Western Sydney International Airport has opened for its first commercial flights. The inaugural Jetstar service to the Gold Coast sold out in 45 minutes. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the airport at a ceremony on Sunday morning. The airport is about 50 kilometres from the city centre and will operate without a curfew. It is expected to host 10 million passengers a year by the 2030s and support up to 8,500 jobs. Its first overseas flight is due to land on Monday morning.
Aboriginal residents of Moree have tabled an e-petition with the NSW Parliament. They want the old Courallie High School converted into an Aboriginal Learning and Cultural Centre. The centre would offer courses tailored to community needs. Polly Cutmore of the Mehi Centre says a targeted youth program would be better than the NSW Police drone program aimed at youth crime. She says partnerships with agencies, including the NSW Department of Education, which owns the grounds, will be essential, and funding will be sought from public and private sources.
A 93-year-old man is in custody after his 79-year-old wife was allegedly stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife at the Westpoint Shopping Centre in Blacktown on Sunday morning. Police were called just after 10am. It is understood the woman tried to escape into The Reject Shop during the attack. Shopping centre security responded quickly. She was taken to Westmead Hospital in critical condition. The man is being held at Blacktown Police Station, and investigators are waiting for a translator before interviewing him.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
A 93-year-old man has been charged after allegedly stabbing a 79-year-old woman in a Blacktown shopping centre. Emergency services were called to the centre on Patrick St after reports of an armed offender. Police were told the woman had been stabbed multiple times. Paramedics treated her before she was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Police arrested the man nearby, believed to know the woman. He has been charged with reckless wounding and two counts of common assault, both considered domestic violence offences. He was refused bail and is due to appear in court on Monday.
The Hills Shire Council is calling on state and federal governments to fund a set of infrastructure priorities. Top of the list is a full upgrade of Windsor and Old Windsor Road, where drivers currently average about 20km/h in the morning peak. Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne says the council is meeting its housing targets and that governments must match the growth with funding for schools, roads, transport and sporting facilities. The priorities include securing the Outer Sydney Orbital corridor and extending the Sydney Metro. The council says the requests are essential basics for the region's growing population.
Blacktown City residents can enter their own homes or nominate a neighbour's property in the Diwali Lights Competition. Up to $2,500 in cash prizes is available for the best decorated properties across the city's five wards. Nominations close on Friday 30 October. The competition, now in its 10th year, is run by Blacktown City Council. Diwali-themed displays are also installed at Max Webber Library and Blacktown Leisure Centre at Stanhope Gardens.
About 200,000 more NSW motorists can now apply for toll relief after the state government cut its weekly cap from $60 to $50. Drivers who spent between $50 and $400 a week on tolls between July 6 and October 4 can claim rebates through Service NSW. Around $99 million is available this quarter. Premier Chris Minns said many people have no choice but to use toll roads every day, particularly in Western Sydney. Since the scheme began in 2024, more than 1.07 million claims have returned $348 million to motorists.
Residents across Blacktown City have until Friday 30 October to enter the tenth annual Diwali Lights Competition. Organised by Blacktown City Council, the contest invites households of all cultural backgrounds to decorate their homes with lights inspired by the festival. Prizes will be awarded across the council's five wards. Mayor Brad Bunting said the event lets residents share their traditions and learn about Diwali. Entry details and forms are available on the council website.
Two teenagers, aged 13 and 16, have been refused bail over the fatal stabbing of a man in his 30s in Mount Druitt, western Sydney. The younger teen faces a murder charge. The 16-year-old is accused of being an accessory after the fact, allegedly helping disguise his co-accused by providing clothes after a bloodied jumper was discarded. The man was stabbed in Dawson Mall and died on Cleeve Close on Friday night. Police Superintendent Darrin Batchelor described the attack as senseless. The teens will return to court on October 23 for another bail application.
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.
Police are searching for about a dozen people after a man in his 30s was fatally stabbed in Mt Druitt, western Sydney. Officers were called to Cleeve Close about 9pm on Friday and found the man with a stab wound to the torso. He died at the scene despite efforts to help him. CCTV and mobile phone videos showed a group of men before a punch was thrown and a man was chased and attacked. Police have not yet confirmed the weapon type, and say it is still unclear whether the attack was random or targeted.
NSW Police and Transport for NSW crushed 23 illegal e-bikes seized in a joint operation on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The bikes were turned into scrap metal at a wrecking yard in Blacktown. NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said the action demonstrates the state’s commitment to removing dangerous e-bikes from communities. Of the 36 e-bikes seized, 13 are still under assessment for return. The crushed bikes included high-speed models and tampered brands. New laws allow authorities to confiscate and dispose of illegal e-bikes.
Western Sydney's diverse communities, including those in Penrith, Blacktown, Parramatta, and Liverpool, face unique challenges with partner visa applications. The process requires demonstrating a genuine relationship, but cultural differences in documentation and relationship norms can complicate evidence gathering. Community resources and legal advice are crucial for successful applications, as outdated information can lead to refusals and delays. Families must navigate work rights, housing pressures, and property planning while awaiting visa approvals.
Blacktown City Council is celebrating 30 years of its Bushcare program, which began in 1996. Volunteers have restored and regenerated about 148,000 square metres of bushland in the past year, protecting native vegetation and wildlife. The program has also fostered community connections, with volunteers from diverse backgrounds working together. Council is now seeking new volunteers to continue the program's work.
