Police have advised motorists travelling through Katikati to avoid the area.

Police were called to the scene on Farringdon St at 2:30am yesterday.

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Thousands of frogs have set up camp in a New South Wales swimming pool after recent heavy rain and flooding.

The amphibians moved in nearly three weeks after the floods hit near Wagga Wagga and the owners are struggling to evict them.

It seems the frogs have set up a breeding ground in the pool as they continue to multiply.

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In November, floodwaters peaked at 9.72 metres on the Murrumbidgee River and caused major flooding in the town for the first time in a decade.

The floodwaters saw many creatures displaced and sent into homes, including snakes and spiders – and now frogs.

Roy Hamilton and his wife spend every morning scooping up thousands of the creatures and taking them to a nearby creek, but the frogs keep coming back.

"Just wondering if anyone else is having any frog issues in their pools since the floods," Hamilton said.

"Think I'll swim in the creek this morning."

The pair haven't been driven hopping mad just yet but are looking for suggestions on how to get rid of the infestation and regain control of their pool ahead of summer.

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Australians will need no longer be able to line up to receive a free PCR test on the spot from January 1, as the federal government changes its strategy to deal with the pandemic.

Instead, a referral from a GP or nurse practitioner will be needed to receive a Medicare-funded PCR test.

It comes as Australians are warned the nation would experience new waves of COVID-19 "on a regular basis" for at least the next two years, in new guidance issued by the government.

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Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly issued the warning as part of a scaling back of the handling of COVID-19 in Australia, as announced by Health Minister Mark Butler.

"The Australian government will continue to respond to these waves as they occur – with a particular focus on protecting those most at risk in our community," Kelly said.

"The severity of future waves may be milder, placing less pressure on the health system.

"This, combined with improved immunity and hybrid immunity from repeat infections and targeted vaccinations, would reduce the clinical impact and result in fewer Australians suffering severe illness and death."

READ MORE: Mark, Albania's last 'restaurant bear,' arrives at sanctuary after over 20 years of captivity

What is changing? 

Under the changes, PCR tests will be prioritised for high-risk groups and communities.

Those at risk will be recommended to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) and consult their GP about getting a referral for a PCR test.

"It is vital that easy access to testing and treatment for people who may benefit from antiviral therapies is maintained as this will both protect people at risk from severe illness and death and protect the health system," the National COVID-19 Health Management Plan for 2023 reads.

"There is no public health requirement or recommendation for low-risk individuals to seek PCR testing."

PCR testing will remain free, with the government agreeing to extend its funding for state-run testing sites.

Other key measures under the plan include an additional $2.9 billion to be invested into special COVID-19 measures for 2023.

Those new measures include funding for coronavirus admissions to hospitals and the extension of some services such as GP respiratory clinics.

The vaccine program will also be extended through to December 2023.

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A wooden baby rattle has been recalled over fears it could pose a choking and suffocation risk for young babies.

The Gigil Wooden Dumbbell Rattle, which is sold on the Etsy Story Gigil GIft Shop, has been recalled by Product Safety Australia.

The rattle has been sold nationally online between February 10, 2022 and December 1, 2022.

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The product "does not comply with the size and shape requirements of the mandatory safety standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months of age".

"The rattle may pose a choking or suffocation hazard for young children, which can lead to severe injury or death," Product Safety Australia said.

Anyone who owns the rattle should stop using the rattle immediately.

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Product Safety Australia added users should "destroy the product" and contact Gigil Gift Shop for a full refund.

"Consumers should provide a photograph to show the product has been destroyed," Product Safety Australia said.

"If the product has already been disposed of, consumers should notify Gigil so that the safe disposal of the products can be monitored."

After more than 20 years in captivity, Mark, the last of Albania's 'restaurant bears', has safely arrived at his new home, a wildlife sanctuary in Austria, according to the animal rescue group Four Paws International.

So-called 'restaurant bears' have historically been kept in tiny cages near restaurants or hotels, where they served as an attraction for tourists, according to Four Paws.

In 2016, the non-profit group launched the 'Saddest Bears' campaign in an effort to relocate the more than 30 bears being used as entertainment in the country.

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Mark, a 24-year old brown bear, is the last known 'restaurant bear' in Albania, according to a news release from Four Paws, although there are other bears in captivity in poor circumstances in the country.

He was rescued last week and arrived at his new home, "BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach" in Austria on Friday.

When Four Paws first encountered Mark, the animal was suffering from severe health problems. He was overweight, had broken teeth and displayed "abnormal" behaviours such as pacing due to the lack of stimulation in his cramped cage.

The bear embarked on a 44-hour journey to his new home, according to the organisation. He travelled through North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary before finally reaching the sanctuary.

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But he was "calm and relaxed" during the trek, according to Four Paws.

"We made regular stops for our accompanying vet to check on him and fed him with fruits and vegetables," Magdalena Scherk-Trettin, who coordinates Four Paws' wild animal rescue and advocacy projects, said.

"After receiving an inappropriate diet of restaurant leftovers and mainly bread for two decades, he was a little reluctant about the vegetables, but munched happily on the grapes we gave him."

Mark was slow to explore his snowy new habitat, according to Four Paws. He hadn't stepped outside a cage in more than 20 years. He'll stay in a smaller outdoor enclosure for the time being until he adjusts to his new environment and moves to a larger enclosure.

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The sanctuary in Arbesbach has operated since 1988, according to its website. Mark will join three other rescued grizzly bears who live on 14,000 square metres of "natural surroundings."

"With Mark's rescue we ended the cruel practice of keeping him next to a restaurant to attract and entertain visitors," Four Paws' president Josef Pfabigan.

"We are now one step closer to a world where people treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding."

READ MORE: Thousands of frogs make NSW backyard pool their new home

It's been more than a decade since the forlorn face of a monkey staring outside an Ikea window went viral.

We are happy to report Darwin, a Japanese macaque, is now loving life at his home at Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Ontario, Canada.

The animal sanctuary took to Facebook to mark Darwin's milestone.

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"What were you doing 10 years ago today?," it wrote.

"Darwin was out Christmas shopping and became a world-wide sensation.

"Darwin came from a life at the end of a leash wearing clothes and a diaper to a life where he chooses when he wants to go outdoors in the company of other monkeys."

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Darwin became internet famous at around six-months-old when he escaped his crate, unlocked his owner's car door and walked into the Ikea parking lot as his owner shopped inside the Swedish chain store.

He was stylishly dressed in a tiny shearling coat, and quickly drew the attention of customers.

Darwin was rescued by animal services and he was transferred to the primate sanctuary, as owning monkeys is illegal in Canada.

After the outing, his former owner was fined for having a prohibited animal.

The shelter said Darwin was shy around other animals at first as he was born as part of the exotic pet trade and had likely never been around others of his kind.

READ MORE: Thousands of frogs make NSW backyard pool their new home

A freak thunderstorm has swept across Sydney bringing strong wind gusts and heavy rain as the temperature plummeted by more than 10 degrees in an hour.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the severe thunderstorm is generating gusty winds across Sydney from the west to the east.

An 85 km/h wind gust was recorded at Richmond Airport while an 82 km/h gust hit Sydney Airport.

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The latest data shows 22 millimetres of rain has fallen in just an hour in Sydney at Observatory Hill.

"A trough is generating gusty, fast-moving thunderstorms over parts of NSW," the bureau said.

Sydneysiders had wind and rain lashing their homes with some people saying it looked like the rain was falling sideways.

At 9am, Sydney reported temperatures above 32 degrees but just two hours later it was 19 degrees.

Thunderstorms are forecast to hit from Newcastle to Moree and west to Dubbo today.

As quickly as the storm swept through the city it swiftly dissipated with temperatures beginning to climb again just 20 minutes later.

Unpredictable conditions are forecast for the rest of the day as the trough continues to move east.

Although the storm was brief it has wreaked havoc across the city with trains on the T1 North Shore and Western line heavily delayed due to urgent repairs to damaged equipment at Milsons Point.

The winds were so strong that a 50-metre-wide tin roof was ripped off a workshop in Mortdale, in Sydney's south, and the remains were thrown into powerlines and scattered onto the road.

Fire and Rescue NSW said in Drummoyne a tree fell across the road blocking the Gladesville Bridge.

In Menai, in the city's south, the rain was so heavy it caused floodwaters to submerge Alfords Point Road at Old Illawarra Road.

Motorists are warned not to drive across flooded roadways.

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https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1602087883665543168

As Sydney basked in warm and sunny weather on Sunday a trough and cold front had begun to move east causing the sudden shift in weather on Monday.

Weatherzone said on Sunday as the cold front moves through it is mixing with the warmer air in front of it leading to the thunderstorm risk.

"Warm, moist air being drawn into the region east of the trough will enhance convective activity along the trough," the forecaster said yesterday.

"This environment is conducive to producing widespread, possibly severe thunderstorms across QLD and northern NSW."