Picture by Adam McLeanKnowing the nitty-gritty of exactly what it means to be a police officer is the reason why two of the Illawarra's new police officers joined the force All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThis week started work for the first time across the state it is the largest group of graduate cops in more than a decade Of these new officers five started work in the Illawarra on Monday two are stationed in Wollongong with three in Lake Illawarra Briannan Sole's uncle was a police officer for almost 30 years and it was his stories that inspired her to sign up "Having a family member within the force for 29 years was something that I was always around so I got to hear his stories," the Lake Illawarra probationary constable said Lake Illawarra Police District Superintendent Craig Ireland (second from left) with probationary constables Reagan Strong Briannan Sole and Scott Fury at Lake Illawarra Picture by Robert Peet"It's something that I've always wanted to do I'm a go-getter so I really like to challenge myself." Wollongong probationary constable Ben Lodington joined up thanks to encouragement from his brother "I was looking for something that felt like it actually meant something while I was working at and to join a part of a team," he said "It definitely seemed like the police force was for that Ms Sole is among three locals working at the Lake Illawarra station in Oak Flats and she said the NSW Police 'Be a Cop in your Home Town' initiative and getting paid to learn encouraged her to finally sign up "It was the perfect time for me to apply as well and being paid it's definitely enticing," the 29-year-old said In recent years NSW Police has been battling crippling officer shortages, leading to more than 2000 vacancies as many experienced employees leave their jobs. In order to counteract lucrative interstate incentives and encourage more people to join the force, from March 2024, student police officers completing a 16-week course at the Goulburn Police Academy were paid to learn. First day nerves aside, the probationary constables have been busy getting to know their station, the processes and what it's like being a local cop. "I'm looking forward to getting involved in Wollongong and actually being part of the team and part of the community," Mr Lodington said. "Once it actually starts feeling like I'm a police officer fully, it's gonna be a big, big point I reckon." Ms Sole is keen to get through the next 12 months successfully and is already starting to think that a position in homicide or as a detective could be for her. I'm looking forward to getting involved in Wollongong and actually being part of the team and part of the community. "I want to give back to the community, I want to help. If I can just make one difference to someone's life at least I know I've done the right thing," she said. "I feel as though there's going to be so many opportunities that present themself to me that I probably didn't know existed." The 12-month probationary period includes theoretical and practical modules before they can progress to the rank of constable. Lake Illawarra Superintendent Craig Ireland said policing and training has changed dramatically since he joined the Force. I want to give back to the community, I want to help. If I can just make one difference to someone's life at least I know I've done the right thing. Back in his day officers were only provided with handcuffs, a baton and a firearm, but these days there's a much wider range of tactical options. "Which means more training, they've got to learn how to use their bodyworn video properly, they're carrying Tasers, they're carrying capsicum spray," he said. Wollongong Police District Superintendent Karen Cook said there's always excitement in the station when new officers join. "They're really super keen, which is really good for the command to have that enthusiasm," she said. "We were all in that same position once, and we all know what they're experiencing, and it's nice for us to see that as well." Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Get the latest property and development news here. Find out what's happening in local business. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! with the plan to increase housing density around the transport hub Picture by Adam McLeanMore than 5000 new homes could be built in higher-density developments in North Wollongong under a new proposal for the suburb Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWollongong City Council has submitted a plan to the NSW government that can create more homes close to the North Wollongong station than what is provided for under the government's own planning reforms aimed at bolstering housing supply around selected transport hubs The government's Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program amends planning controls within 400 metres of 37 train stations in the Illawarra, Sydney, Central Coast and Hunter, including North Wollongong, Corrimal and Dapto stations The amendments allow for residential buildings up to 22 metres in height and shoptop housing up to 24 metres with a maximum floor space ratio that provides for buildings up to six storeys high They specify that any development with a minimum gross floor area of 2000 square metres must deliver a 2 per cent affordable housing contribution to be delivered in perpetuity and managed by a community housing provider Wollongong City Council has put forward a site boundary for North Wollongong that would avoid most flood-constrained land but provide for more homes than the government's amended rules The hatched area shows the sites and lots that fall within the Transport Oriented Development area around North Wollongong station. Picture from the NSW governmentNorth Wollongong's vulnerability to flooding was cause for concern for the council after the reforms came online for Corrimal station in April 2024 The area falls almost entirely to the east of the Princes Highway There is also a strip of lots on the western side of the highway The council's plan could result in the construction of 5310 new homes in North Wollongong which takes into account developments already underway Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said the redevelopment of the area meant not only more housing and it's important we have the right types of housing in the right places," Cr Brown said "This plan means we can proactively and thoughtfully manage that growth while balancing the CBD lifestyle access to transport links and managing flood risk." Housing and Infrastructure will work with the council to ensure heritage values in the area are maintained and affordable housing is delivered when redevelopment of the area progresses Minister for Planning and Wollongong MP Paul Scully said the need for new homes was especially important given the University of Wollongong and the Port Kembla land transformation currently considered the largest in the world But Mr Scully said Wollongong was constrained by the escarpment and the sea so increasing density was the "sensible option" particularly given the necessary underlying infrastructure He said the number of affordable homes made available in developments built under the new planning rules would depend on the individual proposals The new planning controls were introduced at varying times for each of the 37 station precincts with North Wollongong's due to come into effect in April 2025 (Dapto's were introduced in July 2024) Councils were able to undertake their own planning work to go beyond the TOD controls the government's rules would be implemented Mr Scully said the program was forecast to deliver more than 170,000 new homes over the next 15 years "to create vibrant communities close to transport He said there was already strong interest in land transactions and development applications in areas where the planning controls were already in place Penrith City Council and Lake Macquarie City Council have also submitted plans for St Marys and Cockle Creek stations Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. The drug court program offers drug-dependent offenders intensive supervision as they undergo a treatment program and receive wraparound support for housing and employment It excludes those who have committed violent and is only available to those living in certain postcodes At Monday night's council meeting Lord Mayor Tania Brown put forward the motion requesting the council write to the NSW Attorney General to express support for establishing a drug court in Wollongong They would also ask the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation of councils to advocate for a drug court - due to the fact residents in those local government areas are also dealt with through Wollongong courts "It is proposed that [the drug court] can recommend an intense community-based rehabilitation program for eligible drug-dependent offenders who would otherwise be sentenced to jail terms," Cr Brown said "I think it's fairly well-known that our region has a high rate of drug offences for possession across the gamut of narcotics and illegal substances; subsequently that also means an increase in related drug crimes "I believe anything that breaks that cycle of recidivism and helps rehabilitate people and keep them out of jail is certainly worth our support." Cr Kit Docker said the drug court system looked to treat drug addiction as a health problem and "not purely a criminal one" "Drug courts embody this approach by focusing on rehabilitation and recovery rather than just punishment alone," Cr Docker said "Research from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre shows that participants diverted into drug court programs are less likely to reoffend and better outcomes for those battling addiction." The councillors passed the Lord Mayor's motion unanimously I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. Picture by Robert PeetThe business community of Wollongong has teamed up with the Wollongong Public School Parents and Citizens committee to help fundraise for new air conditioners at the school "The bottom line is that everything's getting hotter and so in Summer our rooms are significantly hotter than they were," he said "The ones that we're focusing on at the moment are in our two-story block and they're not particularly conducive to air circulation that's a long way to fall if you've got the windows open and we can't open those windows right up." Mr Cosier said there was a 'measurable' difference in student engagement between classrooms with and without air conditioning so our kids are used to having very controlled environments," he said "We know with the ones with rooms that we have that are air conditioned the difference is measurable in terms of comfort and engagement." tickets and products to the P&C's Mother's Day raffle with prizes including tickets to a Dragons' game at WIN Stadium and a $100 Two Smoking Barrels voucher Money was also raised during the school's election day sausage sizzle The efforts of the business community and the schools' P&C committee were called "fabulous" by Mr Cosier "We're very much a community-driven school we promote ourselves as a global village because we are passionate about involving our families," he said "We recognise that the learning journey of a child is a responsibility not just of us as teachers but of their parents and their carers "So we actively encourage parent involvement in our school and we have parents on site every single day of the week because we have so many multilingual parents we have a lot of our parents engaged in learning themselves on site funds will also be used to terrace a grassy slope next to the school hall known as "Dirt Hill" Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering business and entertainment most of the time. Got a tip? Send it to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.com.au. He/Him Pictures by Adam McLeanRockers fist pumped into the air and one lady was crocheting a beanie - the weekend's Red Hot Summer Tour had everything They arrived in their thousands, many lugging camping chairs and wearing their favourite band t-shirts as they settled in for a nine-hour long music session on Sunday, May 4. And, while many festivalgoers danced or sat in their chair to take in the vibes, the Mercury spotted Elizabeth Merrilees crocheting a beanie. Click on the photo to see more pictures from the festival View +67 PhotosShe had only just started making the bright purple-coloured hat when she was photographed, and we're thinking it may just be her favourite colour as she was wearing purple sunnies and tights for the event. Dallas Frasca was the first to take to the stage and they were followed up by Rose Tattoo with singer Angry Anderson singing to an adoring audience. Next on stage were the Baby Animals, The Living End, and then the Bad To The Bone boys themselves, George Thorogood and The Destroyers. The headline act was Sharp Dressed Man hit-makers ZZ Top, with crowds singing along to the Texan rockers during their set. was unveiled this week as the latest outlet of Miniso Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAt the opening dozens of people formed a line wrapping around the bright Even on the main thoroughfare of the centre's Keira building the store's bright white colour scheme accentuated by colourfully-packed shelves make it instantly stand out Clutching a red bag of goodies, Saturn Yewen said it was "about time" Wollongong got its own Miniso Nikki Ristevski came out with Lilo and Stitch and Care Bears toys as well as two kids eager to go home and open them as one excitedly pointed out her favourite variation of the Disney characters So what is Miniso and why are people in Wollongong so excited about it Picture by Adam McLeanWhere Miniso came from Miniso was founded in Guangzhou by Chinese entrepreneur Ye Guofu and Japanese designer Miyake Junya appropriating the concept of the Japanese discount store They were similar in principle to the Reject Shop or a $2 shop but differed in that they aimed to market their products as trendy and desirable They had a focus not just on homeware and lifestyle products but also branded merchandise with Miniso leaning heavily into this latter aspect Picture by Adam McLeanIn the 12 years since its founding Miniso has expanded to well over a thousand stores in over fifty countries Miniso is one of many Asian brands that have seen an increase in popularity in Australia over the past decade and Mumu are other brands that use a similar model to Miniso and have taken root here This accompanies a rise in the popularity of other Asian goods While Asian food has been a staple in Australia for decades several large chains have started to break into the Australian market in the last fifteen years Wollongong has outlets for three Taiwanese bubble tea brands: Gong Cha Dr Xiaofei Pan, a professor of finance at the University of Wollongong's business school sees this trend as emblematic of Australia's unique relationship with the Asian economy [means] it is really important for Australia .. to establish [a] very stable and sustainable business relationship with [them]," he said While Australia is like America and Britain in being English-speaking its proximity to Asia makes a huge difference popular Chinese confectionery brand Mixue has only expanded within Asia the number of people moving from Asian countries to Australia makes it "substantially different from the migrations to the United States he noted it's not just immigrants engaging with these brands "This kind of products are also attractive to the local people," he said This is because these brands are filling a niche that Australian brands aren't "When you live in Australia [in] the long-term you can see we do not have too many options." Centre manager for Wollongong Central Nathan Copsey said Miniso: "just brings that extra range of goods that doesn't really exist anywhere else." Sore manager Vincent Wang said: "Once you stand outside you can feel it's really attracting eyes." "Based on all the feedback from the first hour of trading Picture by Adam McLeanWhat needs to changeDr Pan thinks that the emergence of these Asian brands is a sign that Australia should focus less on exporting resources overseas and strengthen its internal production "We don't really have to benchmark the production size - the scale - with the other Asian markets there's no reason Australia couldn't produce its own Miniso Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt will be part of a nationally coordinated "Day of Protest" organised by the group Students for Palestine Australia with similar protests set to occur simultaneously in all Australian major cities The movement is in response to President Trump's rhetoric around Palestine and his administration's suggested plan to take over the Gaza strip The Wollongong protest is being organised by the UOW Palestine Society "There's been millions of people in the US protesting against Trump," society president Ryan Chapman said "There's going to be a third round of those protests coming in May One of the main points of contention was the AUKUS agreement which Mr Chapman said "drags Australia into more military spending that is [also] going on more generally across the globe." Mr Chapman emphasised impacts on the local level "They're planning on building a nuclear submarine base in Port Kembla one day - that's directly tied to the AUKUS agreement," he said Another aim of the protests is to show solidarity with American protesters and rebuke what the organisers see as an advancement of Trump's politics in Australia "Peter Dutton is now feeling more emboldened to start attacking acknowledgements to countries after Anzac Day, the neo-nazis in Melbourne are feeling more emboldened to build themselves up and have more space in political society," Mr Chapman said "This is all a consequence of Trump and I think people can relate that The protests are currently endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS) Mr Chapman said the outcome of the federal election would not affect the protest "Both the parties have made it explicitly clear that they're happy to work with Trump no matter what," he said The UOW Palestine Society has been organising protests since March against what the United Nation's Special Committee on Israeli Practices (UNSCIIP) and Amnesty International call a genocide The society's main demand has been for the university to sever any associations it has with Unanderra-based Bisalloy Steel The UOW Steel Research Hub is a partner of Bisalloy In 2018, Bisalloy announced a partnership with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Various student groups at UOW take issue with this relationship between the university and Bisalloy as well as with other manufacturing companies In a statement in February, Bisalloy told the Mercury: "Bisalloy protection steel plate is used in applications that provide protection for people property and valuables and does not manufacture steel products for the use in bullets where he addressed a crowd of young budding lawyers on May 2 distinguished lawyer and influential Illawarra statesman Harold Hanson AM is planning to retire after a legal career spanning almost seven decades Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"This is going to be my last year," Mr Hanson said who has renewed his practising certificate every year since entering the profession in 1957 With only 25 pounds in his pocket after emigrating from England to Australia in 1950 Mr Hanson found work as a bookkeeper for a law firm in Bega - which is where he discovered the Solicitor's Admission Board course because there was absolutely no way in the world that someone from a working class family would have become a lawyer in the UK," Mr Hanson said Harold Hanson AM with his award for his service to the profession and indelible Mark on the community Regional President of the Wollongong and District Law Society Picture by Anna WarrAfter a decade in Bega Mr Hanson searched for work around the state joining the Wollongong firm Atkins & Jones in 1960 but went out on his own when he established the still-thriving Hansons Lawyers in 1974 you are supposed to be able to speak to address and persuade people," he said "And yet I found out I was very disappointed that I could speak in public no better the day after I qualified than the day before because it's an essential part of the portfolio Mr Hanson still has that sharp ability to persuade that he learnt early on He took to a crowd of Illawarra high school students on Friday at an event hosted by the Law Society of NSW advice and life maxims onto the next generation of lawyers The students sat quietly - enamoured and absorbing his every word Mr Hanson was then surprised with an award for his 68 years of practice as well as his profound legacy and dedication to advancing Wollongong beyond its image as the 'Steel City' Picture by Anna WarrFrustrated by the lack of progress and "cultural deficits" in the region he joined Wollongong City Council and served as an alderman from 1969 to 1979 His push to create a regional art gallery is one of his proudest achievements and you can do things like establish an art gallery," he said Mr Hanson's vision led to his election as chair of Tourism Wollongong a director of the Illawarra Mutual Building Society a chairman of the University of Wollongong Foundation and the foundation chair of Wollongong City Art Gallery He also fought for Nan Tien Temple to be secured for the region when decisions of its location were being considered "I spent 13 years as chair of the local and regional tourism organisations here Harold Hanson AM at his home when he spoke to the Mercury on May 1 - before he knew he was receiving his award Picture by Robert Peet"That came from a time when the perception of Wollongong was chimneys always to first to arrive and the last to leave at his office He still somehow found time to fulfil his other community roles "You can't really do productive work during the day you do your productive work at night or early in the morning or at the weekends .. because it's not good to go home and have phone calls," he said I always do my best affidavits at four o'clock in the morning." Asked how he managed to fit it all into his schedule Mr Hanson answered simply: "You just did." A portrait image of Harold Hanson AM when he was a Wollongong City councillor taken in 2005 for a previous Mercury feature Picture by Greg Totman"I was born in the Great Depression in the 1930s I think that becomes instilled in you," Mr Hanson said Mr Hanson's message to the future lawyers in the room on Friday was to always enjoy your work It's essential to specialise and to become known in that speciality," he said "I found that I was doing a fair amount of magistrate's court work (in the beginning) but I discovered that was an absolute definite way of wasting time "There were no smartphones in those days and when you got to court you were stuck there for a lot of the time." Picture by NSWPFA Wollongong skydiving instructor has been denied bail amid disturbing allegations he manipulated a Queensland woman online in an attempt to procure her teen daughter for sex Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueElliott George Mees was arrested on Monday morning after Sex Crimes Squad detectives raided his Kembla Street home about 6am He made a bid for his release at Wollongong Local Court that afternoon which was refused by Magistrate Michael Stoddart Police will allege Mees chatted with the Queensland woman across two social media platforms in a bid to solicit child abuse material and have sex with her teenage daughter in February this year It's further alleged Mees had possessed files depicting bestiality and child abuse material in a data storage hard drive and on his electronic devices since 2023 Mees allegedly sent child abuse material and bestiality material to the woman between February 24 and 27 His electronic devices were seized and will be subject to further forensic examination Mees was arrested following ongoing investigations under Strike Force Trawler by Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit He is yet to enter pleas to two counts of using a carriage service to transmit or make available child abuse material two counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material possessing bestiality material and disseminating bestiality material with his matter returning to court on July 9 Picture by Adam McLean.The Wollongong Wolves will kick off their Australian Championship campaign in Wollongong on October 18 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOn Thursday Football Australia confirmed the group stage draw for the inaugural Australian Championship with the Wolves to return home to WIN Stadium and face the yet-to-be-decided reigning NPL Victoria premiers on Saturday Wolves forward Nicholas Olsen was ecstatic to be playing the first game at home in front of the Wollongong faithful It's great that the first game is at home," Olsen said we hope that all the people in the region can get behind us and try to bring Wollongong back to its glory days "It's always good when we're winning to have support but we also need the supporters to come down when we're sort of having those weeks when we're not playing too well." Olsen challenged soccer supports in the region to get on board attending games ahead of the championships "It's good for the local kids and the young boys aspiring to play in the NPL and beyond," he said "There are a lot of people who are supporters of football in general in our region "If we can get them on board for us for the [Australian Championship] I think it could be very exciting for the club and very good for the region." The Wolves are one of the eight foundation clubs of the 16-team Australian Championship The other eight Member Federation Clubs to feature must earn their right through their respective National Premier League competitions around Australia Historic rivalries will launch the new era in Australian football with South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic FC to kick-start the inaugural tournament passionate supporters and many unforgettable NSL battles the two foundation clubs will renew one of the game's most iconic rivalries when they meet at Lakeside Stadium will host the reigning NPL NSW premiers at BT Connor Reserve Two feature matches will be played across each group stage round on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons Remaining matches are scheduled consecutively on a Sunday across two provisional match start times of 2pm and 5pm AEST Avondale FC (Group C) and APIA Leichhardt FC (Group D) will be joined by the remaining foundation clubs and top-performing teams from each NPL division to create four balanced and equal groups The Wolves are in Group B alongside Marconi Stallions FC NPL Victoria premiers and NPL Tasmania premiers the top two teams from each group will advance to a knockout Finals Series culminating in the Championship Final in early December The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals with the higher-placed team hosting each crossover encounter: "The Australian Championship is an exciting new annual tournament bringing together Foundation Clubs with their rich histories and top-performing NPL Clubs to showcase their talents and culture to our growing national football audience," Football Australia CEO James Johnson said "The Australian Championship draw strikes the perfect balance with groups made up equally of Foundation Clubs and NPL Champions delivering a rare combination of unpredictable interstate clashes and traditional historic rivalries "We can expect big crowds for the opening round matches and excitement will continue to build throughout the tournament with must-win matches played across the group stage draw The inaugural winners of the Australian Championship will also need to navigate their way through a highly competitive knockout finals series before being crowned champions." Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure. Picture by Robert PeetOne business took home five awards at the Illawarra Women in Business awards held at The Fraternity Club on Friday with PhysioHealth & Sports Injury Clinic taking home five awards on the day Kylie Moffitt from PhysioHealth won the Business Woman of the Year Award and the Innovative Business Award Judges for the awards wrote Ms Moffit had "single-handedly built a diverse health practice" "Kylie Moffitt launched Physio Health and Sports Injury Clinic in Corrimal 10 years ago .. "Her passion drives her desire to reframe exercise intervention offering a suite of allied services to all abilities and age groups "Kylie's creation of the much lauded Can Conquer program is a groundbreaker for local cancer patients as it is framed around PREhab philosophy rather than a REhab approach engaging cancer patients as they start treatment to build capacity to assist their bodies "Kylie says her boundless enthusiasm for her business makes her feel happy and hopeful every day!" PhysioHealth also won the award for Best Business and Abby Wallace from the company won Outstanding Employee Graham Lancaster received the award for an Outstanding Commitment to the Business Community Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Get the latest property and development news here Find out what's happening in local business tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Penrith City Council and Lake Macquarie Council have all delivered plans to the NSW Government that will supersede the number of homes created under the Government’s Transport Oriented Development Program (TOD) controls close to public transport and jobs across the three sites The TOD program changes planning controls within 400 metres of 37 trains stations across Greater Sydney The program was designed to deliver well-located homes shops and jobs the Minns Government is building better communities Councils were given the opportunity to complete their own local planning work and go above and beyond the TOD planning controls It says strategic planning work for each of the three sites will continue as the Government looks to leverage government-owned land at Cockle Creek and St Marys “These three sites have been strategically chosen to support increased density in well-positioned locations and we are already seeing strong interest in renewing these areas and adding density so that these well-located suburbs can be home to more families in the future,” said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong “Each of these precincts now has an ideal opportunity to reshape and reimagine their communities with new modern public domain upgrades and increased patronage for local businesses.” The NSW Government says it will now work with each of the councils and the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) to progress strategic planning work and more customers for our local businesses It’s a positive step forward for the North Wollongong community,” said Lord Mayor of Wollongong City Council and it’s important we have the right types of housing in the right places This plan means we can proactively and thoughtfully manage that growth while balancing the CBD lifestyle access to transport links and managing flood risk.” Todd Carney said the organisation was proud to lead the way in delivering smart “Our plan for St Marys puts community needs front and centre with around 9,300 new homes and more than 8,360 new jobs in St Marys by 2041,” said Mayor Carney evidence-based process that is going to transform St Marys and it’s shaping up to be something really special “Our ability to deliver a comprehensive plan within the government’s timeframe shows the strength of Council’s vision and commitment to Penrith’s future “We look forward to the government making the plans in the short term so we can get on and deliver.” Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Londonderry Prue Car said Penrith City Council had put forward “a locally-led plan for the future of St Marys” creating more opportunities for residents to work and live locally,” said Minister Car “We’re also making sure that the infrastructure growing communities need is delivered.” Adam Shultz said the Council had been working closely with the Government to make sure Cockle Creek is “a well-planned future-ready neighbourhood that delivers new homes without compromising what makes our city great” “It’s exciting to see this project moving forward With HCCDC and the NSW Government on board we’re one step closer to transforming underused land into a thriving new part of our city,” said Mayor Shultz with the final six to be finalised by early July 2025 There have been 34 development applications submitted across the Transport Oriented Development sites The proposals for these three precincts include: North Wollongong (5,310 expected new dwellings) Wollongong City Council has submitted an alternative site boundary that would avoid most flood-constrained land but deliver more dwellings as the TOD settings North Wollongong will now be transformed with capacity for new homes through amendments to the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) over the coming months Council has proposed amendments to the boundary of the precinct to avoid the most flood constrained land and ensure new high density residential development can be realised Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is working with Council to make sure heritage values are maintained and affordable housing is delivered as part of redevelopment in this precinct St Marys (9,300 expected new homes and 8,360 new jobs) Penrith City Council has produced a detailed master plan for the broader St Marys town centre that aims to facilitate around 9,300 new homes and more than 8,360 new jobs in St Marys by 2041 Council had been working on the master plan and consulting with community for some time and formed an agreement with the NSW Government to continue this process They will now continue to work closely with government to deliver the masterplan Delivery is planned to commence in the coming months following finalisation of the implementation mechanisms Council’s masterplan exceeds the NSW Government’s TOD SEPP dwelling targets and will also support light industries through a consolidated commercial core with co-working and creative hubs A small portion of residential land is also proposed to be rezoned for future public open space Lake Macquarie Council have been working with the NSW Government on long-term plans for the Cockle Creek TOD including the site owned by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) at Munibung Rd HCCDC will shortly finalise a proposal to rezone the site which falls partly within the TOD area for Cockle Creek The proposal will include up to 1,200 new homes for the area Lake Macquarie Council and the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure will work together to finalise the proposed rezoning over the coming months For more information visit the transport Oriented Development Program web page Information and Events for Local Councils throughout Australia Contact us: newsdesk@insidelocalgovernment.com.au Picture from NSW Police ForceThe Mercury's live blog brings you updates from breaking news incidents traffic and travel across the Illawarra and beyond Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your 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Download it from the Apple Store or Google Play All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLeigh Paul Finch was wearing prison-issued greens when he dialled into Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday the 48-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of wilful and obscene exposure in a public place "I make this solemn promise that I will never commit this offence again," Finch told the court Tendered court documents state Finch was first caught walking along a footpath on Kembla Street but no pants - with his buttocks and genitals visible to members of the public - about 4pm on April 23 Finch bent over and appeared to look for something near the roundabout of Smith and Kembla streets Court documents state that once Finch got to Burelli Street he stopped and pulled a pair of blue shorts out of a green bag and put them on before entering Woolworths Another witness pointed Finch out to police and provided them with a picture of him with his buttocks "completely exposed" Finch was fully clothed when police stopped him outside the supermarket Court documents state he initially denied walking around with no pants on however admitted to being the man in the picture after police showed it to him police received several complaints from the public that a man was masturbating in the bushes and wearing a trench coat and a pink bra near Puckey's Beach in Fairy Meadow about 4pm Officers were initially unable to find the person of interest but noted in court documents that there were large groups of young children playing on the sporting fields and gym equipment nearby Police received another complaint two hours later that a man wearing a black button up jacket and no pants was masturbating on Corrimal and Kembla streets - but they again could not locate the person police found Finch running along Bourke Street after they received a similar complaint "Did you just see that jerking off in the street He's just run off," a member of the public who waved down police said Finch told the court he used drugs following a recent family tragedy and that he was remorseful for his behaviour utterly ashamed a child may have seen that," Finch said Finch said he accepted he would lose income as a result of the incidents and that he was suitable for community service work Magistrate Geraldine Beattie accepted Finch is a man of a "mature age" who expressed dedication to his profession and charity work overseas with nothing on his criminal history prior to these events She accepted that his recent trauma and consumption of a "small amount of drugs" is what sent him "round the twist" Finch was fined $750 on top of a nine-month community corrections order He will be subject to supervision and was ordered to participate in any program treatment or intervention ordered by community corrections Wollongong City Council wants to be officially accredited as "screen friendly" by the state government in the hope of bringing more film productions to the city Picture by Adam McLeanWollongong City Council wants it to be known that they're happy to have film-makers set up their cameras Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAs part of new state government legislation there is the option of being accredited as a "screen-friendly council" which would see it adopt a default response of supporting a production unless there were specific reasons not to Deputy Mayor Linda Campbell has put forward a motion for Monday night's city council meeting calling for the early accreditation as a screen-friendly council Cr Campbell's motion noted the economic benefits a film production can bring to Wollongong included increased local spending and the creation of local jobs in both the film industry and related sectors like hospitality "Wollongong offers a compelling mix of diverse locations making it an attractive place for film production as evidenced by recent projects like Return to Paradise and One Night," Cr Campbell's motion stated "Wollongong is home to diverse and scenic locations: coastal beauty It has an active and growing local film industry with existing connections within a range of skilled creatives and local talent." "Screen Illawarra has played a key role in bringing together many of these and connecting productions with local talent and resources including the recent industry visits which attracted key decision-makers from both local and overseas companies." only one tender to operate the Stanwell Park Beach Cafe was lodged they hope to negotiate a better deal with the tenderer it states tenders were opened earlier this year for a five-year lease of the cafe Only one applicant - not named in the business papers - lodged a bid but the tender review panel rejected it as "non-conforming" Councillors will be asked to approve negotiations with the tenderer because the panel "anticipates that a satisfactory outcome will be achieved" The councillors will also consider selling a block of land in Cringila it has owned since 1986 but never used The 501 square metre block sits on the corner of Lake Avenue and Gorrell Street and was purchased by the council in 1986 with a view to use it as the site of a community centre "The Cringila Community Centre and Hall was later constructed on another site in close proximity only two properties south of the subject site," the business papers stated "The existing community centre is separated from the subject site by a private dwelling and Gorrell Street such that it cannot be amalgamated with the existing centre "The subject site became redundant to council's needs due to the construction of the new community centre site." While neighbouring property owners have previously expressed an interest in buying the block the council believes that it should be sold on the open market as it has potential to be developed The business papers state the council has received a valuation of the land and will set a reserve price and use an estate agent to manage the sale Selling the property would net the council some revenue as well as ongoing rates from a potential development while retaining it would incur regular maintenance costs It's fantastic to see more people participating in various sporting codes across our city whether that’s young people involved in club sport increased female participation to older members of the community staying active and focussing on health and wellbeing My status as a die-hard Hawks supporter is widely known energy and passion to all my work and advocacy at Council when it comes to all sporting facilities across the city Council plays a crucial role in enabling and encouraging participation at all levels from grass roots community sport to elite professional athletes Beaton Park is one of the city’s key sporting hubs and we’re currently looking at whether the Beaton Park Regional Precinct Master Plan still meets community needs and expectations as the city continues to grow and develop We know that demand for many of our indoor venues and outdoor sports fields outstrips supply and this is a challenge Council is looking to address we’re having conversations with all major indoor sport organisations who use indoor courts at venues across Wollongong to improve our understanding of what may have changed since the adopted Masterplan including utilisation and demand for courts Ted Tobin Hall is a key part of the strategic planning It’s a much-loved and valuable asset for the community I can assure the community we’ve no plans to make changes to the current use of Ted Tobin Hall with the current bookings for ongoing and casual hirers including fitness classes, continuing as normal while this strategic work is underway I’m really excited by this project which considers the work done in 2018 around the future of Beaton Park and asks whether this vision is what our community needs now and into the future we’re going to be able to make decisions about priority projects – and chase grant funding – that’ll allow our diverse sporting passions to continue for many Read Council's latest Beaton Park Community Update May 2025 We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. You can also use the number above for after hours Council-related emergencies Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au Webchat We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Many hands make light work and we’re encouraging Lake Illawarra-lovers to get involved in a series of monthly clean-up events Each event will be held on the first Friday of every month at different locations along the Lake Illawarra shoreline “We know people love the lake and this is an opportunity for community members to get involved in its care and maintenance,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “You can come on your own or bring your friends and family to enjoy a morning by the lake helping to protect and care for this important local environment.’’ focusing on cleaning the Kanahooka shoreline and Brooks Creek Here are the dates and locations for future events: Can’t make it to an event? You can still participate by organising your own clean-up at a time that suits you. We’ll provide you with the equipment and arrange rubbish collection after your clean-up. Visit Rise & Shine | City of Wollongong to learn more Rise & Shine is Wollongong’s longest-running environmental clean-up program It encourages individuals and community groups to help maintain the beauty of our public spaces by removing litter and rubbish strengthening pride in our city’s presentation and protecting it for future generations Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. Wollongong City Council is working towards its vision for Beaton Park to be one of the city’s key sporting hubs that meets our community needs now we’ve appointed expert consultants who are working on a feasibility study to provide Council with future options for this site This study will provide insights into what Beaton Park caters for well where there are opportunities and where there are gaps It will provide a clear understanding of the costs and benefits of future facilities and help Council to determine priority projects and potential funding opportunities to consider We’re having conversations with all major indoor sport organisations who use indoor courts at venues across Wollongong to improve our understanding of what may have changed since the adopted Master Plan This work is in alignment with our commitment to support all levels of sport – from enthusiastic amateurs and keen youngsters to aspiring and elite professional athletes need additional courts and venues as they have a waiting list of players and are using a number of school sites to enable children to play sport there are no changes to the use and hire of current Beaton Park facilities The current bookings for ongoing and casual hirers continue as normal and we’re committed to regularly revisiting our program and schedule of fitness classes to ensure we’re providing the right classes for our members at the right time It’s important we get this process right and ensure the future requirements of indoor sports are considered and tested through analysis for things that may have changed We are committed to keeping our community informed as we work through this process - we’re anticipating to see the draft proposals by spring this year Read the Lord Mayor's Column Supporting the city's sporting future. A fraudulent parking infringement notice with a QR code leading to a suspicious website has been found on a parked car at Wollongong campus A parking fine issued by UOW parking officers does not feature a QR code and relevant information is printed on the back of the fine If you receive a suspicious infringement notice, do not scan the QR code and please report it immediately to UOW Security Stay vigilant and protect yourself against scam activities both in real life and online by being informed about cyber safety at UOW Northfields Ave Wollongong,  NSW 2522  Australia Phone: 1300 367 869 International: +61 2 4221 3218 Switchboard: +61 2 4221 3555 we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands Copyright © 2025 University of WollongongCRICOS Provider No: 00102E | TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12062 | ABN: 61 060 567 686Copyright & disclaimer | Privacy & cookie usage | Web Accessibility Statement AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe women say their lives have improved significantly since they've been medicated for the condition "I can maintain a clean environment and I can do my university work and I can go to work has to stop because I need to focus energy on something else." An increased awareness of ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has resulted in more people seeking diagnoses and being medicated for the condition in recent years the percentage of 18-24-year-olds being prescribed drugs for ADHD more than doubled And compared to 2017-18, the percentage of young people in the city being medicated in 2022-23 has increased fourfold, the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows "Since 2021 I've had people be like 'maybe you have ADHD'," Ms Culham said After enough people told her she showed typical signs, the University of Wollongong student became resigned to the idea that she had it but "I think I took the step because I used to study part-time but this year I'm studying full-time and I needed help with that," she said She'd been studying part-time because doing her degree full-time had been too much for her to deal with pre-diagnosis Ms Culham said she founds it difficult to complete even basic tasks when not taking medication and it fills me with dread because it's not what I want to be doing at all," she said being on the drug Ritalin has allowed her to consistently do the things she previously struggled with Picture by Robert Peet"I took it [Ritalin] this morning and I did my dishes they might not have to think about as much." Ritalin is made up of the drug methylphenidate hydrochloride and is one of the most commonly prescribed ADHD medications but the other brands - including the popularly known Ritalin - remain in short supply South Coast pharmacist Clare Watts said this was likely because of stress on supply chains resulting from the increased number of prescriptions what it comes down to is this greater demand for [these medications]," Ms Watts said While she observed an increase in people buying ADHD medications at her pharmacy in recent years she rejected the idea there was an "overdiagnosis" occurring personally - I just think it's an increased awareness," she said Medications used to treat ADHD are not one-size-fits-all and patients and their psychiatrists often go through a trial-and-error process to find the right drug Ms Kaegi-Norris also takes a small dose of another drug "When I was discussing medication with my psychiatrist I wanted to [get Ritalin] because I'd heard better things," Ms Kaegi-Norris said "But my medication is working well enough." Picture by Robert PeetThe methylphenidate products that are currently in short supply keep hold of specific chemicals in the brain Neither Ms Kaegi-Norris nor Ms Culham were hugely concerned about potential shortages of their medications as they felt able to maintain a decent supply or find a different pharmacy to buy from if needed Ms Watts said pharmacies would do the best they could to help patients through a shortage "The priority is continuity of care," she said "The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) will work with the wholesalers to ensure an even distribution [across the country] "As soon as we find out there's a shortage we try to order enough stock for the next few months so there's enough medicine for patients." To stay updated on drug shortages, go to the TGA website A man has been charged after a pursuit throughout Wollongong and Sydney's south About 12.30pm yesterday (Saturday 3 May 2025) officers attached to Southern Region were patrolling Lake Avenue when they attempted to stop a sedan without numberplates When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed a pursuit was initiated which continued north along Five Islands Road including officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District Sutherland Shire Police Area Command and Traffic and Highway Patrol assisted and road spikes were deployed on the Princes Highway after allegedly hiting two police vehicles and officers arrested the 21-year-old male driver The man allegedly returned a positive roadside breath result and he was taken to Sutherland Police Station where an oral fluid sample was obtained from the man and sent for further analysis Checks revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen from Arncliffe yesterday (Friday 2 May 2025) The man has been charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously drive motor vehicle during disqualification period take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court later today (Sunday 4 May 2025) The girl has been released without charge; however Transport for NSW will carry out temporary traffic management activities around the University of Wollongong (UOW) and TAFE NSW to reduce congestion and ensure the safety of road users Transport for NSW will carry out temporary traffic management activities around the University of Wollongong (UOW) and TAFE NSW from Monday 3 March  to Friday 11 April 2025 to reduce congestion and ensure the safety of road users Traffic Management will be in place weekday mornings from 7:45 am to 9:15 am Residents will continue to have access to their properties they may experience additional traffic along Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road during peak periods Motorists needing to access the M1 northbound from Keiraville and Gwynneville are encouraged to do so from Robsons Road at West Wollongong to avoid delays The University of Wollongong and NSW TAFE are close to North Wollongong train station. Why not catch the train and make use of the UOW's free shuttle bus from the station or enjoy the short walk or cycle to campus Public buses also regularly travel to the university, including the free Wollongong Shuttle walking or cycling is a great way to get to campus while keeping fit and doing your bit for the environment Wollongong Education Precinct changed traffic conditions 2025 Transport for NSW implements these temporary traffic changes at the start of the tertiary year to keep traffic moving safely from the M1 Princes Motorway to the university and TAFE NSW Students and staff are encouraged to consider travel alternatives where possible using active transport such as walking or cycling or carpooling The free "Gong Shuttle" bus (routes 55A and 55C) runs every 10 minutes in a loop around Wollongong making stops at North Wollongong Station Wollongong University and Innovation Campus There is also the North Gong (NG) Shuttle which transports commuters from North Wollongong Station to the University of Wollongong campus This service operates weekdays from 7.50am to 10pm Bus access from University Avenue into Irvine Street will not be affected during the traffic management plan Information about local bus and train timetables can be found on the Transport for NSW website Information about local walking and cycling routes can be found on the Wollongong City Council - Sport and Recreation website If you are heading to the Wollongong education precinct or travelling on the M1 through Wollongong please be aware that the area will be very busy consider making your trip outside of peak times or utilise alternative transport options Be aware that there may be long queues at the M1 off ramp so get ready to slow down just take the next one and don't try to merge into a queue Always follow the directions of traffic controllers always allow extra time for your journey and expect the unexpected University of Wollongong Wollongong TAFE For further information about this project 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 Transport for New South Wales’ Wollongong Station Masterplan has been released for public consultation The plan outlines a long-term vision for transforming the station precinct into a “vibrant connected and inviting transport hub” that reflects the identity of Wollongong providing direct active and public transport links to the surrounding area including to the city centre The plan also proposes to upgrade the gateways to and from the station on Crown Street Gladstone Avenue and Station Street and identifies “opportunity sites” for future development Public consultation has also opened for the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure’s (DPHI) Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy The Draft Strategy identifies a series of Government-led initiatives to “unlock the potential and bring the vision for the Precinct to life” These include public spaces and transport to support amenity and movement between key areas public safety and access within and around the Precinct (including links with the train station and the central business district) and opportunities for affordable housing for future residents and key workers Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said: “As the population of the Illawarra Shoalhaven region is expected to grow to 575,000 by 2041 it has never been more important to get these crucial planning steps right “The Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy is an exciting opportunity to deliver world-leading and innovative health care “Making sure there is alignment between future plans for the health precinct and the future plans for the station is important so they are working together in the best interests of the future of the city.”  Consultation on both the Draft Masterplan and Draft Strategy is open until June 11 To read the documents and to make a submission, visit the Have your say web page.  As Melbourne braces for a population of 9 million by 2050, the demand for smarter, greener, and more connected urban... Alstom, global leader in smart sustainable mobility solutions, has delivered on-time and to budget its Traffic Management System, providing the... For the July issue of Rail Express, we’re homing in on two major topics: Tunnels and Cybersecurity.   From Sydney... © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOSA trio of unionists clad in hazmat suits and wielding mock Geiger counters have gatecrashed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's press conference in a marginal seat Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMr Dutton was at Sanctuary Point on the NSW South Coast to make a modest funding announcement for a local junior rugby league team when the pantomiming protesters led by South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris walked onto the field and shouted mock warnings about radiation pretending to measure out a site for a nuclear power plant Mr Dutton was about to hold a press conference alongside the Liberal candidate for Gilmore who is making his second attempt to win the electorate won by Labor's Fiona Phillips with just 373 votes in 2022 It is also the former Liberal NSW state minister's fifth attempt to enter federal parliament including two failed senate pushes and another for the lower house seat of Eden-Monaro A few more days of campaigning remain before the federal election on Saturday Anti-nuclear protesters pretended to check for radiation after crashing a press conference (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)The chaos at Sanctuary Point intensified when a group of local kids showed up Shoalhaven councillor Selena Clancy encouraged the youngsters to shout over the nuclear farce "You're scaring the children!" Cr Clancy yelled while a club official called Mr Rorris an "absolute muppet" Mr Dutton had been chatting with locals when the disruption occurred Peter Dutton appeared with Liberal candidate and former NSW minister Andrew Constance in Nowra (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)One supportive attendee said Mr Constance had his vote while hinting at his disappointment with Labor's climate policy "We cannot make any difference in our global environment so why would you shoot yourself in the foot?" he told reporters Climate change is a contentious issue in the electorate with Climate 200-backed independent Kate Dezarnaulds taking aim at Mr Constance for a perceived retreat from his support for climate action following the 2019/20 bushfires But some elements of the electorate are vocally against Labor's renewable energy push specifically offshore wind farm developments off the picturesque coast Liberal Party media advisers were unable to clear off the protesters and the local police in attendance were powerless to move them on from a public space so the press conference was cancelled and the media pack bundled back onto Mr Dutton's campaign bus Peter Dutton's electorate office in Brisbane has been vandalised with red paint and posters (Fraser Barton/AAP PHOTOS)Earlier on Tuesday where he talked with a business owner about the rising cost of living and high energy costs It comes after Mr Dutton's electorate office in Brisbane was vandalised with red paint and posters criticising his stance on the war in Gaza and closeness to US President Donald Trump An 18-year-old woman has been charged with one count of wilful damage and is due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 20 Picture supplied.The rise of the Wollongong Vikings continues unabated after Andrew Barrett's team accounted for Bowral on Saturday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe win against the Blacks sees the Vikings sit on top of the competition table just two years after sitting out the season The Vikings have now won three of their four games to date The all-conquering Shoalhaven remain the only team yet to lose in 2025 Tommy Sawden played a leading role in the Vikings' 21-15 victory at Bowral Rugby Park contributing nine points from a try and two conversions David Capp and Te Kauri Henare also scored a try each for Vikings while Hamish Pinn bagged two five-pointers for Bowral Meantime, last season's beaten grand finalists, Kiama downing a gallant Shamrocks 35-24 at Ocean Park The visiting Cows outscored Shamrocks five tries to four on the way to picking up their first competition points Camden prevailed 23-19 in their local derby over Campbelltown Harelquins the ED and beds in wards for years - say their workforce is "in crisis" Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAbout 170 allied health workers held a rally inside and outside the Illawarra's largest hospital on March 18 to draw attention to their staffing problems and a new industrial campaign to reform the way they're recognised and paid Physiotherapist and Health Services Union delegate Nigel Thackray said long-standing issues facing the state's allied health workers whose industrial award is more than 15 years old was having a huge impact on patients in the Illawarra "We used to be batting staff away at the door because it was a really popular career choice whereas now we just can't attract the staff because the conditions and pay are so far behind every other state and area "We cannot recruit and we cannot fill gaps so we're running short and that has a dramatic impact on the public in terms of the healthcare that they receive when they attend hospitals." Wollongong Hospital HSU members and allied health workers held a rally on March 18 Picture by Adam McLeanHe said many patients now faced days of no access to services like physiotherapy "Whereas previously patients would receive daily therapy now if patients aren't ready for discharge or aren't actively deteriorating it's probably going to be only every couple of days that they might see an allied health practitioner," he said most patients will become deconditioned from a few days of bed rest adequate nutrition and getting patients reconditioned early so we decrease the number of patients that sit in hospital beds blocking EDs which leads to the big bed blocks and ambulances out the front of hospitals "We also clear beds and help them move on to other services into the community - and we can tie them in to have in-home therapy which has better outcomes for the patient and also decreases the flow onto rehab facilities and aged care facilities as well "We can often be the difference between patients ending up in an aged care home versus going home independently with supportive care and services." Wollongong Hospital HSU members and allied health workers held a rally on March 18 and were joined by NSW HSU secretary Gerard Hayes Picture by Adam McLeanMs Thackray said the allied health workers' industrial award was long out of date and was structured so there was a lack of career opportunities and progression for clinicians "You can't go up senior grades as a clinician so you'll reach a certain level early on in your career and then that's basically it so there's no incentive to keep our more senior clinicians that have got that depth of knowledge and experience," he said "Having clear avenues of career progression where staff can specialise and stay as a physiotherapist or stay as a social worker but have career opportunities available to them - they don't just have to go into management - would held us to retain people." "We've got more physiotherapists graduating than ever before from all these universities offering it but we can't get junior physios to start work in the hospital because the conditions and pay are so far behind every other industry." Social work delegate Marci said she was hopeful that the NSW Government would address workers' concerns with negotiations for new Allied Health Awards scheduled to start in April for the first time in 15 years "It's almost 20 years since we've had reform so it's made our work really complicated and really hard and we're struggling to work in the ways that we want to work," she said "Almost all of us could walk out of here and earn more money somewhere else but we don't because we love public health We really want to stay and we just really hope that the government makes good on their campaign promise to reform our award and just bring it in line with the modern era." Health Minister Ryan Park said his government was committed to boosting the allied health workforce He said the government was "rolling out a number of initiatives to boost capacity across the public health system and increasing training and education pathways for students all with the aim to provide relief to our hardworking frontline healthcare staff" the Special Commission of Inquiry into health funding currently underway is a once in a generation look into how we can more effectively and safely deliver the essential health services our community deserves," he said "I've met with the HSU on a number of occasions about reforms to Allied Health Awards and I'm confident we can deliver important changes together "After 12 years of neglect and a lack of investment in our health system the Minns Labor Government is rebuilding this essential service by investing in the workers that deliver them." The HSU says the negotiations will coincide with the release of the Special Commission of Inquiry findings which are expected to highlight the urgent need for reform to Allied Health Awards to improve attraction and retention we must invest in attracting and retaining allied health workers," HSU secretary Gerard Hayes said "Our health needs would not be met without them." Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2011, I'm an award-winning reporter who has helped the paper set the news agenda across our region for more than a decade. food and fireworks will mark Australia Day at Wollongong Harbour on Sunday 26 January 2025 To make sure you have a great Australia Day we’ve pulled together this how-to guide for the City of Wollongong community event Activities will start at 5pm on Sunday 26 January 2025 across Osborne Park and Wollongong Harbour There will be activities for the kids in Osborne Park with jumping castles and inflatable slides, a lantern making workshop, plus a range of roving entertainment and food vendors. See the event program The fireworks will be sent high so they can be enjoyed from the many vantage points around the Wollongong Harbour The fireworks will go ahead if it is raining, but not if there are high winds or a major storm. Keep an eye on Council’s Facebook for any weather announcements Some road closures will be in place on Australia Day so the event at Wollongong Harbour can go ahead safely Australia Day 2025 Road Closures Map PDF, 3193.5 KB The following roads will be closed between 4pm and 10pm: The following roads will be closed between 8pm and 10pm for the fireworks display: there will be managed access for residents The affected residents will be advised directly plan ahead as parking is very limited and roads will be very busy the Free Gong Shuttle will continue operate on the public holiday schedule until 10.50pm People arriving by train to Wollongong or North Wollongong Station can also hop on shuttle to travel to the event the Gong Shuttle diverts via Corrimal Street (instead of Cliff Road) for the duration of the evening The screenshot below shows the updated route and nearest stops Prefer to cycle? We’ve completed works on the Wollongong CBD pop-up cycleway which links the Wollongong train station and Crown Street Mall to the Blue Mile. Head here for more information Visit Osborne Park from 5pm to 9pm for lots of great food and drink options Or if you’d rather dine in town, visit the Wollongong CBD website for suggestions Please leave alcohol at home for this event Unless you’re bringing an assistant dog we ask you leave your four-legged friends at home preferably with their favourite toys and snacks Pets should be secured particularly for the fireworks at 9pm What’s the plan for music during the fireworks you’ll get to hear our backing track which has been curated by our sponsor i98FM You can also tune into 98.10FM via your radio wherever you are Will there be an accessible viewing area and how do I book a place We are partnering with Cram Foundation to provide an Accessible Viewing Area for people with disability or accessibility requirements Note: The drop-off zone for this viewing area has moved to Market Place (instead of Endeavour Drive) due to updated road closures. Refer to purple line on the Australia Day 2025 Road Closures Map PDF, 3193.5 KB Am I allowed to camp overnight at parks/beaches/foreshore areas While shade structures or tents are allowed during the day they must be packed away by 8pm every day of the year The Australia Day Community Event is brought to you by Wollongong City Council National Australia Day Council and supported by i98FM the Illawarra Mercury and the Cram Foundation Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. Inspiring members of the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) community have been announced as winners in the annual City of Wollongong Awards celebratory ceremony held last week (Thursday 6 February) who graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts in 1992 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 was named Citizen of the Year for her groundbreaking campaign to end violence against women and children.  A tireless contributor to Wollongong’s creative and community service fields Ms Reese combines her passion for storytelling and education to shine a light on and advocate for victim-survivors of abuse Jack Brown, a psychology student at UOW, was named Young Citizen of the Year for his work as Director of Talk2MeBro a charity dedicated to reducing deaths from suicide after Jack lost a family member to suicide inclusive community that supports those struggling with mental health issues and promotes mentally healthy lifestyles Jack is nearing the completion of his degree at UOW while devoting himself to Talk2MeBro and working with veterans with PTSD as part of a government organisation which has now helped tens of thousands of people was nominated for Community Group of the Year that were brought to life at UOW’s business ideas incubator iAccelerate were recognised for their immense contribution to the Illawarra community Hysata, which is helping companies transition from fossil fuels to green hydrogen, won the Wollongong to the World award. Now based in Port Kembla, and employing close to 100 staff, Hysata is developing the world’s most efficient, simple, and reliable electrolyser and has become a globally recognised company at the forefront of the green energy revolution led by husband and wife team Daniel Hillyer and Maryanne Harris is an alumni of iAccelerate and was the winner of the Innovation Achievement Award which recognises a person or company that has made the most innovative contribution to fields such as science RoboFit combines exercise physiology and physiotherapy with Australia’s first neuro-controlled exoskeletons. The pioneering company which the couple founded after Mr Hillyer suffered a spinal cord injury in 2010 helps people with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions Ms Harris graduated from UOW in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science) UOW’s amazing staff and alumni were also recognised in the nominations across the 11 awards categories Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, Kelly Andrews, Georgia Watson and UOW’s Recovery Camp were all nominated for their respective contributions to the Illawarra region Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, Director of UOW’s business ideas incubator iAccelerate was shortlisted for the Innovation Achievement Award.  The first in her family to attend university and gain her PhD from UOW Dr Stutchbury began her career as a scientist before springboarding into a career in entrepreneurship A passionate ambassador for Wollongong and an inclusive Dr Stutchbury is on a mission to ensure Wollongong leads Australia in entrepreneurship and economic development.  She particularly fosters opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups to grow and thrive in their careers and businesses Ms Watson’s multifaceted contributions to the STEM field and to the Wollongong community reflects her dedication to fostering gender equality and advancing ecological science and conservation has been a driving force for community health and wellbeing in the Wollongong area Ms Andrews has focused on the community to foster healthy habits An Honorary Associate Fellow in UOW’s School of Science Ms Andrews inspires the Wollongong community through her visionary leadership and commitment to building partnerships that engage people from all ages and all backgrounds for her focus on a student-centred approach to teaching and creating a dynamic and engaging teaching environment has grown into a transformative approach to supporting mental health encompassing hundreds of participants at camps throughout Australia every year Wollongong Campus Medical Centre is now open in Building 11 providing healthcare services to UOW students the centre offers reduced rates for UOW students and bulk billing for concession and healthcare card holders The centre provides services in multiple languages with both male and female GPs available.  Onsite pathology services are also available.  Appointments can be made via HotDoc or by calling 02 4216 5590 Follow them on Instagram for updates Wollongong City Council’s much-loved celebration of our city’s diversity will return in September 2025 following today’s announcement that Culture Mix has been awarded a $250,000 funding grant under the NSW Government’s Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival program The one-day event had previously been held in the Wollongong City Centre in October 2024 and 2023 It had been a huge success attracting more than 16,000 people last year and involving a wide range of multicultural community groups and organisations in its planning and delivery “I’m absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government has seen the value of this wonderful community event and provided a funding grant that will allow us to deliver this celebration again in 2025,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “Anyone who was involved or attended Culture Mix in the past two years would know just how colourful It’s terrific that we’ll be able to do it again “I’m very grateful to the NSW Government who received our request for further funding to keep the festival going and have provided the opportunity to see it return in 2025.’’ Wollongong City Council Community Services Director Kerry Hunt said Culture Mix was a unique festival on Council’s event calendar and she was grateful the NSW Government recognised its significance to community “Culture Mix is quite a unique event in that we work really closely with people from all ages and backgrounds to ensure it’s a celebration that captures the broadest representation possible of our city’s multicultural community,’’ she said “The original events were made possible through a two-year grant from the NSW Government and so to be able to continue this event in its third year is just wonderful.’’ Council will now work to deliver the one-day event on Saturday 20 September the event will be presented across numerous locations in the lower Crown Street Mall Lower Crown Street and through into the Arts Precinct The program will see the return of elements like the Food Fair Culture Kids program and interactive workshops at the Wollongong Library We will also look for other activities that encourage participation “We’re hitting the ground running with our planning for the 2025 event and will be reaching out to our community to see who would like to be involved this time around,’’ Cr Brown said “I encourage people to make sure they’re following Wollongong City Council’s social media channels for updates on this exciting event including announcements about upcoming Community Development Grants which will offer opportunities for local creatives to develop new contemporary and cross-cultural works for presentation at the festival.’’ we want to wish everyone in our community a safe and happy festive season many Council staff will take leave over the Christmas and New Year period Council’s Customer Service and Call Centre will be closed from 1pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will reopen at 8.30am on Thursday 2 January 2025. During this time, you will still be able to access our online services to lodge applications These will be processed from Thursday 2 January 2025 you can call (02) 4227 7111 and select option 1 to go through to our after-hours call service Household waste will continue to be collected as normal except for Christmas Day. If your bin is normally collected on Wednesdays put it out as normal and it will be collected in the next day or two here are Council’s operating hours during the annual closure period Beaches Council lifeguards will be at 17 patrolled beaches Sundays and public holidays (Christmas Day Boxing Day and New Years Day) will be patrolled by Surf Life Saving volunteers Botanic Garden Open every day except Christmas Day (closed to public) Administration office is closed from midday Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopens Thursday 2 January 2025 Council-managed Community Centres will be closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopen at 9am Thursday 2 January 2024 Groups with bookings will have self-access during this time For more information see Community Centres and Halls Community Transport The final day for Community Transport individual and group services will be Friday 20 December 2024 Services will resume on Monday 13 January 2025 Closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopening 8.30am Thursday 2 January 2025 or requests made during this time will be processed when we reopen For urgent council matters like a public hazard or an urgent safety issue please call (02) 4227 7111 to be connected to our after-hours service If someone’s life is in immediate danger All graffiti reports can be lodged online or is on a site of significance within the community please call please call (02) 4227 7111 and press option 1 to be connected to our after-hours messaging service Libraries See the Libraries website for Christmas and New Year hours Leisure Centres See their Christmas Timetable and Hours Markets The Crown Street Markets will close on the following dates: Public Swimming Pools All patrolled pools close on Christmas Day. Check the pools webpage for opening hours Rock pools remain open There is no lifeguard service at our rock pools All scheduled one-on-one services will continue throughout the holiday period The final day for social support groups and bus outings was Friday 13 December 2024 Services will resume on Monday 20 January 2025 Tourist Parks Standard office hours are 9am to 7.30pm daily The Vale Golf Course Open all other days including public holidays Waste and Recycling Collections With Christmas Day falling on Wednesday this year kerbside collections will pause and resume on Boxing Day If your bin is normally collected on Wednesday put it out anyways and it will be collected a day or two later We are also hosting three festive drop-offs between Christmas and New Years where residents can bring cardboard household recycling and soft plastics free-of-charge Wollongong Waste and Resource Recovery Park  Whytes Gully Waste Depot, Community Recycling Centre and Revolve Centre are all closed on Christmas Day they open 7.30am – 4.30pm weekdays and 8am – 4pm weekends and public holidays Wollongong Art Gallery The Gallery will be closed on Mondays and public holidays (Christmas Day Wollongong Memorial Gardens and Cemeteries The administration office will close from 12.30pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopen 8.30am Thursday 2 January 2025 Burial operations and memorial services will continue to operate through the Christmas and New Year period The grounds will also be open every day during daylight hours for visitation Wollongong Youth Services Closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopening on Monday 6 January 2025 No outreach programs will be offered during this period Picture by Adam McLeanNew graves at Wollongong cemeteries are dug deep enough to fit two bodies - though it's highly unlikely someone would share a plot with a stranger Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA Wollongong City Council spokesperson said the majority of burial plots at Wollongong Lawn Cemetery were double-depth while the older cemeteries were a mix of double-depth and single-depth The spokesperson said it was a practice that had been going on for decades with one family member being buried at the time and the option is left open for another member to later be interred on top They said it was a decision that had to be made at the time because if a grave plot is only dug to single-depth it cannot later be made deeper both sites in the single plot do not have to be used - and ultimately the decision as to who would later be buried in that plot is made by the person who holds the interment rights the council does not decide who is buried in a double-depth plot Those who wish to be buried side by side must purchase two plots "It is normal practice for burials to be completed one on top of the other as this saves space and can also reduce costs for families," the spokesperson said only family members would be buried together but this is determined by the interment rights holder who advises us of the two people (or one) who is to be buried "We have yet to encounter the practice of an interment right holder placing a non-family member/close friend into the same plot as another person." indigent burials do see non-related persons being buried into the same burial plot "Council oversees the care and maintenance of a number of operational and non-operational cemeteries," the council spokesperson said "Both burials and ash internments are completed at Wollongong Lawn Cemetery where there is approximately 200 years' worth of space Ash internments are completed at Wollongong Memorial Gardens where a large holding of land is anticipated to provide many more years of operational use "Wollongong Cemetery is open to burials by pre-existing reservation only while burials and ash internments are completed at Bulli Burials at these cemeteries are by pre-existing reservation only and Waterfall General Cemeteries are historical cemeteries where no new internments are completed." The winner of Sculpture in the Garden Wollongong’s Acquisitive Prize has been revealed with Melbourne artist Jenny Reddin claiming the $30,000 prize for her stunning work Exploring the delicate interplay between mass and movement the work emerged from the artist’s fascination with utilising rigid industrial materials to create a work celebrating fluidity and organic motion “I've been working with cubes as a kind of iconic shape and geometric shape but trying to make them look like they're weightless as if they've been thrown up into the air and they're coming back down,” Jenny explained that there's a sense of joy and a sense of being part of the fabric of the place that is to be used and enjoyed and to have fun around That's what I was hoping to achieve.” It was one of 18 artworks on display as part of the month-long exhibition that was officially launched at Wollongong Botanic Garden on Thursday (10 April) with 11 artworks eligible for the prize that will see the work become a regular fixture in the garden the final sculpture was created with the invaluable assistance of Unanderra fabricators Chris Wilson and Phil Brodie It made the final installation enough to bring the artist to tears “I was over the moon [when I saw it] and it just felt so right like it was always meant to be there,” she said but I love the idea that it's staying in this incredible environment that it's not going on to some concrete forecourt or some other place where it's not in sympathy with the environment The judging panel also dubbed three further works in the category highly commended – Mechelle Bounpraseuth’s Kom Pen Ya (Bitter is Medicine) Glenn Barkley’s Of Cicadas and Bones and Robyn Rumpf’s Cave Pools Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said the biennial exhibition has become a must-see attraction that brings thousands of people to the Garden every two years “This is the fifth iteration of this exhibition and it’s a great opportunity for the artists involved and for our community to enjoy this beautiful outdoor space,” Cr Brown said “We know that this brings increased visitation to the Garden every year so I think that shows how much we value it as a community and also that people from outside the region come to experience it as well “We had over 60 applications to exhibit and the selection panel certainly chose a diverse range of works using a wide range of materials and concepts and really showcasing their artistic inspiration in this beautiful location “Running alongside this four-week exhibition is a free public program with 101 hours of free activities on offer so I encourage people of all ages to come out and experience this mix of art and nature in our beautiful Botanic Garden.” Seventeen of the exhibiting artists were chosen from more than 60 submissions with the inaugural $10,000 Ephemeral Prize attracting artists whose works drew specific inspiration from the Wollongong Botanic Garden Ephemeral works also incorporate natural materials sourced on site and were created to last only for the duration of the exhibition The Ephemeral Prize and $3000 People’s Choice prize-winners will be named at a special event at the Botanic Garden on 29 April bringing the overall prize pool for the event to $43,000 The exhibition is accompanied by a free inclusive public program for schools families and individuals including walking tours a kid’s exhibition catalogue with activities These opportunities and opening hours for the exhibition are available in the official program, available here If you’re looking to establish or grow your business the last thing you need is additional headaches and lengthy commutes are a drag anyone could do without It’s why more businesses are choosing to grow smarter in Wollongong with our city at the heart of the fastest growing region in NSW Already boasting a 700,000-strong workforce within a one-hour commute the region’s population is expected to grow by 130,000 by 2041 It promises massive growth in business and employment opportunities with Wollongong City Council’s Economic Development Strategy (2019-2029) setting an ambitious target of 10,500 net new jobs – with 96 per cent of the target achieved within the first five years the past five years has seen a 50 per cent increase in A-Grade office space in the Wollongong city centre available at half the rental price of premium office space in the Sydney CBD and 30 per cent cheaper than office space in Parramatta It’s part of a CBD that has benefitted from over $1.1 billion in investment offering access to quality premises without lengthy commutes Still just 70 minutes away from two major international airports Wollongong provides all the perks of a major metropolitan centre The future promises further extensive growth with BlueScope’s Master Plan at Port Kembla to see a further 200 hectares of industrial land transformed - the largest industrial land transformation project on the eastern seaboard - to deliver a range of employment In launching Invest Wollongong’s 2025 Investment Prospectus at the Property Council Outlook at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Thursday morning Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said there’s simply never been a better time to choose Wollongong “Projections show that Wollongong is the centre of the fastest-growing region in our state and it’s not surprising given its rare blend of opportunity and balance,” Cr Brown said “We’re so fortunate to live and work in a truly beautiful spot between the escarpment and the ocean where satisfying work-life balance is the norm and you won’t spend half your time commuting to and from work and we’re increasingly seeing people choose Wollongong we’re shaping a city where people and businesses can truly thrive.” You can view the full 2025 Wollongong Investment Prospectus here Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe long-time performer I want to be able to do a great job and continue that fantastic legacy of the Illawarra Folk Festival Ms Moon volunteered to be the festival's new director and is already very well known in Illawarra for being able to run a great event She helped establish the long-running Wollongong Comedy at the Master Builders Club was entertainment manager at the University of Wollongong's UniBar and then student engagement officer at O-Week celebrations in 2019 and 2020 She co-founded the Great Gong Clothes Swap and her company, LadyMoon Productions, ran a show called Generation Woman Her involvement with the Illawarra Folk Festival began 15 years ago when she performed in a belly dance troupe and in the Flamenco band Ruido Since then she's been in the festival's marketing team and managed the event's website She loves live music and performance so much that back in 2014 the Mercury photographed her at the folk festival with her two-day-old baby girl who was the youngest festivalgoer that year (on left) and the duo together in 2014 when Harriet was two weeks old but overall the festival will stay in its current format for the moment "I'm just looking at tweaks it's all about getting my hands into it to work out exactly how it runs and all that the learning curve's going to be quite steep," she said She is keen to create more opportunities for First Nations people "[Former director] Cody [Munro Moore] implemented it last year and I just want to keep making that a bit bigger and a more permanent position in the Illawarra Folk Festival," she said As part of this process, she's collaborating with local storyteller Lily Pang and Yuin and Dharawal woman Dr Jodi Edwards Since its inception almost four decades ago the festival has grown and then shrunk during COVID but it's growing again and the crowds keep coming back with musicians from across the globe performing "There's a lot of areas where you can just sit on the grass and enjoy it from afar or if you want to you can be right in the middle of a dance floor," Ms Moon said Illawarra Folk Festival's new director Shane Moon at Bulli Showground Picture by Robert Peet"We have that range of doing yoga in the morning then you can go to a poetry session and then you can go and see some amazing acoustic folk music "I think that range of things is absolutely sensational." When the hugely popular festival returns to Bulli Showground from 15-18 January 2026 Black Joak Morris performs during the 2025 Illawarra Folk Festival Picture by Adam McLean"It's the largest volunteer-run festival in Australia I like to call it my 'folky family' every year," she said Applications to perform at the festival opened this week Find out more, apply to perform or be a home host at illawarrafolkfestival.com.au. The University of Wollongong (UOW) has today commenced the next stage of workplace change consultation with staff following the release of the UOW Operations Draft Change Proposal UOW is facing significant financial challenges in part due to the Australian Government’s changes to visa processing and migration policy and a sharp reduction in international student numbers UOW suffered a $35 million drop in revenue in 2024 The University has a clear ongoing need to reduce recurrent costs and to improve the effectiveness of its services and operations more broadly The University must address its escalating cost base and reduce recurrent expenditure by approximately an additional $30 million and this process will contribute to that objective the University is proposing to re-design its organisational structure to enable UOW to grow sustainably amplify our impact and deliver exceptional outcomes for our students The anticipated outcome of this Draft Change Proposal is a reduction of approximately 155-185 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions and a recurrent saving of approximately $22 – 26 million Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Senior Professor Eileen McLaughlin said that no final decisions have been made and committed to engaging in genuine consultation with staff throughout the process “While there is a strong financial imperative to this change proposal the outcome must be a platform for driving sustainable growth and impact with a focus on improving academic and research services enabled by enhancements in digital systems and technology,” Senior Professor McLaughlin said “We are committed to continuing genuine and meaningful consultation with staff throughout this process and encourage all staff to engage constructively in the weeks and months ahead “We must continue to make challenging choices now to set the University up for a brighter future Our priority is to strengthen our foundations and deliver a sustainable future for the University while ensuring that UOW remains competitive and innovative.” Staff who are potentially affected by this phase of workplace change have been notified directly and will participate in briefings this week Staff are also being provided with personalised and confidential support through the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider The consultation process is being conducted in alignment with the requirements of the University’s enterprise agreements It is anticipated that the Final Change Plan will be released on 23 July but Illawarra voters are choosing pre-poll voting in their droves preferring the pragmatic approach to voting: get it over and done with Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 2025 federal election is likely to feature by far the highest numbers of votes cast before polling day with the impact on political parties' campaigning Any political candidates who waited to make a late pitch to voters will this year find they are less successful than ever as vast numbers of voters have already made their choice The trend towards early voting continues to grow, with more than 30 per cent of voters - 5.4 million people - having already cast their vote by the end of voting on Thursday, Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) numbers showed Illawarra electorates are likely to show large numbers choose convenience over a democracy sausage on the day figures from the 2024 local government election indicate Of the Wollongong Local Government Area's 159,300 registered voters more than a third voted earlier than the polling day of September 14 Voters get in early at the pre-poll booth at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre during the March 18 Picture by Adam McLeanThe trend was even more pronounced in Shellharbour and Kiama where almost as many voters cast their ballots early as did on polling day Shellharbour had 22,326 votes cast on the day At this rate Wollongong voters might have been a little old-fashioned in their approach At the 2022 federal poll early voters outnumbered those who voted on election day, with 51.3 per cent of votes nationwide being cast either by postal vote or at a pre-poll booth, AEC figures show. No queue, but no atmosphere either: pre-polling at Wollongong's Crown St Mall last week. Picture by Robert PeetThis percentage stayed virtually the same for the 2023 referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, where 51.2 per cent of votes were cast early. Early voting is not just a trend, it's a landslide. What it means for electoral politics remains to be seen. Getting policies out in front of voters early will continue, with the campaign a task to be managed without surprises. Failing to release details of policies until a day or two before the poll may continue to be a popular tactic for opposition parties - particularly if there is something they'd rather voters not see. Democracy gets a win by virtue of the fact pre-poll and postal votes are considerably less likely to be informal votes. Either people have time to think it through (postal) or see no point in voting early just to post a donkey (pre-poll). Counting will still not begin until the polls close at 6pm on election day, so early voting is no help in getting an earlier result (particularly given how count updates bizarrely slow to a snail's pace on the Sunday after election day). The big losers out of all of this? The famed democracy sausage - the school groups who fundraise with an election day barbecue may find queues for their snags continue to shorten. Wollongong City Council has taken another step toward its Net Zero community emissions by 2050 target after granting easements that will allow the installation and maintenance of Community Batteries in four new locations across the Local Government Area Community Batteries are installed at a central location within a local community and provide shared renewable energy storage for surrounding households Surplus energy captured from renewable sources like rooftop solar panels is stored for use by multiple households at night or during peak periods Community batteries can also provide people without roof-top solar access to renewable energy allowing people who rent or do not own their home to utilise a renewable energy source Council has liaised extensively with network provider Endeavour Energy supporting a funding application through the Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Solar program that will see the installation of 400 batteries around Australia This collaboration also helped pinpoint suitable land within the Wollongong Local Government Area to place the batteries where they will be of most benefit with Council granting easements for access and maintenance This successful funding application saw the installation of the first tranche of community batteries seven in Dapto and five in Warrawong launched on Thursday (20 March) Funding for tranche two secured through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency will see a further 12 batteries installed across Wollongong On 17 March Wollongong Council resolved unanimously to grant easements over four sites on community land for the installation of new Community Batteries It’s part of a broader rollout that will see 22 batteries installed across the Illawarra region The installation of Community Batteries aligns with multiple objectives of Council’s Community Strategic Plan which outlines an approach toward achieving net zero carbon emissions and working with partners to facilitate sustainable green industries The batteries will support storage of locally generated renewable energy contributing to Wollongong’s emissions reduction target – Net Zero By 2050 – and the objectives of the Climate Change Mitigation Plan They can also contribute to lowering energy bills for local households in the Illawarra ensuring a just transition to Net Zero and help alleviate grid pressures in periods of high demand to reduce the need for costly network upgrades Wrapping the batteries with artwork of local Aboriginal artists also contributes to Council’s Public Art Strategy ensuring the sites add vibrancy to local communities “We’ll continue working with various agencies to ensure our residents can access sources of renewable energy and reduce the carbon footprint of their local community,” Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “We consulted extensively with residents in developing  our Climate Change Mitigation Plan and we know we have a community that is passionate about sustainability and access to renewable energy sources “It’s what the installation of Community Batteries provides and we’ll continue working with organisations to provide resources to reduce emissions where they are most needed.” and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.