Highlands News

Following an overwhelming response to the initial suite of Tafe courses announced earlier this month, the State Government has announced 13 new free fee courses to help people during the COVID19 pandemic. The courses include:- Leading Teams;- Digital Security Basics;- Build your Digital Literacy with Coding;- Create a Brand Presentation; and-...

With the Southern Highlands News not printing a hard copy newspaper, Wingecarribee Council will be now be publishing all council news on the council website. That includes all planning matters and development applications, documents for public exhibition, community events and notifications of Council Meetings. A number of other councils in regional areas...

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds across the Coast and Highlands. The conditions are being caused by a cold front which passed through southeastern Australia yesterday. Damaging winds, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h, may extend to include...

The Wingecarribee SES has been called to rescue seven family members who got lost off the Box Vale Walking track in the Southern Highlands. Crews got the call around six last night and managed to find them about two hours later. It's believed the family lost their bearings as the conditions got...

A series of one on one information sessions are taking place to discuss the draft Wingecarribee Local Housing Strategy and draft Wingecarribee Local Strategic Planning Statement. Because of COVID19 the sessions are happening via video conferencing or telephone call. The aim of the draft documents are to help set the direction for...

Wollondilly Councillors have endorsed a concept strategy for the 316 kilometre ‘Great Burragorang Valley Walk’. The walk once completed, will include access points at Balmoral, Colo Vale and Mittagong aswell as Thirlmere Lakes, Oakdale, Wentworth Falls and Katoomba. Consultation with local Aboriginal communities will soon get underway and there'll also be work...

Work on the Bowral Hospital re-development is continuing during the COVID19 pandemic. Scaffolding on the north facing façade is due to be removed over the coming weeks, and the rest of the building soon after. Over the past two months, builders have completed ceiling installations, waterproofing, lift installation and testing, level 1...

Southern Highlands dairy farmer Cressida Cains has been awarded this year's NSW-ACT AgriFuture Rural Women's Award for her work in the dairy industry. Ms. Cain's award includes a $10,000 Westpac bursary, which will be used to develop her project Dairy Cocoon. This is an online platform and support hub which will assist...

An inmate at Goulburn Jail has been charged with allegedly assaulting a Corrections Officer. Back on March 9, the 52 year old male officer was going about his duties when he was cut on the arm. The Officer suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident. Officers from The Hume Police District...

Some Elective Surgery will re - commence at Southern Highlands and Nowra Private Hospitals from Monday. At this stage there's no clear guidelines as to what surgery will be undertaken, but what the Government has done is put in place a limit on the volume of procedures which will be allowed. Who...

The Bowral Fire and Rescue Station is having a number of issues with residents not following pile burning guidelines and seeking a fire permit beforehand. In some instances people are burning items they shouldn't be, including paints, tins and metals. Retained Firefighter Billy says people can call the Bowral fire station and...

The Bowral Cycling Classic which attracts thousands of cyclists is still scheduled to take place later in the year. Organisers are remaining optimistic given Australia’s progress with Coronavirus to date and the fact the event is still 6-months away. Founder James Yaffa says they're now taking registrations however he insists a full...

We can confirm that the two latest COVID19 cases in the Southern Highlands have come from the Mittagong area. This is of particular concern for local health authorities, given there was a spike in the same postcode two weeks ago. Southern Highlands Division of General Practice Chairman Dr. Vince Roche says fortunately...

Charity stores across the Highlands are reporting an increase in illegal dumping during the covid19 pandemic. Council’s Regional Illegal Dumping Project Officer, Sara Rich says the problem has been compounded because many stores are now temporarily closed or operating with minimal staff at reduced hours. The issue is costing Charities thousands of...

A cyclist is in a critical condition after being hit by a car at Robertson. The incident took place around 4:40pm, when the 64 year old was heading west along the Illawarra Highway. The 85 year old driver of a Peugeot was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and the cyclist was...

Six new small base stations have been announced for the Hume electorate including one each at Wombeyan Caves ( Optus ) and Goodman's Ford ( Telstra ) Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor says small cell base stations typically deliver 4G mobile coverage across an area of a couple of kilometres. The...

The number of confirmed COVID 19 cases in the Wingecarribee has risen by two, from 23 to 25. The figures were last updated by NSW Health on Monday at 8pm. Meantime the number of locally acquired cases in the Wingecarribee with an unknown source of infection is between 1 - 4. A reminder...

Two Wingecarribee Councillors are reportedly calling for senior staff to take a pay cut during the COVID19 pandemic. The crisis has already resulted in employees across a number of sectors having their pay reduced and Politicians in New Zealand have agreed to 20 per cent over six months. However Councillor Graham McLaughlin...

NSW firefighters are taking advantage of good weather conditions to kick off hazard reduction work in preparation for the next bushfire season, following a devastating summer. Some people encountered smoke on Monday as firefighters conducted burns at Galston in the Hornsby area, as well as Belanglo in the Southern Highlands, Bungwahl...