Sydney news: Heavy fog creates dangerous conditions for drivers, Kerryn Phelps pulls out of Mayoral race

Here’s what you need to know this morning.

Sydney drivers warned of foggy conditions

A road weather alert has been issued for Sydney due to reduced visibility from thick fog blanketing most of the city this morning. 

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that road conditions would be dangerous and motorists were advised to take extreme care. 

“Fog developed in the western suburbs, and it’s currently making its way eastward and moving over eastern suburbs, so expecting driving conditions to be a little bit hazardous,” meteorologist James Taylor said.

Smoke haze is also lingering from planned hazard reduction burns over the past few days. 

The fog is expected to clear later this morning.  

Air quality alert ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’

An air quality alert has been issued for Sydney’s east and south-west, with ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ conditions at Chullora, Randwick, Earlwood and Lidcombe.

People in those areas are advised to avoid outdoor exercise, while those who are sensitive to smoke should stay indoors as much as possible, with windows and doors closed.  

The NSW Rural Fire Service [RFS] is carrying out hazard burns in areas including Sutherland, Campbelltown, the Northern Beaches and the Blue Mountains.

A spokesperson for the RFS said they were “conscious of smoke impact” but that it was important to conduct the hazard reduction burns to areas not affected by the 2019-2020 bushfire season.

Kerryn Phelps bows out of mayoral race

Kerryn Phelps has announced she will not run against Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore in the upcoming council election.

The former federal member for Wentworth posted on Facebook saying she was bowing out of the race due to the health of a close family member. 

Dr Phelps said she would continue to serve as an independent councillor at the City of Sydney until local government elections in September.

Blue Mountains tunnel decision 

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney is set to be home to Australia’s longest road tunnel, as part of plans to upgrade the Great Western Highway and reduce heavy traffic. 

An 11-kilometre tunnel between Blackheath and Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains would be built to ease congestion for commuters and holidaymakers, the state government said.

The proposal would be part of the Great Western Highway upgrade and could cost as much as $8 billion.

Construction is expected to start at Medlow Bath next year, with the full upgrade to be completed within eight to 10 years. 

Author Kate Jennings dies in New York

Australian author Kate Jennings is being remembered as one of the leading radical feminist voices in the 1970s.

Ms Jennings, originally from the Riverina District in NSW, has died in New York aged 72, after suffering a stroke.

Jennings published numerous poems, essays and books, including the award-winning novel Moral Hazard.

One of her longstanding colleagues, Barbara Levy, was with Jennings when she gave a landmark speech at Sydney University in 1970.

“One day she fashioned an extraordinary inflammatory speech which she gave at the Sydney University front lawn prior to one of our anti-Vietnam marches into the city,” she said.

“It really shook a lot of people up and inspired a lot of people as well.”  

Woman dragged under car

An investigation is continuing into how a 27-year-old woman became caught under her mother’s car in Sydney’s south and was dragged 100 metres along the road.

The woman is in a serious condition with significant injuries to her right leg and right arm after the incident at Caringbah South, police said.

A 58-year-old woman has been charged with several offences in relation to the incident.

She has been granted conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday.