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21 December 2024
CALL FOR DRIVER CARE DURING HOLIDAYS
Lawyer warns about demerit point doubling
A WESTERN Sydney lawyer has issued a warning to all motorists to take care as the most intense double demerit point period of the year gets underway.
20 December 2024
HELP PETS FIND THEIR FUR-EVER HOME
FAMILIES planning to welcome a new cat or dog into their household this festive season are being urged to “Adopt, Don’t Shop”, and help pets in council pounds and rehoming facilities find fur-ever homes.
Adopting from a pound or rehoming facility rather than buying from a pet shop or breeder is a great way to welcome a new pet into your family and give them a brighter future.
It can also help take the burden off council pounds and rehoming facilities which are continuing to experience challenges with high numbers of animals being surrendered.
Data from the Office of Local Government shows more than 3,837 dogs and 4,473 cats found forever homes after being adopted through council pounds in the year to 30 June 2024.
To adopt a pet, contact your local council for information on council pounds, or visit the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Cat Protection Society or another approved rehoming organisation.
In the lead-up to the festive season, current and prospective pet owners are also being urged to ensure their pets are microchipped and registered.
Ensuring your details are correct is an important part of responsible pet ownership and can help reunite owners with pets if they go missing during a family holiday or get spooked by fireworks.
Registration is free-of-charge for desexed cats and dogs adopted from pounds, animal shelters and approved rehoming organisations.
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:
18 December 2024
MULGOA ROAD UPGRADE REACHES MILESTONE
THE upgrade of Mulgoa Road between Jeanette Street and Blaikie Road has reached an important milestone with major work around the M4 motorway to take place during January.
The project will see the road widened to three lanes in either direction with improved access on and off the M4 motorway in both an easterly and westerly direction.
However, there will be short term pain for this long term gain.
To construct concrete road surfaces in the shortest amount of time, all access to and from Mulgoa Road from the M4 will be closed between 2 and 24 January 2025.
Travel along Mulgoa Road will also be reduced to a single lane in either direction during this time.
The January holiday period was identified for this necessary work to minimise impact on the community and do the work safely in the shortest amount of time. We will work both during the day and at night, with consideration given to try and minimise light and noise impacts for local residents.
The work will involve removing the existing road and replacing it with a stronger sub-surface, improved drainage, new asphalt and line marking.
During this time the community and road users will need to use nearby ramps on The Northern Road or at Russell Street to access the M4 motorway.
Once construction is complete, Mulgoa Road will become three lanes in either direction with wider and safer ramps for travelling to and from the motorway.
For more information about the work, go to Mulgoa Road upgrade between Jeanette Street, Regentville and Blaikie Road, Jamisontown | Transport for NSW.
09 December 2024
PARRA IS BEST FOR SBS MOVE, SAYS MAYOR
PARRAMATTA is making a pitch for a new Western Sydney studio for SBS to be based in the City’s heart, cementing its position as a key cultural precinct nationally.
The Federal Government this week announced $5.9M for SBS to build a new production hub in the West in lieu of pursuing a full relocation of the broadcaster from Artarmon. It’s believed the new hub would include capacity for a TV studio able to host live audiences and radio and podcast booths.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said Parramatta was the most logical home for a new studio for Australia’s most diverse multilingual media organisation.
“It’s disappointing the Federal Government isn’t prepared to back its original goal and fund a full move of SBS to the west. This is a missed opportunity to back intent with significant investment and show it is serious about Western Sydney being able to share its stories and getting a fairer share of cultural funding,” Cr Zaiter said.
“But we think this new studio is a chance to demonstrate the benefits of basing the broadcaster in the heart of Greater Sydney and closer to its audiences.
“More than half of Parramatta’s population was born overseas and speak a language other than English at home and almost 70 per cent, including me, have two parents born overseas so we understand the importance of sharing the stories of our diverse community.
“I will be reaching out to the chair of SBS to understand what they need and ensure they recognise Parramatta’s distinct advantages including transport connectivity.
“A successful new studio in the west could be the first step to ultimately convincing all players, including the Federal Government, of the merits of investing in a full relocation that better positions SBS for the future.”
The call comes the day after ABC began broadcasting its 7pm TV news bulletin from its state-of-the-art new home in Parramatta Square, where it is set to base around 300 staff.
“We’re proud the ABC is now broadcasting its signature news bulletin against a Parramatta Square backdrop featuring our iconic PHIVE building,” Cr Zaiter said.
“It’s a fitting reflection of Parramatta’s growing importance as Australia’s next global city.”
09 December 2024
LOBBY GROUP WELCOMES PARTIAL SBS RELOCATION
NEWS that an SBS hub will be opened in Western Sydney has been welcomed by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, which has long advocated for the multi-cultural broadcaster to be relocated to the West.
The Government has announced that a TV studio, radio and podcasts booths and collaboration spaces would be opened in Western Sydney, but said a full relocation was too costly.
In 2023, the Albanese government announced it would lead a feasibility study into a possible relocation of SBS from its Artarmon headquarters to Western Sydney, alongside a multi-purpose space for content creation and public use.
Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown, said while the new Western Sydney SBS studio wasn’t “the full hog”, it sent the right signal to Sydney’s multicultural heartland.
“We’ve been on this journey for a decade and are delighted to get some progress finally. It’s not the full hog, but it’s a nice start,” Mr Brown said.
09 December 2024
IT'S URGENT! CHILDREN NEED DONATED XMAS GIFTS NOW
THROUGHOUT the year, MacKillop Family Services works hard to provide the best care for children and young people unable to live at home.
Right now, there is an urgent need for Christmas gifts for more than 70 children and young people aged three months to 18 years, here in Sydney.
Could you help?
You can donate a present for babies, children or teenagers and leave it unwrapped, so that the most suitable gift can be selected for each child.
Drop your gifts off by 13th December at MacKillop Family Services, on Level 1, 38 Prince Street, Blacktown – close to the train station and Club Blacktown.
If you’d like, ask about foster care while you’re there. You can also visit www.mackillop.org.au or call 1300 791 677.
02 December 2024
PENRITH BEACH WILL REOPEN FOR SUMMER SWIMMING
THE NSW Labor Government has confirmed, on Saturday December 7, Penrith Beach will be reopen for summer, providing access to a swimming spot for locals and visitors to cool down, relax and swim.
More than 215,000 people visited Penrith Beach from December 19 2023 to Anzac Day 2024, and this summer’s swim season promises to be bigger and better with upgraded accessible facilities for beachgoers.
The NSW Government invested $2.5M to fund amenities and staffing for a second year, to make sure locals and visitors can soak up stunning views of the Blue Mountains while enjoying a dip at this unique Western Sydney swimming spot.
Beachgoers travelling to Penrith Beach will not need to book parking with more than 300 parking spaces available this year.
Penrith Beach operating hours will be from 10am to 7pm, commencing Saturday, December 7 and will be open every day including Christmas through to Sunday, April 27 2025.
Water safety remains the top priority this summer with trained lifeguards from Surf Life Saving Australia on duty to patrol the beach and offer first aid services to visitors. The Royal Life Saving Society will also patrol the beach and lead community education and learn-to-swim opportunities.
In addition to reopening as a swim spot there will be further activations at the site over the course of the summer.
For more information, including hours of operation and available programs, www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/penrith-beach
