Error: no decision tree source folder detected Two days after the Woolworths Metro store in Pendle Hill closed, a new major supermarket has announced it will be moving in. The community is celebrating a massive win this week after the IGA revealed it will be replacing the much-loved Woolies store. It comes after the supermarket giant announced earlier this year that the store would officially close in March. The news frustrated many locals, particularly seniors, who rely on the convenience of the local store to get their groceries. In the weeks that followed, a passionate community-led campaign ramped up its fight to save the supermarket. A petition, which was spearheaded by Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton, was signed by over 1,000 people in support of the store remaining open. “For me, saving this supermarket was an absolute top priority, because it is the lifeblood of the community,” Charlton told Parra News. “I’ve spoken to all the other shopkeepers, I’ve walked up and down the street, all the other shopkeepers are very keen to have the supermarket. “A number of them have put petitions in their windows because they know the supermarket brings traffic to the street… they don’t want people getting in their cars and driving to Wentworthville.” Despite the outcry from the community, Woolworths remained committed to the closure, which they said was due to a reduction in foot traffic over a number of years. On Friday, March 7 – the final day before the Metro store permanently closed – the shelves were bare as shoppers picked up the last of what they could before they lost their local supermarket. But on Monday, March 10, Pendle Hill residents were told they won’t have to wait long for a new major supermarket to take its place, with the IGA expected to open at the same spot within weeks. “While I’m sad to see Woolies leave, I’m thrilled that IGA has answered the call. They will step in quickly and open a store within the next several weeks,” Charlton added. “Many local residents rely on the supermarket for their staples.” Run by franchisee Phil Whitehead, the new supermarket will be known as Whiteheads IGA. “When the previous supermarket pulled out, Andrew Charlton got straight on the phone to us. He told us about the importance of having a supermarket in Pendle Hill. IGA is grateful to Andrew for advocating for the community,” Whitehead said. Familiar with the area, Whitehead has his own special connection to the former Woolworths Pendle Hill store, having worked there as an employee early on in his career. Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards. We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia. We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home! fun and practical.Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.SBSTamil News Pendle Hill residents are fighting to keep their local supermarket in the heart of the community after Woolworths revealed it would permanently close the store next month Woolworths has announced it will shut its much-loved Metro store on Pendle Way on March 7 with the supermarket giant confirming there are currently no plans to reopen a new store in the future “Our Pendle Hill Metro store will close on March 7 this year as it’s seen reduced foot traffic for a number of years,” a Woolworths Group spokesperson told Parra News “The store will continue to trade as normal with team members beginning the process to be redeployed over the coming months “We’re thankful for the opportunity to serve the Pendle Hill community and hope to see locals at our neighbouring stores including Wentworthville and Toongabbie.” News of the Metro’s imminent shut down has left many in the community outraged One Pendle Hill resident of over 30 years said the closure of the store would deeply impact the elderly all of whom rely on having access to groceries in their local community “We will lose the only provider of a broad range of groceries we will lose cash withdrawal facilities which are critical to the local economy and we’re losing a diversity of retail mix,” they said you would think that there’s a greater need for a supermarket and yet the large conglomerate has decided that it’s not worth their while to keep going.” But the community isn’t giving up on having a local supermarket as they call on one of the other major supermarkets to open up shop in Woolworths’ absence “The one that I keep hearing people say is Aldi but Coles or the IGA are perfect,” the long-term local added “The big four would be ideal because they’ve got a bigger range.” Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton and State Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott both met with representatives from Woolworths to discuss keeping the store open but the supermarket giant maintained its decision Charlton is now urging residents to sign his petition to help save the supermarket “There has been a supermarket on the corner in Pendle Hill for as long as anyone can remember,” the petition said “But now Woolworths are planning to close the store this could mean the nearest supermarket is a driving distance away.” To find the petition, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/2uv2p3xa 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 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 Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad have charged seven people following the discovery of fraudulent sexual abuse compensation claims in a scheme that has paid out over $1 billion in claims to date Strike Force Veritas was established by State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad in February 2024 to investigate alleged fraudulent compensation claims for historical sexual abuse brought against the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and the NSW Department of Education (DoE) detectives identified several ‘claims farmers’ at the centre of the scheme These individuals allegedly approached adults who were former young offenders encouraging them to file fraudulent compensation claims for historical child sexual abuse while in care The claims farmers then coached these prospective claimants on how to make fraudulent claims through various Sydney law firms The proceeds were reportedly referred to as ‘bum money’ within the criminal syndicates and detectives suspect a significant portion of the $1.3 billion worth of claims are fraudulent strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant in Girraween where they arrested a 55-year-old man The man was taken to Granville Police Station including nine counts of ‘dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc eight counts of ‘accessory before the fact to publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage’ three counts of ‘incite to commit publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage’ and ‘dishonestly intend to obtain a gain’ He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today Police will allege in court the 55-year-old man was a claims farmer in the scheme strike force detectives arrested a 53-year-old woman in Granville The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday a 32-year-old man was arrested in Pendle Hill The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday strike force detectives arrested a 42-year-old man at Gladesville Police Station The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on Monday a 52-year-old woman was arrested in Horsley She was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where she was charged with ‘publish etc detective arrested a 35-year-old woman in Pendle Hill The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday a 23-year-old Mermaid Beach man was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice (CAN) for ‘publish etc to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday police also executed a search warrant at a law firm in Sydney where they seized items relevant to their investigation Police will allege in court the seven people charged stood to make $3.75 million in fraudulent sexual abuse compensation claims but were uncovered before the claims were paid out Investigations under Strike Force Veritas continue Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Credit: NSW Police.Police have swooped and arrested a man who they describe as a priest over child sex offences and allegedly grooming a 14-year-old boy in Sydney Sex crimes squad detectives have charged the man with alleged child sex offences under strike force trawler Strike force trawler is an ongoing investigation by the sex crimes squad’s child exploitation internet unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices 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.In December 2024 strike force detectives commenced an investigation into a religious leader allegedly grooming a 14-year-old boy online Credit: NSW Police.At about 12pm on Monday strike force detectives arrested a 77-year-old man in Pendle Hill The man was taken to Granville police station where he was charged with use carriage service-procure under 16 years for sex with another and use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16 He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday Investigations under Strike Force Trawler continue Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T There are about 24,000 Sydney homes considered "inactive" dwellings according the Australian Bureau of Statistics Link copiedShareShare articleStanding tall and looming over their neighbourhoods are apartment towers with no residents inside These ghost buildings paint a picture of development woes amid an ongoing housing crisis nationwide Estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggest there are up to 140,000 "inactive" homes in Australia Dwellings are considered inactive when there are no signs of recent use Are there housing and urban planning issues you know about? Let us know. This week, the ABC tracked down the owners of empty Sydney houses to try and find out why they had been left unoccupied entire apartment blocks are also a piece of the puzzle We found out the stories behind five empty buildings Huntley was once envisioned by its development team as a "vibrant community centrepiece" The Pendle Hill apartment tower in Western Sydney is a short walk from "everything you need" — including a train station eateries and the recently revamped Civic Park a former community hall and abandoned sports club were knocked down to build 66 residential units with commercial space and parking and was subsequently listed and withdrawn for sale a number of times after the mid-rise building on Civic Avenue remains empty to this day boarded up panels and construction fencing blocking off its entrances suggest otherwise or stop work orders in place for the address with the state government's building commission Its developer, the infamous Dyldam group, went into administration in January 2022 The proprietary company which holds the land title was put into liquidation in March this year An ASIC investigation said the company failed in part due to a significant increase in construction and interest costs between the commencement of the development and the company being placed in liquidation Attempts to reach the two directors, including Dyldam Developments's Sam Fayad A local resident told ABC News that a "lot of work was going on" in the area more broadly but it was a "shame" Huntley was "fenced off" it could be home to many families looking for a home," they said adding that it would be an ideal spot for students or staff at the nearby Westmead Hospital A spokesperson for Cumberland City Council said DA consent was given for the development of the Civic Avenue site "Council is awaiting further information from the applicant regarding the construction and occupation of the building," they said were contacted for comment about its status Described as "dilapidated and unsafe" by a local resident the apartment block on the corner of William and Francis Street in Leichhardt has been unoccupied for about six years The 12 residential apartments in Sydney's inner-west are near a large park the Italian Forum and the Leichhardt North light rail station But the graffitied and rusted building with broken windows and overgrown grass stands out among the family homes that surround it there were visions for the site to be turned into a motel and a boarding house that did not eventuate The apartment block was sold in 2018 to a registered company for nearly $4 million according to property data The ABC was told there was community outrage when the tenants at the time were vacated and the apartments left to sit empty in the years that passed It had fallen into ruin and seen squatters and youth taking advantage of the space before a fence was erected The property was put back on market in March 2023 and was sold a couple of months later A real estate listing described it as a "shovel-ready" development site that offers "versatility and the potential for further uplift" subject to council approval The real estate agent said the new owner's plans were unclear at this point in time and that the council had "condemned the site" A development application to build four three-story townhouses in place of the apartments this year was given a deemed refusal status after the council did not reach a determination within a 40-day period An appeal was lodged with the Land and Environment Court earlier this month Both the current and former owners declined to comment an old housing estate known as the "Three Sisters" sits vacant The three apartment towers on Sturt Street are within walking distance of the new light rail stop on the Parramatta line set to open next month There were big visions for the "aging" 13-hectare site under the Berejiklian government which was meant to transform it into a "new integrated community and vibrant town centre" But fast track nearly five years and it is still at an assessment stage following submissions The $1.8 billion renewal proposal in 2019 planned to demolish the Three Sisters and replace it with about 4,500 new homes Part of that target was approximately 1,300 affordable and social housing dwellings with the rest sold to the private market The residents in 211 of the current units were relocated last July Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said the stalled project was the "result of the previous government's dud deal with a private developer" after selling off public assets "The earliest public housing could be delivered under this agreement is 2029," she said adding the project's expedition was a "major priority" for the government we cannot afford vacant properties and stagnant construction." Nearly 500 properties within the Telopea Urban Renewal Project are owned by the NSW government and are being developed by Frasers Property A spokesperson for the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) said it was currently assessing a Homes NSW development proposal for the staged redevelopment of the estate and the first stage of construction "A final determination is expected shortly The Applicant proposes to redevelop the Telopea Estate over three stages with an estimated overall construction time of 15 to 20 years," they said Frasers Property said they could not disclose any information in relation the site's development due to confidentiality arrangements There are 43,000 privately-owned properties that remain vacant in NSW according to the experimental ABS housing data Land law expert Cathy Sherry from Macquarie University told ABC News the "hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in capital gains" owners can make compared to charging rent is part of the reason why so many homes are being left vacant She warned there was "no silver bullet" to solve the issue "The problem is that Australia has in the last 30 years basically exclusively relied on the private sector to build our housing and that was just never going to work," Professor Sherry said Earlier this month, the NSW government announced hundreds of new affordable homes in North Eveleigh Kellyville and Camden after an audit of public land It said more sites would be announced in the coming months and the dwellings would be delivered in partnership with the private sector However, government-owned land in Camperdown near the CBD was sold the day prior to private developers with no requirement for any social or affordable housing to be built. Nicole Gurran, an urban planner and policy analyst at the University of Sydney, said there had been a gradual increase in vacancies across the Australian housing stock over the last two decades. The unoccupied dwelling rate in Greater Sydney from the last census was recorded at 8.3 per cent, compared to 7.7 in the 2016 census. Professor Gurran said the issue was not a growing problem, but rather a consistent feature of the housing system. "If it was going the other direction, if we're seeing less vacancy in the housing stock ... I think it would give us evidence that we've got a housing shortage," she said. "[It] tells us that the housing problem isn't a shortage of dwellings, it's a shortage of dwellings that are affordable and available for people on low and moderate incomes." Vacant apartment blocks and towers can come down to development issues, ongoing works, or not having an occupation certificate yet to allow people to move in, Professor Gurran said. "I think it's very good that we've got a regulatory system that makes sure to the best of their ability that properties are safe and fit for habitation before they're occupied." We found out the stories behind some of Sydney's empty homes by tracking down owners using property data and other public records and knocking on doors. Director of group Australian Apartment Advocacy Samantha Reece agreed it isn't a matter of supply, but rather of allocation. She said she would like to see governments enforce a quota in new and vacant apartment blocks for social and essential worker housing, with incentives such as bonus height allowances or financial concessions for investors and developers. "The federal government and each state government is being pressured by the development sector to allow for more apartments to be built," Ms Reece said. "From our perspective, anyone who is providing social housing is not a developer, because they're focused on profits and they're looking for the best premium properties with the premium land — that's [the development sector's] focus." Professor Gurran said there was also strategic opportunity in utilising apartment buildings awaiting redevelopment for temporary use such as crisis accommodation or transitional housing.  "You want to have all your financial incentives and disincentives operating, to encourage people to use housing for accommodating permanent residents," she said. In NSW, the Minns government has committed to delivering 377,000 new homes by 2029.  "If we ... can get a cultural change in construction and development in Sydney, almost a change in the mentality in how cities grow, how towns take shape, then we can meet that target year-in-year-out in the years ahead," Premier Chris Minns said. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Our Lancastrian writer climbs the famous hill for the first time – and discovers a rich rebel history and a new walking trail celebrating local heroes The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. When he climbed to the top of Pendle Hill in 1652 dissenter George Fox had a life-altering vision of the world calling for “a great people to be gathered” Most people are happy if they can see Blackpool Tower The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. banks of cloud to the west obscured the sea but you could see all over North Yorkshire as well as to Burnley and Colne and across to the wind farms of Ovenden Moor Pendle Hill is one of the most beautiful lumps of rock in the British Isles This will be stating the obvious to locals and regular visitors despite being born in Lancashire more than five decades ago I’d never been up the hill until the recent May bank holiday perhaps because I’m from south Lancs – the bit that got nicked by Cheshire in 1974 – and to us plains kids In the 1990s I lived on the West Riding and drove past the hill on numerous occasions Though just 557 metres tall and covering only a couple of miles across I can remember driving from my home at the time and thinking: one day I’ll take in the view from that strange The writer Photograph: Kathryn MillerI parked and then walked up to a spot my OS map called the “Big End” I had plenty of company – from walkers with their gizmos and multicoloured leggings to daytrippers in jeans and T-shirts They came from the towns at the foot of the hill which I enjoyed in the lee of a dry-stone wall at the top exposed moor with a track across its peaty middle I crossed this to a chorus of skittish skylarks fluttering like chimeras made from dragonflies and bats ragged grey ones suggested heavy showers over on the Three Peaks the whole hill would be lost under a deluge which people can visit to get an education and inspiration “There is not one route or circuit,” says Nick Hunt, creative director at Burnley-based Mid Pennine Arts and to find out more about these extraordinary people “We are in the midst of installing interpretation at these first sites but the longer-term plan is to add another half dozen adding: “Our volunteer researchers are also developing a suite of themed walks George Fox plaque on Pendle Hill is part of a Pendle Radicals Trail Photograph: PR/Alan WardA Wonder Women walk will link suffragist Selina Cooper with the mother of the Independent Labour party The Two Toms will link pioneers of access to the countryside who played a leading role in the Youth Hostels Association not least because it will help place the more obvious Pendle Hill theme – the witch trials which are alluded to all around the hill – in their proper context: the imprisonment interrogation and probable torture of peasant women by the authorities on behalf of James I They can only really be understood against the backdrop of the persecution of recusants was considered a hotbed of religious rebels I’m also joining because I’ve relocated to the Ribble valley and wake up to a view of Pendle Hill every day linguistic connection between roots and radicals – and between Quakers and all things local I shall climb to the Big End as often as I can and see what messages the wondrous horizons send me Today, groups such as Pendle Folk and the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership are working to link political agricultural and other narratives to develop a new environmentally conscious kind of radicalism The contours of north Lancashire stimulate our imaginations It’s all almost as exhilarating as walking into a fresh gale as I did at the end of that first short hike Even the peewits at the bottom of the hill seemed stunned by the sudden gusts returning walkers were having alfresco pints and lunches at the newly reopened pubs The umbrellas were flapping about even more wildly than the peewits A plan to revitalise the Pendle Hill Town Centre has received the tick of approval from Cumberland Council – but some residents believe more upgrades are needed Receiving the unanimous support of the Chamber the blueprint for the Pendle Hill Town Centre intends to “build on the local character to create an attractive and socially inclusive open space network.” the Pendle Hill Public Domain Plan will deliver more trees lighting and upgraded pedestrian crossings and footpaths to the local area feedback taken last year revealed many locals believe more needs to be included in the plan including calls for a library and additional parking “Pendle Hill deserves a first-rate library to celebrate its residents’ need for knowledge,” one submission said “There is not sufficient all-day parking for commuters people are forced to park on the surrounding local streets A multi-storey car park at Civic Park would be a great benefit to the area,” another submission said Many submissions also said the town square needs a “major clean-up” “I think it’s great that you want to clean up the centre as well as improve Civic Park as the town centre is now disgusting and dirty which makes it look like a ghetto,” additional feedback said 24 submissions were received in response to the plan The revitalisation of Pendle Hill will be implemented in five stages with stage one being the soon-to-be-completed Civic Park and wetland upgrades Construction of the new public toilet in Purdie Lane will be stage two Labor Councillor Suman Saha said the Pendle Hill upgrades are much-needed “I lived in the Pendle Hill area with my family and I’m very familiar with the area,” he said “Now is the time for Pendle Hill to receive the attention and care it deserves let’s work together to transform it into a thriving community with greener spaces smart technologies and vibrant outdoor dinning areas culturally rich and socially connected Pendle Hill for all the residents.” But Our Local Community Councillor Paul Garrard criticised the plans saying he doesn’t think it “hits the mark.” “There’s more to it than this and sadly I don’t think the Pendle Hill Town Centre domain study is futuristic enough for my liking,” he added it provides a very spelt out structural plan for the future but where I think it misses out is also the futuristic opportunities the town centre might be able to offer the community.” It's time for a little adventure out west to Toongabbie and Pendle Hill to visit Sydney's little Sri Lanka Here you'll find a delicious array of dishes roti as well as a surprising mix with Malaysian food (go figure) friendly service and just a rollicking good time The song "Heaven is a Place on Earth" plays us into Toongabbie. I am in the car with my sometime vegetarian friend Laura At 5pm she picked me up from my place and we drove across Sydney 55 minutes and an ungodly number of 80's love songs later we have arrived at Toongabbie where people are busy making the rush hour dash home from work based purely on two reasons: the name for starters but also that Laura had been told that it has Sydney's best Sri Lankan food "Is it a jewellery store?" we ask as we drive past it The owners of X Dreams own a jewellery store as well as the eatery next door It's very busy here and we are the only non Sri Lankan patrons which is the sort of thing that confirms that the food is authentic and good The man behind the counter is super friendly and when we ask him for recommendations he puts together a delicious tray full of goodies for us including goat curry to pepper chicken We hear the clang of the pans when they make kotthu rotti (chopped roti) in the background and we order some hoppers to add to our order as well as a sweet rose drink We bring our tray to our table situated next to the spare tissue boxes the goat curry aromatic in cardamom and the rice is plentiful And the deep fried lamb and vegetable roll are so addictively crunchy that I find it hard to stop at just a few bites The only thing we don't really love is the fried chicken as it is dry We have an egg hopper which is spongey and thick in the centre with a beautifully crispy edge and the cheese hopper has that added layer of cheese that delights us so And then the piece de resistance is the milk hopper with coconut milk and jaggery sugar The guy had warned us that once we tried one we'd want another and he's quite right Heaven is a place on earth indeed eating one of these Right next door to X dreams is Amma's or Kikiz Amma is the mother and Kikiz is the daughter and they're in the process of transitioning the business over which is why they have both signs The pictures signal a mix of Sri Lankan and Malaysian goodies like Char Kway Teow and Nasi Lemak We take a seat inside the restaurant and are offered several menus Its hard to choose but we start with a delicious milk tea with ginger ($4) and go with their specialties: a crab curry as well as a more Malaysian offering of fish head curry with paratha The Sri Lankan couple next to us are curious about our ordering style For their part they're ordering nasi goreng And here the sound of the kotthu or chopped roti is like a musical rhythm "It's food music-it's fusic!" exclaims Laura The crab masala curry arrives and it is very pungent in aroma While it smells fierce the flavour is actually really good also a pungent curry and we dip the roti into both curries the crab curry being the favourite of the two We take a short stop at the grocery store to explore things-I am curious about a wood apple drink and I buy some masala flavoured Lays chips Then it's over to Dish which is just around the corner. There is also a Dish at Glebe and chef Manjula Fernando first started here in Toongabbie testing out the ground before opening up in Glebe this year The menu is shorter here in Toongabbie and there are also bain maries where you can get takeaway We order a Sri Lankan Faluda rose flavoured shake with ice cream drink with sago pearls at the bottom and it's sweet and delicious but not overpoweringly so It is quieter here with two tables occupied Our tray arrives and there's glistening yellow rice as well as a rich spiced pork curry There are three vegetables that come along with it and we adore the kale salad The jackfruit that we'd read about wasn't very exciting but the potato curry was creamy and tasty And we also enjoy the Kotthy or chopped roti that reminds us of stir fried noodles. The Wattalapam that I had so enjoyed at Lankan Filling Station is different here Here it is more a syrup cake whereas there it was more a pudding which I preferred When we walk around the corner we see that Mathura's is closed (they're said to make a killer dosa) so we head across the other side of the railway station to one of the more unusual restaurants Cinnamon's is a not for profit restaurant that sort of looks like it is decorated like a wedding venue The couple that own it are religious and it is staffed by them and volunteers and there is a large glossy red statement wall with their mission statement on it There is one other table dining and inexplicably along with Sri Lankan food there is pizza (with neon flashing sign) nachos and a dish called "Tentacles" aka fried frankfurts on the menu as well as Sri Lankan food Prices are also higher here than at other places with most dishes at $27.90 They recommend a "Cinnamon's Special" and a "Mixed Fried Rice" which comes with your choice of a meat dish We hear the clanking of the pots against the strains of wedding tunes and we're both wondering whether we can make it to any other places as it is just after 9pm on a Wednesday night Before long our dishes arrive and they're absolutely enormous The mixed rice is like a fried rice with some extra spices and Chinese chilli paste-it's very good and there's no way we can finish it The devilled chicken that it comes with is like a Sri Lankan sweet and sour chicken that is juicy peppery and moreish (spoiler alert: I ate all the chicken in this as Laura couldn't as she could smell capsicum and she's allergic) There is also a pineapple and cabbage salad to the side The cinnamon special however is our favourite It's a gorgeous yellow rice cooked in stock with a battered boiled egg fried chicken strips and a delightful green chilli sambol on the side When we ask for takeaway containers (we hate wasting food) they look at how much we've eaten or not eaten as the case may be And with that we high tail it to Pendle Hill for our final stop Alas the sweets shop in Pendle Hill looks to be closed although it was supposed to be open We console ourselves with a stop at a takeaway shop to buy an Indian cashew burfi and rasgulla milk ball and pop into a grocery store where we buy some Sri Lankan sweets (semolina cookies and sesame balls) as snacks for the road We get into Laura's Mini Cooper and snack on these slightly dejected at anticlimax for our last stop the Rulan Aluwa semolina sweet is grainy and reminds me of a less sweet sesame snap The rasgulla is sweet and wet in texture while the burfi is dry We pop on 80's hit Gloria and make our way back towards home We drive past the station and then Laura spots a place that is open Doing a quick u-turn we dash out of the car determined to catch them before they close The first shop "ten to ten" sells a yam pudding and a Sri Lankan butter cake so we buy both for $10 Then stop a few doors down at Flavours of Ceylon where they are still open and cooking There's a stand that looks like the kind you might find on a tropical beach except it's in the front room of a takeaway place They make some recommendations but they're all rice based and we groan slightly "We've eaten a lot of rice tonight" we explain although we probably don't make a lot of sense "How about a string hopper biryani?" he says We tell him again that we don't feel like rice but he explains that there is no rice "Oooh!!" we exclaim excitedly and an order is placed for the string hopper biryani "I need a moment," she says as it is nearing 10:30pm and we've been eating for 4 and a half hours Then she cracks open the yam pudding and butter cake The yam pudding is comforting and familiar and slightly sweet but not overly so And the butter cake is pretty much like any sort of butter cake but it's a popular sweet in Sri Lanka Our food is ready and comes out in a large styrofoam container It's a takeaway place but we want to try it while it is hot so we taste some This is one of the finds of the night along with the hoppers at X Dreams It really is like vermicelli noodles but with so much flavour There are school prawns and a eggplant paha on the side that is so good I want to buy a whole serve and there's also ikan bilis or chilli anchovies The Malaysian influence is very prevalent here and all of the restaurants except for X Dreams incorporated some amount of it To finish we also buy a biscuit cake which is pretty much like the biscuit refrigerator cakes made with Marie biscuits, chocolate and butter Flavours Of Ceylon highlights: hopper biryani When we arrive at my house we divide up the food that Laura has kept in the chiller bag in her car boot There's so much delicious food that I can't wait to wake up the next day and eat because leftovers are life Have you ever been to Toongabbie or Pendle Hill to eat The Civic Park and Pendle Hill Wetland Improvement Project is one step closer to opening with the project on track for completion in March 2024 which will include a new nature play space upgrades to pathways and lighting and also improvements to the Pendle Creek Wetlands Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lake said she was pleased with the progress of this project that will deliver an improved recreational outdoor space for the community “This is a really exciting project for the Pendle Hill community,” she said families and locals who live nearby so residents are going to really enjoy spending quality time in this new park with improved amenities Upgrades to Civic Park are nearing completion with crews installing play and fitness equipment The works to the Pendle Creek wetlands are also on track with the gabion walls trash rack and two gross pollutant traps completed The final stages of the project include the renewal of carparks off Civic Avenue and Parkland Avenue and landscaping works has been jointly funded by Cumberland Council and the NSW Government’s WestInvest program For more information on the Civic Park and Pendle Hill Wetland Improvement Project, please visit: http://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/civic-park has changed hands for the first time since it was developed in the 1950s the asset is trading for c$75 million to local publican Mark Duggan who will retain it despite the 7564 square metre site’s town centre development upside the property derives income from multiple sources including accommodation and a drive through bottle shop outdoor terraces and gaming room with TAB facilities and 30 electronic gambling machine entitlements Pendle Hill is about 30 kilometres from the CBD JLL’s Ben McDonald and John Musca brokered the off-market deal for family stakeholders and operators “It is particularly fulfilling when you can drive great results for respected and long-time industry stakeholders and in doing so present such a wonderful opportunity for the incoming hotelier,” Mr McDonald said Mr Duggan also operates the Avondale Hotel at Burwood While investors flocked to land and industrial during the initial stages of the COVID pandemic they swung to pubs last year – a trend which hasn’t abated “We have seen over $1.3 billion of pub hotel transactions nationally over the past 12 months with significant activity now emerging in the traditionally tighter-held markets for Melbourne and Adelaide testament to the resurgent capital prioritisation of the sector,” Mr Musca said (story continues below) “The Sydney hotel market continues to see record levels of capital flows into the sector with last week’s sale of the Earlwood Hotel for $45.2m adding to the long list of large…hotels to have changed hands this year,” he added “Numerous other hotels [are] mooted to currently be in final stages of changing hands,” according to the executive The Pendle Inn deal comes three weeks since we reported former Sydney lord mayor Nelson Meers paid close to $160m – a national pub record price – for Casula’s Crossroads Hotel Last year, the Stanford family sold two outer metropolitan Sydney assets of this type, on land-rich blocks – the Vineyard Hotel In another noteworthy sector transaction last year, Delvene Cornell and David Gyngell banked $68m from MA Hotel Management from the Brunswick Hotel Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login ABC News News HomeMan stabbed to death at Pendle Hill in Sydney's westShare Man stabbed to death at Pendle Hill in Sydney's westTopic:Homicide Vissa Esan was fatally stabbed near the Pendle Hill real estate company where he worked. (Facebook) Link copiedShareShare articleA man has been charged over the fatal stabbing of a real estate agent at Pendle Hill in Sydney's west. Vissa Esan, 48, died in Westmead Hospital after being stabbed in the chest in the laneway behind his agency this morning. His wife, who is pregnant with the couple's first child, was at the hospital. Police patrolling Pendle Hill after the stabbing arrested a 33-year-old man on nearby Hallmark Street. Investigators say the man ran across the railway tracks and into a nearby business after the stabbing, where he allegedly tried to wash the blood from his clothes. He was taken to Merrylands Police Station where he was questioned by homicide detectives. The man has been refused bail and will face Fairfield local court tomorrow morning. Police say the attack appears to have been random and they believe the men were strangers. They sealed off a number of crime scenes in the area. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced Manly Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry Evans has dipped further into the property investment market Manly Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry Evans has dipped further into the property investment market He’s paid $580,000 for a two-bedroom apartment at Pendle Hill It was bought from Joe Wehbe’s Blue Sox Developments Of course Wehbe is more than another Western Sydney property developer life coach and even the “football whisperer” Manly Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry Evans has dipped further into the property investment market at this development which is run by Anthony Field and Wehbe’s nephew Jonathan Herbie Farnsworth and Rugby Sevens star Lachie Miller There are also emerging stars Paige Hadley MORE: When Sydney home buyers will get best bargains Roosters NRL great offloads Bondi ‘must-be-sold’ pad The Ignite Sports website says it brings “a holistic ­approach to athlete management based on integrity And it could add property ­investment opportunities that are “setting a new standard of living in Pendle Hill” The purchase is an 87sqm apartment on the third floor of a four storey block on Pendle Way The $18 million plus project has 74 apartments across three buildings on its 6956sqm site DCE paid $580,000 for this two-bedroom apartment at Pendle Hill the remaining apartments are listed by McGrath Parramatta agent Tariq Jameel in conjunction with BASE Realty Pendle Hill has a $517,000 median apartment price with its typical $375 per week rental reflecting a 3.8 per cent yield Pendle Hill has seen just 0.9 per cent annual compound growth Cherry-Evans and his partner Vessa Rockliff own at Curl Curl Beach having paid for $3.4 million in 2018 they had offloaded their nearby $1.9 million home which the couple had bought for $1,335,000 in 2014 The unit is one of several of DCE’s investments Cherry-Evans retains a two-bedroom investment apartment in Freshwater that cost $500,000 in 2012 In 2019 DCE sold his ­redundant Gold Coast investment that he bought when he agreed to join the Titans in 2015 only to opt out of the ­arrangement and sign a bumper deal with Manly The 1970s Mermaid Beach house cost $1.45 million and was sold for $1.65 million The veteran halfback has been at Manly since 2011 is all but certain to ­finish as a one-club player His two-year extension will see him at the club until at least the end of the 2025 season The existing deal was expiring at the end of 2023 Roosters skipper James Tedesco is another of the ‘football whisper’s’ clients MORE: Dilapidated shop’s secret backyard goldmine Kelly Slater’s $5m Aussie crash pad up for grabs Unwanted lottery prize of a whole apartment block for sale third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. 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Learn more about South Australia's new university for the future Kerry Packer Civic GalleryHawke Building Level 3, UniSA City West Campus55 North Terrace Adelaide MAP The Hon Bob Hawke AC recognised that investment in children and their families provided a solid foundation for future generations This exhibition explores Hawke’s unwavering commitment to future generations and his dedication to Australia’s youth through unveiling the ‘voices of children’ in the Bob Hawke Collection On display are archival records showing the Hawke Government’s work on issues relevant to the younger generation including education The exhibit also includes thoughtfully curated photographs capturing Hawke’s rapport with children at various events the exhibition also features children’s voices expressed through their artwork This heart-warming collection provides a fascinating glimpse into interactions children shared with Hawke during his tenure as Prime Minister and their early civic engagement Visitors also have the chance to gain insight into Hawke’s childhood Drawing on historical items from the University of South Australia's Bob Hawke Collection, this exhibition complements the permanent exhibition: Advancing Australia Fair: Bob Hawke and his Government 1983-1991. Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library Executive Director &Events and Exhibitions Producer +61 (0)8 8302 0651 jacinta.thompson@unisa.edu.au View contact information The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial CentreHawke Building - Level 5, UniSA City West Campus55 North Terrace(cnr Fenn Place and North Terrace)Adelaide Be the first to hear what's happening at The Hawke Centre Sign me up 08 8302 2376 >Ask UniSA FAQs >Australian contact details +61 8 8302 0114 >Ask UniSA FAQs >International contact details 1300 301 703 >Ask UniSA FAQs >Campus Central contact details >Research degree student support >Key UniSA contacts >Staff Directory UniSA respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna Boandik and Barngarla First Nations Peoples and their Elders past and present who are the First Nations’ Traditional Owners of the lands that are now home to our campuses in Adelaide While the views presented by speakers within The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: Strengthening our Democracy - Valuing our Diversity - Building our Future The Hawke Centre reserves the right to change their program at any time without notice 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 lives large as a busy hub for the Sri Lankan community The neatly packed Sri Lankan and South Indian restaurants and grocery stores along Pendle Way are busy with shoppers and diners stocking up on dried goods curry spices and something readymade to take home for dinner and the place to get it is Abie’s Vegetarian Takeaway you’ll find all the colours of the edible rainbow in the 20 different all-veg curries on offer Tropical island flavours mix with Subcontinental spice clove and cinnamon are repeat performers in fare from the ‘spice island’ tamarind and coriander provide freshness and balance the sweet and sourness found in sambols and soups You can pick-and-mix five choices onto a super-sized tray with rice so contemplate your choices while standing in the queue comforting dhal – the motherly hug of soft lentils Green drumstick here is not the chicken leg kind but a hard skinned vegetable with a sticky okra-like inside; and purple beetroot might seem an unlikely contender for a curry base but the root vegetable transforms from its slightly sweet base to a warm and deep spiced dish when sliced and braised with cinnamon and curry leaves A vibrant red devilled soy meat (a gluten meat substitute coated in a sticky chilli sauce) is also a worthy contender Make sure you add a spoonful of pol sambol to the plate an essential Sri Lankan condiment made from coconut lime and red onion mix that adds even more flavour The curry plate includes pappadums; two salty crisp chillis; a digestive peppery soup; and a dessert – a sweet milky sago and noodle pudding that calms down any lingering chilli heat Snacks are called ‘short eats’ here and involve long crunchy crumbed and fried rolls (imagine a mini Chiko roll but it’s the circles of vadai – deep fried patties of yellow split peas onion and chilli – that will become your new go-to snack They’ve also got Sri Lankan staples like hoppers (those crisp wafer crêpes) or delicate string noodly numbers eaten along with curry spiced rice biryanis and roti and paratha breads but there are a couple of small tables where you can eat in You might have to ask for some cutlery as most regulars eat the traditional way with their fingers scooping up piles of curry and rice and escorting it neatly to their mouths the food is so good here you'll use use any means necessary to get it in you Thanks for subscribing! 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