WIN TICKETS!
REAL ESTATE
DANCE DYNAMOS
STRICTLY BALLROOM GIVEAWAY
STARTS ON PAGE 51
STORY ON PAGE 21
INSIDE FYI MAGAZINE TODAY
ONLY THE BEST LOCAL AGENTS
MEET OUR NEW TV STARS
FEBRUARY 7 2014 ISSUE 1139
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 59,400
THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
COP ASSAULTED In news that will sicken the community, a female police officer has been assaulted while simply doing her job in Penrith last weekend. The officer, 33, was attempting to arrest a man for hindering police when she was hit in the mouth. She was then punched a second time during the arrest. Two men were arrested, and are to face court over the incident next month.
PAGE 13
VITAL FUNDS After decades of controversy and confusion, an airport may soon be confirmed for Badgerys Creek. Insets: Ross Fowler and Fiona Scott.
Cleared for take off
Ayres delivers smiles and cash
PAGE 17
Badgerys Creek announcement could be just days away
O
TROY DODDS
ne of western Sydney’s longest running sagas is set for its most dramatic development yet when federal Cabinet gives Badgerys Creek airport the green light as early as next week. In a move that will divide opinion locally, it is expected that Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss will recommend approval be given to the project and a $200 million connecting transport network. It will be the most significant development in the issue since the mid 1980’s when Bob Hawke’s
that Badgerys Creek will get the go-ahead, prompting Penrith Mayor, Ross Fowler, to ask: “What really is in this for western Sydney?” Mr Fowler was referring to suggestions that thousands of jobs will be created. “Indeed, the very worst outcome would be for an airport to be dropped into Badgerys Creek without it making a substantial contribution to western Sydney,” Cr Fowler said. Lindsay MP, Fiona Scott said she would not support the airport unless she was convinced it was in the best interests of the community.
government decided Badgerys Creek should house a second Sydney airport. However, despite media reports and strong sources suggesting an announcement is looming, Prime Minister Tony Abbott would not confi rm anything in relation to a timeframe. “I do have to warn you that it’s not imminent and the timeframes that I saw being speculated on in the media this morning you should not necessarily accept,” Mr Abbott said on Wednesday. “But we will make a decision, because that’s what the public expect: the public elect a government to make decisions, not to put them off.” Whatever the timeframe, it now seems inevitable
MON & TUE NIGHTS
MUSSELS
Continued page three
OUTDOOR FLICKS Movies under the stars in St Marys
PAGE 27
5
$19.9
Bottomless bowls of juicy Mussels and crusty bread, Choice of flavourings Bookings Essential
WW4282
* Conditions Apply, Excludes Public Holidays