Investigation work on Mulgoa Road between Gibbes Street Glenmore Parkway and the M4 ramps from 20 March 2025 Further details are available in our latest notification (PDF, 349.49 KB) The NSW Government is planning to widen and upgrade Mulgoa Road between Glenmore Parkway to Jeanette Street to support current and future traffic demands and expected growth in the area The upgraded Mulgoa Road/Castlereagh corridor will improve both road safety and travel times and reduce congestion by adding a lane in either direction Work is continuing to develop the corridor and future upgrades are being delivered in stages subject to available funding and priorities.  The stages of the corridor upgrade being progressed include:  View the Mulgoa stages map here (PDF, 220.22 KB) Replacement of the roundabout at Glenmore Parkway and Mulgoa Road with traffic lights Mulgoa Road design south of the intersection Two lanes approaching Mulgoa Road westbound Two slip lanes for left turn movements from Mulgoa Road southbound Mulgoa Road design north of the intersection Upgrade of the intersection at Spencer Street/Schoolhouse Road (no extra lanes) Construction is expected to start late 2025 and be completed by 2029 Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us between Glenmore Parkway to Jeanette Street and Blaikie Road to Union Road Landscape character and visual impact assessment Please contact the project team if you have any questions or would like more information: Email: construction.mulgoaroadupgrade@transport.nsw.gov.au 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 Two people will face court today after 13 firearms were recovered from a home in Glenmore Park officers from Proactive Crime Team at Mount Druitt Police Area Command commenced an investigation into an alleged firearms theft in the Lethbridge Park area A total of 22 firearms – all believed to be legally registered – and ammunition were stolen from the property between Wednesday police arrested a 45-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy about 7.50am yesterday at an address in Glenmore Park They were taken to Penrith Police Station where the man was charged with 22 offences He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today The 17-year-old boy was charged with three offences He was also refused bail to appear in a children’s court later today Inquiries are continuing into the whereabouts of the remaining firearms This post has been published by the team in our newsroom ‘The chanting you heard was not directed at you in any way,’ inspector tells Sydney man who complained about neighbour’s Christmas party in Glenmore Park A NSW police internal investigation has found that off-duty officers who allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar boom” and “Hezbollah” at a Christmas party after a verbal dispute with a Muslim man who lived next door were indulging in “banter between friends” The incident allegedly took place on 13 December at Glenmore Park in western Sydney after the man complained to his neighbours about water from their swimming pool leaking into his property In CCTV footage viewed by Guardian Australia people at the party can be heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” and “Allahu Akbar boom” a number of voices chant “Allahu Akbar” in unison The party guests who shouted the words cannot be seen in the footage It is understood at least nine men and women were at the party The Muslim man was unable to confirm whether the property owner was among those shouting He said he believed a number of the guests were police officers The man filed a complaint to NSW police on 15 January He then attended an interview at Nepean police station on 2 February Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email He told officers he “was asking … [the party guests] to take it easy as they were flooding my place instead they decided to racially insult us because we are Muslims” A police inspector who dealt with the complaint emailed his findings to the man on 28 February is that the chanting you heard was not directed at you in any way I can definitely understand how you came to this conclusion,” the inspector wrote “I can assure you that the behaviour that you heard and captured on your devices was not directed at you in any way Each of the Directed Officers indicated that the yelling and chanting that you heard was banter between friends at a private Christmas Party and definitely not aimed at you “Whilst I can understand that you concluded something significantly different to that I can assure you that the evidence that I have gathered does not support that conclusion and I would hope that this allays your concerns and fear of anything more sinister occurring on that date There is no threat to your safety and welfare that I can establish from this investigation.” Correspondence shows the man then asked for the matter to be escalated and a police “region office” on Tuesday agreed with the findings of the original investigating officer NSW police told Guardian Australia that the matter was now under review after the complainant made further representations They declined to comment further during the review process Free newsletterGet the most important news as it breaks The man told Guardian Australia the shouting made him and his family feel unsafe and that he now questioned whether he could trust the police “Were they saying I’m a suicide bomber or were they threatening me with a bomb?” he said they’d jump over the fence and arrest me,” the man said The neighbours have had a history of disputes Complaints about water flowing on to the Muslim man’s property led to a claim of private nuisance against the neighbouring property’s former owners with a supreme court judge last year finding in the man’s favour The man said the dispute remained unresolved after the current owners of the neighbouring property moved in Parishioners celebrated the installation of its first Somascan Parish Priest Rev Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS – at St Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park Fr Johnson was the first and only person from his diocese in India to join the Congregation of the Somascan Fathers he is a unique treasure for the Glenmore Park community While Fr Johnson had joined the parish four months earlier on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour his installation on 12 October 2024 cemented his presence and spiritual leadership in the Glenmore Park parish community Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS speaks during his installation Mass as Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv celebrated the Installation of Mass among a full crowd of faithful parishioners and presented the congregation with their new Parish Priest “I invite you to greet your new Parish Priest and to make him feel welcome and loved among you,” Bishop Long beckoned the faithful Bishop Vincent then invited Glenmore Park’s Parish Council to the front of the church to publicly pledge their unwavering support of Fr Johnson and to safeguard the parish as one of “faith a promising future with God as our guide,” Bishop Vincent said Bishop of Parramatta (right) installs Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS as Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish He also acknowldeged the Somascan congregation for continuing the legacy of Saint Jerome Emiliani in serving the poor and taking care of orphans and abandoned youth “It’s the first time we have had a ‘poster’ parish priest,” Bishop Vincent quipped making reference to a poster of Fr Johnson that had been displayed by the parishioners to mark his induction “It’s an indication of how beloved he is to the parish,” he added who this year celebrated his 20th anniversary of priestly ordination the parishioners for their love and support and “for embarrassing me by putting up my photo.” Fr Johnson said he would welcome everyone to the parish with love “for his brotherly love [and] brotherly care.”  assistant Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish being a successful Parish Priest is about carrying the parish in my heart as my family” — Fr Johnson Joseph  Parishioners shared their intense feelings of love and admiration for the newly installed parish priest following the Mass and approachable — I feel so close to Jesus when I’m near him,” said parishioner Rani Pilikkal having got to know him over the past few months Mel Gaudoin,commended Fr Johnson’s compassion and empathy towards others “He understands people and the pain they are going through,” Mel said He’s very easy to get along with,” agreed Parish Council Chair to which Fr Johnson replied with a hug: “Because you’re all very good people.”  A parishioner in prayer during the installation Mass of Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS as Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish The thought of a journey to priesthood for Fr Johnson began when he was at school but he didn’t begin his formal training until he was 23 he became a member of the Congregation of the Somascan Fathers recognised as Clerics Regular of Somasca (CRS): a religious order dedicated to the care “Definitely the calling was from God,” he said on joining the Somascan order “I would say that the spirit of the charism of St Jerome Emiliani Before being appointed to St Padre Pio Parish he worked for 12 years in the Archdiocese of Perth He was called back to India in 2016 to work in the field of formation returning both to Australia and to parish ministry after eight years in India He also wants to run formation meetings for families and to have more social gatherings and fund-raisers Fr Jose Manjaly MS Parish Priest of St Nicholas of Myra Parish Bishop of Parramatta and Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS with the acolytes and altar servers “All these plans are in my mind only because I know that I have great support,” Fr Johnson said His impact is already being felt by the parish’s local youth described Fr Johnson as “an amazing priest” and “a good shepherd to the parish.”   describing him as “the best priest ever.”  “He’s definitely a saint and he’s bringing us to sainthood,” said Rose who attributed his popularity to a noticeable growth in attendance at the weekly services Learn more about the Congregation of Somascan Fathers and lay Somascan Movement in Australia Visit St Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park for Mass details View images from Fr Johnson’s installation here or below Credit: AAPA 17-year-old boy has been charged with firearm offences after police swooped on a property and discovered a raft of stolen weapons in Sydney’s western suburbs Two people will face court on Thursday after 13 firearms were recovered from the home in Glenmore Park officers from the proactive crime team at Mount Druitt Police Area Command commenced an investigation into an alleged firearms theft in the Lethbridge Park area Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A total of 22 firearms – all believed to be legally registered – and ammunition were stolen from the property between Wednesday August 14 and Friday August 23 police arrested a 45-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy about 7.50am on Wednesday The pair were taken to Penrith police station where the man was charged with 22 offences including: He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Thursday The 17-year-old boy was charged with three offences including: Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Glenmore Park residents have a new location to recycle their eligible bottles and cans with a brand new Return and Earn machine now open at HomeCo The new machine is the 19th return point in the Penrith local government area making it even easier for the community to redeem their eligible bottles and cans to receive the 10 cent refund “Penrith residents are enthusiastic recyclers having returned over 422 million eligible bottles cans and cartons through local return points since the scheme began.” said James Dorney Local recyclers can print a voucher for the refund amount or they can opt for an e-voucher or payment directly into their bank or PayPal account using the Return and Earn app.    Locals can also choose to donate their refund to one of over 300 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app or the current state-wide donation appeal for Little Wings The charity provides free air and ground transport for seriously ill children from regional and remote areas across NSW to access life-saving medical treatments Return and Earn has become a key fundraising channel for many charities and community groups in NSW More than $62 million has been raised from donations and fees from hosting return points since the scheme launched in 2017.  Return and Earn recently celebrated the milestone of 12 billion drink containers returned for recycling across its network of more than 630 return points in NSW resulting in more than $1.2 billion in refunds to the community “I encourage everyone to make Return and Earn a part of your regular recycling routine Together we can all contribute to a more sustainable future cans and cartons are made of are kept in use and out of landfill.  “Not only does it help the environment but it gives people a great chance to get a bit of extra cash in their pockets.” said Mr Glenmore Park Return and Earn machine is located in the car park at 1 Town Terrace Glenmore Park and will be open daily from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm For more information on Return and Earn visit: www.returnandearn.org.au    Denne Dempsey 0474 313 310 E: [email protected] Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet Pay per release or save with a subscription For 18-year-old Hannah Rowe commencing university marks a new chapter in her life.  The Glenmore Park resident accepted her offer to study a Bachelor of Social Work through Western Sydney University’s HSC True Reward Early Offer Program HSC True Reward focuses on the unlimited potential of HSC students acknowledging that they are much more than their scaled ATAR The program recognises a student’s subject performance which best reflects their strengths and areas of interest as a robust indicator of future success at university Western Sydney University takes careful steps to emphasise the importance of the HSC by making offers based on Year 11 or Year 12 results from September on the condition that students successfully complete their HSC Hannah is excited about starting university at the Parramatta South campus and is eager to begin her new adventure “I can’t wait to begin my university journey and am looking at it as a fresh start after high school.  I hope it will help me grow my independence and work towards my future,” said Hannah Hannah is the first in her family to go to university for an undergraduate degree and is supported by her family.  Her initial interest in studying social work was sparked after speaking with a friends mum who is also a social worker “After a number of conversations with her I set about researching the degree and future career outcomes.  Once I had done all the research becoming an empathetic and caring support worker.” Western Sydney University was Hannah’s first preference after she attended Open Day and fell in love with the experience of being on campus.  Hannah also chose to study at Western Sydney University as it offers an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited degree I could see myself completing my degree here along with attending social events on campus and making new friends.  The AASW accreditation will also help me to become an accredited social worker at the end of my time at university,” she said Western offers many support groups and events on campus during semester which is a great place for students to connect with people of similar interests.  You can find out more about the hidden gems and study spots on campus here Kathryn Bannon, Media officer. Western Sydney University is helping students start the semester strong with its food security initiatives including the re-opening of the Western Pantry at the Kingswood campus every Wednesday 21-year-old Western Sydney University student Tony Habib started playing rugby league as a child and had dreams of being a professional when he was older Western Sydney University sports captain for 2024 credits team sports and student sport clubs as the key to meeting likeminded people and settling into university life at Western Western Sydney University’s annual Welcome Week starts today with new and returning students arriving back on campus ready to kick off the new year at university We are more than a university; we are a unique community Western Sydney University reflects the values of our great region through our diversity Western Sydney University is excited to welcome thousands of students to its campuses as part of Welcome Week 2025 For 18-year-old Hannah Rowe commencing university marks a new chapter in her life The Glenmore Park resident accepted her offer to study a Bachelor of Social Work through Western Sydney University’s HSC True Reward Early Offer Program At a time when cost of living is hitting many people hard Western Sydney University is helping deliver fresh healthy produce to those who need it the most – including its own students Whether you’re new to campus or returning to study we’ve rounded up some hidden gems and study spaces on campus Launch your career at UWS 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 Despite a general downturn in property prices across Sydney a fresh report from Shore Financial pointed to several suburbs where prices are expected to climb in the coming months The latest State of Sydney Report assessed more than 600 suburbs categorising them into quintiles from Heartland to Affluent Sydney based on median asking prices The study methodically filtered and ranked suburbs by eliminating those not meeting key performance indicators such as asking prices It then forecast potential growth in asking prices for the next six months Notable suburbs predicted to see more than 5% growth include Glenmore Park said that while Sydney’s housing market saw a modest overall growth of 5.2% in the past year some areas notably outperformed this average “Stronger growth locations in 2025 can be found across the city – while they’re occurring across a range of price-points which is low days on market and limited supplies of inventory which means buyers in those markets are feeling a sense of urgency,” Chambers said demand is likely to be quite soft in most parts of Sydney Chambers said that while the current rate cuts offer a modest boost their significant impact on market dynamics is still to come Further reductions could markedly improve buyer affordability especially in areas sensitive to mortgage changes Chambers emphasised the importance of understanding local market conditions which can significantly influence buying and negotiating strategies the highlighted suburbs are poised to outperform due to strong demand and competitive buyer environments Chambers said that these areas are likely to continue their upward trajectory irrespective of broader economic challenges While Sydney’s 2025 median house price growth is forecast at around 3 per cent these 10 suburbs are set to give investors a capital gain of over 5 per cent in the next six months A new Shore Financial State of Sydney Report has found the next 10 locations that are “bucking the norm” and set to experience strong growth by mid-2025 the Shore Financial report analyses the city’s 600-plus suburbs dividing them into five quintiles based on their current median asking price for houses and selecting the top five suburbs in each division 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 said the housing market in Greater Sydney has remained stable over the past year with the median house price rising 5.2 per cent in 2024 certain suburbs have experienced more pronounced price increases highlighting pockets of strong demand across the city,” he said The report showed that the five leading suburbs for this quarter are Glenmore Park Chambers said that house prices in the top five locations are forecast to grow over 5 per cent in the six months to August “Stronger growth locations in 2025 can be found across the city – while they’re occurring across a range of pricepoints which means buyers in those markets are feeling a sense of urgency it’s important you understand whether conditions in your target suburb are favouring buyers or sellers because that will influence your pricing and negotiating strategy.” the February Reserve Bank of Australia rate cut will change Sydney’s market dynamics improving serviceability and affordability “It will give an immediate lift to confidence and sentiment which play an equally important role in influencing property prices that will make a meaningful difference to serviceability because buyers’ borrowing capacities will improve significantly in line with the substantial fall in repayments.” He said serviceability and borrowing capacity will have a direct impact on Sydney’s house prices especially in suburbs where affordability pressures have impacted demand “If rates fall faster and further than currently expected the resulting boost in buyer activity could drive stronger price growth across Sydney in the next six months than current data suggests,” he said While Chambers cannot predict whether there will be further rate cuts he said the top 10 suburbs are already experiencing buyers’ competition and sustained demand Here are the top 10 performing suburbs in Sydney (from Quintile 1 to 5): Median price growth over past 12 months: 9 per cent Forecast growth over next six months: Over 5 per cent Median price growth over past 12 months: 12 per cent Median price growth over past 12 months: 12 per cent Median price growth over past 12 months: 10 per cent Median price growth over past 12 months: 8 per cent Median price growth over past 12 months: 6 per cent Median price growth over past 12 months: 4 per cent Forecast growth over next six months: 3–4 per cent Copyright © 2007-2025 Smart Property Investment Home owners are desperate for solutions after more new houses in Sydney's western suburbs were discovered to be sinking with the blame laid on 'Wild West' property developers New home builds in areas such as Glenmore Park and Box Hill in Sydney's western suburbs are showing cracks in exterior and interior walls and floors due to foundation issues, 7 News reported The problem has become so extensive, the NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has instigated a new investigation into the cause Mr Chandler is using satellite images to see what the farmland on the sites was like before the builders started estate construction 'You can go back and actually look at the subdivision while it was still a paddock and you can see the dips where there were dams and where the ground had settled under the slab,' he said 'There are some 'Wild West' players out there who perhaps thought they could get away with things in the past that they won’t be getting away with in the future.' The commissioner said that if a homeowner is regularly required to repair cracks and floor shifts NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government is reassessing where future housing constructions can be done because of the subsidence issues on land that is prone to flood 'We’ve made decisions that have been unpopular particularly over the last six months about residential construction,' he said Unfortunately, it's not a new issue in Sydney's west with Daily Mail Australia  reporting on almost identical issues at the Jordan Springs estate back in 2020 the local council slapped notices on 841 homes It was soon discovered the estate was allegedly built on insufficiently compacted landfill - causing it to sink by up to a foot in some areas In late January 2024, 18 homes in the suburb were being prepared to be demolished after the dwellings were deemed too badly damaged to be fixed. Lendlease, the $4billion company that developed the estate, was forced to start a compensation scheme in 2020 and bought back 50 homes from people to either fix and put back on the market or knock down because they were 'unlivable'. Mr Minns is currently urging anyone who is experiencing subsidence issues to contact the building commissioner.  Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... 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Families seek answers to why walls and floors are crackingCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Greater Western Sydney is expecting an explosion of new residents With one in 11 Australians calling Greater Western Sydney home the region has long been one of the country’s busiest economic hubs As Sydney’s population continues to grow steeply over the next two decades two-thirds of new residents are forecast to set up home in Greater Western Sydney the region’s growth trajectory is spelling the start of a “renaissance for the west” – one with abundant opportunities for both residents and investors alike Greater Western Sydney has been the place to join a community raise a family and build a business,” said Julie Rynski executive for business banking metro and specialised at NAB Since the launch of the “three cities” concept in 2017 she noted that “all eyes have been looking west […] and the west hasn’t disappointed” Region-leading suburbs like Auburn and Blacktown are recording substantial 16 per cent year-on-year house price gains and the momentum shows no signs of slowing Rynski explained: “Much of what’s to come will centre around the new Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek which will mark a culmination in this latest phase of growth for Greater Western Sydney and its transition into the next.” For those who fear Western Sydney’s boom has reached its peak data indicates the region still has many years of growth in its tank “As the long-awaited ‘aerotropolis’ nears completion the surrounding region is preparing for a new gold rush,” NAB explained This “game-changing piece of infrastructure” is set to create 35,000 jobs and bring in 10 million visitors per year population forecasts are predicting an “explosion” of newcomers to settle down in Greater Western Sydney over the next 10 years bringing the region’s total population to 3.2 million – a 25 per cent increase a forest of cranes is expected to dominate the skyline for years to come,” reported NAB The bank also pointed to the increasing diversification of the area’s economy with government departments and corporations setting up home in the Parramatta CBD and creating more demand for office assets prime greenfield sites in the vicinity of the Western Sydney Airport are currently transacting at around $1.2 million per acre there are plenty of exciting new developments on the horizon,” the bank concluded A catastrophic mid-air helicopter crash was preventable if a litany of technical and safety issues had been rectified before four people were killed and nine injured Two Sea World helicopters collided above the Gold Coast Broadwater in January 2023 during the peak of the busy summer holiday season The Australian Transport Safety Bureau handed down its final report into the crash on Wednesday The report found an inbound taxiing call from one of the helicopters failed to register to the second chopper boarding people on the helipad The first helicopter waited for a taxi call from the second helicopter to separate to avoid a mid-air collision but it never came The report said the departing pilot made the taxi call but it was not broadcast due to a fault in the antenna that had existed for days That allowed it to receive calls but not deliver them The report found limitations in visibility from both helicopters and competing priorities when looking at boats and other aircraft led to the mid-air crash The report also found Sea World Helicopter’s system of radio calls intended to warn of the presence of another helicopter The ATSB also found evidence that passengers on both of the helicopters were incorrectly restrained but couldn’t determine the level of contribution to their injuries Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said a number of the passengers were ejected from their seatbelts during the crash and if seatbelts had been properly fitted it may have led to more “survivability” The issues at Sea World Helicopters began nine months before the crash when the helipads were swapped which increased the risk of collision between the choppers New helicopters were introduced a week before the crash and were not fitted with company radio communications and no real-time maps of other helicopters Mitchell said these changes and others to the company’s operations undermined the existing risk controls to prevent an aircraft crash The lack of technology to identify other helicopters and the radio failures led to pilots relying entirely on a see-and-avoid strategy but with poor visibility it led to the crash “Commercial aviation must have multiple safety defences in place,” Mitchell told reporters “It should never be vulnerable to single-point failures such as a faulty radio or pilot’s ability to visually detect another aircraft in the sky.” Mitchell said the crash was entirely preventable resulting in the worst possible outcome which was the loss of life “All of those failings led to a catastrophic outcome,” he said “In terms of how bad they were in themselves “You need to put all of them together for this outcome to have occurred and the outcome couldn’t have been worse.” Mitchell noted that Sea World helicopters has rectified a number of the issues identified in the report but there was still work to be done to improve processes underwent serious surgeries following the crash while Victorian mum Winnie de Silva and her nine-year-old son Leon were hospitalised but he and two of his passengers were injured by flying glass when its windshield shattered Shine Lawyers are representing several people involved in the crash and those traumatised with claims made against Sea World Helicopters of up to $925,000 This report will inform any further action litigation specialist Roger Singh said on Tuesday “This was such a profoundly unnecessary loss of life which must be prosecuted fully to ensure it never happens again,” he said A Glenmore Park post office will be updating its policy around parcel pick-up after backlash from its customers located at the new Glenmore Village shopping centre will now allow its customers to pick up their items using their Digital Driver Licence after many were turned away due to a policy implemented by the licensee at Glenmore Park Local residents have been expressing their concerns online as well as to the Weekender after the post office refused to hand over certain parcels to customers unless they produced a physical / hard copy of their driver licence When the Weekender contacted Australia Post this week they were unaware that the licensee of the Glenmore Park outlet had implemented their own pick-up rule which went against company policy it clearly states that customers can produce a Digital Driver Licence as photo ID when collecting an item from the post office they can show two valid forms of ID without their photo as long as one of them contains their address and their details match the name or address on the article a frustrated Glenmore Park resident named Peter (surname withheld) contacted the Weekender after the post office refused to hand over his item – a new iPhone 16 – because he produced a Digital Driver Licence and not a hard copy of his licence When the customer said he didn’t have access to his physical licence the post office essentially held his item ‘hostage’ and didn’t offer any other alternative for him to collect it The customer was then forced to order a new physical licence from Service NSW but was told it could take up to three weeks to arrive at his address The Glenmore Park post office holds items for 10 business days before ‘returning to sender’ meaning the customer would miss out on collecting his new phone Australia Post apologised to the customer and said they were working with the Glenmore Park outlet to rectify the matter “Australia Post apologises unreservedly to the customer and is working with the Licensee at Glenmore Park to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” the spokesperson said “New South Wales customers needing to pick up a parcel from their local Post Office are able to show their Digital Driver Licence as a valid form of ID Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column who has worked at the Weekender for a decade Two Glenmore Park dancers have made their debut on the world stage placing in the top 10 on this year’s season of ‘America’s Got Talent’ with Sydney dance school Brent Street they both transitioned to Brent Street’s Academy in high school and are now both undertaking full time studies Though they’ve participated in many performance and competitive opportunities with Brent Street previously the girls said they knew something big was coming when they received a suspicious email from the studio “We received an email first that was quite mysterious and said Brent Street was having a new audition and we just thought it was an elite dance group and everyone was very confused,” White said The audition was attended by over 300 dancers from Brent Street’s ranks it was revealed that they would be competing in ‘America’s Got Talent’ and so weird to go over there with 30 of your friends After finding out they had been accepted in early January they would first fly over to compete in the auditions in March The first routine they performed was originally done by Brent Street students the year prior and was the reason the studio was approached to compete in the first place it earned them Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer sending them straight through to the live finals it didn’t feel like real life,” White said the group had less and less time to put each routine together only being able to spend two days on their Grand Final routine both girls agreed that their favourite routine was performed in the Quarter Finals to ‘you should see me in a crown’ by Billie Eilish especially the last dance break,” Edwards said and you could hear everyone breathing all at the same time.” Though the group didn’t end up winning the competition the two agreed that they took plenty away from the experience reminding everyone that you can do anything you put your mind to “We would go to the summer camps at Brent Street growing up and say Though the girls have some training still to do with both sharing big dreams of travelling the world pursuing careers in the dance industry 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 IPART has released Final Reports on the infrastructure contributions that Penrith City Council can levy in the Orchard Hills North and Glenmore Park Stage 3 Precincts Tribunal Chair Carmel Donnelly said developer contributions fund services and amenities for the developing area “Our analysis for both Orchard Hills North and Glenmore Park Stage 3 has found that most of the infrastructure costs in the plan are essential and reasonable and that community liaison has occurred,” she said “We recommend that the council makes minor adjustments to the work schedules updates plan administration costs and increases contingency allowances in line with our benchmarks to reflect the early stages of the plans and to enable the council to better manage risks the delivery of infrastructure.” The Orchard Hills North Contributions Plan covers a net developable area of 101 hectares and will provide infrastructure to service 1,675 new dwellings for a population of over 5,000 residents Penrith City Council proposed to levy around $218 million in contributions to provide the infrastructure needed in Orchard Hills North we consider a reasonable total cost for the implementation of the Orchard Hills North Contributions Plan to be around $231 million,” Donnelly said the council proposed contribution rates that range from $64,853 to $129,702 for residential development IPART has recommended a contribution rate ranging from $68,473 to $136,946 for a typical three bedroom dwelling The Glenmore Park Stage 3 Contributions Plan covers around 206 hectares and is expected to provide infrastructure to more than 2,300 new dwellings for a population of around 6,900 residents Penrith City Council proposed to levy around $225 million to provide the infrastructure needed to service Glenmore Park Stage 3 “We consider the total reasonable cost for the implementation of the Glenmore Park Stage 3 Contributions Plan to be $230 million,” Donnelly said the council proposed contribution rates that range from $48,861 to $104,238 for residential development IPART has recommended the contribution rate range from $49,549 to $105,705 for a typical dwelling 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 Glenmore Park Youth & Community Centre 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 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 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 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 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 Glenmore Park father Simon Tadros and his son Nicholas have been to hell and back since the January 2023 Sea World Helicopters tragedy that claimed the life of their wife and mother nearly two years on from the horrific mid-air helicopter collision that resulted in Nicholas losing the lower part of his right leg and requiring multiple subsequent surgeries a fresh challenge awaits the pair right before Christmas Tadros was notified by his real estate agent that the landlord of the Glenmore Park property he’s been renting for the past 13 years would be putting it on the open market The news came as a massive shock to the single father “I spoke with the landlord earlier this year and he told me he was going to sell but not for another couple of years and he would give me first choice at buying the house because of the memories we have there,” Tadros told the Weekender but it’s put me in a very bad predicament.” Making the situation harder for Tadros is that he’s currently unemployed because he cares for his son full-time and he’s yet to receive any financial compensation from Sea World Helicopters nearly two years after the Gold Coast tragedy Tadros’ ultimate dream is to buy the property himself so he and Nicholas can remain living in Glenmore Park – a place they feel comfortable and safe – on a permanent basis We’re not ready to let it go,” Tadros said “When I told Nicholas the landlord was selling the house he burst into tears for almost three hours “Nicholas’ life is in Glenmore Park – his schooling If I have to tell him we have to leave… he’s gone through enough.” While Tadros does have around $500,000 sitting untouched in a GoFundMe account that he planned to keep for Nicholas’ future he would consider using that money to help purchase the home however he won’t have nearly enough funds to purchase it in its entirety until he is compensated by Sea World Helicopters Tadros hopes that this story will catch the eye of a financial backer that can assist him in the meantime “I just want someone to help me buy that house in some way knowing that there is money coming [via Sea World Helicopters] that’s why I’m asking for help,” Tadros said “It’s no secret that there is money coming in I just wish this was happening eight months to a year down the track.” will do everything in its power to make sure the pair have a roof over their head – either via a new rental or encouraging an investor to buy the property – if he is unable to purchase the home himself “They are a great real estate and I’ve been with them all of this time,” Tadros said “We have a very good relationship and they’ve been very supportive along the way but they can’t perform miracles and I can’t leave it to them to decide our future.” Tadros’ main priority is looking after the happiness and welfare of his son Nicholas now and into the future “Nicholas will be attending high school next year and purchasing the house will put stability into his life,” Tadros said “I’ve said from day one that if anything ever happens to me I need to make sure that my son has a roof over his head.” the law firm working on behalf of Sea World Helicopters provided the Weekender with an update in relation to the Tadros’ financial compensation “Sea World Helicopters and their solicitors are working proactively with the Tadros’ family solicitor to resolve compensation as quickly as possible and await their solicitor’s progress of this matter,” a Carter Newell spokesperson said Just over two years after construction began Glenmore Village has officially opened to the public was developed and constructed by Beaini Projects with Director Mickey Beaini reflecting on the journey fondly Glenmore Village is anchored by Woolworths Metro and a pilates studio to cater to the area’s health and fitness enthusiasts “The centre has a mix of a whole lot of different services and specialty retailers,” Beaini said and we’ve just got the right mix of everybody and the right number too.” Glenmore Village is also a mixed-use development with over 100 residential apartments above the ground-floor centre Residents are set to begin moving in over the coming week Badgerys Creek MP Tanya Davies recalled her attendance at the centre’s groundbreaking ceremony back in 2022 “As the local MP representing this community I can tell you that we are immensely proud and grateful for you [Mickey] and your family for taking this risk – because it’s not easy being in business these days particularly construction – and putting your mark on Glenmore Park leaving us with these magnificent amenities to enjoy for decades to come,” she said Penrith Mayor Todd Carney also spoke at the event noting that with the centre being just a one minute and 23 second drive from his own home he’s certain he’ll be making good use of it himself “This is showing how medium density can be done well around a hub that brings people together around shopping That’s what we want to see in the Penrith region,” he said “I do look forward to coming down here in the mornings Glenmore Village’s Grand Opening will be held at the centre next Sunday complete with rides and activities for the whole family to enjoy Mr Latty, who is currently the principal of PRD Penrith and PRD Blue Mountains and has quickly expanded the business’s reach with his wife Angelina Latty and her cousin Angela Murphy both successful agents in their own right are also heavily involved in the sales side of the business while his cousin Darren is acting as the general manager and his wife Heidi is in sales PRD Glenmore Park is the third office the Latty family has opened as part of their growing empire and then I started working with him in 87” so it’s still very much a family business.” Mr Latty said having parents who worked in real estate shaped how he operates his offices “Any child of a real estate agent sees their parents on the phones and all the relationships they build,” he said “I love being around people and finding solutions to their needs so it’s always been a big driver for me.” Mr Latty’s Penrith office was recently recognised with the highly regarded ‘Office Growth’ award, as well as ranking in the prestigious Top 10 Sales Offices at the PRD Annual Awards for 2023 Mr Latty was also inducted into the celebrated PRD Douglas Hall of Fame in 2019 Mr Latty said the new Glenmore Park office came to fruition because of the rapid growth that’s been occurring in the area “There’s a new shopping centre being built called Glenmore Village,” he said “So we’ve been marketing the apartments on behalf of the developer off the plan and we just saw an opportunity out there with that area undergoing so much change “Obviously it’s one of the closest current residential developments to the new airport and a lot of the surrounding acreage is undergoing changes and discussions around rezoning.  “A lot of the work we do is with landowners and developers so positioning ourselves there to  offer advice and understand what the changes mean was probably the main driver.” Having grown up in the area and spent all his life in Penrith Mr Latty said being entrenched in the community was a key factor that set his offices apart seeing all the changes that the city’s undergoing,” he said “Just having an understanding of what the Penrith community looks for.  “We’ve been going through very much a generational change at the moment with all the infrastructure it’s just being aware of how those changes impact individuals and understanding what it might look like in the future.” Mr Latty said the expansion to Glenmore Park was also about progression for the team “We are always looking for ways to be innovative and proactive,” he said “Too often real estate doesn’t learn to pivot to changing economies or simple client needs.  “We are challenging our team to find ways to do things better.  News Sitemap As part of efforts to enhance connectivity to Western Sydney’s new airport major works are set to begin on widening Mamre Road The project is a key focus of the New South Wales’ Government’s plans to connect the fast-growing jobs precincts of Western Sydney with the new airport Mamre Road is an expanding commercial and logistics corridor linking the M4 Motorway with the new international airport at Badgerys Creek The 2024-25 NSW Budget poured $1 billion into road upgrades to open this part of Western Sydney to the world when the airport opens in 2026 is expected to swell from a population of over two million to more than three million over the next two decades and the New South Wales Government is working to provide the roads to accommodate the expansion which will begin within weeks with clearing and establishment of a site compound will double the lane capacity of Mamre Road – parts of which remain a single lane in each direction unable to meet the freight and traffic pressure the road is under will be built to allow a further upgrade to six lanes when needed in future The first stage of work on Mamre Road will upgrade a 3.8km stretch between Erskine Park Road and the M4 motorway at an estimated cost of $290 million A wider Mamre Road will reduce congestion experienced by residents and create a new Construction company Seymour White will deliver the work including the construction of two bridge-sized culverts to improve drainage upgraded intersections to improve safety and travel times and a new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians The New South Wales Government provided $500 million in the 2024 Budget to progress Stage 2 between Erskine Park Road and Kerrs Road at Kemps Creek That investment takes total Federal-State funding of Mamre Road to $1 billion work is continuing to transform Mulgoa Road to a four-lane dual carriageway between Glenmore Park and Jeanette Street improving road capacity to cater for population and employment growth Planning is well underway to upgrade Elizabeth Drive which will take travellers directly to the new airport and connect Mamre and Northen Roads New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the area is the engine room for jobs growth and the upgrade of Mamre Road is another boost for Western Sydney’s residents and businesses “Our recent budget invested a record $5 billion in Western Sydney roads,” Premier Minns said “This is all part of the Government’s plan to build infrastructure for growing communities.” New South Wales Minister for Western Sydney “It is good to see upgrade works on Mamre Rd will soon begin and I know the community looks forward to improved traffic flow on this busy road “We are making the investments needed to open up access to the new airport which is a key part of Western Sydney’s economic future.” New South Wales Minister for Roads John Graham said “The work beginning on Mamre Road is providing construction jobs today but it is also an investment in jobs of the future as we bring the road infrastructure up to a standard required by the commercial developments going in here “This upgrade will see a doubling in lane capacity – turning what is a single-lane undivided road into a dual-lane carriageway used by about 20,000 motorists each weekday “The New South Wales Government is working hard to make the Sydney motorway system better utilised by truck freight which makes Mamre Road even more important as a critical connector between the M4 Motorway and the future airport “While we welcome construction on the first stage today we also continue the important preparation for the $1 billion Stage 2 upgrade to Mamre Road.” New Medium Density Design Guidelines released by the Tasmanian Government are set to reshape urban development across the state Airstrips in three remote NSW communities will receive a major infrastructure boost with the state government committing $15 million to.. Australia’s biggest airports are maintaining a high quality of service The latest Australian Competition and Consumer.. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media I would like to share the story of my miracle with you It was 30 November 2022 and thanks be to God My wife called for an ambulance while my son attempted to give me CPR It took about two to three minutes for me to start breathing again and in the meantime the paramedics were there and administered the Defibrillator I was taken to the ambulance but my heart stopped again my heart had stopped five times whilst at home in the Ambulance and in the hospital in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) my wife was informed to expect the worst and the next 24-48 hours would determine the outcome of my survival the doctors and medical staff had very little hope of me surviving as my heart had once again stopped on the second day and my organs began shutting down The medical staff were resigned to the fact that success in the medical intervention to keep me alive was fading significantly the life support was going to be turned off I was placed on a dialysis machine with no response from intravenous medicine administered to me my wife informed the Parish Priest at St Padre Pio Parish He informed my wife to ensure the life support system in place should not be turned off The six days in ICU was a period of waiting and it was excruciatingly hard for my wife and kids I was told of the challenges faced and all that was done to save my life: the Parish Priest had come over to the hospital to visit me in the afternoon that it happened and blessed me with the first-class relic of St Padre Pio The priest informed me that whilst I was on life support he had asked me to get up in my unconscious state and he states that I had opened my eyes and shut them back again My recovery looked dim as my organs began shutting down and I was not responding to the medicine given to me for any recovery There were numerous discussions amongst the medical staff about shutting down the life support system and this was discussed with my wife as my condition was not improving the cardiologist was greatly troubled that he had to make a decision to turn off the life support system that had kept me alive he informed the hospital medical staff he would be making a final decision on the following day whilst I was still in an unconscious state I had a vivid dream of St Padre Pio’s presence in a mountainous area and looking up at him he gestured with both his hands for me to go back With the excitement of St Padre Pio’s presence in my dreams I suddenly got up and not knowing where I was I attempted to signal to the nurses I wanted help and to their surprise they were shocked and stunned that I had woken up Suddenly the doctors and the nurses all gathered around me in absolute shock I requested the tubes to be taken out and asked for my wife son and daughter as I did not know what was happening St Padre Pio’s intercession and devotion came to my rescue and survival Waking up after six days in an unconscious state and all hopes fading the blessings of St Padre Pio’s relic by the parish priest the prayers of the church community and neighbouring church communities all my family members and friends’ prayers contributed towards my miraculous recovery and coming back to life once again The specialists and hospital doctors were perplexed as they had no explanation as to how I woke up I was informed it must be divine intervention and that I had to spend the next four weeks in hospital the doctors and nurses stated that this was a miracle I still had to get checked out by the cardiologist but I knew in my heart that this miracle truly came from God through St Padre Pio I want to let everyone know that through St Padre Pio’s intercession there have been other numerous miracles that have taken place in the parish at Glenmore Park Other miracles that I recall are a lady who has bone cancer and she was given months to live; it’s been over four years now and she is alive and well This lady is a parishioner and a devotee of St Padre Pio There is a non-Christian who visits our St Padre Pio feast day yearly and has tremendous faith in St Padre Pio he recently had a very successful kidney transplant and is most thankful for St Padre Pio’s intercession There were three families who visited our church and they were childless for a number of years After attending the Padre Pio feast day a few years ago they all fell pregnant and in fact named some of their children Pio and Pia There were other families who were faced with stomach cancers and other illnesses with limited time for survival and they had extended periods of life St Padre Pio has and is touching many more lives than anyone can imagine All are invited to join in the Feast Day celebrations St Padre Pio on Sunday 22 September at 10am at St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park. This will be preceded by a Triduum of novenas and Masses. For more information, please visit the parish’s new Facebook page Farley Bartholomeusz is a parishioner of St Padre Pio Parish 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 This is probably not the page you’re looking for are dangerous at high speeds and even going slowly can be stomach churning the “trendsetting” Glenmore Park subdivision won the prestigious Local Government Innovation Award the design of Glenmore Park and its main estate road – Glenmore Parkway – is reflective of an era that was moving away from conventional urban design “Glenmore Park will be the first of its kind in Australia and will establish a totally new image for roads and estate development,” a Douglas & Sanger report tabled to Penrith Council in November 1990 states which bends and weaves sharply for about 5.5 kilometres was designed with “tightening of corners” and single lanes to achieve lower speeds and avoid it becoming a shortcut between Mulgoa Road and The Northern Road the bold design has not been replicated in new estates and has spawned some costly pitfalls Glenmore Park resident and owner of Bondys Auto Centre Matt Bond said he routinely finds Glenmore Park motorists with more tyre wear than his average customer “They need to maintain their tyre pressure not necessarily pump them up more but to actually maintain the tyre pressure at its proper level all the time,” he said “If you are maintaining the pressure then you’re maintaining an even tyre wear you’re allowing the tyre to roll and go from there.” He said speed was also a contributing factor “The other issue with Glenmore Park is it has a 50km/hr limit and not many people do that,” he said “If people slowed down to the right speed and maintained their tyre pressure they wouldn’t have the bad tyre wear they do.” adults and pregnant women” had experienced “severe bouts of sickness” after using the eastern end of Glenmore Parkway This was at odds with planners’ original vision to provide an “attractive route” that offered motorists “a pleasant experience rather than a high-speed dash” The road has seen 104 casualty crashes between 1996 to 2018 but no fatalities Alena Higgins is the Weekender's Senior News Reporter primarily covering courts and Council issues Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school Skills NSW helps post high school students find courses in vocational training across a wide variety of industries and course providers The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support A multi-pronged approach and free food is helping a western Sydney school focus students on the importance of being at school Glenmore Park High School staff have been working hard to boost attendance It’s not been an easy task – with a layered approach proving successful student attendance at Glenmore Park High School Now the average attendance rate is 85.3 per cent with the number of students attending school 90 per cent of the time increasing by 30 per cent and the school aims to continue the upwards trend Relieving Principal Heidi Caws is incredibly proud of the results and is looking forward to further improvements “I think why we’re seeing so much success in this area is because we’ve aimed to tackle attendance from all angles,” she said Canteen vouchers and ice-cream van visits have proven popular rewards for students working to improve and maintain strong attendance but it’s the whole-of-school approach that has shown the most success Noticing a trend of decreased attendance on Fridays the school introduced a Friday morning breakfast club “We really try to listen to students to hear what works for them Breakfast club is a highlight of the week for many students so of course they want to make sure they’re here at school,” Ms Caws said “Our success in this area is a result of all of these strategies working together to provide holistic support to students and ensuring school is a place they want to come to.” Ms Caws said there was no question about the significant role attendance played in the lives of students stronger social skills and generally better wellbeing We want what’s best for every student and that starts with regular school attendance,” she said from the administration team in the school office to classroom teachers had played a key role in the attendance boost “We’ve got lots of eyes on the kids here,” she said “We have a designated attendance team working with students to boost their attendance and have taken a very individualised approach “Our students set their own attendance goals with consistent follow-up support so they have the best chance of achieving them.” She said the work would not succeed without the support of the school's administrative staff “Our office staff are so critical – they send out positive letters to families to share attendance wins and reach out to parents and carers when we need to flag any attendance concerns We wouldn’t be able to make these strides without them,” Ms Caws said The Department continues to provide support to schools and interventions to lift attendance rates by creating a positive environment for engagement and learning Parents and carers are encouraged to reach out to their child’s school with attendance concerns so they can access further support if needed Find more information on attendance here We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education Add videos to your saved list and come back to them any time Plans for two new restaurants at the under-construction Glenmore Village development in Glenmore Park have been approved by Penrith City Council A Development Application (DA) submitted last year proposed the addition of the restaurants – a cafe/restaurant and a fast food outlet with drive-through facilities It’s not yet known which eateries will take up the vacant outlets “The end users for these tenancies are yet to be determined however a food and beverage offering is considered the most appropriate use of this prominent corner of the site as compared to the prior concepts for the car wash on this corner that was removed from the parent DA for the site,” the Statement of Environmental Effects attached to the DA said The plan will remove a total of 15 car parking spaces initially proposed as part of the development resulting in a total of 202 commercial car parking spaces in the ground floor car parking area including 146 commercial car parking spaces is unchanged as part of this proposed modification Glenmore Village will be a mixed-use development encompassing 8,300sqm of retail and commercial floor space with 145 luxury residential apartments above the ground-floor centre The approval of the new restaurants also included approval for a signage pylon for the site that is approximately 10 metres high that will identify the Glenmore Village Local Centre that will accommodate some key tenant signage zones The proposal also nominates some signage areas sitting above the awning elements of the tenancies however any future detail will be subject to a separate application Construction on Glenmore Village started more than a year ago A Woolworths Metro store will be the anchor tenant of the development A Penrith Councillor has requested an update on subsidence issues in Glenmore Park as homeowners continue to report deep cracking Councillor Greg Davies requested Council officers provide a memo on the status of Council’s roads kerb and guttering after concerns were raised by residents The Weekender has since spoken to affected Stage 2 residents in both the Glenmore Ridge and Mulgoa Rise subdivisions which were developed by Stockland and Mulpha respectively began experiencing cracking when they moved in seven or eight years ago the homeowners have spent thousands of dollars trying to rectify the ongoing damage “They were quarrying all over this estate,” one resident said “I honestly believe the soil classification was all wrong.” the site was extensively mined for shale and clay which purchased its portion of land in 2004 is addressing the issue head on and dealing directly with individuals “We are continuing to investigate the issues that have been brought to our attention,” a Stockland spokeswoman said “These investigations indicate that it is limited to a small and contained area “We are treating these concerns extremely seriously and liaising with our customers to resolve any outstanding issues as soon as possible.” Council said it has undertaken minor repairs on some of its assets and is continuing to monitor roads and paths “Council is aware of an isolated area that may be subjected to suspected settlement which is currently under investigation,” a Council spokesman said Subsidence in new western Sydney housing developments was thrown into the spotlight again last week with news of a class action by Spring Farm homeowners prompting calls for an overhaul of the state’s building regulations which resulted in property giant Lendlease offering to buy back a number of homes late last year and committing to undertake repairs on others Mulpha did not respond to the Weekender’s requests for comment A group of over 400 Glenmore Park residents are campaigning for a pub or tavern to be built in the area is advocating that such an establishment would be a great addition to the suburb “There are a couple of establishments like the Penrith Golf Club but you just sort of feel like you are intruding at the club and there is the Grey Gums down the road but nothing local to us,’’ Mr Holmes said “We just want a nice establishment with a good eatery somewhere for the kids and people to relax on weekends with a beautiful view and potentially later just a little music.” He has proposed that the area where the Floribunda Community Centre stands would be ideal with suitable planning permission “People who are against the idea are working on worst case scenarios Enzo’s Cucina opening up with their liquor licence have proven over the last 12 months that they have had no issues with crime or abuse and I think that’s because the family community in Glenmore Park wouldn’t let it happen,’’ Mr Holmes said Resident Adam Goldstein disagrees with the idea and hopes he never sees a pub in Glenmore Park and alcohol brings domestic violence so if walking to a pub or club was important to residents why did they choose to live in a suburb that is pretty peaceful,” Mr Goldstein said “There are plenty of places to go for a drink or a meal nearby… the golf club a pub/tavern is permitted within the Glenmore Park Town Centre subject to development consent,’’ a Council spokesperson said Woolworths are is the only location that allows for a tavern/pub to be located subject to Development Application process.” State and Federal politics for the Weekender A Glenmore Park couple are inviting locals to join them for free fortnightly boxing classes at Mulgoa Rise Fields Baker and Felicity Prescott run the sessions every second Thursday at 6pm and they are open to all ages and ability levels “We don’t discriminate… the youngest is five-years-old and the oldest Baker trained six days a week and did boxing I just do it for fitness to chase the little ones around,” he said Baker said he never really closed his “fighting chapter” and hopes to but right now he is focused on family and using his passion for sport to bring people together He also said he would like to compete at some charity events as he is one of the board members at a not-for-profit organisation that offers men free workouts to help with their mental health “I wanted to do more than just one on one sessions… I wanted to expand out to the community and make it free for people to come for their health… and share my knowledge of the sport,” he said Baker and Felicity are encouraging people to come along to their classes and have some fun “We always have a good time and there’s always a guaranteed laugh,” he said Search Glenmore Park Let’s Get Fit Community on Facebook for more details Makayla is a graduate of Western Sydney University She covers a variety of news topics for the Weekender Services NSW along with a host of other retailers are on track to open within weeks at Glenmore Park’s major shopping centre HomeCo is nearing completion of a $20 million expansion of the Town Centre The project has reached practical completion of the new health and services centre anchored by Services NSW coupled with an expanded medical and wellness precinct featuring the expansion of the existing Glenmore Park Mediclinic Service NSW is on track for a March 2024 opening and in addition to the new anchor tenants other retailers joining the centre include Soda & Espresso Café diverse food operators offering alfresco dining and a vibrant new community space centred around the beloved tree on Town Terrace “Our Glenmore Park Town Centre development signifies HomeCo’s ongoing commitment to enhancing community spaces with a focus on daily needs and services,” said Paul Doherty Fund Portfolio Manager for HomeCo Daily Needs REIT “The introduction of a new health and services centre and outdoor dining precinct demonstrates our effort towards fostering economic vitality while creating a more sustainable and convenient retail environment for the local community.” Though for many cheerleading is something only seen in American teen movies over the past few years the sport has well and truly made its way to Australia with Glenmore Park High School’s novice team currently on the road to States started the team earlier this year with the hope of getting more students participating in sport with one in two girls in Australia dropping out of sport after age 15 Ms Batty didn’t expect the tryouts to be so successful but we didn’t anticipate 50 kids at our tryouts,” Ms Batty said something that they haven’t really done through the primary school and early high school system at all and something that is quite expensive to do outside of school so I think that’s why we did get the numbers that we got.” making the team the only current co-ed sporting team at Glenmore Park High School Despite holding tryouts at the end of term one training didn’t begin until the start of the following term and the students couldn’t be more excited to now be working towards their first competitions “Our kids will be competing at their first competition which is AASCF State on the 11th of September they’ll be competing at AASCF Spring Carnival dance and stunting a necessity for all participating athletes it’s no surprise that the team has been pulling out all the stops with training adding up to 90 minutes per week plus an additional 90 which has been taken up by most students and we do an optional tumble class on a Friday afternoon,” she said Ms Batty said that the team has given members the opportunity to bond with and meet other students from the school particularly after COVID lockdowns hindered their ability to do so “We’ve definitely assisted in creating relationships and bonds between different grades at school through our team,” she said “Our younger students that are in Year Seven they might be put in a group with a couple of Year Eights and a Year Nine so then these students get to actually meet one another.” Glenmore Park’s Asian Pearl Chinese Restaurant will close its doors next month The restaurant has been open in Glenmore Park for the last 20 years but August 13 will mark the beginning of Lam Tang’s retirement “The 13th of August will be our last day trading,” he told the Weekender For two decades the team at Asian Pearl Chinese Restaurant have been plating up a mixture of Australian Chinese as well as dishes inspired by other countries Tang completed his “apprenticeship” when he was 17-years-old before moving to the Netherlands He told the Weekender that he settled in Australia in 1987 because he believed it would afford him and his children more “opportunities” and a better future After working part-time in a number of kitchens which he ran with his partner for nine years before taking a break to pursue further education at TAFE he opened the doors to his current business in Glenmore Park because he really liked the area’s “potential” Even though he’s been a bit emotional about leaving his business and legacy behind “I’m going travelling around Australia and I have also planned to trip back to the Netherlands to see some old friends,” he said Tang also said he is looking forward to winding down and stepping away from the stress of running a restaurant Tang said he has built friendships with customers that he will greatly miss “I’ve gotten to know the locals and make friends with the customers,” he said “I knew who liked to eat what… and I could tell what guests were in the restaurant by reading the orders.” Tang said he is extremely grateful for the support that the Glenmore Park community has given him and his business over the years Ros Nelson describes living in Narrabeen Place Glenmore Park which is adjacent to the M4 Motorway The resident and her husband Jacques Moulin have been struggling for years to get a concrete sound barrier on their street extended to block out the increasing noise of traffic “We moved here 10 years ago but the wall stops before our place and has around a 200-metre gap as we are next to a reserve with a lake before it starts again for the houses on the other side,” Nelson said “It was not like this when we moved in otherwise we wouldn’t have bought the property and since major works were done on the M4 around 2017 the traffic and noise has got progressively worse.” After contacting multiple people including Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies over the years Nelson said that the couple have received no relief “Tanya referred us to the RMS (Roads and Maritime Service) which put a noise monitor in our front garden but it was low to the ground surrounded by trees shrubs and a fence so they said it wasn’t loud enough to do anything,” she said “I am 75 this year and can’t go to sleep unless I’ve got earplugs in it is that bad from around 4am to the finish of peak hour and it is a lot worse in the rain Davies said she understands the frustration that can arise from noise pollution in residential areas and takes the issue “seriously” “After making representations on behalf of the constituent noise monitoring equipment was installed by the RMS in 2019 in line with the Noise Abatement Program (NAP),” Davies said “Whilst the investigation at that time didn’t recommend additional sound proofing the continued growth of western Sydney and increased traffic requires a review of the circumstances “I am more than happy to revisit the issue again and work with the relevant authorities to investigate all possible solutions.” It is understood that the noise monitoring showed noise levels below the level of normal conversation and did not meet the minimum threshold set out by the NAP guidelines The NAP states that to meet the eligibility criteria noise levels at the property are at least 65 decibels during the day or 60 decibels during the night After speaking with Nelson and looking at the area this week Labor candidate for Badgerys Creek (formerly Mulgoa) Garion Thain said some help in noise reduction doesn’t seem like “too much of an ask” “A lot of heavy traffic comes through here so I’d like to know why there wasn’t any follow-up action taken after the noise monitoring equipment was installed,” Thain said “Ros and the other residents deserve some finality to this and I would be very interested in trying to resolve this if elected.” Nelson hopes that it will lead to a final solution to the issue Police remain at the scene of a property in Glenmore Park which was raided last night as part of an investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs detectives attached to Nepean Police Area Command established Strike Force Tong to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs After the arrest of a 34-year-old man at Drummoyne at about 7pm last night police moved on to Glenmore Ridge Drive in Glenmore Park where they executed a search warrant at about 10.40pm A 32-year-old man was arrested at the premises and during a search officers located items consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs The seized items will be forensically examined The man was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with ‘possess drug manufacture apparatus make prohibited drug’ He was granted conditional bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Thursday The incident is not related to a lockdown at the nearby Glenmore Park High School earlier today which was related to a student suffering a medical episode Woolworths Metro has been confirmed as the anchor tenant for Glenmore Park’s newest shopping centre with the supermarket expected to open in late 2023 Woolworths Metro Property Manager Angus Stapleton said the supermarket giant was delighted to be part of the long-awaited development to be known as ‘Glenmore Village’ “We are delighted to be part of the Glenmore Park development and excited local residents will have access to one of our newest neighbourhood food stores,” he said “We know customers are increasingly looking for convenient and healthy food choices and we will be focusing on creating a store offer that is locally relevant to the Glenmore Park community.” Woolworths Metro stores are smaller format neighbourhood stores tailored to local customers looking for a convenient walk-up offer While the range at Woolworths Metro Glenmore Store is yet to be confirmed the neighbourhood stores usually offer a mix of high quality locally produced fresh food and everyday pantry staples for customers looking for a quick and easy top-up shop The 1,345sqm store will anchor a mixed-use residential commercial and retail development to be built on vacant land at 90-98 Glenmore Ridge Drive It comes as property development firm Beaini announced its recent acquisition of Glenmore Village from property developer Mintus “Located in the heart of Glenmore Ridge and Mulgoa Rise Glenmore Village will boast 145 luxury apartments over approximately 8000sqm of retail and commercial floor space and is envisioned to be the one-stop destination for dining services and shopping needs,” Director of Beaini Projects Mickey Beaini said “The facilities will be complimented by convenient on-grade and undercover car parking “Glenmore Village will be anchored by Woolworths Metro and also include a dining and medical precinct gymnasium and a variety of specialty retailers providing a modern convenience with a community feel.” was rubber-stamped by the Sydney Western City Planning Panel in August 2020 Mintus had envisaged a two-year build starting in mid-2021 to be built next door to the shopping centre is still scheduled for completion in time for Term 1 2023 Frango is set to open a new location in Glenmore Park The popular charcoal chicken shop already has a local location in Jamisontown The new Frango will be located within Glenmore Park Town Centre A Development Application was recently approved to allow charcoal style cooking within the tenancy Frango will be located in the newly constructed Building 2 of the redeveloped shopping centre Building 2 is a detached structure at the northern end of the new ‘dining terrace’ and was approved as a food and beverage tenancy previously It’s not known exactly when the new store will open Exclusive: On the 35th anniversary of Lauren Hickson’s murder we reflect on the case that shook even the most stoic cops Journalist Terry Gallaway returns to a case he covered in 1989 Glenmore Park’s Jurina Hickson has been haunted for the past 35 years by the immeasurable pain of the murder of her little daughter at the hands of a callous killer But that pain hasn’t daunted her determination to urge Governments State and Federal to protect families and children as more and more reports of violence and abuse emerge “They have to do something,” she told the Weekender this week The person who killed four-year-old Lauren Hickson in 1989 is dead He died in jail two days before his possible release on parole I think of what she may have become – would she have married Jurina and husband Derek are currently facing the tough times of all pensioners across western Sydney – health issues Always with the memory of their lost baby in the background bashing and murder of four-year-old Lauren Hickson on May 17 at the Nepean Caravan Park at Emu Plains casts a dark stain on the Penrith community that can never be erased It has also left dark and brooding imaging on those who came into close contact with the killing the sight of the tiny victim’s lifeless body the trauma of the investigation by three experienced local police officers even the media who attended the scene and the subsequent court proceedings the terrible toll it has taken on Jurina and Derek and Lauren’s then 14-year-old sister Tracey The facts of the crime are terrible to record Then 23-year-old Neville Raymond Towner lures four-year-old Lauren to a secluded area along the river bank so I put her head under the water,” he would tell Homicide Squad Detectives Warwick Laney and Steve Ticehurst later in a record of interview “How long did you hold her under the water?” Laney asked And when she came back up she looked to me as if she had gone already and I hit her in the head with a rock.” Derek at work and 14-year-old big sister Tracey at school Lauren was riding her new pushbike around the family’s cottage Jurina sat down to watch long-running daytime TV show “The whole case could be described as ‘The Days of our Lives’ crime,” Ticehurst recalls nowadays “Jurina was getting ready to watch that soap opera on the telly as she did each day “So did a local bloke whose brother was a ‘Days’ fan (Gary and Guy Taylor) but had forgotten to set his VCR to record that day’s episode and sent him to the caravan park to push record on the VCR Each of these witnesses was able to give us the exact time Towner arrived there.” Jurina heard Lauren chatting with Neville Towner the son of one of her friends from the local Salvation Army Citadel But by 2.15pm she became concerned that Lauren had not been seen nor heard from in some time park residents and volunteers gathered for a search party numbering more than 100 All feared the little girl had fallen into the Nepean River Police officers canvassing the residents soon learned that Towner had been seen with Lauren between about 1.30pm and 4.30pm One witness told police she saw Lauren approach Towner Investigators brought Towner in for questioning But when he made a statement denying any knowledge of what happened to Lauren as Jurina sat with Ticehurst and Laney and other police at the search command post a Channel 10 news crew spotted clothing in a tree which included Police Rescue Squad officer Paul Kelly As he meticulously scoured the surrounding area Kelly made the grim discovery in a riverbank waterhole “I reached down into the water,” he recalled “I took her by the ankle and raised her up on to the bank Picked up my radio and called into the command centre I did not know her mother was with the detectives “That scream has stayed with me ever since He watched through the viewfinder of his camera as the tiny body swung in the air “That image is forever etched on my mind,” Richardson said including the discovery of murdered women such as Janine Balding Ticehurst also has vivid memories of the crime scene He does not hold back in describing the crime “It was a despicable thing that he did for sexual gratification and robbed her of her life,” he said The detectives returned to Towner’s Kingswood home taking him into custody to Penrith police station but unfortunately the young constable who took it down failed to issue the judicial warning and his notes could not be used in court Laney and Ticehurst also carried out a full record of interview with Towner in which the killer described his every movement By the end of the day Towner faced charges of assault and was refused bail to face Penrith Court on Friday one man displaying a child’s doll with a noose around its neck Towner went to trial in the NSW Supreme Court in 1992 – convicted of the attempted rape and murder of Lauren Hickson sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole “He is an evil man,” Jurina Hickson told reporters at the court “He won’t be able to hurt any other child ever again.” Towner began a series of appeals and applications to the State Parole Board for a release date Each hearing an ordeal for Jurina and Derek as they attended to hear their lawyer put their submissions for parole to be refused “I just don’t want him coming after my family again I don’t want him coming after anybody,” she told reporters Towner won the possibility of a release date “I was watching the Channel 7 news one night when I received a call from my nephew in Queensland He informed me that Towner had passed away,” he recalled “I rang Channel 9 reporter Simon Bouda who confirmed through prison officials that Towner was dead “It was such a relief that this mongrel died in gaol He did not deserve to be released nor walk the streets He committed one of the worst crimes against a child and should never have been considered to be released by the parole board.” Jurina Hickson recalls being stunned when she heard the news before Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott found Towner’s cause of death was Respiratory Distress Syndrome Towner died of natural causes whilst in the lawful custody of Corrective Services NSW Jurina still has a vivid and emotional clear memory of her final sight of little Lauren “I went to the funeral parlour and demanded to see her,” she said I moved the cloth and saw what he’d done to her Halloween is just another day of the year for dress ups and sugar highs Ms Brandt has been enthralled by Halloween reveling in all the scary sights and frightening fun so that’s where I picked up my love of Halloween,” she said celebrating Halloween isn’t just about watching a horror movie instead extending her love of the day to the local community who she said are grateful each year for her efforts in making their Halloween special and it just kind of gets bigger and bigger every year and the crowd gets bigger and bigger every year too,” she said with crowds forming well in advance to see what Ms Brandt has been able to create for the spooky season “We’ve already been quite busy for a couple of weeks now!” she said Ms Brandt was the runner up in last year’s CostumeBox Halloween House Competition and was able to secure the same position again in 2022 that doesn’t mean she’s not still going for the top spot “We’ll keep trying for that win,” she said Ms Brandt was able to add to her already spectacular Halloween display “Because I won the runner up last year for Costume Box I got a giftcard and I got a new jumping spider and everyone seems to love that,” she said it’s her new home made decorations that really have everyone talking and everyone seems to really love that,” she said A Brethren meeting hall in Glenmore Park has been given the green light Slated for the corner of Forestwood Drive and Bradley Street the prayer hall will present as a dwelling house and include a drive-through garage with 11 car spaces at the back Penrith City Council received 27 submissions during the exhibition period 21 of which raised concerns about the incompatibility of the development with the residential area traffic and parking issues and visual and acoustic impacts Six submissions were received from Brethren Church members supporting the development and indicating they live within walking distance Lodged by Kingswood Gospel Trust late last year the development application (DA) was given the all clear on October 28 after being referred to the Penrith Local Planning Panel for determination “The site is suitable for the proposed development the proposal is in the public interest and there is unlikely to be negative impacts arising from the proposed development,” the Major Assessment Report states the extra meeting hall is to cater for growth over the coming years and will be the 10th meeting room of the Brethren Church of Penrith which boasts around 396 members from 106 households The Brethren Christian Church will operate no more than four hours per week with a maximum congregation of 40 members at a time 50 on special occasions five times per year including ‘The Lord’s Supper’ each Sunday morning from 6am to 7am are to be conducted with the doors and windows closed Located in the suburb’s newest subdivision the site has two adjoining residential properties to the north and east while the land to the south and west is for open space purposes Kingswood Gospel Trust representative Greg Joyce told the Weekender the development would have very minimal impact on road congestion in the area Members of the Brethren Church usually adhere to a doctrine of separation from the outside world and often don’t socialise with anyone outside the movement Western Sydney is set to be better connected with the rest of the world with $1 billion from the New South Wales Budget dedicated to delivering roads connecting to the new International Airport Connecting Western Sydney International Airport to communities is a key priority of the State Government and this commitment builds on recently announced funding for the same roads by the Federal Government which will take travellers directly to the new airport and connect major arteries of Mamre and Northen Roads will see the state contribute $400 million for a long-awaited upgrade into a four-lane divided road This takes the total funding for Elizabeth Drive to $800 million in partnership with the Federal Government An additional $500 million will allow the next stage of construction to begin on Mamre Road between Erskine Park and Kemps Creek a key freight route and zone for commercial development will be widened with extra lanes to meet future growth providing upgraded and new intersections and a new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians This Budget investment takes the total Federal-State funding of Mamre Road to $1 billion The Budget provides $115 million for Mulgoa Road to see a separated four-lane dual carriageway between Glenmore Park and Jeanette Street And $10.5 million for Appin Road will provide an upgraded intersection at St Johns Road building a stronger connection from Wollongong and the South Coast to Campbelltown and the Western Sydney Airport precinct a critical link which is under construction And the State Government is planning for the Eastern Ring Road and Badgerys Creek South Road – key future projects for the airport The two roads will connect to create the long-term north-south corridor east of the airport The Eastern Ring Road will perform a major freight function and ultimately create a further connection for bus services into the airport Planning and construction will be staged and sequenced to ensure the road network meets growth and travel demand Western Sydney is the fastest-growing region in the country with a population expected to grow from two million to three million people over the next two decades Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney said that the New South Wales Government is committed to building better roads in Western Sydney supporting the city’s new international gateway these roadways will service the new Western Sydney International Airport and the surrounding community,” Ms Car said said that this is an investment in jobs in Western Sydney “Today we make it clear through dollars and determination that the necessary road infrastructure will match the once in a generation opportunity that is the Western Sydney International Airport,” Mr Graham said “Along with our partners in the Federal Government we have identified where we need to invest what we need to plan and we will deliver in a staged and methodical way that is appropriate for a fast-growing region attracting people commercial development and a large freight network.”  said that investment in roads in this region will provide industry the assurance to co-invest and get development moving “We are transforming and building the roads The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has reported on its impact across the country’s north Melbourne Airport has completed its largest airfield expansion in nearly a decade unveiling a new 800-metre taxiway that paves the.. Detailed designs for two major infrastructure upgrades near Broadford have been released giving engineers and contractors a clearer view of.. Three men have been charged with ‘affray’ following an incident last weekend a 33-year-old Padstow man was at a licenced premises in Glenmore Park It is alleged he has made a comment or insult towards a 21-year-old Glenmore Park man The 21-year-old and a 48-year-old Glenmore Park man have approached the 33-year-old It is alleged the 48-year-old has grabbed the 33-year-old by the shirt and pulled him to the ground Police claim the 21-year-old and 48-year-old have punched the 33-year-old a number of times It is alleged that the 33-year-old has moved around the security guard and punched the 21-year-old again the trio were punching each other and the 33-year-old and 21-year-old have moved towards the exit they saw the 21-year-old and a security officer wrestling on the ground All parties were spoken to and eventually calmed down and the cuffs were removed from the 21-year-old CCTV was viewed and confirmed all the persons actions Police used a dog to search for the 33-year-old and located him a short distance from the licenced premises All men were charged with ‘affray’ and will front Penrith Local Court in March An earlier version of this story said this incident happened in Leonay For 13 long years the family of Paul Strangio have searched for answers after he was shot to death at his Glenmore Park home the NSW Police Force has announced a $500,000 rewarded for information regarding his murder – as they desperately try to give the family closure said he hoped the reward would help hold those responsible to account “Paul was a loving father and much-loved member of our family who didn’t deserve what happened to him,” he said we’re hoping this incentive will encourage people to come forward with the information detectives need to ultimately find justice for Paul.” The Strangio family had their lives turned upside down late on Saturday February 6 2010 when emergency services were called to Paul’s Sheoak Place home in Glenmore Park They were responding to reports of shots fired in the area Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics Local police established a crime scene and commenced inquiries before State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Goodier The $500,000 reward has been announced for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Strangio’s murder Detective Acting Superintendent Virginia Gorman hopes the reward will prompt anyone with information to come forward “Our detectives haven’t – and won’t – give up on finding those responsible for Mr Strangio’s untimely death,” Det A/Supt Gorman said “The public are reminded that there is no piece of information too small for investigators; your tip could be the missing piece of the puzzle in this investigation.” Investigations under Strike Force Goodier are continuing FORMER Cronulla Sharks star James Maloney has been a mover over summer the star five-eighth has bought at Glenmore Park just 10km south of his new training ground SIGN UP FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER HERE It is in the same suburb that fellow Panther James Tamou bought when he moved his family down from North Queensland The marketing through The Property Company Penrith selling agents Adam and Danii Leatherbarrow described the street as “one of the area’s best cul-de-sacs” the architecturally designed entertainer has five bedrooms A covered alfresco area overlooks the swimming pool while there are two separate living areas either side of the central kitchen RELATED NEWS: LUKE KEARY TO SELL QUEENSLAND HOUSE RELATED NEWS: IAN THORPE BUYS WOOLLAHRA TOWNHOUSE who had a stellar debut in the trial game last week against the Roosters has leased the family’s five-bedroom Maroubra home who traded places with Panthers young gun Matt Moylan also scored $500,000 from the sale of his former home in Pelican had a guide of $490,000 to $538,000 through First National Blacksmiths agent Andrew McGrath Maloney had paid $295,000 for the home more than a decade ago when he was a 21-year-old playing for Parramatta Eels reserve grade Maloney failed to break into the first team There’s been no purchase yet for Moylan nearer his new club after leasing his former home — a Gledswood Hills house near Camden He paid $575,000 for the home in 2016 but settlement of the newly built three-bedroom townhouse has only just revealed the star fullback as the purchaser Moylan also owns an apartment at St Clair in Penrith heartland third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. 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