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Cromer Crossing Under Focus After E-Bike Collision Raises Safety Questions

A Cromer crossing is facing renewed attention after an e-bike collision brought fresh focus to how the priority path operates for people walking, riding, and driving.

Read: Teen E-Bike Rider Injured In Cromer Crossing Collision

NSW Police and NSW Ambulance were called to Campbell Avenue shortly after 3pm on August 3, following a collision between an e-bike and a car at the crossing. The 14-year-old rider suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Police officers also attended and made inquiries at the scene.

The incident has drawn attention to a crossing designed to give people walking and riding priority over vehicles.

How the Cromer crossing works

The Campbell Avenue crossing has operated as a priority path crossing since late 2021. It forms part of a regional shared path between Dee Why Beach and Narrabeen Lagoon.

Unlike a conventional pedestrian crossing, the treatment is designed for both pedestrians and bicycle riders. Under NSW road rules, vehicles approaching a priority path crossing must give way to pedestrians and bicycle riders using the crossing. The NSW Government’s design guidance says the treatment is intended to prioritise pedestrian and cycling movements.

The crossing has recently received updated signs and line markings, changes welcomed by Bicycle NSW.

The cycling organisation has also highlighted a broader issue with priority path crossings, saying they have generated confusion and safety concerns in some locations. Bicycle NSW said the treatments are relatively new and that information about how they work and their benefits for road users has been limited.

It also pointed to different combinations of signs, line markings and colours being used by different local authorities. Following the incident, questions have also been raised about visibility around the crossing.

Visibility and road-user awareness

Northern Beaches officials said the crossing was designed by engineers in accordance with the relevant standards at the time it was installed. They have also confirmed that vegetation around the site was reviewed, with several trees identified for trimming to improve visibility. That work was completed in late July, shortly before the latest collision.

Local officials have said zigzag markings are not required at the location because they are generally used where visibility is obstructed by road alignment or other site-specific conditions. Following serious incidents, local officials say they will work with authorities to determine whether additional safety measures are needed.

The Campbell Avenue crossing has previously been the site of other reported incidents, including a collision involving an e-bike rider in May 2026 and a pedestrian incident reported in November 2024.

A shared road environment

For drivers, NSW advises approaching priority path crossings with care and being prepared to stop. Its guidance also notes that people riding bikes move much quicker than people walking.

Read: Cromer Residents Furious as Grover Avenue Plan Causes Traffic Headaches

For people riding on the shared path, the priority crossing allows bicycle riders to remain on their bikes when crossing Campbell Avenue. The recent collision has also renewed attention on how clearly the crossing’s markings, signs and surrounding conditions communicate the priority arrangements to road users.

The priority arrangement remains in place, with local officials saying they will work with authorities to determine whether any additional safety measures are needed following serious incidents.

Published 15-August-2026

Cromer Soccer Pitches Damaged by E-scooter Riders as Police Investigation Underway

Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Council

Two boys on illegal e-scooters have torn up Cromer soccer pitches at St Matthews Farm Reserve, disrupting training and matches for the Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club and prompting a police investigation.

The pair, believed to be around 13 years old, were filmed spinning their e-scooters in tight circles across the playing surfaces, carving ruts into the turf and leaving the ground churned up and unfit for use. Footage shared on social media spread quickly through the local community, drawing widespread anger. Police confirmed the images are now in their possession.

The damage was significant enough to force the club to cancel training for multiple senior and junior sides, including its men’s Premier League team, whose Thursday session is one of the biggest nights on the club’s weekly calendar. Several matches originally scheduled at the reserve last Friday evening also had to be relocated.

Club president Anthony Pollard described the mood within the club as one of frustration and disappointment. He said Thursday training is not just about football — it is a social occasion that many members look forward to each week. Having that disrupted mid-season, he said, was an unwelcome distraction for players, officials, parents, and supporters alike.

Northern Beaches Council confirmed it had carried out repairs to the affected playing surfaces following two separate reported incidents involving e-mobility devices at the reserve. The council has since reported the matter to Northern Beaches Police and indicated it would cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Mayor Sue Heins said the council was let down by what she described as pointless vandalism. She noted that sports fields are shared community spaces relied on by local clubs, families, and residents, and that reckless behaviour puts everyone’s enjoyment of those spaces at risk.

Northern Beaches Police crime manager, Chief Inspector Michael Boutouridis, said officers would be liaising with council staff as part of the inquiry. He indicated the two alleged offenders could face malicious damage to property charges, and that the matter had been allocated for formal investigation.

Under NSW transport law, e-scooters are only permitted on private property and cannot legally be ridden on public land, including parks and sports reserves.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Northern Beaches Police.

Published 16-July-2026

Teen Rider Injured in Cromer Crash

Photo Credit: NSW Police/Facebook

A 17-year-old boy has been taken to hospital after an e-bike and a car collided at Cromer, with the crash occurring at Ryrie Avenue near Fisher Road North and prompting a response from NSW Police and NSW Ambulance following reports of a collision involving an e-bike and a blue Kia Stonic.

The rider was travelling north on Fisher Road North on Tuesday, 23 June, when the bike collided with the Kia, which was travelling south and turning into Ryrie Avenue.

Video footage captured the moments before the impact, with traffic moving along Fisher Road North in dimming light after sunset and before last light.

E-Bike and Kia Collide at Ryrie Avenue

The Kia was being driven by a man in his 50s. The rider struck the front passenger side of the vehicle and was thrown into the windscreen, which smashed during the impact.

The boy then landed heavily on the road. The driver pulled over immediately and was not injured.

Emergency services were told the collision happened at about 40km/h.

The rider, who was wearing a black helmet and dark-coloured clothing, was treated by paramedics for minor injuries. He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition just before 6:15 pm.

E-bike crash scene at Cromer — *Photo Credit: NSW Police/Facebook*

Police Inquiries Continue After Cromer Crash

The driver told police he had not seen the bike approaching. He underwent a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result.

Police inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are continuing.

The footage showed other vehicles using headlights in the dimming light. It remained unclear whether the bike was being ridden with a front light.

After the crash, the bike appeared to be a Tor mountain bike frame modified with an electric drivetrain. Aside from reflectors, no clear evidence of front or rear lights was observed, although a front light may have been damaged during the collision.

It also remained unclear whether the rider was pedalling before the impact or whether the bike was moving under throttle control.

Published 25-June-2026

Cromer Driver Escapes Unhurt After Car Reverses into Backyard Pool

Photo Credit: Pixabay

A Cromer man in his 70s had a fortunate escape on Tuesday morning after his car reversed into a backyard swimming pool, setting off a multi-agency emergency response and an hours-long recovery operation that ultimately required a crane to resolve.

The incident unfolded just before 10.45am at a residential property on Foveaux Place, Cromer, when the driver lost control of a white Subaru XV while reversing down a steep driveway. The vehicle broke through a metal pool fence and slid in rear-first, coming to rest at a sharp angle with its back submerged and its front wheels still on the paved pool surround.

Despite the dramatic circumstances, the driver managed to free himself before emergency services arrived. He climbed out through the water, wading chest-deep to reach the pool ladder, and was helped out by his son, who had run outside after hearing the crash. Paramedics assessed the man at the scene and found him physically unharmed, though shaken by the ordeal.

Three police units from Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended, including Inspector Vanessa Robinson. Two NSW Ambulance crews were also sent, among them Intensive Care Paramedics and Supervisor Ree Lane. Fire and Rescue NSW crews from the Dee Why and Narrabeen stations rounded out the emergency response.

With the driver safely out of harm’s way, attention turned to the not-so-simple matter of getting the car out. Firefighters and police found themselves unable to offer a straightforward solution given the vehicle’s precarious position. After confirming the car was stable, fire crews handed the recovery challenge over to the owner and a tow truck operator who had come to inspect the scene.

The tow truck operator, from North Shore and City Towing, quickly determined that conventional methods wouldn’t cut it. He reached out to Top Gun Cranes, which happened to already be set up nearby at Frenchs Forest and was available for the emergency job.

The crane was repositioned to Foveaux Place and carefully stabilised on the street. Before lifting could begin, operators assessed the overhead wires and trees that complicated the narrow working space. There was also the small matter of who would need to get into the pool to secure ropes around the rear wheels — a task that reportedly fell to the younger of the two crane operators after a spirited discussion between the pair.

In a careful manoeuvre that threaded around the overhead electrical wiring, the car was hoisted clear of the water and held in place for several minutes to drain before being lowered back onto the driveway. The recovery was completed shortly before 2.00pm. Notably, because the front of the vehicle had stayed above water throughout the ordeal, the engine was still functional — making it straightforward to drive the car onto the tow truck once the crane had been moved clear.

No injuries were reported. The driver was the only person in the vehicle at the time.

Published 23-June-2026

Wheeler Heights Community Rallies in Tragic Roadside Emergency

Photo Credit: NSW Police/ Facebook

An incredible display of community heroism in Wheeler Heights ended in heartbreak after off-duty medical workers and bystanders fought desperately on a suburban roadside to save the life of an unresponsive man who later died in hospital.

Rapid Roadside Rescue

The intense rescue effort began just before 8.30pm on Tuesday, 2 June, when a passerby discovered a man in his forties collapsed in the gutter near the busy roundabout connecting South Creek Road and Toronto Avenue. The member of the public immediately dialed Triple Zero. The man had sustained facial injuries, which authorities suspect were caused by a sudden and forceful fall.

Because of the busy nature of the intersection, emergency services believe he was found shortly after his collapse. What followed was a remarkable chain of neighbourhood response. An off-duty nurse was among the first on the scene and quickly confirmed the man was in cardiac arrest. Soon after, an off-duty paramedic received an alert through the GoodSAM app—a system that notifies nearby off-duty professionals of medical emergencies—and rushed to assist.

Extensive Medical Intervention

Wheeler Heights — *Photo Credit:* *NSW Police/ Facebook*

The off-duty responders immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They were soon joined by three active NSW Ambulance crews and NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker, who was also off duty but lived in the area and ran to help.

The Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter was dispatched from Bankstown, landing at the nearby St Matthews Farm Reserve at 9.00pm. A specialist aeromedical team, including a trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, were driven to the roundabout by police. The medical teams worked tirelessly, restarting the man’s heart multiple times only for him to repeatedly slip back into cardiac arrest. He was eventually stabilised enough to be placed into an induced coma.

By 9.30pm, the man was loaded into a road ambulance and transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition, with the helicopter medical team travelling alongside him. The helicopter departed the reserve to meet them at the hospital.

A Devastating Outcome

Despite the massive coordinated effort from both citizens and professional first responders, the Northern Sydney Local Health District confirmed the man remained in a serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit on Wednesday morning. By 4.00pm that afternoon, NSW Police announced the tragic news that the man had passed away.

Police maintained a crime scene around the roundabout to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident. While detectives initially considered whether the man had been struck by a passing vehicle, medical evidence now strongly points to a severe neurological or medical episode. An autopsy will be conducted to confirm his exact cause of death.

Authorities also addressed local neighbourhood concerns, stating clearly that this was an isolated incident with zero connection to a violent assault that occurred in Dee Why late last week.

Disruption During the Emergency

While the emergency response was underway, a frustrated motorist caused a dangerous scene at the police roadblock outside St Matthews Farm Reserve. The driver engaged in a loud argument with officers, yelling obscenities and refusing instructions to take a detour.

The motorist ultimately forced his vehicle past the initial police line, speeding down South Creek Road before encountering further police vehicles and diverting up Penrith Avenue. Police noted the driver’s details were captured on camera and stated they would be following up on the dangerous behaviour. Detectives are still appealing for anyone with dashcam footage from the area between 8.00pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday to contact Crime Stoppers.

Published Date 03-June-2026

Cromer Golf Club Plans $890,000 Clubhouse Works

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Cromer Golf Club is seeking approval for a $890,000 upgrade at 4/0 Cromer Road, with a development application outlining clubhouse changes focused on the pro shop, buggy storage, club repairs and a proposed simulator studio.

Cromer Golf Club DA Centres on Clubhouse Works

Cromer Golf Club could see a series of clubhouse changes under a development application now under assessment for the site at 4/0 Cromer Road, Cromer.

The application, listed as DA2026/0506, proposes alterations and additions to the existing recreation facility. The works are largely focused on the clubhouse, with internal renovations and a small lower ground floor extension included in the plans.

The proposal has a listed cost of work of $890,000 and was submitted on 23 April 2026. The exhibition period ran from 7 May 2026 to 21 May 2026.

A key part of the application is a 15sqm extension to the lower ground floor. That additional area is intended to maximise the existing pro shop retail space.

Cromer Golf Club — *Photo Credit: DA2026/0506*

Pro Shop and Storage Areas Included in Cromer Plans

The proposal also includes a reconfiguration of internal areas next to the pro shop. These changes are intended to provide larger buggy storage, club repair areas and space for back-of-house activities.

To allow for the reworked layout, an internal stair would be moved to the main amenities. The application also proposes raising the roof over the existing physio room to accommodate a simulator studio.

The works are described as alterations and additions to a recreation facility, with the main details pointing to changes within the clubhouse and its service areas rather than broader works across the golf course.

development application — *Photo Credit: DA2026/0506*

Building Review Supports the Proposal

A building assessment referral response dated 27 May 2026 considered the application in relation to building certification and fire safety matters.

The review raised no concerns with the proposal and supported the application. No recommended building assessment conditions were listed.

The response also noted that some Building Code of Australia matters may need to be addressed at the Modified Construction Certificate stage. That means some compliance details may still be resolved later in the certification process.

clubhouse works — *Photo Credit: DA2026/0506*

Application Remains Under Assessment

The Cromer Golf Club application remains under assessment. No related applications are listed for DA2026/0506.

The property has previously been the subject of several applications, including tree works, creek reinstatement and landscaping works, water tank and storage facility works, and earlier refurbishment and rejuvenation works.

If approved, the current proposal would add another set of changes to the Cromer Road site, with the latest plans focused on the clubhouse’s lower ground floor, pro shop area, support spaces and proposed simulator studio.

Rather than presenting a broad redevelopment of the golf course, the application outlines targeted works to existing clubhouse areas. Its main focus is on reorganising and expanding practical spaces used for retail, storage, repairs and indoor club facilities.

Published 28-May-2026

Teen E-Bike Rider Injured In Cromer Crossing Collision

Photo Credit: Pexels

A 14-year-old girl has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital after her e-bike and an SUV collided on a shared crossing at Cromer during the morning school commute.

Teen Injured On Cromer School Route

A teenage girl riding an e-bike has been injured after a collision with a car on a shared crossing at Campbell Avenue, Cromer.

Emergency services were called just after 8am on Monday, 4 May, after reports of a collision involving an e-bike rider and a vehicle near Evergreen Drive. The 14-year-old girl was understood to have been travelling towards Northern Beaches Secondary College — Cromer Campus when the crash occurred.

The crossing is a raised shared path crossing with pedestrian markings and a green-painted dual cycle lane. The girl appears to have entered the crossing from the Dee Why side of Campbell Avenue before the e-bike and a black MG SUV collided.

The e-bike became lodged beneath the front of the SUV, but the girl was not trapped under the vehicle. She was thrown onto the road and suffered bleeding to the back of her head and abrasions to her legs.

Cromer e-bike collision — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Emergency Crews Attend Campbell Avenue, Cromer

Police, NSW Ambulance and Fire and Rescue NSW attended the scene, with Dee Why crews among those responding.

Paramedics treated the girl at the scene before taking her to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition shortly before 8.45am. She remained conscious and was able to sit and speak with ambulance crews before being transported.

Firefighters used a jack to raise the SUV and remove the e-bike from beneath the front of the vehicle. They also checked the e-bike’s lithium-ion battery and found it was intact, with no reported ignition risk.

The 26-year-old female driver of the SUV was not injured. Police spoke with her at the scene, and a roadside breath test returned a negative result.

Police Continue Cromer Collision Inquiries

Police inquiries into the Cromer collision remain ongoing, with investigators seeking assistance from anyone who may have information about the incident. Crime Stoppers can be contacted on 1800 333 000.

The same shared path crossing was also the site of another reported collision in November 2024, when a woman in her 30s was hit by a car.

Under NSW road rules, bicycle riders are required to dismount and walk across pedestrian crossings. The Campbell Avenue crossing includes shared path features for pedestrians and cyclists, with the latest incident occurring during the morning school travel period.

Police will continue examining the circumstances of the crash.

Published 6-May-2026

Cromer Leads Early Shift in Northern Beaches Food Waste Trial

Photo Credit: Pexels

In Cromer, households quietly adjusted their daily routines over several months, separating food scraps and placing them into green bins alongside garden waste as part of an early trial now shaping how food waste will be collected across the Northern Beaches.

Where It Started in Cromer

Cromer was among the first areas included in a pilot program testing new ways to manage household food waste. Alongside Dee Why, around 1,700 households took part in the initial phase, which ran from October 2025 to March 2026.

Participants were asked to collect food scraps in kitchen caddies before adding them to their existing green bins with garden waste. Over the course of the trial, approximately 330 tonnes of combined organic material was collected, processed and sent for recycling.

The approach focused on reducing the amount of food waste sent to landfill by integrating it into an existing waste stream, offering an early look at how households respond to changes in disposal habits.

What Cromer Showed

The experience in Cromer provided an early indication that households were prepared to adapt to new waste practices. The inclusion of different housing types also ensured that the trial reflected a range of living conditions, from standalone homes to higher-density settings.

While the collected volume demonstrated that organic waste could be diverted for recycling, further assessment is still required to determine how this method compares with other collection systems.

Cromer food waste — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

From Green Bins to a New Approach

Insights from Cromer and Dee Why are now informing the second phase of the trial, which introduces a separate burgundy bin for food waste only. Rather than combining materials, this stage focuses on testing a more targeted collection system.

Around 1,200 households in other Northern Beaches suburbs are taking part in this next phase, which runs from 21 April to 2 September 2026. Participants have been provided with new bins, kitchen caddies and liners to support the change.

This shift marks a move away from the mixed green-bin approach first trialled in Cromer, as different methods are assessed side by side.

Cromer’s Role in What Comes Next

The broader goal is to establish an effective, long-term system for collecting household food waste across the Northern Beaches. Findings from the initial phase, including those from Cromer, are being used to guide how the service may develop.

As the trial continues, the early experience in Cromer remains a reference point for what has already been tested and what may work at a larger scale.

Published 20-Apr-2026

Man Killed in Backyard Ladder Fall at Cromer Home

A routine job in Cromer turned fatal when a man fell from a ladder while trimming a tree in his backyard, highlighting how quickly everyday tasks can become life-threatening.

Emergency services were called just before 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, to a home on Pinduro Place, where a man believed to be in his 60s had fallen about 15 metres from an extension ladder.

Large emergency response in suburban street

Crews from NSW Ambulance, including intensive care and special operations paramedics, arrived alongside CareFlight, which dispatched a rescue helicopter from Westmead. The aircraft landed at Truman Reserve nearby, with police transporting the medical team to the scene.

Firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW worked with paramedics to move the man from the steep backyard, using a stretcher to bring him to an ambulance. The terrain and location made access difficult, slowing efforts to stabilise him.

Despite extensive treatment from paramedics and a CareFlight trauma doctor, the man could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene shortly after 1.15 p.m.

Officers from NSW Police attended the property and later confirmed that a report would be prepared for the coroner. No suspicious circumstances have been publicly indicated.

Ladder falls remain a serious risk across NSW

The incident reflects a broader pattern of injuries linked to ladder use, particularly among older men. Reports note that more than 1,500 ladder-related injuries require hospital treatment each year in New South Wales, with a significant portion classified as major trauma.

National figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that more than 30 people die annually in ladder-related falls, with most victims aged over 60. The Cromer incident adds to these figures, underscoring ongoing safety concerns around routine home maintenance.

Published 7-April-2026

Cromer Apprentice Injured After HiLux Fire On Stockton Beach

Photo Credit: GoFundMe

A Cromer apprentice plumber suffered serious burns after his Toyota HiLux caught fire during a 4WD trip on Stockton Beach, destroying the vehicle and tools used for work.

Fire During Beach Drive

Coby Rogers, 18, from Cromer, was driving a modified N70 Toyota HiLux twin-cab along Stockton Beach, north of Newcastle, when the vehicle caught fire.

The incident occurred on Friday evening on a section of beach north of the township of Salt Ash. The ute had a dual LPG and petrol fuel system, and flames linked to the LPG tank reportedly spread into the cab area.

Rogers exited the vehicle after the fire began. He sustained burns to his forearms, the front of his legs and his feet.

Cromer ute fire — *Photo Credit: GoFundMe*

Emergency Response

Emergency crews responded at the beach and provided treatment at the scene.

Paramedics attended and a medical rescue helicopter was involved in the response before Rogers was transported to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Reports indicate he may require multiple skin graft procedures at the burns unit at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Information shared through a fundraising campaign states that he sustained second and third-degree burns to his arms and legs.

Ute And Work Equipment Lost

The Toyota HiLux was destroyed in the fire. The vehicle contained tools used for Rogers’ plumbing apprenticeship with Davidson’s Plumbing in Cromer.

The report states that about $8,000 worth of tools were lost in the blaze. Personal belongings including a phone, wallet, bag and study materials from TAFE were also destroyed.

The ute had also been used as a work vehicle.

Stockton Beach incident — *Photo Credit: GoFundMe*

Fundraiser For Recovery

A fundraising campaign has been organised by Rogers’ friend Jai Anderson to help replace tools lost in the fire and support the cost of another vehicle.

The fundraiser page states Rogers lost most of his tools and personal belongings in the incident. It also says the vehicle was a significant personal asset for him.

The campaign, created on 7 March 2026, lists Rogers as the beneficiary and Anderson as the organiser. As of the latest update, the fundraiser had raised about $6,350 towards an $8,000 target through 35 donations.

donate now

Community Support

Messages shared online have included expressions of support for Rogers as he recovers from his injuries.

Some comments also speculated about how the fire began, though no confirmed cause has been publicly established in the material available.

Recovery Ahead

Medical treatment and recovery remain the immediate focus following the incident.

The destruction of the ute and work equipment has created additional challenges as Rogers recovers from his injuries and considers replacing essential tools used for his apprenticeship.

Published 12-Mar-2026