THE Sydney 000 Expo is set to return on Sunday, September 13, 2026, offering a free, family-friendly day of interactive learning, emergency service demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes access to the agencies that help keep NSW safe.
THE Hawkesbury Local Business Awards is back, and it’s almost time for you to nominate your favourite business.
BUNNINGS is celebrating another local footy club hero, with Amy Higgins from Baulkham Hills Hawks AFL being crowned one of Australia’s local BBQ legends as part of its nationwide Legend of the Tongs search - recognising the volunteers who keep Aussie rules footy clubs running, one snag at a time.
By BIANCA STANTON | IN late 2024, NSW planning minister Paul Scully announced the approval of a data campus at Marsden Park in Western Sydney.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane MP and Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston MP met at Hypro Pet Foods in Wilberforce and Better Built Homes in North Richmond recently.
HOW can you build an inclusive welcoming community where no one is left behind?
HAWKESBURY City Mayor Les Sheather has announced that Will Barton has been appointed as General Manager of Hawkesbury City Council.
Read more about Hawkesbury City Council appoints Will Barton as General Manager
MICHELLE ROWLAND | ONE of the commitments Labor took to the Australian people at the last election was to strengthen Medicare, with a promise to deliver 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country.
Read more about All you need is your Medicare card for better health
A NEW era of indoor adventure is arriving in Sydney’s north-west with the opening of Tru Ninja Rouse Hill on Thursday 4, June 2026, bringing Australia’s most feature-packed ninja obstacle park to the region. The new venue is the third Tru Ninja location in Australia, following successful parks in Penrith and Adelaide, and has been designed to provide an immersive obstacle experience for visitors of all ages. Catering for everyone from toddlers and school groups to families, corporate teams and fitness enthusiasts, the attraction combines physical challenges with interactive entertainment. Owner Michael Hicks said Tru Ninja Rouse Hill takes the concept to the next level. “Tru Ninja Rouse Hill is a revolutionary obstacle adventure park, offering an immersive ninja experience designed to engage participants of all ages,” he said. “Building on the foundations established at our venues in Penrith and Adelaide, Rouse Hill introduces our most feature-packed line-up of attractions yet.” Among its standout features are Sydney’s largest indoor inflatable obstacle course, the Ultimate Warped Wall, Ninja Slides, Giant Ninja Slides, a Digital Ninja Floor and Ninja Dodgeball. Younger visitors are catered for with a dedicated Junior Softplay area and toddler zone, while adults can enjoy specialised evening sessions featuring in-house DJs. The venue also includes five large party rooms, a café and spectator seating, making it suitable for birthday celebrations, school excursions, corporate team-building events and private functions. Immersive lighting throughout the venue creates an arena-style atmosphere, enhancing the excitement of the challenges. Open Ninja sessions allow guests to tackle the full range of obstacles during one or two-hour bookings, offering an energetic and engaging experience for all skill levels. Management says the new attraction represents a significant investment in the rapidly growing North-West Sydney community and is expected to become a popular destination for families, social groups and businesses looking for a unique and active entertainment experience.
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KELLYVILLE and Quakers Hill locals, Aduk Dau and Belinda Peoples, will release For Hope, Love & Life Itself this month. The book is an inspiring true story about the life of South Sudanese Australian, Aduk Dau. Co-authors of the fascinating memoir, Aduk and Belinda have worked together to capture Aduk’s life story since meeting at Kellyville Anglican Church 10 years ago. “When Aduk shared just a snippet of her life story during a church interview one day,” Belinda said. “I knew immediately hers was a story worth writing.” In 1999, Aduk and her family were granted humanitarian visas to live in Australia after spending more than 15 years fleeing conflict and surviving as refugees throughout northern Africa. Now an Australian citizen for more than two decades, Aduk still has an amazing repertoire of fascinating anecdotes drawn from her life experiences. Belinda has been a western Sydney local for most of her life and was enthusiastic to use her skill and passion for writing to see Aduk’s story come to life in a memoir for a worthwhile cause dear to both their hearts. “Aduk has always been passionate to make the world a better place. When she told me that she hoped her memoir could one day be a fundraising tool for Lost Children of Jonglei Scholarships, the opportunity was too good to ignore,” Belinda says. Sales of For Hope, Love & Life Itself will contribute toward the Lost Children of Jonglei Scholarship project that Aduk founded in 2017 to provide secondary school education to vulnerable South Sudanese young people displaced by war and living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. “Education is the key to bringing an end to the ongoing hardship suffered by generations of South Sudanese refugees. It’s been more than forty years since the Sudanese conflict first began,” said Aduk. “I hope my story not only enlightens and entertains readers, but changes lives by becoming part of the solution.” The memoir has been a labour of love for all involved, including aspiring young artist, Lauren Jones, who spent countless hours painting the portrait of Aduk for the book’s cover. The artwork is so exceptional, Lauren was recently awarded the honour of finalist for the portrait among five thousand entrants in the Eckersley’s Art & Craft Prize 2025. For hope, love & life itself will be available on Amazon from Tuesday, October 14 and in Ariel Booksellers in Paddington. A book launch is scheduled at Kellyville Anglican Church on Saturday November 1 at 2:00pm. Tickets are free and can be reserved through Humanitix.
Read more about Inspiring memoir of hope and love: This is a story worth writing
THE community is being given their first look at the new 30 bed inpatient unit planned for Blacktown Hospital, which will increase the hospital’s capacity to support patients recovering from a range of urgent conditions. The NSW Government is investing $120M in the upgrade of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals to provide expanded and contemporary acute inpatient capacity. The project will include 60 additional beds across Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals. This additional 60 beds for Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals are part of the NSW Government’s delivery of more than $3.4B in hospital infrastructure across western Sydney over the next four years. The redevelopment at Blacktown Hospital includes a mix of fit-for-purpose rooms supporting recovery. The project will also include expanded clinical and non-clinical support service spaces. Staff, stakeholders and the community are invited to attend an information session at Blacktown Hospital to meet the project team and learn more: Blacktown Hospital Foyer – outside Gloria Jean’s café. Thursday, 14 August, 11:00am – 1:00pm. Further consultation, planning and design will continue throughout the year, with construction timeframes to be finalised as part of the overall planning and once a builder has been appointed. Work to deliver the project will be carried out in stages to minimise disruption to clinical services, which will remain operational throughout the redevelopment. The $120M upgrade of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals is being delivered by Health Infrastructure and Western Sydney Local Health District. Planning for the expanded Mount Druitt Hospital is progressing, which will include additional medical and surgical capacity. For more information visit: nsw.gov.au/bmdh-additional-beds. The 2025-26 NSW Budget includes $1.3B of additional funding to support the delivery of health facilities across Western Sydney including: An additional $700M for the new Bankstown Hospital, increasing the total investment to $2B; Additional State funding of $90.0M to provide the full range of maternity and birthing services as part of the new Rouse Hill Hospital, with a further $120M announced by the Commonwealth Government; $492M to develop a Statewide Pathology Hub on the Westmead campus; $40.1M to fit out level 13 of the new Paediatric Services Building at Westmead in partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. $22.3M to establish a new paediatric hospice at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Other projects in the Western Sydney region include upgrades at Nepean, Liverpool, Canterbury, Fairfield, Camden and Campbelltown hospitals. Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali said: “The Minns Labor Government is listening to community feedback by designing and building infrastructure to meet the health needs of Blacktown City’s fast-growing population. This means more nurses and allied health staff in appropriate facilities to deliver for our local residents.” Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said: “The new beds at Blacktown and Mt. Druitt hospitals combined with the new Rouse Hill Hospital are a big improvement for the healthcare needs of my electorate.” Member for Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla said: “The investment to expand inpatient capacity at Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals is a significant step to supporting our community across Western Sydney.”
Read more about First look at hospital upgrades: Community invited to information session
THIS National Tree Day, North West residents and green thumbs alike are invited to join the nationwide initiative and contribute locally by planting 7,500 plants at Sundowner Parkway in Gables. Participants can help rehabilitate the local waterway and create a wildlife corridor along the Parkway, while enjoying a FREE BBQ hosted by the Castle Hill Lions Club. Hills Mayor, Dr Michelle Byrne encouraged Hills residents to roll up their sleeves and grab their gardening gloves in support of this cause, happening on Sunday, July 27 from 9am to 12pm. “National Tree Day is a fantastic opportunity to restore and nurture our local environment whilst also connecting with like-minded community members who share a passion for nature,” Mayor Byrne said. “The ambitious goal of planting 7,500 native plants will boost biodiversity and revitalise the local ecosystem as we seek to increase greenery in our new release areas. “From budding green thumbs to seasoned soil experts, everyone is invited to dig in and play a part.” On the day, each participant will receive a bucket of plants to sow throughout the morning. To streamline the planting process, holes have been pre-dug in the soil and staff will provide demonstrations to guide participants on proper planting techniques. For more information and to register for the National Tree Day event, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search for ‘National Tree Day 2025’. Event Details: What: National Tree Day Community Planting. When: Sunday, July 27, 2025, 9am – 12pm. Where: Sundowner Parkway, Gables. Register: To register for this free event, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search ‘National Tree Day 2025’.
Read more about Dig in for a greener future on National Tree Day
THE GPT Group (GPT) has started construction on the anticipated expansion of Rouse Hill Town Centre (RHTC), marking a milestone in its strategy to grow and evolve retail assets in high-growth corridors. The expansion of RHTC will deliver a diverse retail mix, reflecting the evolving new customer base, with over 50 new retail, dining and leisure options for the community to experience. The milestone was marked with a symbolic sod-turn ceremony at RHTC, attended by Hills Shire Council Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne, the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, with GPT’s CEO Russell Proutt and Head of Retail Chris Barnett, and representatives from construction partner ADCO and RHTC retail partners. With Australian retail sales forecast to grow 3.3% p.a. per sqm over the next decade, GPT’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Proutt said RHTC consistently delivers strong footfall, robust sales, and maintains low vacancy. “We’re seeing a resurgence in bricks-and-mortar retail, not just as a point of purchase, but as a vital driver of customer experience and a powerful contributor to online conversion. The modernisation of RHTC opens the door for more retailers to establish a physical presence while addressing the evolving needs of Sydney’s rapidly growing north-west corridor,” he said. The RHTC expansion will increase the centre’s footprint to over 80,000 sqm, introducing a revitalised Town Green, upgraded amenities, including end-of-trip facilities, and 200 additional parking spaces. The project is expected to create more than 300 construction jobs and over 400 new retail positions upon completion. Speaking at the event, Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said: “As one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, The Hills Shire is expected to welcome nearly 329,000 residents by 2041—an incredible 71 per cent increase in just 15 years. To support this growth, we need to enhance our parks, sports fields, roadways, schools, and retail opportunities. Western Sydney is predicted to experience significant population growth—including a projected 30% increase in Rouse Hill and the Hills Shire over the next decade—the expansion of RHTC reinforces the development of investing in high-potential regions and supporting the needs of growing communities
Read more about New $200M Rouse Hill Town Centre planned
THE Hawkesbury Local Business Awards is back, and it’s almost time for you to nominate your favourite business.
Read more about Hawkesbury Local Business Awards returns for 2026THE Sydney 000 Expo is set to return on Sunday, September 13, 2026, offering a free, family-friendly day of interactive learning, emergency service demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes access to the agencies that help keep NSW safe.
Read more about SYDNEY 000 Expo returns, brings emergency services and community together
ROBERT KINKADE | WHEN you're travelling with a car full of luggage, the last thing you want to worry about is finding a secure parking spot or hauling bulky bags across a busy city street.
Read more about Nesuto is Canberra's CBD GemThe North West News is the trusted local news service for one of Australia’s fasted growing precincts, the North West of Sydney. The North West News is the sought-after source for local news, business updates and community engagement.
