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Articles by Hamish Cole
IPC hearing on Bowdens Silver Mine concludes as lead concerns raised
The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has been told a public school should be moved if a proposed silver and lead mine is approved, amid fears it could poison children. The IPC heard three days of evidence this week in Mudgee as it reassessed a proposal to extract 30 million tonnes of silver, lead and zinc over 23 years near Lue. The project has divided the community, with advocates touting the economic benefits and others raising concerns about potential environmental and health impacts.
Opponents hold tractor protest as IPC begins reassessment of Bowdens silver mine
Xanthe Gregory and Hamish Cole Plans for a $1 billion silver and lead mine in Central West New South Wales are being reassessed as opponents take to the streets of Mudgee in tractors to protest. Approval of the Bowdens Silver Mines Limited project was deemed "void" by the NSW Court of Appeal in August 2024. It had been approved by the state's Independent Planning Commission (IPC) in April the previous year.
ODPP decide not to appeal 28-year sentence of Molly Ticehurst's killer
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) will not appeal the 28-year sentence handed down to murderer Daniel Billings in the Orange Supreme Court. Warning: This article includes descriptions of domestic violence and murder. Billings, 31, pleaded guilty to stabbing his former partner and childcare worker Molly Ticehurst to death in her Forbes home in April 2024.
Oldest Wallaby Don Strachan recalls beating All Blacks at Eden Park
Don Strachan has accomplished a feat that only a handful of Wallabies still living have achieved — defeating the All Blacks at Eden Park. In his second test match in 1955, the then-26-year-old prop started in Australia's 8–3 defeat of New Zealand at the iconic ground in Auckland. The Wallabies have only tasted success against the All Blacks there on three other occasions, the last 40 years ago. "We were determined to win that [1955] game," Strachan said.
Great Western Highway closure to worsen traffic for Bathurst 1000 racegoers
Hamish Cole and Xanthe Gregory More than 200,000 motor racing fans are expected to attend the Bathurst 1000 this weekend but transport authorities are warning major traffic delays are inevitable. On Monday, drivers heading from Central West NSW were backed up for about 12 kilometres heading into Lithgow, blowing out trips over the Blue Mountains by several hours.
Great Western Highway closure to worsen traffic for Bathurst 1000 racegoers
More than 200,000 motor racing fans are expected to attend the Bathurst 1000 this weekend but transport authorities are warningmajor traffic delays are inevitable. On Monday, drivers heading from Central West NSW were backed up forabout 12 kilometres heading into Lithgow, blowing out trips over the Blue Mountains by several hours.
Dispute over $1b energy-from-waste redevelopment of Kandos Cement Works
A showdown is brewing between the New South Wales government and the proponents of a $1 billion waste processing plant near Mudgee. Cenagen is proposing to develop the facility at the former Kandos Cement Works, the site that supplied cement to help construct the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If approved, it would process 450,000 tonnes of rubbish per year bound for landfill using gasification technology.
Independent Planning Commission to reassess Bowdens Silver mine again
A tiny landcare group in Central West NSW is bracing itself for another showdown in its ongoing fight against a mining giant. Plans for a billion-dollar silver mine near Mudgee are once again before the Independent Planning Commission (IPC). It comes after the previous approval of the Bowdens Silver mine near Lue was overturned by the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal.
Daniel Billings sentenced for murder of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst
Lani Oataway and Hamish Cole The killer of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst has been sentenced to 28 years in jail. Daniel Billings was sentenced in the Orange Supreme Court today by Justice Natalie Adams, who imposed a non-parole period of 20 years. He broke into her Forbes home through a bedroom window just before 11:30pm on April 21, 2024, and stabbed his ex partner several times to the face and neck.
Daniel Billings sentenced for murder of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst
The killer of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst has been sentenced to 28 years in jail. Daniel Billings was sentenced in the Orange Supreme Court today by Justice Natalie Adams, who imposed a non-parole period of 20 years. He broke into her Forbes home through a bedroom window just before 11:30pm on April 21, 2024, and stabbed his ex partner several times to the face and neck. Molly Ticehurst was 28 years old when she was murdered.
Peter Brock's motorsport fame endures 20 years on from his death
Even two decades after his death, Peter Brock's sublime driving skills are still spoken about with awe. "I couldn't believe the things that he could do behind the wheel," stepson James Brock said. "You would almost believe that he was defying physics." It was this ability that left the nation shocked when Peter Brock died 20 years ago on September 8, 2006 after a crash during a rally race at Gidgegannup, near Perth. "He definitely died doing what he loved," his son Rob Brock said.
Rugby league great Royce Simmons ends 300km walk for dementia research
Since being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease five years ago, rugby league legend Royce Simmons has seen its devastating effects firsthand. "It's pretty tough," he said. "You meet other people with dementia … you think these people are not too bad, this person is a bit worse and this person is terrible.
Experts divided on mental health of Molly Ticehurst's killer
Daniel Billings has pleaded guilty to the domestic violence murder of Molly Ticehurst in her Forbes home. His mental health at the time of the crime has been debated during a sentencing hearing in the Supreme Court. Justice Natalie Adams will hand down the sentence next week. A friend of murdered childcare worker Molly Ticehurst said sitting in the same room as her killer has been "extremely confronting".
Great Western Highway gets $100 million federal funding, allowing go-ahead for overtaking lane
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Great Western Highway gets $100 million federal funding, allowing go-ahead for overtaking lane
Hamish Cole and Emily Middleton Community pressure has paid off after the federal government committed $100 million, which will enable the building an additional lane on the main road connecting Sydney to Western New South Wales. The Great Western Highway has been shut at Mount Victoria since March , after cracking was discovered in the 200-year-old Mitchell's Causeway.
NSW energy minister says speeding up renewable energy rollout will lead to mistakes
New South Wales Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has conceded mistakes will occur with the rollout of renewable energy projects but says it is necessary to speed up their development. In March, renewable energy consortium ACEREZ destroyed an Aboriginal heritage rock shelter near Mudgee during the construction of transmission infrastructure for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
Wind farm study finds turbines will make contact with Anzac memorial near Oberon
Branches of a dozen 100-year-old trees that form part of a World War I memorial will be hit as part of plans to transport turbines for a proposed wind farm near the Blue Mountains, leaving residents concerned it will cause irreversible damage.
Why was Lake Cargelligo triple murderer Julian Ingram granted police bail?
A dean of law and a former police prosecutor have raised concerns over why police granted triple murderer Julian Ingram bail after he allegedly attacked his former partner. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains names and images of Indigenous people who have died.
Endangered mountain pygmy possum numbers climb at Secret Creek Sanctuary breeding program
For the past six years, Trevor Evans has seen the number of endangered mountain pygmy possums at his sanctuary increase sixfold. The pocket-sized possums are traditionally found on the peaks of the Snowy Mountains, but are being bred at a lower altitude at the Secret Creek Sanctuary in Lithgow in the NSW Central Tablelands to prepare them for the impacts of climate change. "We started off with six possums many years ago," Mr Evans said. "We've grown the population to about 36.
Upper Lachlan shire first NSW council to scrap green bin collection amid uncertain fuel supplies
The NSW Upper Lachlan Shire Council will stop green bin collections to save fuel. The council said it needed to reserve its diesel for essential services like road grading and red bin waste collection. Residents will be able to drop off their green waste at the tip for free instead. Some towns and villages in the NSW Southern Tablelands will be among the state's first to have their green bin collections canned amid fuel supply uncertainty.
NSW planning panel approves new Orange greyhound track
A new greyhound racing track in regional New South Wales has been approved, despite council and community opposition. The Western Regional Planning Panel (WRPP) gave the green light to a $15 million development application for a racing facility in Orange on Tuesday. The unanimous decision was handed down a week after more than a dozen opponents fronted the panel to argue against the plan citing concerns about animal welfare and gambling.
No 'proper timetable’ for reopening Great Western Highway, NSW roads minister says
The NSW roads minister says there is no "proper timetable" for when the Great Western Highway will reopen, as the government seeks out experts from around the world to help find a solution. The road linking Sydney with Central West NSW has been shut at Victoria Pass since March, after cracks were discovered on the 200-year-old Mitchell's Causeway.
How the Parkes Dish is helping track Artemis II on its historic journey
More than 50 years on from assisting the Apollo missions, the CSIRO Parkes Observatory is continuing its lunar legacy with Artemis II's historic mission. The mission is humanity's first journey toward the Moon since 1972, travelling further from Earth than any human has ever been before and capturing never-before-seen footage of the far side of the Moon.
Isolated school students face difficult decisions amid surging fuel prices
Compounding crises have Amber Driver thinking twice about her son's 4,000-kilometre round trip to school. In normal circumstances, the grazier would drive her teenage son, Ruben, 400km to Alice Springs where he would either fly or catch a bus to his boarding school in Adelaide. But with floodwater cutting off road access to their remote cattle station, the only way out is on a plane. John and Amber Driver say many families will struggle to afford the cost of fuel to send their children to school.
Mudgee Medical Centre secures six doctors to reopen books after 18 months
A GP clinic in Central West NSW has welcomed 350 new patients in just three weeks after reopening its books for the first time in 18 months. In late 2024, the Mudgee Medical Centre joined the town's only other GP clinic in declaring it could no longer accept new patients. But the arrival of a general practitioner and five new registrars has meant new arrivals can now get the medical advice they need without having to visit the local hospital's emergency department.
Julian Ingram's court proceedings halted as search for accused triple murderer continues
Criminal proceedings against alleged triple murderer Julian Ingram have ground to a halt as a five-and-a-half-week-long search for the 37-year-old continues. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains names and images of Indigenous people who have died. Mr Ingram is accused of fatally shooting his heavily pregnant ex-partner Sophie Quinn, her aunt Nerida Quinn and John Harris in Lake Cargelligo on January 22.
Lake Cargelligo residents continue to live in fear as Julian Ingram clocks up three weeks on the run
Larn Masterson's voice falters as she describes the impact the alleged murders of three Lake Cargelligo residents has had on her NSW Central West community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names of Indigenous people who have died, used with the permission of family. "Grief is apparent everywhere you look," she said.
Man and woman charged over alleged domestic violence murder in Goulburn
Two people have been charged over the alleged domestic violence murder of a woman on the NSW Southern Tablelands. The arrests came after the body of a 48-year-old woman was found with multiple stab wounds.at a home in Goulburn more than a month ago. Police were called to the address on Joshua Street on January 3 after a welfare concern was reported. Two people have been charged over the alleged domestic violence.
Police granted Julian Ingram bail despite safety concerns, court documents reveal
New South Wales Police granted bail to alleged triple-murderer Julian Ingram despite concerns over the potential danger he posed to victims and the community, court documents have revealed. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains names and images of Indigenous people who have died.
Police release footage of triple murder suspect as commissioner calls DV a scourge on the community
The state's most senior police officer has described the shooting deaths of three people in Lake Cargelligo as an "atrocity". Riot squad officers have arrived in Lake Cargelligo to assist with the search for Julian Ingram and ensure community safety. The search for Mr Ingram remains ongoing in the Lake Cargelligo and Mt Hope areas, with nearby residents urged to remain cautious.
'It's a quiet town:' Neighbours in shock after triple fatal shooting
Residents in a tiny New South Wales town are reeling after three people were shot dead with the suspected gunman still at large. Police are continuing to search for Julian Ingram, 37, the main suspect in the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old man and two women aged 25 and 50 in Lake Cargelligo on Thursday. A 19-year-old man, who was also shot, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Forbes man Lawrence Wilfred Norris intends to plead not guilty to historical child sex offences
Lawrence Wilfred Norris's lawyer has told Parkes Local Court his client intends to plead not guilty to dozens of historical sexual offences. A fitness hearing will be held to determine whether the 66-year-old can stand trial. The matter will return in the Orange District Court in March. A lawyer for a man charged with dozens of historical sexual offences says his client intends to plead not guilty if he is found fit to stand trial.
Fisher, paddleboarder missing after weekend water sport incidents
Two people remain missing after falling into the water in separate incidents on the NSW South Coast and Central West over the weekend. A 23-year-old fisher fell off rocks and into the ocean near Narooma, while a 41-year-man disappeared while paddleboarding on Lake Cargelligo. Searches for two of the people are continuing today. Emergency service crews are searching for two men who disappeared after falling into the water in separate incidents in New South Wales over the weekend.
Community's days of driving eight hours for a GP appointment now gone
When a GP clinic in the New South Wales central west closed its doors, patients like Kate Day found themselves travelling hundreds of kilometres just to see a doctor. The Gulgong Medical Centre shut in early 2024 due to a lack of staff. The ripple effect of that closure saw two GP clinics in the nearby town of Mudgee, 31 kilometres away, shut their books and refuse to accept new patients due to the spike in demand. Ms Day said the closest doctor she could find was in Sydney, almost 300km away.
The King of Rock and Roll transcends language and culture at the Parkes Elvis Festival
While English is not Toki Toyokazu's first language, it has not stopped him from stepping into Elvis Presley's iconic blue suede shoes. Hailing from Aomori, Japan, the tribute artist has travelled around the world performing hits from the "King of Rock and Roll". Mr Toyokazu is part of a growing international presence at the Parkes Elvis Festival. "Singing his songs, [it] makes me friends with people all over the world — no-one is loved as much as he is," he said. Loading...
Seven injured when car crashes into Royal Hotel Capertee, near Lithgow
A man has been charged after seven people were injured when a car crashed into a pub on the New South Wales central tablelands. Emergency services were called to the Royal Hotel Capertee, north of Lithgow, about 5:20pm on Sunday after a vehicle smashed into a concrete pole before hitting several patrons in the courtyard. A 64-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman were treated at the scene for serious injuries before being flown to hospital.
Hailstorm batters western NSW as homes destroyed in bushfire
A hailstorm has battered parts of the New South Wales central west as a nearby community grapples with the loss of homes from a bushfire that is still burning. The State Emergency Service (SES) logged 29 calls for assistance in the western region, nine of which came from Mudgee. The cell brought heavy rain, damaging winds and widespread hail. "There was certainly a significant storm that came across," SES Superintendent Annabelle Watson said.
Bathurst childcare worker sentenced after dragging and throwing child
A childcare worker has been sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order for using "excessive force" on a child in the New South Wales central west. The 18-year-old woman pleaded guilty in Bathurst local court last week, after being charged with one count of common assault of a three-year-old. At a sentencing hearing in Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday, CCTV footage of the incident from July 11 was played and showed the woman attempting to put the child to sleep.
Unknown number of homes and buildings destroyed in Capertee Valley bushfire
Homes and other buildings have been destroyed by an out-of-control bushfire on the New South Wales Central Tablelands. An emergency warning was issued for the Home Hills road fire at Bogee, north of Lithgow, on Tuesday afternoon, but it was downgraded to advice level following an east-southeasterly wind change overnight.
Bathurst childcare worker pleads guilty to assaulting 3-year-old
A former childcare worker has pleaded guilty to assaulting a three-year-old boy at a centre in the New South Wales Central West. Bathurst Local Court heard that on on July 11 this year the 18-year-old woman dragged the child by the arm for a distance of about 3 metres before throwing him onto a mattress. The child's jumper was torn during the incident, which took place at a Bathurst childcare centre.
Risky night-time water-bombing a potential firefighting 'game changer'
The RFS Chinook helicopter has carried out its first night-time water-bombing operations, dropping almost 200,000 litres on a blaze near Lithgow. The agency says while the missions are "high-risk" they are a "game changer" for firefighting efforts. The Genowlan Road Fire is being controlled after dozens of overnight missions were carried out this week. The NSW Rural Fire Service has carried out its first night-time water-bombing operation in what is a potential "game changer" for fighting fires.
Scientists warn 'critical' koala habitat under threat from mine expansion
Surveys of an under-researched koala colony in central NSW have found a thriving population living in an ideal habitat. Conservationists are concerned the proposed expansion of a nearby coal mine could threaten the species. Science for Wildlife is preparing to return to the Mudgee region for further population studies. A koala colony and its habitat in an under-researched part of central-western New South Wales are far stronger than previously thought, scientists say.
Man arrested after allegedly holding three people hostage during siege
A man has been arrested following a four-hour siege, in which he allegedly kept three people hostage on the New South Wales South Coast. Police were called to a home on Holloway Road, South Nowra, shortly before 7pm on Friday, following reports that a man had forced his way in with an axe. Officers say the 24-year-old man stopped a 53-year-old woman and two 49-year-old men from leaving. Three other women were able to flee before police arrived.
Daniel Billings threatened Molly Ticehurst days before her murder, court documents show
Court documents have revealed shocking details about the murder of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst. Warning: This story contains details of threatening calls and videos readers may find distressing. The 28-year-old was found dead in her home at Forbes in Central West New South Wales in April 2024. Her former partner, 30-year-old Daniel Billings, has pleaded guilty to her murder. If you need help immediately, call emergency services on Triple Zero.
Man who drove into floodwater in NSW central west sentenced over boy's death
Joseph El Jer, 40, has been sentenced to an intensive corrections order over the death of a five-year-old boy who drowned in a car El Jer drove over a flooded causeway in 2022. The order of one year and one month includes 500 hours of community service. El Jer has also been disqualified from driving until late 2026, and will need to re-apply for a licence afterward.
Daniel Billings threatened Molly Ticehurst days before her murder, court documents show
Court documents have revealed shocking details about the murder of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst. Warning: This story contains details readers may find distressing. The 28-year-old was found dead in her home at Forbes in Central West New South Wales in April 2024. Her former partner, 30-year-old Daniel Billings, has pleaded guilty to her murder.
Passenger trapped after truck crashes into bridge in Lithgow
A truck has crashed into a bridge, causing it to collapse, and trapping a person inside the vehicle in the New South Wales central west. Emergency services were called to Inch Street, Lithgow, at 8:55am on Thursday after a cherry picker vehicle hit a disused railway bridge. A man, believed to be the driver, managed to free himself, but a passenger remained trapped inside. There was no indication on the condition of the trapped person.
Court delays bring 'sadness and heartache' to Molly Ticehurst's family
The case against the man accused of murdering Forbes woman Molly Ticehurst has been mentioned in Forbes Local Court. Her father says court delays are adding to the family's anxiety and sadness. The case has been adjourned until November 14. The father of murdered childcare worker Molly Ticehurst has broken down while expressing his frustration at the delays in the case against her alleged killer.
Iconic Aussie film's cultural impact 25 years on
The Dish is a celebrated movie that immortalised the role Australia played in one of the world's most historic moments has just turned 25. And, it continues to have a cultural impact on the town it was set. Story by Hamish Cole with additional production by Josie Sargent.
The Dish still helping unravel secrets of the cosmos 25 years after film's release
It is the movie that opened the eyes of a new generation to Australia's role in the first Moon landing and turned a rural observatory into a tourism hot spot. The Dish was released 25 years ago and became an instant hit. It highlighted how the Parkes Observatory in central-west New South Wales helped beam the 1969 Apollo 11 landing to 600 million people around the world.
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