Wollongong news, sport and weather | Illawarra Mercury

PROGRESS: Owner Adrian D'Amico has provided an update on the construction of the new indoor skate park at Spring Hill. It's hoped the park will be completed in late December/early January. Picture: Robert Peet

Wollongong's new indoor skate park set to open during school holidays

Brendan Crabb

Police arrested a man after he allegedly failed to stop and hit a resident's fence. Picture: Facebook

UPDATEDPolice arrest man in cannabis crop after alleged pursuit in Koonawarra

Ashleigh Tullis

Schools plan: The latest council guidelines for West Dapto show the locations of an extra six primary schools and two high schools. Picture: Wollongong City Council.

Wollongong council awaits state action on eight new West Dapto school sites

Kate McIlwain

Cheyeanne Murray. Source: Facebook

SUBSCRIBERWoonona mum given second chance to avoid jail time over Globe Lane bashing

Shannon Tonkin
1hr ago

Haze: A surfer at Shellharbour near the gravel loader braved the smoke that blanketed the Illawarra. Picture: Sylvia Liber

FREESmoke causes hazardous air as haze lingers over region

Ashleigh Tullis
2hrs ago

Smoke-free: Wollongong council has banned smoking at patrolled beaches. Picture: Wollongong City Council.

Support as Wollongong council bans smoking on beaches

Agron Latifi
2hrs ago

Hanging Rock evacuation centre.

Coast in crisis: The roads that have reopened and who can use them

PROJECT: Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba with Eva Wymer and Ivy Parker at the opening of the Mood Park Playground. Picture: Sylvia Liber

New country-themed playground in Albion Park is officially opened

Brendan Crabb

How Wollongong council will begin cutting emissions under new 2030 target

Recharge the region - with a new environmental slant

Boy & Bear's world tour due to wrap up in the Illawarra next year

Port Kembla gas terminal wants govt to let it bring in more tankers

PROGRESS: Owner Adrian D'Amico has provided an update on the construction of the new indoor skate park at Spring Hill. It's hoped the park will be completed in late December/early January. Picture: Robert Peet

Wollongong's new indoor skate park set to open during school holidays

Tom Gleeson.

First crop of acts announced for Spiegeltent Wollongong's 2020 program

CLIMATE RALLY: Lily Prior and Isabelle Prior with members of Illawarra Climate Justice Alliance outside the Wollongong Council chambers. Picture: Robert Peet

Wollongong council sets itself 2030 net-zero emissions target

A man takes in the view of Wollongong from the Robertson’s Lookout as thick smoke from fires near Sydney blanket the Illawarra. Picture: Adam McLean

FREEThick smoke causes 'hazardous' air quality levels in Illawarra

Former Illawarra Coke Company general manager Rex Wright at the company's Coalcliff site in 2012. Mr Wright died in a hiking accident in New Zealand on Friday. Picture: Ken Robertson

Former Illawarra Coke boss Rex Wright dies while hiking in NZ

Muscle cars, memories and more: Yes, you can get them in regional Australia, too. Photo: Shutterstock

REAL AUSTRALIADon't begin to think regional Australia is second-best

SUBSCRIBERWoonona mum given second chance to avoid jail time over Globe Lane bashing

1hr ago

FREESmoke causes hazardous air as haze lingers over region

2hrs ago

Support as Wollongong council bans smoking on beaches

2hrs ago

New country-themed playground in Albion Park is officially opened

16:40PM

How Wollongong council will begin cutting emissions under new 2030 target

16:00PM

Woonona teen ready for shot at 2020 Australian Indoor Hockey Festival

15:55PM

DETERMINED: Woonona teen Brooke Welsh (right) challenges for ball possession during a recent indoor hockey game for Illawarra South Coast.

Woonona teen ready for shot at 2020 Australian Indoor Hockey Festival

Joshua Bartlett

Bright futures: Jess Hull (left) and Tyson Frizell (right) with some of the South Coast School Sport award recipients. Picture: Anna Warr

PHOTOSSouth Coast's top junior athletes recognised at annual awards

Cameron Mee

REINFORCEMENTS: New Hawks imports Darington Hobson and Billy Preston at the Snakepit. Picture: Adam Mclean.

SUBSCRIBERNBL fits the Bill for new Hawks import Preston

Mitch Jennings

DETERMINED: Woonona teen Brooke Welsh (right) challenges for ball possession during a recent indoor hockey game for Illawarra South Coast.

Woonona teen ready for shot at 2020 Australian Indoor Hockey Festival

On target: Kiama's Ethan Harvey claimed the Illawarra Champion of Champions and Wollongong Junior Open. Picture: Dave Tease/Golf NSW

Harvey takes out Illawarra champion of champions

ALL SMILES: Illawarra South Coast's victorious under-18s indoor hockey team on Sunday. Picture: Greg Thompson/Click InFocus

Illawarra South Coast teens win sixth straight state indoor hockey title

Joshua Bartlett

APT is ready to resume operations in Myanmar in September. Picture: Shutterstock

Voyager returns with $140 million facelift

Explore Travel

These amazing natural limestone structures stand as high as 3.5 metres and were formed about 25,000 to 30,000 years ago. Picture: Shutterstock

Explore the ancient wonderland in our own backyard

Bernadette Chua

Deals of the week: Pack for Phuket, five-star Dubai, on water in Alaska

Deals of the week: Pack for Phuket, five-star Dubai, on water in Alaska

Explore Travel

Get the digital version of Today's Paper

Get the digital version of Today's PaperRead Now

Tom Gleeson.

First crop of acts announced for Spiegeltent Wollongong's 2020 program

Brendan Crabb

ON THE ROAD: Boy & Bear this week announced the dates for the Australian leg of their 2020 'Suck On Light' tour. The jaunt will include a show at Waves. Picture: Daniel Boud

Boy & Bear's world tour due to wrap up in the Illawarra next year

Brendan Crabb

18 things to do in the Illawarra this week

18 things to do in the Illawarra this week

Brendan Crabb

Two Christmas catch up recipes that are sure to turn heads

Two Christmas catch up recipes that are sure to turn heads

Sponsored Content

Five reasons to get out of the digital shops and back into the Plaza this Christmas

Five reasons to get out of the digital shops and back into the Plaza this Christmas

Sponsored Content

Leadership qualities: Kate Venables was one of the first managers in Australia to receive Chartered Manager accreditation.

The making of a leader

Sponsored content

Two Christmas catch up recipes that are sure to turn heads

Two Christmas catch up recipes that are sure to turn heads

Oia town on Santorini island, Greece. Get amongst the traditional and famous houses and churches with blue domes over the Caldera, Aegean sea.

Medieval cities of the Mediterranean

Emma Brown

Vehicles face airbag registration ban

Vehicles face airbag registration ban

Sponsored content

Idyllic family sanctuary

Idyllic family sanctuary

House of the Week

Illawarra's property market showing signs of growth, but 'uncertainty lingers': report

Illawarra's property market showing signs of growth, but 'uncertainty lingers': report

Brendan Crabb

HOT PROPERTY: Do you have an interesting real estate story that could be featured in an upcoming edition? Please email brendan.crabb@illawarramercury.com.au with details.

The economy is weakening, but Illawarra real estate prices are growing: expert

Brendan Crabb

CARER: Illawarra resident Nikki Bushell, whose daughter made an attempt on her own life nearly two years ago. Picture: Robert Peet

‘I thought I had to hide every knife’: A mother’s story

Brendan Crabb

Illawarra residents invited to free RUOK? Day event

Illawarra residents invited to free RUOK? Day event

Thanks to rehab and psychotherapy Bruce McMillan has sufficiently recovered from his own mental health problems and is now helping others with theirs. Picture: Robert Peet

How talking helped this Wollongong man after years of keeping suicidal thoughts to himself

Lisa Wachsmuth

CARER: Illawarra resident Nikki Bushell, whose daughter made an attempt on her own life nearly two years ago. Picture: Robert Peet

‘I thought I had to hide every knife’: A mother’s story

PROJECT: Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba with Eva Wymer and Ivy Parker at the opening of the Mood Park Playground. Picture: Sylvia Liber

New country-themed playground in Albion Park is officially opened

Brendan Crabb

Community Billboard

Community Billboard

BURGER TIME: Daniel Chin, Josh Tree from the Blokes Lunch and Lachlan Stevens with the Blokes Burger on sale at His Boy Elroy. Picture: Robert Peet

Buy a His Boy Elroy burger to help men's mental health

PROJECT: Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba with Eva Wymer and Ivy Parker at the opening of the Mood Park Playground. Picture: Sylvia Liber

New country-themed playground in Albion Park is officially opened

Ride for Country Kids 2019.

Ride off into the sunset for kids

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN: Thit Tieu, Nicki Bowman, Karen Walker and Sally Stevenson at the IWD Illawarra event. Picture: Robert Peet

Illawarra committee launches its International Women's Day luncheon

Agron Latifi

Wollongong police are appealing for information on a malicious damage indicent earlier this month. Picture: NSW Police

Watch as man kicks in Wollongong alcohol store door

8 of the most haunted places in the Illawarra and South Coast

8 of the most haunted places in the Illawarra and South Coast

Adams lookout, Bungonia National Park

10 of the best day trips from Wollongong to try

Star: Aethero.

Intense environment for Hong Kong's Group 1 showpiece

A still from footage of the fire by Top Notch Video.

Watch dramatic footage of massive Corrimal High inferno

Christopher West, inset, and the confrontation outside his ex-girlfriend's Northcliffe Drive house.

SUBSCRIBERBulli teen 'lost it' when he opened fire on ex-girlfriend's house

Shannon Tonkin

The Miss Llewella Davies Pioneer Walkway at Camden Town Farm opened recently. Main picture: Simon Bennett. Inset: Llewella Davies

The new historic walk near Wollongong you need to know about

Different perspectives: The view (top) from the Signature building may be expansive, but some have complained the new towers will increase congestion and block out light. Pictures: Robert Peet Below: Artist impressions of future Wollongong developments.

SUBSCRIBERThe 10 skyscrapers set to change the shape of Wollongong

Kate McIlwain

Purple Our World and World Pancreatic Cancer Day chair Jessica Abelsohn with her mum Rochelle Goulburn at Jessicas wedding, just four months before Rochelle died from pancreatic cancer.

Do you know the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Geraldine Cardozo

GOLDEN OLDIES: See veteran entertainers (l-r) Max Gillies, Normie Rowe and Tony Barber in Senior Moments 2: Remember, Remember.

Yes, you are having another Senior Moment

Geraldine Cardozo

Edgars Mission provides its rescued farm animals with everything they need from a warm coat to a set of wheels.

Make it your mission to visit this sanctuary for rescued farm animals and weary travellers

Sue Preston

Aged care funding life raft just a 'drop in the ocean'

OPINIONAged care funding life raft just a 'drop in the ocean'

Patrick Reid

A tough time for students ... and parents

A tough time for students ... and parents

Julian O'Brien

Morrison's restructure is symptomatic of a mentality that presumes the only crucial values are those with economic criteria. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

OPINIONPM's public service shake-up betrays a contempt for the arts

Dan Dixon

NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott is accused of stifling discussion on climate change.

Climate inaction is galling: ex-fire boss

18m ago

At least three Australians have been killed and 13 are injured after a volcanic eruption in NZ.

At least three Australians killed in NZ

50m ago

Alex Wood insists he has not lied to the ICAC.

NSW developer denies political donor plot

1hr ago

Sergeant Matthew Peck has conceded there was a missed chance to stop the Bourke Street driver.

Police let Bourke Street driver pass

1hr ago

Victoria Police chief Graham Ashton is giving evidence for a second day at a royal commission.

Snitching Lawyer X fears for life

Karen Sweeney
1hr ago

Canberra and the states have agreed more needs to be done to better integrate drought relief.

Working group to check on drought funding

Matt Coughlan
1hr ago

Joshua Norman has been jailed for killing a pedestrian while driving over the alcohol limit.

SA drink-driver jailed for 'selfish' crash

Kathryn Bermingham
2hrs ago

Ali El Nasher is seeking bail, charged with the attempted murder of Joseph Abouchaya in Kensington.

Feud before Vic fatal fight night shooting

2hrs ago

The Murray Darling Basin Authority have announced there will be an independent review into the science of South Australia's Lower Lakes.

MDBA announce CSIRO-led review of Lower Lakes

Olivia Calver
44m ago

Sue Talbot and Tony Dowe with their labour of love, Tony’s autobiography, "Sale O!"

Stud stock's top agent reminisces

Mark Griggs
1hr ago

THINK PINK: Kylie Walsh and her colleagues with Shane Bolton and the two sheep she won at the charity auction. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE

Pink lambs and hay raise $10,000 for McGrath Foundation

Orlander Ruming and Mark Griggs
2hrs ago

FAST HELP: Getting help quickly can lessen the effects of a stroke.

Q: Can I prevent stroke? How is it treated?

RISK: If banks go broke then shareholders would be the last to be paid.

Take a long-term view to ride out market fluctuations

Keeping active: Gardening, walking and low-intensity bike riding are among a range of activities you can still do if you have the sniffles.

Feeling sick? You can still exercise

Lukas Chodat