8 SEPTEMBER 2021
ISSUE 255
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
Elly cycles to close the gap
News
The NPWS is planning to revitalise Bateau Bay’s tired looking Crackneck Lookout precinct in Wyrrabalong National Park with smart new design features and improved facilities. See page 3
Out&About
Dr Elly Warren, of Yerin Aboriginal Health Services in Wyong, is embarking on her third Alpine Everesting challenge in an effort to help cure cancer by donating funds to Tour de Cure.
Nineteen-year-old Alex Hart would love to be a truck driver, but he knows he’s got to work his way up, so for the time being he’s happy to have a full-time job... See page 13
Business
See page 27
COVID ALERT
Residents in 29 suburbs urged to get tested There is mounting evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in and surrounding the Lake Munmorah, Charmhaven, Bateau Bay and Toukley communities and people who live or work there are urged to be extra vigilant and get tested. There are at least 29 suburbs on high alert in the northern area where the list of exposure sites grows longer and longer as the number of Central Coast COVID cases escalated to 130 on Tuesday, September 7. Many of those cases have
been infectious while out in the community and some were linked to known cases, while the source of the infection for others is still under investigation, causing concern from health authorities that there were unknown infections within the community. A week ago, on Wednesday, September 1, there were only two new cases, but since then new cases daily have risen exponentially to the highest number so far of 22 new cases on Tuesday, September 7. Brooke Avenue School at Killarney Vale was closed on Tuesday, September 7 – the
fourth school in the past month to close because of COVID exposure. There were about 60 students on the school grounds that day. The school grounds, including the on-site YMCA Out of School Hours (OOSH) program, will remain closed until contact tracing and deep cleaning is undertaken. Killarney Vale Public School re-opened on Monday following a COVID detection on Friday, September 3. NSW Health has reminded families that children should stay at home unless they
absolutely need to attend school, such as if they are the child of an essential worker. Anyone who was at Wyong Hospital’s emergency department waiting room on Thursday, September 2, between 8:45pm and 11:50pm is considered a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the results. Health authorities are urging anyone in the following suburbs to be tested as there is mounting evidence of community transmission: Blue Haven, Charmhaven, Doyalson, Gorokan, Hamlyn Terrace,
Kanwal, Lake Haven, San Remo, Wadalba, Warnervale, Wyong, Blue Bay, Bateau Bay, Killarney Vale, Long Jetty, Shelly Beach, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay, Budgewoi, Buff Point, Canton Beach, Halekulani, Magenta, Norah Head, Noraville, Toukley, Tuggerawong and Wyongah. Meanwhile, the number of locals not following the stayat-home orders is also surging, with police issuing 422 fines since Operation Stay At Home began on Monday, August 16. See page 4
Five of the Top 10 Suburbs for Affordable Houses in NSW are on the Central Coast – Mardi, Bateau Bay, Springfield, Point Clare and Kariong. See page 21
Sport
Central Coast Mariners have finally been tasked to develop a new female team for the nation’s highest level of professional football... See page 32
Puzzles page 19
It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.