There’s never any shortage of news in the Illawarra and 2024 was no different. Have a look back over the big stories of the year – you might be surprised at the most popular reads.
16. Dynamic duo from Lake Illawarra take mother-daughter bonding to the next level
by Zoe Cartwright
Holly and Carla King have put themselves on the frontline for their community, after flooding last year left them feeling helpless. Photo: NSW SES.
Holly and Carla King felt helpless during the 2023 floods – so they decided to do something about it. The mother and daughter duo is among Shellharbour SES’s first crop of new volunteers for 2024.
15. New Regional Development boss brings fresh energy and business insight to role as region’s advocate
by Jen White
New RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven CEO Selena Stevens is keen to be an advocate for the region. Photo: Supplied.
Selena Stevens vows to bring “fresh energy and an entrepreneurial mindset” to her new role as CEO of Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven.
14. Government to spend $10 million to work out how to upgrade 136-year-old South Coast rail line
Damage to the South Coast rail line at Coalcliff. Photo: TfNSW.
The NSW Government will spend $10 million to investigate options to upgrade the South Coast rail line but warns work will be “expensive, difficult and lengthy”.
13. Illawarra’s homelessness services under stress as young people struggle with housing security
by Keeli Royle
Young people make up the majority of those needing homelessness services in the Illawarra. Photo: File.
The demand on homelessness and housing support service providers around the Illawarra is on the rise, with figures revealing the Wollongong local government area has the third highest number of people in the state accessing support, most of whom are younger than 30.
12. New noise camera trial to crack down on ‘hooning’ in Wollongong streets
by Keeli Royle
The noise camera will operate as part of an Australia-first trial for the next year. Photo: Keeli Royle.
Revved up and reckless drivers screeching down Wollongong streets are being put on notice, with a new noise camera installed as part of a crackdown on hooning behaviour. Wollongong is one of three locations chosen for Australia’s first noise camera trial.
11. The tiny home boom helping make housing more affordable and boost employment opportunities
by Keeli Royle
Rick Smith started building tiny homes four years ago, but never expected a boom like this. Photo: Keeli Royle.
An Albion Park Rail building business helping to make housing more affordable is now also boosting employment opportunities for tradespeople and apprentices following a boom in the tiny home market.
10. Planning changes could lead to a radically different Wollongong skyline
by Zoe Cartwright
Five state significant development applications for Wollongong City have been lodged with the NSW Government. Image: Tyson Bennett.
A change in planning rules designed to address the housing crisis could radically change the skyline of Wollongong.
9. Here’s how much you spend keeping the Wollongong Mall palm up a pole
by Zoe Cartwright
Crown Street Mall’s palm tree is notorious, controversial – and maybe that’s the point. Photo: Mike Hewson, courtesy Wollongong City Council.
How much does the average ratepayer spend on Wollongong’s iconic palm up a pole each year? We crunched the numbers on where your rates go and where that pesky palm – which sparked furious debate in council chambers earlier this year – sits in the hierarchy of big-ticket items.
8. Reduced wind zone area 20 km off Illawarra coastline a ‘balanced declaration’: Bowen
by Jen White
Federal Whitlam MP Stephen Jones, Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes at Port Kembla Steelworks to announce the declaration of an Illawarra offshore wind zone. Photo: Jen White.
Wind farms off the Illawarra coast are one step closer to reality after the Federal Government declared the wind zone is good to go. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said he’d listened to community concerns and reduced the proposed size of the zone by about a third.
7. Vale Jason Orange, beloved father and dedicated chef
by Zoe Cartwright
Jason Orange was a proud chef at Kiama’s Saltwater Cafe, who loved his family and hospitality above all else. Photo: Annalyce Orange.
The Illawarra community is mourning the death of beloved dad and Kiama chef Jason Orange at just 47. Jason was born in the Illawarra, lived in Berkeley and was chef at the Saltwater Cafe in Kiama.
6. After 13 years, Lord Mayor says it’s time for a life outside of Wollongong Council
by Jen White
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery at Thursday’s Reconciliation Walk at Koonawarra Bay. He’s announced he won’t run for mayor in the September elections. Photo: Jen White.
Gordon Bradbery says it only seems like yesterday that he was wheeled in as Wollongong’s Lord Mayor, but he’s decided it’s time to leave the job “before I get wheeled out in a coffin”. The former Uniting Church minister decided not to contest the job in September’s local government elections.
5. Wollongong, Shellharbour start new service for lost and stray animals to replace RSPCA pound
by Jen White
Lost and stray dogs will be looked after by Wollongong and Shellharbour councils, rather than the RSPCA. Photo: wirestock.
Wollongong and Shellharbour councils have resumed responsibility for caring for lost and stray animals, after the RSPCA’s long-time contract to provide the service ended.
4. The Farm named Australia’s second-best beach – the only surprise is it’s not No. 1
Surfers heading to Australia’s second-best beach, The Farm, at Killalea. Photo: NPWS.
It’s a favourite spot for many in the Illawarra and now the rest of Australia knows about it – The Farm at Killalea is officially the second-best beach in the country.
3. Take a peek inside the Illawarra school where ceremonies replace assemblies and Dharawal is spoken daily
by Zoe Cartwright
Koonawarra Public School Aboriginal Education Officer Lee Moran with deputy principal Brent Pritchard during Reconciliation Week. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Reconciliation Week comes around once a year, but at Koonawarra Public School reconciliation is a year-round commitment.
2. ‘Pathetic’: Jamberoo kicks 150 Telopea Park students out of water park
by Oliver Jacques
Telopea Park students were turfed out of Jamberoo soon after arriving. Photo: Supplied.
Jamberoo Action Park is under fire after kicking 150 Canberra school students out of its water-themed venue after an apparent mix-up. The Year 10 graduation excursion saw the teenagers make the seven-hour round trip to Jamberoo and enter the premises, only to be told to leave within their first hour.
1. Can you help a boy who just wants a home and a foster family to care for him?
by Jen White
CatholicCare Wollongong is dealing with a critical shortage of foster carers to look after children without a permanent home. Photo: CatholicCare Wollongong.
For more than two years, an 11-year-old boy has been living in temporary accommodation, cared for by a rotating roster of youth workers. He is one of more than 400 children in NSW who desperately needs foster parents and a normal home life.
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