In the world of air conditioning installations understanding the unique needs of a community to build relationships is as important as the technology itself J&J Metro Air Conditioning’s Managing Director believes this has been the key to the Rydalmere-based business’s success transforming the local Daikin dealership into a respected industry leader The moment you think you know everything is the moment you start falling behind,” John said For Daikin dealerships and air conditioning professionals like John knowing the ins and outs of the local area is paramount “Local knowledge matters more than most customers realise It’s not just about putting in a machine it’s about offering tailored solutions to create the right environment for people to live and work,” John said “Understanding and delivering on customer needs builds trust J&J Metro Air Conditioning prides itself on keeping abreast of local council rules about air conditioning Understanding local weather patterns also add another layer of required knowledge and changing humidity mean you can’t just pick any system You need to understand the local climates,” John explained “An air conditioning system that works perfectly in one part of the city might struggle just a few kilometres away,” he added Delivering the Daikin difference through tailored solutions Despite the technological advancements in the air conditioning sector customers still require specialist advice to bridge the knowledge gap and tailor installations to specific needs the team map out each project to fully understand the client’s requirements taking into consideration how many people will use the space This careful approach helps to prevent expensive mistakes saving customers money and providing better cooling “We often find people will initially seek out a system that is either too big or too small for their home A system that’s too small for the property won’t cool properly it will waste power and money,” John explained and we treat the customer as an individual to find the best solution for that particular project,” he said The East Village Shopping Centre: A lesson in mastering complexity The East Village Shopping Centre in Zetland was a significant milestone for J&J Metro Air Conditioning which involved a $20 million mechanical and air conditioning contract J&J Metro Air Conditioning was tasked with installing all residential apartments with Daikin air conditioning systems Every space presented its own unique demands from differing sizes to specific functional requirements The development put John and his team’s local knowledge to the test proving the company’s skill in handling complex air conditioning installations across a range residential and commercial spaces culminating in an award-winning mixed-use centre elevating J&J Metro Air Conditioning’s industry profile the company still maintains a strong relationship with the development proof of their quality work and commitment to long-term client relationships and any information presented should be independently verified before making any decisions as a result of the content This article does not constitute advice of any kind nor does it represent the opinions of the website publisher located at the intersection of Victoria Road has remained vacant since 2009 when it housed a residential care facility and the former Macquarie Boys High School Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the government is commitment to addressing the housing crisis.  “The Minns Labor Government has made housing the number one priority,” Mr Kamper said “The Rydalmere site has been sitting vacant and unused for more than a decade.” The development will include diverse housing options The site’s location provides easy access to Parramatta CBD Western Sydney University’s Rydalmere campus Property & Development NSW Executive Director Commercial said he was excited about the project.  “We are delighted to be leading the process to deliver a new community at Rydalmere which will support the Government’s housing targets and deliver much-needed community infrastructure for this area,” Ms Fishwick said The development will preserve the site’s history and include accessible housing with construction expected to commence in 2028 The project will also focus on rehabilitating native flora and fauna along Vineyard Creek Member for Parramatta Donna Davis highlighted the strategic location of the development.  “People want to live close to where they work so the development of this Rydalmere site will provide a great opportunity to plan a new residential precinct close to the Parramatta CBD that includes the parks and social infrastructure a new community needs,” she said News Sitemap This is probably not the page you’re looking for A man’s body has been found inside a car in Rydalmere today emergency services were called to Park Road following reports of a concern for welfare officers from Ryde Police Area Command found a man’s body inside a vehicle in a car park A crime scene has been established and police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Ryde Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 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 Students at St Mary’s Primary School, Rydalmere were ecstatic to meet the popular namesake behind their house sports name ‘Mackinnon’ and learn about the significance of the Mercy Cross when Sr Ailsa Mackinnon RSM visited the school this month The visit was part of the school’s initiative to enhance student learning about its history This month’s history focus on the Sisters of Mercy was centred around the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mercy and Mercy Day on 24 September: the anniversary of the opening of the first ‘House of Mercy’ in Dublin Ireland in 1827 and a day to celebrate the charitable work of the Sisters of Mercy around the world Sr Ailsa was a teacher at St Mary’s from 1971 to 1973 after which she became Principal from 1974 until 1976 She later became Principal of Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC) in Parramatta from 1990 to 2004 She is currently the Chancellor of Ministries at the Diocese of Parramatta During her leadership at St Mary’s in Rydalmere Sr Ailsa nurtured the meaningful life-long learning of students and oversaw projects such as the construction of the Marist building on the school site in 1976 While warmly remembered as the last Mercy nun associated with St Mary’s having been immortalised as the name of the red house sports colour Following individual classroom visits by Sr Ailsa an assembly gathering of the school community invited students to learn a bit about their school history and meet Sr Ailsa in person Mr Blissenden and Sr Ailsa visit classrooms and chat with a Year 3 student providing a further opportunity to learn about the school’s history and connection with the Sisters of Mercy Diocese of Parramatta Chancellor (Ministries) Sr Ailsa Mackinnon (second right) with staff members Dianne Sabat Helen Lupis and Nicole Dallas during a visit to St Mary’s Primary School A highlight was when selected Year 6 students were invited to ask Sr Ailsa a few questions There were a few laughs and lots of interest from the students – particularly as they tried to guess Sr Ailsa’s favourite colour and whether it matched the school’s red house sports colour (disclosure: it’s yellow!) St Mary’s principal Richard Blissenden said it was a privilege to share Sr Ailsa’s story with the school community “Having Sr Ailsa visit our school and speak with the students is helping us to foster deeper learning among our students,” Mr Blissenden said “It was a privilege to have someone like Sr Ailsa with her deep faith and rich life experience Mr Blissenden said a key takeaway from Sr Ailsa’s talk with the students was the notion of ‘be good today “I am most grateful to the Sisters of Mercy for their tireless efforts of living out the Gospel messages,” he said “The visit not only enriched the academic knowledge of our students (and staff) Sr Ailsa (centre) and St Mary’s Principal Richard Blissenden (far left) with students Religious Education Coordinator and Year 4 teacher Natalie Coghlan said the visit enabled the students to explore the school’s living history “It is important that we learn from the leaders in our school’s past,” Natalie said we can build on the solid foundation of faith and tradition that shapes our identity as a Catholic school community This connection not only deepens our understanding of who we are today but also inspires the future growth of our students in faith Year 6 students Matilda S and Matilda C wrote a reflection on the visit for the school newsletter stating how Sr Ailsa’s visit helped them understand how the school has changed and developed over time “Her engaging stories and heartfelt insights inspired reflection on how we can make a difference,” they wrote “We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and hope her visit continues to inspire compassion and positive action in our community “We look forward to welcoming her again soon.”   Diocese of Parramatta Chancellor (Ministries) Sr Ailsa Mackinnon (second right) with (L-R) Religious Education Coordinator Natalie Coghlan Mercy 5 school program facilitator Ana Pintos and Principal Richard Blissenden during a visit to St Mary’s Primary School Sr Ailsa said she was humbled by the opportunity and welcome from the whole school community Accompanied by mission animator and Mercy 5 school program facilitator Ana Pintos Sr Ailsa said the Mercy-focused initiative helped strengthen identity and connection to faith in the school community “It was also lovely to tour the school and see how it has developed and changed over the years,” Sr Ailsa said “I also enjoyed the morning tea with staff and saw familiar and not-so-familiar faces which brought me back to my teaching days.”  The school is hosting further initiatives this month to celebrate Mercy Day and the Sisters of Mercy including a school play about Catherine McAuley – founder of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland in 1831 Initial investigations have concluded into the feasibility of Sydney Metro West stations at Pyrmont and Rydalmere Sydney Metro undertook a comprehensive review of both strategic station options that considered a range of factors including stakeholder and community feedback alignment with key government priorities and project objectives planning for a potential metro station at Pyrmont will progress to the next stage of assessment.  A potential station at Rydalmere will not proceed given its distance from the proposed railway alignment and the additional time it would add to the journey between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD Victoria Cross Station Design and Precinct Plan approved 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 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, past, present and emerging. but we don't want to lose you.\"}],[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"notfound-page__text-block\",\"children\":\"We recently updated the way we organise our articles 'div-gpt-ad-1511396693346-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1511394032333-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_bottom_leaderboard' 'div-gpt-ad-1511396722471-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Hompage_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1661741627089-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/undefinedTUD_Homepage_Internal_728x90' 'div-gpt-ad-1534480172990-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n // home leaderboard 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googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_LHS_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395165249-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Middle_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395202314-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_RHS_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395237641-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Mobile_Middle_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511489982092-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x600_2nd_homepage_skyscraper' 'div-gpt-ad-1511938773649-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_leaderboard_position_2' 'div-gpt-ad-1510792120057-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Article-page_Position01' initial-scale=1\"}],[\"$\",\"meta\",\"1\",{\"charSet\":\"utf-8\"}],[\"$\",\"title\",\"2\",{\"children\":\"Salmon Swaps Rydalmere Tavern for Chelsea Hotel | The Urban Developer\"}],[\"$\",\"meta\",\"3\",{\"name\":\"description\",\"content\":\"Hotel industry investor Rod Salmon has not only picked up the Chelsea Hotel in Chatswood in a recent transaction but also sold his own asset the Rydalmere Tavern in a deal totalling circa $100 million the chance to acquire assets underpinned by growing underlying cashflows at this premium end of the market is rapidly diminishing as a result of widespread asset consolidation,” McDonald said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Combine that with more than $400,000 in net passive income from the commercial tenancies the underlying development scope plus sought-after geographical location and we think the result speaks for itself.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Chelsea Hotel 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 Salmon sold the Rydalmere Tavern in western Sydney to Andrew Lazarus’s Dalz Pty Ltd in October for about $65 million which includes $17.24 million for the land Then last month he picked up the Chelsea Hotel at Chatswood for about $35 million The deals were handled by JLL hotels and hospitality managing director John Musca and senior vice-president Ben McDonald Patrick Gallagher was expecting to sell the Chelsea for $30 million in an international expressions-of-interest campaign managed by JLL The Rydalmere Tavern comes with 30 gaming machine entitlements more than 3000sq m of space and a restaurant on the ground floor as well two commercial tenancies on the first floor of the 1461sq m Victoria Road site Current tenants Totally Workwear and Plus Fitness Gym will be staying on and bring in more than $400,000 in net rental revenue a year Salmon created the tavern after developing two adjacent commercial properties McDonald said the opportunity to buy an asset such as the Rydalmere Tavern was rare the chance to acquire assets underpinned by growing underlying cashflows at this premium end of the market is rapidly diminishing as a result of widespread asset consolidation,” McDonald said “Combine that with more than $400,000 in net passive income from the commercial tenancies the underlying development scope plus sought-after geographical location and we think the result speaks for itself.” and planning permission to add a beer garden deck It also has council approval to extend its trading hours until 4am Musca said that for investors hotels were a relatively stable investment despite economic uncertainty “The perpetual nature of hotel cashflows in key markets have shown their unrelenting ability to perform despite changing economic conditions,” Musca said “Long-term hotel investors continue to seek out assets offering value-accretive characteristics for existing portfolios and we expect that to continue in 2023 despite a moving macro-economic environment.” Those are the two words assistant priest Fr Pio Jang would say about the parishioners and the community of Holy Name of Mary Parish “When we repeat the holy names of Jesus and Mary with reverence we can soon find peace and joy in our heart Peaceful and joyful are two adjective words that I wish to use to describe Rydalmere the Holy Name of Mary Parish,” Fr Pio told Catholic Outlook “This is a parish where we can experience the true love of Christ and of our Blessed Lady,” he said Rydalmere Parish was cut from a larger Ryde Parish The first mention of Rydalmere as a separate parish was when Cardinal Patrick Moran blessed the church-school on 18 September 1889 laid the foundation stone for the second church-school This building is currently used as the parish hall With changes to the Mass liturgy following Vatican II and the need for extensive repairs to the existing church the parish decided in 1988 to construct a modern building across the road from the pre-existing church The current church was dedicated by then-Bishop of Parramatta Bede Heather in August 1989 44 priests and administrators have served at Rydalmere in its 130 year history with many priests serving lengthy appointments The current parish priest is Fr Peter Lamont who is also the 29th hereditary Chief of Clan Lamont in Scotland a title he inherited upon the death of his father in 1972 Fr Peter Lamont in his traditional Clan Lamont tartan He was appointed parish priest of Rydalmere in February 2006 after serving as administrator and assistant priest for several parishes throughout the Diocese of Parramatta he acts on the initiatives that the parish needs and everyone feels that he’s always personable when he’s dealing with them,” Michael Sobb “Fr Peter as a parish priest is a welcoming priest This has a great influence to other parishioners always supportive,” parish secretary Linda Rachmat added Fr Peter is assisted in his ministry by Fr Pio “It has been a peaceful and joyful experience working at the parish,” Fr Pio said “Fr Peter is very aware of forming the parish as a real Catholic community I believe that he wants to promote the faith I can see that he has been putting his efforts into making the parish as such This can explain how joyful it is to work with such a pastor who has such a good vision I must say that the people here at Rydalmere are participating people and happy people the parish has around 700 people attend its three Masses – 5.30pm Saturday Vigil and 7.30am and 9.30am on Sunday “We had an increase [in parishioners] because we’re getting a lot of migrant families moving in [to the area],” Fr Peter explained “Because of the development of units in our area and an increase in population we’ve benefited in the sense that we’ve had a lot of people coming from Asian Catholic backgrounds coming into our parish so we’ve gained a number of new parishioners “Our parish here is a good cross-section of Australia We’ve got a good cross-section of all people I think it’s healthy having a cross-section because the Church is universal and it reflects the universality of the Church We all get on well together,” Fr Peter said “you see when you have activities [in the parish] where people have to volunteer to do things There’s no one group that seems to have to provide all the support.” Holy Name of Mary Parish has a local primary school and has a close relationship with nearby high school St Patrick’s Marist College Fr Peter explains that he used to be the sole chaplain for St Patrick’s Marist College but he now shares with priests from local parishes including St Monica’s Parish North Rocks and his ‘brothers’ at St Bernadette’s Parish “It’s been a practice over the years that this parish and priest provides the orientation Mass at the beginning of the year and for the Year 12 [graduation],” Michael said “One thing the high school does very well is they supply young people as catechists – it’s an excellent program because it helps us and gives the young people a younger face at the five public schools in the area,” Fr Peter said and there’s always a teacher or the REC (Religious Education Coordinator) who’s always involved in the Sacramental program “[The primary school] comes to Mass [when] we have feast days the school will come over for Grandparents’ Day [the Feast of] the Assumption,” Fr Peter added A statue of Mary in the Garden of Peace at Holy Name of Mary Parish Holy Name of Mary plans to redevelop the sacristy and construct a new parish office with meeting rooms and a new presbytery When asked what the best thing about the parish is the parish team mentioned the dedication and service of the parishioners you get people who have been here for many years There’s a lot of people who you don’t see much of but they do a lot of good work in the parish but they’re quietly active,” Fr Peter said “We have a very active Catholic Women’s League here and they also have a social committee which organise a couple of events each year for the elderly of the parish and they go out to different places they’re actually initiators because they initiate programs in the Ermington community in particular but they’re liaising with the St Vincent de Paul head office and they organise services for parts of Ermington and trying to build communities in the housing commission areas These are people in their 60s and 70s doing this work and they do a lot of advocacy for the people Our conference are extraordinary workers,” Fr Peter explained “it’s always been noticeable that the parish attracts people to Sunday Mass and they have that as a major part of their life and I think that has repercussions in terms of they then support the parish “Because they see the Mass as important and coming on Sunday and bringing their children they then are quite cooperative in other areas of the parish it’s not just a routine that you come to Mass and then nothing else,” he said “the parish and parishioners really value our Catholic identity trying to make real good efforts to live their faith in accordance with Gospel values and the teachings and the traditions of the Catholic Church “Using the two characters of Martha and Mary from scripture I wish to describe our parish as both attentively listening to God’s word and praying (like Mary) and also actively participating and engaging in different ministries (like Martha) “It is a joyful parish who love God and their neighbours It is also a really multicultural parish not only on an outside level but also on an inside level – respecting each other’s differences and seeking real unity,” Fr Pio said A statue of Mary in the church at Holy Name of Mary Parish A challenge that the parish currently faces is the redevelopment of the areas surrounding the church [I] worry that parishioners will go to other parishes,” Linda said because it’s taking people’s car parking away I don’t know if it will affect my congregation because if they’ve got nowhere to park they’re not going to go to a church where there’s no parking,” Fr Peter added The ageing congregation is another challenge “[The parish] takes in three areas – Ermington Dundas and Rydalmere – and there’s a lot of needs Constant sick calls and we’ve got parishioners who are extraordinary ministers of communion take communion regularly and I anoint them [the ageing parishioners] as well we have quite a few funerals here because of the elderly people and we get a good number of baptisms too,” Fr Peter explained “I’d like to see parish as a place where as many people as possible can practice their Catholic faith but living it in the sense of society – its teaching and proclaiming its teaching,” he said then I can help the parish priest,” he laughed “[I hope] parishioners will continue attending Masses in this parish whoever the parish priest will be when Fr Peter retires [I hope] my replacement will use the opportunity available for the best of this parish.” “I’m so committed to the fact that the Catholic way of life is the way and that I want to do my best to encourage it and I believe one of the best ways is by example.” “[I hope] the parish becomes a real good model of a Catholic community of faith hope and love – praying as well as engaging in the proclamation of the Good News to the world and to our own families And also a focal model of a real multicultural community where people can experience true unity and true love of Christ and love of our Blessed Lady.” Sports teams are set to reap the rewards of an $11 million redevelopment of Rydalmere Park that has delivered major upgrades to existing sporting fields co-funded by the City of Parramatta and the NSW Government brings to life the first two of a planned four-stage upgrade Pierre Esber said the City was committed to investing in the sporting facilities its growing community deserved “Council is committed to providing high quality facilities for the Parramatta community and is proud to see its vision for Rydalmere Park come to life,” he said we will continue advocating for State and Federal government funding to bring the best to Parramatta “I’d like to thank the NSW Government for their support in redeveloping Rydalmere Park and look forward to seeing many generations use the facility in years to come.” Steve Kamper said the NSW Government was committed to providing infrastructure that meets the needs of the whole community “We are committed to increasing the quality of sporting infrastructure in communities that desperately need more facilities,” Mr Kamper said “More facilities mean more opportunities for the whole community to participate from the grassroots to the professional level.” The recently completed stage two works include: The improvements follow the establishment of a synthetic football pitch at Rydalmere Park in May 2020 Information and Events for Local Councils throughout Australia Contact us: newsdesk@insidelocalgovernment.com.au THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE LEISURE INDUSTRY Back to Latest News back 16th October 2023 - City of Parramatta calls for additional women’s sport facilities funding 7th October 2023 - European Commission confirms restrictions on uses of microplastics 2nd October 2023 - North Kellyville’s first sporting complex officially opens 10th July 2023 - Revitalised community sportsground opened in North Parramatta 23rd June 2023 - NSW Chief Scientist calls for more research into synthetic sports fields 3rd March 2023 - NSW Government to fund $111 million PCYC in Parramatta 19th October 2022 - Consultancies combine to present Synthetic Sports Surfaces Seminars 23rd July 2022 - New multi-use sporting complex opens in Kellyville 21st June 2022 - $113 million allocated for delivery of three new Rugby League Centres of Excellence 25th March 2022 - New study claims flaws in processes used to justify artificial turf sports fields 15th December 2021 - New synthetic facility opens in Penrith’s Jamison Park to cater for increased demand 22nd October 2021 - NSW Government releases report on use of synthetic turf in community sport 7th September 2021 - New milestone achieved at Kellyville Memorial Park’s Rugby League Facility   14th June 2021 - Sydney Council to install Australia’s first ‘environmentally sensitive’ synthetic football field 15th April 2021 - NSW Planning Minister to investigate alternatives to synthetic grass 11th May 2021 - Plans unveiled for outdoor sporting and recreation network in Parramatta 9th August 2020 - Three men hospitalised after ‘brutal’ stabbing at rugby league match in Western Sydney 7th July 2020 - Parramatta Council unveils its new synthetic sports field at Rydalmere Park 22nd November 2019 - Multi-million dollar upgrade commences at Rydalmere Park 29th August 2019 - Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council opens latest artificial turf development 16th July 2018 - Work begins on Wollongong City Council’s first artificial turf sports fields 24th January 2018 - Sydney Swans put artificial turf to the test in pre-season training 9th December 2016 - ASTM International standard for artificial turf infill 7th March 2016 - Flares damage artificial turf surface at Leichhardt’s Lambert Park we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news Click here to view our subscription options Click here to view our subscription options product and event updates delivered right to your inbox The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services See more see more See the directory see all Get your business noticed in our targeted directory Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week Website by Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The Berejiklian government has decided against building a train station at Rydalmere as part of its ambitious $20 billion-plus metro line along Sydney's spine but left open the possibility of constructing one at Pyrmont in the inner city The environmental impact statement for Sydney Metro West a mostly underground train line stretching from Westmead to the CBD Rydalmere and Pyrmont were dubbed as sites for "optional stations" Transport Minister Andrew Constance.Credit: Rhett Wyman But sources close to the project have told the Herald further investigations are understood to have led the government to ditch Rydalmere because it would have required the line to veer away from its main alignment adding to the cost and extra time for passengers travelling to Sydney's CBD The government is targeting a travel time of about 20 minutes between Parramatta and the CBD the government has left open the possibility of building a station at Pyrmont a decision on which is expected at the end of the year Any decision will also coincide with a proposed shake-up of planning rules for the Pyrmont Peninsula part of which is aimed at improving transport links The release of the environmental report will confirm the construction of stations at Westmead Five Dock and the Bays Precinct at Rozelle Transport Minister Andrew Constance's office declined to comment But the government has indicated it will treat the Metro West project as a priority and a way to stimulate the economy once coronavirus pandemic restrictions are eased significantly it called for expressions of interest from the private sector for the first two tunnelling contracts from Westmead to Sydney Olympic Park and eastwards from Olympic Park to the Bays precinct The government first slated the line to open by 2028 but pushed back its estimate to 2030 after the state election last year Mr Constance said in October that the government was setting a "realistic expectation", although he added it was its intention to better the 2030 completion date Almost 120 properties will be forcibly acquired for construction of the line including land used by Sydney Speedway near Parramatta and dozens of small businesses Metro West is effectively the third stage of the automated network. The first stage from Rouse Hill to Chatswood opened in May last year, and the second stage onto the CBD and Bankstown – known as City and Southwest – is due in 2024 The Herald revealed in February that cost of the City and Southwest line is set to blow out by up to $3 billion driving up the final spend to $15.5 billion as part of its ambitious $20 billion-plus metro line along Sydney's spine Rydalmere and Pyrmont were dubbed as sites for \\\"optional stations\\\" adding to the cost and extra time for passengers travelling to Sydney's CBD The stations will also be among the most expensive of the line The cost of new stations being built on the between Chatswood and Bankstown via the CBD each range in price from Transport Minister Andrew Constance's office declined to comment Mr Constance said in October that the government was setting a although he added it was its intention to better the 2030 completion date Almost 120 properties will be of the line Metro West is effectively the third stage of the automated network The from Rouse Hill to Chatswood opened in May last year and the onto the CBD and Bankstown \\u2013 known as City and Southwest \\u2013 is due in 2024 The that cost of the City and Southwest line is set to blow out by up to $3 billion the Thales team at Rydalmere were privileged to welcome Darug Elder Uncle Colin Locke to site; the visit coinciding with National Reconciliation Week which commences today Uncle Colin provided a Welcome to Country and then performed a smoking ceremony; using leaves from a gum tree on site A smoking ceremony accompanies a Welcome and assists in cleansing the area and the people of bad spirits and to promote the protection and well-being of visitors  Smoke was also used to indicate when a group wanted to enter the land of another group Many of the people on site took the opportunity to participate in the ceremony After being welcomed by Digital Systems VP Peter Bull Uncle Colin then gave a presentation that outlined the long indigenous history in the area as well as discussing his own personal connection with the land Uncle Colin noted that the Darug people have lived in the area for at least 45,000 years recounting how he grew up in the bush in the Blue Mountains around Blackheath a number of sites with indigenous rock art and other items in the Parramatta area Uncle Colin had a brief tour of the Rydalmere site noting that he had in fact done his apprenticeship at the small arms factory in Lithgow We spoke to Uncle Colin about the indigenous focussed initiatives Thales has underway the Clontarf Foundation and Career Trackers to name a few.  The visit by Uncle Colin was arranged through Muru Mittigar a Dharug organisation that seeks to create a better understanding of Aboriginal culture in the wider community; creating new jobs developing workplace skills training and increasing sustained employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians Demolition hotspots have emerged across Sydney paving the way for new housing as the ongoing and critical demand continues Competition for older homes on big blocks to knock down and replace with duplexes or townhouses has ramped up across the market In a market with a lack of stock and new dwellings Ray White data has revealed the suburbs defying the trend and recording the most demolition approvals in 2022/23 Topping the list is Ermington and Rydalmere followed by other northwest and inner west suburbs of Concord North Ryde Eastwood and the Central Coast suburb of Umina Mr Hoang and his wife Van has a strategy to buy an old house ‘$60m?’: Inside Sydney’s best harbourfront beach house Homes that women prefer over men Ermington – Rydalmere – 84 approved demolitions in 2022/23 Knocking down an old home to build a duplex has been a “challenge” yet rewarding journey for Sydney couple Minh and Van Hoang The Hoangs bought a run down home on 841sq m on Maze Ave in Ryde in 2021 “We had been looking for something we could knock down and develop,” Mr Hoang said “Ryde is a popular location for young families We thought it would be a great investment and option for buyers.” Mr Hoang said it was part of the couple’s investment strategy, with construction of the five bedroom duplex recently completed and now on the market. The Hoang’s bought this old home at 6 Maze Ave Construction has recently finished with the five bedroom duplex for sale However he said the journey came with challenges “It was tough dealing with a lot of wet weather in 2022 We also had supply issues with China closing down,” he said “It has been a challenging journey but it was always going to be Our designer and builder have done a really good job We decided to sell now as the market is showing good signs and Spring is a good time to make the move.” McGrath – Epping’s Wayne Vaughan said new housing was popular in the Ryde and surrounding market He said the Hoang’s duplex has had close to 100 inspection groups after two weeks on the market A new five bedroom duplex at 5 Maple Crescent “There’s a lot of demand for new in this area,” he said “We are all time poor and people want to move in with nothing to do.” Mr Vaughan said Ryde Council had flexible rules around duplex building and understood the need for new properties “We see a lot of buyers coming from apartments on the other side of the river on Rhodes and Wentworth Point,” he said “These new duplexes fit the mould perfectly.” Ray White Group data analyst William Clark said the Sydney demolition data had revealed suburbs with large community developments there’s been a lot of government investment and large infrastructure projects,” he said Before shot of 67 Dorothy St Rydalmere which sold in 2020 for $1.19m A brand new duplex for sale at 67 Dorothy Street “There’s huge development around the foreshore of Ermington and Rydalmere There’s been a lot of investment and that gets matched with residential development “Older buildings are being knocked down and replaced with higher density buildings … better quality builds It can be gentrification but it can just be urbanisation as well where there’s just higher density units being put up.” Mr Clark said it was interesting to see high numbers of demolitions in some of the inner suburbs of Concord and Ermington “The government investment motivated a lot of quick development and urbanisation on a residential front … more houses being converted into units so perhaps there’s zoning changes Older homes are also getting a lot more attention now,” he said A home at 7 Laundess Ave Panania sold for $1.35m in 2021 And replaced with this brand new five bedroom home which sold for $1.72m in 2022 Huge home price record for ‘undiscovered’ Sydney suburb ‘$100K a year’: home prices set to surge He said further research showed the approvals didn’t just stop at demolitions with new builds and plenty of construction activity in the areas identified “You would think not much is happening with all the construction issues but there’s definitely hot spots,” he said William Clark says Sydney is always growing but not necessarily just in the outer regions but it’s not necessarily just in the outer areas Places that you don’t think of are gentrifying an changing/urbanising so quickly.” Balgownie – Fairy Meadow – 51 approved demolitions in 2022/23 It comes as the Master Builders Australia (NSW)’s latest building and construction forecasts reveal construction activity has increased to an estimated $67.27 billion during 2022–23 – up 6.7 per cent compared with the previous year However the report reveals like most of Australia “new home building in NSW is currently in retreat following the peak reached during the pandemic” “A total of 59,345 new homes were started across the state during 2020–21 We expected that 2023–24 will mark the low water mark with 47,935 new dwelling commencements,” the report stated MORE: Top model, foodie’s hip $6.8m home up for grabs Swimwear queen’s big $17m sell off 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. Police Inspector Glen Parks appeals for information about the assaults. (ABC News) Link copiedShareShare articleFour women have been indecently assaulted by the same man in separate incidents in the Rydalmere area in Sydney's west. Yesterday morning a 17-year-old reported being indecently assaulted by a man while she was walking along Primrose Avenue at Rydalmere. A 74-year-old woman then came forward saying she was also attacked by the man earlier that morning on the same street. This afternoon police made a public appeal for assistance, and since then two more women have come forward to report similar attacks. On Thursday a 16-year-old girl was grabbed by a man and indecently assaulted also in Primrose Avenue. Later that day a 56-year-old woman was in a park on Spofforth Street in Ermington when she was approached by a man who fitted the same description. She told police they spoke briefly before he grabbed her and indecently assaulted her. Police Inspector Glen Parks says the incidents are a concern for the local community. "It is very concerning," he said. "That's part of the reason we're putting it out in the media, to let the local residents know of what's taken place down there and also to seek their assistance. "We do believe the person could live in the area and we are seeking assistance from those that live in that vicinity to contact us." Inspector Parks said police believed there could be more victims. The alleged attacker is described as being of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his 50s or 60s with a skinny build and a black beard. In one incident the man was described as wearing a turban. In another he was wearing a cream-coloured cap and a cream-coloured, loose-fitting shirt and pants. 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) In a deft move of buying one pub and selling another industry identity Rod Salmon has completed a $100 million deal that will add to the total tally of sales for the year which is close to $2 billion across the country sold his Rydalmere Tavern in Sydney’s west to fellow pub investor Andrew Lazarus and bought the Chelsea hotel in Chatswood from industry veteran Patrick Gallagher and senior vice president Ben McDonald said the deal adds weight to a record year for their agency having sold more than $1.2 billion of assets across 78 transactions in 2022 The Rydalmere Tavern was developed by Rod Salmon about five years ago “Long-term hotel investors continue to seek out assets offering value accretive characteristics for existing portfolios and we expect that to continue in 2023 despite a moving macroeconomic environment.” Salmon bought the Rydalmere pub as two adjoining commercial properties in 2017 on Victoria Road after which he repositioned the assets into a 3000 square metre mixed-use hospitality offering with a ground-floor restaurant and first-floor commercial tenants The Chelsea Hotel in Chatswood was bought by Rod Salmon from industry veteran Patrick Gallagher.Credit: McDonald said the new owner has the opportunity for further development plus the revenue from 30 gaming machines and the pub’s recent approval to trade to 4am “The Rydalmere Tavern has the potential to be one of Western Sydney’s key destination venues as the area continues to evolve,” McDonald said “Combine that with over $400,000 in income from the commercial tenancies the underlying development scope plus sought-after geographical location and we think the result speaks for itself.” The pub sector has the two hats of being one of the hardest hit in the global pandemic when they were all forced to close but since re-opening it has been one of the busiest regarding sales Between the leading agencies of HTL Property close to $2 billion have changed hands in the past 12 months Many large-scale and high-profile properties have changed hands boosted by family groups looking to take advantage of the demand and take the cash after years of ownership In a report from the investment manager at MA Financial he says pubs have occupied a unique place at the heart of Australian society for over a century and remain key cornerstones for communities in both regional and urban centres “Experienced venue operators have responded to changing demand from patrons adding value through active management and continual improvements in their standards and offerings to attract a diverse crowd and cater to a range of price points,” Hargraves said “Operators are also more sophisticated in applying technology to manage costs and improve the quality and consistency of revenue channels and service.” He said this has helped underpin strong momentum in spending throughout the year which combined with the relative affordability of visiting the local hotel “should maintain performance as we enter a more challenging period” The next big sales are the oaks in Neutral Bay on Sydney’s lower north shore with a price tag of more than $175 million via JLL The Thomas family are selling after having owned the popular pub with its famous oak tree for many decades A line-up of interested buyers is said to include pub baron Justin Hemmes and institutions including MA Financial which owns the formerly listed Redcape group and the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay Woolloomooloo is also being sold through HTL Property which also has 7 accommodation rooms plus a residence was sold in 2019 for $10.5 million to private owners The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning sold his Rydalmere Tavern in Sydney\\u2019s west to fellow pub investor Andrew Lazarus and bought the Chelsea hotel in Chatswood from industry veteran Patrick Gallagher \\u201CThe perpetual nature of hotel cashflows in key markets have shown their unrelenting ability to perform despite changing economic conditions,\\u201D Musca said \\u201CLong-term hotel investors continue to seek out assets offering value accretive characteristics for existing portfolios and we expect that to continue in 2023 despite a moving macroeconomic environment.\\u201D plus the revenue from 30 gaming machines and the pub\\u2019s recent approval to trade to 4am \\u201CThe Rydalmere Tavern has the potential to be one of Western Sydney\\u2019s key destination venues as the area continues to evolve,\\u201D McDonald said \\u201CCombine that with over $400,000 in income from the commercial tenancies and we think the result speaks for itself.\\u201D \\u201CExperienced venue operators have responded to changing demand from patrons adding value through active management and continual improvements in their standards and offerings to attract a diverse crowd and cater to a range of price points,\\u201D Hargraves said \\u201COperators are also more sophisticated in applying technology to manage costs and improve the quality and consistency of revenue channels and service.\\u201D \\u201Cshould maintain performance as we enter a more challenging period\\u201D The next big sales are the oaks in Neutral Bay on Sydney\\u2019s lower north shore with a price tag of more than $175 million via JLL A line-up of interested buyers is said to include pub baron Justin Hemmes and institutions including MA Financial which owns the formerly listed Redcape group and the The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories 29th May 2020 - City of Parramatta urges NSW Government to deliver on relocating Powerhouse Museum 19th May 2020 - Council reveals design details for new Parramatta aquatic centre 22nd April 2020 - New Parramatta pool development moves forward 7th December 2019 - Parramatta Council offers training subsidies for fitness and sport professionals 10th September 2019 - NSW Government announces $77 million partnership to build new Parramatta Pool 27th March 2019 - Inclusive playground and splash pad opened at Ollie Webb Reserve in Parramatta A packed bus travelling through Sydney's west, along with an Aldi supermarket and an entire western Sydney soccer club have been exposed to Covid-19 The latest list of venues and public transport routes flagged by NSW Health on Monday comes as the state recorded 35 locally acquired cases with the Bondi cluster now surging to 238 infections with dozens more which have not yet been linked Daily Mail Australia understands that a staff member at a busy Aldi supermarket in Rydalmere in Sydney's west worked two shifts last week before testing positive sending hundreds of shoppers and fellow employees into isolation Anyone who has attended the following venues at the listed times is considered a close contacted and must immediately get tested and self isolate for 14 day regardless of the result Rydalmere: Aldi - Thursday July 1 from 8am to 3am and Friday July 2 Bossley Park: Club Marconi - Friday June 25 from 2pm to 8:30pm and Saturday June 26 Anyone who has attended the following venues at the listed times is considered a casual contacted and must immediately get tested and self isolate until they receive a negative result Auburn: Pindi Supermarket - Tuesday June 29 form 5:40pm to 5:50pm Bus 827: Liverpool to Elizabeth Hills - Tuesday June 29 Passengers who travelled on this bus during the listed time are considered close contacts T5 Cumberland Line: Parramatta Station to Liverpool Station - Tuesday June 29 Passengers who travelled on this train during the listed time are considered casual contacts Anyone who visited the Rydalmere supermarket on Thursday July 1 from 2pm to 8:30pm is considered a close contact and must immediately get tested and self isolate for 14 days regardless of the result It is a similar situation at Club Marconi in Bossley Park with the iconic western Sydney soccer club declared a Covid exposure site after an infected case attended the venue twice last week Anyone who attended the venue on Friday June 25 between 2pm to 8:30pm and Saturday June 26 between 10am to 6pm is considered a close contact A popular Indian supermarket in Sydney's west has also been added to the ever-growing Covid exposure list Shoppers who visited the Pindi Supermarket in Auburn on Tuesday June 29 from 5:40pm to 5:50pm is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self isolate until they receive a negative result NSW Health are warning that a positive case travelled on the 827 bus from Liverpool to Elizabeth Hills in Sydney's west on Tuesday June 29 Anyone on the bus at that time is considered a close contact A public health alert was also issued for the T5 Cumberland Line travelling from Parramatta Station to Liverpool Station on Tuesday June 29 Passengers on the train at that time are considered casual contacts Of the 35 new cases of coronavirus announced earlier on Monday, 11 of them were out and about while infectious amid fears Sydney's lockdown will be extended. Twenty-four cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period while four isolated for part of it and seven were in the community for all of their infectious period. Three of the cases came from an illegal party in the luxurious Meriton Suites apartment block in Waterloo, inner-south Sydney on Saturday June 26.  Anyone who was on any level of the block between 7pm that night and 8am on Monday July 5 must immediately get tested and isolate until further notice. Premier Gladys Berejiklian slammed residents 'doing the wrong thing' and urged them to follow the rules if they want lockdown to end on Friday as planned. 'Unfortunately when a small number of people do the wrong thing it does result in extra cases,' she said.  'We have heard examples of people having gatherings when they shouldn't, people are going to each other's houses when they shouldn't. Please do not do that. It is jeopardising everybody's ability to move forward.'  The premier said 'the next couple of days will be absolutely critical' in deciding whether to lift lockdown. The decision hinges on the number of cases not in isolation while infectious.  New South Wales wants to reduce community transmission to zero while the vaccine rollout ramps up. Only nine per cent of Australian adults have been double jabbed.  Former GP and ABC journalist Dr Norman Swan said Monday's cases were 'really worrying' and said: 'I think it will be hard [to end lockdown] if it goes on like that.'  Four people are in ICU with Covid-19 in New South Wales, none on ventilators.  A total of 33 of the new cases have been linked to a known case or cluster and 20 are household contacts. Two of the cases remain under investigation. Two of the cases were residents of the SummitCare Baulkham Hills aged care facility, where five residents have tested positive. Both were women in their 70s. One had been fully vaccinated while the other, who entered the facility in May after the home was jabbed, is not yet vaccinated.   The three previously reported cases were fully vaccinated. All of the five residents, who are asymptomatic, have been transferred to Westmead Hospital for observation along with a wife of one of the cases.  The virus got into the care home via two workers who tested positive, one of whom had not been vaccinated.  On Monday the home's CEO Michelle Sloane said that 96 per cent of residents have been doubled vaccinated but several staff had not because they were hesitant.  'It is a new vaccine and like everybody in the community there was apprehension about having it. I think that's probably the main reason,' she said. Under new health orders, aged care staff must be vaccinated by mid-September.  Five of Sydney's new cases were are linked to Virgin flight VA524 from the Gold Coast to Sydney on Saturday 26 June on which an infected air crew member worked. The total number of cases associated with this flight is nine, including eight passengers and one household contact. There were two new cases linked to birthday party at West Hoxton, bringing the total number of cases associated with the party to 45. A student at Rose Bay Public School - a close contact of a previous case - also tested positive. The school closed on Monday for the on-site attendance of staff and visitors.  New South Wales has recorded 312 locally acquired cases since June 16, when the first case of the Bondi cluster was reported.  There are now 238 cases directly linked to known cases in the Bondi cluster, as well as 54 who are linked to other known cases in the outbreak. 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... 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Adli and an entire soccer club exposed to coronavirusCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} 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 The Australian version of The Office is finally underway Cast and crew were busy on the new Sydney set last week with the expansive group of stars making their way into an unassuming office building to start work a suburb 21 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district The Aussie installment will feature the first-ever female lead in the iconic role Australian comedian and actor Felicity Ward Felicity was among the actors heading into the building last week dressed formally in dark office wear including a blazer and mini skirt She appeared relaxed and happy as she made her way onto set to take the reigns of the iconic role A host of Aussie and Kiwi actors were on set Josh Thomson and Lucy Schmit were also spotted An Australian version of The Office has been in development since 2018 Names as big as Isla Fisher and Magda Szubanski have been rumoured to take on the lead role made famous by Ricky Gervais in the iconic BBC sitcom over the years However Daily Mail Australia earlier revealed it's actually a relatively unknown comedian set to claim the role of a cringe-inducing office boss in the Aussie remake Felicity Ward is the successful candidate for the role that made Steve Carell a household name in the Emmy award winning US remake. She is best known for her roles in The Inbetweeners 2 and on TV show Spicks and Specks.  The 42-year-old will play Hannah Howard, the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick in The Office Australia, Prime Video have revealed. The plot of the series involves Howard receiving news from Head Office that her branch will be shutting down.  Howard then 'goes into survival mode, making promises she can't keep in order to keep her 'work family' together.'  'The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah's outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them.'  The mockumentary-style sitcom series will launch in 2024 on Prime Video globally.  In a statement, original co-creator Gervais said, 'I'm very excited about Australia remaking my little show from the turn of the century.  'Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can't wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.'  Production on the female-led eight-part Australian Amazon Original series commenced in Sydney in July, with filming to take place over eight weeks.  Joining Ward on screen will be local stars Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess), Shari Sebbens (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Firass Dirani (Underbelly).  The Office Australia is executive produced by Julie De Fina (Aftertaste), Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers), and Kylie Washington. 'We are thrilled to be bringing one of the biggest comedy franchises ever made to Prime Video customers in Australia and around the world,' said Sarah Christie, senior development executive Prime Video Australia in a statement.  'It is an honour to continue the international comedy legacy of The Office locally while introducing new, quintessentially Australian characters.'  'We can't wait for audiences to meet Hannah Howard, the first female boss The Office format has explored.'  The Office Australia is co-produced by BBC Studios ANZ, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon Studios, and is based on a BBC Studios format.  The original series consisted of two six episode seasons, plus two Christmas specials. It featured Gervais as David Brent, an awkward office manager at a large paper company in Slough called Wernham Hogg. The US remake was produced by NBC and saw Carell take on a version Gervais' role, playing Michael Scott, regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch. That popular and widely lauded version of the show ran for nine seasons and 201 episodes. The new Australian comedy series will be part of the global hit juggernaut franchise, which has been remade 13 times, including in India, Canada, France and Poland. Cast gets to work on Prime Video's Australian remake of The OfficeCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} SafeWork NSW has revealed it is investigating a serious incident that occurred at a factory on Victoria Road in Rydalmere this morning SafeWork NSW said reports received suggest two workers were injured in the process of installing a new gantry crane “It is understood the injuries are not life threatening however this incident is a reminder for all businesses of the risks associated with working with plant and machinery,” the statement said “SafeWork’s investigation is ongoing and as such no further comment is available at this time.” The NSW Government has finally confirmed Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail will be moving full steam ahead following planning approval – but the completion date remains unknown The 10-kilometre extension will connect Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via the growing communities of Camellia The approved light rail corridor includes alignment changes around Rydalmere that intend to make connections to the Rydalmere Ferry Wharf easier and improve travel times Passengers will be able to travel from Sydney Olympic Park to Camellia in around 30 minutes and on to the Parramatta CBD in another 7 minutes NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen called it a “major step forward” for the project adding that it will make growing western Sydney communities more connected than ever before “With around half of local residents and a third of local employees projected to live and work across the project corridor this new track will serve a population of close to 280,000 by 2041,” she said “Stage 2 will directly link residents in Parramatta to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and give communities like Wentworth Point the public transport they’ve been promised.” The 2023-24 NSW Budget saw the NSW Government commit $200 million to expedite the project’s planning processes so construction can begin this term of Parliament with initial work to begin later this year on a new 320-metre public and active transport bridge over Parramatta River Procurement to deliver the $602.4 million bridge is underway with the initial contract for enabling works expected to be awarded later this year This is the first stage in delivering Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 with main construction work on the bridge expected to start in 2025 The bridge will connect the growing communities of Melrose Park and Wentworth Point It will be the first significant bridge crossing over Parramatta River since the completion of the southbound Ryde Bridge in 1987 Enabling works on the bridge are subject to approval by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water “I am thrilled the NSW Government has reached this milestone in the planning of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2,” Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said “Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will connect communities on both banks of the Parramatta River directly to the Parramatta CBD This will be a real game changer for the way people move around our city and I can’t wait to see work begin.” Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.