Attend the Sydney Writers’ Festival in Gerringong

No longer do you need to drive to Sydney to enjoy the best parts of the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

The Festival’s headline events will be live-streamed to Gerringong Library as part of their Live and Local regional program.

“This offering to our audiences in over 50 local partner organisations in regional Australia provides access to new ideas across the country,” says the Festival’s Artistic Director Ann Mossop.

Gerringong audiences will be invited to take part in the live Q&A sessions at each event by sending their questions and thoughts via SMS directly to the Sydney Carriageworks stage.

Brought to Gerringong in real time, Jane Harper, the ‘queen of outback noir’ and author of The Dry and Force of Nature, will talk about her new crime novel Exiles

Booker prize-winning author Eleanor Catton will discuss her keenly anticipated thriller Birnam Wood, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead will shed light on his acclaimed novel Harlem Shuffle and its forthcoming sequel Crook Manifesto

Other Festival authors who will examine how books help us understand the past, live in the present and shape our future include Geraldine Brooks, Richard Fidler, Pip Williams, Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer, Helen Garner, Niki Savva, Barrie Cassidy and Holly Ringland.

Thurs 25 to Sun 28 May Gerringong Library

8 Blackwood Street

FREE but BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Find the link at www.library.kiama.nsw.gov.au/ Book individual sessions or a full day ticket.

Update on Hindmarsh Park upgrade

Those looking forward to a revamped Hindmarsh Park will have to wait longer, with the latest tender not producing a price within the $4.4 million budget.

This was the third time Council had put the project – which involves a unique playground, amenities, outdoor furniture, other landscaping and an upgrade to the Orry Kelly stage – out to tender, and the first time that it received any bids.

However the bids for the work from the three compliant tenderers ranged from $5.2 million to $5.6 million.

Council CEO Jane Stroud has been authorised to negotiate with tenderers within the available budget.

“Design comprises will have to be made,” she says.

While five parks were nominated for improvement for the initial $3 million in funding from the State Government’s Open Spaces Legacy Fund, the Government insisted on just one location.

The project originally stretched to work on the Harbour foreshore, but this was dropped due to cost.

The Fund was set up as an incentive to improve DA processing times.