More than five million NSW residents will head to the polling booths tomorrow for the state's local government elections.

The local council elections have been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pre-poll voting has already opened for residents as part of the government's COVID-safe plans to carry out the election.

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Here is what you need to know about the upcoming election.

What is the local council election date?

The polling booths will open tomorrow (Saturday, December 4) however pre-polling opened on November 22.

Who are the candidates?

People in all 124 council areas are voting for their preferred councillors this weekend.

You may have already seen signs in your area for these candidates.

You can find out the candidates on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

How can I vote in the local council elections?

NSW residents can head into local polling booths tomorrow and cast their vote in person, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic people are encouraged to cast their vote early.

The NSW Government has expanded their eligibility for pre-poll voting this year because of the risks of the pandemic.

Early postal voting has now closed.

However, unless you have already applied for postal voting you will not be able to do it now as applications have closed.

You can find out more information about how to pre-poll vote on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

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Can I vote early?

Yes. The NSW Government is encouraging NSW Residents to vote early this year to reduce crowds at the polling booths.

Pre-poll and iVote measures are open now.

You can vote via post if you meet the following criteria:

• If you are self-isolating because of COVID-19.
• If you live in a retirement village or nursing home, or are in hospital.
• If you "reasonably" believe attending a polling place on election day will pose a risk to your health or safety, or the health or safety of others.

Unfortunately, if you have not applied to vote via post, these applications have now closed, meaning you will need to head to the polling booth tomorrow.

Where can I vote in local council elections?

You can find out where your local polling booth is on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

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Can I vote online?

Yes, if you meet the criteria.

To use the online voting service, iVote, is available to those who meet the following criteria.

• If you are blind or have low vision
• Need help to vote or find it hard due to a disability or have difficulties reading
• Registered silent electors
• If you live more than 20 kilometres from a polling venue
• If you won't be within your council area on election day
• If you applied for a postal vote but haven't received ballot papers.

Applications to use iVote are open until 1pm on election day.

Will the democracy sausage be available?

It depends on the venue.

The NSW Electoral Commission is not responsible for the sausage sizzles, so if the community groups who run the food stalls abide by COVID-safe measures, the sausage sizzle may be available.

Is voting compulsory?

Yes. Voting is compulsory for anyone enrolled to vote in NSW.

You can check your enrolment on the Australian Electoral Commission website.

What happens if I don't vote?

If you don't vote, you can face a $55 fine.

There are two Covid-19 cases in the Wairoa District.Hawke’s Bay DHB Medical Officer of Health Nicholas Jones said the new cases are close household contacts of a previously reported case from outside of Hawke’s Bay.”It is standard…

A horse and carriage operator has hit out at a Victorian Government proposal to ban horse-drawn carriages in Melbourne's CBD.

Under the proposal, carriages would be banned from public roads in the CBD within the Flinders Street, Spring Street, La Trobe Street and Spencer Street boundaries.

However, operators would still be permitted to drive the carriages outside these areas within the City of Melbourne, with pre-booked passengers.

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Dean Crichton from Unique Carriage Hire told 9News he did not think the proposed ban was "fair".

"We only heard about this last night that the State Government and Melbourne City Council were going to make it illegal to ride a horse-drawn carriage in the CBD," he said.

"We are pretty upset about the whole thing and surprised — bearing in mind we will be the only country in the world to have something like this happen and there are horse-drawn vehicles all throughout the world that operate in the same sort of conditions."

The proposed ban is being considered as it would ensure safer roads and protect animal welfare, Roads Minister Ben Carroll said.

"We've heard the community's concerns about horse-drawn carriages and this proposal will improve safety for everyone on some of our busiest streets," he said.

"We will continue to work with our road safety partners, RSPCA and the community to ensure animal welfare and safety across the industry."

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Mr Crichton said he only primarily operated on weekends and during off-peak times.

"There's not a lot of traffic around and we pick up in the CBD and take most of our rides out into the gardens where it is nice and quiet," he said.

"Over the 35 years, we have done our best to keep out of all that sort of stuff.

"We know our way out of town and know how to keep safe."

A horse pulling a carriage in North Melbourne died while travelling down a road in March this year.

Consultations with carriage operators and stakeholders will occur until January next year before more information about the proposal is released.

Two new cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in New South Wales, and testing is underway on a further 10 cases from Regents Park Christian School.

Two students at the western Sydney school have tested positive to the variant. There are now 13 cases linked to the cluster at the school.

The ACT has also recorded its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant, a fully vaccinated person who tested positive on December 1.

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The two new Omicron cases in NSW are classmates of the year nine student who tested positive to the variant this morning.

Authorities have no idea how the high school students caught the virus, with no recent overseas travel history or connection to anyone who has recently been abroad.

A new exposure site alert is also in place where confirmed cases of Omicron visited.

Anyone who attended Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in Villawood on Saturday November 27 from 9am to 4.30pm is now a close contact.

They must immediately get tested and isolate according to NSW Health guidelines.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said they had "no idea" how the students caught the disease.

"It would appear that the case could well be an on NSW soil transmission," Mr Hazzard said.

The senior school has been dismissed for the year.

Investigations are underway for the source of infection for a COVID-19 cluster at the school.

All staff and students have been identified as close contacts and need to get tested and self-isolate.

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Two further cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in returned travellers.

The two new cases are family members of the child who tested positive to the variant yesterday.

The family arrived on flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney on 23 November.

They are now isolating in the Special Health Accommodation.

There are now 13 cases of the Omicron variant in NSW.

Mr Hazzard said Omicron had not yet shown signs of being more severe than other variants.

"The positive side is we are not seeing what we saw in the other variants, we're not seeing people suddenly being rushed to hospital," he said.

"What we're seeing is people who are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, generally."

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ACT confirms first Omicron infection

The ACT has also recorded its first Omicron variant case.

The person is fully vaccinated and returned a positive test result on December 1.

"It is not yet known if this case was acquired in the ACT or NSW," the ACT Government said in a statement.

"The individual has not travelled overseas."

A list of exposure sites has been revealed for the territory.

• Next Gen Canberra – Indoor Pool area, November 29, 5.15pm – 6.45pm
• The Knox Made in Watson, November 30, 9am – 10am
• Supabarn in Kingston, November 30, 4.20pm to 4.50pm
• Blue Gum Community School in Hackett – Spotted Bark End of Year Celebration – School Hall, November 30, 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Anyone who attended the venues at the listed times is a casual contact and must get tested and quarantine until a negative result is received.

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Case numbers 'only one measurement' says NSW Premier

NSW has recorded 337 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest number in weeks.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said he do not have plans to change the upcoming reduction in restrictions, specifically about mask use.

This is in spite of the state recording its highest case numbers in weeks.

"We would have expected those numbers to be much higher," he said.

"Case numbers in themselves are only one measurement."

He said hospitalisations and ICU presentations are the numbers that really matter.

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It appears to be a record. Five weeks ago Northland’s Ngati Kahu occupied a privately-owned waterside property at Taipa to which it is intrinsically linked.Yesterday, Minister of Treaty Settlements Andrew Little and Crown-Maori…

Nursing homes and hospitals in the Queensland town of Goondiwindi have been forced to evacuate, with 10,000 locals on standby to leave the flooded city.

The town has been cut off, and homes flooded, as many prepare for days or potentially weeks of isolation.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has arrived in town, assisting elderly residents and flying them to safety in towns like Toowoomba and Warwick.

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Extra paramedics have also touched down, assisting health workers and emergency services during the crisis.

Resident Anne Jennings said goodbye to her 85-year-old mother, who has been flown to Toowoomba in a RFDS plane.

"Mum's got dementia, she doesn't really walk anymore, she doesn't talk anymore to us and I don't think she knows who we are. It's very sad to see her the way she is," Ms Jennings said.

"She's not too bad, a little hesitant I would say but I think they've calmed her down for the ride. I'm really relieved."

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https://twitter.com/QldAmbulance/status/1466543285468467205

Ms Jennings said it's now a waiting game to see the impact floods will have on her home, as river levels continue to rise.

"We're just sitting and waiting, watching the river. We live on the creek as well so it's a matter of time to see what happens," she said.

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg urged the community to stay up to date with emergency flood plans and to remain cautious.

"Watch and act, and make sure you're prepared, and this community is prepared if we need to come together – that's just a normal thing we do," he said.

He said consultation was underway for vulnerable residents, to determine evacuation and safety plans.

"Those that are still able-bodied will be able to remain in homes with family and friends," Councillor Springborg said.

This afternoon, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued an emergency alert for the region, with flood levels and the Macintyre River predicted to reach record-breaking highs.

The river is tipped to reach 10.7 metres, peaking tomorrow morning, and breaking records set in the town's 2011 floods.

The town's levee, protecting Goondiwindi from mass devastation, was established after the tragic floods of 1956 and sits at 10.8 metres.

QFES have said it's unlikely the floodwaters will surpass the levee bank height but will remain at dangerous flood levels for some time.

https://twitter.com/QldFES/status/1466593069562662915?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

"If it doesn't go over 10.7 metres we'll be very very secure, and even if it does go a bit over we have some freeboard as well," Councillor Springborg said.

"We will take the necessary steps if there's a clear indication it's likely to go beyond that."

Councillor Springborg said residents should keep a tight eye on electronic flood gages, and emergency measures and evacuation plans were in place should floodwaters top the 10.8-metre levee.

https://twitter.com/QldAmbulance/status/1466628752012574724

Queenland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said more areas may require evacuation as the day progresses.

"Local Disaster Management Group and the District Disaster Management Group are in earnest planning for what we believe some areas will need to be evacuated later today," she said.

"In terms of the rest of the town, there are certainly elevated areas in that town and the town knows, they're very experienced at this.

"The peak is later this evening into this morning but certainly some of those key decisions are being made as we speak now."

Several residents downstream have been warned to stock up and prepare for up to weeks of isolation, and all have been urged to stay up to date with emergency warnings.

Nearby towns in Queensland's south-east are still facing dire flood conditions, with homes in Chinchilla soaked with knee-deep water and torrents of water flooding the main street catching residents off-guard.

The town of Dalby, where just two days ago four children were rescued from floodwaters is still facing rivers on its streets.

Hail has battered Sydney's south, with more wild weather on the way for the state.

A hailstorm surprised drivers at Pheasants Nest this afternoon as the small ice stones rained down on cars and the road.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said damaging winds and large hail could hit the Blue Mountains, Hunter region and Illawarra this afternoon.

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"A trough moving north along the coast is leading to thunderstorm development on the ranges inland from the coast," the BoM said in a statement.

The BoM warned severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Penrith, Branxton and Bargo at about 3.45pm.

The storms are expected to affect Springwood, Richmond and Windsor by 4.15pm and Colo, Maroota and Wisemans Ferry by 4.45pm.

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1466614449977049088

Locations that may be affected include Gosford, Cessnock, Maitland, Penrith, Bowral and Katoomba.

Severe thunderstorms could also hit Sydney late this afternoon.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has urged people to prepare for the storm by moving cars away from trees, securing loose items and staying indoors.

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It comes as another round of wet and stormy weather is on the way for northern and eastern Australia next week.

Weatherzone said there will be several days of rain and thunderstorms starting Monday through to the end of the week.

"Rainfall will be hit and miss and totals are likely to vary quite a lot from place to place," Ben Domensino from Weatherzone said.

"Some areas could receive more than 50mm, while others will miss out altogether."

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A woman has died in police custody after she was found unresponsive at a police station in Melbourne's east yesterday.

The 40-year-old woman from Ringwood was taken into custody at Knox police station on December 2 and was awaiting a remand hearing.

She was found unresponsive when police custody officers conducted routine checks just before 8pm.

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Officers called an ambulance and commenced CPR.

She was taken to hospital and later died.

Victoria Police in a statement said homicide squad detectives would investigate the death, with oversight from the Professional Standards Command as per standard protocol when a person dies in custody.