It’s sometimes difficult to remember what made the news during the year, so here are some of our most popular stories for you to revisit.
17. One Raceway revved up to drive Goulburn racetrack back to viability
by John Thistleton
Atop an 11-metre-high noise wall some people have likened to Uluru, One Raceway owner Steve Shelley talks to Goulburn Mayor Peter Walker about the bright future of motor racing centred on the city. Photo: John Thistleton.
Goulburn’s One Raceway owner Steve Shelley says you don’t need to have a noisier car to go faster. If anyone with an unnecessarily noisy car turns up at his raceway near Goulburn they will be told to find another circuit – he wants to keep the peace.
Noise breaches and excessive events caused the former Wakefield Park circuit to close in 2022, now One Raceway is relying on giant noise walls on the circuit’s north and south ends, and scaling down to amber and green events in consideration of its neighbours.
16. Watch as kangaroo rescued by ‘legend’ surfer at Bawley beach
by Katrina Condie
Kangaroos are a common sight on South Coast beaches. Photo: Katrina Condie.
Amazing footage has surfaced of a surfer leaping into action, dragging a distressed kangaroo from pounding waves at a Bawley Point beach.
Brendan Riddick was walking up the beach following a surf when he spotted the kangaroo struggling to keep its head above water about 30 metres offshore at a popular swimming spot at Gannet Beach.
15. Cultural burn near Boorowa reveals rare native treasure
by Edwina Mason
NSW Local Land Services officer Dean Freeman says a calm burn ensures small animals have time to move away from the fire, and limits the temperatures of the fire, making it easier to control. Photo: Australian National University.
A hidden treasure has emerged from the soil on a travelling stock reserve near Boorowa thanks to the use of traditional burning practices.
The discovery of a rare native species of plant by Australian National University researchers has generated much excitement, given the fact it is a listed threatened species and had never previously been detected in the area.
14. Iconic Batemans Bay tourist attraction, Birdland, closes its gates
by Zoe Cartwright
Ruby Morris has a close encounter with a diamond python at Birdland Animal Park. Photo: Belinda Morris.
The closure of one of Batemans Bay’s oldest tourist attractions has sparked a wave of nostalgia among visitors and locals alike.
Over the past 50 years, Birdland Animal Park has provided many people’s first introduction to Australian wildlife and a safe haven for animals injured or donated by owners who couldn’t care for them properly.
13. You can’t park there, mate! Ute faceplants into South Coast creek after common park brake mistake
by James Coleman
The tow truck drivers were amazed the ute hadn’t tipped over. Photo: Croakers Towing Service.
The driver had only left the car for a moment to soak in the bushland views, when his car decided to take an actual … well, soak.
Fortunately, Batemans Bay family business Croakers Towing Service, prides itself on “challenging and high-stakes” recoveries.
12. Binalong woman sets world shearing record – 358 sheep in one day
by Sally Hopman
Champion shearer Jeanine Kimm shows her skill during her record-setting shear. Photo: Supplied.
A Binalong woman has set the sort of record that would have been unheard of 20 years ago. Jeanine Kimm, 31, set a world record for her gender, shearing the greatest number of sheep in eight hours – 358. She is also the first woman to set such a record with merinos, shearing a total of 1.2 tonnes of fine wool on the day.
11. Families forced to move on as Bay Waters deemed unsafe
by Kim Treasure
The now-defunct Bay Waters hotel sits above the Punthouse Restaurant with expansive river views. Photo: Lucy Cartwright.
Up to 20 low income Batemans Bay residents are being relocated after serious safety concerns were identified during an inspection of a property owned by Transport for NSW.
The former Bay Waters hotel was purchased by the State Government for $4 million in 2018 as an ongoing motel business as part of the Batemans Bay bridge works. The property was acquired to facilitate roadworks.
10. Why the Far South Coast needs a bus service and who is trying to get one
by Marion Williams
CWA Tilba’s Helene Sharpe with NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison, and Nola Ezzy and Annette Kennewell of CWA Tilba. Photo: Marion Williams.
After finding the biggest gap in public transport was in the area north of Bega up to Moruya, members of CWA Tilba are working with the NSW Government to get a bus service in the Far South Coast.
The bus service would improve access to medical appointments, community facilities such as swimming pools and cinemas, and to shops.
9. Beloved Snowy Monaro horsewoman and equine educator Michelle O’Neill killed in horse accident
by Edwina Mason
The Snowy Monaro and broader equine community are reeling from the shock news of the sudden death of beloved horsewoman, clinician and breeder Michelle O’Neill. Photo: Stephen Mowbray.
The Snowy Monaro community and the broader equine community has been rocked by the news of the sudden death of one of the nation’s leading equine trainers and educators, Michelle O’Neill, in a horse accident east of Bredbo.
Involved with horses all her life, Michelle O’Neill started out in the saddle with stock work on the family farm before her involvement broadened to Adaminaby, then Cooma pony clubs where she participated in everything from sporting to jumping, tent pegging to showing.
8. Bermagui first town in Australia to dispense with disposable coffee cups
by Marion Williams
Yuki Bird of Mister Hope Espresso in Bermagui was the driving force of Bermagui’s cafes putting an end to single-use coffee cups. Photo: Marion Williams.
Bermagui is the first town in Australia where cafes have come together to end the use of single-use coffee cups.
7. Far South Coast a regional hot spot for migration
by Marion Williams
Bermagui in Bega Valley Shire. The shire is attracting strong net inflows of people. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
The Bega Valley and Eurobodalla shires experienced Australia’s fastest annual percentage growth rate in net internal migration in the year to 30 June.
6. Lake George hasn’t been this full for this long since the 1960s – why is that?
by James Coleman
Lake George was this full in 1990 and 1976, but only for those years. Photo: James Coleman.
There’s been a lot of water in Lake George for three years now, to the point windsurfers are often out there. Professor Brad Pillans from the ANU says the last time it was this full was 1990, then 1976 before that.
5. Missing woman Lovisa “Kiki” Sjoberg found after seven day search of Snowy Mountains
by Edwina Mason
Lovisa Sjoberg was reported missing in the Snowy Mountains. Photo: Supplied.
Lovisa “Kiki” Sjoberg, 48, has been found alive following a seven-day search of the Snowy Mountains.
4. Major South Coast infrastructure project ‘finally moving forward’ as contracts signed
by Claire Sams
The Milton-Ulladulla Bypass project will cost an estimated $940 million. Photo: Supplied.
The long-awaited $940 million Milton-Ulladulla Bypass project has taken another major step forward, with contracts signed for the project.
3. Rules tightened on wild horse rehoming program after slaughterhouse discovery
by Edwina Mason
Wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park are lured to trap yards using molasses and salt bait stations, before being transported out for distribution among rehomers. Photo: File.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has enacted stricter guidelines for its wild horse rehoming program following public outcry at the discovery of an illegal slaughterhouse in the Riverina region earlier this year.
The new regulations have been introduced as the result of a formal investigation into the program after 500 horse carcasses were found at the property of an approved rehomer – a person approved to receive wild horses removed from Kosciuszko National Park – near Wagga Wagga in April.
2. Do drivers ever need to speed to overtake? Debate rages over NSW trial of point-to-point cameras
by Oliver Jacques
NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders has called average speed cameras “revenue raising”. Photo: Facebook.
The NSW Government is set to go ahead with a trial of average speed cameras in regional areas, despite protests from a prominent politician who argued drivers might need to speed to “safely” overtake other vehicles on the road.
NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders has described the initiative as “revenue raising”.
1. Multi-million dollar road gives motorists new options for travel through ‘the Shoalhaven and beyond’
by Claire Sams
Shoalhaven City Council Deputy Mayor Matthew Norris; Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King and Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips cut the ribbon to officially open Bannada Way. Photo: Supplied.
Following years of construction, a new road connecting Shoalhaven communities has officially opened. The road links Illaroo Road in Bangalee with Moss Vale Road at Bells Lane, connecting Cambewarra with Nowra in the Shoalhaven.
After consulting with local experts in the local Dharawal language, Shoalhaven City Council named the new connection Bannada Way. The word “bannada” is southern Dharawal for Bomaderry Creek or “running water”.
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