Burning issue: Unanderra residents are concerned about a planned crematorium in their suburb, claiming concerns about air quality and “psychological impacts” from the facility.
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Jobs threat: Hundreds of mining jobs are in doubt after contractor Delta SBD goes into administration. The administrators were looking at honouring the contracts of some workers.
Back at work: Anaesthetist Dr Michael Petr is reinstated after he was fired for abandoning a patient mid-operation. Staff later found him passed out drunk in a locked room on hospital premises. His reinstatement includes daily urine and breath testing.
Family help: In life-threatening need of a bone marrow transplant, Wollongong Private Hospital CEO David Crowe finds a perfect match from his sister Karlene Adlington.
Teen criminal: A 17-year-old from Barrack Heights who held police at bay during a rooftop stand-off admits to committing a long string of crimes in the Illawarra, including break and enters and robberies.
New jail: The first prisoners begin arriving at the newly opened men’s prison at Unanderra.
Guilty: Corrimal High School teacher Kurt Majoor pleads guilty to having sex with two of his female students. He is sentenced to a total term of three years and four months in jail.
Messy rooms: University of Wollongong students take to social media to complain about “unhealthy” mould and mushrooms growing in their on-campus lodgings. A university official wished the students had mentioned the issues earlier.
Unusual treatment: Towradgi woman Kerryn Barnett receives a faecal transplant to treat bowel paralysis rather than opt for surgery. She says the procedure is a success.
Shock split: Gerroa’s champion surfer Sally Fitzgibbons and Penrith Panthers forward Trent Merrin split up, with the surfer calling off the engagement.
Royal visit: It is announced that Prince Andrew will visit the University of Wollongong in September to attend the Pitch@Palace Australia program, where young entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas to the Duke.
Murder threat: Nowra High School is placed under police guard after a 16-year-old allegedly made a violent social media threat where he said he was “going to murder everyone at Nowra High tomorrow”.
Road worries: An internal government document states the southern end of any F6 extension would be a choice between bulldozing 500 homes or cutting through the Royal National Park. In October it would be revealed that the NSW government has quietly shelved any plans to construct this stage of the proposed extension.
Twin tragedy: Motorcyclist Jack Kinloch and pedestrian Judith Humphries die in a collision at Warrawong.
Bye-bye billycart: The popular Port Kembla billycart derby is axed by the suburb’s chamber of commerce.
Jail time: Former netball umpire Adam Johnson is jailed for at least a year for the online grooming of two teenagers, one of whom he was supposed to have been mentoring.
Angry bird: At least 10 people have been treated by a Kiama optometrist after being attacked by a bird at the local shopping centre. They were swooped by the bird, who went straight for the eyes.
Bypass’ big day: Thousands head to Berry for the chance to walk along a stretch of the four-lane highway that will bypass their town. This month the NSW government will also commit to funding the third stage of the Princes Highway upgrade, from Berry to Bomaderry.
Helensburgh death: Reuben Martin, 19, dies when a car driven by Lachlan Scipone, slams into a tip truck parked in Walker Street, Helensburgh, at 2am. Mr Scipone would die in hospital several days later.
Serious accident: Gregory Thomas Foale, who was driving the truck that overturned on the M1 at Cataract in October last year and blocked the motorway, is fined $1000 for negligent driving and $500 each for several other charges.
Big win: An anonymous Dapto mum wins $1000 a week for five years via an instant scratchie.
Priceless: Woonona two-year-old Ruby McLean gets free access to one of the most expensive drugs in the world on compassionate grounds. The drug will be used to treat her rare muscle-wasting disease.
Standing room: It is revealed that the new intercity train fleet due to be rolled out from 2019 will have a net loss of 100 seats compared to those trains already on the South Coast line.
Air crash: A man walks away relatively unscathed after a gyrocopter crash at Illawarra Regional Airport.
Guilty as charred: Krste Kovacevski is found guilty of burning down his Coniston home in August 2016 so his wife couldn’t get it in divorce proceedings. While he claimed he owned the house and so was free to burn it down, Magistrate Mark Douglass found that was not the case. Kovacevski will be sentenced to two years’ jail, but chooses to appeal the decision.
Big spenders: Wollongong City Council announce plans to spend $91 million on works and capital projects over the next financial year.
Fourth effort: Wollongong’s City Beach building is about to get its fourth restaurant - Steamers Bar and Grill. Three previous restaurants - The Meatery, Rocksalt and Dunes - have all occupied the same space but struggled to make a go of it.