Kiama stands alone; Wollongong-Shellharbour forced to merge and other top stories.

• Kiama stands alone; Wollongong-Shellharbour forced to merge

  

  NSW: Wollongong and Shellharbour councils will be forced to merge while Kiama and Shoalhaven will left to stand alone. Wollongong and Shellharbour councils will be forced to merge while Kiama and Shoalhaven will left to stand alone, the NSW Government will announce on Thursday.The decision, which comes after months of campaigning since merger proposals were revealed in December, will leave residents in different parts of the Illawarra with vastly disparate access to local represen..

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• Girls' wings clipped by safety fears

  

  Safety fears are limiting girls’ freedom in public spaces, a new survey shows. AWARE: "You don’t want to be alone on the train with people you’re not comfortable with." Alyssa Kalbfleisch awaits a train at Wollongong station. Picture: Sylvia LiberSAFETY fears are limiting girls’ freedom in public spaces, a new survey shows. AWARE: "You don’t want to be alone on the train with people you’re not comfortable with." Alyssa Kalbfleisch awaits a train at Wollongong station. Picture: Syl..

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• Council amalgamations: NSW councils set to merge this week as ...

  

  Video will begin in 5 seconds. Baird will soon announce council amalgamations Council amalgamations will be speed up in an effort to minimise political fall out. Vision: Nine News PT1M53S 620 349 New councils are to be created across Sydney and NSW as early as this week if Premier Mike Baird's government signs off on merger proposals on Thursday.The creation of up to 20 larger councils across the state is being accelerated, in part to resolve what could emerge as a political s..

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• Top brass blowing into town

  

  Sydney Symphony's horn section to play West Side Story in Wollongong. Big blow: The Sydney Symphony Orchestra Brass are bringing their supercharged lungs to Wollongong. Picture: Keith SaundersThe Sydney Symphony Orchestra Brass section is leaving their usual home of the Sydney Opera House to bring the drama, energy and fanfare of their music to Wollongong next month.The SSO Brass Ensemble, which combines trumpets, trombones, French horns and tuba, will perform a program ranging fr..

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• Liberals name candidates

  

  The Liberal party has named the candidates who will contest the seats of Cunningham and Whitlam at the July federal election. Wollongong City Councillor Michelle Blicavs (right) is running for the Liberal party in the federal seat of CunninghamThe Liberal party has named the candidates who will contest the seats of Cunningham and Whitlam at the July federal election.Wollongong City Councillor Michelle Blicavs will run against Labor’s Sharon Bird in the Cunningham electorate.In the..

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• Auprince returns for Roller Hawks

  

  Wollongong Roller Hawks face a demanding double-header against the Red Dust Heelers in Perth this weekend. THE Wollongong Roller Hawks face a demanding double-header against the Red Dust Heelers in Perth this weekend.Back: Wollongong Roller Hawks big man Michael Auprince.The Hawks defeated the Red Dust Heelers 69-­61 in round one and can secure the series with at least one win on the road.However, the Heelers are a dangerous proposition, with captain-coach Brad Ness scoring more t..

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• Dan Hunt swaps footy for the dance floor

  

  A country music mega star and a former Dragons stalwart to judge Wollongong's "dancing with the stars". JUDGES: Former NRL star Dan Hunt, singer Mollie McClymont and Toby Dawson will scrutinize dancing celebrities in the Dance for Cancer fundraiser. Picture: Sylvia LiberFormer St George Illawarra footy star Dan Hunt will swap the sports field for a judging chair at this year’s Dance for Cancer fundraiser on June 4.Illawarra Mercury reporter Desiree Savage. Donate to her dancing he..

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• Community fight praised by council

  

  The fight that “brought the community together” in Kiama appears to be over. Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler. The fight that “brought the community together” in Kiama appears to be over.Kiama municipality residents utilised various means to vocalise opposition to the proposed merger with Shoalhaven council.They hosted concerts, protested at a statewide rally in Hyde Park and formed a giant human ‘no’.More than 130 groups and individuals make presentations to the government-appointed d..

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Low act floors high flyers .	Wollongong mum urges parents to check kids' happy snaps .
Dogs 'suffered greatly' before death, RSPCA .	Sam Burgess under fire for apparently filming wife on mobile while driving .