šµ Squash gets squashed
Plus: Bridge tolls confirmed and leaky Ku-ring-gai.
Huw Bradshaw
December 12, 2025
ā±ļø The 67th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.
Morning all,
Before we jump into the news this week Iād just like to say a bit about the first year of the North Shore Lorikeet.
You may have seen the headlines in recent years: local newsrooms are closing across Australia, and communities are left without basic information about whatās happening around them. The North Shore Lorikeet was created to give local communities quality local reporting and a sense of connection.
Together with Mel, who ran the Lorikeet for the first half of the year, we worked on a lot of interesting stories. Some were long and scientific, some were quick and simple, some were serious and important, and some were a bit silly and fun. One that I was particularly happy with was the reporting I did in October on synthetic turf at the Chatswood Concourse.
This story was an opportunity to start a serious conversation in our community about climate change and urban planning, and one councillor called our reporting āa game-changerā on this issue.
The story reminded me why this work matters, and why keeping it free for everyone really is worth fighting for.
Weāre running a short fundraising drive to support next yearās reporting. If youāre in a position to help, it would mean a lot.
And as always, thank you for reading and being part of this community.
Anyway, letās get into the rest of the news.
HEARD THIS WEEKš
šø Willoughby Squash squashed: court order grants approval for demolition
The future of racquet sports in Willoughby is looking dire, with the long-standing Willoughby Squash Club set to be demolished.
What happened: For nearly two years, Willoughby City Council has been fighting in the NSW Land and Environment Court to halt the demolition of Willoughby Squash Club, sitting on the corner of Small Street and Willoughby Road.
The applicant, Think Planners, intends to demolish the building and construct a childcare centre.
Late last month, the Land and Environment Court handed down its decision, giving the applicant permission to go ahead with the project.
Read the full story below.
ā£ļø āNot acceptableā: Ku-ring-gai Council cops $30k fine for landfill leak
Pollution leaking from an old landfill site under North Turramurra Golf Course has landed Ku-ring-gai in trouble with the state environment protection body, which slapped the council with a $30k fine on Wednesday.
The North Turramurra landfill site was used from the late 1940s until 1984. In 1997, leachate control facilities were installed, pumping liquid leaking from the site into a sewer for disposal.
Leachate is water that has travelled through solids and leached out some of its constituents. In the case of landfill, this can result in highly toxic pollution.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was made aware of the leak in July, when the council reported to the authority that contaminated water had entered a nearby creek. The leak resulted from a failed pump, which council has since replaced.
EPA Executive Director Steve Beaman has labelled the incident as high risk, given the site's proximity to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
āWe expect all our licensees to maintain equipment and infrastructure properly to avoid incidents like this, and allowing a pump to leak into a waterway is not acceptable,ā he said in a statement.
Full story below.
šļø Two-way tolling on Harbour Bridge confirmed to return by late 2028
Motorists will be tolled for crossing to either side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, NSW Minister for Transport John Graham announced this morning. Previously, commuters were only tolled when travelling south across the bridge.
The change will come into effect in late 2028.
Graham claims the reinstatement of two-way tolling ā previously in place from the bridgeās opening in 1932 to 1970 ā will be used to maintain a $60 toll cap for road users.
Read the full story below.
LOOKING NATIONALLY š
šļø NSW greyhound industry slammed in 700-page report: The governmentās response? Questionable
While Tasmania moves to ban greyhound racing outright, the New South Wales Government has released a damning 700-page report outlining systemic issues in its greyhound industry.
ā Poor performance
The report details how Greyhound Racing New South Wales has poor personnel management, āhigh and wastefulā spending, and has failed to maintain tracks at safety standards.
In fact, not a single track in the state meets the required safety standards.
š¬ Revelations
Dogs are also dying while being ārehomedā to the United States, with some arriving dead in their crates after the plane journey.
And these are just three issues. The report spans over 700 pages and suggests 65 ways the industry could be improved for both the dogs and the people involved.
āļø Government response
The NSW Government has largely ignored most of the recommendations, tweaking only a few measures and instructing the industry to do better.
Just two weeks out from Christmas, the government released the inquiry, originally submitted in August by acting Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission head Lea Drake, along with its response.
This includes plans to increase oversight of industry-run rehoming programs, improve reporting on greyhound death numbers, and update internal policies.
Read the full story below.
Thatās all from me.
Got a story tip? An unsolved mystery? A notable local? Hit reply or reach out at [email protected].
And if you are able to support keeping local news free in our community, we would be so grateful.
Cheers,
Huw