Arabic version: إذاعة هوكسبيري تواجه الإغلاق بعد إشعار بالإخلاء

According to ABC News, Hawkesbury Radio is facing closure after Sydney Water gave the community station three months to vacate its Windsor studios. The 48-year-old station, which serves Sydney’s peri-urban north-west, operates from a small shack beside a water tower.

Sydney Water said a routine property inspection found significant safety, compliance and maintenance issues, and that the building was not considered safe to occupy. A spokesperson said the station had received an “extended” three-month notice period to find another location, while recognising its longstanding role in the local community.

Hawkesbury Radio, staffed by about 20 volunteers, has until January to secure alternative premises or stop its online broadcasts. The station has streamed seven days a week since losing its broadcasting licence in 2022 and reaches about 5,000 unique listeners each month. Presenter Leon Watson said residents relied on the station for frequent updates during bushfires, floods and COVID-19 between 2019 and 2022.

Board member James Glendenning said the station has provided emergency information to communities including Colo and Bilpin, while also promoting local events and sport. Hawkesbury City Council Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett said the council was helping search for a new site, but no suitable options had yet been identified. The council will continue to pass on possible premises for the station’s consideration.