Filmmaker Arman Merchant has created a short film about Parramatta's food culture, commissioned by Diversity Arts Australia. Titled Flavours of Parramatta, the film uses cinematic visuals to present the area's culinary diversity. Merchant, an award-winning cinematographer and director based in Sydney, said the project aimed to represent diversity through an authentic point of view. The film was made through the Creative Pathways Parramatta program, which supports artists from diverse backgrounds. It has been completed and colour-graded for social media distribution.
Parramatta Lanes is bringing food, music, art and cultural experiences to the streets and laneways of Parramatta. Councillor Sreeni Pillamarri has encouraged residents and visitors to explore the city and support local businesses. In a social media post, he described the event as a celebration of creativity, cultural diversity and local businesses. He invited families and visitors from across Western Sydney and beyond to attend. He also congratulated the organisers, businesses, artists, performers and volunteers involved.
Lifeguards will return to Lake Parramatta this weekend as the summer swimming season opens in Western Sydney. Patrols will run on weekends until 29 November, then daily from that date. City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean urged swimmers to stay within the designated area and keep children close. A solar-powered buoy named Sunny measures water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, and helps detect blue-green algae. Visitors can check water quality on the council website before swimming.
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A third suspect, aged 27, has been detained in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl in Parramatta in 2015. Strike Force Dwarda investigators arrested the man at a Granville residence yesterday morning. He faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and appeared in court today. Two other 27-year-old men, previously charged in the case, remain before the courts. The arrests followed a lengthy investigation into the incident at a Parramatta unit.
Tonga beat Lebanon 36-0 in Parramatta, confirming their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals. A crowd of 25,605 filled Parramatta Stadium, the third highest for a match between two second tier nations. Tonga will next face Samoa. Lebanon, demoted to affiliate status since the last World Cup, may not return to the tournament for some time. Their final match next week is against France.
Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has confirmed that Matt Burton can approach rival clubs before he officially becomes a free agent. Gould said the early approach would help both parties gauge Burton's true value. He stressed that he loves Burton, wants to keep him, and that neither side has yet discussed money for 2028 onwards. Burton reportedly wanted to play five-eighth rather than centre, and is believed to be of interest to the Chiefs, Bears, Parramatta and Penrith.
Parramatta Lanes returns to the city centre from Wednesday, 21 October, for four nights of food, live music, street art and entertainment. More than 400,000 visitors are expected. Food vendors, performers and artists will take over streets, laneways and car parks. Highlights include DimSimLim serving dumplings, noodles and tanghulu, professional skateboarders at Parramatta Square, and Latin music and salsa dancing. The festival runs across the city centre each evening.
Ten-year-old Ivy Belcastro, from Glenmore Park, has qualified to compete at the 2026 National Swimming Championships in Melbourne next month. She will swim in the Multi Class category for New South Wales. Ivy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child and was told she may never walk, but she took her first steps at age two. She has broken three records at the recent NSW PSSA Swimming Championships. Her family and friends plan to travel to Melbourne to watch her compete.
Keeping children entertained need not be expensive. Five family days out in and around Sydney are suggested, including Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park at Doonside and Sydney Zoo at Bungarribee. Taronga Zoo can be combined with a harbour ferry ride, and Luna Park entry is free with only rides paid for. Booking attractions in advance through Klook, bundling attractions and watching for sales can help the budget go further.
University of Sydney staff are striking on Thursday, 22 October, over pay, job security and protections on the use of artificial intelligence. The strike is led by the university branch of the National Tertiary Education Union, which is seeking changes to its enterprise agreement. Strikers will picket the Main Gate on Parramatta Road. The university says most classes will run online and that it is encouraging staff and students to work or study from home where possible. A few labs may be cancelled. The university says it will not change how it negotiates in response to the strike.
Parramatta Aquatic Centre's health club has been named Health Club of the Year at the NSW Aquatic & Recreation Institute Awards. The award recognises its inclusive fitness programmes, member experience and commitment to community wellbeing. The club offers Reformer Pilates, yoga, aqua fitness, cycling, boxing, Les Mills classes, personal training and programmes for older residents. City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean said the award reflected the team's efforts to make the facility welcoming. The centre has now recorded three ARI wins across the 2024 and 2025 awards.
Shane Danes, a 64-year-old Goondiwindi man with brain and spinal cord injuries, has had his National Disability Insurance Scheme funding reduced twice since October 2025. His support provider, Michelle Doughty, said a morning gap in his care left him vomiting on April 21, and she feared he could have died without her there. His 90-year-old parents now provide two hours of support each evening, and his sister Tracy Sullivan says the family cannot keep this up. The National Disability Insurance Agency said participant safety is its priority.
Six design teams have been shortlisted for an international competition to transform Bays West into Sydney's newest waterfront suburb. The plan includes 8,500 new homes and a harbour foreshore open to the public for the first time in more than 100 years. Each shortlisted team will develop an Urban Framework for the site, with designs expected to be publicly exhibited in early 2027. Community members and Greens MP Kobi Shetty have criticised the process, arguing that the plan lacks proper consultation and enough public and social housing.
James Tedesco will return to the Kangaroos for his first Test in three years when Australia face Fiji in Brisbane on Sunday. He was overlooked for Reece Walsh in the World Cup-opening win over New Zealand. Walsh scored a long-range try and made a major tackle on Kalyn Ponga in that match. Tedesco said it is not a competition and that he is focused on his role. Mitchell Moses is out of the tournament through injury, and Tom Dearden and Sam Walker will form a new halves pairing.
Western Sydney residents can explore the Blue Mountains beyond the usual lookouts. Scenic World tickets cover the Skyway, Cableway and Scenic Railway, plus a rainforest walkway. A 90-minute stargazing experience at Wentworth Falls uses telescopes to view Saturn, Jupiter and the Orion Nebula. A hop-on-hop-off bus pass lets visitors see main attractions at their own pace. Small-group waterfall tours and tours combining the mountains with harbour cruises are also offered.
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The inaugural Lawrence Hargrave Oration will be held at Corrimal RSL Club on Saturday, 28 November, at 6.30 pm. The Lawrence Hargrave Society and the Powerhouse Museum are presenting the event. Historical Aircraft Restoration Society president Bob De La Hunty OAM will deliver the oration, which celebrates Hargrave's contribution to flight. Powerhouse Museum curator Andrew Jacob will give an overview of Hargrave's work. Tickets cost $85 and include a three-course meal.
Indian community groups held rallies in four Australian cities on October 18, calling on the Albanese government to condemn the repression of youth-led democracy protests in India. The protests followed a voter roll revision that removed about 130 million people from the electoral roll, and they call for the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Speakers in Parramatta, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide criticised police, with some protesters alleging assault and sexual harassment. Rally numbers ranged from about 30 people in Adelaide to about 200 in Parramatta. A Melbourne rally was disrupted by far-right protesters.
German sportswear company adidas has signed a multi-year deal to supply official apparel to the Parramatta Eels. The agreement starts ahead of the 2027 NRL and NRLW seasons and covers men's, women's and elite academy squads. A documentary-style brand film, Made for Parra, launches the partnership. Product design and retail details will be announced closer to the 2027 season. Club and adidas executives say the deal is a long-term commitment to the club's Western Sydney community.
Parramatta's New Year's Eve celebration has won gold at the Western Sydney Tourism Awards. The City of Parramatta received the award for its 2025 celebrations, its third consecutive win at the regional awards. The event at Parramatta Park drew more than 70,000 people, the largest New Year's Eve crowd in the city so far, and was estimated to generate $13.4 million in local spending. Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean said the win reflected the council's push to make Parramatta a destination for entertainment, festivals and nightlife. The council has not released a breakdown of spending across hospitality, accommodation and retail.
City of Parramatta has opened nominations for its 2027 Citizen of the Year Awards, which recognise people and groups who make a lasting difference through volunteering, leadership, creativity, environmental action and kindness. Residents can nominate a volunteer, community champion, young leader or local group until 5pm on Friday, October 30. Expressions of interest for the judging panel close on Monday, October 26. Recipients will be announced at a January ceremony as part of Council's Australia Day program.
