Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Ropes Crossing was last seen leaving a home on Seymour Street he was reported missing to officers from Nepean Police Area Command who have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts “Police hold concerns for his welfare as he lives with a medical condition that requires treatment,” a Police spokesperson said “Kororata is described as being of Maori/ Pacific Islander appearance “He was last seen wearing a black hoodie Anyone who may have seen Kororata Filo or has information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact St Marys Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 This post has been published by the team in our newsroom A father of seven who worked for Qantas as a traffic controller has been identified as the man killed in Tuesday’s horror crash at St Marys 49-year-old Lual Awan Lueth was on his way to work at Sydney Airport when another car crashed into his vehicle on the Great Western Highway at about 4am The driver of that vehicle ran from the scene before being arrested Investigations continue but police are expected to lay charges The police involvement in the incident is also subject to a review Lual Awan Lueth moved to Australia for a better life with his family The family is will entrenched in the Ropes Crossing Strikers FC fraternity with three of Lueth’s sons playing for the team A GoFundMe page has been started by the club and its President Adam Hartas to raise funds for the family DONATE TO THE FUNDRAISER HERE Lueth was considered a war hero in South Sudan for his defence of Nyarweng land in the Sudanese civil war that began in 1983 and lasted 22 years Respected community member Deng Majak Piok said it was a tragic loss “His death has saddened us to lose such a great person at this earliest time,” he said “Late Lual was a great friend whom we shared the histories of our journeys I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to his family and extended family.” Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist working with some of Australia's leading media organisations he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Police believe CCTV footage of two men walking down a street in Sydney’s west may be key in an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old last month emergency services were called to Australis Drive in Ropes Crossing near Mount Druitt following reports a stabbing had occurred at a small gathering at a home Police arrived to find Alosceous Jay Samarawickrama who was about to start his air-conditioning apprenticeship before the attack Paramedics performed CPR on the teenager but he died at the scene Police say the stabbing was not about drugs or gang-related but are investigating whether a fight over a girl was the cause of the stabbing Police are now appealing to the public for assistance in the investigation releasing CCTV and a description of three males they believe could assist with inquiries Police have described the first male as of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander or Pacific Islander/Maori appearance Paramedics performed CPR on Alosceous Jay Samarawickrama but he died at the scene.Credit: Youth Against Violence/Facebook The second male is believed to be Caucasian while the third male is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander or Pacific Islander/Maori appearance Mount Druitt’s Detective Chief Inspector Paul Tickner said three offenders were believed to have fled the scene “Young boys probably with hormones running through their system and somebody thought they had to defend the right of their girlfriend at the scene and that has led to a young boy being killed,” he said “They shouldn’t be carrying knives in the first place.” Police found a kitchen knife in a nearby drain after the incident and are now working to establish if it was used in the stabbing Two people can be seen walking down the road in the footage.Credit: NSW Police Media Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here Police believe CCTV footage of two men walking down a street in Sydney\\u2019s west may be key in an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old last month Mount Druitt\\u2019s Detective Chief Inspector Paul Tickner said three offenders were believed to have fled the scene \\u201CYoung boys probably with hormones running through their system and somebody thought they had to defend the right of their girlfriend at the scene and that has led to a young boy being killed,\\u201D he said \\u201CThey shouldn\\u2019t be carrying knives in the first place.\\u201D Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens Three months after winning permission to construct six storey apartment buildings at shopping centre Ropes Crossing Village – Ganellen has sold the asset Singapore listed Metro Holdings Limited confirmed itself as the buyer last week The sale price reflects a 5.5 per cent yield Stonebridge Property Group’s Carl Molony Phillip Gartland and Jonathan Fox were the agents Ropes Crossing is about 50 kilometres west of Sydney Ropes Crossing Village at 8 Central Place contains 5805 square metres of lettable area with eight specialty stores Its Weighted Average Lease Expiry is 11.7 years (story continues below) The precinct abuts Wianamatta Regional Park 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 A 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death outside a suburban home following an argument over a girl is remembered as a 'special boy' with a 'larger-than-life personality' Alosceous Jay Samarawickrama was about to start his air conditioning apprenticeship when he died from a single stab wound to the chest in Ropes Crossing, western Sydney told Daily Mail Australia that his son was a 'good boy' who was 'always respectful' Loved ones flocked to social media to pay tribute to the teenager The mother of one of his best friends said on Facebook that she asked her son how he felt about the tragedy The boy replied: 'He's okay because he knows that he is safe now.' His former primary school teacher school teacher said she has taught hundreds of students over her 22-year career 'There is one that I would never have forgotten even if in another 50 years time,' she said The woman explained that he was able to spell his name by the end of Kindergarten he would initial his work with a capital 'A' so senselessly in the early hours of Sunday morning at just 16 years old has rocked me,' she continued close-knit teaching community of Ropes Crossing Another woman commented and said his 'larger than life' personality always made her laugh Youth Against Violence - a community-led project that aims to stop violence in young people with early intervention - created a Go Fund Me campaign on behalf of his family. 'The family appreciate your condolences and words of support as they continue to grieve the loss of their loved one,' the group wrote. The girl at the centre of the altercation reportedly invited her boyfriend and some mates to the home for an intimate party.   It is understood Alosceous told the alleged attacker: 'Your girlfriend is trying to hit on me'. As tensions rose, the alleged knifeman suggested they 'sort it outside' and led the way from the backyard where the party was taking place to the front of the house.  The alleged attacker was reportedly joined by two other males out the front of the house.  'It got messy,' a source told Daily Mail Australia. 'Family rushed out of the house because they thought they heard a fight and there's a teenager dying on the floor.' Less than a dozen teenagers were present when the alleged altercation took place.  Detectives believe a combination of alcohol, hormones and bravado saw the situation rapidly deteriorate when the accused felt he needed to 'defend his girlfriend'. Three teenage boys fled the scene. Investigations are ongoing and charges have not been laid. Western Sydney has seen a spike in knife-related violence and friends of the victim are calling on youths to 'put down their weapons'. 'He [the victim] didn't have a knife on him... He would've thought he was going out for a tussle and then next thing someone's got a knife. It's weak,' one friend said. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and police who arrived on the scene, the 16-year-old victim could not be revived.   The boy's father said his son was 'a good kid with a lot of potential'. 'He was going to start an apprenticeship, air conditioning, in a few days. He is going to be missed.' Mt Druitt Police are speaking with party guests who witnessed the fatal stabbing. At this stage, authorities don't believe the stabbing was gang-related.  Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... Woman dead and three others including a child injured after car ploughed into pedestrians: Man, 49,... 'It's a rather giant f*** you.' Royal insider's furious reaction to Meghan's Instagram salvo as... Woman who was missing for more than 60 years is found 'alive and well' decades after vanishing... How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast? Map reveals when and where planes will be visible over... American tourist suffers horrific fate while attempting to capture selfie at Rome's Colosseum King, Queen, William and Kate honour selfless devotion of Britain's wartime heroes as they lead... The towns being ruined by day-tripper invasions. Selfie-loving tourists cause traffic hell and the... Hamas hostage, 23, 'raped by personal trainer influencer in her own home after being released' How 'SAS swooped on Iran-backed terror cell': Special Forces troops joined police on UK streets to... Husband of British mother, 65, who was knifed to death in French village says her affair is a... EXCLUSIVE: Teen stabbed to death is remembered as a 'special boy'Commenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Old fire stations that have outgrown their original purpose are being listed on the property market for millions Both commercial and residential developers are eyeing the often historic buildings for office One such example on the market is a heritage-listed fire station at Ropes Crossing with a price guide of $2.3 million to $2.5 million The Ropes Crossing site will be accessible from the future Western Connector Road The property, at the corner of Ropes Crossing Boulevard and Western Connector Road was part of a 4.2-hectare site which had been subdivided into five lots paid $4.15 million for the 4.2-hectare site in 2016 Savills selling agent Leigh Burges said although the building was heritage-listed the new owners could extend and renovate the 450-square-metre structure “We’ve had a couple of inquiries that may look at renovating it for a nice family restaurant or a small tavern type of use,” he said “It’s surrounded by residential and there’s a new connector road which is currently being built which will join up to Jordan Springs and the new Lendlease development Jordan Springs East A concept image of a potential conversion of the old Ropes Crossing fire station into a “retro” restaurant A developer paid $1.15 million for the former Mount Druitt fire station. Photo: Supplied Mr Burges said buyers liked fire stations because of their potential to be reinvented into something unique. “A lot of (the interest) has got to do with the actual building itself, obviously it’s got a retro feel and when they renovate it, they do quite well,” he said. “This building does have the old lookout tower at the back of the building so once it’s renovated, it will become quite a centralised focal point for Ropes Crossing.” 957 m²Hotel, Motel, Pub & Leisure View listing Meanwhile, in a neighbouring suburb, Fire and Rescue NSW has offloaded one of its former fire stations at 32 Varian Street, Mount Druitt more than $430,000 above the reserve price Five of the 10 registered bidders battled fiercely Colliers International selling agent Harry Bui said want to demolish the building to develop two pairs of duplexes so (development sites) will definitely be sought after,” he said This former fire station in Sydney’s Hurstville was converted into offices Closer to the city, a 132-year-old fire station at 308-314 Stanmore Road, Petersham is on the market with development approval for a 13-room boutique hotel The former Stanmore Fire Station in Sydney’s inner west has kept much of its original façade and is currently being used as a private six-bedroom residence by the owner Fire stations repurposed for commercial use have also become hot property. The Old Fire Station at 78/23 MacMahon Street, Hurstville sold under the hammer for $1.89 million in September 2017 Domain Group records show – gaining nearly $100,000 a year since its previous sale in 2010 Sydney commercial real estate Melbourne commercial real estate Brisbane commercial real estate Adelaide commercial real estate Perth commercial real estate Canberra commercial real estate Darwin commercial real estate Hobart commercial real estate NSW properties for sale VIC properties for sale QLD properties for sale SA properties for sale WA properties for sale ACT properties for sale NT properties for sale TAS properties for sale NSW properties for lease VIC properties for lease QLD properties for lease SA properties for lease WA properties for lease ACT properties for lease NT properties for lease TAS properties for lease Rural & Farming for sale in NSW Rural & Farming for sale in VIC Rural & Farming for sale in QLD Rural & Farming for sale in SA Rural & Farming for sale in WA Rural & Farming for sale in NT Rural & Farming for sale in TAS Rural & Farming for sale in ACT Sydney Toowoomba City Surry Hills Melbourne Dandenong Brisbane Morton Vale Noosaville A teenager who was fatally stabbed at a party knew the boy accused of attacking him before falling out over a girl The 16-year-old died from a single stab wound to the chest in the early hours of Saturday morning after telling his alleged attacker 'your girlfriend is trying to hit on me' The girl at the centre of the altercation reportedly invited her boyfriend and some mates to the home in Ropes Crossing in Sydney's west for an intimate party.  It's understood the victim - a 'good kid' who was just days away from starting an air conditioning apprenticeship - told the acquaintance during the party that his girlfriend was making a pass at him. As tensions rose, the alleged assailant suggested they 'sort it outside' and led the way from the backyard where the party was taking place to the front of the house.  Detective Chief Inspector Paul Tickner said: 'Somebody thought they had to defend the rights of their girlfriend... Young boys probably with some hormones running through their system'. Victim of western Sydney stabbing 'known to alleged offender'Commenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} NSW real estate: Where home prices are set to grow in 2023Sam Murden suburbs like Penrith remained a sellers’ market with low inventory levels and low days on market Amid rising interest rates and a shrinking amount of houses available to purchase on the market there are a number of locations expected to grow next year Real estate agency Upside Realty has released the ‘State of the Australian Property Market List 2023’ report which looks at the top suburbs set for growth around Australia in 2023 There are a number of suburbs to watch next year which are predicted to increase in price by over six per cent Botany has been tipped as one of the suburbs set to see a high level of growth in 2023 with a growth in median house price of $1.885m – 7.1 per cent jump in the past 12 months Situated less than 10 kilometres from the CBD and close to the airport breweries and good opportunities on decent sized blocks of land Blacktown was the second suburb to watch in the state experiencing a 6.5 per cent growth over the last year with a median house price of $900,000 MORE: Waterfront home could be yours for $2 Israel Folau offloads home for massive profit Supermarket shoppers buy 100yo home sight unseen Blacktown has grown by 6.5 per cent over the past year Ropes Crossing in the Blacktown LGA had the highest gross rental yield in Sydney in October with a four per cent return According to Upside Realty director of sales and operations James Kirkland Blacktown is a young family suburb with high levels of employment and relatively new homes that are popular for those working in Parramatta RELATED: 110 suburbs to boom: What it means for your mortgage “Despite rising interest rates seeing buyers lose confidence this year and there are still opportunities for buyers in the right places,” Mr Kirkland said Ropes Crossing in the Blacktown LGA had the highest gross rental yield in Sydney with a four per cent return “For many people who’ve fixed their interest rates that term ends next year so there’s likely to be stock coming onto the market as those rates put pressure on households.” there are a number of regional areas positioned for growth Port Macquarie topped the list for regional suburbs with strong interest driven from buyers looking to make a sea change during Covid Port Macquarie’s median house price sits at $725,000 the township recorded 0.7 per cent growth to a new median of $725,000 – a 20.8 per cent rise for the year the second largest city in NSW soared during the pandemic but the increase in stock this year levelled the field for buyers Central Western towns like Orange made the list with the new regional first home buyers scheme making the suburb an area to watch with the median house price sitting at $700,000 Median house prices in Newcastle have risen by 0.7 per cent Mr Kirkland said Sydneysiders were no longer restricted to the eastern suburbs if they wanted a luxury apartment near the water with many development projects underway across the state “We are already starting to see a ‘regional reverse’ as the regional markets stabilise following the exponential growth we saw during the pandemic with people moving out of capital cities.” “In many regional areas growth has actually outstripped the cities but the market is starting to return to a bit more of a normal pattern and we’re expected to see opportunities stem from that in the coming year.” MORE: Inner city price record smashed again Sydney auctions fall off a cliff in 2022 Homebuyers’ final wish before Christmas 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. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. 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 What Ropes Crossing locals love about the Laing + Simmons director is his down-to-earth approach and his commitment to helping the community A real estate agent with 20 years’ experience Paul says the 16-member team has maintained that level of market share for the past five to six years “We’ve embedded ourselves in the community,” he says “We do the Ropes Crossing community garden we do the Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club we do the carwash for the school P&C and the money goes to them and we do the Ropes Crossing donation drive as well which is where we hire a truck and go around to collect furniture from those who don’t want it “Your time is more important than just writing a cheque “We can give someone a cheque and sponsor them but I think what we do well is to actually be there for the Strikers team be there for the community garden and just be there for people.” This emphasis on playing the long game and the desire to assist without immediate return applied again when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australian shores last year After the initial confusion and worries about what it would mean for his business Paul asked his team members to hit the phones to check and see if their clients and potential clients were OK “We didn’t call them about selling or call them about anything else; it was just a call to say we would help with anything they may need.” Paul and the team also helped promote local businesses via their social media channels and their database They ran competitions and genuinely tried to help others that were struggling Paul says the team is now starting to receive some referrals and listings as a result of their kindness “We’ve probably secured six of seven listings over the past three months as a result,” he says “But that wasn’t at the forefront of our minds it was just about people coming together to help each other.” Paul started his real estate career fresh out of high school as a property manager with a portfolio of about 800 doors he left the industry to move to a wholesaling business before returning to real estate as a selling agent five years later “It took going for me to realise that it was what I wanted to do,” Paul explains Stints at agencies in Campbelltown and St Mary’s followed before he finally joined LendLease where he was one of the founding agents in the land release in Ropes Crossing Paul decided the time was right to go out on his own if you became a salesperson you’d done well So Paul opened his first office in 2010 in St Mary’s as there was no commercial space available in Ropes Crossing.  As well as embedding themselves in the community so that they’re a recognised and trusted face “I was door-knocking when I first started,” he says as is remembering to do the traditional things alongside the newer digital things and there’s something in everyone’s letterbox at least twice a month “If people do not see something in their letterbox at least twice a month When it comes to social media and digital marketing Paul and the team like to change things up a bit and focus on giving rather than just getting He says they’ve put in a strategy that enables clients to find out what their home is worth in minutes and they also offer links to market reports and other useful information “We might say we’ve sold this as well as saying ‘here’s a link to download this report’ “I’ve seen a lot of agencies out there put on social media ‘sold it’s more about how we can serve the community better.” but not everyone is going to hate you either “But if you can create a good group of people that trust you care about you and who will be there for you then when you’re sitting in their lounge room they’re not arguing about what you charge or about your marketing costs “They trust what you do because they’ve seen the results.” Paul says there are plans to invest in the community even further this year and he’s been in talks with the local retirement village to work out ways to get residents involved in the wider community It could be by inviting residents to come and watch a Strikers game or to help with planting at the community garden “Some don’t have family around and some don’t have people that are close to them,” Paul says “I think it’s going to be really helpful for them and for us as well.” Other goals for 2021 include holding investment information sessions for mum and dad investors who’d like to enter the market but aren’t sure how to go about it Paul says their social media will continue to be bolstered “There will be some advertising for appraisals but it’s more about what else we can do to help the community in favour of their investment properties their home and how we can increase their profits on their homes at the moment,” he says but Paul says that their growth will be geared towards expanding the areas they offer services in rather than hiring a cast of many “I think if you get the right combination of four to five salespeople that have four or five areas that we can break into we can start chipping away at the (market share) percentage,” Paul says Given taking a straightforward approach has worked so well for Paul over the years it should come as no surprise that his advice to new agents “Be consistent and do the basics,” he says but you still need to do the traditional and combine that with being consistent and honest News Sitemap Residents are reminded that access to Wianamatta Park is officially open for use boasting a 4.6 kilometre trail between Ropes Crossing and Jordan Springs the community are able to access the ‘Luxford Trail’ from the corner of Callistemon Circuit and Carramar Avenue by pushing a button to the right of the fence This security measure has been put in place to ensure wildlife such as kangaroos and emus don’t have direct access to the surrounding roads and residential areas Lendlease recently opened the park to provide the community with access to 750 hectares of bushland including the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland previously closed to the public for over 50 years Lendlease Regional Development Manager Kevin Montier joined Londonderry MP Prue Car at the entrance on Wednesday to discuss the benefits this will bring to the community “The regional park itself is just a small component of the 900 hectares of regional park that sits within Jordan Springs and the entire St Marys development,” Mr Montier said riding bikes and that’s something the public hasn’t had the access to do since post-war so it’s unique access to local flora and fauna “It was always the intention for Lendlease to provide this regional park back to National Parks and was always part of the original plans with governments.” The Luxford Trail makes up 4.6 kilometres of the wider 65 kilometre Great West Walk Ms Car said it’s a great way for families to get outdoors and enjoy the local flora and fauna “This recently opened track here in Jordan Springs is really exciting for residents because a lot of people bought here for the fact that it backs onto the beautiful reserve,” she said “I think it’s really special for residents of Jordan Springs who have been living amongst and now have access to this precious part of western Sydney “I hope people will use it with their families there’s lots of active residents using the reserves already and this is just an extension of that and I can’t wait to use it myself.” Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender A 24-year-old NRL star has just bought his first home and given it to his parents Penrith Panthers star Brian To'o purchased a three-bedroom home in Ropes Crossing, near Penrith in western Sydney, for $859,100 to give to his parents, Fati and Fale. To'o shared the exciting news on his Instagram, writing: 'I started this journey to give back to my parents for all their hard work and dedication to ensure me and siblings had everything we needed. 'So grateful to have these two amazing individuals in my life. 'Dreams do come true kids. Work hard, stay humble and put your heart into it, and you can accomplish anything. The home is on 275sqm of land and was bought off market through local Ray White agent Vedant Agrawal. It was previously sold for $419,500 in 2013 before construction began on the home. 'Positioned perfectly on a quiet and peaceful street, this single level 3 bedroom residence offers a ready-made family lifestyle for home owners or investors,' the listing said. 'Nestled in a quiet and private street, this home has it all.' To'o was raised in Mount Druitt, western Sydney, and made his State of Origin debut last year. He used the pay from the series to go towards a deposit for the home. To'o has represented the Panthers in 67 games since his 2019 debut, including in the team's 2021 Grand Final win. Penrith NRL star Brian To'o buys his parents an $860,000 homeCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}