It seems the Panjo building at the northern entrance to Campbelltown has been sold.
But don’t get too excited that the new owners will be doing something about this eyesore.
We have been told that they went to Campbelltown City Council with a proposal to convert Panjo into a mosque, Islamic school, child care centre and a medical centre, among other uses.
Council did not like the proposal on the basis that it would have been a traffic and parking mess in Rose Payten Drive, Airds Road and Grange Road, the three streets surrounding Panjo.
Our source tells us that this will now almost certainly end up in the Land and Environment Court because the new owners did not agree with council’s decision.
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A long, long time ago there were plenty of opponents to the idea of an international airport at Badgerys Creek.
In fact, the opponents vastly outnumbered those people in outer South Western Sydney who thought the airport was a good idea.
Now we’re counting down the days to our first flight from “our’’ airport in 2026.
But over on social media there is one mob who still cling on to their opposition to the airport even though Blind Freddy can see that it’s fait accompli, a done deal, all over bar the shouting.
We looked up this mob, RAWSA, and they claim to be a “non political residents group against the proposed development of a 24 hour international airport at Badgerys Creek in Western Sydney NSW’’.
But mysteriously there’s not much more information about them.
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It’s nice to be appreciated, so we were chuffed to receive this thank you note from Peter Anjos on behalf of the Eschol Park football club:
“Just thought I would touch base to say thank you for supporting our event. As a result of the community coming together and supporting us, we raised just over $26,000.’’
Anytime, Peter.
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Following a redistribution ahead of next year’s state election, a new seat called Leppington has been created.
While its centre will be around Edmondson Park, the seat was created from taking bits from surrounding areas such as Liverpool, Camden and Campbelltown.
The election will be held on the last Saturday of March in 2023, but the battles for preselection are well under way.
On the Liberal Party’s side it looks like the frontrunner is current Camden mayor Theresa Fedeli, and by all accounts there won’t be too much opposition to her.
Most of the preselection fun is on the Labor side, with candidates from Liverpool, Camden and Campbelltown starting to count branch numbers.
Current Labor council star Nathan Hagarty, picture above, is said to be interested, but time will tell if he ends up the party’s candidate in seven months’ time.
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Some of you may have seen our feature late last week on master wood craftsman Richard de Groot.
During the interview, we asked him if he was any relation of Francis de Groot, the fellow who spoiled the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.
The infamous de Groot rode a horse through the crowds and produced a sword to cut the ribbon before NSW Premier Jack Lang could do the honours.
“No, no relation at all, I have done a reasonable search,’’ Richard responded.
“De Groot is as common a name in the Netherlands as Smith is in England.’’
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Up until recently, the team at NSW Rural Fire Service’s Georges River Brigade at Minto Heights was taking turns bringing in their personal mowers to attend to the almost 2000 square metres of station compound grass areas.
Well, their troubles are over thanks to Wests Group Macarthur who donated a new ride on mower to the brigade last week.
“The Rural Fire Service do an amazing job supporting the community through fire emergencies, flood clean up and other call outs for assistance and Wests is proud to support them back,’’ Wests Group Macarthur said.
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Young Ghosts cricketer Jackson Isakka really is determined that he will go far in his chosen sport.
For two years he has gone up north to Darwin to play cricket during our winters, and currently he is in the UK polishing his batting and bowling skills.
In all games to date, he has scored more than 1,000 runs, including four centuries.
Unfortunately, his bowling has been very limited as he recovers from a stress fracture in the lower back.
Jackson will complete his stint in the UK with games on the weekend of September 3-4, returning to commence training with the Ghosts later that week.
I was told by a former Councillor that the building was illegal and anyone who bought it would have to pull it down. It’s an interesting article about the Muslim school proposal.
Thanks Eric for all your current articles on what’s happening around town.