the school’s second year chronicled the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus in the course of his return home from the Trojan War and some of the cast are pictured here during a rehearsal Click here to read Your Local Paper & Lynn News e-editions