Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Thursday, January 12.
It is set to be a cloudy day with tops of 27 degrees across the Sydney region.
Traffic Buzz
BARDWELL PARK: The site has now been cleared following a car breakdown on the M5 East Motorway in Tunnel. However, there are still heavy traffic conditions.
ST IVES: There has been an accident involving a car and pedestrian on Mona Vale Road at Ayres Road. Motorists are urged to exercise caution in that area.
News Buzz
SMALL PROFIT: A monkey-trading middleman charged over his role in the Symbio Wildlife Park primate theft stood to profit just $500 from the illegal affair, a court has heard.
HEATWAVE EFFECTS: As Sydney comes up for air after enduring its first heatwave of 2017, the true extent of the negative health effects won't be known for some time, health experts say.
DROWNING TOLL RISES: A two-year-old boy died in hospital yesterday after being pulled from a pond in the front yard of a home in Sydney's west earlier this month, the latest death in a spate of tragic drownings this summer.
FIGHT CONTINUES: Miners from South32’s Appin Colliery have entered a second week of protected strike action, as their fight for better pay and conditions continues.
ASBESTOS AT STATION: Land at the southern entrance to Cronulla train station is contaminated by asbestos. Sydney Trains played down the find, saying it was “a small amount” and would be removed in accordance with health and safety regulations.
MARCHES CANCELLED: Several Anzac Day marches have been cancelled in the Blue Mountains because RSL groups say they cannot afford to pay for anti-terrorism measures required by police and the state government.
SEARCH FAILS: A second search for the body of missing Cronulla man Matthew Leveson has failed to find anything. It comes just two months after police called off the initial search in the Royal National Park at Waterfall.
BLACKTOWN LEGEND DIES: William “Bill” Norris OAM, a World War II veteran and respected Blacktown community figure, has died aged 90.
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS: More than 200 extra parking spaces will be available near Penrith station by next month after construction work began east of the existing commuter car park this week.
BACKPACK CAMPAIGN: Richmond Marketplace has once again teamed up with St Vincent de Paul Society of NSW for the annual Operation Backpack campaign. Running throughout January, the aim is to make returning to school a little easier for a number of local children.
FLIGHTS GROUNDED: The travel plans of hundreds of Australian holidaymakers are uncertain with Tigerair cancelling flights in and out of Bali due to approval issues with the Indonesian government.
ROLLER-COASTER ISSUE: An issue with a chain on one of Movie World's roller-coasters left more than a dozen people stranded above the ground yesterday.
Sports Buzz
FEELS LIKE HOME: With a game coming up against the Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium, Western Sydney Wanderers defender Brendon Santalab said a turn of good form could help make this stadium “feel like home”.
EYEING BIGGER HONOURS: He was the star of St George Illawarra’s exciting under-20s side last year and now Matt Dufty is determined to take his chance in the top grade.
BIG YEAR AHEAD: New year, same Cronulla Sharks. Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is adamant his team are ready for the challenge as the Sharks face one of the busiest starts to the year of any NRL club.
GRIFFEN PREPARED: Kelsey Griffen will represent NSW for the fourth time when she takes the field on Sunday at the under-19 women’s national softball championships in Perth.
FREEMAN RETURNS: Sprintcar driver Paul Freeman will return to Valvoline Raceway for the first time since a huge crash last month to contest the Scott Darley Challenge.