Adrian Cutts

A new dawn this morning... at Badgery's Creek, half a century in the making. Sydney's second international airport, comes to life for passengers, and becomes a gateway to a city within a city.

And, then there is the cultural rise: in two weeks, the Powerhouse Museum's second campus will open on Parramatta's riverfront. Western Sydney may have lost Wonderland twenty years ago: but has gained it's own zoo, a world class water park, and many dreams for the future.

Western Sydney, is still today: as it was in 1993... Sydney's future. And should Western Sydney: all 2.8m residents, from a cornucopia of nationalities be proud to be part of that future... As Steve Raymond said then: and is still apt now: "You bet your life."

A new dawn this morning... at Badgery's Creek, half a century in the making. Sydney's second international airport, comes to life for passengers, and becomes a gateway to a city within a city.

... not to mention the renewal of sporting venues in both Parramatta and Penrith into modern facilities. The Western Sydney mindset is no longer whether they are commuting to Sydney's CBD. Parramatta is the best example: now the sixth largest business district in Australia...

...the beating heart of the third largest economy in Australia: outside the Sydney and Melbourne CBD's. The hotel beds are coming. Just ask Parramatta Leagues, and Smithfield RSL: now committing to transforming clubs into destinations: following Cabravale Bowls Club and Rooty Hill RSL's lead.

A new dawn this morning... at Badgery's Creek, half a century in the making. Sydney's second international airport, comes to life for passengers, and becomes a gateway to a city within a city.

"... Because the region is not only Australia's third largest consumer market, it represents Sydney's future. And are we proud to be part of that future? You bet your life." Steve Raymond, passed away on May 28, 2026 at the age of 81.

The great legacy of Sydney 2000, can still be found in parts of Sydney's west. Penrith Lakes, world class shooting and equestrian venues, and of course Sydney Olympic Park: now coming into it's own as not just a event destination but as a community...

A new dawn this morning... at Badgery's Creek, half a century in the making. Sydney's second international airport, comes to life for passengers, and becomes a gateway to a city within a city.

"... How the ugly duckling has changed. Five star hotels, Wonderland, purpose built Parramatta Stadium, Parklea Markets, Riverside Oaks (golf course near Cattai, turning 40 in 2026), even Eastern Creek (Raceway), hailed by Guns and Roses, as the best outdoor venue in the world..."

"...and if the government ever gets it's act together: Badgery's Creek will become a new gateway to the greater west. It's funny, because when 2WS first went to air (in November 1978), some of our rivals labeled us, "fibro radio". You don't hear that tag these days..."

A new dawn this morning... at Badgery's Creek, half a century in the making. Sydney's second international airport, comes to life for passengers, and becomes a gateway to a city within a city.

Let us quote from the late Steve Raymond: 2WS's pulse on the Western Sydney psyche, with his thoughts on the growth of Western Sydney leading into the new century at the time of the 2WS FM conversion... back in June 1993.

"What was once described as urban sprawl at the edge of Sydney, was now acknowledged as the fastest growth area in Australia. Sydney's new geographic heart, a mecca for manufacturing and tourism, and a home for 1,500,000 people: 44% of the Sydney metropolitan area..."

abc.net.auNSW reveals opening date of long-awaited Southwest Metro lineCommuters will be able to cut down on travel time, with the service connecting the south-western suburbs to the Sydney CBD, north-Sydney and the north-western suburbs.

Currently googling “Studying how to get to Bankstown from Parramatta for a 4:30 start…”

ABC News Australia@news.abc.net.au

NSW reveals opening date of long-awaited Southwest Metro line

A reminder of what I said back in June (predicting a October 12 opening), and the need for a good news story concerning Metro in light of St Marys-Bradfield via WSI delays. bsky.app/profile/lyba...

Adrian Cutts@lybaskw.bsky.social

It means, the NSW Govt. will have a good news story about Sydney Metro in the lead-up to WSI opening two weeks later. Something it desperately needs, in light of publicized delays concerning the Bradfield-St Marys (via WSI) Metro connection.

Very interesting to hear that a Sydenham-Bankstown Metro opening announcement is due in the next 24hrs. NSW Govt needs this announcement as a counter to huge amount of flack, they will get this weekend concerning the lack of Metro for WSI from opening day.

Fun fact: The huge table from the Halloween event in Pokopia can not just be coloured: but the centre can be patterned too!. cc. @serebii.bsky.social

I feel like I'm stealing a step from @evandavis.uk with this one. I will be on the first Jetstar flight out of BNE to WSI on October 27. Booked the tickets in June. I'm leaving the real party to the first GC-WSI Jetstar service next Sunday.

Carnival's move to halve it's Australian fleet is oddly convenient. By the time Luminosa and Adventure leave Australia in March '28: Carnival's two newest ships Festivale, and Tropicale will be ready. This means a ship each from Port Canaveral and Galveston will be freed up.

The Splendor was also of a similar vintage when sent here pre-Covid. A 2-3 ship strategy also makes the job easier concerning shifting the Carnival Encounter (it ain't getting any younger) in the long haul.

After all: Australians know about the Vista class particularly, Carnival heavily promoted it onboard when it was the newest ship in the fleet, while P&O almost got a Vista-style ship for itself... before it was shifted to Carnival to become the Carnival Panorama.

I 100% think either Carnival Vista or Carnival Horizon, will be shifted to Australia (each have the capacity to replace both Adventure and Luminosa combined) once the new ships are ready. In 2028 both vessels will be a similar age to the Carnival Spirit, when it was first sent down under in 2012.

paultons-consultation.co.ukPaultons Park Consultation | Proposed new holiday village at Paultons Park

Very interesting to hear about the long rumored Paultons Park accomodation proposal finally going ahead. paultons-consultation.co.uk

youtu.beRTI-724 SUPERDUMP - Historical Centralised Public Address SystemYouTube video by RailTrail Queensland

Also, @spencerhowson.bsky.social: the people who uploaded that are looking for the announcer's name! Remember vaguely a segment 17-18 years ago on 612 brekky where he revealed himself, at the time QR was adding the Varsity Lakes/Richlands soundbytes to the package!

Adrian Cutts@lybaskw.bsky.social

One for @spencerhowson.bsky.social: Someone has gotten from a RTI request… 22 minutes of CityTrain nostalgia. Note the unusual placement of “Fortitude Valley” right where “Brunswick Street” would otherwise be located. youtu.be/WSblBaX8di4?...

youtu.beRTI-724 SUPERDUMP - Historical Centralised Public Address SystemYouTube video by RailTrail Queensland

theguardian.comMan dies after jumping into tiger enclosure at Yorkshire zooPolice say man was pronounced dead at the scene after being attacked by tiger

A reminder: no jumping into t' tiger enclosure. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

Do the right thing, Football Australia. Let South Melbourne add a fifth star for tonight's achievement. #AustraliaCup

The game @notjustbikes.com convinced me to buy is finally out.

hilkojj@hilkojj.nl

📢 Wheelie is excited to tell you the game is OUT NOW in Early Access! Pave Paradise and put up the Car Parks of your dreams TODAY. store.steampowered.com/app/3031880/... 🙏 Thanks everyone for the support!

theguardian.comPlans for Sydney’s controversial new public square in doubt after NSW government interventionState planning minister declares project ‘state significant’, wresting approval process away from local council Plans for a grand new public square in the centre of Sydney are in doubt after the New South Wales planning minister declared the project “state significant”, wresting the approval process away from the City of Sydney. The lord mayor, Clover Moore, released renders in August for the plaza opposite Sydney’s town hall. The design for the space, which the council had expected to be completed by 2031, include a semi-circular clearing projecting eastwards towards Hyde park, with a fountain and a grove of native trees. Continue reading...

The four words that will likely doom Clover's square. "Town Hall Station concourse". I guarantee TfNSW will rightfully push for a additional entrance or two to compensate for the loss of the Bebarfalds Corner entrance to Town Hall railway station.

Guardian Australia@australia.theguardian.com

Plans for Sydney’s controversial new public square in doubt after NSW government intervention

Bruce Baird's passing is significant. Bruce, was the NSW transport minister in the eye of the Pacific Hwy storm in 1989 after the Grafton and Clybucca coach crashes. A weaker man would have quit politics after those events. It only served to cement him as a reliable hand.

While, his former federal seat of Cook after 2007, ended up providing a prime minister afterward. The closeness to three separate electoral communities is unique: His state career was in Sydney's north, his federal career was Sydney's south, and his retirement years was Sydney's Northern Beaches.

The fact that Baird fit in so much into a political career of just 23 years (what some dream of achieving in 30-40yrs) without a senior leadership position, will be one people will remember for years to come. And he'll be watching, when the Coffs bypass opens later this year.

The approval of the tolling of the M4 (to pay for the gap between Prospect and Mays Hill), M5 and M2 during Baird's run as Transport minister: set Sydney on a chain of tollroad mania come the start of the 21st century. But, it led to Canberra after a relatively short NSW parliamentary career.

library.olympics.comlibrary.olympics.com

Baird's former state seat, was ultimately taken by Barry O'Farrell, then a political novice: who'd end up bringing the Coalition back in NSW in 2011, while his son Mike: blessed with the same photogenic style his father had, finally got the role his father wanted in 1992: premier of NSW in 2014.

That reliable hand ultimately led to Bruce being the NSW Government's face for the Sydney 2000 bid whilst still transport minister: John Fahey may have jumped in Monte Carlo: but it was from Baird's vision we have Sydney Olympic Park, Penrith Lakes and others. library.olympics.com/Default/doc/...

Some mistakes happened whilst transport minister: the review that led to a XPT-based NSW regional rail network (that saw rail cuts to New England, and the beginning of the decline of the Sydney-Brisbane passenger service) is one example, while some Baird decisions stick to Sydney today.

The NRL sides they feed lost the prelim, and now the state league sides for the Panthers and Dolphins miraculously fight it out on Grand Final Day... A event more than a 2nd tier championship... it's about pride: making up for the failures of their respective first grade sides. #NRLGF

I'd say the reaction in Newcastle to the last 2 minutes of tonight's game was equivilant to that same time period of the AFL Grand Final 24 hours ago. The Knights are back in the big dance... and you won't be hearing of the story locally post-game, because NBN's weekend news was axed in June.

Chris Fagan's next lunch with Leigh Matthews. Fagan: "I've achieved a threepeat, just like you Leigh." Leigh: "You do realize I've won four premierships as a coach!". And that's how the Lions retain Fagan. Go for a impossible task in the modern era: 5 straight GF's. Do what Leigh couldn't do.

They said at the end of the '03 AFL GF, that the Brisbane side that won '01/'02/'03, was the best of the modern era. The Threepeat Part Deux, has likely cemented the Brisbane Lions as the best AFL club this century so far. And, now only two premierships off tying the mark of Fitzroy of old.

Half time at the AFL GF, and all the kids in the crowd are going nuts. It's tied 6 goals, 7 behinds a piece. But I wonder what would happen if those two numbers combined... #AFLGF

That loud "Ahh f**k", you heard, came from Sydney Olympic Park. That was Peter V'landys cursing. #AFLGF #NRLGF

Yes, the Dolphins lost: but if you made the Roosters as a collective run a mile in a prelim at Suncorp in the process, it's a damn achievement. Don't squander this moment, like the Gold Coast Titans did in 2010: where it was a peak, before only making the finals twice in sixteen years.

theguardian.comTerry Denton, beloved Australian illustrator best known for Treehouse series, dies aged 76The illustrator and author ‘gave joy to millions of children around the world’, his family say The beloved Australian illustrator and author, Terry Denton, most famous for his work on the Treehouse series has died aged 76. His publisher, Curtis Brown, released a statement on social media saying Denton died surrounded by his family on Monday. Continue reading...

22 Sept

Terry Denton and Andy Griffiths, were practically Australia's version of Quentin Blake and Roald Dahl: Terry being the illustrator, whose name was made by a significant professional relationship with a author: that being Andy Griffiths. Will be mourned in many a school library come holidays end.

Guardian Australia@australia.theguardian.com

Terry Denton, beloved Australian illustrator best known for Treehouse series, dies aged 76

22 Sept

NRL GF entertainment kerfuffle only make the folks at the AFL smart: because they not just secured their GF entertainment in March, but secured it before the NFL had a chance to find talent for Rams/49ers at the MCG. Tones and I, is 100% aiming for Ed Sheeran curtainraiser work in the US.

21 Sept

Ahh, great: the Subdog has escaped Australia!

Sarah Z@sarahz.bsky.social

Yeah I know a good number of these

20 Sept

Nobody simply walks into Morden Traincare Depot... unless they've had a safety briefing upon arrival.

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theguardian.comAustralia news live: Melbourne finishes second-last at world tram driving championships; Chalmers says Australia’s 40-year outlook ‘confronting’Follow live updates

20 Sept

@geofftech.bsky.social Can you see if you can forward this Guardian Australia link over to Tim (the one currently in Warsaw for the Tram-EM championships). He's got fans at @australia.theguardian.com, weekend live reporting team apparently.

Next week's NRL prelim at Suncorp, has a seat already reserved in the sky. One reserved, for none other than Big Artie Beetson. The Dolphins finals marketing campaign says it all. Every First Led Here. Dolphins have to break the Roosters like they did on August 29, for one more first in 2026.

What Hawthorn should do after tonight's game as a team. Unwind with a dinner tonight... and tomorrow: Sam Mitchell, drum the hard justice in like Sheeds did in 1999 (when Essendon lost the 1999 prelim by a solitary point), make the entire team attend the 2026 AFL GF as spectators for motivation.

Brisbane Lions into a 4th straight AFL Grand Final... with Hawthorn fans treating the MCG like it was Lang Park in the mid-eighties, after a Blues win over the Maroons. One step to go for a threepeat of their own... much like the Voss/Leppitsch dynasty that kicked off at the G, almost 25 years ago.