In the wake of a devastating weekend that claimed the lives of four motorcyclists and seriously injured two teenagers in New South Wales, authorities have announced a comprehensive police operation. Police will be targeting all forms of dangerous driving, with rider safety a key focus during the King’s Birthday long weekend.
The tragic incidents occurred between 8:45am on May 29 2025, and 2am on June 1, 2025, moving the total to 36 motorcyclist fatalities in NSW this year.
PHOTO: Police pull over a motorcyclist driving dangerously on NSW roads CREDITS: NSW Police
The statewide police operation, commencing at midnight on Friday, June 6 2025, will focus on curbing traffic offences by targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue, and distracted driving. Double demerit points will be enforced throughout the operation, ending at 11:59pm on Monday, June 9, 2025.
PHOTO: Police will target a number of dangerous behaviours on NSW roads.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, emphasised the importance of road safety, urging drivers to consider the severe consequences of reckless driving.
“Long weekends should be spent safely with loved ones, not mourning preventable tragedies,” Ms Catley stated.
PHOTO: Yasmin Catley addressing media in Sydney today ahead of the weekend
Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison echoed these sentiments, underscoring that poor decisions could cost lives, especially with speed being a leading factor in road fatalities.
PHOTO: Speed is one of the leading factors in road fatalities through NSW.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner David Driver highlighted the increased vulnerability of motorcyclists and stressed the need for vigilance and adherence to safety measures. “Riders must make good decisions, be visible, anticipate hazards, and wear appropriate gear,” Driver advised.
With 157 road fatalities recorded so far in 2025, the public are encouraged to plan their trip by downloading the Live Traffic NSW app, visiting livetraffic.com or calling 132 701, or using the Transport for NSW journey planning tool myjourneynsw.info.
Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The reconstruction of 10 iconic heritage huts in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP), destroyed during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, has been successfully completed. This extensive project reached its conclusion with the rebuilding of Round Mountain Hut, marking a significant milestone in the conservation of KNP’s 60 cultural heritage huts.
PHOTO: NPWS cutting the ribbon on the Linesman Huts – KNP, May 2025 CREDITS:Tom’s Outdoors
Where possible the huts were prefabricated in Tumut then transported and rebuilt on site, including the Linesman Huts which were airlifted into position. The works were challenging due to the huts’ remote locations and difficult weather conditions in the alpine region.
Steve Whan, the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Member for Monaro, highlighted the importance of these efforts. “Like many locals, I have walked to a number of our mountain huts,” he stated.
PHOTO: NPWS staff and local volunteers employed as many historical building techniques as possible, while limiting future maintenance.
“They are a wonderful connection to the history of the cattlemen, prospectors and pioneers who lived in the region. Rebuilding them after the devastation of the Black Summer fires is a testament to the resilience of our community and the value the Minns Labor Government places on our heritage.”
The heritage huts, constructed between the 1870s and the 1990s, have long served as both emergency shelters and historical icons. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) partnered with descendants of original builders and volunteers from the Kosciuszko Huts Association to restore these structures, despite challenging alpine weather and remote locations.
PHOTO: The Linesman Huts were among the many huts destroyed by the 2019-2020 bushfires – February 2020.
Penny Sharpe, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, expressed pride in the collaborative effort. “The Minns Labor Government is dedicated to the conservation of heritage sites within national parks, including these heritage huts,” Sharpe affirmed. “They are not just important places for emergency shelter, but also gems for the high country which have contributed to the rich heritage of NSW.”
Megan Bowden, NPWS Project Officer, described the huts as “living museums,” adding, “Countless hours have gone into meticulously rebuilding these huts, with photos and records being studied to ensure they accurately honour these historic monuments.”
PHOTO: An image of the Linesman Huts prior to being lost in the fires.
Pip Brown, President of the Kosciuszko Huts Association, emphasised the educational aspect, noting how the project has helped preserve traditional construction techniques.
“The rebuilt huts look great and are a credit to the NPWS builders, volunteers from the Kosciuszko Huts Association and others involved,” Ms Brown said.
“The rebuilding program has also trained agency staff and volunteers in traditional construction techniques to enable continuation of heritage building skills, such as splitting slabs with a maul and froe and log cabin construction to help keep these skills alive and maintain these huts for future generations.”
PHOTO: An exposed site along with specially designed skids and a 900kg weight limit combined for a difficult drop by helicopter– Linesman Huts
The high-country huts and homesteads of Kosciuszko National Park are recognised as important NSW heritage structures and are required by law to be conserved. They are also popular tourist attractions. Some are accessible by car, while other require walking or horse riding.
The Minns Labor Government thanks all involved for their support of the huts, including volunteers, descendants of those who originally built of lived in the huts, and local retailer, Tom’s Outdoors.
PHOTO: Rather than driving the material into some sites, a helicopter was preferred and less damaging to the bogs and fragile alpinelandscape.
The rebuilt huts are:
Linesman Huts (two buildings, built 1960s and 1980s)
Sawyers Resthouse (built 1900s)
Delanys Hut (built 1910)
Vickerys Hut (build 1938-39)
Bradley and O’Brien’s Hut (built 1952)
Brooks Hut (built 1943)
Four Mile Hut (built 1937)
Round Mountain Hut (build 1913, 1953)
Happys Hut (built 1931)
Harveys Hut (believed to be built 1960s) (repaired)
PHOTO: The Linesman Huts were originally constructed to house workers maintaining the old power lines that ran from 15 Mile Ridge, to Tooma Dam providing power to the Snowy Hydro electric scheme – old lines in view.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) advised due to temporary staffing shortages, the Jindabyne ScrapMart tip shop will be closed on Saturday June 7 and Saturday 14, June 2025.
A spokesperson for SMRC said, “Second-hand shoppers can still find plenty of bargains across the region over the next fortnight at our ScrapMart facilities in Cooma and Bombala.”
“Council apologises for any inconvenience caused by these temporary closures and appreciates the community’s understanding.”
Thredbo Resort has just confirmed that Friday Flat will be open for skiing and snowboarding this Opening Day, Saturday June 7,with Easy Does It Chairlift, Magic Carpets and a hike park. Thanks to the snowmaking team, the first laps of the season are on for Opening Day. With over 50cm of fresh snow in the forecast, the mountain operations crew is working hard to open additional terrain as soon as conditions allow.
PHOTO: A promising forecast and cooler conditions have helped Thredbo get some ski runs ready for opening day CREDIT: Thredbo Resort
“Thanks to our snowmaking efforts we are so excited to announce we will be getting our first turns of the season in on Opening Day,” said Stuart Diver, Thredbo General Manager. “We’re excited to get Friday Flat open for our guests and with natural snowfalls in the forecast we will keep pushing to get more terrain open as soon as we can.”
But it’s not just about the skiing – Thredbo’s Opening Weekend Celebrations are set to go off, with free activities for the whole family and a packed entertainment schedule across the village.
What’s On This Weekend
• Free live music from Hot Dub Time Machine presented by Balter: Saturday June 7, 3:30PM at The Alpine Bar – Australia’s favourite time-travelling DJ returns to launch the season in style with a massive après party.
• Free family fun all weekend long: the village will be taken over by street performers and roving entertainment, kids face painting and arts and crafts, yummy s’mores, and so much more.
• Fireworks: open the season with a bang with a huge fireworks display lighting up the village at 6pm on Saturday June 7.
• More live music: guests will be spoilt with free live music all across the mountain in iconic Thredbo venues like the Lounge Bar, the Schuss Bar, and Merritts Mountain House Deck.
Plan & Save This June With a promising start to the season, June is the perfect time to experience Thredbo and make the most of early season value.
Guests can save up to 45 percent on accommodation at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel throughout the month of June.
Plus, it’s the ideal time to hit the slopes for the first time with Learn to Ski & Ride packages starting from just $99 for adults and $129 for kids.
A man will face court today charged with a number of firearm and prohibited weapon offences, following a search warrant at an address in a Snowy Mountains town in the state’s south.
PHOTO: One of the seized rifles found at the Tumut home during the search CREDITS: NSW Police
About 10am yesterday (Tuesday June 3, 2025) officers attached to Riverina Police District executed a search warrant at a home in Gadara Place, Tumut.
Police seized one shortened firearm, three rifles, seven gel blaster rifles, eight gel blaster pistols, ammunition, gel blaster ammunition, seven prohibited knives including three zombie knives, cannabis seeds and capsules believed to be MDMA.
About 12.10pm yesterday, a 44-year-old man was arrested at Tumut Police Station.
PHOTO: A shortened firearm seized by police on Tuesday June 3, 2025.
In a historic event, Cooma hosted its first Walk for Reconciliation on June 2, drawing locals together to reflect on shared histories and the journey towards a united future. Set against the theme of National Reconciliation Week 2025, “Bridging Now to Next,” the gathering underscored the critical link between past, present, and future.
PHOTO: The historical occasion drew people from all walks of life.
Participants assembled at the corner of Sharp and Bradley Streets at 11 am, with anticipation in the air. The walk made its way along Sharp Street, traversing the bridge and culminating in Centennial Park. There, attendees were treated to a flag-raising ceremony, engaging speeches, entertainment, and a community art installation.
Member for Eden Monaro, Kristy McBain, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It was an honour to join the inaugural Reconciliation Walk in Cooma this morning to reflect on our shared histories and cultures, and work towards a better future.”
PHOTO: Member for Eden Monaro Kristy McBain with Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor, Chris Hanna in view (right).
She emphasised the importance of the 2025 theme in inspiring Australians to “embrace that incredible history as we walk united, together” and to “continue the push forward, letting past lessons guide us.”
PHOTO: From the corner of Bradley and Sharp Streets, attendees made their way towards Centennial Park in the middle of Cooma CBD.
Organised by community groups including Y Space Cooma, the event aimed to foster understanding and exploration of reconciliation. A Reconciliation Australia spokesperson remarked, “We are excited and proud to be working together, and to continue to explore what reconciliation means to us as individuals and as a community.”
PHOTO: Joanne Tozer – Cooma North Public School Principal (left), with Ngarigo woman and local artist – Gail Neuss (right) CREDIT: Vickie Pollard
The walk in Cooma marks a significant step in regional efforts to bridge gaps and encourage widespread acknowledgment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ enduring culture and connection to the land.
The Snowy Mountains are likely to receive much needed snowfall over the coming week, thanks to a promising weather forecast which includes cold southerly winds and a subsequent storm system. Reports from Weather Zone, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), and Mountain Watch confirm a series of weather that will favour snow accumulation, just in time for the ski season’s commencement.
PHOTO: Winter ski season is just days away and much needed snow has been forecasted for the region just in time CREDIT: Thredbo Resort
A spokesperson for the BOM said, “A cold front will enter the far south of the state today bringing wintry conditions in its wake.” The change is forecast to drop temperatures enough to activate snow guns and see light snow flurries beginning tonight June 3, and into Wednesday, June 4 above 1100m.
PHOTO: Expected snow depth by Sunday June 8, 12pm AEST CREDIT:Windy
Decent snowfalls however, are forecast for the traditional winter season opening on Saturday June 7, and Sunday June 8, which are expected to be spurred by a storm system approaching from the southwest. As it moves in on Saturday, strong northwesterly winds are expected to contribute to substantial snow deposits across mid and upper ski slopes. The storm, expected to linger until Wednesday, promises to deliver reasonable snowfall for snow resorts across the area.
Breaking down expected snowfall, Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, and Selwyn Snow Resorts are likely to witness welcome accumulation. Forecast charts reveal that over the next seven-day span, Thredbo could receive up to 46cm of snow. Meanwhile, Perisher might see close to 40cm, with Charlottes Pass expected to accumulate 45cm, and Selwyn Snow Resort hoping for around 35cm.
The combination of early flurries, cold night-time temperatures, and a promising storm system arriving over the weekend, has many hopeful the Snowy Mountains will transform just in time.
The Leadbeater’s Possum, a species long considered extinct in New South Wales, has been discovered in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP), sparking significant excitement among conservationists. The incredible finding was made by the NSW Government’s threatened species team while reviewing a series of photos on wildlife cameras set-up for another critically endangered species in the Snowy Mountains.
PHOTO: The leadbeater’s possum was thought to be extinct in NSW but has been spotted in KNP by threatened species officers CREDIT: DCCEEW
Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’re known internationally for our unique flora and fauna, and it’s a massive drawcard for our region especially.”
“I’m incredibly excited to learn that the Leadbeater’s Possum, a critically endangered species only thought to be found in Victoria in small numbers, has been confirmed living in Kosciuszko National Park.”
Until now, the Leadbeater’s Possum had only been observed alive in Victoria, with the nearest sighting in the past century being about 250 kilometres away from this recent discovery. Remarkably, the possum was captured in seven photographs over a 10-second span by NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water officers reviewing wildlife camera footage set up for surveying the critically endangered smoky mouse at Yarrangobilly.
PHOTO: Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) photographed in KNP CREDIT: DCCEEW
NSW Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, highlighted the significance of the discovery: “It’s extraordinary to discover a species that was previously thought to be extinct in NSW. For ecologists to spot a needle in a haystack of millions of images speaks to their commitment to the conservation cause.”
The Victorian Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos, lauded the discovery, calling it “incredible news,” adding, “The Victorian Government stands ready to provide expertise to the NSW Government to give this species hope for the future on both sides of the border.”
The NSW Government has also commenced the process for an expedited conservation listing of the species through the independent NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) today announced that the long-awaited upgrades at Cooma Pool will get underway in June 2025. Funded by the NSW Government thanks to a grant from the Department of Regional New South Wales under the Stronger Country Communities Fund, these works will see the ageing pool shell replaced and brand new filtration, pumping and plant equipment installed.
PHOTO: The spring swimming season may be pushed back due to the upgrades.
These improvements will ensure Cooma Pool meets and exceeds modern water safety standards now and into the future, with better water quality bringing a better experience to all pool users in the upcoming 2025/2026 swim season.
Once this work is complete, Cooma Pool will be set to continue serving the summertime needs of the Snowy Monaro for many more years to come.
A spokersperson for SMRC said, “Due to the significant scope of the upgrade project and all of the work required in the next several months, Council expects that the traditional early spring reopening date will need to be pushed back.”
“The season will be extended to account for this delay. As soon as exact dates are determined, we will issue a further update to advise the community of the changes required to complete these works this year.
We look forward to welcoming swimmers back to the upgraded and improved Cooma Pool later this year.”
“Contact our projects team with any questions or concerns.”
For more information about public swimming pools in the Snowy Monaro, please visit our website. Head to https://qrco.de/SMRCpools for passes, locations, dates, hours, and more.
In May 2025, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) issued their latest fire ant emergency order as the size of the Queensland infested area continues to grow. Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) is asking the Snowy Monaro community to be alert and keep an eye out for potential local incursions of this dangerous invasive species on Council ovals, playgrounds, recreational areas, and roadsides.
PHOTO: Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are highly invasive.
While there are only two known red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) infested areas in the north of NSW, as low rainfall and drought conditions continue across much of south-eastern Australia the risk of a local incursion spread by hay, mulch, or other organic material is real.
Fire ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species. They swarm humans and animals and sting repeatedly, causing severe pain and anaphylaxis – sometimes even resulting in death. These ants can form massive ‘super-colonies’ that can destroy ecosystems and farmland, and their presence can render the public spaces we all rely on every day unsafe and unusable.
Attacks on livestock can cause suffocation and blindness, and their presence alone can cut stock off from sources of feed and water causing starvation and dehydration.
Even in smaller numbers, this invasive pest can cause enormous damage to our environment, farmland, native animals, kids, pets, and infrastructure.
A spokesperson for SMRC said, “Council is asking residents and visitors to take a few minutes to familiarise themselves with red imported fire ants, how to identify them, and what do if you think you might have found them on local public lands.”
If you think you’ve seen fire ants or their nests, follow the DPI’s three-step process:
LEAVE IT: Do not destroy or treat the nest. Fire ants are prohibited matter in NSW.
SNAP IT: Safely take a clear photo or video for identification.
CALL IT: Call the hotline on 1800 680 244, submit online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants, or through the BioResponse NSW app.
“If the sighting is on Council land or property, please call Council on 1300 345 345.”
If you work in agriculture, horticulture, or related fields, it is particularly important to understand what you need to do to avoid the risk of spreading fire ants through purchased feed, equipment, soil, or other known carriers.
Visit the link above for all the information you need to know to protect yourself, your livelihood, and our region against this threat.
