Australia Weather News

Storm clean-up

Power has been restored to some suburbs in Sydney's south following severe storms yesterday afternoon.

Wind, hail and heavy rain caused trees to fall onto powerlines, leaving about 13,000 homes without power in parts of the Sutherland Shire.

Ausgrid said power had been mostly restored aside from about 3,700 customers in Kirrawee, Miranda, Caringbah, Cronulla and surrounding suburbs.

Yesterday afternoon, three people were trapped in a car in Sydney's south and trains between Cronulla and Sutherland were halted because of falling trees.

Casino inquiry begins

An inquiry begins today into James Packer's sale of his stake in Crown Resorts to a Hong Kong-based casino operator.

The NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) will probe the sale, after questions were raised over ownership restrictions on Crown's casino project at Barangaroo.

The sale of $1.76 billion in shareholdings from Mr Packer's CPH Crown Holdings to Lawrence Ho's Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited was announced in May last year.

It represents almost half of Mr Packer's stake in the casino giant, leaving CPH with about 26 per cent of Crown.

The ILGA has said the inquiry will ensure the management of the casino remains free from criminal influence or exploitation, that gaming is conducted honestly and harm to the public is minimised.

Drought conditions continue

Authorities are hoping this week's forecast rain could provide a reprieve for drought-affected farmers in NSW.

Figures from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) show 100 per cent of the state is back in drought, with almost two-thirds experiencing intense conditions.

The weather bureau is expecting rain across much of the state from Wednesday night.

The DPI's Scott Wallace said many would be hoping the forecast eventuated.

"We do need consecutive months and consistent months of above-average rainfall, but it is nice to see that the outlook is slightly improved from what we were hearing about in late 2019," he said.

Missing swimmer

Police have searched a beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs overnight after a man reportedly went swimming and never returned.

Officers were called to Maroubra Beach about 1:30am after a group of people spotted a man going swimming but didn't see him return.

An ambulance rescue helicopter searched the beach and water alongside police and ambulance crews but no-one was found.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Police appeal over armed robbery

Police are appealing for information after an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Croydon early on Tuesday morning.

Two men dressed in black with their faces covered entered the restaurant on Parramatta Road near Great North Road, Croydon, shortly after 2:00am.

The men threatened the restaurant's six employees with a knife before stealing cash and fleeing in a white vehicle.

No-one was injured.