Featured Stories

Recruiting new branch members good for democracy

Recruiting new branch members is not only good for political parties but vital for a healthy democracy, says MP Anoulack Chanthivong. In the wake of the branch stacking scandal in Victoria, the state member for Macaquarie Fields has agreed to discuss how Labor Party branches operate and the challenges posed by the emergence of new technologies, especially social media. Mr Chanthivong, who was first elected to parliament in 2015, says there’s nothing wrong with recruiting new members “if it’s done according to the rules, or people are joining of their own accord and they have not been coerced, or fraudulently… Read more »

Macarthur FC set to win on and off the field

A ball has not been kicked in anger, yet the Macarthur FC Bulls have already ticked a lot of boxes. Now they have another achievement to add to this growing list: political unity in our region. Yesterday at Macarthur Square the Bulls announced that six local politicians, three from each side, had enthusiastically agreed to become inaugural patrons of the A-League’s newest football club. They are Liberal Party MPs Angus Taylor (who is also the federal energy minister) Nathaniel Smith (Wollondilly) and Camden mayor Theresa Fedeli. Labor’s representatives as patrons are MPs Mike Freelander (Macarthur) and Greg Warren (Campbelltown) ,… Read more »

Iconic council buildings were built on hope

Hope and optimism were behind the construction, 18 years apart, of the two iconic buildings that make up the Campbelltown Council administration headquarters, writes local historian IAN WILLIS: In 1964, the Campbelltown-Ingleburn News (which local shortened to CI News) ran a banner headline on its front page, Symbol of Progress, over a story about the opening of a new council administration building as part of a proposed civic centre precinct in the town centre. The newspaper headline was a statement of faith in the confidence of Campbelltown and its planned declaration as a satellite city by the state government. The eight-storey office… Read more »

The Kontos Report

Fearless comment, a peek behind the news, some fun and satire with Top 5, topped off with the week’s most interesting image - or two.

In My View

Stop talking about rail links and just build them

Eric Kontos on Thursday, 2 July, 2020 in In My View •

It’s one thing for the state government to announce that it has reserved land for a new transport route some time in the future. Unfortunately it’s a whole other thing for them to commit funding to build a road, rail track or even extend an existing transport link. And that’s precisely what we have here regarding plans for transport linksRead more »

Macarthur Chatter

Elections postponed, councillor fees frozen

Eric Kontos on Monday, 29 June, 2020 in Macarthur Chatter •

It’s now official that love them or hate them we’re going to have to wait a year to elect new councils. In a raft of announcements affecting local government in NSW, the main one is that the next council elections will be held on September 4, 2021. However, those elected will get a shorter term than usual, three years insteadRead more »

Top 5

How much worse can things get in 2020?

Eric Kontos on Tuesday, 2 June, 2020 in Top 5 •

Many moons ago the editorial team in a local newspaper dubbed a work experience kid “Sixty Questions’’. The reason being that the kid, who was a lovely young fellow by the way, just kept asking questions of all of us, day after day for a week. I was reminded of this when someone asked for the millionth time this weekRead more »

Picture This

Rome may be burning but life goes on

Eric Kontos on Friday, 3 July, 2020 in Picture this •

We’re all in agreement that 2020 is a hell of a year and 2019 wasn’t much better. Do you remember that water restrictions started coming in last year, which were followed by bushfires that had all of us worried sick. Much of NSW was in drought and is only now emerging from it, only to be hit by the Covid-19Read more »

News

Regional alliance against illegal rubbish dumping

on Wednesday, 8 July, 2020 in News •

In the wake of 3,000 reported cases in the past two years, Camden Council has gone up a gear in its fight against illegal rubbish dumping. Council recently joined the Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad. Working across local government boundaries, RID squads use a strategic, coordinated approach to prevent illegal dumping while focusing on particular issues in theirRead more »

Two years on, M9 Orbital land owners in limbo

Eric Kontos on Wednesday, 8 July, 2020 in News •

More than two years after the State Government was in a rush to complete the process of locking in land for the M9 Outer Sydney Orbital Corridor, affected owners are saying they’re in limbo. In 2018 bureaucrats drew lines on a map, pictured, and affected land owners were informed their properties would be required for the giant road and railRead more »

Business

It’s no longer business as usual

on Monday, 6 July, 2020 in Business •

Given the nature of the pandemic, all hands should be on deck, and all available tools should be used to get our local economy moving again, says Adriana Care, chair of Camden Region Economic Taskforce (CRET). “We are working hard to provide support and education, so that our businesses can access information to guide and support them on the roadRead more »

How overcoming adversity made Stacey Copas resilient

on Tuesday, 19 May, 2020 in Business •

Stacey Copas has created a framework of resilience based on her own experience of overcoming the adversity of becoming a quadriplegic at the age of 12. She is the author of How to be Resilient, and an international keynote speaker and facilitator on finding the opportunity in change and adversity. Ms Copas, pictured above, has also worked with large organisationsRead more »

Lifestyle

Exercise: humans built for movement, so why just sit there

on Tuesday, 26 May, 2020 in Lifestyle •

Stepping outside for some fresh air and exercise is bringing physical and mental health benefits to south western Sydney residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. South Western Sydney Local Health District exercise physiologist Daisy Ho says Exercise Right Week during May 25 to 31 highlighted the importance of movement in our daily lives, particularly while staying at home. “In the currentRead more »

How to tackle the lockdown rubbish spike

on Friday, 22 May, 2020 in Lifestyle •

You will not be surprised to learn that while we’ve been stuck at home during the lockdown we have been producing a lot more rubbish than before the pandemic arrived. Camden Council says that over the past two months weekly household waste has increased by 15 percent. Now we are being urged to look at ways to reduce food wasteRead more »

Technology

Unlock digital potential at free TAFE courses

on Tuesday, 19 May, 2020 in Technology •

A total of 13 new fee-free TAFE NSW short courses are available online to assist anyone across the State who wants to upskill during the Covid-19 pandemic, following an overwhelming response to the initial suite of courses announced earlier this month. The NSW Government will use these new courses to replace those which have reached enrolment capacity to ensure thereRead more »

Online resource to keep our food supply secure

on Wednesday, 25 March, 2020 in Technology •

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has activated a new specialist primary industries liaison team and launched an online resource to help the state’s $15.9 billion primary industries sector navigate the challenges and impacts of coronavirus. Director general Scott Hansen says as each day brought new information and new challenges, it was critical to ensure the sector had access toRead more »

Property

July 1 big day for first home buyers

on Tuesday, 30 June, 2020 in Property •

Eligible first home buyers across the country are eagerly anticipating the opening of the second round of the Federal Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) tomorrow, July 1. The scheme’s first 10,000 places – released on January 1, 2020 – showed strong demand for the program and as one of 27 participating lenders, Bendigo Bank helped hundreds of AustraliansRead more »

It’s all downhill from here on housing starts

on Tuesday, 26 May, 2020 in Property •

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) says it has revised its forecasts and now expects housing starts in NSW to be down by 27.5 per cent this financial year and to decline by a further 34.1 per cent in 2020/21. The forecasts are included in the HIA Quarterly Economic and Industry Outlook reports published last week. The state and national outlookRead more »

Motoring

Toyota’s Kluger hybrid set to be a hit

on Tuesday, 19 May, 2020 in Motoring •

Toyota has confirmed the next generation Kluger SUV will offer both hybrid and petrol engine options when it arrives in Australia in the first half of next year. The new seven seat Kluger embraces a similar dual powertrain strategy to that adopted by the Yaris Cross SUV due later this year and the latest-generation C-HR and RAV4. Toyota is theRead more »

Lexus: Black Line Special Edition all about individualism

on Tuesday, 10 March, 2020 in Motoring •

Lexus has introduced the IS Black Line Special Edition with an increase in bespoke appointments and available for a limited time. Offered with Lexus IS 300 and Lexus IS 350 variants, the Black Line Special Edition combines the muscular rear wheel drive proportions of the IS with trademark Lexus craftsmanship, while raising moody sophistication and delivering new cabin tactility. TheRead more »

Sport

Maguire keeps changes to a minimum for Souths clash

Eric Kontos on Tuesday, 7 July, 2020 in Sport > Rugby League •

Tags: NRL

Luke Brooks will once again steer the Wests Tigers around the park against Souths. Wests Tigers will go into their clash with South Sydney this Friday night full of confidence despite their 19-12 defeat at the hands of the Panthers last weekend. Battered and bruised after a fiery clash with Penrith, it looked like the team would lose at leastRead more »

Macarthur region soccer comps kick off

on Friday, 3 July, 2020 in Sport > Football •

Macarthur soccer competitions big and small get under way from this weekend with hundreds of senior and junior players set to be kicking round balls in parks and reserves across the region. One local club, Harrington United FC, will have the added benefit of a funding boost from their sponsor. The Shawood by Sekisui House sponsorship will provide equipment, uniforms,Read more »

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