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Federal Member for McMahon Phone (02) 9604 0710

chris.bowen.mp@aph.gov.au FEBRUARY 2019

St Clair Erskine Park

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ISSUE 39

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Liberals commit further $480 million for roads

By KeRRIE DAVIES

HE NSW PREMIER says up to 65,000 Western Sydney road users a day will benefit from a $480 million investment by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government to slash travel times and improve safety for motorists, with major upgrades to Mamre and Mulgoa roads. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said “investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Mamre and Mulgoa roads was only possible through the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.” “Thanks to this Government’s strong financial management, we can invest in projects such as Mamre and Mulgoa roads, which are critically important to residents and businesses in western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We want to make life easier for those who use Mamre and Mulgoa roads, reducing time stuck in traffic.” Mamre Road will be upgraded along a 3.8 kilometre section to a four-lane dual carriageway between the M4 Motorway and Erskine Park Road, with an investment of $220 million. “This will transform the existing two-lane undivided road into a four-lane divided road, providing a safer, higher-capacity link. The Mamre Road upgrade will also be future proofed, allowing another two lanes to be added down the track,” Ms Berejiklian said. The initial stages in the expansion of Mulgoa Road are already underway, jointly funded with the Federal Government, to increase capacity from four to six lanes between Union Road and Museum Drive.

The next phase of this jointly-funded work will be between Jeanette Street and Blaikie Road, starting next year. Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies said she was pleased a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government would step in and fund these crucial upgrades. “This is a fantastic outcome for my community. For too long the people of St Clair and Erskine Park have battled to turn on to Mamre Road, often making risky decisions with grave consequences,” Mrs Davies said. “Last year I called on the Federal Government to recognise Mamre Road as part of their strategic plans for the Western Sydney Airport and to provide urgent funding. Over 2000 residents signed the petition to see Mamre Road urgently upgraded. “Every day that Mamre Road is not upgraded more lives are at risk. Today I am proud to announce that through our advocacy the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will step in and upgrade Mamre Road.” Labor Candidate for Mulgoa, Todd Carney said Labor would match the funding but questioned the timing and whether the funding was dependent on the incumbent Liberal members holding their seats. “Of course, Labor will fund major upgrades to Mamre Road and Mulgoa Road to reduce traffic and cut down peoples’ commute,” Mr Carney said.. “A Daley Labor Government will deliver this commitment regardless of the outcome of the election for the seat of Mulgoa. “The Liberals have known about this problem for eight years, they’ve only announced the funding 43 days before an election.” “Will the Liberals still fund this project if Tanya Davies doesn’t win?” he said.

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From the Editor’s Desk

by Kerrie Davies

hat’s with all the violence lately? In just the last couple of weeks I’ve had local police alerts come into our newsroom about glassings, gang bashings and stabbings - the latter being very close to home. Surely whatever dispute that arises (especially when on the drink) can’t be worth having someone’s life being held in the balance in an induced coma? Nor is it worth being faced with doing time over a disagreement or a need to feel powerful. Life is so short. If you are the type to get all hot under the collar over very little, it’s time to pull your head in. Nothing good is ever gained from violence. It kills, permanently injures, ruins families and gives suburbs a bad name. Just stop. Your thoughts? Kerrie@stclairnews.com.au

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Feral rabbit reduction program roll out If you own a pet rabbit it is vital that you check that it is immunised and protected before the feral rabbit reduction program rolls out in February. By KeRRIE DAVIES

reater Sydney Local Land Services will roll out a feral rabbit reduction program in the Penrith region from 21 February. Originally scheduled for release last October, the program was postponed due to ongoing wet conditions and the high number of young rabbits in the area. Greater Sydney biosecurity team leader Lee Parker said the new date ensured the program would have maximum impact in reducing rabbit numbers. “This program involves the release of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus, commonly known as RHDV1-K5, this virus doesn’t spread as quickly in wet weather and baby rabbits are immune which is why the decision was made to hold off,” he said. “As always, we urge owners of pet rabbits to vaccinate their animals as soon as possible to ensure they are not impacted by the virus. The virus is spread mainly by contact between rabbits or via insects such as mosquitos and flies. RHDV only affects rabbits

and if pets are vaccinated they become immune.” Mr Parker said the release was the third of its kind following the initial national program roll out in March 2017 which led to a 42 per cent reduction in feral rabbit numbers across NSW. “This program is designed to complement ongoing control efforts on private and public land,” he said. “We encourage landholders experiencing issues with feral rabbits to continue working with us to roll out coordinated control campaigns in partnership with their neighbours wherever possible,” he said. Feral rabbits are a declared pest in NSW due to the significant amount of agricultural and environmental damage they cause. They are believed to have contributed to the decline or extinction of a number of NSW native species including the greater bilby and the yellow footed rock-wallaby and their overgrazing is estimated to cost Australian agriculture more than $200 million every year. The virus will be released in the Wallacia and Llandilo areas. For further information contact Greater Sydney Local Land Services on (02) 4724 2100.

Smoking suspicion on incinerator stomped out

By KeRRIE DAVIES

he two major parties are adamant that there will be no incinerator in western Sydney. Labor Leader, Michael Daley, visited Erskine Park last week and confirmed that if Labor is elected in March there will be no Western Sydney garbage incinerator but he claimed “locals are shocked to learn that the Liberals could revive the plan.” “I can’t be any clearer about this. There will be no garbage incinerator in Western Sydney. Western Sydney is not a dumping ground.” Mr Daley said. A spokesperson for the Minister for Planning, Anthony Roberts said Mr Daley’s claim was preposterous. “This is so out the bounds of reality that I thought I was reading the Beetota Advocate,” he said. “The Independent Planning Commission refused this project, the Department of Planning recommended against this project. The system is working.” In early 2017, Labor representatives joined community members and groups against an application for an incinerator that is said to have had the capacity to burn more than a million tonnes of waste per year. If approved, it would have been positioned close to schools and homes. Following significant community opposition, the incinerator application was rejected. However Mr Daley said the NSW government’s planning laws allow the developer to continually reapply for approval, which he says is causing the local community to live in continual fear of a future approval.

With the election just seven weeks away, he said Labor is making its position on a waste incinerator in Western Sydney “crystal clear” and calling on the Liberals to do the same. Mr Daley and Labor Candidate for Mulgoa, Todd Carney, were joined by members of the No Incinerator for Western Sydney community action group at James Erskine Park Public School, the closest school to the proposed site of the refused application. “Liberal MP Tanya Davies sat on the fence until it became clear the community was unanimously against it. Now, just weeks before an election, she is pretending to be against the proposal,” Mr Carney said. “Ms Davies should back Labor’s plan if she is serious about protecting this community.” Mr Carney said Mrs Davies and the Liberals “have been more interested in the eastern suburbs stadiums than in stopping this incinerator.” Mr Daley made a solid declaration regarding any plans for an incinerator in the area.. “If I become Premier this incinerator will not proceed. I will kill this stone dead,” he said. Mrs Davies fired back claiming that “the Labor Party are playing politics with people’s lives. “I am appalled that the Labor candidate stood outside a primary school and lied to the people of Erskine Park. This is blatant scaremongering by an out of touch candidate,” Mrs Davies said. “There was never a Government plan for an incinerator at Eastern Creek, that has not changed. Daley is playing dirty-politics at the expense of my community.”

Santa raises thousands for Nepean Hospital

By CONNER LOWE

olyton local George Asciak has raised an outstanding figure for Nepean Hospital after a very successful 16th year of being Santa Claus and turning his home into a Christmas masterpiece for all local kids to enjoy. Although Mr Asciak had a week of weather to forget coming into Christmas which saw wicked winds, rain and hail, he still managed to reach his goal of $4,000 by raising $4,102.95. Mr Asciak spoke about how he felt about reaching the $4,000 milestone and what he hopes to raise for Christmas in 2019. “It’s fantastic that we reached our goal, it’s been going up higher and higher every year. If we had good weather we could have raised close to $5000, I hope to raise $4,500 for Christmas this year. It will be a ripper!” he said. “Even the staff at the hospital said to me, with the bad weather I did a great job to raise my highest total thus far. I managed to raise over $300 in the shopping centre and over $1,100 one Saturday alone.” Mr Asciak covers the costs associated with raising the funds out of his own pocket to ensure that the kids enjoy the display and that the hospital will benefit from the funds raised. “Last year I spent $1,600 on the electricity bill and this year I think it will be close to $2,000,” he said. “I spend between $1,500-$2,000 each year and put money aside from my pension so I can give the

children something when they visit. I love what I do for them and it’s why I continue every year.” Unfortunately, after all his good deeds Mr Asciak lost $500 worth of his Christmas light display from the horrible weather. Mr Asciak even lost his special Santa Claus’ sleigh chair and had to sit on a bench with the children while he handed them out gifts. Mr Asciak has done a fantastic job raising money for charities in the community and would like to see if anyone from the community would like to help him and donate a Santa Claus chair for this year’s Christmas. If you’d like to get in contact with George, his mobile number is 0423668873. Mr and Mrs Asciak would like to thank all the sponsors that include Lycan Group Pty Ltd, ABC Pest Control Service, Mick T’s Clothing St Clair, Australian Scaffolding, Marsden Street Fire Brigade, Grove Hire, Unwanted Few Motorcycle Club (FMC), Woolworths Mt Druitt, EK Racing Club and Colyton Shopping Centre.

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Free glasses for disadvantaged school kids

SW Labor Leader Michael Daley announced that Labor, if elected, will provide free glasses to the state’s most disadvantaged students. Under Labor’s plan, 52,000 schoolchildren from Kindergarten to Year 3 at NSW schools with a low socio-educational index will have their eyes tested and those who need glasses will get a pair free. Children in about 480 schools will benefit based on the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage. “Labor’s plan will not only help children learn, it will take pressure off the family budget,” Mr Daley said. Mr Daley said currently there are no programs that ensure that children’s eyes are tested once they begin school. Only four-year-olds attending preschool are offered vision screening. Labor will ensure registered optometrists or supervised final year optometry students go directly into schools, conduct the tests and refer kids, in Kindergarten to Year 3, for free follow-ups and free glasses. While eye tests are free under Medicare, research indicates some parents may avoid taking their children to an optometrist due to concerns about costs. Without access to free eyesight testing in school, many children and their parents could be unaware of vision problems.

Mr Daley said the existing means-tested NSW Government’s Spectacles Program misses kids that don’t detect they have a vision problem and doesn’t guarantee glasses to those that need them. A recent survey found one third of children under the age of 14 has never had an eye test. “I want all kids in NSW to have the same chance at school. Good vision is critical to good learning,” Mr Daley said. “I don’t want any child falling through the cracks because they missed out on an eye test or glasses in their early school years.” He added that when vision problems are left undiagnosed in children there is a risk they can be misdiagnosed with learning difficulties. This policy has been fully funded and costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).

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The Gospel According to Paul

aul Keating – razor sharp, whip smart and master of the ultimate one-liner - is brought to life on stage in The Gospel According to Paul at The Joan on 8 and 9 March. One of Australia’s favourite performers, Jonathan Biggins, is Paul Keating – visionary, reformer and rabble-rouser – in this highly anticipated new comedy. Full of intelligence and spark, The Gospel According to Paul is a funny, insightful and occasionally poignant portrait of Paul Keating. The man that – as he tells it – single-handedly shaped contemporary Australia. Jonathan Biggins’ performance as Paul Keating is well known from the long-running Sydney Theatre Company success story, The Wharf Revue. Beyond the canny impersonation, Jonathan, like so many Australians, has long been fascinated by Keating and what Keating means to Australia. Showcasing his eviscerating wit, rich rhetoric and ego the size of Everest, The Gospel According to Paul distils Keating’s essence into 75 minutes. It shows the man who grew up in the tribe of the Labor Party and gained an education at the knee of Jack Lang, who treated economics as an artform, and

demanded we confront the wrongs of our colonial past. Biggins asks the question – what can we learn today from this singular politician, and the momentous time in our country’s history he dominated? The Gospel According to Paul, 8 & 9 March at The Joan, is selling fast, so audiences are advised to purchase tickets soon to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thejoan. com.au, by phone 4723 7600 or at the Box Office. Tickets: Standard $60, Concession $55, Under 30s $30. For more information please visit: www.thejoan. com.au/events/the-gospel-according-to-paul/

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Cruciate ligament injuries in dogs By Dr Richard Miller

Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the knee is the most common injury and cause of lameness in the rear limb of adult dogs. It is the same injury that footy and netball players do when they ‘do a knee’, and it is a disastrous injury for athletes and dogs alike. The injury can occur as a result of a traumatic event but is usually done during rigorous exercise, eg chasing a ball or jumping and landing awkwardly. The most common age of injury is 6 years old with a lesser peak at 2 years old suggesting there can be some genetic factors involved. These generally relate to the shape of the bones of the back leg and ‘bandy legged’ dogs seem most at risk. There is almost always hopping lameness after the injury, but dogs will start using the leg again 1-2 Mamre ROAd

Veterinary Surgery

weeks later but stand with the toe just touching the ground. It is extremely important that all dogs, except the very smallest, receive surgery ASAP after this injury or arthritis will develop very rapidly in the joint. There are several different surgical procedures used to treat this injury, selection of which is dependent mostly on the size of the dog. Large dogs have always had better outcomes if ‘advanced procedures’ have been performed by specialists, but this is very expensive. We can now perform one of these procedures at Mamre Road Vets. Please don’t leave any lameness in dogs of any age too long before you consult us. Outcomes for lameness are always better if treated early.

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Penrith skipper Ryan Smith on the verge of greatness

By KeRRIE DAVIES

enrith skipper Ryan Smith is on the verge of achieving a number of milestones in what is his finest season since making his first grade debut back in 2008/09 Smith currently leads the Sydney first grade cricket competitions for wickets taken in both the Belvedere Cup (42) and overall first grade wickets (48 - which includes the T20 competition). To put that into context, Smith is already seven wickets up on his previous best season haul of 41 with three rounds still to play. In 2018-19, Smith also recorded his best ever first grade figures of 7/59, took just his second ten wicket haul in a match and to top it off also bagged his 300th first grade wicket in the recent top of the table clash with Sydney University. But as the skipper explains he would gladly trade in the personal milestones for a Belvedere Cup trophy at seasons’ end, a goal that is very much obtainable with the team currently sitting in third position. “As long as we are winning cricket games I wouldn’t care if I’m not taking a swag of wickets and I’m down the bottom of the wicket-taking list,” Smith revealed to Nepean News. “If we win the Belvidere Cup that would be a bigger achievement for everyone. “I don’t really look at it as a personal goal that I set out to achieve at the start of the season. It’s all about taking wickets for the team, not for myself.” Smith is also just 13 wickets behind Penrith Cricket Club’s first grade record for most wickets in a season, which has withstood the test of time since the 1973-74 season at 61 wickets. The Bullaburra junior admits it would be a honour if he were to capture that record given the amount of hard work Smith has put into his cricket in recent years. “It’s nice to feel that the years of hard work is starting to pay off,” Smith replied. “That would be an awesome achievement if I could get there but as we know, cricket is a funny game and I might not take another wicket all season. “But if I am taking wickets and we are winning games then that’s all I worry about. “It would be great honour if I get it but we’ll play it by ear as we go.”

Smith says his season to remember can be credited to the added responsibility that captaincy brings. “This season is my best season by far and it could be that the captaincy might be having a domino effect by trying to do as much for the team as I can,” Smith declared. “I’m feeling good. I just think that I am bowling with good rhythm and I am enjoying leading the side. “I feel that leading from the front is one of my best attributes and hopefully the guys are enjoying their cricket. “I think winning games and always being in the contest is the way to get the best out of the guys so I’ll continue to do everything that I can to try and win for them.” An injury interrupted 2017-18 has also spurred Smith to train harder than in the off-season leading into this season. “I was pretty confident that I could overcome those injuries from last season but at the same time I knew I had to work pretty hard on my fitness in the off season to be strong for the season ahead, given the toll bowling can place on the body,” Smith said. “Bowling is one of those things I love doing and I’ll put in whatever hard yards are required in the off season to make sure that I (touch wood) get through the season as injury free as possible. “A change in job has also helped me get to Kevin Chevell’s gym a bit more too.”

MG on the mark

wi t h M A RK G EYER

Rushing to support Rushy L

iving in Penrith makes me proud. This was even more emphasised last Sunday at the Pioneer Tavern where close to 400 people turned up to raise money for Shannan Rushworth and his family. Shannan was assaulted on February the 3rd on Mulgoa Rd. He was rushed to hospital and has spent the past week and a half in intensive care. Four men have been charged with the callous attack and because it’s an ongoing police matter I’ll leave it for them to sort. Shannan is the UFC’s and fellow Westie Tai Tuavasa’s training partner. He’s also great mates with the Te Huna brothers James and Tama, who also train aspiring mma fighters. The Te Huna boys, along with Tama’s wife Kristal decided to put together a fundraiser at the Pioneer Tavern last Sunday. With the help of publican Trent Pittaway and his wonderful staff the day was a massive success with over $10,000 raised on the day through various charity items donated by more than generous locals. Shannan’s Mum delivered an opening speech that had most of us reaching for the tissues. She and her family and Shannan’s friends have been through a torturous week and a half. Last Sunday’s turnout not only proved that Shannan is a very popular bloke, it also proved that if you’re ever in need of help Penrith is the one place you want to live! The generosity displayed yesterday confirms that those of the 2750 postcode’s blood should be bottled. Bravo to all concerned as we all send our best wishes to “Rushy” and his family xx And another thing... There aren’t too many opportunities in our working lives where we can stand side by side with our kids. Well I recently got the opportunity to do so with my oldest daughter Montanna. For the past 12 months Montanna has been an ambassador for Sinclair Hyundai Penrith, now I am too #smileyface I’d like to thank Toby Hughes for the opportunity to not only work along side my daughter but to be welcomed into the Hyundai family. We have some

 Great turnout at the Pioneer Tavern for a great cause

 Welcome to the team

great things planned over the next few months. I’d also like to thank the Turner family from Heartland Motors for the last 5 years working with them too. So it goes without saying if you’re after a new car go in and see Toby and tell them that MG sent ya. (That could be Mark or Montanna). See you at the game in just under 30 days!! Can’t wait!!

MG (random Westie) OAM

22nd of March @ 8pm Tickets $35 @ The Hotel $40 @ The Door