Northern Beaches Archives

Wheeler Heights Community Rallies in Tragic Roadside Emergency

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

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

White Powder Dumping Prompts Hazmat Response At Creek In Cromer

Photo Credit: Pexels

Emergency services were called to Cromer after a large quantity of white powder was found dumped beside a creek, triggering a precautionary hazmat response due to concerns about potential environmental impact.

Discovery At Dee Why Creek In Cromer

Firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW Dee Why Station responded just before 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, 31 January, to a report of a white powdery substance on the bank of Dee Why Creek near Fisher Road North, Cromer.

The creek connects to Dee Why Lagoon, and a local resident at the scene raised concerns the material could be washed into the waterway during rainfall.

Cromer hazmat response — *Caption: For Illustration Purposes Only*
*Photo Credit: Pexels*

Initial Assessment And Hazmat Escalation

Firefighters assessed the scene and estimated the quantity of the substance could be up to 20 kilograms. As the material was unidentified and located beside a waterway, crews treated the situation as a potential hazard.

A restricted access zone was established, and specialist hazmat assistance was requested to safely identify and manage the substance.

Specialist Testing And Removal

A specialist heavy hazmat unit from Alexandria arrived at the site just before 1:45 p.m. Firefighters wearing protective suits and breathing apparatus collected samples of the substance and water from the creek nearby.

On-site scientific testing identified the material as starch-based, most likely flour or a similar substance. As a precaution, firefighters bagged and removed the material from the creek bank while remaining in protective equipment.

Earlier Report And Council Response

During the incident, a resident advised that the substance had been reported earlier in the week. An email response provided at the scene indicated sampling had suggested the material was likely flour and that clean-up was planned for the coming week.

NBC later confirmed it was aware of the dumped material and said reports of dumping are prioritised based on the likelihood of harm. Once assessment indicated no immediate risk, removal was scheduled.

No signage was present at the site to advise passers-by that the material had been assessed or that removal was planned.

hazmat response — Caption: For Illustration Purposes Only
Photo Credit: Pexels

How Such Incidents Are Managed

When unknown substances are found near waterways, emergency crews assess the immediate risk and may escalate the response if the material cannot be identified on arrival. Specialist hazmat units are deployed when there is uncertainty about toxicity or environmental impact, particularly where runoff could affect connected waterways.

Testing and removal decisions are based on the results of on-site analysis, with precautionary controls remaining in place until the material is identified and safely removed.

Published 2-Feb-2026

Pickleball Facility Proposed at Former Roche Site in Cromer

Photo Credit: Pexels

Plans have been lodged to convert a warehouse at the former Roche Pharmaceuticals site in Cromer into a $920,700 indoor pickleball and wellness facility.

Proposal Seeks to Transform Cromer Warehouse

A development application (DA2025/0961) has been submitted to repurpose part of the historic Roche site in Cromer into a new indoor pickleball facility. The project is proposed by Discover Sports Group and aims to deliver 12 pickleball courts, a wellness centre, and supporting amenities within a vacant warehouse on Inman Road.

pickleball arena — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Historic Industrial Complex to House Recreation Facility

The proposed site is part of the Northern Beaches Business Park, which occupies the former Roche Pharmaceuticals complex. The facility manufactured medications from the early 1960s until operations ceased in 2007. The area currently accommodates various recreational businesses including a trampoline centre, indoor golf, and a swim school.

Plans Detail Courts, Treatment Centre, and Amenities

Planning documents outline that the arena would include 12 pickleball courts, a mezzanine café, a pro shop, and an ancillary wellness and recreation centre. The wellness facilities are expected to include features such as cold plunge pools, saunas, and a hyperbaric chamber.

The application estimates the total cost of works at $920,700. Proposed operating hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the pickleball facility and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the wellness centre.

Cromer pickleball arena — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Pickleball Growth on the Northern Beaches

Demand for pickleball has increased significantly in the Northern Beaches region, with approximately 100 new players registering each month. The Northern Beaches Pickleball Association is currently the largest in Australia, reporting around 1,600 members.

Other recent developments include new courts at Winnererremy Bay Park and a rooftop facility under construction at Pittwater RSL in Mona Vale. The sport, often described as a combination of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, is played at several sites across the area and continues to gain traction nationwide.

Community Response Mixed

The proposed development has attracted public attention online. Some comments expressed enthusiasm for the increased access to courts, while others raised concerns about competing use of space, priorities for community facilities, and the sport’s longevity.

Application Now on Public Exhibition

The application, lodged on 21 July 2025 under DA2025/0961, is scheduled for public exhibition from 4 August to 18 August 2025. Council officer Charlotte Asbridge is overseeing the assessment process.

Published 28-July-2025