Parramatta North represents one of Greater Parramatta’s largest urban renewal opportunities Parramatta North is located on the lands of the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation We pay our deepest respects to their culture stories and custodianship of land and waters across the Parramatta North precinct and extend that respect to other Dharug people with strong cultural connections to this Country We also recognise and celebrate the new and enduring connections of all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this important place We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and knowledge holders of Country pay respect to Ancestors and Elders while recognising ongoing connections to Country and culture We seek to build ongoing relationships and collaborations in the celebration of culture and revitalisation of natural systems throughout the regeneration of this place Our collaborative approaches demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially spiritually and economically and the health of Country is prioritised Our recognition of Aboriginal sovereignty is expressed with deep reverence respect and commitment to Aboriginal protocols as we strive to move forward together into a better future Parramatta North is a place of connection and renewal – through reflection It is a place where compelling stories are shared – through experiences enriching this emerging western Sydney destination whole-of-government precinct set to unlock unused government land and building assets Located on the Parramatta light rail line Parramatta North represents one of Greater Parramatta's largest urban renewal opportunities Across 42 ha of predominately government-owned land Parramatta North includes about 30 significant heritage buildings and a network of open spaces Parramatta North.What's happening now?The next stage of planning is underway to transform 42 ha of land at Parramatta North into a collection of neighbourhoods connected by green corridors and public open spaces cultural and residential outcomes over the next 30 years The rezoning application seeks approval to change permissible land uses building heights and floor-space ratios across a portion of Parramatta North This will allow housing around new public transport services a new university to support the Westmead Health and Innovation District as well as green corridors and open spaces The application also seeks to introduce planning controls for future state significant development applications across the precinct including design guidelines and design excellence processes Home of the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation as well as the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council to understand and reflect the wishes of First Nations peoples in the plans for Parramatta North cultural significance and local heritage of the area has also been considered in the planning of Parramatta North which incorporates the Parramatta Female Factory is not included in the rezoning application Read the Parramatta North rezoning boundary map (PDF 2.4MB) Stakeholder engagementTo support the public exhibition of the rezoning application we hosted 5 community drop-in sessions and an online webinar in January and February 2025 These sessions provided an opportunity for the community to learn about the rezoning application at key locations The online webinar ensured those unable to attend in-person could have their say For updates on the next steps, please refer to the Planning Portal The Cultural Precinct has been on Australia’s National Heritage List since 2018 It is recognised for its significant cultural and social value to the nation as a place that demonstrates Australia's social welfare history The NSW Government has committed to keeping the 6 ha Cultural Precinct – the national heritage-listed land parcel within Parramatta North – in government ownership The Cultural Precinct weaves together a diversity of destinations compelling stories can be heard and felt here From the time of the First Peoples to the effects of the institutions that were here more recently will respect the heritage of this place and rejuvenate the sensitively restored historic buildings Early funding has already enabled us to restore This includes the new Western Sydney Startup Hub and Havenstone café and finalisation of a conservation management plan the Australian Government announced a $1 million investment towards nominating the Cultural Precinct for World Heritage listing as the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct The Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct was accepted on the World Heritage Tentative List on 28 September 2023 Tentative listing is the first step towards inclusion on the World Heritage List to support the NSW Government to deliver on its election commitment to accelerate the World Heritage List nomination for the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct The World Heritage Listing nomination criteria are in line with the Parramatta North vision supportive and respectful of the outstanding cultural and social significance of this place Reconciliation Action PlanLearn more about our commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities Read about the ongoing activities and events happening at Parramatta North The Green at Parramatta North is a revitalised 8,000 m2 sportsground The Green is a space that responds to Parramatta North’s history including the stories from the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation The Green at Parramatta North will boost participation in grassroots sport and is open to the public and local sporting groups to enjoy Early funding has already allowed us to restore This includes the Western Sydney Startup Hub and Havenstone café restorations of Artisans Yard walls and other essential conservation works Programs of work continue to rejuvenate buildings and other structures as the next part of a 10-year works program Our Parramatta North self-guided tour map (PDF, 3.1 MB) gives an overview of this place so you can discover the historic buildings in Parramatta North when you visit Parramatta North Heritage Day is an annual community event featuring live music Part of the National Trust Australian Heritage Festival this celebration is an opportunity to discover the incredible history of the Parramatta North precinct Subscribe to receive project updatesSubscribe to receive information and news about Parramatta North precinct Subscribe Contact usFor more information or questions, email precinctdevelopment@dpie.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 739 274 We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Labor politicians are at loggerheads over plans that would allow 2500 homes north of the historic Parramatta Female Factory as a federal MP urges the state government to halt the proposal amid a long-running campaign to add the precinct to the World Heritage List The Minns government this month released an indicative masterplan to rezone 42 hectares of land known as Parramatta North a site earmarked to take advantage of the new light-rail line and a future university campus linked to the Westmead health and innovation district An artist’s impression of the proposed Parramatta North rezoning with Parramatta’s CBD in the background.Credit: NSW government said the proposal to overhaul the “under-utilised” tract of government-owned land represented a “great opportunity” and it would create a “substantial buffer zone” around the nearby Female Factory precinct But Parramatta federal MP Andrew Charlton is urging the government to “press pause” on the housing proposal until a potential World Heritage Listing for the site is finalised in 2029 NSW Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said concerns the plan would jeopardise the listing were “not logical” and the government could not wait four years to deliver homes in a housing crisis The differing views between the area’s representatives underscore tensions felt in suburbs across Sydney as governments attempt to strike a balance between increasing density and preserving heritage The planning or rezoning proposal for Parramatta North abuts where thousands of convict women were held on arrival in the NSW colony The masterplan separates the site into different zones or uses with provision for taller buildings up to 24 storeys around the light-rail stops and health precinct an existing 8000 square metre sports ground The public exhibition period for the plans has been extended to February 24 Davis said the proposal would protect the Female Factory or “cultural precinct” large trees and about 30 significant heritage buildings while locking in more than 21 hectares of open space “Our government recognises we are in the midst of a housing crisis that is leaving our next generation with nowhere to live,” she said “We need to deliver a mixed-use precinct that respects the past whilst planning for the future … That’s what I will continue to constructively advocate for.” The rezoning proposal is designed to make the most of the light-rail line and Westmead health and innovation district.Credit: NSW government Charlton said he feared the plan would jeopardise the push from state and federal governments to get the Female Factory on the UNESCO World Heritage List noting the government was “rezoning right up to its very edge” “It’s got the capacity to be a tourist attraction like Port Arthur to have the cultural significance of The Rocks and that vision is being lost for a knee-jerk reaction to put housing into Parramatta,” he said Charlton said Parramatta was already “doing the heavy lifting on dwelling approvals” and it had “approved the most housing of every single local government area in this financial year to date” “I understand there are significant constraints on the state government in terms of funding the heritage preservation but I want a solution that preserves the heritage core for future generations.” The Parramatta Female Factory is subject to a long-running campaign to win a spot on the World Heritage List.Credit: Kate Geraghty The federal Labor government added the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct to Australia’s list of tentative World Heritage items in 2023 A preliminary assessment was submitted to UNESCO for review in November North Parramatta Residents Action Group spokeswoman Suzette Mead pointed to Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley which lost its World Heritage listing after local authorities built a much-debated road bridge “It’s what’s occurring outside [the Female Factory] that is going to have implications We’ve said it for a decade – the heritage should inform any future use of the site not development inform the future of the heritage.” Kamper said the government had cut building heights to three storeys directly north of the precinct and he had “not seen any evidence this rezoning would negatively impact” the listing process “The Colosseum is next door to six storeys Westminster Abbey and Hall has eight storeys over the road Hyde Park Barracks has 20 storeys over the road Each of these sites is World Heritage listed “The idea that we can’t put a modest development of three storeys adjacent to the cultural precinct without damaging the heritage value is not logical.” Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger said heritage precincts and housing could co-exist and developing the site would capitalise on the $2.9 billion Parramatta light rail investment a former Labor housing minister who chairs the Housing Now lobby group said authorities needed to prioritise well-located homes in a housing crisis “We have to breathe new life into heritage precincts and that means ensuring they’re accessible and there’s housing around them.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter said the proposal to overhaul the \\u201Cunder-utilised\\u201D tract of government-owned land represented a \\u201Cgreat opportunity\\u201D and it would create a \\u201Csubstantial buffer zone\\u201D around the nearby Female Factory precinct But Parramatta federal MP Andrew Charlton is urging the government to \\u201Cpress pause\\u201D on the housing proposal until a potential World Heritage Listing for the site is finalised in 2029 saying: \\u201CThis location is a mistake.\\u201D NSW Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said concerns the plan would jeopardise the listing were \\u201Cnot logical\\u201D and the government could not wait four years to deliver homes in a housing crisis The differing views between the area\\u2019s representatives underscore tensions felt in suburbs across Sydney as governments attempt to strike a balance between increasing density and preserving heritage Davis said the proposal would protect the Female Factory or \\u201Ccultural precinct\\u201D \\u201COur government recognises we are in the midst of a housing crisis that is leaving our next generation with nowhere to live,\\u201D she said \\u201CWe need to deliver a mixed-use precinct that respects the past whilst planning for the future \\u2026 That\\u2019s what I will continue to constructively advocate for.\\u201D noting the government was \\u201Crezoning right up to its very edge\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s got the capacity to be a tourist attraction like Port Arthur and that vision is being lost for a knee-jerk reaction to put housing into Parramatta,\\u201D he said Charlton said Parramatta was already \\u201Cdoing the heavy lifting on dwelling approvals\\u201D and it had \\u201Capproved the most housing of every single local government area in this financial year to date\\u201D \\u201CI understand there are significant constraints on the state government in terms of funding the heritage preservation but I want a solution that preserves the heritage core for future generations.\\u201D The federal Labor government to Australia\\u2019s list of tentative World Heritage items in 2023 North Parramatta Residents Action Group spokeswoman Suzette Mead pointed to Germany\\u2019s Dresden Elbe Valley \\u201CIt\\u2019s what\\u2019s occurring outside [the Female Factory] that is going to have implications We\\u2019ve said it for a decade \\u2013 the heritage should inform any future use of the site not development inform the future of the heritage.\\u201D and he had \\u201Cnot seen any evidence this rezoning would negatively impact\\u201D the listing process \\u201CThe Colosseum is next door to six storeys \\u201CThe idea that we can\\u2019t put a modest development of three storeys adjacent to the cultural precinct without damaging the heritage value is not logical.\\u201D \\u201CWe have to breathe new life into heritage precincts and that means ensuring they\\u2019re accessible and there\\u2019s housing around them.\\u201D Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories This was an amazing opportunity for students from Catherine McAuley to connect with members of the public and brainstorm ideas on how to make North Parramatta more connected to the community It enabled us to stimulate our thinking and see the bigger picture of how everyone’s contribution as individuals added value to creating a more interconnected community through the implementation of public services and areas we had the chance to share our thoughts on various aspects of community life accessible areas for people of all ages and backgrounds We discussed ideas for increasing safety and reducing congestion while also focusing on sustainability and making North Parramatta a hub for social interaction It was eye-opening to hear diverse perspectives from local residents and other community members who are directly invested in the future of this area we were able to bring a fresh and youthful perspective to the conversation thinking about what would benefit not only current residents but also future generations We suggested the inclusion of more recreational spaces and community-driven events to foster a sense of belonging We also emphasised the importance of ensuring that public services are easily accessible and meet the needs of an evolving population the experience was both inspiring and empowering It made us realise how vital it is for everyone to have a voice in the development of their community The event showed how collaboration and shared ideas can help shape a place that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of its people We left the event feeling motivated and hopeful about the future of North Parramatta and the role we Term 2 Parents and Carers Meeting 😀 All parents and carers are invited This meeting will be a chance to hear what is happening at the school The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday 1st May is now available: LEST WE FORGET 🌹 Year 11 Modern History students led the school this morning in an ANZAC Reflection Students and staff were asked to remember the Australian men and women who died or suffered in the great tragedy of war YEAR 7 😀 Year 7 returned for their second term at high school today this time wearing their winter uniforms for the first time Remember that students must wear their blazer to and from school and that stockings are part of the winter uniform #year7 #winteruniform #catherinemcauley #catherinemcauleywestmead WELCOME TO TERM 2 😀 Welcome to all students returning today for Term 2 2025 The autumn colours are beginning to show in Mercy Square Year 11 Catherine McAuley students joined Donna Davis MP at a community engagement event to discuss plans for North Parramatta Year 9 MAG Leaders (Mercy in Action Group) and the Environment Student Leaders attended the Mercy 5 Eco-Justice Retreat Day at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer Two writing examples from Year 8 English students A Year 11 Legal Studies student has been selected for an online media internship program More than half of the builds have already been completed with 61 new social homes for seniors providing safe and secure housing for more than 90 residents The most recent project has been finished in Northmead with 16 purpose-built units set to provide new homes for up to 24 residents Matraville and two in North Parramatta are providing modern and accessible homes for older tenants with a mix of one-and two-bedroom apartments A further 55 homes are underway and will be delivered over the next 12 months Three new developments featuring purpose-built units are currently under construction in Greater Sydney with the next project in Parramatta slated for completion in June a major social housing complex at Pagewood is expected to be completed by March 2026 and will offer 33 homes for up to 50 senior residents Each of the homes have been designed to be accessible support independent living and foster a sense of community for residents The NSW Government secured $610 million through the Federal SHAF with $200 million directed to fast-tracked builds These projects are expected to deliver around 400 new social homes across the state by the end of 2026 The new homes for seniors are spread across growing areas in Sydney's west and inner east They are also conveniently located close to public transport shops and health services to meet the needs of older people The construction of these senior living developments has created an estimated 300 jobs and are part of the NSW Government's commitment to deliver around 1,500 social homes under the SHAF by June 2028 This initiative forms part of the Minns Labor Government's commitment to build 8,400 new public homes under the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program the largest ever investment by an NSW Government into social housing in the state's history Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Clare O'Neil said: "Each one of these homes will change the life of those Australians who will live there and their families and in this case it means that 116 older Australians will have safe and secure housing "The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are taking on the housing crisis by building thousands of social and affordable homes in our cities "These social and affordable homes represent 116 of the 55,000 that the Albanese Labor Government is delivering right across Australia." NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said: so we need to invest in social housing that is safe secure and can accommodate the needs of older Australians These projects are in prime locations across Sydney's inner east and west and are desperately needed which can create a sense of isolation and loneliness These dedicated seniors housing complexes are designed not only to support the needs of older people but also to create a sense of community and a place where residents can connect "By working closely with the Federal Government we are delivering more social housing than ever before in NSW and the Social Housing Accelerator Fund has been a key driver of this." NSW Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said: and quality social housing will help more seniors looking for a comfortable lifestyle "We know women over the age of 55 are a particularly fast-growing cohort experiencing homelessness and more support is needed to help vulnerable people overcome financial barriers to stable housing "That's why it's so important for all levels of government to work together to deliver better housing outcomes for people where they need it." Breakdown of the senior social homes delivered under SHAF in the next 12 months: 6-12 Dalley Avenue & 212-214 Banksia Street The New South Wales Government has revealed a 42ha rezoning proposal in Parramatta’s north that will enable the development of 2,500 new well-located homes The rezoning proposal will allow for the delivery of new homes located on the new Parramatta Light Rail line and a new university campus with potential for up to 25,000 students in support of the Westmead Health and Innovation District (WHID) Importantly the new proposal will increase the amount of recreational green space with roughly half of the precinct to be open space for the local community to enjoy The Parramatta North proposal will also deliver up to 12,000 high-value jobs by transforming the WHID planning controls for State Significant Development Applications will include design guidelines and design excellence processes to streamline the delivery of quality community outcomes cultural significance and local heritage of the area has been sensitively considered in the rezoning application of Parramatta North with over 30 significant heritage buildings earmarked to be conserved new and varied uses will rejuvenate historic buildings showcasing compelling stories and enriching this historic area Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) is working with local Dharug people as well as the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council to understand and reflect the wishes of First Nations peoples in the plans for Parramatta North New South Wales Minister for Lands and Property said that Parramatta is going from strength-to-strength and delivering a vibrant Parramatta North is the next piece in the Parramatta puzzle “The rezoning of Parramatta North is crucial to unlocking the full potential of this precinct whilst taking full advantage of the new Parramatta Light Rail,” Minister Kamper said “Delivering a vibrant mixed-use precinct will mean the local community will be able to live work and play on the doorstep of one of Sydney’s fastest-growing central business districts.”  it needs to make sure the things that make Parramatta special are maintained this proposal will protect the cultural precinct and earmark 30 significant heritage buildings for conservation whilst delivering 21ha of open space,” Ms Davis said “We achieved these outcomes through meaningful consultation with the local community I encourage members to continue to have their say to shape the future of Parramatta North.”  The public exhibition will conclude on 10 February 2025. 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data-mce-style=\"font-family:'Times New Roman' serif;\" style=\"font-family:'Times New Roman' serif;\"\u003e’\u003c/span\u003es most substantial opportunities for urban renewal”.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf approved the rezoning would clear the way for the delivery of a local centre and residential neighbourhood at the Ngara Parramatta Light Rail stop as well as a new university campus supporting 25,000 students.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFive to 10 per cent of the housing would be allocated as affordable and the plans outline 10.5ha of public open space plazas and playparks.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe application will be on public exhibition until Monday building heights and floor-space ratios across a portion of Parramatta North.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is aiming to develop a collection of neighbourhoods within its Western and a mixed-use interface along Bridge Road.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe application also seeks to introduce planning controls for future state significant development applications across the precinct including design guidelines and design excellence processes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSitting on the lands of the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation the plans also focus on implementing the Connecting with Country Framework with suggestions that signage be in the Dharug language.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eParramatta North’s Cultural Precinct but more than 30 significant heritage buildings will be earmarked for conservation.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe rezoning delivers on the intent of the Westmead Place Strategy and supports the growth of the Westmead Health and Innovation District which intends to be “Australia’s premier health and innovation district” centred around the Westmead and Children’s hospitals.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe plans build on other visions for Parramatta including the Church Street North Precinct Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook A rezoning application has been submitted to the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure by the state agency Property and Development NSW “to meet the evolving needs of Parramatta” According to the submitted planning report the transformation of the Parramatta North Precinct “represents one of Greater Parramatta’s most substantial opportunities for urban renewal” as well as a new university campus supporting 25,000 students Five to 10 per cent of the housing would be allocated as affordable The application will be on public exhibition until Monday It is aiming to develop a collection of neighbourhoods within its Western The plans want to encourage a medium-scale interface and access to Wistaria Gardens and Parramatta Park and a mixed-use interface along Bridge Road Sitting on the lands of the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation with suggestions that signage be in the Dharug language but more than 30 significant heritage buildings will be earmarked for conservation The rezoning delivers on the intent of the Westmead Place Strategy and supports the growth of the Westmead Health and Innovation District which intends to be “Australia’s premier health and innovation district” centred around the Westmead and Children’s hospitals The Urban Developer Property and Economic Outlook | For property development professionals in the Greater Sydney region. Click here For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders turned out to vote across the city on election day and voting in some of the most highly contested areas passed largely without incident despite earlier fears tensions could boil over NSW Police said they would visit polling booths across the state on Saturday after threatening and aggressive behaviour at early voting centres – especially in marginal seats where the stakes are highest – prompted the electoral commission to warn that bad behaviour would not be tolerated The relative calm on election day followed a record number of Australians voting pre-poll Figures from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) showed 6.8 million people had lodged a pre-poll vote or almost 38 per cent of the 18.1 million people on the electoral roll The campaigns in the electorates of Bennelong and Bradfield on the north shore and Watson and Fowler in the south-west have been hard fought fierce exchanges between candidates and even aggressive behaviour by some volunteers at pre-polling booths Voters at the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.Credit: Kate Geraghty voters lined up in their speedos and budgee smugglers to cast their votes on more serious issues than their swimwear would suggest Liberal challenger for Wentworth Ro Knox voted in the morning at St George’s church in Paddington national security is a huge issue for this electorate We’ve got the largest number of Jewish people in this electorate of any electorate in Australia,” Knox said acting Australian electoral commissioner Jeff Pope spoke on RN Breakfast to say Wentworth was among Sydney electorates where police had been called to deal with incidents of bad behaviour Knox said she’d experienced first-hand the heightened aggression particular to this election Liberal candidate for the seat of Wentworth Ro Knox voting at Saint George’s Church voting centre in Paddington very aggressive during this campaign,” she said I’ve experienced some relatively poor behaviour from some of the volunteers definitely not from Allegra Spender though she’s [maintained] high integrity throughout the campaign.” Spender cast her vote seaside at the Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club Choosing not to comment on Knox’s specific claims about some teals’ behaviour Spender reiterated more generally the need to act cordially “To be honest what I try and say and what I’ve been trying to say to everybody is that people can have different views but in this country we need to disagree well .. There to meet Spender in the queue was 46-year-old filmmaker Daniel Reisinger “I think like a lot of people in this electorate [I’m] just kind of sick of what the Liberal Party’s been doing I was bitterly disappointed with what happened with the [Voice] referendum and I think a lot of people are angry and not over that.” Joining the line after a swim in her recently purchased Australian-themed swimsuit took a bite out of her first-ever democracy sausage since moving to Australia from the UK Allegra Spender lodged her vote at the Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club.Credit: Kate Geraghty South-west Sydney is considered “Labor heartland” Aside from the seat of Fowler at the last election Watson and Blaxland have only ever been held by Labor In the seven polling stations the Herald visited on Saturday Syria and China) were there to exercise their right to vote in a democracy Labor’s Education Minister Jason Clare said the war in Gaza was a major concern to his constituents in his seat of Blaxland with a third of his electorate identifying as Muslim deployed an intense grassroots campaign on local issues aiming to pull disillusioned voters in a seat that had a safe Labor margin of 13 per cent Independent Ahmed Ouf (left) and Labor’s Jason Clare (centre) campaign side-by-side in Merrylands in the seat of Blaxland.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers Saqr Anejdawi voted for Ouf and said his main concern was Gaza but he was also desperate for a change in government to deliver local infrastructure “Ahmed Ouf may not win but will show the big parties we have a vote We have the right as [the people voting for] Zali Steggall Nermine Serour and Amalia Crossley with her son Elijah after voting in Bankstown.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers Cost of living was another big issue in south-west Sydney They don’t realise what the struggles the families are going through at the moment people can’t even get into their first home,” Nermine Serour said after voting at the Bankstown Senior Citizens Centre in Bankstown in the seat of Watson Watson is safely held by Labor with a 15.2 per cent margin She and Amalia Crossley made a protest vote against the main parties on Saturday after what they felt had been many “false promises” from Labor by putting the majors last 1 thing is that we don’t have enough housing to support families,” Crossley said “That’s why I strongly voted towards the Greens.” Dai Le retains one of the tightest margins in the state of 1.1 per cent against Labor “We’ve got five cabinet ministers in the current government in western Sydney five labor MPs … the people in western Sydney can tell you they’ve done nothing,” Le said but Dai Le predicts “a swing against Labor in western Sydney now Independent Dai Le talks to voters outside the polling station at Cabramatta Community Centre.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers In Bennelong – NSW’s most marginal electorate with an estimated margin of 0.04 per cent in favour of Liberal challenger Scott Yung over Labor incumbent Jerome Laxale – the Coalition candidate was out early to greet voters alongside an army of volunteers at Eastwood Public School Yung was seen switching between Mandarin and Cantonese as he moved down the lines speaking to voters from the Chinese community, a key voting bloc in the seat. Later, he was joined by former prime minister Tony Abbott, who dismissed multiple potentially damaging reports about Yung’s campaign “as a lot of beltway bubble stuff” He said Yung and Dutton had done well to appeal “to a broad cross-section of Australians” despite the slow shift away from the Liberal Party in the seat of former prime minister John Howard Yung would not say if any of the volunteers present were members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, which sent hundreds of its members to pre-polling booths in marginal seats while instructing them to keep secret that they were members of the controversial religion Former prime minister Tony Abbott with Liberal candidate for Bennelong Scott Yung at Eastwood Public School .Credit: Steven Siewert “I think it’s in everyone’s right to participate in Australia’s democracy,” he said before Yung’s campaign staff ended his interview with this masthead where Laxale went to vote and hand out preference cards to voters the Labor member was equanimous about the possibility of losing the seat casts his vote at Denistone East Public School.Credit: Steven Siewert Asked whether reports earlier this week that his father, Alain, had made homophobic comments at a pre-polling station that had hurt his campaign in the crucial final stretch Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian voting at Turramurra Public School.Credit: Steven Siewert “We’ve been really focusing on cost of living and housing locally here … my dad regrets what he said Bradfield’s independent candidate Nicolette Boele voting with her daughter Saskia at her alma mater Killara High School.Credit: Steven Siewert where Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian holds an estimated margin of 2.5 per cent over teal independent Nicolette Boele polling places were quiet after record pre-polling Kapterian declined to speak to the Herald but appeared upbeat embracing and shaking voters’ hands at Turramurra Public School Accompanied by her daughter and first-time voter Saskia the teal candidate studied her preferences with the help of Herald photographer Steven Siewert’s reading glasses Boele ran unsuccessfully against Liberal MP Paul Fletcher She refused to say if she would run again in 2028 if she lost to Kapterian “Can I answer that question after we see how we go tonight?” she said Across the Parramatta electorate there was an air of politeness a volunteer for Blaxland Independent Ahmed Ouf was seen offering volunteers from all parties some food while one Labor volunteer said he gave a Liberal supporter a “leg up” to hoist a sign above the entrance It comes despite Liberal signs being reportedly slashed and pulled down earlier in the morning at the same location meets voters at Ermington West Public School.Credit: Thomas Wielecki Liberal volunteers gave out handballs to voters while Labor had their own collection of drink bottles personalised with the face of Parramatta incumbent Andrew Charlton appeared upbeat as he chatted to voters queuing up outside the school He told the Herald he was “feeling good” about the election and had already enjoyed a democracy sausage during an earlier visit to a polling booth Corflutes aplenty at Ermington West Public School in the electorate of Parramatta.Credit: Thomas Wielecki so don’t know what that means for the next meal but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” he said before heading to the barbecue for another one two trucks branded with advertising for Liberal candidate Katie Mullins drove by The queue started early at Parramatta’s Arthur Phillip High School saying he opted to cast his ballot the day of the election because sickness ruined his chances of an early vote High school teacher Sonia Emily Hutchinson “I always vote in regard to health and education because that’s where me and my friends work … and sort of looking forward to the future of how we’re going to be taken care of in this country Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders turned out to vote across the city on election day, and voting in some of the most highly contested areas passed largely without incident, despite earlier fears tensions could boil over. NSW Police said they would visit polling booths across the state on Saturday at early voting centres \\u2013 especially in marginal seats where the stakes are highest \\u2013 prompted the electoral commission to warn that bad behaviour would not be tolerated. The relative calm on election day followed a record number of Australians voting pre-poll. Figures from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) showed 6.8 million people had lodged a pre-poll vote, or almost 38 per cent of the 18.1 million people on the electoral roll. The campaigns in the electorates of Bennelong and Bradfield on the north shore, Wentworth in the east, Blaxland and Parramatta in the west, and Watson and Fowler in the south-west have been hard fought, with stolen and damaged corflutes, fierce exchanges between candidates and even aggressive behaviour by some volunteers at pre-polling booths. Here\\u2019s how the day itself unfolded. In Sydney\\u2019s eastern suburbs, voters lined up in their speedos and budgee smugglers to cast their votes on more serious issues than their swimwear would suggest. Liberal challenger for Wentworth Ro Knox voted in the morning at St George\\u2019s church in Paddington. \\u201CWithout a doubt, national security is a huge issue for this electorate, and also personal security. We\\u2019ve got the largest number of Jewish people in this electorate of any electorate in Australia,\\u201D Knox said. On Friday, acting Australian electoral commissioner Jeff Pope spoke on RN Breakfast to say Wentworth was among Sydney electorates where police had been called to deal with incidents of bad behaviour. Knox said she\\u2019d experienced first-hand the heightened aggression particular to this election. \\u201CThe teals in particular have been very, very aggressive during this campaign,\\u201D she said. \\u201CPersonally, I\\u2019ve experienced some relatively poor behaviour from some of the volunteers, definitely not from Allegra Spender though, she\\u2019s [maintained] high integrity throughout the campaign.\\u201D Later in the morning, Spender cast her vote seaside at the Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club. Choosing not to comment on Knox\\u2019s specific claims about some teals\\u2019 behaviour, Spender reiterated more generally the need to act cordially. \\u201CTo be honest what I try and say and what I\\u2019ve been trying to say to everybody is that people can have different views but in this country we need to disagree well ... it doesn\\u2019t matter who you\\u2019re voting for, it doesn\\u2019t matter what your views are. Let\\u2019s engage constructively,\\u201D she said. There to meet Spender in the queue was 46-year-old filmmaker Daniel Reisinger. \\u201CI think like a lot of people in this electorate, [I\\u2019m] just kind of sick of what the Liberal Party\\u2019s been doing. It\\u2019s gotten to a point of madness, denying climate change ... I was bitterly disappointed with what happened with the [Voice] referendum, and I think a lot of people are angry and not over that.\\u201D Joining the line after a swim in her recently purchased Australian-themed swimsuit, adorned with thongs, barbecues and tiny sausages, Olivia Ford, 27, took a bite out of her first-ever democracy sausage since moving to Australia from the UK. Her verdict: it \\u201Ctastes like democracy\\u201D, she said. South-west Sydney is considered \\u201CLabor heartland\\u201D. Aside from the seat of Fowler at the last election, Watson and Blaxland have only ever been held by Labor. In the seven polling stations the Herald visited on Saturday, there were no food stands, barbecues or community-run stalls. Instead, voters (many from Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, Vietnam, Syria and China) were there to exercise their right to vote in a democracy. Labor\\u2019s Education Minister Jason Clare said the war in Gaza was a major concern to his constituents in his seat of Blaxland, with a third of his electorate identifying as Muslim. Clare\\u2019s challenger, independent Ahmed Ouf, deployed an intense grassroots campaign on local issues, aiming to pull disillusioned voters in a seat that had a safe Labor margin of 13 per cent. Saqr Anejdawi voted for Ouf and said his main concern was Gaza, but he was also desperate for a change in government to deliver local infrastructure. \\u201CLabor has taken us for granted,\\u201D he said. \\u201CAhmed Ouf may not win but will show the big parties we have a vote, we will vote against you as a protest. We have the right as [the people voting for] Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, to vote for our independents as well.\\u201D Cost of living was another big issue in south-west Sydney. \\u201C[The politicians] they\\u2019re on top wages. They don\\u2019t realise what the struggles the families are going through at the moment, middle- and low-income rental, people can\\u2019t even get into their first home,\\u201D Nermine Serour said after voting at the Bankstown Senior Citizens Centre in Bankstown in the seat of Watson. Watson is safely held by Labor with a 15.2 per cent margin. She and Amalia Crossley made a protest vote against the main parties on Saturday after what they felt had been many \\u201Cfalse promises\\u201D from Labor by putting the majors last, and Greens and independents first. \\u201CWhat about us? We\\u2019re the people of the country, and the No. 1 thing is that we don\\u2019t have enough housing to support families,\\u201D Crossley said. \\u201CThat\\u2019s why I strongly voted towards the Greens.\\u201D Over in Fowler, Dai Le retains one of the tightest margins in the state of 1.1 per cent against Labor. \\u201CWe\\u2019ve got five cabinet ministers in the current government in western Sydney, five labor MPs \\u2026 the people in western Sydney can tell you they\\u2019ve done nothing,\\u201D Le said. The Labor challenger is Tu Le, but Dai Le predicts \\u201Ca swing against Labor in western Sydney now, with other independents\\u201D. In Bennelong \\u2013 NSW\\u2019s most marginal electorate, with an estimated margin of 0.04 per cent in favour of Liberal challenger Scott Yung over Labor incumbent Jerome Laxale \\u2013 the Coalition candidate was out early to greet voters alongside an army of volunteers at Eastwood Public School. Yung would not say if any of the volunteers present were members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, while instructing them to keep secret that they were members of the controversial religion. \\u201CI think it\\u2019s in everyone\\u2019s right to participate in Australia\\u2019s democracy,\\u201D he said, before Yung\\u2019s campaign staff ended his interview with this masthead. At Denistone East Public School, where Laxale went to vote and hand out preference cards to voters, the Labor member was equanimous about the possibility of losing the seat. \\u201CWe\\u2019ve never held on to Bennelong. History is not on our side, so we need to make history today, and we\\u2019ll go right until six o\\u2019clock.\\u201D Asked whether reports earlier this week that his father, Alain, had made at a pre-polling station that had hurt his campaign in the crucial final stretch, Laxale said: \\u201CWe\\u2019ll see what happens\\u201D. \\u201CWe\\u2019ve been really focusing on cost of living and housing locally here \\u2026 my dad regrets what he said, and he\\u2019s very apologetic, and we\\u2019ll move on from that.\\u201D In neighbouring Bradfield, where Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian holds an estimated margin of 2.5 per cent over teal independent Nicolette Boele, polling places were quiet after record pre-polling. Kapterian declined to speak to the Herald but appeared upbeat, embracing and shaking voters\\u2019 hands at Turramurra Public School. Boele cast her vote at her alma mater, Killara High School. Accompanied by her daughter and first-time voter Saskia, the teal candidate studied her preferences with the help of Herald photographer Steven Siewert\\u2019s reading glasses. In 2022, Boele ran unsuccessfully against Liberal MP Paul Fletcher, who is stepping down. She refused to say if she would run again in 2028 if she lost to Kapterian. \\u201CCan I answer that question after we see how we go tonight?\\u201D she said, laughing. Across the Parramatta electorate there was an air of politeness. At Parramatta West Public School, a volunteer for Blaxland Independent Ahmed Ouf was seen offering volunteers from all parties some food, while one Labor volunteer said he gave a Liberal supporter a \\u201Cleg up\\u201D to hoist a sign above the entrance. It comes despite Liberal signs being reportedly slashed and pulled down earlier in the morning at the same location. Over at Ermington West Public School, Liberal volunteers gave out handballs to voters, while Labor had their own collection of drink bottles, personalised with the face of Parramatta incumbent Andrew Charlton. Visiting the polling booth, Charlton, who voted early, appeared upbeat as he chatted to voters queuing up outside the school. He told the Herald he was \\u201Cfeeling good\\u201D about the election and had already enjoyed a democracy sausage during an earlier visit to a polling booth. \\u201CI went a little bit early if I\\u2019m honest, at 11.30am, so don\\u2019t know what that means for the next meal, but I\\u2019ll cross that bridge when I come to it,\\u201D he said before heading to the barbecue for another one. Shortly after his arrival, two trucks branded with advertising for Liberal candidate Katie Mullins drove by, the drivers beeping their horns. The queue started early at Parramatta\\u2019s Arthur Phillip High School, with Sebastian Gerard-Duhau, 28, saying he opted to cast his ballot the day of the election because sickness ruined his chances of an early vote. High school teacher Sonia Emily Hutchinson, 34, said she voted for the Greens and Labor. \\u201CI always vote in regard to health and education because that\\u2019s where me and my friends work \\u2026 and sort of looking forward to the future of how we\\u2019re going to be taken care of in this country. And then also on climate,\\u201D she said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. . CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Credit: NSW Fire & Rescue.Emergency alert warnings have been sent to residents as they are told to stay inside and close all windows and doors after a massive fire in a laundry business produced a billowing smoke cloud that may be toxic Just after 1am on Tuesday morning Fire & Rescue crews responded to the large factory fire on Dunlop Street at North Parramatta in Sydney’s west Firefighters were confronted with a large linen business that had burst into flames and was totally engulfed and raised a 10th Alarm which is the highest possible rating and calls the largest possible response 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.The inferno quickly moved to adjoining buildings and continued to burn out of control through multiple businesses in the area had to be evacuated and NSW Fie & Rescue reported all the animals were saved Firefighters worked for several hours throughout the morning with multiple 70mm hose lines successfully bringing the fire under control and stopping further spread into the surrounding factories A significant number of crews remain on scene working to completely extinguish the fire and assess the damage to surrounding premises Church Street Parramatta has been closed and the surrounding areas are cordoned off causing heavy traffic delays and diversions Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Watch 52sFire crews rush to contain a fire which erupted in an industrial facility in North Parramatta. Andrew Charlton’s identity crisisThe federal MP is petitioning to stop development of 2500 new homes SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Whether getting called a NIMBY or a YIMBY is an insult or a badge of pride depends on what circles one moves in How confusing for federal Parramatta MP Andrew Charlton The former Accenture executive, who is touted as a future Labor leader is sticking his neck out to oppose development plans for 2500 new homes in North Parramatta Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Sydney without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Sydney Sydney has a growing list of once-neglected heritage buildings that have been transformed into trendy eateries (Brasserie 1930, Prince of York and the Fenwick Parramatta North's Havenstone is another on this list set in a lovingly restored sandstone building from 1888 it was the Female Factory – a place that housed female convicts who arrived in New South Wales in the 1820s and '30s.  Good news: the Australian government is currently seeking to have the Parramatta Female Factory added to the World Heritage List, which would make it only the second standalone site in Sydney – along with the Sydney Opera House – to receive that honour Not-so-good news: heritage advocates and a federal Labor MP are arguing that plans for apartment blocks up to 22 storeys near the building could put the Heritage status at risk now part of this historic building and its sunny surroundings create a peaceful backdrop for all-day breakfast and lunch Locals can cosy up inside the light-filled café which was the Factory’s old hospital boiler room and dining area and pots and vases in all shades of cream and green The kitchen brings a contemporary twist to classic flavours. On weekends bring your four-legged friends for a leisurely outdoor lunch with family and friends Havenstone sits in the heart of a big urban renewal project taking place in Parramatta North which is all about conserving and upgrading the buildings and other landmarks in the area over the next decade Take a stroll through the historical site with a breakfast bagel and freshly made juice in hand Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us Anna Yang and partner Andy Lam with Anna’s mum Kathy Fu celebrate after winning 86 Isabella st Anna Yang called in the big guns to help her nab her first home that sold for close to $1.4m at auction this morning as more than 1000 homes were scheduled for auction around Sydney Clutching the “lucky” number 5 bidding card, Anna’s mum, Kathy Fu, helped the 28-year-old regulatory affairs specialist in a medical device company secure a recently renovated four-bedroom Torrens Title Duplex, built in 1990, at 86 Isabella St, North Parramatta She and partner Andy Lam currently rent in Carlingford with the result defying the slowing market conditions — the $1,382,000 sale price beat the reserve by $102,000 How ‘Mr Bondi’ strongman missed out in auction duel The McGrath agents had six registered parties at the hot auction in North Parramatta Buyers loved that the duplex was Torrens Title — a four-bedroom home with no strata fees MORE: PM pulls investment property from auction Records show they’d bought it for $568k more than 11 years ago The McGrath sales agents Jen Anderson and Kim McChlery and auctioneer Paul Hancock had six registered parties mainly first home buyers though the underbidders were investors the $20k bids were flying between four of the six But by the end it was down to $1000s and $2000s with the young first-timers eventually securing the keys in a nail-biting finish — the investor underbidders made a last-minute phone call to relatives who said to ‘let them have it’ The newly renovated kitchen would made the property particularly attractive said the $1.15m price guide for a four-bedroom Torrens Title home (no strata fees!) in a top location made the property popular in the market “North Parramatta is still selling very well but it does depend on the property,” she said “This was a very exciting auction — it just flew PropTrack puts the median house price in North Parramatta at $1.65m Another hot auction was a burnt-out house at 33 Crossland St, Merrylands that sold for $1,385,000 intending to build either a house or a duplex LJ Hooker Greystanes agent Karen Beebar had seven register “We set a high reserve of $1.355m but the vendors would have been happy with anything over $1.3m,” Beebar said “Everyone’s talking about a cooling market All of those interested were developers keen on the 784sqm block “The buyers are tossing up between building a new house or a duplex,” she said It’s understood there had been two fires at the property one caused by a copper pipe explosion and the second by squatters The Merrylands median house price is $1,286,000 up 16.4 per cent over the year according to PropTrack It was the large 866sqm block that appealed to buyers Meanwhile, a five-bedroom home on a 866sqm block with a guide of $1.05m at 4 Peke Place, Rooty Hill sold for $1,175,000 Ray White Diamantidis Group’s Meshel Bahnam “The buyer was an investor/renovator who was going to do some work to it and rent it out for a while the size of the land and renovation potential “The seller has been there since 1994 and is downsizing in the local area.” PropTrack puts the median house price in Rooty Hill at $930,000 The developer buyers will rent the home out for a few years and then build a duplex on the site that has rear-lane access Sales agent Ben Horwood of Horwood Nolan had five parties register with four active Bidding opened at $2.7m and rose in $50k increments “The buyers were local developers who will rent it out for a few years and then build duplexes,” Horwood said right in the middle of Concord with rear lane access.” with the two family buyers “blown out of the water” by the developers Horwood said while “everything’s still selling” but it will be short-lived — it will all change when the interest rate cut comes two-bathroom apartment with parking in the Allen Jack + Cottier-designed block Sonoma at E203/3 Hunter St BresicWhitney agents Darren Davis and Patrick O’Brien had three register and with BresicWhitney CEO and chief auctioneer Thomas McGlynn presiding bidding opened at $900k and rose in $25k increments to $1.05m and then it was down to $5k and $10k bids “It was a young couple who bought it and it was perfect for them as she works for Qantas at the airport and he works in the city,” Davis said The young first home buyer couple who were the underbidders missed out by $10k and the other active bidder was a lady downsizer Home prices fall in half of Sydney 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 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By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Drivers may finally have a way out of an infamous “gridlocked” intersection in North Parramatta A “diverging diamond interchange” could finally improve the traffic nightmare that is the James Ruse Drive and Windsor Road intersection in North Parramatta Saying it’s one of the roads she receives the most complaints about Independent Councillor Georgina Valjak added that the diverging diamond interchange was “worth a shot” to improve the notorious intersection “This intersection is the cause of traffic building up along Church Street roads in Northmead and Windsor Road – effectively gridlocking entire suburbs like Northmead “One of the most impacted roads is North Rocks Road which traffic can be backed up for kilometres with one resident sharing with me that it takes a total travel times for 2km along North Rocks An initial investigation by Council revealed conversion of the intersection to a diverging diamond interchange may be feasible – but only if combined with property acquisition on the west side of Windsor Road north of James Ruse Drive as well as the closure of Northmead Avenue at Windsor Road Council said it’s likely to be the most cost-effective way to increase the capacity of the intersection The same interchange has been proposed for Bald Hills in Queensland Parramatta Council will now write to the NSW Government to call for a review on the James Ruse Drive intersection and for consideration of a diverging diamond interchange treatment to address congestion The push to ease congestion comes after The Mills North Parramatta North Rocks Road and James Ruse Drive and houses supermarket Woolworths Locals should also expect further road disturbances to be on the way with work set to begin on the new $11.5 million single-span concrete bridge at Hunts Creek on North Rocks Road in August The upgrade is expected to be completed over 12 months with altered traffic arrangements in place for the duration of the program it was expected the major works would require North Rocks Road between Windsor Road/Church Street and the Woolworths carpark driveway to become one-way for five months following recent discussions with Transport for NSW City of Parramatta believes with a series of scheduled nightworks and a program of weekend road closures the partial northbound closure of North Rocks Road can be reduced to one month Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards The first Jewish cultural centre in western Sydney will be launched this week as a measure to "build bridges" with other communities and tackle rampant hatred towards Jews A new centre to combat rising antisemitism will be launched this week in Western Sydney in a bid to tackle the ancient hatred at its coalface The first Jewish cultural centre in the region will open to the public in North Parramatta this Sunday featuring the Daat Library with more than 1600 books about Judaism spaces for activities such as cooking and Hebrew classes and interactive exhibits on Jewish customs Rabbi Roni Cohavi has been the minister at Parramatta & District Synagogue where the Greater Western Sydney Jewish Cultural Centre is based he has had to gradually increase security measures as the threat to Jews intensified First came the high fences amid ISIS-inspired attacks on synagogues around the world in 2015 the synagogue was advised it needed security guards at every service not just on the Jewish high holidays they had previously been rostered on the idea and concept of Daat Library and learning centre it’s to actually to build bridges to other communities rather than hiding behind fences,” Rabbi Cohavi said “We would like to really build bridges from our centre all the way to all the communities around so we go over the fence and one day I hope we’ll be able to knock it down.” Much of the hatred towards Jews in Australia in the past 12 months has come from southwest Sydney where several locals openly celebrated the October 7 attacks on the streets including in convoys of cars letting off flares Radical imams from the area have delivered sermons labelling Jews as “bloodthirsty monsters” “the descendants of pigs and monkeys” and praising jihad “It was devastating,” Rabbi Cohavi said “My grandmother is a Holocaust survivor A Palestinian flag with the words “Free Palestine” was left outside the front gate of the synagogue in April an incident the rabbi describes as an “act of provocation” possibly designed to instil “fear in our hearts” It is not the first time the 75-year-old building has been targeted the temple was twice attacked with projectiles and blocks of cement during an earlier conflict between Israel and Lebanon Local Jewish businessman Vincent Uno conceived of the idea for the centre with Rabbi Cohavi and says its primary goal is to counter ignorance “[Antisemitism] stems from a lack of education hence the reason why we’re trying to build a library so the uneducated can educate themselves before forming an opinion,” Mr Uno said “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it and one of the things I said to the rabbi early in the piece was we need to build a refuge for books that in the event that books start getting burnt again we’ve always got a copy of them.” One of the synagogue’s highest-profile members is federal opposition MP Julian Leeser The Berowra MP says the government’s “appallingly poor” performance in confronting escalating antisemitism has forced the community to step up “It’s really important that the next generation of people does not learn that antisemitism is OK and can be ignored which is the lesson under this government,” Mr Leeser said “This community here in Western Sydney is stepping up to say we want to tell other people about who we are we want to be a welcoming community.’ “The ethnic and religious diversity of our country is one of the strengths of Australia but it only works when people are willing to actually get to know each other and get to understand more about the culture and traditions and learn about the fact we have a shared land in common – Australia – and the future is only good for us if we all work together to make a stronger country.” The centre’s founders are hoping to raise $50,000 in donations from the community to expand the library and range of activities it can offer The City of Parramatta has criticised the NSW government’s divisive plans to develop thousands of apartments in a heritage precinct north of its fast-growing central business district arguing the need to boost housing supply must not come at the expense of new employment space In January, the Minns government released an indicative masterplan to rezone 42 hectares of land known as Parramatta North a site earmarked to take advantage of the new light-rail line and a future 25,000-student university campus linked to the Westmead health and innovation district the council expressed broad support for the plans to deliver 2500 homes 12,000 jobs and 21 hectares of open space around 30 heritage buildings But it raised concerns about infrastructure heritage protection and preserving areas for jobs and education “Council firmly seeks to ensure that the housing crisis of today does not become the jobs crisis of tomorrow,” the draft submission said Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper lashed council staff reticence to fully back the proposal – which he said was “only positive for Parramatta” – in a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday “There’s a large amount of derelict land just sitting there doing nothing and it’s time to move forward and get this thing done I think this is a perfect example of where we can get the balance right,” he said have been a bone of contention among residents and authorities for years underscoring tensions in suburbs across Sydney as governments attempt to balance increasing density and heritage The draft proposal separates the site into different zones or uses as well as residential blocks to the north The council said it was exceeding housing targets set by the state government and called for a planning mechanism to ensure some commercial land was “unequivocally protected” from being turned into dwellings particularly noting the government’s priority to deliver additional housing “Although residential development is considered necessary to help activate Parramatta North residential development should not come at the expense of commercial/educational floor area,” it said The plans would cluster apartments around the stops on the new light-rail line The council said it wanted a balanced approach to development to create “an employment-generating heritage significant and culturally vibrant destination for the broader Sydney community” In the budget estimates hearing on Wednesday Kamper said the push from council staff to ensure the provision of homes didn’t come at the cost of employment space was “silly” and “really crazy” “There’s 20 per cent vacancy rates in office space in Parramatta I think the council would be best served focusing on some sort of strategic planning to sort that out,” he said “We’re going to create jobs and homes here and finish an unfinished part of Parramatta.” Heritage advocates are worried the plans will jeopardise a push from state and federal governments to get the Parramatta Female Factory added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.Credit: Kate Geraghty Property and Development NSW deputy secretary Leon Walker said the site was broadly zoned for mixed-use development because it was intended to be delivered over the next 20 to 30 years “It’s important we have some flexibility in there It’s a very significant precinct connecting the Parramatta CBD and the Westmead health and innovation precinct,” he told the hearing The council noted the population surge would heap pressure on existing infrastructure and create demand for new facilities such as schools: “Sufficient provision of supporting infrastructure Its draft submission also recommended removing some proposed development sites to “create a legible central heritage setting that is free from new buildings and that will improve the visual connection between Parramatta Park The planning or rezoning proposal abuts but does not include the Parramatta Female Factory precinct Parramatta’s federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton has been urging the government to “press pause” on the plan until a potential World Heritage Listing for the Female Factory is finalised in 2029 Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow noted during budget estimates that Kamper was on a “collision course with the Albanese government” over plans to redevelop the adjacent precinct Kamper said he was “disappointed” by Charlton’s opposition to the proposal saying it had “been on pause for a long time” it’s time to press the accelerator,” he said and I think they’re quite positive about it should not impact at all on the World Heritage listing.” The City of Parramatta has criticised the NSW government\\u2019s divisive plans to develop thousands of apartments in a heritage precinct north of its fast-growing central business district the Minns government to rezone 42 hectares of land known as Parramatta North \\u201CCouncil firmly seeks to ensure that the housing crisis of today does not become the jobs crisis of tomorrow,\\u201D the draft submission said Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper lashed council staff reticence to fully back the proposal \\u2013 which he said was \\u201Conly positive for Parramatta\\u201D \\u2013 in a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday \\u201CThere\\u2019s a large amount of derelict land just sitting there doing nothing and it\\u2019s time to move forward and get this thing done I think this is a perfect example of where we can get the balance right,\\u201D he said The council said it was exceeding housing targets set by the state government and called for a planning mechanism to ensure some commercial land was \\u201Cunequivocally protected\\u201D from being turned into dwellings particularly noting the government\\u2019s priority to deliver additional housing \\u201CAlthough residential development is considered necessary to help activate Parramatta North residential development should not come at the expense of commercial/educational floor area,\\u201D it said The council said it wanted a balanced approach to development to create \\u201Can employment-generating heritage significant and culturally vibrant destination for the broader Sydney community\\u201D Kamper said the push from council staff to ensure the provision of homes didn\\u2019t come at the cost of employment space was \\u201Csilly\\u201D and \\u201Creally crazy\\u201D \\u201CThere\\u2019s 20 per cent vacancy rates in office space in Parramatta I think the council would be best served focusing on some sort of strategic planning to sort that out,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe\\u2019re going to create jobs and homes here and finish an unfinished part of Parramatta.\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s important we have some flexibility in there It\\u2019s a very significant precinct connecting the Parramatta CBD and the Westmead health and innovation precinct,\\u201D he told the hearing and create demand for new facilities such as schools: \\u201CSufficient provision of supporting infrastructure is crucial to the project\\u2019s success.\\u201D Its draft submission also recommended removing some proposed development sites to \\u201Ccreate a legible central heritage setting that is free from new buildings and that will improve the visual connection between Parramatta Park the Female Factory and Parramatta Gaol\\u201D Parramatta\\u2019s federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton on the plan until a potential World Heritage Listing for the Female Factory is finalised in 2029 Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow noted during budget estimates that Kamper was on a \\u201Ccollision course with the Albanese government\\u201D over plans to redevelop the adjacent precinct Kamper said he was \\u201Cdisappointed\\u201D by Charlton\\u2019s opposition to the proposal saying it had \\u201Cbeen on pause for a long time\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s not time to pause on this it\\u2019s time to press the accelerator,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe\\u2019re consulting the community and I think they\\u2019re quite positive about it The [building] setbacks we\\u2019ve created should not impact at all on the World Heritage listing.\\u201D Factory Sound has become a bit of an institution South Melbourne being to go-to place for everything pro audio and audio visual and an even bigger catalogue of specifics available for order Factory Sound has been serving Melbourne’s creative community for decades and now Last week saw the opening of Factory Sound’s Sydney store on Church Street we had the chance to chat to Factory Sound about their legacy Can you explain a little bit about how and where Factory Sound began in the 90s Factory Sound began in 1992 as rehearsal rooms and studio space in South Melbourne and by 1994 had set aside a moderate amount of space to display microphones for sale along with a big range of Neutrik connectors As more customers came for essential bits and pieces we realised that there was an increasing demand for professional audio equipment which is handy because that’s what we’re passionate about Where do you think Factory Sound sits within the larger music retail space A post shared by Factory Sound (@factorysoundau) Why is a physical store important as opposed to just buying online Aside from the obvious advantages of being able to audition a range of PA speakers which is impossible when just shopping online another reason for choosing a physical store is “the questions you don’t know you need to ask.” Online shopping can lead you down many paths and it’s easy to find supporting articles and reviews to help talk yourself into an option that may not be the best fit for your actual needs Experienced staff in a bricks-and-mortar store know how to drill down to find out what you actually need Building relationships with like-minded people definitely helps guide through the journey of building the right gear as you grow the ability to grab an extra microphone stand or some smoke fluid on the way to your next gig is also a bonus What can customers expect from Factory Sound that they haven’t experienced elsewhere Factory Sound in Parramatta really is an experiential centre With a speaker and lighting demonstration space that is second-to-none you get to step inside a space where speakers can be auditioned in full flight There are digital mixing solutions ready to go too Allen & Heath and Yamaha – the big four for touring live sound The only other space that comes close is Factory Sound in South Melbourne There is nowhere in Australia that has as many genuine Neutrik connectors on the wall From a concert-level mixer or speaker system down to component level and important accessories people in-the-know have been saying it for years – “go to Factory Sound The Factory Sound Sydney Experiential Centre will not only be a space to audition and buy the latest and most trusted gear for your project but will also provide education for those who want to learn more about the technology used in our industry There is a genuine hunger for information and guidance and we understand the importance of helping create a safe space for not only learning but also sharing information to help foster the audio community Every user of professional audio equipment so it makes sense to go to the experts to get the best experience A post shared by Factory Sound (@factorysoundau) Will the install service be available in Sydney Our Projects Team already has a presence in Sydney By having an extra home base in Parramatta logistics are made even easier for future projects Factory Sound has been able to provide truly world-class solutions for both education and performing arts centres in Melbourne We have already attended to a number of hospitality projects and corporate/commercial multi-room facilities recently in Sydney We think that this will flow on to the other core parts of our projects team houses of worship and local council applications Keep reading, shop the online range or find more info about the new Sydney store here The Federal Member for Parramatta has slammed the NSW Government’s plan to rezone Parramatta North The State Government has unveiled a proposal to rezone a 42-hectare site in Parramatta North which would see the delivery of 2,500 new homes located along the new Parramatta Light Rail line and the creation of up to 12,000 jobs would also be built in support of the Westmead Health and Innovation District Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said delivering a vibrant Parramatta North is the “next piece” in the puzzle “The rezoning of Parramatta North is crucial to unlocking the full potential of this precinct delivering jobs whilst taking full advantage of the new Parramatta Light Rail,” he said work and play on the doorstep of one of Sydney’s fastest-growing central business districts.” the amount of recreational green space would also be increased the NSW Government said the rich history of the area has been sensitively considered in the rezoning application of Parramatta North with over 30 significant heritage buildings earmarked to be conserved But Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton who has been working alongside the community to secure World Heritage Listing for the Female Factory and Institutions Precinct “To have no consultation or heads up is a kick in the guts after we’ve worked so hard on the World Heritage Listing of the Female Factory,” he said “Rampant development around this heritage jewel is a lost opportunity for Parramatta to create a cultural heart in our city a loss for our history and a loss for the liveability and green space.” Fearing the rezoning will jeopardise Parramatta North’s heritage buildings Charlton called on the NSW Government to properly consult the community going forward “It is short-sighted to prioritise development in this area when there are so many better options for tens of thousands of new dwellings at Westmead South “The Minns government says the development will be limited but I am very concerned it will snowball once they let developers take control.” The proposal is on public exhibition until February 10 Lets face it, heading along to the cinema ain’t cheap these days – add a choc top into the mix and yeesh you may as well take out a second mortgage If 2025 is all about saying yes to getting out and about but doing it on a budget Parramatta has the answer: a bunch of free pop-up movie nights for the whole family to enjoy The travelling Family Movie Nights pop-up event will span across two weekends sitting inside the NSW school holidays they won’t be dusting off the old VHS and playing Flubber (although 10/10 would watch again) organisers have nabbed an epic line-up of flicks including the 2025 Academy Award nominated musical spectacular and I get to sing ‘Defying Gravity’ to the good people of Parramatta Not only will this family-friendly initiative from the City of Parramatta bring the magic of movies to the masses but you can also expect a bit of a funfair with live music kid’s workshops and plenty more kicking off from 4pm before the film begins at sundown City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the return of Family Movie Nights will be a welcome event for parents looking for cost-effective activities during the school holidays “It’s getting harder for families to find fun yet affordable things to do during the school holidays so we’re making life easier by putting on these much-loved events for our community,” Cr Zaiter said.  pack up the picnic blanket (including BYO choc tops of course) bundle the family into the car and enjoy some alfresco cinema all on a dime Check out the Family Movie Nights line-up below: Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news outdoor games and activities are all part of the annual Family Movie Night series returning to Parramatta’s local parks next month Families can enjoy a picnic and free screening of hit movies including ‘Wicked’ ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ and ‘The Wild Robot’ with plenty of outdoor games kid’s workshops and creative activities from April 11 to 27 City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter said the Family Movie Nights were a great way to enjoy the school holidays without breaking the budget “It’s getting harder for families to find fun yet affordable things to do during the school holidays so we’re making life easier by putting on these much-loved events for our community,” Zaiter said “There’s plenty of family-friendly activities for all ages to enjoy live music and entertainment to sports games and even an obstacle course for our beloved pooches – the best thing is you won’t have to travel far.” While families can pack a picnic basket and blanket ice cream and coffee on offer for those who are looking forward to tasty treats from local food stalls Zaiter said Parramatta is home to some of the best parks and open spaces in Western Sydney “We’re proud of our parks including the recently transformed F.S Garside Park that has multi-use sports courts a new playground and nature play space and a flying fox,” Zaiter said “This is about making sure everyone in our community has access to great facilities and affordable activities within our City grab a bite and then relax as you enjoy a free movie screening under the stars.” Events kick off from 4pm with movie screenings starting at sundown visit atparramatta.com/family-movie-nights Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of wizardry as The Sneaky Cauldron Located beside Havenstone Café in North Parramatta this spellbinding venture is the brainchild of Nearly Legless Mick and the visionary team behind Quizzic Alley renowned for their love of all things magical After more than three enchanting years in Drummoyne selling licensed Harry Potter merchandise and hosting wizard themed birthday parties Quizzic Alley bid farewell to its loyal customers in February The magic lives on in the form of The Sneaky Cauldron a haven where fans can gather to sip on potions and brew spellbinding concoctions Under the guidance of skilled potions masters guests will learn the ancient art of potion making From bubbling cauldrons to smoking cocktails the results are sure to leave even the most seasoned witches and wizards spellbound “We’re thrilled to bring the magic back to Sydney with the opening of The Sneaky Cauldron,” says Nearly Legless Mick “Our goal is to create an immersive experience that allows guests to unleash their inner witch or wizard through interactive cocktail making.” The Sneaky Cauldron promises to be a hotspot for fans of all ages whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or simply looking for a unique and memorable night out it’s the perfect destination for date nights Tickets for The Sneaky Cauldron are expected to sell out quickly, so be sure to book early to secure your spot at this magical pop-up tavern. For more information and to book tickets, visit thesneakycauldron.com.au Multiple calls made to triple zero before 39-year-old found critically injured outside high-rise unit block on River Road in Parramatta A man has been released without charge after a woman fell to her death off his balcony The 40-year-old man was arrested on Thursday morning after the woman was found dead at the bottom of his apartment block forcing investigators to examine the scene their relationship and multiple triple-zero calls He spent several hours being interviewed by police on Thursday but was released about 2pm pending further investigations The first call to triple zero was about 11.45pm on Wednesday when raised voices could allegedly be heard in the background They called back and spoke to a man who answered the phone telling him police would be in attendance after he provided his name and address Another call was made to triple zero almost two hours later at 1.40am on Thursday when someone in the street saw a woman dangling from a balcony on the seventh floor of the unit block Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Police were by then on their way and arrived about a minute later to find the woman with critical injuries outside the unit block on River Road at Parramatta in Sydney’s west Det Supt Barry Vincent told reporters on Thursday Police have been told the woman fell from a seventh-floor balcony Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP“Whether she was trying to hold on … that will form part of our lines of inquiry, obviously how she came to be there is a key factor,” he said. The woman, believed to be 39, was pronounced dead at the scene after unsuccessful attempts to revive her. Police were seen canvassing residents as they left and arrived at the apartment tower on Thursday morning. The man lives at the address, however the woman is believed to have a different residence. The pair were believed to have previously been in a domestic relationship, but it was not yet clear if they were still in a relationship at the time, Vincent said. Free newsletterGet the most important news as it breaks Read moreThe phone initially used to call emergency services was not registered in the name of the man who answered it with police investigating whether or not he initiated the first call which did not involve a direct interaction The calls are being examined as part of the investigation An apprehended violence order had been in place for the man’s protection Police are not yet able to confirm whether the woman was named in the order or if any orders were in place protecting her Anyone with information about the incident is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations in the Diocese were a joyful and meaningful occasion as local Catholics gathered across Western Sydney and Blue Mountains communities to celebrate the richness of culture The Diocese of Parramatta is one of the most multicultural communities in Australia with generations of people speaking a variety of Asian languages There are around 4,000 Chinese-speaking Catholics and 4,000 speaking other Asian languages in the Diocese The dinner banquet included speeches by Fr Ephraim Lam Chinese chaplain for the Diocese and parish priest at St Monica’s North Parramatta It also featured performances by local Chinese youth “It was a wonderful night,” Fr Ephraim said Performers at the Chinese New Year dinner banquet at Tingha Place Fr Ephraim Lam and Vicar General Fr Fernando Montano posed for a pic with the night’s performers giving red envelopes to the lions as they moved through the restaurant the community gathered again to celebrate the Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at St Monica’s Church Vicar General Fr Fernando Montano celebrated the Mass with Fr Ephraim Lam Fr Fernando and Fr Ephraim celebrate Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at St Monica’s “We must be the beacon of God’s office to Christ we must realise that we too will be a sign that will be opposed by others especially on issues on the sanctity of human life Fr Fernando Montano says a homily in Cantonese ana delicious lunch to bring fortune to all Fr Fernando reflected on the Year of the Snake its meaning in Chinese culture and in John 3:14-15 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”  Lion dancing procession following Mass at St Monica’s Fr Fernando said Jesus was alluding to the story in Numbers 21:8-9 where we are told that “Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake “The snake represented death and suffering in Numbers 21 The bronze snake was thus a symbol or reminder of such death and suffering,” he said “By asking us to ‘look to’ this negative symbol of death and suffering with eyes of positive faith and hope in God we are being nurtured to view the negative reality of death and suffering with a positive faith to God to usher in a life of wholeness the snake has a lot to add to our faith,” he said “May the year of the snake be to us a year where we preach our faith in perfect balance of words and actions and may be a year where we are willing to renew ourselves always in the faith of Christ.”   Check out the gallery of photos of the Dinner Banquet and Mass celebrations on our Flickr page Twenty-nine-year-old shot in ‘execution-style murder’ in Harold Street in western Sydney early on Monday A well-known organised crime figure – known as the “angel of death” – was gunned down in an “execution-style murder” in Sydney triggering fears among police the incident could escalate gangland tensions In what police believe is the first organised crime-related murder in the city in six months who police said is connected to several organised crime networks was shot dead outside an apartment building on Harold Street in Parramatta in a “hail of bullets” about 3.30am on Monday “He was known colloquially as the angel of death,” a New South Wales police detective superintendent Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email There’s no surprise to the police that he was murdered in the way he has been murdered “So far we’ve established that he was visiting an associate at Parramatta where he was shot down in a hail of bullets [an] execution-style murder in this car park,” he said it’s a large number of shots have been fired at Mr Ayoub and then more than one young man has then left the scene A second crime scene was set up in nearby Granville where a stolen sedan was found alight about 3.45am Police said they were investigating whether the burnt-out car Doherty said police had also received reports of more than one person being seen heading towards a white SUV on A’Beckett Street in Granville “Normally in these organised crime murders it’s more than one person involved … that execute the plan and commit the murder,” Doherty said “There’s also people that obtain the vehicles the ones that pull the strings and arrange the murder.” Doherty said police were “saturating the area” as part of efforts to identify “who’s responsible” but also “in an effort to prevent and disrupt any further shootings and ensure the safety of the community” Police said there were a large number of potential motives for the shooting and a large number of suspects was assisting police with their line of inquiries “It’s obviously an early hours visit for an associate so we’re looking at that information,” he said we’re not saying that this person had any connection to the murder but it’s obviously a line of inquiry to make; how the people responsible for the shooting knew that Mr Ayoub was going to be there.” Police are urging anyone who was near Harold Street in Parramatta or A’Beckett Street in Granville between 3.30am and 3.45am who may have “seen something or may know something” to contact Crime Stoppers they’ve been informed … they’re incredibly upset and trying to absorb the information,” Doherty said In 2018, Ayoub was charged with a number of offences in relation to the murder of 15-year-old Brayden Dillon, who was shot in a revenge killing in 2017 Ayoub’s charges included being an accessory after the fact to murder knowingly participating in a criminal group and doing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice “Certainly we will have officers working around the clock to not only investigate the homicide but also whether any retribution could be envisaged and that’s always at the front of our mind.”Sydney was hit with more than a dozen tit-for-tat gangland killings beginning in 2020 as rival crime organisations fought for control of the city’s lucrative drug trade.But investigators say there has been a lull in the carnage in recent months This article was amended on 28 August 2024 to correctly refer to A’Beckett Street in Granville rather than “Beckett Street” as an earlier version said By Matt Wade and Anthony Segaert a vibrant restaurant strip at Harris Park in the electorate of Parramatta some local businesses are hedging their bets on the May 3 federal election a culinary landmark in the suburb for 25 years hang corflute posters for both Labor member Andrew Charlton and his Liberal challenger Katie Mullens But when Mullens turned up at the restaurant for a meal the restaurant owner the restaurant he owns in Harris Park.Credit: Wolter Peeters “I don’t mind [who wins] – as long as whoever wins looks after us.” Gaba’s equivocation is emblematic of the attitude many locals have in the diverse seat which will be a key battleground in the federal poll professor of Australian politics at Sydney University says the vote in the Parramatta region has a tendency to “fluctuate” between Labor and Liberal at every level of government: federal “It’s not really a seat that either major party can feel comfortable about holding,” he says Parramatta was one of a swag of western Sydney seats the Liberals snatched from Labor It remained in Liberal hands for two more elections before swinging back to the ALP in 2004 The state electorate of Parramatta was Liberal from 2011 until 2023, when it switched to Labor and helped Chris Minns to become NSW premier. But the next year, following local council elections, a Liberal Lord Mayor, Martin Zaiter, was elected to replace a Labor predecessor Another close contest for the federal seat looms on May 3 The incumbent, Andrew Charlton, made headlines in 2022 when Labor leader Anthony Albanese parachuted the Oxford-educated economist in as Labor’s candidate for the seat to replace retiring ALP stalwart Julie Owens Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton hands out flyers at the train station at Harris Park Charlton had worked as senior economic advisor to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd before founding a successful consultancy called AlphaBeta Advisors (later acquired by professional services giant Accenture for a large sum) But he was an outsider who lived in the eastern suburbs Despite criticism of Albanese’s “captain’s pick” Charlton won the seat amid a nationwide swing to the ALP This time a federal redistribution has sliced Charlton’s margin by almost 1 percentage point to 3.7 per cent making Parramatta one of the ALP’s most vulnerable seats in NSW Many families in the district have been hit hard by cost of living pressures “Parramatta is the sort of electorate where the debate around cost of living will be important,” says Smith Charlton’s Liberal opponent is Katie Mullens, a lawyer who has lived and worked in the district for 17 years. It’s not her first political tilt: Mullens stood for the state seat of Parramatta in 2023 but lost to Donna Davis, a former Labor lord mayor. Liberal candidate Katie Mullens says she’s “hearing the same message over and over: people are really struggling.”Credit: Peter Rae She is running a cost-of-living campaign: food and petrol prices have become so expensive that people are telling her they are choosing between prescription medications “I’m hearing the same message over and over: people are really struggling,” she says You should be able to aspire to buy a house have a family – and you shouldn’t be in survival mode living paycheck to paycheck Charlton agrees living costs are top of mind for Parramatta voters but argues access to health care “That’s why we’ve made health a big focus of this government Just before the Herald interviewed Charlton, he was handing flyers to voters about two “bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinics” recently established in the area Peter Dutton visited the electorate of Parramatta in the first week of the election campaign The Liberal leader must win a clutch of marginal mortgage-belt electorates such as this one if he is to become prime minister Katie Mullens (right) with Liberal leader Peter Dutton as he fills up in Carlingford.Credit: James Brickwood A beaming Mullens stood at her leader’s shoulder as he filled a white ute with fuel at a petrol station in Carlingford She then joined Dutton at a press conference where he spruiked the Coalition’s pledge to cut fuel excise and other policies to ease cost of living pressures A mobile billboard parked nearby carried a photo of Mullins and the promise: “Every litre 25c cheaper by voting Liberal” Mullens describes Dutton as a “firm and compassionate leader” and mentions him frequently during an interview with the Herald Albanese also spent time in western Sydney early in the election campaign; Charlton says he is popular in the area “The prime minister has always been an asset here in Parramatta,” he says “I think people like his values and they like him.” Andrew Charlton (second from right) campaigning in his electorate with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in March.Credit: Steven Siewert According to election betting markets Charlton is favoured to win the seat the executive director of the Centre for Western Sydney at Western Sydney University “We’ve been watching these polls in western Sydney for a long time [and] we’ve seen an accelerated drift away from the major parties,” he says and I think seats like Parramatta will throw up some surprises simply by way of the influence of preference flows through independents “If they are drifting away at an accelerated rate from major parties what does that mean for candidates like Charlton Bureau of Statistics data recently showed the centre point of Greater Sydney’s sprawling population is in the electorate of Parramatta (at the suburb of Rosehill) The seat has been contested since Australia’s first federal parliament in 1901 although redistributions have pushed its boundaries back and forth Several high-profile members have held Parramatta including former prime minister Sir Joseph Cook and Sir Garfield Barwick who resigned the seat in 1964 to become Chief Justice of the High Court Charlton points out the seat includes a “full on” central business district the vast Westmead health and innovation precinct varied suburbs and diverse pockets of vibrant cultural life “I feel incredibly lucky to be the member of Parramatta,” he says “I don’t think there’s another seat in Australia that has all that.” Around 60 per cent of those in the Parramatta district were born overseas and the electorate has large diasporas from China and India Charlton published a book about Australia-India relations which he says was inspired by the Indian community in his electorate Mullens won’t say what she thinks of Charlton’s three years in office but her posters plastered in shop windows around the area provide a hint: “A PROUD LOCAL” Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter \\u201CIt\\u2019s not the party I usually go for \\u201CI don\\u2019t mind [who wins] \\u2013 as long as whoever wins looks after us.\\u201D Gaba\\u2019s equivocation is emblematic of the attitude many locals have in the diverse seat which will be a key battleground in the federal poll says the vote in the Parramatta region has a tendency to \\u201Cfluctuate\\u201D between Labor and Liberal at every level of government: federal \\u201CIt\\u2019s not really a seat that either major party can feel comfortable about holding,\\u201D he says The state electorate of Parramatta was Liberal from 2011 until 2023 when it switched to Labor and helped Chris Minns to become NSW premier when Labor leader Anthony Albanese parachuted the Oxford-educated economist in as Labor\\u2019s candidate for the seat to replace retiring ALP stalwart Julie Owens Despite criticism of Albanese\\u2019s \\u201Ccaptain\\u2019s pick\\u201D This time a federal redistribution has sliced Charlton\\u2019s margin by almost 1 percentage point to 3.7 per cent making Parramatta one of the ALP\\u2019s most vulnerable seats in NSW \\u201CParramatta is the sort of electorate where the debate around cost of living will be important,\\u201D says Smith Charlton\\u2019s Liberal opponent is Katie Mullens a lawyer who has lived and worked in the district for 17 years It\\u2019s not her first political tilt: Mullens stood for the state seat of Parramatta in 2023 \\u201CI\\u2019m hearing the same message over and over: people are really struggling,\\u201D she says have a family \\u2013 and you shouldn\\u2019t be in survival mode living paycheck to paycheck \\u201CWhen people are struggling financially You also see mental health issues rise.\\u201D \\u201CThat\\u2019s why we\\u2019ve made health a big focus of this government and a really big focus locally,\\u201D he says Just before the Herald interviewed Charlton he was handing flyers to about two \\u201Cbulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinics\\u201D recently established in the area A beaming Mullens stood at her leader\\u2019s shoulder as he filled a white ute with fuel at a petrol station in Carlingford She then joined Dutton at a press conference where he spruiked the Coalition\\u2019s pledge to cut fuel excise and other policies to ease cost of living pressures A mobile billboard parked nearby carried a photo of Mullins and the promise: \\u201CEvery litre 25c cheaper by voting Liberal\\u201D Mullens describes Dutton as a \\u201Cfirm and compassionate leader\\u201D and mentions him frequently during an interview with the Herald \\u201CThe prime minister has always been an asset here in Parramatta,\\u201D he says \\u201CI think people like his values and they like him.\\u201D \\u201CWe\\u2019ve been watching these polls in western Sydney for a long time [and] we\\u2019ve seen an accelerated drift away from the major parties,\\u201D he says \\u201CI think we\\u2019ll continue to see that \\u201CIf they are drifting away at an accelerated rate from major parties Bureau of Statistics data the centre point of Greater Sydney\\u2019s sprawling population is in the electorate of Parramatta (at the suburb of Rosehill) The seat has been contested since Australia\\u2019s first federal parliament in 1901 Charlton points out the seat includes a \\u201Cfull on\\u201D central business district \\u201CI feel incredibly lucky to be the member of Parramatta,\\u201D he says \\u201CI don\\u2019t think there\\u2019s another seat in Australia that has all that.\\u201D Charlton and his family moved to Parramatta before the 2022 election but he has made headlines for various property purchases since winning the seat Mullens won\\u2019t say what she thinks of Charlton\\u2019s three years in office but her posters plastered in shop windows around the area provide a hint: \\u201CA PROUD LOCAL\\u201D Cut through the noise of federal politics with news The partner of a woman seen “hanging” from a seventh-storey balcony in Sydney’s west moments before her death on Thursday morning has been released without charge after spending several hours in custody Speaking outside Parramatta police station on Thursday afternoon Detective Superintendent Barry Vincent said the death was being treated as suspicious but that details were “complex” that a female person was hanging from the balcony,” he said The man had an apprehended violence order in place for his protection He was arrested on Thursday before being released without charge pending further investigations into his partner’s death there were previous interactions with the police,” Vincent said Police were called at 11.45pm by someone in the apartment on River Road West in Parramatta Police at the Parramatta apartment block.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The phone number from which the call was made did not belong to the man Police called back twice and spoke to the man They told the man they would attend the apartment later that evening police received calls from a passerby that a woman was “hanging” from her balcony Police arrived within minutes and the woman was found lying in the driveway with multiple serious injuries Despite the efforts of police officers who performed CPR on the woman The scene at Parramatta on Thursday morning.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Vincent said a strike force had been established to investigate the circumstances of the fall and the police response He said the two-hour delay between the first call and their attendance would be investigated but the initial call didn’t warrant an emergency response Neighbour Michael Wehbe said he heard a single I just woke up this morning to see what happened here.” Neighbour Sai Pamula said he heard a “loud smash” and a crash through the trees early in the morning before later seeing the woman on the ground “I saw police doing CPR and she was not breathing,” he said Another neighbour also saw emergency services performing CPR on the woman after she landed on the raised garden bed “It was pretty shocking to see [that] outside your own building,” he said Police are interviewing residents of the building as a crime scene is examined at street level They are urging residents who heard anything or have further details to contact police Lifeline: 13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter The partner of a woman seen \\u201Changing\\u201D from a seventh-storey balcony in Sydney\\u2019s west moments before her death on Thursday morning has been released without charge after spending several hours in custody Detective Superintendent Barry Vincent said the death was being treated as suspicious but that details were \\u201Ccomplex\\u201D that a female person was hanging from the balcony,\\u201D he said He was arrested on Thursday before being released without charge pending further investigations into his partner\\u2019s death there were previous interactions with the police,\\u201D Vincent said police received calls from a passerby that a woman was \\u201Changing\\u201D from her balcony but the initial call didn\\u2019t warrant an emergency response I just woke up this morning to see what happened here.\\u201D Neighbour Sai Pamula said he heard a \\u201Cloud smash\\u201D and a crash through the trees early in the morning before later seeing the woman on the ground \\u201CI saw police doing CPR and she was not breathing,\\u201D he said \\u201CIt was pretty shocking to see [that] outside your own building,\\u201D he said Plans to create a thriving new transport hub in the heart of Parramatta are another step closer to approval with Sydney Metro lodging a Response to Submissions Report with the Department of Planning The new metro station and proposed over and adjacent station development at Parramatta is a vital part of the revitalisation of the Parramatta CBD Sydney Metro’s Western Sydney Airport Line reaches major milestone with completion of elevated viaducts Doors open on hundreds of new homes above Gadigal Station 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. The parish of St Monica’s North Parramatta has been going strong for 130 years and for 100 of those years Peter Handcock’s family has been a big part of it The children of Peter and his wife Kris are the third generation to be part of the parish which has undergone a lot of change over the decades Probably the biggest change has been the growth in the Chinese community which has worshipped at St Monica’s now for more than 30 years What began as a separate chaplaincy for Chinese-speaking worshippers is today much more integrated with bilingual services led by Parish Priest Fr Ephraim Lam Peter says the seeds of this unique parish were planted in the early days “The Parish has always embraced change and welcomed new parishioners,” he says Young catechumens prepare for their confirmation during the 130th anniversary celebration Mass at St Monica’s Parish Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta “Our pioneer priests through their bravery resilience and determination laid the foundations for future priests and those qualities transcended to the parishioners who still have that resilience today.”  believes having English- and Chinese-speaking communities so united is something the whole parish is very proud of “The spread of cultures united by the same belief is something very special and unique to our parish,” she says “I have made life-long friendships through church and the community truly feels like an extended family to me.”  This sense of community is also felt by the young people in her youth group who “grow deeper in their faith and develop stronger friendships” who has been attending St Monica’s for about six years loves that the church always feels quiet and peaceful but the people are always friendly I am close to someone I know and have come to love as my family,” she says She also runs the parish art group which meets after the vigil Mass every Saturday night one of many opportunities for parishioners and their friends to get involved in parish life Vera says Fr Ephraim is very encouraging of parishioners getting involved more deeply in parish life – from Bible Brekkie on selected Sunday mornings an online zoom study being run twice a month “He is always working and always smiling.”  Rebecca says Fr Ephraim’s encouragement and support of the youth group has seen him attend every youth camp since he joined the parish “It is really heartwarming to see his care and consideration for the youth of the church,” she says Fr Ephraim is the second Parish Priest to also hold the role of Chaplain of the Chinese Community “Fr Fernando’s drive and enthusiasm contributed greatly to the success of the joint venture which has been followed on with the same vigour by Fr Ephraim Lam,” Peter says “He has not only embraced this venture but has also enhanced it.”  says that Fr Ephraim’s mastery of English and Cantonese “enable liturgical servers from both the local parish and the Chinese Chaplaincy to work together to celebrate bilingual liturgies A view of the 130th anniversary celebration Mass at St Monica’s Parish many parishioners are turning their mind to Christmas and the many ways they love celebrating this Holy time at St Monica’s a Nativity scene with a manger is placed just inside the entrance to the church Then at Christmas Mass on Holy Night a baby Jesus is placed in the manger during the entrance procession This is “a very beautiful integration with the liturgy,” he says One of Vera’s favourite Christmas traditions at St Monica’s is the lighting of hundreds of tiny tea lights around the altar Tabernacle and the whole church during Midnight Mass “When the [main] lights are turned out it is a truly beautiful sight…totally one of the highlights of the year.”  Rebecca remembers fondly the times when she and her mother would go to nursing homes with the church choir to sing carols “Christmas should really be a joyous occasion for all and I am glad I was able to be a part of those moments,” she says their favourite Christmas tradition in the parish is helping collect and make up hampers of food and gifts for the needy and then “to actually deliver them and see the faces light up when they’re delivered” “The parish has shown over our history that we’re all God’s creatures regardless of race and are united in one single commitment to adore and give thanks to God,” he says Jarryd Hayne has sold another piece of his once formidable property empire Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has let go of one of the last traces of his once mighty property portfolio as he attempts a comeback in the lower tiers of Rugby League dual key 16th floor Koi apartment in Parramatta secured $690,000 having cost $600,000 The one-time Parramatta Eels player once owned a property portfolio worth $5m but had been selling off his investments in recent years even giving instructions for one of his sales while in jail Hayne’s property portfolio peaked with investments across Sydney’s eastern suburbs The Central Coast as well as the two apartments in Parramatta MORE: $5m coup that could decide Daly Cherry-Evans’ future Hayne had owned two units in a Parramatta building Many of these properties were purchased while Hayne was earning north of $1m a year both with the Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans making him the highest paid player in the NRL at the one stage But his latest Parramatta sale has meant Mr Hayne’s $5m property investments have diminished to just that Central Coast home – a Umina Beach cottage occupied by his mother and where he was reportedly staying while awaiting sentencing for a sexual-assault conviction in 2021 Hayne won an appeal against that conviction in 2024 and was released from prison Selling agents Ray Fayad and Peter Younan at Laing & Simmons had marketed his latest Parramatta sale as one apartment split into two self-contained units on one title with a potential rental return of $1050 per week MORE: NRL stars making mega paydays off the field It was one of the two apartments he bought off the plan in Parramatta in 2013 when he was playing with the Eels The apartment had briefly been listed it for sale in 2021 with marketing materials describing it as a “perfect investment opportunity with a potential rental of $760 per week.” Hayne’s other Koi apartment that cost $605,000 was sold in 2021 for $670,000 after giving the sale instructions for the 17th floor apartment from his prison cell The building was completed in 2015 by Merfad Capital It is located 400m to Parramatta River Walk 850m to Parramatta Westfield and 900m to Parramatta Station Hayne’s selling spiral started in 2015 when he sold his first Sydney home after quitting the NRL to chase his short-lived American football dream MORE: Inside the NRL’s slickest homes He sold a two-storey terrace in Sutherland Street St Peters for $995,000 He had bought it in 2007 for $527,500 while still a teenager Two years later he sold a Paddington terrace he had bought in 2013 for $1.13m after a renovation The $2.85m sale coincided with Hayne’s move to Queensland to play with the Gold Coast Titans The Paddington terrace was originally a two-bedroom one-bathroom pad before it was transformed inside and out three-bathroom designer’s home with a bright pink front door MORE: Footy star Corey Parker lists home full of Broncos memorabilia he offloaded a Darlinghurst investment terrace which he attempted to rent out four different times was described by real estate agents as an “inner city haven tucked away in a quiet whose recent comeback with the Wentworthville Magpies in the third-tier Ron Massey Cup still owns a Central Coast property occupied by his mum MORE: Hidden public school premium costing parents $3m Hayne bought many of his properties while a star for the Eels MORE: $234k a year: The tradie ‘to blame’ for housing crisis It was bought in 2010 for $388,750 with approval secured in 2019 for a $120,000 granny flat Hayne was first found guilty in 2021 of sexual assault and jailed In 2024 Hayne won an appeal against his conviction and was released from jail Last June it was announced that Hayne would not stand trial for a fourth time 16 Feb 2015 • 3m read • View Author High-rise-schools-tipped-for-Parramatta-NSW-needs-1736087007.png If all goes according to NSW Premier Mike Baird’s plan a 15-storey high-rise school and an adjacent four-storey primary school will be built in Parramatta by 2019 with the combined ability to house 3,000 students Arthur Phillip High at Macquarie St Parramatta and its neighbour Parramatta Public School will both be rebuilt as part of a $100 million development announced on Thursday by Baird The development forms part of the Government’s $1 billion Rebuilding NSW Schools Fund which will have a focus on building innovative The government says that it is working with world-leading educators designers and architects to create “classrooms for the future” It comes at a time of large-scale growth for both the Parramatta CBD which has seen a population growth of 98 per cent in the past ten years which is tipped to have 4,000 new apartments by 2025 Both schools are reportedly at capacity and have large enrolment waiting lists however neither has the land necessary to expand out to meet their growing student population Above: An artist’s impression of the new Parramatta high-rise school Below: Arthur Phillip High School on Macquarie St will be expanded from 1300 to 2000 students after the high-rise redevelopment While building up is the preferred option for the NSW Government Baird did emphasise that the development will only go ahead if his government was given a mandate to sell the state's electricity poles and wires at the upcoming March election The development will provide a new high school for up to 2,000 students on the existing Arthur Phillip High School site; and a new primary school for up to 1,000 students on the existing Parramatta Public School site The projects will be built in stages to limit disturbance to the already over capacity Arthur Phillip High and Parramatta Public Schools The Sydney Business Chamber has welcomed the new education plan launched by the NSW Liberal & Nationals calling it a “a step in the right direction toward transforming the city and the education sector.” However while the Chamber commended the idea for a high-rise school in the CBD they would prefer it was redeveloped on the fringes of the city freeing up CBD land for business and workforce it would be better to see the Arthur Phillip High school and the Parramatta public school redeveloped on the edge of the CBD This would free up very large parcels of land in the Parramatta CBD for jobs,” reads a statement on their website The high-rise schools come at a time of large-scale growth for Parramatta over the next ten years with more than 4,000 new apartments planned for North Parramatta over that period. Rooted, resilient, resonant: Off-grid family living amongst the rugged Australian landscape Using DecoBatten®’s latest profile on The Seaside Sanctuary Solid Nordic softwood in interior design: Sustainable solutions for joinery, flooring and wall panelling Construction of resort-style clubhouse begins at AVID’s over 50s lifestyle precinct in Fraser Coast Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. Heritage advocates and a federal Labor MP in Sydney’s west are urging councillors to reject a plan to allow apartment blocks up to 22 storeys near the Parramatta Female Factory arguing it could imperil a long-running campaign to add the historic sandstone precinct to the World Heritage List Developer Peterose Pty Ltd wants to rezone a parcel of land on the corner of O’Connell Street and Albert Street in North Parramatta to allow for the construction of three buildings topping 77 metres The proposal seeks to increase building heights to allow buildings up to 77 metres on a site (in the foreground) adjacent to the Parramatta Female Factory precinct (in the background) The Parramatta Local Planning Panel unanimously endorsed the proposal in May; however the plan is strongly opposed by the North Parramatta Residents Action Group (NPRAG) the Parramatta branch of the National Trust (NSW) NPRAG spokeswoman Suzette Meade said they worried the scale of the development could jeopardise a push from state and federal governments to get the Parramatta Female Factory site on the UNESCO World Heritage List “It is crucial that no potential developments compromise the current process of UNESCO assessing the World Heritage listing of the Parramatta Female Factory,” Meade said The battle underscores debate about balancing Sydney’s need for more homes with protecting its heritage sites The Parramatta Female Factory opened in 1818 and housed thousands of female convicts orphans and vulnerable girls and young women – many of whom endured poor conditions and abuse The precinct also at times included a mental asylum a school for orphans and an industrial school City of Parramatta council staff have recommended the proposal for the nearby site proceed to the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure for so-called gateway determination Councillors will debate the matter at a meeting on Monday Greens councillor Phil Bradley said he opposed the proposal “subject to any compelling arguments to the contrary” “I’m concerned this development would compromise the World Heritage values so richly deserved of the Parramatta Female Factory site,” he said The Parramatta Female Factory precinct was added to Australia’s tentative World Heritage List in September The federal government added the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct to Australia’s list of tentative World Heritage items which is the first step towards a full listing It must remain on that list for a year before a World Heritage nomination can proceed Our Local Community councillor Michelle Garrard said she had been “inundated” with complaints from residents about the proposal and the council should not make any decision lightly “There are many unknowns about whether any development within the vicinity of the Female Factory would have an impact on the potential World Heritage Listing because we don’t have the criteria of what makes it world significant We don’t know if the view lines would be significant.” NPRAG said the proposal had “not adequately considered the implications its scale and nature could impose on the future listing by UNESCO” The Parramatta Female Factory was one of several state and church-run institutions at the site The group said planning legislation did not require authorities to consider World Heritage nominations but the “significant time and financial resources” that had been committed to the nomination should not be overlooked “We recognise that NSW must build more homes to house future generations; Parramatta is already doing its fair share,” the letter said A council report said increasing maximum building heights from the existing limit of 66 metres would help boost housing supply and support retail facilities while a proposed concept design “suitably addresses built form and height transition to the adjacent Heritage Conservation Area” The site’s proximity to Parramatta’s city centre and public open space made it a suitable location for more intensive development Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton acknowledged the city needed more housing which he supported in other parts of Parramatta but said that must not come “at any cost or at any place” “This proposal would see developments on one of Australia’s most important heritage sites while areas along Church Street Parramatta state Labor MP Donna Davis did not respond to a request for comment who is chair of the Australian Heritage Council said he thought there was “a debate to be had about the landscape” when he was asked about the proposal “I think as we cultivate and nurture sites connected with the convict heritage of this country it will bring attention to protecting the settings and that is something that UNESCO would focus on and which we’d have to be ready to answer,” Carr told ABC Radio last week The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here Heritage advocates and a federal Labor MP in Sydney\\u2019s west are urging councillors to reject a plan to allow apartment blocks up to 22 storeys near the Parramatta Female Factory Developer Peterose Pty Ltd wants to rezone a parcel of land on the corner of O\\u2019Connell Street and Albert Street in North Parramatta to allow for the construction of three buildings topping 77 metres \\u201CIt is crucial that no potential developments compromise the current process of UNESCO assessing the World Heritage listing of the Parramatta Female Factory,\\u201D Meade said The battle underscores debate about balancing Sydney\\u2019s need for more homes with protecting its heritage sites orphans and vulnerable girls and young women \\u2013 many of whom endured poor conditions and abuse Greens councillor Phil Bradley said he opposed the proposal \\u201Csubject to any compelling arguments to the contrary\\u201D \\u201CI\\u2019m concerned this development would compromise the World Heritage values so richly deserved of the Parramatta Female Factory site,\\u201D he said The federal government to Australia\\u2019s list of tentative World Heritage items Our Local Community councillor Michelle Garrard said she had been \\u201Cinundated\\u201D with complaints from residents about the proposal \\u201CThere are many unknowns about whether any development within the vicinity of the Female Factory would have an impact on the potential World Heritage Listing because we don\\u2019t have the criteria of what makes it world significant We don\\u2019t know if the view lines would be significant.\\u201D NPRAG said the proposal had \\u201Cnot adequately considered the implications its scale and nature could impose on the future listing by UNESCO\\u201D but the \\u201Csignificant time and financial resources\\u201D that had been committed to the nomination should not be overlooked \\u201CWe recognise that NSW must build more homes to house future generations; Parramatta is already doing its fair share,\\u201D the letter said while a proposed concept design \\u201Csuitably addresses built form and height transition to the adjacent Heritage Conservation Area\\u201D The site\\u2019s proximity to Parramatta\\u2019s city centre but said that must not come \\u201Cat any cost or at any place\\u201D \\u201CThis proposal would see developments on one of Australia\\u2019s most important heritage sites while areas along Church Street are left underutilised,\\u201D Charlton said said he thought there was \\u201Ca debate to be had about the landscape\\u201D when he was asked about the proposal \\u201CI think as we cultivate and nurture sites connected with the convict heritage of this country it will bring attention to protecting the settings and that is something that UNESCO would focus on and which we\\u2019d have to be ready to answer,\\u201D Carr told ABC Radio last week The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories reaching well into the 40s as residents braced for the prospect of Australian heat records being shattered and waited for a cool change that was promised to blow in from South Australia sometime after dark but even without the blast of the inland heat or the thick humidity that closed in on the city’s eastern suburbs scientists found surface temperatures at the play area at Doyle Ground in Parramatta were hot enough to cause a young child serious injury A thermal camera image of Professor Sebastian Pfautsch among play equipment at Doyle Ground in North Parramatta.Credit: James Brickwood an expert in urban planning at the University of Western Sydney who has been gathering data on the growing dangers of heat in our sprawling city took a reading off the surface of a piece of gym equipment It was 98 degrees – easily enough to burn a child’s hand Pfautsch is collaborating with colleagues from UNSW on a study called “Too Hot To Play” trying to find out at which temperatures Sydney’s parks empty as children and carers are driven indoors but sadly it is dangerous,” said Pfautsch as he gathered readings at the park with colleagues is quantifying the impacts of urban heat on playgrounds around Sydney.Credit: James Brickwood He recorded dangerous temperatures on a range of surfaces in the park including the soft rubber matting beneath play equipment as well as bark mulch Even the bare earth where grass had withered in the sun was too hot for small children and you’re on your hands for about five seconds the heat radiating out of all those surfaces means that the lower to the ground which in turn means that toddlers gambolling at their parents’ waists are experiencing higher temperatures yet his observations to date make him think that people will spend time in a park until it reaches about 30 degrees; after that This means that a temperature increase of one or two degrees can drastically reduce the amount of space young children and their carers can use in the city and he fears for what this means as climate change intensifies By 2060, western Sydney might be facing an unbearable 100 to 160 days above 35 degrees in summer, Pfautsch predicts in a new paper published in the journal Weather and Climate Extremes parks like the one he visited today and large parts of our cities would only be bearable with far more planting heat-absorbent surfaces and use of irrigation systems Everything needs to become greener and wetter the heat battering Sydney and south-eastern Australia is already being accelerated by climate change 478 hot days were recorded between 2000 and 2020 alone High temperatures across much of Australia at present have been caused by a high-pressure system over central Australia where cloudless skies over the dry interior have allowed temperatures to build up over an extended period Riccardo Paolini from UNSW and Mrs Mahya Parchami are part of the playground study.Credit: James Brickwood she believes Australians are already being hit by climate change the La Nina weather conditions have masked the growing climate heat without a La Nina reducing temperatures “the climate gloves are off” but they’re going to become – and are becoming already – longer hotter and more intense and more frequent.” High temperatures and especially slow-moving heatwaves are already the most lethal extreme weather phenomenon Australia faces Globally, 2024 is on track to be the hottest post-industrial year and the first in which temperatures have been 1.5 degrees higher than average, according to Copernicus, the European Union’s weather service Its data shows November 2024 was the second-hottest November on record after last November Infrared image shows how hot playground equipment becomes on a summer day in Parramatta.Credit: Sebastian Pfautsch The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the intense heat will recede across South Australia and Victoria on Tuesday before a southerly buster causes temperatures to fall by between five and 15 degrees later in the day Get to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter. but even without the blast of the inland heat or the thick humidity that closed in on the city\\u2019s eastern suburbs It was 98 degrees \\u2013 easily enough to burn a child\\u2019s hand Pfautsch is collaborating with colleagues from UNSW on a study called trying to find out at which temperatures Sydney\\u2019s parks empty as children and carers are driven indoors but sadly it is dangerous,\\u201D said Pfautsch as he gathered readings at the park with colleagues and you\\u2019re on your hands for about five seconds It is definitely dangerous,\\u201D he said which in turn means that toddlers gambolling at their parents\\u2019 waists are experiencing higher temperatures Pfautsch\\u2019s research is not yet complete western Sydney might be facing an unbearable 100 to 160 days above 35 degrees in summer says Monash University\\u2019s Dr Ailie Gallant without a La Nina reducing temperatures \\u201Cthe climate gloves are off\\u201D \\u201CThis is just a manifestation of that but they\\u2019re going to become \\u2013 and are becoming already \\u2013 longer hotter and more intense and more frequent.\\u201D 2024 is on track to be the hottest post-industrial year and the first in which temperatures have been 1.5 degrees higher than average Get to the heart of what\\u2019s happening with climate change and the environment New Parramatta and Robina locations to feature complete Segway product line and elevated customer experience one of the world's leading manufacturers of micro-mobility solutions is thrilled to announce the recent expansion of its flagship retail footprint in Australia with the successful launch of its new store in Parramatta This opening follows the Robina store's launch in Queensland further solidifying Segway-Ninebot's presence across Australia marks Segway-Ninebot's first standalone location in New South Wales this vibrant new store is an exciting addition to Segway-Ninebot's growing network eager to experience test rides and explore the full range of Segway-Ninebot products The strong customer turnout led to over 100 transactions on the opening day demonstrating strong recognition and excitement for Segway-Ninebot products Customers now have access to the complete Segway-Ninebot product line including kick scooters suitable for all ages and the recently launched Segway e-motorbike range With the widest selection of Segway-Ninebot products and expert staff on hand the store provides customers with exceptional hands-on service experience Head of Segway-Ninebot Australia said "By integrating into local communities through these new locations we aim to not only improve customer access to our products but also contribute to the community's vibrancy and mobility Our presence in these local areas is intended to enhance the convenience and enjoyment of micro-mobility solutions ultimately making them an integral part of the community's lifestyle and daily routines." Special Opening PromotionsDuring the opening period special discounts are available on select items Customers can enjoy 20% off on top of promotional prices making it the perfect opportunity to elevate your micro-mobility experience at an excellent value all products are available for test rides in-store Find the perfect Segway-Ninebot product that suits you best and enjoy these exclusive discounts while exploring the full range The Segway-Ninebot Flagship stores in Australia as below: Segway-Ninebot Parramatta StoreShop 5/ 88 Church Street Parramatta and light up the streets with the all-new Segway-Ninebot C2 Lite one of the world's leading manufacturers of .. the global leader in the micromobility transportation solutions and robotic service industries is announcing its brand-new ZT series.. Transportation, Trucking & Railroad Automotive Retail Computer & Electronics Do not sell or share my personal information: