| NEWNES NEWS (CURRENT CONDITIONS & WHAT IS HAPPENING AT NEWNES) |
What is on this page:
| WARNING NOTICES | THE WEEKLY REPORT | KIOSK HOURS | OTHER MATTERS | LINKS |
| Go to the bottom of this page for links to other pages on this web site. | ||||
| Report for weekend ending: Mon 02Nov2009 | Changes since last update are highlighted in blue font. |
| Please note that this page only gives current information. If you have not been to Newnes before, please see linked pages for more general information on the subjects concerned. |
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| WARNING NOTICES. | |
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1. ROAD CLOSURES AT WOLGAN GAP. The road down Wolgan Gap is currently being upgraded with updated drainage and a new road surface. Single-lane stop/go working under flagmen may be in operation weekdays until further notice. Delays should be expected. | |
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2. TOTAL FIRE BANS AND NATIONAL PARK ACCESS RESTRICTIONS. • This is now a declared bushfire season and "No fires without a permit" restrictions are currently in force. (Please refer to Basic Information page for explanation of allowable fires at Newnes.) • There is an old-style fire danger "clock" at Newnes, but it is normally maintained on weekends only. • It is recommended that you use gas fires at Newnes and avoid lighting "open" (wood) fires, regardless of whether fire restrictions are in force or not. • Avoid lighting open fires during periods of high winds (at Newnes, these are usually from the north-west and come just before a southerly "change"). • Open fires are not permitted at all on "Total Fire Ban" days. | |
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Refer to Basic Information page for explanation of allowable fires at Newnes.
Please check external links at bottom of this page to determine the current situation regarding weather, bushfires and fire restrictions. | |
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| NEWNES - The Weekly Report from last weekend |
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A quieter weekend and again most business at the kiosk was with daytrippers. One of the daytrippers was Dick Smith (used
to go rock climbing at Newnes some years ago), calling in on Saturday with a few of his old rock-climbing mates. The
weekend weather was mostly dry and rather warm for this time of year. As mentioned last week, the weekend marked the 21st anniversary of when the Newnes Hotel went "dry", although no one called in to "celebrate". |
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Weekend Visitor Statistics: There were some eleven groups on the main camping ground Saturday night, five of these groups had three or more cars and tents in the group. There was another on the road to the school, four over the river on or near the Oval, two on camp sites down near the works and one back up the Wolgan Road. Three small groups left in the main camp ground on Sunday night. There were daytrippers about on both days, numbers for both days being about even. |
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Newnes Historic Wilderness Retreat: The Wolgan and Capertee cabins were booked over the weekend and there are more bookings for this week. I am not too sure about next weekend, but I think there may still be space available. There are some bookings after this, but generally there are vacancies for most of November. |
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If you are thinking of coming, check with Thomas for availability. Cabins should be booked in advance and you need
to ring 6355-1247 (not the kiosk number) to book. At any time when the cabins are free, visitors are welcome to inspect them. Please ask at the kiosk. |
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The new public toilet and shower block at the Newnes Hotel: Again, no work this week, due to work with other areas of the pub property. |
| As the kiosk and the attached facilities are all privately owned and run, we are asking for a gold coin donation if you only just wish to use the kiosk toilet facilities without otherwise supporting the kiosk. The donation box is in the kiosk and donations are used to help with the cost of building the new loos. A big thanks to all those who have helped so far. |
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The Weather for last weekend: 25mm of rain during the week, some of it from early in the week, with a top-up on Friday. The weekend forecast was for mostly fine, warm weather with afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible. It did not quite work out that way. Saturday was mostly fine and very warm and somewhat muggy. Some clouds built up in the afternoon, with a couple of rain drops from a passing small black cloud and that was all the rain for the weekend. Sunday started with clear skys, and by afternoon was hot and muggy and a few odd clouds about. Overnight was rather mild and Monday morning was again fine and hot. The long expected thunderstorm finally arrived in the late afternoon, but that is for next week's report. Present forecast suggests anything could happen for the rest of the week and into the weekend, although generally cooler weather. "Anything"? Forecast has "fine" weather to the west and "chance of a shower" to the east; in other words, probably fine, but not all the time. |
| For up to date weather information it is best to check on conditions (see "Links" below) before leaving for Newnes. |
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The Wolgan Road: The entire 2.5km of road down Wolgan Gap has now been stripped of bitumen and reformed. However, watch out for corrugations, particularly on steep pinches and curves. The 40km/h limit is still in place and it is recommended that you stay well under this. In a letter dated October 8, Lithgow Council included the following advice: "Over the coming weeks ... the old damaged guard rail at the top of the gap will be ... replaced with new guardrail from the lookout platform area (inclusive) and will run down the hill for some 1.5 kilometres." [Note: there is some temporary plastic barriers for 150m at the top, but currently NOTHING on the edge beyond this. Be extremely careful passing vehicles when coming up the hill - don't drive too close to the edge!] "Council will also be constructing a permanent drainage channel along the inner edge of the hillside. It is expected that the drainage channel will be approx 1.2m wide with a depth of 120mm; this will be mountable by vehicles in order to maximise the pavement width for motorists." [There was no further work on digging out the channel from our last report, so the work starts about 800m down the hill. However, a "V" shaped concrete channel has been poured for about 800m from the bottom of the hill and about 200m of the road at the bottom regraded to match it. work is currently in progress extending the concrete up the hill and applying finishing work at culverts, etc..] "Council will be two-coat bitumen sealing the entire Wolgan Gap upon finalisation of sub-pavement work. This is not expected at least for another 4-6 weeks and unavoidable delays can be expected during this work." |
| From the bottom of the gap, the gravel section (14km) is quite good, although there are some corrugations on the entrance to the second creek crossing and on the curve at the entrance to Emirates. The section beyond this, past the Corn Paddock has a few potholes. |
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General road conditions are now posted on the Access to Newnes page. Please read that page if you have not been to Newnes before, or if you have not been to Newnes for some time. |
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| Newnes Kiosk - Scheduled opening hours next weekend: | |
| Saturday, November 7: | About 9.30am to 6.00pm |
| Sunday, November 8: | About 9.30am to 6.00pm |
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The kiosk may also be open outside of these hours. Please note that, when closed, the kiosk is a private residence and visitors should not loiter in the area. | |
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| Other Matters: |
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Newnes Hotel Merchandise: Some of the special 2007 Centenary sales items are still available, including the fridge magnet, coffee mugs, place mats and coasters, sweat shirts and Centenary poster. The Centenary stubby holders proved to be very popular and has sold out as a Centenary item. However, we now have regular stocks of this item that does not have the "Centenary" wording. The "Memories of Newnes" DVD is still available, as is another DVD, a transfer of the old "Moving of the Newnes Hotel" video. These DVDs can be viewed at the kiosk. |
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The Emirates "Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa": This development opened on Thursday October 1. The entrance to this development is on the Wolgan Road, 14km from the foot of Wolgan Gap and 8km south of the Newnes Hotel. The actual resort site is some 3km south of this, behind Donkey Mountain and well hidden from public gaze. A detailed report on progress (to end of 2008) can be found on our Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Conservation Reserve page. There have been various reports in the "Lithgow Mercury" and in Sydney papers during October in connection with the opening of this resort. |
| Please note that access to this resort is restricted to guests and staff and it is not open to the general public. There is a security gate along the entrance road just out of sight from the Wolgan Road. |
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Glen Davis news: Some people have asked us about this, and we have been told that there are tours through the oil-shale works site at Glen Davis every Saturday starting at 2.00pm. Meet the owner of the property at the gate. |
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Newnes Research: I am always interested in meeting people and/or their families associated with Newnes during the operating period. I am also interested in old photos and other memorabilia. If you have such items and are willing to share them, and I am now able to scan-copy such items at the kiosk "while-you-wait". |
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| Links for further information: | |
| Newnes Accommodation: |
"NEWNES HOTEL HISTORIC WILDERNESS RETREAT" -
"www.lisp.com.au/~newnes/". Bookings should be made in advance. To book, ring: 6355-1247. |
| Road Conditions: | A general description of the Wolgan Road and likely road conditions appear on the Access to Newnes page. |
| Bush Fire Information: |
RFS - Fire Danger Map
(Newnes is in Area 10, "Central Ranges") RFS - Current Fires |
| Weather: |
The Bureau of Meteorology has an on-line four-day weather
forecast for the Central Tablelands weather district. For other general information and links about the weather at Newnes, see Basic Information page. For on the spot information (Saturdays and Sundays only) ring 6355-7355 during shop hours. |
| Emirates Resort: |
This development has its own web-site at: www.wolganvalley.com
. Click here for direct link to Emirates photo-library. For a report on progress and our comments, see Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Conservation Reserve page. |
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