Sydney’s Southwest Metro will open on 30 October, extending the line from Sydenham to Bankstown. The 66-kilometre route will include stops such as Marrickville, Canterbury, and Lakemba, replacing the old T3 heavy-rail line. Transport for NSW says the new Metro will carry 50 per cent more passengers and provide faster trips, with trains running every four minutes during peak times. Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister John Graham have thanked commuters for their patience during the delays. Further extensions to the line are in early planning stages.
The NSW Government has announced that the Sydney Metro South-West extension will open on Friday 30 October. The 66-kilometre route runs from Bankstown to Sydenham and connects with the existing line to Tallawong. Trains will run every four minutes at peak times and every ten minutes in the evenings and on weekends. The government says the trip times will be shorter for many passengers. Six of the 360 train doors will temporarily stay closed because the gap to the platform is too wide, and pink South-West Link buses will keep running over the first weekend.
Sydney drivers are paying more than $50 million a year in fines, largely for passengers' improperly worn seatbelts, new data shows. Almost 118,000 seatbelt fines were issued in the past year, totalling $53 million, and about two-thirds of those involving incorrectly worn belts were the passenger's fault. Sophia White said she received a fine and demerit points after a camera caught her passenger's arm over his seatbelt in Chatswood, and she could not transfer the demerits to him. The NRMA's Peter Khoury said fines should not fall on drivers for passengers' actions.
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Westfield has announced its 2026 Local Heroes following a public vote among three finalists per centre. Winners receive a $20,000 grant and runners-up receive $5,000. Bronwen Simmons, community relations manager at Bear Cottage, a children's hospice in Manly, was named the Westfield Warringah Mall Local Hero. Peter Quinn, who founded the peer-led group Mates in Mind, was named the Westfield Chatswood Local Hero. He plans to use his grant to launch a pilot program helping sporting clubs address player mental health. Scentre Group, which owns Westfield, is inviting nominations for the 2027 program.
A four-bedroom penthouse in Rhodes, New South Wales, has sold for $6.35 million, setting a new apartment record in the suburb. The two-level penthouse at 43 Walker Street in Billbergia's Peake Tower beat the previous record set in December 2025 in the neighbouring Oasis Tower by 41 per cent. The 220 square metre property has a private rooftop garden terrace and a private cinema. Buyer Rose Kim said the family chose the penthouse for its views, space and convenient location, and she was able to inspect the completed building before buying.
Willoughby City Council has launched a community-driven initiative to enhance safety and accessibility in Chatswood South CBD. Funded by a $1 million NSW Government grant, the Her Way: Chatswood South Precinct project will involve local women, girls and gender diverse individuals in consultations and co-design. Mayor Tanya Taylor emphasised the importance of community input in creating a more secure and welcoming environment. The broader Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program aims to improve safety perceptions in public spaces and transport hubs for these groups. Further details are available on the program's website.
