Measles Alert for Sydney Airport

By Jeff Gibbs

NSW Health has issued a measles alert after a person infectious with the virus travelled on an international flight into Sydney and a domestic flight to the Gold Coast on Friday, 17 January 2025.

Locations of Concern

Individuals who were at the following locations during the specified times should monitor for symptoms:

• Jetstar flight JQ4 from Honolulu to Sydney, arriving at 4:29pm.
• Qantas flight QF596 from Sydney to Gold Coast, departing Sydney T3 at 9:03pm.
• Sydney International Airport: 4:30pm – 6:30pm.
• Bus transfer from Sydney International to Domestic Airport T3: 5:30pm – 6:30pm.
• Sydney Domestic Airport T3: 6:30pm – 9:00pm.

Symptoms to Watch

Dr. Christine Selvey, NSW Health Director of the Communicable Diseases Branch, has urged people who were at these locations to watch for symptoms of measles until Tuesday, 4 February 2025.

Symptoms include:

• Early signs: Fever, runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough.
• Later signs: A red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and face to the rest of the body, usually appearing 3-4 days after the initial symptoms.

What to Do

If you develop symptoms:

• Call ahead before visiting your doctor to avoid exposing others.
• Inform the clinic of your symptoms and possible exposure to measles.

Vaccination Reminder

NSW Health is reminding the community to check their measles vaccination status, particularly before traveling overseas.

• Who needs the vaccine?
  • Anyone born after 1965 should ensure they’ve had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • The vaccine is free for children at 12 and 18 months and for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t had two doses.
• For children under 12 months:
  • The first MMR dose can be given up to three months earlier if traveling to high-risk areas. Consult your GP for advice.
• Uncertain about your vaccination status?
  • If unsure, you should still get vaccinated as additional doses are safe.

The MMR vaccine is available from GPs for all ages and from pharmacies for people over 5 years old.

For More Information

For further details, refer to the NSW Health measles factsheet.

This alert highlights the importance of staying vigilant against measles, a highly infectious disease, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date.

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Transport for NSW and NSW Police Crack Down on Level Crossing Offences in Tamworth and Currabubula

Transport for NSW is reinforcing the importance of safety at level crossings after a joint operation with NSW Police led to multiple fines and demerit points for drivers violating level crossing rules around Tamworth and Currabubula. Between September 16 and 27, police patrolled five level crossings to promote safety and remind motorists to slow down and follow level crossing regulations.

Level crossing offences in Tamworth and Currabubula

During the operation, police recorded seven level crossing offences, 12 speeding offences, and 23 other infractions, including mobile phone use, driving unregistered vehicles, and operating without a valid license. Among the violators, a 51-year-old man received a $544 fine and three demerit points for stopping on a level crossing in Tamworth. Two additional men, one from NSW and another from Queensland, as well as a woman from the ACT, faced the same penalty for failing to stop at rail crossings, with three other drivers penalized for disregarding level crossing rules.

Ralston Fernandes, Transport for NSW Director of Road Safety Strategy and Policy, stressed that these initiatives are crucial in raising awareness about the dangers of level crossing violations. “Despite a visible police presence, some motorists continue to disobey level crossing rules, risking deadly consequences for themselves and others,” Fernandes said. “Between July 2014 and June 2024, there were 64 collisions between trains and vehicles at level crossings in NSW, tragically resulting in eight fatalities and nine serious injuries.”

Acting Superintendent Martin Searle, Commander of Traffic Operations, highlighted the risks associated with level crossings, noting that trains may require over a kilometer to come to a full stop, making split-second decisions at crossings potentially life-changing. “We urge all drivers to exercise patience and heed crossing signs, as rushing across is simply not worth the risk,” he said. “Police patrol level crossings regularly, aiming to keep motorists safe and ensure everyone returns home safely to their loved ones.”

Motorists are reminded to expect police presence around level crossings and to approach these areas with caution, as enforcement operations will continue to support road safety across regional NSW.

Muval migration data for the first six months of 2024

According to national online removalist booking platform Muval, which has the most up-to-date internal migration data showing where Australians are moving, Melbourne is the number one capital to move to in the first half of 2024, with inbound traffic peaks in February and April catapulting the city into positive net migration for the first time since before COVID.

The latest moving data also shows that rising cost of living pressures continue to take their toll on Sydney and increasingly Brisbane, with the river city dipping as low as -13% into negative territory this year.

While rental moves are traditionally local, within the same suburb or neighbouring suburbs, Australians aren’t hesitating to cross borders in search of more affordable housing, more lucrative work or a cheaper lifestyle to maintain their current living standards.

With that said, industry-wide moving numbers are down around 20% on the same time last year. Overall, Muval reports that the current macro-economic climate of higher interest rates, tight housing affordability and housing shortages are having a cooling effect on moving generally.

As people typically enquire about removalist up to 30 days before they move, Muval’s data is a proven early indicator of moving trends in Australia.

Muval – Net Migration June 2024

Melbourne

For the first time since January 2020, Melbourne entered positive net migration in 2024. Off the back of a rise in inbound moves (30% of all major metro moves were to Melbourne in February and April) and a fall in outbound moves, down to 25% of all major metro moves in February which is the lowest on record, the city finally slipped back into positive territory with +13% net migration in February and +2% in April. The last time the city had positive net migration was before the pandemic (+3% Jan 2020) and it fell as low as -61% in August 2020 and -64% in September 2021 when thousands fled lockdowns in the city. When Melbourne’s outbound enquiries veered down, Brisbane and Sydney’s spiked, suggesting the traffic is flowing down from the increasingly expensive northern states.

Muval – Outbound June 2024

Brisbane

A rise in the cost of living in Brisbane, including skyrocketing housing prices up more than 60% since the onset of COVID and a rise in unit rentals of more than 50%, is affecting the city’s appeal as a place to live. Brisbane’s outbound moving enquiries have jumped to their highest level, reaching 23% of all major metro outbound moves in April. Averaging 22% of inbound metro moves in the first six months of the year, Brisbane came close to Sydney when it dipped to just 20% in January and February (Sydney accounted for 19% and 18% respectively). After peaking at +123% positive net migration in September 2021, Brisbane teetered around zero in the first six months of this year before tumbling to a record low of -13% in April. While it remains the second most popular city to move to behind Melbourne, Brisbane’s pandemic popularity has been replaced with an air of unaffordability.

Muval – Inbound June 2024

Sydney

Sydney has experienced a slight increase in inbound traffic during the first six months of this year, accounting for as much as 19% of all major metro inbound moves in January and June (the highest number on record for Sydney), to cement its place as the third most popular city to move to. This is a change from last year when Perth was third behind Melbourne and Brisbane. With an average of 30% of all major metro outbound moves coming from Sydney in the first six months of 2024, the Harbour City continues to boast the unfortunate title of biggest resident exodus. While there are glimmers of hope, this outbound movement has kept Sydney firmly in negative net migration between -41% and -52% in the first half of the year.

Perth

For the first time in years, Perth appears to be losing its strong grip on positive net migration. It is still the highest in the country, but it’s spiralling fast to pre-pandemic levels as interest in the state tapers off, perhaps as rents rise at a record rate. Perth saw the highest annual rent increase of all capital cities in the last year (up 14 per cent year-on-year), as well as the highest rise in rent values since the onset of the pandemic at nearly 60 per cent. After a 2021 pandemic peak of +181%, net migration dropped to +10% in June, off the back of low inbound traffic of just 14% and high outbound traffic of 12%. Perth hasn’t had outbound traffic consistently in double digits since the start of 2020, it sat between 7-9% in 2022 and 2023.

Adelaide

After consistently sitting around 9-10% in 2023, Adelaide’s outbound migration appears to be slowing in the first six months of 2024, dipping as low as 7% in April and staying on 8% in May and June. However, inbound traffic hasn’t picked up this year and at 7% in April and May, it’s Adelaide’s lowest share of inbound major metro moves on record. After entering negative territory in August 2022, the city remains in negative net migration in 2024 hovering between -7% (June) and -23% (February and May).

For more information visit muval.com.au

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Call for more mates to support Port Macquarie’s Sailability

Vision available: https://tinyurl.com/mrz9nhz7

The Port Macquarie community group, Sailability, is calling for volunteers ahead of this year’s sailing season, as the club prepares to take to the Hastings River again on Wednesday 25 September.
Sailability is a volunteer organisation whose mission is to offer people with varying abilities freedom on the water.
The club uses a fleet of specially designed sailing dinghies with simplified controls and enhanced stability to hold weekly sailing days for people living with physical and mental disability.
The club received $55,920 from the NSW Government to extend its carpark and complete landscaping around its new boat shed and accessible amenities block, as well as to install six accessible picnic tables in McInherney Park.
The not-for-profit club is the only organisation of its kind in the area and its 80 volunteers cater to approximately 60 sailors each week.
The group provides its services at no charge, with sailors coming from disability support units at local schools in Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Laurieton and Kempsey, as well as disability service providers, aged care facilities and private enquiries.
Census statistics for show there are approximately 6,000 people with serious or profound disability in the Port Macquarie area, and the club struggles to meet the demand for its services.
People keen to get involved in volunteering with the club can attend McInherney Park on Wednesdays between September and May to learn more, or go to www.sailabilitypm.com.au and click the Contact Us tab.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“This fantastic community group is really making waves in terms of improving quality of life for people in the Port Macquarie area with disability.
“It’s wonderful to see people experience a sense of achievement and improved self-confidence and self-esteem through their participation in Sailability’s program.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion, Liesl Tesch* said:
“Sailability is a beacon of hope and inclusion in Port Macquarie. By fostering a sense of belonging on the water, they’re not only enhancing the lives of people with disability but also enriching the entire community.”
“The amazing volunteers at Sailability do such important work helping build confidence and resilience for so many people in the region each week.”
*Liesl Tesch is a seven-time Paralympian including winning two gold medals in sailing
Sailability Port Macquarie volunteer Rick Eller said:
“The club has come a long way from humble beginnings when it launched in December 2012, we were using two borrowed boats at the time, we had a handful of volunteers, and we were borrowing life jackets from the SES or emergency services here in Port Macquarie.
“The best part about working for Sailability is the expressions and the smiles when the people who’ve been sailing come back to the pontoon, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
Sailability Port Macquarie Vice President Julie Constable said:
“It’s extremely important that people are aware that people with a disability are very able and keen to get out into society so something like this is off great benefit to the community.”

Teen charged with multiple property offences in Cowra – Operation Regional Mongoose

Tuesday, 24 September 2024 02:01:49 PM
A teen will face court charged following investigations into multiple property-related offences in the state’s central west.

Operation Regional Mongoose is a high-visibility police operation to tackle serious property-related crime, committed predominately by young offenders.

About 4.30am yesterday (Monday 23 September 2024), emergency services were call to the low level bridge adjacent to Grenfell Road, Cowra, following reports a Subaru sedan was well alight.

Officers attached to Chifley Police District attended and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Checks revealed the car was allegedly stolen from a home on Liverpool Street, Cowra, between 7.30pm on Sunday (22 September 2024), and 4.30am yesterday (Monday 23 September 2024.

Following inquiries, about 2am today (Tuesday 24 September 2024), police were patrolling Young Street, Cowra, when they stopped and spoke to a 17-year-old boy sitting in a park.

The boy was subjected to a search, and police located gloves, a box cutter and keys to a Subaru.

He was taken to Cowra Police Station and charged with;

Steal motor vehicle
Aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal
Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
Custody of knife in public place
Possess housebreaking implements
Never licensed person drive vehicle on road
Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, and
Commit S154C offence and disseminate.
The teen was refused bail to appear at a Children’s court today (Tuesday 24 September 2024).

Inquiries under Operation Regional Mongoose continue.

Anyone with information about Operation Regional Mongoose is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.