Ten new Metro stations will open in Sydney’s western suburbs on 30 October, cutting travel times to the CBD. The stations will serve Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the project would provide faster, reliable transport for southwest Sydney. The Metro West project’s cost has risen from $12 billion to $25 billion.
Sydney's south-west metro extension will open on Friday 30 October, ending more than two years of replacement buses. The first service is set to start at 4.31am. The former T3 heavy rail line closed in September 2024 for conversion to a driverless system. Once open, the line will run 66km from Tallawong to Bankstown, and a Bankstown to Central trip is expected to take 28 minutes. Premier Chris Minns thanked commuters for their patience, calling it a huge moment for south-west Sydney.
The Sydney Southwest Metro will open with its first service departing at 4:31am on Friday, October 30, NSW Premier Chris Minns has said. The new line replaces the 130-year-old Bankstown train line and links south-western suburbs with the Sydney CBD, North Sydney and north-western suburbs. Trains will run every four minutes during weekday peak hours, with services every five minutes during the day and every 10 minutes in evenings and on weekends.
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The opening date for Sydney's Southwest Metro rail line could be announced as early as Thursday, according to 7NEWS. A press conference with NSW Premier Chris Minns is reportedly being prepared. The line will run driverless trains between Sydenham and Bankstown and is expected to open within weeks. The rail safety regulator has not yet signed off on the project, though approval is reportedly close. Engineers are working on automated platform sliders where gaps between platforms and carriage doors are still too wide.
Prosecutors have withdrawn the entire case against a 50-year-old woman accused of assaulting an off-duty police sergeant. Maysoon Ibrahim Jubran had been charged over four children, aged between seven and 11, left in an unlocked car at a Bass Hill shopping centre in southwest Sydney on December 9. Police alleged the officer removed the distressed children from the car before Ms Jubran approached her, became aggressive and assaulted her. The charges were withdrawn when the matter was mentioned in Bankstown Local Court. Ms Jubran had previously attended court with supporters and indicated she was willing to resolve the matter.
Property firm Hotspotting says working-class areas are set to outperform wealthier suburbs over the next seven to 15 years. Glenorchy in Tasmania and Canterbury-Bankstown in New South Wales are among its top picks. Its founder, Terry Ryder, says a poor reputation does not stop areas from growing in value. Hotspotting also expects smaller unit complexes built around the 1950s and 1960s to perform well. Real Estate Institute of Australia president Jacob Caine says homebuyers are looking at areas they previously overlooked.
New South Wales has launched 14 additional public preschools, providing early learning opportunities for over 1,000 children. The initiative, part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to establish 100 fee-free preschools by 2027, aims to double the state's public preschool capacity. These new facilities, including one in Yagoona, are co-located with primary schools to facilitate family transitions. Premier Chris Minns emphasised the program's role in enhancing accessibility and easing household financial pressures. The government highlights the benefits of high-quality early education in preparing children for kindergarten, contrasting its efforts with the previous administration's lack of new preschool developments.
The third edition of the Spring T20 Challenge begins in Sydney on Monday, October 12. Nine teams, including the eight Big Bash clubs and the ACT Meteors, will play 18 round-robin matches across four venues. The top four teams progress to semi-finals on October 20, with the final on October 21. Every game will be streamed live and is free for fans to attend. The tournament coincides with Australia's white-ball series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, so many contracted players are unavailable. Hobart Hurricanes are the defending champions and are seeking a third straight title.
The trial of two Sydney nurses accused of antisemitism has been delayed again. Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 28, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, pleaded not guilty to making threats against Israeli patients and refusing to treat them. The trial was set to begin on Monday but was postponed due to a constitutional issue. The matter will be mentioned in Parramatta on November 19. The pair allegedly made the threats during an online video chat in February 2025 while working at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.
The trial of two nurses accused of making anti-Semitic comments to an Israeli influencer has been delayed. Ahmad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, who deny the charges, were due to face court on Monday. The matter was relisted for a mention in Parramatta on November 19 after a constitutional issue was raised. The pair allegedly made threats on an online video chat platform in 2025 while working at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.
Sydney will host the 2027 Super Netball Grand Final for the first time since the competition began. The event is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors and inject more than $4 million into the NSW visitor economy. The match will be played on Saturday 31 July at Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, and is proposed rather than confirmed. Netball Australia chair Liz Ellis said the event would celebrate the sport's passion across New South Wales. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state would invest more in netball, one of its biggest participation sports.
A biosecurity lockdown has started across several inner west Sydney suburbs to fight deadly fire ants. The measures began on Monday and cover a 2km radius around a freight facility in Strathfield, where a nest was found five weeks ago. Businesses in the area must now have a biosecurity plan, with strict controls on moving high-risk materials such as turf, mulch, soil and potted plants. Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says breaches made knowingly could bring fines of up to $1 million for individuals and $2 million for businesses.
A biosecurity lockdown will cover Enfield in southwest Sydney from Monday after red fire ants were found at the suburb's freight centre in late September. The zone extends two kilometres from the Enfield intermodal logistics centre. Movement of high-risk items such as turf, mulch, soil, potted plants and heavy equipment will be restricted and must be treated before moving through the zone. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said daily life would otherwise continue as normal. Further fire ants have not been found since the initial detection.
A woman and seven children escaped unhurt after gunshots were fired into their Moorebank home shortly after a car was set alight in the driveway. The attack happened about 2.30am on Sunday, and several unidentified males are believed to have fled in a white vehicle before police arrived. A video reportedly filmed during the attack shows a masked assailant holding a sign with a taunting message. About 4.30am, police found another burning car on Rabaul Rd near Bankstown Airport and are investigating whether it is linked. Anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Blacktown pilot Aglaya Papadokokolakis flew the first commercial aircraft out of Western Sydney International Airport on Sunday. She said the milestone was a career highlight, launching operations in her home region. Her father is also a pilot, and she encouraged young women to pursue aviation despite its male-dominated reputation. The airport opened after about eight years of construction and is set to run around the clock. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened it at a Sunday morning ceremony, and its first international flight arrived on Monday.
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As part of Small Business Month in October, three New England and North Coast businesses are being highlighted. Steve Shaw runs GH Innovations in Thrumster, helping local firms attract customers through online search and sales improvement. Di Wade runs Rawspice Boutique in South West Rocks, offering independent fashion and lifestyle products. Meagan Hudson and Rory Taylor run Beardy Downs in Emmaville, making small-batch tallow and beeswax products through BD Collection.
New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley has defended the state's gun buyback scheme after 150 applications were lodged in its first hours. Bookings opened on Monday, and the government plans to remove up to 274,000 firearms from the community. Catley said fewer guns in circulation would make the community safer, pointing to firearms stolen across the state. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has criticised the scheme, arguing it focuses too heavily on licensed owners rather than illegal guns used by organised criminals.
An 88-year-old woman has died in hospital after she was struck by a car in Pyree, in the NSW Shoalhaven region. Police were called to Pyree Lane at about 1:45 pm on Saturday, 24 October, after reports of a pedestrian being hit. Paramedics treated the woman at the scene before she was flown to St George Hospital in a critical condition. Police were told on Sunday, 25 October, that she had died. The 43-year-old driver returned a negative result on a roadside breath test and was taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital for mandatory testing.
A whale calf carcass has washed ashore at Malabar Beach in Sydney, the third landing spot for the same animal. Randwick Council workers moved the remains up the sand, roped off the area and closed the beach on Tuesday. Council said strong currents moved the carcass from Lurline Bay and that it will be removed and disposed of on Tuesday 27 October. Earlier, Coogee and Maroubra beaches were shut after the carcass became stuck against rocks at Lurline Bay.
The NSW Government has committed $6.8 billion to electrify the South Coast rail line between Kiama and Bomaderry and to double tracks at key bottlenecks. Construction is expected to be complete by the mid-to-late 2030s, with detailed planning starting in 2027. The announcement follows the government scrapping timetable changes that were due to take effect in November after community concerns. Premier Chris Minns said the upgrade would deliver faster, more reliable trains. An immediate $621 million will fund upgrades to power, signalling and flood protection ahead of the main works.
Kiama Community Radio is hosting Blues in the Night, a fundraising event on Saturday 7 November at Kiama Leagues Club. The station, run by volunteers, is seeking support to fund its equipment, technology and facilities. Headliner Frank Sultana will perform alongside Shane Flew and Matt Ross, and Jr and the Jewel-Tones, which includes Kiama musician Dave Shaw. Doors open at 5 pm. Tickets cost $50, or $40 for station members, plus a booking fee. Every ticket sold supports the station, which has operated since 2020.
Police are searching for a man in a balaclava after a suspected arson attack on a house in Abbotsford, in Sydney's inner west. Four people were taken to hospital. An 88-year-old woman was rescued by a 49-year-old man who climbed a ladder. A neighbour confronted the man while he was allegedly setting the house alight. Police believe he fled in a red Holden Astra and had suffered burns. About 40 firefighters attended the blaze, which spread to an adjoining house.
NSW gun owners can book to surrender firearms under the National Gun Buyback from Monday, 2 November, before rules on keeping extra guns are finalised. Under a draft proposal, licence holders with genuine reasons such as sport shooting, pest control or business could apply to keep more than 10 guns, while recreational hunters are capped at four. Only six stations, none in the New England, will take surrenders at first. Eligible licence holders will receive letters and must book through the Gun Safe portal.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway Ramp has been officially named Patyegarang, after a Cammeraygal woman who helped bridge colonial and Indigenous communities. The name was chosen through a collaborative process with local Aboriginal community members. Transport for NSW has also unveiled new bronze signage and a cyclist counter board, which shows live usage statistics. The ramp's opening in January has led to a 30% increase in cycleway usage, averaging 1,600 daily riders over the past six months.
