The 23-year-old from Emu Plains in Sydney’s west was the first punter taken in the draft - going in the sixth round with pick No 216 - after being widely considered the best on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida. Read moreHe averaged 45.8 yards for the Gators in 2024 with 25 punts downed inside the 20-yard line he set the single-season Gators record for punt average at 48.9 yards Crawshaw is set to compete with veteran P Matt Haack for the Broncos’ starting job $US1.255 million contract with the club in March “Played a lot of sports as a kid,’’ Crawshaw said in a media conference call following his selection (I) pretty much started looking for something to do after school “They gave me a scholarship to come over to Florida and spent five years here and then (I was) lucky enough to move on and be with the Denver Broncos.” 🚨 punter highlights 🚨@jeremy_crawshaw x #BroncosDraft pic.twitter.com/CeyImxznpe Although Crawshaw will officially compete with Haack for the Broncos’ punter job the NFL tends to favour a specialist like a punter or kicker when he is drafted “Matt Haack has already been in the league for a long time and I’ve watched a lot of film on him,’’ Crawshaw said “I’m kind of just looking forward to competing.” He is poised to join fellow Australian punters Tory Taylor (Chicago) Michael Dickson (Seattle) and Cameron Johnston (Pittsburgh) in the NFL “Crawshaw will likely move in and become an immediate NFL starter with the potential to become a genuine field-position weapon,” reads Crawshaw’s pre-draft scouting report and directional control makes him an ideal fit for teams emphasising special teams play The Australian’s background actually works in his favor bringing a different perspective to directional punting and spin control “His skill set particularly suits teams playing in outdoor stadiums where wind and weather management become crucial factors The ability to execute multiple punt styles - from traditional bombs to rugby-style rollers - gives coordinators a versatile weapon for any situation “With his proven track record in high-pressure SEC environments and continued development throughout his college career Crawshaw has positioned himself as the top punter in this draft class The scouting report ends with a glowing endorsement for the former Sydneysider “(Crawshaw’s) ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential (His) experience holding on placekicks adds valuable roster flexibility.” Crawshaw was the sixth player drafted by Denver joining first-round defensive back Jahdae Barron third-round wide receiver Pat Bryant and defensive end Sai’Vion Jones New Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has a proven appreciation for Australian-born punters believing their rugby background suits the NFL’s directional punting strategies Rizzi comes from the New Orleans Saints where his recent punter was Australian-born Lou Hedley He reputedly sought out Crawshaw during Florida’s Pro Day last month for lunch where the deal to join the Broncos was hatched Pre-polling for the 2025 Federal Election will begin on Tuesday For those unable to cast their vote on election day on May 3 there’s a number of locations across Penrith where you can vote early the Emu Plains Girl Guides Hall at Nepean Street in Emu Plains Glenmore Park Youth Centre and Ridge Park Hall in Oxley Park Most of the pre-poll centres open 8.30am until 5.30pm on weekdays and 9am-4pm on Saturday The Australian Electoral Commission is reminding voters to keep an eye on their mailbox as the official guide is delivered to 12 million households across the country ahead of the Federal Election Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope says its crucial people plan their vote and understand how the election works “The official guide provides a range of information about voter options and a list of frequently asked questions,” Pope said “There is so much information out there about voting options so that each person can plan their vote according to their circumstances.” The guide is also available digitally including in 34 different languages This post has been published by the team in our newsroom Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Jeremy Crawshaw was playing under-17s park footy for the Emu Plains/Glenmore Park Junior AFL Club in western Sydney Crawshaw knew he had a big kick on him but thought the chance of playing professional sport had passed with the dream of an AFL contract feeling a little out of reach Jeremy Crawshaw in action for the Florida Gators.Credit: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Now he’s on the cusp of cracking the big time in the NFL Crawshaw is set to join the ranks of Australian punters in the NFL after being drafted by the Denver Broncos Crawshaw played for the Emu Plains Junior Rugby League Football Club during his early years.Credit: Instagram The 23-year-old from Emu Plains in Sydney’s west was the first punter taken in the draft – going in the sixth round with pick No.216 – after being widely considered the best on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida He grew up wanting to play first grade for the Penrith Panthers; the four-time reigning NRL premiers He began his sporting journey with the Emu Plains Junior Rugby League Football Club as a four-year-old and played there for “eight or nine seasons” “We call it rugby league back home,” Crawshaw said in a 2021 interview “Penrith Panthers is the local professional team and I was big on trying to make the team when I was younger Jeremy Crawshaw plays Australian Rules Football as a junior in western Sydney A friend asked Crawshaw if he wanted to try Australian Rules Football where he began honing his craft with long and accurate kicks playing against teams like the Blue Mountains Kangaroos Greystanes Goannas and Baulkham Hills Hawks Crawshaw was invited to join Prokick Australia; a Melbourne-based sports academy founded in 2007 by former AFL player Nathan Chapman and John Smith The academy is renowned for transforming Australian athletes into elite American football punters “Prokick Australia gives scholarships to guys in America,” Crawshaw said last year I graduated from high school and made the choice to move to Melbourne.” Crawshaw began training four times a week at local fields in Melbourne The shoulder pads and helmet he used were bought off eBay Coaches at Prokick Australia filmed Crawshaw kicking and sent the tapes to schools in the USA Crawshaw accepted a deal with the University of Florida who liked what they saw from the 193-centimetre Australian with a powerful kick “The time I have spent at Florida has been nothing short of amazing,” Crawshaw said last year “I’m grateful for the opportunity that they gave me to come in as a small-town Australian boy that played in front of no more than maybe 100 people to the ‘swamp’ [where we] play in front of 90,000 to 100,000 [fans].” Crawshaw averaged 45.8 yards for the Gators in 2024 Crawshaw is set to compete with veteran punter Matt Haack for the Broncos’ starting job $US1.255 million ($1.96 million) contract with the club in March “The ability to execute multiple punt styles – from traditional bombs to rugby-style rollers – gives coordinators a versatile weapon for any situation “His ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential.” News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter Now he\\u2019s on the cusp of cracking the big time in the NFL The 23-year-old from Emu Plains in Sydney\\u2019s west was the first punter taken in the draft \\u2013 going in the sixth round with pick No.216 \\u2013 after being widely considered the best on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida Crawshaw\\u2019s first love was rugby league He began his sporting journey with the Emu Plains Junior Rugby League Football Club as a four-year-old and played there for \\u201Ceight or nine seasons\\u201D \\u201CWe call it rugby league back home,\\u201D Crawshaw said in a 2021 interview \\u201CPenrith Panthers is the local professional team and I was big on trying to make the team when I was younger \\u201CI guess it just didn\\u2019t happen I just went looking for other things.\\u201D \\u201CProkick Australia gives scholarships to guys in America,\\u201D Crawshaw said last year I graduated from high school and made the choice to move to Melbourne.\\u201D \\u201CThe time I have spent at Florida has been nothing short of amazing,\\u201D Crawshaw said last year \\u201CI\\u2019m grateful for the opportunity that they gave me to come in as a small-town Australian boy that played in front of no more than maybe 100 people to the \\u2018swamp\\u2019 [where we] play in front of 90,000 to 100,000 [fans].\\u201D Crawshaw is set to compete with veteran punter Matt Haack for the Broncos\\u2019 starting job \\u201CCrawshaw will likely move in and become an immediate NFL starter with the potential to become a genuine field-position weapon,\\u201D reads Crawshaw\\u2019s pre-draft scouting report \\u201CThe ability to execute multiple punt styles \\u2013 from traditional bombs to rugby-style rollers \\u2013 gives coordinators a versatile weapon for any situation \\u201CWith his proven track record in high-pressure SEC environments and continued development throughout his college career \\u201CHis ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential.\\u201D results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday Construction is now completed on the new Emu Plains Commuter Car Park The new footpath has been dedicated to the memory of Rhys Walker a former local school student who lost his life in 2011 whilst crossing Old Bathurst Road Transport Park&Ride boom gates will be installed providing up to 18 hours of free parking each day. Once installed, all you have to do is complete a public transport trip by tapping on and tapping off using an accepted Opal card, or credit/debit card linked with a Transport Connect account. For more information about Park&Ride including how to link with a Transport Connect account, visit transportnsw.info/parkandride Transport for NSW will keep the community informed about the project as it progresses If you would like to sign up to receive email updates about the project, please call 1800 684 490 or email projects@transport.nsw.gov.au Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification July 2023 (PDF, 617.43 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification June 2023 (PDF, 513.42 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification May 2023 (PDF, 668.01 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification April 2023 (PDF, 803.03 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification March 2023 (PDF, 715.42 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification 14 February 2023 (PDF, 530.77 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification February 2023 (PDF, 665.96 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification December 2022 & January 2023 (PDF, 460.09 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification November 2022 (PDF, 376.04 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Night Work Community Notification 24 October 2022 (PDF, 615.06 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification October 2022 (PDF, 544.31 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification September 2022 (PDF, 456.44 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Night Work Community Notification 17 August 2022 (PDF, 641.92 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification August 2022 (PDF, 280.63 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification July 2022 (PDF, 684.82 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification May 2022 (PDF, 881 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification April 2022 (PDF, 852.1 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification March 2022 (PDF, 1.02 MB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification February 2022 (PDF, 251.7 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification January 2022 (PDF, 568.16 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification December 2021 (PDF, 408.81 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification November 2021 (PDF, 418.87 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification October 2021 (PDF, 570.98 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification August 2021 (PDF, 1.18 MB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification May 2021 (PDF, 430.96 KB) Emu Plains Commuter Car Park - Community Notification October 2020 (PDF, 2.09 MB) Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country. We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present. Photo: AP PHOTOJeremy Crawshaw is set to join the ranks of Australian punters in the NFL after being drafted by the Denver Broncos All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 23-year-old from Emu Plains in Sydney's west was the first punter taken in the draft - going in the sixth round with pick No.216 - after being widely considered the best on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida He averaged 45.8 yards for the Gators in 2024 Crawshaw is set to compete with veteran Matt Haack for the Broncos' starting job "Crawshaw will likely move in and become an immediate NFL starter with the potential to become a genuine field-position weapon," reads Craswhaw's pre-draft scouting report "The ability to execute multiple punt styles - from traditional bombs to rugby-style rollers - gives co-ordinators a versatile weapon for any situation "With his proven track record in high-pressure SEC environments and continued development throughout his college career "His ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential." third-round wide receiver Pat Bryant and defensive end Sai'Vion Jones Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy What lies at the core of Our Lady of the Way Parish is in the first line of their parish mission statement: ‘To be a community of friends who know the parish is grateful for the solid foundations developed over the years which grounds them into the future who is a member of the Finance Committee and was the Chair of the Parish Council for 13 years joined the parish in its early years as it was an easy spot to bring his mother-in-law to Mass What kept him around was the “community of friends” that he found we looked at the number of parishioners involved in parish activities and we counted more than 50 in any given week This has reinforced for me our mission statement and that we are serving together as a community of friends for the good of all,” he said A sense of homeliness drew Sacramental Coordinator Cate Kensey to the parish I just had this feeling of ‘this feels right’ “There’s a real humility in the parishioners I’m humbled in my role as to the amount of people who selflessly give up their time to help with sacramental registrations serving at Mass and providing music for the sacraments.” Parish Secretary Joanne Hamilton feels blessed to have been welcomed into the parish community four-and-a-half years ago my children have become involved in the parish they feel that this is their parish and this is where they belong “Everyone here is so humble and genuine and very dedicated Everyone involved in the ministries in our parish goes about their role quietly and not wanting any special thanks (L-R) Our Lady of the Way Parish Emu Plains Parish Priest Fr Michael Gathuku Sacramental Coordinator Cate Kensey and parishioner John Cowen Fr Michael has whole community in mind and heart joining Emu Plains in the middle of COVID in 2020 was his first ever appointment as parish priest “It’s a good community of people,” he explained “I owe it to the previous priests of this parish for it being very welcoming and all inclusive because everybody feels that he or she has a place and has a home even if they are coming from neighbouring parishes they never feel like they are a foreigner or are unwelcome.” Parish Priest Fr Michael Gathuku speaks with a parishioner during the 50th anniversary celebrations at Our Lady of the Way Parish Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta The parish team feel that Fr Michael has the best interests of parish at heart “I always feel I can go and ask him something or talk to him he takes on board what everyone is saying to make the best decisions that he can and tries to do right by the whole community.” “he brings a lightness and relaxing nature to the office which makes it a really nice working environment.” “Fr Michael is always willing to offer up Masses for my relatives and friends or to hear my confession The parish’s 50th anniversary celebrations in late May were full of joy A great blessing on the day was having a number of founding members participate in the celebrations by sharing anecdotes from the parish’s early history and cutting a large celebratory cake “We thank them for a magnificent legacy in terms of a great physical building as well as a cohesive generous and supportive Christian community,” Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv “the memories and reflections of the anniversary will live with these pioneers even if some of them no longer live in the area “It also meant a lot to the current parish community as it keeps that connection between past Parish Pioneers gather to cut a cake during the 50th anniversary celebrations at Our Lady of the Way Parish “to think we could share 50 years with the people who started this parish was wonderful to see.” “learning about the hard work and love that went into making this parish it really made it a memorable day and a day to celebrate community.” 25-year parishioner Tony Donley received a special blessing during the anniversary celebrations as it was also his 90th birthday. “It nearly knocked me flat,” he told Catholic Outlook about the special recognition With the launch of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and looking ahead beyond its first 50 years the parish hopes to continue in the footsteps of its pioneers I pray that we will grow more in faith and love of Jesus each day,” Phyllis said “I hope that parents bringing their children to be baptised feel that same sense of belonging to the parish that many of us witness and that this is a place for them too.” “I feel this Diocesan plan will give us parishes assistance and direction to work listen and walk together as a community so that everybody feels that he or she belongs “I hope there is an emphasis on reclaiming the beauty of what we have to offer as Catholics through knowing Jesus through the sacraments through scripture and opportunities where people can come and experience the Lord and His love and healing.” “my hope is that we will be motivated to respond to the Holy Spirt as we strive to accompany each other on our journey and that we will achieve a deeper relationship with God in the process.” This article was originally published in the 2024 Season of Creation | Spring edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged a corrective services officer for allegedly intimidating a witness who gave evidence before a Special Commission of Inquiry detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad’s Corrective Services Investigation Unit established Strike Force Pylane to investigate misconduct and attempts to cover up information about this misconduct by Corrective Services NSW officers detectives received a report that a correctives officer at an Emu Plains facility had allegedly intimidated a witness who gave evidence before a Special Commission of Inquiry strike force detectives arrested a 41-year-old woman at St Marys Police Station on Wednesday where she was charged with two counts of ‘stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm’ and ‘holder of public office misconduct him or herself’ She was granted conditional bail to appear before Penrith Local Court on Friday Investigations under Strike Force Pylane continue A staple of the Emu Plains community is calling it quits with Lucky Dragon Chinese restaurant to close before the end of the month The restaurant on the Great Western Highway has been in Emu Plains for the last decade it’s really hard to survive a small business,” owner Michelle He said “We’ve stuck with it for a long time and now it’s very hard to support it All we have to do is regretfully announce that we’re giving up “Thank you very much for your continued support If you have the opportunity to walk past the shop and just come in and say goodbye to me these two weeks!” Telstra customers in Emu Plains are being warned their mobile coverage will be interrupted in the coming weeks Telstra has this week confirmed they will be updating their mobile base station in Emu Plains by adding additional infrastructure which is expected to improve the 4G experience and bring extended 5G coverage into the community The telecommunication company is warning customers that the work will require a series of temporary outages and reductions The extensive upgrades are expected to begin on Friday There will be a full site outage between 8am on Friday meaning that there will be no mobile coverage during this period There will be a coverage disruption of up to 10 hours on Tuesday September 10 with network coverage planned to be restored at the end of the day This will be followed by temporary sector disruptions of up to four hours for call and integration testing until Friday Telstra Regional General Manager Michael Marom said it is essential the crews complete the upgrades during the day for safety reasons but will endeavor to restore coverage as soon as possible “Where possible we will just be switching off parts of the tower we are working on “While coverage and capacity will decline during this time we want to keep the amount of time the site is off air to an absolute minimum.” Telstra mobile customers will receive text messages advising them of the upcoming work NBN Internet and mobile coverage from other providers in the area will not be impacted Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024 and covers local news - primarily courts and politics A graduate of the University of Wollongong Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist A police officer has been charged over an alleged domestic violence related incident officers from Nepean Police Area Command attended a home in Emu Plains in relation to a domestic violence related incident officers arrested a 35-year-old man at the home The man – a senior constable attached to a specialist command – was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with ‘stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic); Police will allege in court that the man verbally threatened a 33-year-old woman He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday The officer’s employment status is currently under review Leading up to Christmas there are so many beautifully decorated houses in the area New South Wales Local Government Elections are being held this weekend and here is everything you need to know before heading into the polling booths Australian residents aged 18 and over are required to hit the booths and cast their vote for the new crop of Penrith City Councillors local Councils are the third tier in Australian government after State and Federal and are charged with making decisions that represent the values and needs of the local community they serve They have jurisdiction over day-to-day level operations like developments Penrith residents will be electing 15 different Councillors In the North Ward there is current Councillors John Thain leading a Labor ticket and Ross Fowler leading the only Liberal ticket and two Independent tickets being led by Amanda Cardwell and current Councillor Glenn Gardiner The South Ward will have current Independent Councillor Sue Day leading a ticket newcomer Hollie McLean taking over the Labor ticket from Karen McKeown and Libertarian Vanessa Pollak leading a ticket In the East Ward there is only one ticket which is led by current Mayor Todd Carney for Labor It is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and older to vote Not voting in an election without valid reason can lead to a $55 fine this includes those living in parts of Kingswood The election in the East Ward has been declared by the NSW Electoral Commission as uncontested meaning that no vote will take place for those living in the East Ward Labor is the only ticket running in the East Ward meaning that all five candidates will be elected to Council No polling places will be set up on Saturday North Ward polling places include Andromeda Community Centre Glenmore Park Youth & Community Centre Werrington County Public School and Werrington Public School South Ward polling places include Emu Plains Community Centre Mt Hope Uniting Church Hall – Orchard Hills Surveyors Creek Public School and Wallacia Public School There will be no polling places set up in the East Ward Voting opens at 8am and closes at 6pm on Saturday Check the NSW Electoral Commission’s ‘find my electorate tool’ at http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate if you’re not sure what Ward you have to vote in Vote counting begins soon after the polls close at 6pm on Saturday During this initial count some Councils will get an indication of the result but for situations where the results will be a bit closer more counting is continued in the following days Follow local results on the Weekender website North Ward is currently represented by five Councillors including some of Penrith’s most experienced local government representatives It takes in major population hubs like Emu Plains and Cranebrook Jonathan Pullen is not running at the election The major change in North Ward at this election is that Councillor Glen Gardiner will head up an Independent ticket with long-time Councillor Kevin Crameri second on that ticket There is also a second Independent ticket in North Ward North Ward’s huge point of difference at this election is that it is the only ward with Liberal candidates after the party’s nomination debacle last month Veteran Councillor Ross Fowler leads the Liberal ticket Former Mayor John Thain heads up the Labor ticket in North Ward Where to vote in North Ward on September 14 More details on pre-poll locations and other information can be found here working as an Electrical Fitter Mechanic before I transitioned into the Power Transmission Industry I worked my way up from a Sales Engineer to the National Project Manager for both mechanical and electrical drive systems my career took a new direction when I started working with providers of the NDIS I am part of the NDIS Partners in the Community Program I have accumulated a wealth of experience in Local Government having served as Mayor of the City and Deputy Mayor twice My extensive knowledge covers all aspects of Council business from Strategic and Management plans to Zonings and Master Plans all while maintaining a strong connection to local issues One of my significant contributions has been as a driving force behind Urban Renewal in older My efforts have led to the revitalisation of Cranebrook Shops the creation of the all-weather Little Athletics Track the development of the Trinity Drive Mixed Recreation Space I successfully initiated an audit of rural land drainage which identified priorities and established a work schedule This project secured $800,000 in funding for the first year with plans to increase this amount in subsequent years to accelerate completion As I seek another term representing Penrith North Ward in the upcoming election on September 14 I remain committed to continuing my work for the community leveraging my vast experience and dedication to local issues Also on John Thain’s ticket: Robin Cook Penrith needs Councillors who think independently and act decisively free from political influences and external pressures They should be dedicated to putting the community’s needs first other than independent candidates this has not been occurring I believe I am well-suited and can bring the fresh perspective that is urgently needed I completed my HSC at St Marys Senior High School and have been working since I was 14 which has instilled a strong work ethic in me I’ve built a successful career in the Project Management field This experience has given me a deep understanding of budget and schedule management and effective spending I’ve seen firsthand how inefficiencies can affect projects and am committed to tackling these issues head-on I would focus on balancing the immediate needs of our residents with long-term goals My approach would ensure that our decisions are both practical and forward-thinking addressing current concerns while planning for sustainable growth and development I am particularly committed to advocating for weekly rubbish collection and implementing greater safety measures for our community I am dedicated to enhancing our city’s amenities and delivering crucial infrastructure improvements in the North Ward particularly in drainage repairs and flood resilience independent Council to make Penrith a safer and better place to live and work My team and I are also focused on addressing the current lack of female representation in North Ward and ensuring the Council remains accountable with greater female North Ward representation to its residents I plan to donate 25 per cent of my first year’s net income as a Councillor to charities that support women including those focused on domestic violence Also on Amanda Cardwell’s ticket: Geetha Rajagopalan I live in Londonderry with my wife and two children and I was first elected to Penrith Council in December 2021 I believe that Council should be focused on the basics such as giving residents the best possible access to quality roads great community parks and a thriving local economy I am passionate about flood management and I represent Penrith Council on the Nepean-Hawkesbury Floodplain Committee Following my criticism of government responses to emergencies during recent flooding events in Llandilo and Londonderry my advocacy and submission to the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry contributed to the creation of the Community First Responder Program The single biggest issue facing council now is the flooding risk that is present for rural areas of North Ward Maintenance to storm water drains has been neglected for many years and a recent audit has found that it will cost $7.1m to bring the rural storm water drainage up to specification currently there is $800k allocated to this maintenance requirement On July 22 I moved a motion to provide $7.1m in funding from the surplus funds realised from the sale of the Emu Plains Industrial site – only Sue Day and Kevin Crameri supported this motion and so it failed My intention is to continue to advocate for this maintenance to occur and find alternate funding sources – I will not give up on this issue where the road network hasn’t seen any substantial upgrades in over 40 years I believe that sensible and well thought out plans for managing development and population growth will determine our city’s liability and therefore I will seek to ensure that future developments enhance our city rather than reduce the quality of living for current residents Also on Glenn Gardiner’s ticket: Kevin Crameri I am in my eighth consecutive term on Council after first being elected in 1991 am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants a registered Company Auditor and Tax Agent and am the Principal of Ross Fowler and Co Since 1991 I have represented Council on CivicRisk Mutual Ltd (formerly Westpool) – the local government insurance and risk management mutual and am currently Board Chairman I was instrumental in securing the Penrith Whitewater Stadium ahead of the 2000 Olympics and was Board Chairman of the company which operated the facility I am a member of the Boards of Penrith Performing & Visual Arts Ltd and Penrith City Children’s Services Cooperative Risk and Improvement Committee and Heritage Advisory Committee I am leading Council’s objective to increase Council’s property portfolio and therefore reduce Council’s financial reliance on rates income My extensive financial acumen has been of great benefit to Council over many years My goal if re-elected is to continue to help support a strong local economy help create job opportunities for local residents and to ensure that Council remains in a sound financial position to best meet the needs and expectations of residents and ratepayers a Cranebrook local and youth advocate who was the 2023 Penrith Young Citizen of the Year the North Ward Liberal team will continue to support investment in local sporting facilities safe and fun local entertainment and hospitality opportunities and quality preschool and childcare facilities We will continue to advocate for funding for North Ward to ensure we get our fair share of upgrades to parks recreation facilities roads and drainage Also on Ross Fowler’s ticket: Reece Nuttall Running for Councillor at Penrith North Ward can be a rewarding experience for several reasons for myself: I have the opportunity to directly influence local policies and projects that affect the daily lives of residents This includes improvements in infrastructure Representation: North Ward covers diverse areas Representing these communities allows me to advocate for their specific needs and ensure their voices are heard in council decisions Leadership Opportunities: Serving as a Councillor can provide valuable leadership experience I can work on various committees and initiatives Networking: Being a Councillor connects myself with other local leaders This can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations that benefit the community Community Advocacy: Representing the interests and concerns of residents in areas like Emu Plains This involves listening to community feedback and ensuring their voices are heard in council decisions Local Development: Working on projects that enhance local infrastructure This also includes supporting sustainable development and urban renewal initiatives Public Services: Improving and maintaining essential services like waste management Environmental Stewardship: Promoting and implementing policies that protect the local environment Economic Growth: Supporting local businesses and attracting new investments to boost the local economy and create job opportunities I am founder and CEO of Pehchan TV and the President of the AusPak Women’s Association I have been serving the Pakistani community in Australia for over 14 years Also on Shafaq Jaffery’s ticket: Nick Best Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist working with some of Australia's leading media organisations he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards Aitken had been battling illness for some time and formally resigned as a Penrith Councillor last year Aitken was elected to Penrith City Council in 1995 and subsequently re-elected to represent South Ward in 1999 But he is best known for his business interests building Jim Aitken + Partners into the most recognisable real estate brand in Penrith He opened his first real estate office at age 49 in the Lennox Shopping Centre in Emu Plains “He was a wonderful human being and a man from humble beginnings that really just had a heart bigger than himself,” Reeves told the Weekender this morning “He was a selfless individual who put others before himself “He was a dynamic thinker and a very successful business person and a person who thought differently from normal and had a determination to make life better for the people that he came across.” Reeves said he was “privileged” to have “lived some life with Jim” “Life was better once you got to know Jim You were better for the relationship and better for the experience,” he said Born in the Central West of New South Wales Aitken moved to Penrith with his family in 1959 garbologist and property developer before landing in the real estate industry He managed a butcher shop in Penrith Plaza when it first opened in 1971 Aitken gave back to the community significantly through his church community and Penrith Valley Rotary Club where he spearheaded Penrith’s annual Carols by Candlelight for many years He has also been a strong advocate in assisting children with disabilities Aitken became one of the largest private sector employers in Penrith with multiple offices spread across the region The legacy of the Jim Aitken + Partners brand remains in force today with offices across Penrith Aitken once said: “I always maintained a vision to make a positive contribution to my community Through our business and my role as councilor I feel blessed to be able to serve those individuals in need and support the many schools churches and charity organisations that in turn serve us all.” a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal He had been battling illness for some time Martin (Marty) Romer is a Life Member of Emu Plains Little Athletics Club a member of Emu Plains Cricket Club for over 34 years and a member of Emu Plains Rugby League Club for over 30 years Marty has played over 300 games for Emu Plains Among his favourite cricket memories are playing in teams with both sons and winning premierships with each of them Marty is keen to one day play 1st Grade with his grandson Marty played Rugby League for Emu Plains from 1990-97 and has coached in the club for over 30 years and is now involved in coaching two of his grandchildren He was a member of Emu Plains Little Athletics for 12 years involving himself in all aspects of the club Marty was born in Nepean Hospital and has lived in the Penrith district his entire life He is married to Tracee and has 5 children (Tom In addition to his busy family and sporting life Marty is a Project Manager for a major Plumbing company and has held that position for the past 20 years “Marty is the man in the community doing the necessary jobs which go unrecognised,” said son Tom “Mowing and marking of Leonay Oval for Little Athletics for 10 years “Team manager at Little Athletics for his grandson cricket coach for over 20 years and a Life Member of Emu Plains Cricket “The ‘Craig Huffy’ award in 1st Grade cricket for 5 years and still playing 1st grade cricket at 50 years of age “Picking up and dropping off kids so they can play sport involved in Emu Plains Football Club for 30 years and was U6 Penrith Junior League ‘Coach of the Year’ works in the canteen or BBQ and has coached every age group from U6 to A Grade South Ward is currently represented by five Councillors It takes in major population hubs like Glenmore Park and South Penrith as well as more regional areas of the Penrith Local Government Area like Badgerys Creek and Wallacia meaning there will be significant change in the ward after the September 14 poll The Liberal Party nomination debacle means that veteran Councillor and current Deputy Mayor Mark Davies is not running at the election after becoming the State Member for Penrith at the last State Election The new-look Labor ticket is headed up by Hollie McLean who was successful at gaining a spot on Council at the last election will lead a five-person ticket at this year’s election as she looks to expand her influence on Council There are only three groups contesting South Ward with the result to be particularly intriguing Where to vote in South Ward on September 14 More information and details about voting can be found here My passion for Penrith is what has driven me to want to serve the residents’ interests wholeheartedly I have always wanted to make sure their voices are heard in every decision that affects our growing city I’m dedicated to improving Penrith in multiple areas I am proactive and focused on making Penrith the best place to live I think it’s crucial that we also retain Penrith’s unique character and hold the Council accountable for its actions I will continue to advocate for sustainable urban planning that integrates land use with transport options reducing reliance on cars and promoting active transport This approach addresses traffic congestion and enhances liveability by creating more connected and cohesive communities I’ll continue pushing for infrastructure development that matches our growth ensuring our roads can handle the increased population I’m also committed to creating more vibrant liveable spaces within the ward which includes more cycleways solar lighting around our parks for safe night time walking and I totally support verge gardening activities I have been a strong advocate for upgrading our aging community neighbourhood centres and bus stop infrastructure I don’t have a hidden agenda and no aspirations for higher politics my sole focus is on serving the local residents of South ward and the LGA of Penrith I believe good leadership listens and acts in the community’s best interest I promise to keep our council focused on what truly matters to the residents I want Penrith to be a place where everyone feels welcome I truly believe having a diverse range of voices on Council is crucial in shaping Penrith’s future and I believe better connectivity means a stronger Penrith Also on Sue Day’s ticket: Faithe Skinner I understand the importance of spending our hard-earned money wisely It’s disheartening to see ratepayer money directed toward initiatives that don’t benefit Penrith City residents Our council must prioritise the basics: maintaining roads These essential services are what we rely on and deserve Councils are getting sidetracked with virtue signalling – such as DEI quotas and incessant ‘welcome to country’ ceremonies These programs come at a cost to ratepayers Our local government should stay out of divisive identity politics and focus on delivering essential services Penrith City has already commenced “Smart City” initiatives These programs involve extensive data collection and surveillance they pose real concerns for privacy and autonomy I am fundamentally opposed to Smart Cities and will fiercely protect residents from technological advancements that threaten individual freedoms Residents should have the freedom to use their private property as they wish If you want to build a shed or remove a tree you should be able to do so without council interference I will cut bureaucratic red tape and ease the financial burden of private property owners allowing them to manage their property freely providing it doesn’t impact the property rights of others We need a council that embodies common sense and accountability Decisions should be based on practicality rather than ideology Residents deserve transparency about how money is spent and accountability for the decisions made Restoring these principles will ensure our community’s needs are met efficiently and fairly I am committed to advocating for a council that serves Penrith City residents by prioritising genuine needs of the community Also on Vanessa Pollak’s ticket: Rozanne Vines I am a dedicated and passionate candidate for the Penrith South Ward I am deeply committed to the values of equity My journey has been shaped by a lifelong commitment to social justice From my early involvement in advocating for disability rights I have been at the forefront of important social issues My career as a safety professional in construction and heavy manufacturing further solidified my belief in the importance of fairness As a full-time working mother and a neurodivergent individual I bring a unique and relatable perspective to my candidacy Living in Glenmore Park and actively participating in the school Parents & Citizens Committee as well as serving as Vice President of the Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association I am intimately aware of the challenges and joys that families in our community face I recognize the significant changes that will impact South Ward particularly with the opening of the new airport in 2026 I aim to ensure that these developments are handled with care I am particularly focused on enhancing disability I am dedicated to making Penrith City a place where everyone feels supported and included ensuring that our community thrives for generations to come With my extensive advocacy experience and unwavering commitment to social justice I am eager to serve the residents of Penrith South Ward and contribute to building a community that is inclusive I ask for your support on September 14th to elect Labor representatives to Council I commit to bringing your voice to Council and always working for the West Also on Hollie McLean’s ticket: Kirstie Boerst 15 May 2024 • 2m read • View Author Green-light-for-Uniting-s-Emu-Plains-redevelopment-1732001447.png Uniting will deliver 147 new apartments, following the approval of the second stage of redevelopment at their $99 million seniors’ independent living village in Emu Plains, NSW. Established in the early 1970s, the existing Uniting Edinglassie retirement and independent living village needed to be redeveloped to provide higher quality housing and a diverse range of contemporary independent living options to meet the needs of Australia’s ageing population. Uniting director of property and housing Simon Furness said the ageing population and demographic of the area highlight the urgent need for more affordable living options for seniors. “Our focus is on providing homes and facilities that enhance the quality of life for older Australians so they can age in place and stay connected with their local communities. We’re committed to ensuring seniors continue to have access to quality, affordable living and services within the region and we look forward to seeing them enjoy their new homes upon completion,” Furness says. The five buildings included in the development will comprise a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments. Residents will benefit from an array of on-site amenities including a multipurpose space, café, hairdressing salon, chapel and consulting rooms for visiting medical and allied health professionals. Stage two will see the addition of a new clubroom for residents’ events and activities to help strengthen social connections within the village community. Taylor Brammer, a highly experienced landscape architecture firm has been engaged to ensure Edinglassie Village flows seamlessly with the environment and suburb of Emu Plains. Construction is due to commence in early 2025. Rooted, resilient, resonant: Off-grid family living amongst the rugged Australian landscape Using DecoBatten®’s latest profile on The Seaside Sanctuary Solid Nordic softwood in interior design: Sustainable solutions for joinery, flooring and wall panelling Construction of resort-style clubhouse begins at AVID’s over 50s lifestyle precinct in Fraser Coast Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. the battle for Macquarie – which now takes in western parts of the Penrith LGA – will be one of the most intriguing a re-distribution of federal electorate boundary lines saw the communities in Emu Plains Emu Heights and Leonay now included in the electorate of Macquarie which is currently held by Labor’s Susan Templeman Templeman has held the seat for two terms and is hoping to retain the seat for a third time “For me this is about a work ethic where you are constantly working hard for your community not just turning up before an election…” Templeman said “The privilege of being elected to parliament is so fleeting and there is so few people who ever get to say they were chosen by their community once let alone twice and let alone three times it’s an area that swings so I am not going to walk away no matter what happens in life at any time saying I should have worked harder.” Going up against Templeman is Mike Creed from the Liberal Party who is currently serving his second term as a Hawkesbury City Councillor “I’ve always a big interest in giving back to the community and supporting those that have always supported me We live in a really unique community; I think it’s the best place to live but I might be biased!” Creed said and we are all very close to each other and step in when we need help and that’s what inspires me to stick my hand up and get involved in politics Creed has been out in the new communities he hopes to represent to hear what they are asking for “They are just tired of being told a lot of words but [seeing] no action,” Creed said “One of the biggest things they are talking about is the cost of living the fact that electricity bills have gone up so much even thought they were promised that they were going to go down $275 before the last election by Anthony Albanese over 90 times and instead they’ve gone up over $1,000 it is all a flow on effect from mismanaging the economy and it’s hurting our local community “Whether it is small business or your family budget it’s those sorts of things the government needs to be working on to make sure they are running the economy properly so people can live better lives.” Templeman said the rising cost of living is a concern that remains on top of the government’s list of priorities “We are all very conscious of the general rise in the cost of living that is really squeezing people When individual household budgets are squeezed then the small businesses feel that flow on effect,” Templeman said the rising interest rates from that level is absolutely a major issue which is why our priority as a government has been on keeping inflation down Interest rates haven’t gone up since November 2023 but they haven’t come down yet and that is what we are all hoping our efforts will bring about I’ve had people say that the energy relief has been practical It doesn’t necessarily change their balance sheet and the cutting of university debt has helped and the cheaper childcare but we recognise that this is one of the toughest times… So I’m really conscious of what businesses locally are experiencing.” Ahead of the Federal Election Creed said he is looking forward to showing the community how he will represent them “An election is a great time to be able to debate policy and ideas which we seem to have not been doing more recently in this country,” Creed said personal type of election campaign and that’s just not how I operate It’s all about the policies you bring to the table it’s about how you treat people with respect regardless of their views and putting their best foot forward in regards of what you can actually do for the community Templeman said there were a range of things she will work towards if re-elected “…Relieving cost of living impacts as best we can without driving further inflation and sending interest rates higher is a top priority I want to see investment in flood mitigation measures [as well as] bushfire mitigation.” Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Sydney’s west was last seen in Emu Plains on or about Saturday 17 August 2024 Police and family have serious concerns for Kiera’s welfare as he lives with a number of heath conditions Kieran is described as being of Caucasian appearance Inquiries have established that Kieran maybe driving a 2007 silver Toyota Parado bearing NSW registration DQJ01V Emu Plains and Emu Heights - west of the Nepean River under proposed federal electoral boundary changes announced a short time ago The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has recommended carving small parts of Lindsay out to add the necessary numbers to Macquarie The proposed new-look Macquarie taking in Leonay Emu Plains and Emu Heights at its eastern boundary along the Nepean River Map AECThe new eastern boundary of the electorate would follow the contours of the river The proposal was part of what the Labor Party wanted in its submission to the AEC The Liberal Party, on the other hand, had proposed major changes moving Upper and Mid Mountains voters into the seat of Calare (Bathurst/Oberon) and those in the Lower Mountains into the Penrith-centred Lindsay It had suggested keeping Hawkesbury in Macquarie and adding to it suburbs from neighbouring electorates including Rouse Hill The state-wide redistribution was necessary because of low population growth across NSW It had to lose one of its electorates and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has recommended that North Sydney (held by independent Kylea Tink) go welcomed the proposed redistribution that sees the seat of Macquarie retain its old Mountains and Hawkesbury borders and add the three new suburbs Zeroing in on the proposed new section of Macquarie taking in Emu Plains and Leonay from Lindsay Map AEC"This is a really logical expansion," she said I have strong connections already to the area and the redistribution committee has clearly recognised the deep community ties between the villages at the foot of the mountains and the rest of my electorate "I'll continue to work hard for the communities in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury and I look forward to spending time deepening my understanding of the issues that face the residents and small businesses of Emu Plains Ms Templeman had always recognised that the population size in the seat of Macquarie had to grow The little chunk proposed to be taken from Lindsay and given to Macquarie Macquarie requires an increase in the number of electors and there are multiple ways that could be achieved," she said last year as the redistribution process started Map AECThe AEC will accept comments and/or objections on the proposed new boundaries until July 12 before any final determinations are made later this year Efforts to save long-time Penrith business Cubitt’s Granny Flats and Home Extensions have failed the family owned business has been formally placed into liquidation by creditors As previously reported by the Weekender the business was placed into voluntary administration in February Administrator and RSM Australia Partner Richard Stone said Acrow had already reached out to Cubitt’s 130 clients whose homes had been on hold since the builder entered voluntary administration the Administrators understand this has been a very challenging and stressful period for everyone involved,” Stone said “The failure of one business has a domino effect on so many people these impacts are being compounded by a fragile economy and businesses and households who are doing it tough.” Stone said that the return to creditors was uncertain at this stage and would be subject to future recoveries Administrators had hoped to save the business by finding a new owner and had previously noted extensive interest Whether you’re seeking luxury or affordability these five suburbs offer something for everyone Sydney’s property market has witnessed a slight easing in housing supply – but according to Shore Financial CEO Theo Chambers the increase in listings has done little to stem the tide of growth Sydney’s median house price jumped 11.6 per cent,” said Chambers If you check the box above before you log in you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return even if you close your browser and come back later “Even though listings have marginally increased in recent months most of this is in unit markets whereas the house market remains as tight as ever.” we count strong seller’s markets for 40 per cent of suburbs for units and an astounding 90 per cent of suburbs for houses,” he revealed As median home values continue to rise steeply the CEO observed that investor activity has been on the up 42.9 per cent of all loan commitments in NSW were for investor finance according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics “There’s been a sharp increase in investor activity potentially because investors are trying to front-run expected rate cuts from the Reserve Bank which would potentially increase buyer competition and push up prices,” Chambers speculated Shore Financial revealed five standouts suburbs in Sydney to suit buyers from different price ranges Each suburb is predicted to outperform the market and see substantial growth over the next six months Sydney’s western fringes remain one of the strongest options Located at the foothills of the Blue Mountains Emu Plains is one of the few suburbs in Sydney where the median house price is below $1 million with the current median house price resting at $999,999 Emu Plains is projected to see over 5 per cent growth over the next six months – following on from impressive growth of 8.6 per cent over the past 12 months Liverpool is only a fraction more expensive than Emu Plains The suburb is a particularly strong choice for investors with over 60 per cent of the area’s residents renting their home house prices in Liverpool have grown a massive 18.4 per cent the growth trajectory does not appear to be ending anytime soon the inner west suburb of Camperdown has a median house price of $2,050,000 Just 39 per cent of residents in the suburb are owner-occupiers and for those who do want to buy into the area with current inventory currently sitting below one month with over 96 per cent of homes either apartments or terraced houses with over 5 per cent price growth expected in the coming six months it does not seem to be a deterrent for newcomers to the suburb A few minutes’ drive from the famous beach and ferry stop is Manly Vale a family-friendly Northern Beaches suburb which has seen an astonishing 11.4 per cent growth over the past 12 months the $3,000,000 median house price is expected to soar higher with over 5 per cent growth forecast in the coming six months buyers need to act fast – the median time to sell is just 24 days Located in the north-west of Sydney near Strathfield and Burwood Concord West is an affluent suburb that benefits from strong rail links to the CBD Over 75 per cent of homes are occupied by owner-occupiers and almost 80 per cent of properties are freestanding houses With a current median house price of just over $2.8 million strong growth is projected to continue in the area over the rest of 2024 Budget is defined as the estimation of expenses made over a specified time for the purchase of goods or services Copyright © 2007-2025 Smart Property Investment A teenage boy charged with assaulting an opposition player during a junior soccer match has been banned from his club after the ugly incident that left his alleged victim in hospital NSW Police have charged the 17-year-old Blue Mountains FC player with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he allegedly punched a 16-year-old Emu Plains FC player during an under 17s match at Glenbrook on Sunday morning The Blue Mountains FC player was taken to Springwood Police Station where he was charged and bailed to face a children’s court on September 5 The Emu Plains FC player was treated by paramedics at Knapsack Park before being taken to hospital with head injuries but in a stable condition The Nepean Football Association has launched an investigation into the incident and handed the 17-year-old an interim suspension but Blue Mountains FC president David Smith said the player would be immediately banned “He’ll never play with us again,” Smith said I will never accept a membership from him.’ I will never accept a membership from him.” Smith said the incident was “in no way reflective of the culture of the club or the people at the club” “I’m absolutely disgusted that it’s happened and I’m absolutely heartbroken that it’s happened,” he said Nepean Football Association chief executive Linda Cerone said the league had a “zero tolerance” for violent incidents it continues to be a disappointing and worrying side of community sport.” two western Sydney soccer clubs are under investigation by the local association after video emerged of players throwing punches and pushing each other during a frantic brawl captured by a spectator and shared with Nine News shows the moment an Auburn District player is tripped by a Holroyd Rangers player Nine reported the incident took place during an under-17s game at Rydalmere Park on Saturday while match officials try to intervene and spectators rush the field One Holroyd player appears to be hit in the face An Auburn District player is held back by adults while swinging his fist Granville and Districts Soccer Football Association general manager Rosanna Lentini said normal disciplinary process would be followed A Disciplinary Tribunal hearing will be held on Thursday rather than next Monday because of the attention the incident had attracted “The panel will consider all the evidence sent to us and deliberate and make a decision,” she said the GDSFA said it had a zero tolerance policy for disrespectful or offensive behaviour Holroyd Rangers spokesman declined to comment while the investigation was ongoing A NSW Police spokesperson said it had not received any reports about the Rydalmere Park incident Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter where he was charged and bailed to face a children\\u2019s court on September 5 \\u201CHe\\u2019ll never play with us again,\\u201D Smith said I will never accept a membership from him.\\u201D Smith said the incident was \\u201Cin no way reflective of the culture of the club or the people at the club\\u201D \\u201CI\\u2019m absolutely disgusted that it\\u2019s happened and I\\u2019m absolutely heartbroken that it\\u2019s happened,\\u201D he said Nepean Football Association chief executive Linda Cerone said the league had a \\u201Czero tolerance\\u201D for violent incidents \\u201CWe don\\u2019t condone it,\\u201D Cerone said it continues to be a disappointing and worrying side of community sport.\\u201D \\u201CThe panel will consider all the evidence sent to us and deliberate and make a decision,\\u201D she said Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories I will never accept a membership from him.\\u2019 The M4 pedestrian ramps at Jamisontown that cross the Nepean River are set for an upgrade dating from the bridge’s duplication in 1986 making it easier and safer for people to access the footpath across the river while improving the amenity for walkers connecting Tench Reserve and across the river along River Road the four pedestrian ramps to the bridge crossing the Nepean River will be built at an easier grade to bring them into line with current disability access standards They will be realigned and reconstructed to minimise visual impacts it is proposed to increase the ramp lengths within the existing area on the side of the M4 motorway after advocating on behalf of Penrith for upgraded M4 pedestrian ramps Penrith’s cries for accessibility have finally been heard,” Penrith MP Karen McKeown said “This is a much needed project for the community with the current ramps too steep and narrow for people in wheelchairs with prams and generally to safely navigate.” the community is invited to have their say into the design of the new ramps and associated upgrades including improved lighting Feedback is being sought through to September 20, 2024 and can be lodged via [email protected] For more information about the project, go to http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/M4Penrithpedrampupgrade The Golden Jubilee celebration at Our Lady of the Way Parish on Sunday 26 May was a sentimental journey awash with nostalgia and optimism for the future The Emu Plains congregation heard how sweat and 22,000 bricks saved from a church set for demolition helped build Our Lady of the Way Church and Primary School “We collected the bricks from St Patrick’s in Blacktown,” Carmel Patterson The bricks were hand loaded by volunteers and were cleaned by parishioners “My husband [Bernie] was booked towing the cleaning machine back,” Robyne Le Breton The Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Our Lady of the Way Parish Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta presided over the celebratory Mass on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity He prayed for those who had contributed to the founding and development of the Emu Plains faith community 50 years ago and for its beneficiaries “who take that legacy forward so that this community can continue to shine as a beacon of hope for the broader society” RELATED: Bishop Vincent’s homily: Resetting the Church with the Trinitarian model The congregation sang hymns written by two parishioners they gathered in the school hall to share a meal and listen to speeches joined the “Happy anniversary to us” sing-along led by Bishop Vincent who was given a commemorative t-shirt to mark the historic milestone Our Lady of the Way Church and Stage 1 & 2 of the school were built in a paddock which had been a government grant from about 1860 Fr Kevin Hannan was appointed the first Parish Priest of Emu Plains in January 1974 Mass was celebrated by one of the priests from Penrith in nearby Melrose Hall Bishop Vincent said he read that the first Sunday collection was taken by an intruder The choir singing during the anniversary Mass “I didn’t know about the whole catastrophe,” said 14-year-old Charlotte Tuballa the grand-daughter of the late Victor Tuballa Snr a founding musician at Our Lady of the Way Founding members collectively spoke of the joy of togetherness and a tremendous sense of camaraderie in the early days of the parish They regaled Catholic Outlook with reminiscences of volunteering and fundraising — ranging from car rallies “all to keep costs down” — to the formation of a youth group and committees and lobbying for female altar servers to be affectionately known as “serviettes” “Interest rates in those days were 15% and the government paid 11.5%,” said Leo Bahlmann The congregation during the Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Our Lady of the Way Parish fondly remembered the former prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott serving in the parish as a seminarian on pastoral placement “Tony very quickly became part of the community and the youth group,” Josephine said Trinity Sunday also marked the 90th birthday of parishioner Tony Donley who happily joined in the fanfare with wife Irene “It nearly knocked me flat,” Tony said with reference to Bishop Vincent mentioning his birthday during the Mass The Donleys joined the parish in 1998 and still live at home together Tony still drives a car and is thinking about buying a new one and clergy and lay assistants after the Mass Tony expressed his delight at seeing his old priest “He gave me the last rites three times,” Tony said recounting the heart attack he survived at 78 “I think He [God] keeps me here to look after my wife Asked why attending church was so important Tony said: “You’ve got to get to know Him because He wants to get to know you View more images from the Jubilee celebrations here or below: Get unlimited access. Save 70% when you subscribe today. By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy Get your intro offer.  It looks like your email isn't registered yet—let’s get you set up We've sent a code to the below email.  now Australia’s fourth-largest independent brewery has reached another key milestone by announcing its first investor — Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins The two-time consecutive winner of GABS Hottest 100 – as voted by beer drinkers – has been on a meteoric rise over the past five years expanding fast from its original brew-pub at Katoomba in NSW’s Blue Mountains to a large production facility and beer hall at Emu Plains in western Sydney and next week to a 200+ capacity inner-city venue in Sydney’s Redfern Entirely bootstrapped to date by co-founders (and life partners) DJ and Harriet McCready having an investor marks a big moment for the business “We’ve had a great working relationship with the banks,” said DJ McCready this morning speaking to SmartCompany en route to the airport to pick up American visitors checking out his brewery “We’ve focused on being a profitable company to grow But we want to be the number one independent beer brand in the country.” “Pat is the first person to have some shares we’ve finally got our shareholders agreement.” Cummins, born and bred in the Blue Mountains, grew up just a Kookaburra throw away from Mountain Culture’s factory in Emu Plains getting Cummins on board almost happened by accident “But then we saw him drinking the beer [on his Instagram] maybe Pat wants to join us on our mission to bring really good beer to Australia’.” DJ McCready concurs: “It was really organic we just saw him drinking our beer on social media he was actually wearing one of our jumpers We hit him up and he replied saying ‘I’m in India “It was really great getting to connect with him and [by becoming an investor in Mountain Culture] he’s trying to take something made there out across Australia – and expose it internationally.” intelligent and very values-led brewer Mountain Culture could pick an ideal investor then Pat Cummins would be the number-one pick from central casting “We always knew that if we ever brought on investors it would be because we found someone who strongly aligned with our values,” explains DJ McCready he shares the same ethos of wanting to be the best in your field,” echoes Harriet “He leads the best cricket team in the world and we are trying to run the best brewery in the world.” “We also found someone who believes in authenticity like we do He really wants to put in the hard work; he wants to get his hands dirty and is really involved in the business he doesn’t just want to be a pretty face — even though he is one!” “We have always been of the stance that anyone coming into the business needs to bring value,” says DJ “Not just monetary value – we want people on board who can help steer the company “The Aussie cricket captain is the second most important job in Australia So the chats with Pat have been very much about how can we steer the business Cummins – already Australia’s 10th most successful test wicket taker with 269 wickets at a strike rate of 46.89 and an 80% record as captain of Australia’s 2023 World Cup one day international team – as a proven winner “We’ve always tried to run Mountain Culture like a sports team,” says DJ “We’re a competitive company; we’re out there to win We need to deliver a product in the best possible way helping our management and leadership team gain skills helping people put their best foot forward That’s what we’re striving for as a company.” Where is Mountain Culture going next? This announcement comes off the back of Mountain Culture’s impressive business performance – defying the category’s well-documented pressures with 33% year-on-year growth – while also helping set the scene for an exciting summer for the brand The brewery’s third venue is due to open in Redfern next week — it’s Mountain Culture’s first foray into the inner city Sydney market complementing its Katoomba and Emu Plains venues The venue will house Mountain Culture’s first-ever barrel program where a variety of exclusive beers will be aged in and blended from barrels “We’ve always wanted a city location,” says DJ McCready but we realised it’s hard to form deeper relationships with customers and wholesalers while being out in Emu Plains or Katoomba It’s a bit of an ask getting people to come out west.” And having the Aussie test captain helping with the influencer marketing will help too “Our whole thing is we want people help to discover what really good beer is,” says DJ We weren’t out there looking for a celebrity sportsperson But it opens up to a really wide pool of people who haven’t discovered good beer yet.” Jeremy Crawshaw is set to join the ranks of Australian punters in the NFL after being drafted by the Denver Broncos The 23-year-old from Emu Plains in Sydney's west was the first punter taken in the draft - going in the sixth round with pick No.216 - after being widely considered the best on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida Got ourselves a Gator. 🐊Welcome to #BroncosCountry, @jeremy_crawshaw! pic.twitter.com/9jvBZNYxO1 My journey to UF was a bit different to your usual recruiting story, thanks to #FloridaVictorious for allowing me to share it with you! @Fl_Victorious pic.twitter.com/ZhX6r8R6f6 Family and friends are warmly invited to join us to celebrate David's life at Macquarie Park Crematorium (Camellia Chapel) North Ryde Wednesday 16th October 2024 at 10.30am The NSW Government’s Bus Priority Infrastructure Program is improving the reliability and efficiency of bus services while easing congestion for all road users Changes to bus stops will enhance the customer experience by providing indented locations for passengers to safely board on and off bus services This will also ease congestion for road users Transport for NSW is proposing four bus stop upgrades in Emu Plains as part of the program The community is invited to provide feedback on the proposed improvements for bus stops at Billington Place Phone: 1800 684 490 See consultation methods We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture Margaret1947 - 2024 • Aged 77 years • Emu Plains  Margaret's family & friends are warmly invited to attend her funeral service to be held at Leura Memorial Gardens Please wear something colourful to remember Margaret an uncontested election has been declared by the NSW Electoral Commission which means the number of candidates who have nominated is equal to or less than the number to be elected Voters enrolled in East Ward Penrith are NOT required to vote in the Local Government election on 14 September 2024 Penrith’s East Ward includes the suburbs of Caddens If you are enrolled in North Ward and South Ward Penrith you MUST vote in the Local Government election and fines apply if you don’t cast your vote.  It’s important to check which ward you are enrolled in as North Ward and South Ward still need to vote.  Check your ward and voting status on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website: https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate a local government area can be divided up into areas called wards Each ward contains roughly equal numbers of voters and are represented by the same number of Councillors Penrith City is divided into 3 wards – North, South and East, each represented by 5 Councillors. Residents can check their ward and enrolment details at roll.elections.nsw.gov.au/NSWLookUp/ The East Ward includes the suburbs of Caddens The South Ward includes the suburbs of Badgerys Creek The North Ward includes the suburbs of Agnes Banks Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. but we don't want to lose you.\"}],[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"notfound-page__text-block\",\"children\":\"We recently updated the way we organise our articles 'div-gpt-ad-1511396693346-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1511394032333-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_bottom_leaderboard' 'div-gpt-ad-1511396722471-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Hompage_Leaderboard_Position_1' 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googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Article-page_Position01' has launched plans for a senior housing development upgrade at Emu Plains.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUniting is proposing a development at 1-11 Emerald Street and 6-8 Troy Street as part of its Edinglassie Village masterplan in the suburb The project is set to cost upwards of $91 million.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUniting Edinglassie was opened in the early 1970s and “has consistently enjoyed very high occupancy rates”.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite efforts to maintain the property and its features the style of the accommodation was not in keeping with contemporary market demand in terms of unit sizes features—for example balconies and carparking—and community services such as clubroom the development application said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUniting commissioned GroupGSA to the develop the plans which involve the construction of 146 units across five buildings with a communal clubhouse as well as carparking for 112.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe current independent living units and housing will be demolished to make way for the development which will sit parallel to the Great Western Highway.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA newly finished residential aged-care service which provides 100 beds catering to the needs of residents requiring a high level of care is already onsite.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUniting has facilities in Penrith Uniting said it expected the population of older people in the area to grow considerably between 2020 and 2030.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe number of people aged 70 and over will rise to 11.3 per cent of the local population whilst those 80 and above will make up 4.2 per cent of the catchment an increase of 50 per cent.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Uniting’s vision for Edinglassie is to provide accommodation to support the needs of the ongoing and growing ageing population in the Penrith area,” the developers said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Uniting Church has a number of other projects in the works Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook has launched plans for a senior housing development upgrade at Emu Plains Uniting is proposing a development at 1-11 Emerald Street and 6-8 Troy Street as part of its Edinglassie Village masterplan in the suburb The project is set to cost upwards of $91 million Uniting Edinglassie was opened in the early 1970s and “has consistently enjoyed very high occupancy rates” Despite efforts to maintain the property and its features Uniting commissioned GroupGSA to the develop the plans The current independent living units and housing will be demolished to make way for the development which will sit parallel to the Great Western Highway A newly finished residential aged-care service and the company said it intended to enhance this network of services While there are eight retirement living services in the area Uniting said it expected the population of older people in the area to grow considerably between 2020 and 2030 The number of people aged 70 and over will rise to 11.3 per cent of the local population “Uniting’s vision for Edinglassie is to provide accommodation to support the needs of the ongoing and growing ageing population in the Penrith area,” the developers said I’ve you’ve driven through Emu Plains recently you may have seen a new yellow sign pop up along the Great Western Highway Behind it is the home of Woodchix – a brand new foundation aiming to build confidence in women so they can truly do it all themselves started Woodchix after wrapping up her time as a Technical Applied Studies (TAS) teacher specialising in woodwork for over 20 years The foundation originally began as a way for her to use her skills as an educator in a new way instead passing on her expertise to women so they can learn anything ranging from hanging a picture hook to using hand tools and drills “I’ve got all this experience to pass on and to assist women in gaining their confidence and being able to look after themselves and feeling good that they can that they don’t necessarily have to call a male in,” she said Though she was hoping to garner some positive attention Enterkin admits she was shocked at how quickly the word spread in the community “When I started advertising in November last year on Facebook by Christmas I had 25,000 people having looked at it,” she said It was from here that her business grew again before she had even started expanding on the idea of teaching the teachers who are being forced to cover these classes due to shortages ‘Do you train teachers?’ because I had on the website that I’d taught for 20 years so I’m getting a lot of teachers enquiring,” she said Enterkin said she’s also building the next generation of tradies aiming to use her experience to get young women into apprenticeships Having only just started running workshops Enterkin said she’s been thrilled with the positive reviews and the partnerships she’s developed with a number of organisations already With these workshops ranging from specific projects to broader time slots Enterkin is encouraging beginners to try something new “You can come and do a Thursday afternoon or a Saturday afternoon and I’ll start you off on a Year 8 or Year 9 project and then we go into the harder joineries,” she said Enterkin said she’s still all about supporting women “I would like to eventually get a board up where all the women tradies’ business cards are so that people can find out who the female tradies are in the area,” she said “People just don’t like males in their house sometimes For more information, visit woodchix.au Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022 There will be changed traffic conditions on the M4 Motorway between Russell Street South Penrith for road maintenance work to repair damaged sections of the road The work will take place over six night shifts between Monday No work will occur on Friday or Saturday nights There will be temporary traffic impacts while we complete this work This includes closure of the Motorway eastbound between Russell Street Motorists travelling eastbound on the M4 Western Motorway will need to use the detour via Russell Street Motorists can also access Mulgoa Road using this detour Motorists wishing to continue travelling eastbound can re-enter the M4 Motorway at The Northern Road This detour is expected to increase travel time by around 10 minutes There will be a temporary speed limit reduction in place after each shift whilst the pavement is being replaced Motorists are advised to allow for additional travel time drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control This post has been published by the team in our newsroom.