p. 1

issue 985 proudly independent weekender thewestern phone 4722 2998 · fax 4731 6255 friday january 14 2011 www.westernweekender.com.au penrith valley edition more crashes as construction delays continue 7 accident zone no longer a panther but ryan girdler still loves penrith new boys and girls in blue hit the ground running top photo matt black productions by emily crane 10 18 local resident pens exciting new children s book raffic lights at the mulgoa and jamison road intersection will finally be up and running at the end of the month ­ a lengthy four years after the state government initially made the commitment construction on the $15 million upgrade was due to be completed last year but the rta has blamed wet weather and a need to maintain proper traffic flow for the delay a spokeswoman for the nsw roads minister david borger told the weekender the improvements at the intersection which includes replacing the round-a-bout with traffic lights would aim to reduce crashes and minimise traffic delays t but ironically nine major car accidents have occurred at the intersection in the past three weeks alone one particular crash involving two cars on december 27 pictured above resulted in one of the drivers having to be rescued by regentville fire brigade after he was trapped for 30 minutes the accidents have prompted local police to set up a stationary vehicle at the intersection indefinitely pictured above its lights are constantly flashing to alert motorists of the changed conditions it became apparent that some drivers were not driving to the conditions and it appeared that the physical presence of police was required to help solve that issue said grant healey from penrith police motorists vented their frustration on the weekender s facebook page this week with one user quipping the police were only there to process all the accident paperwork another user said so much is going on in the way of signs barriers but not much is happening in the way of getting the lights happening i try to avoid the area because it is just a massive accident waiting to happen mr healey reminded motorists that the round-a-bout would be functioning until the traffic lights were activated red hot deals now on at stihl shop penrith jamison park soccer york rd netball stihl abel st batt st jamison rd preston st 985wwd7957 985wwd7957

[close]

p. 2

2 western weekender january 14 2011 opinion from the editor s desk he christmas lights have been taken down unwanted gifts placed on ebay and hot cross buns have already started to appear on the supermarket shelves it must be january returning to work on monday was about as fun as one can expect after a three week break that featured little more than sipping a corona or two by the pool and watching re-runs of `frasier however such a problem ­ and many others ­ are put into perspective when one watches the devastating images that have come out of queensland this week the flood disaster that has crippled a state and stunned a nation brings home just what is important in life and how quickly it can be taken away lives have been lost homes destroyed and memories washed away in the blink of an eye replaced with devastation and the big questions where to from here and where to begin the long-lasting impacts of what we have seen in queensland in recent weeks will affect us all consider this · petrol prices are likely to rise because there will be a shortage of ethanol the floods have forced the closure of a key ethanol processing plant triggering a shortage in domestic supply it is likely the price of e10 will jump · fruit and vegetable prices could rise by as much as 30 per cent due to damaged crops and cut roads · meat prices are also likely to rise due to the likelihood of increased cost to feed cattle the list does not end there with talk of potentially higher interest rates once the dust settles on what has happened this week like in all tragedies there are heartbreaking stories perhaps nothing more heartbreaking in this case than hearing about children being swept to their deaths in the raging floodwaters taken before their lives have even really commenced of particular sadness was a story that appeared in the daily telegraph on wednesday detailing how two parents were swept to their deaths while the rest of the family huddled in the ceiling as the floods hit toowoomba on monday sam one of their children had punched a hole in the laundry ceiling and pushed his 15-year-old sister victoria to safety he went back to get mum and dad but they had just gone victoria heard mum scream said another sister sarah it is just one sad story amongst a bunch of others that we have watched on television read in newspapers or listened to on radio over the past few days with troy dodds t you will enjoy this come and hear sunday 16th pastor mick wrotniak the cross sunday 23rd phil langlade australia day service playhouse auditorium university of western sydney second ave kingswood join us for tea or coffee after the service sunday 10am kids church 10am youth service 4pm-6pm snr pastor mick wrotniak ph 0413 827 872 real-life.org.au our services are at no cost to you select mortgage finance do you have time to compare over 30 lenders let us do it for you stephen beard to that extent the australian media has done a tremendous job with its coverage particularly channel nine whose coverage on tuesday and wednesday was an example of live news television at its best abc news 24 facing its first big test of a major story also passed with flying colours in stories like this amongst the heartbreak there is also often stories of joy and of heroism amongst them is 24-year-old policewoman chloe beattie who the sydney morning herald said was called the hero of the hour by former police sergeant peter pyke for calmly [taking control of a large area with hundreds of motorists and townspeople trapped in cars and rising floodwaters virtually single-handedly co-ordinating all manner of rescues and evacuations the old saying goes that situations like this can separate the men from the boys but in reality it simply separates the should do people and the will do people kevin rudd far removed from the political crisis that engulfed him last year spoke on channel nine on tuesday night with perhaps the best honesty and `real attitude we have ever seen from him in his role as a local mp he proved that politicians can indeed be real people and it is often situations like this that prove it also deserving credit in that regard is queensland premier anna bligh who seems to be handling the crisis with the leadership we would expect one line from her has essentially summed up the crisis and the spirit for the future this weather might be breaking our hearts but it will not break our will it is hard to imagine just what the raging torrents of water are really like unless you are experiencing it we can all shake our heads and watch in despair as the images come to us on television but just imagine being at the centre of it our hearts should go out to them all after the dust has settled on this tragedy questions will rightly be asked about preparation and what may have gone right and wrong we all learn from tragedies like this but we must also remember that there is no legislating against mother nature and no predicting what she will deliver today tomorrow or in the far future that said the very nature of our land which can see us go from drought to floods in a relatively short period of time means we should be investing in whatever technology and initiatives are available to us to ensure we are as prepared as we can be troy dodds troy.dodds@mediaview.com.au 985wwd2663 985wwd7961 thumbs up thumbs down to companies and individuals who have donated to the queensland flood relief appeal opening their hearts to those in need to the girl who drove through the round-a-bout at jamison and mulgoa roads at high speed almost crashing and then enjoyed a laugh with the three friends in her car 20 years experience 7 days a week 985wwd6049 specialising in · first home buyers · investment properties · self-employed low doc loans · credit impaired · debt consolidation your weekender guide dance feature business fashion property jobs trades classifieds auto sport pages 28-29 pages 30-31 page 32 pages 35-54 pages 55-58 pages 59-62 pages 63-64 ed fitt e whil it wa you ph 4739 4500 mob 0403 166 207 email beards@selectgrp.com.au the western weekender is delivered to homes businesses and other key locations across the penrith local government area you can also receive the paper via email every week and read it online to subscribe to this service visit www.westernweekender.com.au/digitaledition or email penritheditorial@mediaview.com.au specialty racks bike ski rod board pods canoe bullbar towbar specialists hayman reese cosmopolitan weekender online facebook www.westernweekender com.au/facebook western towbars bullbars now relocated here mobile fitting service web www.westernweekender.com.au western off road centre agent stockist for we are also your local one stop 4wd shop agents for all major brands · towbars · bullbars · electric brake controls · fibreglass canopies · retro stationwagon seats · ecb · tjm · arb · bocar unit 2 65 regentville rd penrith published by mediaview pty ltd printed by spot press pty ltd weekender thewestern rola rhino racks roof racks for all purposes 985wwd024 twitter www.twitter.com/wwpenrith editor editorial team 4731 4680 sales team 4721 0357 production team penrith weekender issue 985 unit 2 42-44 abel street penrith tel 4722 2998 fax 4731 6255 circulation 59,440 cab audit sep 2010 photographer email advertising penrithsales@mediaview.com.au editorial troy.dodds@mediaview.com.au troy dodds emily crane lauren cassandra stacey grimson o connor moseley melinda jenkins matthew forde james miller sergio carrasco nicole gaudry richard watts linda lewis friday rain clearing 10°c 22°c saturday mostly sunny 4°c 21°c irene kirsty stacey alana andrew sunday mostly sunny 6°c 22°c adams eaves fortescue christanga komoder

[close]

p. 3

news western weekender january 14 2011 no room for sean by emily crane smith st matt 3 auto centre full mechanical workshop lpg rego checks service pink slips blue slips green slips log book service full servicing all work guaranteed julius he loughran family of werrington county say they have been let down by penrith city council after they were told there was no room for five-year-old sean at his local before and after school centre yoorami sean is due to start kindergarten at werrington county public school after attending a councilrun long day care centre in the same suburb for the past five years penrith council children s services rang me in november and said there was nothing available at yoorami said sean s mother donna if you ve got your kid on a waiting list and had him in the council run system five days a week i would have hoped there was a space available my husband and i both work at schools so we were really let down by a local council who claim to support working families after an endless struggle sean has finally been placed in before and after school care but not through council rather his new school principal tracie duclos pushed for a privately run service to be available at werrington county public mrs loughran who is the deputy principal of mt druitt high school said she was forced to apply for leave so sean could start school this year i had no other option she said i tried to contact councillors and the mayor but i just got no response i was very concerned about how dismissive council was i m just so thankful my baby can now start school on time with everyone else his age without the private care provider it wouldn t be possible there are 45 enrolment places available at yoorami for before and after school care but due to increased demand council said they were not even able to accommodate some families already using the centre it does concern council that families who have been utilising a council long day care centre for a number of years do not have a seamless transition to before and after school care a council spokeswoman said this has not previously occurred at yoorami t paul 473 1 40 1 9 smithstreetauto@bigpond.com 985wwd5938 184 smith street south penrith phil unit 5 119 coreen ave penrith united tools ph 4731 1391 five-year-old sean loughran and his mother donna can finally be excited about his first day of kindergarten to most major brand power tools 985wwd6874 sales service repair employment opportunity 985wwd7982 sales/administration assistant donna loughran feels she has been let down by penrith city council after it could not accommodate her son sean in before and after school care photo melinda jenkins the western weekender penrith s leading newspaper currently has a vacancy for a sales and administration assistant assisting the sales team and controlling our successful trades services directory you will also assist in the administration duties of the newspaper this is an opportunity to join a growing local organisation and to enhance your skills in the media if you want to grow with a progressive company we want to talk to you the role starts immediately and would suit a recent graduate somebody wishing to start their career or somebody looking for a change in life and career email your cv and cover letter to matthew.forde@mediaview.com.au or call 4722 2998 grace sincerity and integrity yvonne meehan 61 great western highway emu plains 4735 6900 e:yvonne@ladyofgracefunerals.com.au belinda erich e:belinda@ladyofgracefunerals.com.au springwood ­ 4751 6300 hawkesbury ­ 1300 795 911 truly australian owned 24 hours 7 days 985wwd7948 www.ladyofgracefunerals.com.au 985wwd7975

[close]

p. 4

4 western weekender january 14 2011 news norman s scrap metals free call 1800 225 235 your say muru clarification i refer to the article on 12 november 2010 `money for muru the article reproduced comments from a media release issued by my office which made reference to deerubbin land the use of this expression was intended to refer to land alongside the nepean river as the word deerubbin is an aboriginal word used to refer to the hawkesbury/nepean river to the extent that this expression has conveyed the incorrect impression that the media release was referring to lands owned by the deerubbin land council i wish to record that this is not the case after this matter was brought to my attention by the deerubbin land council i gave an undertaking to correct the record i apologise for any confusion that the words used in my media release may have caused david bradbury federal member for lindsay letters to the editor sydney 9748 0611 fax 4721 7658 6 bligh street auburn new used steel bought sold cash buyers of all ferrous and non-ferrous metals pick-up service available 34 peachtree road penrith off castlereagh road penrith 4732 1683 the facts are clearly evident that the road surface and conditions are as good as you can get and i feel that it is rather ungracious of you to state on a stretch of road that has taken too many lives this year roads don t take lives ­ inexperience and a lack of respect for the road rules usually tops that list r bastian oxley park well done santa a big thumbs up to mr mrs santa claus who came down york road south penrith on christmas eve on the back of a truck handing out gifts and sweets to the children wazza south penrith i know only too well how difficult it is for a single parent to raise their children alone the school bullies taunt them with you haven t got a daddy and reduce a child to tears the same goes for single dads with bullies taunting you haven t got a mummy i myself tried to be mum and dad to my children but after years of torment harassment and bullying mainly by the neighbours i had a nervous breakdown and was tricked into giving up my two youngest children by a deceitful relative my children were my assets my only assets the pain grief and suffering i went through was unbelievable g kraatz emu plains open 7 days most public holidays 985wwd7973 tough to be mum and dad crashes not accidents tyres the latest horrific crash that took the life of candice falls western weekender december 17 and the similar crash note that i do not call them `accidents earlier last year which also caused the death of three teenagers were almost identical in that the drivers lost control of their vehicles due to according to police speeding and inexperience among other things 985wwd7670 33 york rd penrith 4731 6311 we want to hear from you send your letterstothe editor via email to penritheditorial@mediaview.com.au or post them to suite 2 42-44 abel street jamisontown 2750.the western weekender reserves the right to edit letters for the sake of accuracy and space you can also comment at www.westernweekender.com.au save now with 2010 prices till the end of january avoca vanity bundle vanity mixer mirror vanity only carisma mixers chic mirror 700x900 from $165 white rectified 971wwd000 300 x 600 save m2 11 $89 5 year warranty the inspiration n complete bathroom package e $539 $395 wall faced save 849 1850 supp nly ly o 6 chrome jets 1500 maree spa with free hot pump jumeriah ii ice $750 900x900 save 190 $489 $22 m2 bath set hyatt lever basin set pure frameless shower screen $160 $790 shower set $140 $140 aurora rail shower lifetime warranty save 150 $110 · 1525 stylus maxton bath · full china link toilet suite · 900 full gloss vanity over 20 to choose from · bevel edge mirror · wall tiles 15m2 of 20x20/20x30 gloss white 20x30 gloss alabaster or 20x40 gloss white over a hundred choices of tiles · floor tiles 5m2 of 200x200 · border 8 sheets of glass or marble mosaic mention this ad · taps basin bath shower set chrome 5 yr warranty for your free gift · 2 x chrome plug waste upon purchase · 2 x chrome floor waste of the package · 6 piece accessory set chrome a.b.l tile centre when quality matters renovation quotes from our recommended renovatiors free bathroom open 7 days mon fri 7.30am 5pm sat 8.30am 4pm sun 9am 3pm 973wwd6920 18 forthorn place st marys ph 9623 0499 www.abltilecentre.com.au

[close]

p. 5

news western weekender january 14 2011 5 reducing hazzards by cassandra o connor setting the record straight by lauren grimson his year s fire season may have been a wash out but state member for penrith stuart ayres and shadow minister for emergency services melinda pavey believe this is the perfect time to improve fire hazard reduction strategies details of the state opposition s new fire hazard reduction policy for penrith and the lower blue mountains were released this week and emphasise the need to include volunteers in the decision making process volunteers are our lifeblood and listening to voices of experience is the only way to create good policies mr ayres said the introduction of a `council of emergency volunteers would facilitate communication between the government and rural fire services as well as between volunteer services such as surf life saving state emergency services and marine rescue nsw the council would develop strategies to increase the number of volunteers in the state s emergency services with a particular focus on the rural fire service mrs pavey said if they win the march election the opposition also intend to increase the amount of fire hazard reduction with back burning and fire trail maintenance topping the list more than a quarter of new south wales approximately 22 million hectares of land is at risk of bush fires in the penrith local government area hazard reduction was carried out on 390 hectares between 2009 and 2010 four times more than the previous season an independent `hazard reduction audit panel would oversee risk assessment for each region the development of targets for hazard reduction and report to parliament where it can be demonstrated that government red tape is delaying hazard reduction activities by local rural fire service brigades this will be reviewed and amended mr ayres said mrs pavey added that in new south wales the proportion of land that has been treated for risk of fire is approximately 0.05 per cent but if there is a lesson t penrith city councillor john thain is out to set the record straight on recent reports that claimed he failed to comply with the local government act pecuniary interests register cr thain was mentioned in an article in the december 17 issue of the penrith press `what pecuniary interests reveal about kings of the city for allegedly not having declared his new position in the office of housing minister frank terenzini cr thain told the western weekender the allegations were untrue and attributed the confusion to a misunderstanding of the pecuniary interests register requirements the article made it sound as though i hadn t complied with the local government act requirements for pecuniary interests but it seems they didn t read the requirements properly cr thain told the western weekender on wednesday this register was for pecuniary interests from july 2009 to june 2010 ­ but i didn t start my position with the minister until august and my obligation is to report that in my next pecuniary interests return i ve always complied with the local government act thain s family safe in qld rain cannot put this fire out melinda pavey and stuart ayres discuss their new fire hazard reduction policy to be learnt from the royal commission into the 2009 victorian bushfires that proportion should be closer to five per cent labor candidate for penrith john thain said that the proposal by the opposition was just another example of policy on the run weeks before an election the keneally government has funded a $107 million package of mitigation for direct action mr thain told the weekender when compared with the opposition s proposal for councils audit panels and committees i think it is obvious which is the better response to hazard reduction the queensland floods gave penrith city councillor john thain a scare earlier this week with concerns that members of his family living near the brisbane river may have been affected cr thain s mother sister aunty and niece are in queensland s chapel hill and forest lake suburbs separated from the volatile brisbane river by just a few short kilometres despite concerns for his mother who is living in a nursing home in forest lake cr thain told the western weekender his family were doing well my niece is in chapel hill at the moment staying with family ­ they re in quite a high area so they re not in any immediate danger he said my sister s on a houseboat in the murray river and my aunty s in forest lake keeping an eye on mum the nursing home doesn t seem to be in a risky area which is good news hurry offers end 30 january 2011 arctick au22386 985wwd7060 offers end 30th january 2011 prices doesn t include delivery or installation 985wwd7954

[close]

p. 6

6 western weekender january 14 2011 news mayor s news with kevin crameri happy new year welcome to 2011 i hope that you and your families had a great christmas and festive season the new year is always a chance to start afresh and make those new year resolutions if you haven t got around to making a resolution can i suggest that volunteering is a great way to meet new people and give something back to your community giving time to your community throughout the year in any capacity would be a great present if you want to help our environment council is looking for volunteers to revive the bush around school house creek which is home to echidnas in a new bushcare group for more information please call our bushland management officer janet on 4732 8088 before january 31 what i reckon with barry o farrell labor s midnight power sale which was pushed through just before christmas has all the hallmarks of another rotten deal from an incompetent keneally labor government the nsw liberals nationals forced the establishment of parliamentary inquiry into labor s midnight power sale the parliamentary inquiry will examine what impact the sale will have on power prices why the eight labor-appointed directors resigned and whether taxpayers received value for money kristina keneally has done her best to derail the parliamentary inquiry from the moment i proposed it first she prorogued parliament months early now kristina keneally has used shameful intimidation and scare tactics to stop witnesses giving evidence to the parliamentary inquiry some directors have now indicated they will not give evidence including one who specifically cited the lack of parliamentary privilege kristina keneally should do the right thing and reopen parliament to allow the inquiry to proceed re-opening parliament would remove any legal concerns allow these directors ­ and anyone else ­ to give evidence to the inquiry and finally start to answer the community s questions about kristina keneally power sell-off the keneally labor government does not want directors to explain why they quit during the midnight sale process what impact the sale with have on future electricity prices and whether taxpayers received value for money this is a shameful way for a premier to behave and it shows kristina keneally has got something to hide in labor s midnight power sale keneally s corner with kristina keneally this week i travelled to grafton in our state s north one of many communities affected by flooding nsw has fortunately been spared the level of horrendous flooding that hit queensland however at the time i write this more than 5,000 people across our state s north coast have been isolated by flood waters flooding has been so severe that the state emergency service evacuated the entire populations of boggabilla and toomelah which have 850 people between them since last month 63 local government areas across nsw have been declared natural disaster areas because of flooding these declarations activate a range of assistance measures for families small businesses farmers councils and community groups details of nsw natural disaster assistance schemes can be found at www.emergency.nsw gov.au/nddassistance as well as assisting nsw communities affected by floods the nsw government has reached out to our northern neighbours two rural fire service helicopters have been sent to toowoomba and more than 30 highly trained fire and rescue nsw officers specialist engineers and paramedics have been deployed to provide emergency assistance in toowoomba and other areas in queensland the nsw government has also donated $1 million to the queensland premier s flood appeal and i urge anyone looking to help to make a donation at www.qld.gov.au/floods on behalf of all people in nsw i extend condolences to those who have suffered loss from these floods and i thank everyone who has put their hand up to help at this difficult time for all the latest local news as it happens make sure you check out our website at www.westernweekender.com.au weekender online dose of dorin by paul dorin security doors grilles screens 20 off canvas awnings fabric awnings lacquere 1es5e%reocfefdar sdwt rn n d venetia wester red cedar western re ceda western red cedar ter 4.2mm thick 4.2m th c 4.2mm thick new years sale now keep the heat out call now western red cedar venetians verticals sunscreen roller blinds fabric vertical holland blinds slimline venetians roman blinds not in conjunction with any other offer free fitting most products roman blinds sunscreen blinds ke them we ma enrith p here in cyba shade verticals pvc fabric security visit our new showroom 9am-4pm weekdays 9am-1pm saturday factory direct quality discount blinds penrith 1/9-11 abel street 4721 1010 985wwd7966

[close]

p. 7

news western weekender january 14 2011 7 girds is back former penrith panthers player turned coffee barrister ryan girdler at belle saveur café in penrith penrith panthers premiershipwinning centre ryan girdler at belle saveur on tuesday morning photo melinda jenkins by emily crane · two 15-year-old boys have been charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter and carry in conveyance following a number of robberies around the cranebrook area both teens will appear in parramatta children s court early next month · police recovered $40,000 worth of stolen goods an unregistered firearm and an amount of ammunition during a raid on a bradbury home last week officers from the penrith lac joined forces with campbelltown police after they were notified of a campbelltown couple shoplifting from a north penrith hardware store the store s loss prevention officer reported the couple s number plate and police were able to execute a search warrant on their bradbury property where they located $40,000 worth of stolen goods a 30-year-old bradbury man was charged with possess stolen property not keep firearm safe and possess unregistered firearm while his 41-year-old airds accomplice was charged with stealing · a 20-year-old penrith woman has been charged with stealing assault and possession of goods in custody after she attempted to take medication from a high street pharmacy without paying and assaulted two staff members officers detained the 20-year-old and located stolen underwear clothing and cologne in the woman s handbag · employees at a penrith phone store alerted police after making a grim discovery on a customer s phone that was in for repair the owner of the phone a 48-year-old wentworth falls man was charged with possess child abuse material after police searched his mobile and home address the 48-year-old will appear in penrith local court on february 9 · officers from the penrith lac conducted a drug detection operation at penrith railway station and the surrounding premises last thursday january 6 making a total of eight drug-related arrests and issuing seven tickets for transport offences · police were called to mamre road m4 overpass last sunday january 9 after a 38-year-old male threatened to jump off the bridge into oncoming traffic general duties police highway patrol officers and negotiators attended the scene few years back ryan girdler would not have gone unnoticed here in penrith but he managed to pay a quiet visit to his former stomping ground on tuesday to make a cup of coffee the former penrith panthers player took up a career as a coffee barista after retiring from professional rugby league back in 2004 mr girdler now a café owner in dee why has recently developed his own blend of coffee known as `girdler s grind which he is now placing in cafés around the state belle saveur café in penrith is the first in the area to stock the special girdler s grind blend we are very selective in who we give our coffee to people need to be interested in making coffee the right way ­ it s a process and not as easy as it seems the 2003 premiership-winning centre said a the coffee is made up of six different blends sourced from right across the world including nicaragua brazil new guinea and kenya it s got a hint of cocoa and a really sweet taste he said while mr girdler may be the coffee connoisseur now switching from rugby league to owning his own café was a unique career change but he says he always loved a good coffee mr girdler now lives on the opposite side of sydney on the northern beaches but said he loves coming back out to penrith i love watching the panthers play and i watch every game religiously he said i ll always put my heart and soul in penrith rugby league ­ it s great to get back out here mr girdler will be back in penrith on saturday january 29 to make coffee with his new blend at belle saveur on high street penrith biggest 2 day furniture bedding clearance this saturday sunday bellafonte 2.5 seater 2 seater 100 cowhide leather no reasonable offer will be refused 44-48 chapel street 02 9833 4037 $999 st marys 985wwd7936

[close]

p. 8

8 western weekender january 14 2011 kitchen makeovers the kitchen makeover specialists before don t replace it reface it with granite transformations the kitchen makeover specialists the exquisite engineered stone range trend collection is renowned for it s superior performance and boasts heat scratch stain and impact resistant properties the collection exclusive to granite transformations can be simply applied directly over your existing kitchen surfaces in as little as one day you can freshen up your old kitchen with our simple makeover idea or build your dream kitchen from scratch the choice is yours with over 20 stylish colours to select from visit your nearest showroom to view the full trend collection today with every deposit taken before christmas sink flickmixer tap free after www.granitetransformations.com.au licence no 222791c unit 40 38-40 abel street penrith nsw 2750 gtnepean@granitetransformations.com.au fax 4732 1103 985wwd7672 tel 4732 1411

[close]

p. 9

news western weekender january 14 2011 9 off leash at last council snapshot · despite recent reports in another local publication penrith city mayor kevin crameri said council had not made a decision to raise rates above the state cap the publication indicated on january 4 that councillor crameri was seeking to increase rates above the 2.8 per cent state cap to help reduce its $6 million deficit but cr crameri said a council report highlighting the possibility had been brought to a meeting in november it is unlikely there will be a decision before the end of january he said · the first ever `australia day spectacular will be held this year hosted by penrith city council at penrith lakes it will feature the largest fireworks and water show outside the sydney cbd festivities kick off at 2pm and will wrap up at 9.30pm · st clair youth centre has a range of holiday activities and outings planned to keep the kids occupied for the remainder of the school holidays it will run on monday tuesday and wednesday until january 19 those aged between 12 and 18 years can participate planned activities include a sing star karaoke session water volleyball and team challenges details 9834 2708 · community facilities and open spaces across penrith will be improved due to $724,000 worth of grants funds will be used to install lights at roper road sporting field and the erskine park high school playing field castlereagh hall and st clair branch library will also be refurbished the funding was secured through the federal government s regional and local community infrastructure program · better employment housing and transport outcomes for residents are at the top of penrith city council s priority list said mayor kevin crameri as many aspects of these priority areas are outside of local government control cr crameri assured residents and rate payers council was their strongest advocate · next council meeting january 31 federal member for lindsay david bradbury third from right and labor candidate for mulgoa prue guillaume fourth from right with locals and their pleased pooches at the jamison park off leash dog area by lauren grimson welve months of campaigning has finally paid off for locals jason and jodie kozlovsky with the federal government contributing $22,000 to fence the off leash dog area in jamison park mr and mrs kozlovsky initiated the push for the off leash area early last year creating a facebook page and a petition that received overwhelming public support their facebook page `fenced dog park for penrith drew hundreds of members in the first three weeks and the petition received more than 400 signatures in the same amount of time in an interview with the western weekender last year mr kozlovsky said there were many benefits that a fenced area would provide such as preventing accidents and litigation because it would keep dogs safe from the adjacent racecourse road and out of the way of other park users t penrith city councillor and labor candidate for mulgoa prue guillaume said the funding was a win for local families and dog owners while the off leash area at jamison park was already there it just wasn t being used because without a fence many residents felt it was unsafe to take their dogs to cr guillaume said federal member for lindsay david bradbury said the area would prove to be a fantastic local facility because it had the potential to draw visitors to the area a total of $724,000 was given to the local area under the third round of the federal government s regional and local community infrastructure program the funding will also be used to complete a number of other projects including library and hall refurbishments the installation of sporting field lights and shade structures and maintenance on local swim centres what are your thoughts email penritheditorial mediaview.com.au or call 4722 2998 985wwd7939

[close]

p. 10

10 western weekender january 14 2011 news pre-school no easy task for kids or parents ith the new year underway thousands of parents across the state are preparing for a big change in their child s life ­ their first day at preschool community services minister linda burney said that for many children starting preschool means getting used to a new and different environment away from their parents this can be stressful at first ­ sometimes more for parents than children ­ but early childhood education has a positive long term impact on children she said services such as long day care centres and preschools offer educational programs that equip children with important skills that help them make the transition to school at preschool children learn to take turns and follow instructions they also become familiar with numbers and words ­ all of which lay the foundation for a successful educational future ms burney said there are a number of things that parents can do to ensure starting preschool is a positive experience let the service know if your child has any allergies or special medical needs she said you will also need to make sure that your child has everything he or she needs for the day including a bag lunch box hat a change of clothes and snacks depending on the service your child may also need lunch and a sheet or blanket for nap time ms burney encouraged parents to get to know the service and familiarise themselves with its policies and values every service should have written information available to parents she said ask about the educational program and how you can get involved in it check things like the rules for arrival and departure the child health and safety policies and the complaint handling procedures for the service ms burney said that parents can be assured that children s services in nsw are of high quality all children s services that are regulated by community services must adhere to strict standards to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children ­ if they don t they can face serious penalties she said is your child starting pre-school or school this year we would love to hear from you and we may even publish your photos email penritheditorial@mediaview.com.au welcome to the force by lauren grimson w enrith local area commander superintendent ben feszczuk was pleased to welcome 15 fresh-faced nsw police force college recruits to penrith police station last month more than 700 officers took their oath of office at the police force college on friday december 17 with 15 landing positions at penrith police station seven new recruits joined st marys local area command supt feszczuk said the new recruits came as welcome news and would help to bolster and improve the local force the new recruits bring the training enthusiasm and diversity necessary to meet the policing challenges that lay ahead he said supt feszczuk said the new probationary constables would confront the challenges of the job with commitment and enthusiasm the challenges they face will be outweighed by the rewards and sense of achievement they will receive from the job he said however the recruits have another year before they finally complete their training the new officers still have 12 months on-thejob training and study by distance education with charles sturt university before they graduate with a diploma in policing practice supt feszczuk said once they graduate the officers will then be confirmed in the rank of constable north west metropolitan region commander assistant commissioner dennis clifford joined supt feszczuk in welcoming the new officers adding that the recruits would help to provide local solutions to local problems a total of 186 new officers were assigned to the north west metropolitan region which includes penrith and st marys p front to back chloe hall crystal roberts and rodney adams have started work at st marys photo melinda jenkins 985wwd7940

[close]

p. 11

western weekender january 14 2011 11 985wwd7941

[close]

p. 12

12 western weekender january 14 2011 oxy lpg welding and cutting kit 13hp vetical shaft engine electric start news win for drivers now $189 high pressure water blaster generator 8000 watt peak electric start now $469 now now $849 save $200 $349 electric saw sharpener pedestal fans 750mm diam 3 speed $119 now $54 heavy duty buggy now industrial socket set $695 brendan neale left and business partner kenny haines right of panther driving school 4 stroke 6.5hp 3/4d 27 pce combination af metric top chests by lauren grimson now $89 offset bench vice $149 9 $169 3 $99 6 6+3+7 drawer roller bearings $65 6 $95 4 $55 14pc mm 55 17pc a/f $99 15pc mm 55 13pc a/f spanners steel work bench 2000 x 640 x 865 mm now $279 45pc socket set now $89 industrial roller cabinet otorists are benefiting in the lead-up to the state election with the nsw government announcing major reforms to the demerit points system and mandatory learner driver hours the new demerit points system introduced on december 31 has seen all unrestricted license holders gain one extra point bringing their total number of possible demerit points to 13 while license holders who drive for a living will be granted two extra points bringing their total to 14 in addition 22 offences have been deducted from or reduced on the rta demerit points system including charges for round-a-bout and indicator use dedicated lane use and more nsw premier kristina keneally admitted the changes have come as the biggest reform to the demerit points scheme since it was introduced but justified the amendments by an increased highway patrol presence and the growing number of speed and safety cameras these adjustments are timely and proportional they take into account the growth of speed and safety cameras as well m as an extensive highway patrol presence premier keneally said l-platers are also breathing a sigh of relief with news that the state government is planning to ease the 120 hours of driving experience following evidence that the driving requirement introduced by former nsw premier morris iemma was disadvantaging low-income families the former learner driver requirement was bolstered by a whopping 70 hours in an attempt to curb the youth road toll and give young drivers more experience before venturing out unsupervised kenny haines driving instructor and joint owner of panther driving school thinks otherwise ­ he says the problem is not with the number of hours but with the age of learner drivers i think kids are too young to go for their p-plates at 17 the difference in teaching a 17-year-old compared with an 18-year-old is very noticeable ­ they re more mature and take things on board more easily he said while the goverment s one for three hour log book initiative whereby a one-hour lesson with a driving instructor translates to three log book hours is helpful 120 hours is still very difficult for most families to achieve $369 nurses close beds nurses have closed 66 beds at nepean hospital as part of the nsw nurses union s latest industrial campaign the bed closures were enforced on monday in an attempt to provide safe nurseto-patient ratios nsw nurses association branch secretary for nepean hospital peter mason said the beds would remain closed indefinitely we started at 7am on monday and continued until all beds were closed mr mason said the number of bed closures coincided with the mandatory staffing levels that nurses are calling for which includes one nurse to every four patients mr mason said while some emergency beds would be closed they would be reopened if necessary waste praise the western sydney regional organisation of councils wsroc has praised local governments including penrith council for their active role in waste management and recycling strategies wsroc president cr alison mclaren said that the increase of recycling levels of household waste by 97 per cent between 2003 and 2009 was largely due to the persistence of local councils as one of the 15 highest waste generating councils in new south wales penrith can significantly contribute to the increase in state recycling rates the role of penrith council in waste management and efforts to increase recycling though controversial has been important she said because of the changes implemented by penrith council we expect a dramatic increase in recycling hydraulic body repair kit 10t now $159 industrial tap die set 110pc unc-unf metric tall transmission jack 450kg $99 now $179 solar auto welding helmet sprayer 12 volt 35l millers falls circular saw 71/4 180mm $89 $299 battery jump starter with compressor 900a $44 under tray boxes now $59 $109 each lh rh 985wwd7968 penrith toolbox 4/103-107 batt st penrith sale ends 31/1/11 pictures for illustration purposes only 4732 1422 trading hours weekdays 8am-5pm sat 8am 2pm sun closed 985wwd7938

[close]

p. 13

news western weekender january 14 2011 13 new store opens after storm delay day the ice fell endeavour recycled clothing manager denise norbury welcomes martin lisa and jessica swinnerton into the newly opened shop photo melinda jenkins the storm that prompted the delay in the opening of a local charity store story left caused major damage across the penrith area just prior to christmas several stores experienced collapsing roofs whilst panthers leagues club was endeavour recycled clothing is part of the brisbane-based endeavour foundation which provides support and opportunities to people with a disability the shop has undergone some major renovations since it was flooded a few weeks ago but staff are now adding the final touches when the rain hit the water was ankle deep on the shop floor but we re yet to find out if the carpet needs to be replaced ms norbury said we had to repaint the wall because the water leaked from the roof and we rebuilt part of the counter forced to close for a short period after part of its roof collapsed huge hail stones and torrential rain bucketed the city forcing residents to run for cover and causing damage to cars and other property by emily crane udging by the amount of people browsing through the endeavour recycled clothing shop on high street it s hard to believe it was completely washed out by the freak hailstorm that hit penrith before christmas the charity op-shop finally opened its doors on new year s eve after facing about $50,000 worth of flood damage just hours before it was initially scheduled to open manager of endeavour recycled clothing denise norbury said people were lined up outside the shop before it opened j s is slotw businesary and negotia e nu order in ja dk all daryl w c a great deal h now your kitchen r urry orde new kitchens kitchen make overs creative design solutions 12 year construction guarantee modular custom made cabinetry proudly australian made call us now for a free quote 9673 6789 new showroom opposite subway for ideas inspiration visit our new website www.weedookitchens.com.au 985wwd7969 2/516 great western hwy st marys nsw 2760

[close]

p. 14

14 western weekender january 14 2011 news add us on facebook you can check what we are up to on facebook at www.facebook.com/westernweekender smoke free 2011 by emma grodzicki 985wwd7949 ith the new year just beginning it s not too late to set a resolution and state officials are hoping one will overwhelm the lists to quit smoking sydney west area health service swahs senior health promotion officer barbara hawkshaw recommends getting help now to kick the habit throughout the year smoking is a major risk for a wide range of illnesses including emphysema which causes difficulty breathing and is particularly noticeable when climbing stairs ms hawkshaw said the smoking rate among residents living within boundaries of swahs is 19.4 per cent ­ higher than the state average of 17.7 per cent last month the state government took action against smoking and its related cancers by launching the icanquit website as well as releasing the nsw cancer plan 2011­15 and the strategic directions for tobacco control in nsw 2011-2016 discussion paper for public comment aruni ratnayake the regional programs coordinator greater western sydney for the cancer council nsw said the website was a good practical tool she also said the cancer council shared the strategic direction to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in workplaces public places and other settings for residents of penrith in penrith between 2004 and 2008 339 people were diagnosed with lung cancer with 191 deaths from lung cancer during the same period the main risk factor for lung cancer is cigarette smoking including `passive smoking ms ratnayake said w second hand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults children are at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome acute respiratory infections ear problems and asthma adults are at risk of heart disease and lung cancer minister assisting the minister for health cancer frank sartor said cancer was one of the biggest medical challenges facing nsw in years to come the nsw cancer plan 2011­15 will help set the platform for new programs and campaigns aimed at lessening the impact of cancer across the state over the next five years did you decide to give up smoking this year tell us about your journey and why you have decided to quit email penritheditorial@mediaview.com.au or call 4722 2998 985wwd7865

[close]

p. 15

western weekender january 14 2011 15 985wwd7937

[close]