Vlog - Life in Western Sydney

Brief Description of the Video:

The following video illustrates a typical day in the life in Western Sydney. The vlog involves us travelling to the heart of Western Sydney: Blacktown. The vlog takes viewers through a tour of Blacktown and what it has to offer. The footage captures the essence and the life in Blacktown taking you through the local Westpoint Shopping Centre, places to eat and relax and various other facilities and shops in Blacktown. The vlog also showcases the magnificent transport system of Western Sydney, known as the T-way. This is further illustrated in our time-lapse of our journey to Blacktown.

Group Member Contributions:

The group members who participated in the making of this video were: Jayan Hirani, James Hu, Siddharth Sobti, Nathaniel Manlolo and MJ Sabana. Each group member took turns in filming footage of Western Sydney for the vlog and participating in the different activities that are depicted in the video. The editing of the vlog was done by Jayan Hirani and James Hu. Whilst Siddharth, MJ and Nathaniel reviewed the video and made sure all the assignment and video criteria was met. Overall, an equal contribution was made to the creation, editing and posting of the video component of the assignment by all participating group members. 

Murders in Western Sydney

Even though Western Sydney has a huge crime incidents such as robberies and assaults, it only has a very low reported homicide cases. In the year 2015, the reported homicide incidents were only 1.6 out of 400 000 population.

The most recent homicide that has occurred in Western Sydney is the Parramatta shooting. The Parramatta incident was considered as a critical incident as there were 2 people that died. One of the deaths was a NSW police employee who was shot with a single bullet by the gun man, and  the other was the casualty was the gun man who got killed in a fire exchange with the NSW Police.

Fore more information regarding this event, please check the NSW police media releases at https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/media_release_archives

Norwest Business Park

Norwest Business Park is located over Bella Vista and Baulkham Hills. It is a major part of the economy in Sydney accommodating for over 20,000 employees, with over 400 companies. and being one of the largest business parks in Australia.  Woolworths, Resmed, BBraun, Inchcape and Capital Finance are some large businesses operating in the business park. The Woolworths HQ is located in the business park.

source: http://norwestbusinesspark.com.au/

The business park has two shopping centres, many restaurants and bars, as well as childcare centres to cater for employees needs while working at the business park. There are two large hotels in the area, Novotel and an Adina, serving businesses in the area for visitors to the business park.

The business park is located in near the Sydney Orbital Motorways of M2 and M7, making it easy to access. 

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source: http://hillspropertysearch.com.au/norwest-business-park/

Western Sydney - Media

Media Inspired by Western Sydney

Western Australia is well known for its characteristics, in particular, the people and how they are viewed by those who aren't as intimate with the culture of Western Sydney as those who actually live there. Many view these people in a very light-hearted manner and often find amusement in the reality of some aspects of Western Sydney culture, especially when it is produced in a satirical nature. One of the most popular Australian actors, Paul Fenech (he has also been granted the title 'Australia's champion of political incorrectness') , has produced numerous TV shows that satirize the nature of different aspects of Australian culture, these include 'Pizza', 'Bogan Hunters' and 'Housos'. 

Paul Fenech

Image taken from

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/paul-fenech-a-true-bogan-hero/story-e6freuy9-1226907370033

The success of these projects has also allowed Fenech to produce a feature film based on the characters of 'Pizza' and 'Housos'. What makes these shows so successful is how easily many of its viewers can relate to the events of the shows, the characters are based on stereotypes that are easily recognisable in Western Sydney culture. 

Cast of 'Housos'

Image taken from

http://jabbatron.com/gallery/jabba-housos-cast/

In particular, 'Bogan Hunters' is a comedic documentary that explicitly explores a subculture of Australia known as the 'Bogan', this is easily recognised as a lower-class stereotype of Australia and is one of the main reasons many find it to be so humorous when they are glamorised. 'Housos' follows the lives of numerous fictional characters, again based on recognisable stereotypes, to shine a satirical and incredibly humorous light on those who are living in Housing Commission Public Housing and rely on funds from centrelink. These shows highlight the stereotypical lifestyle of Western Sydney and act as a perfect alternative for gaining a humorous view on Western Sydney rather than visiting the area in person.

Western Sydney - National Parks

Western Sydney National Parks

Australia is very well known for its wildlife, its native fauna and flora, but these unique elements of the country would not be complete without their habitats. Western Sydney is the home of many incredibly popular attractions, creative suburbs and an intensely diverse community, but in addition to this, Western Sydney is also well known for its national parks. National Parks are the best way for someone to embrace the natural beauty of Australia while at the same time, finding a recreational way to enjoy the day. 

Image taken from

http://www.westernsydneyparklands.com.au/where-to-go/the-dairy/

There are numerous parks and reserves within Western Sydney, these include Parramatta Park, Plumpton Park Wetlands, Sydney Olympic Park and most notably, The Western Sydney Parklands. The Western Sydney Parklands is set in the heart of Western Sydney, covering over 5,200 hectares of land, the park offers several areas that provide first-class amenities for family outings such as, barbeques, picnic shelters, toilets and playgrounds. The park also offers a path for one to either cycle or walk to enjoy some spectacular views and high quality bushlands. 

Image taken from

http://www.westernsydneyparklands.com.au/visitor-info/getting-to-the-parklands/

The Western Sydney Parklands are recognised as a nature hotspot, acting as a host to hundreds of different native flora and fauna and the size of the park alone allows it to be recognised as one of the largest national parks in the Southern Hemisphere. The national parks of Western Sydney are a 'must' when it comes to things to do, they are perfect for family get-togethers, even better for recreational activities and essential to embracing the rich culture of Australian history and culture.

Robberies in Western Sydney.

 Western Sydney is currently one of the highest reported robbery cases in New South Wales. The highest reported robbery cases are located in the suburbs of Blacktown, Parramatta, Bankstown, and most of western Sydney. The NSW bureau of crime and statistics show that there is only very little change in reported incidents. For example in Blacktown, in the year 2014 there were only 315 reported cases and on 2015 it increased to 333 reported incidents.

http://crimetool.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/bocsar/

Recently three teenagers approached a 16-year-old boy who was travelling on a train between quakers hill and seven hills. The three suspects approached boy and allegedly told him to strip off all of his clothes except his underwear. the three males then proceeded to put holes on the boy's clothes.

On October 14 2015,  a second 16-year-old youth was arrested and was then presented at Merryland police station where he was charged with robbery with company.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/media_release_archive?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGNDkyNDUuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D

if you have any information regarding this even or if you have witnessed any crime please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Housing In Western Sydney

Housing In Western Sydney

Western Sydney encompasses a large area and therefore contains a wide variety of housing options for all different demographics of people including single, groups and family housing. Further exploration of Western Sydney reveals a variety of double story, single story houses and apartments for a variety of people from all classes of life.

Double Story Houses in Western Sydney:

As illustrated before, Western Sydney is a family friendly area with a wide array of parks, attractions and shopping centres. These features make Western Sydney one of the most habitable places in New South Wales. Families tend to go for double story houses due to their enormous size, 4+ bedrooms and multiple bathrooms. This is also complimented by a study and an upstairs lounge area. The wide range of rooms and features available in double story houses makes it an optimal choice for families to live and raise a family in. Double story houses are commonly found in most areas of Western Sydney with the main areas including The Ponds, Kellyville Ridge and Stanhope Gardens. Double story house prices are usually around $700 000 - $800 000 although with the recent housing boom (2015), prices have reached the million dollar mark.

Double Story House in Kellyville Ridge
Source: http://www.kurmondhomes.com.au/dc/designs/Imperial.jpg

Single Story Houses in Western Sydney:

Single story houses are a popular accommodation for local residents of Western Sydney. These houses are usually taken by couples without kids or groups of people looking for shared accommodation. Whilst smaller in size than double story houses, these houses still manage to contain 3-4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a study. Single story houses can be found in most suburbs of Western Sydney including Blacktown, Kellyville and Seven Hills. Single story houses are usually priced along the $300 000 - $500 000 mark.

Single Story House in The Ponds
Source: http://www.kurmondhomes.com.au/dc/designs/Sierra-Elite-544x315px.jpg

Apartments in Western Sydney:

Due to Western Sydney being a family friendly area, apartments are less common to the eye. However they can still be seen in around the Blacktown, Bankstown and Parramatta areas. Apartments usually have 2 bedrooms and one bathroom (common features). Prices for apartments in Western Sydney are usually around the $200 000 - $300 500 mark and can also be rented or leased.

Recently, a project has begun construction for apartments in the suburb of Kellyville Ridge. These have been conducted in order to facilitate the recent population boom in Western Sydney and give people without kids more options for accommodation in Western Sydney. 

For more information about buying property in Western Sydney: http://www.realestate.com.au/buy/in-western+sydney,+nsw/list-1

Source: http://www.realestate.com.au

Western Sydney Attractions - Featherdale Wildlife Park

The number of unique animals in Australia is one of the many reasons people visit the country (it is the home to over 7,000 different species that are native to Australia!) and what better way to experience these animals than through a wildlife park, an attraction of Western Sydney that simply cannot be passed up. The Featherdale Wildlife Park is located in the suburb, Doonside, and was officially opened to the public in 1972.

The park is a home to hundreds of different species, featuring many kinds of birds, reptiles, marsupials and mammals. The park holds multiple presentations, feedings and encounters everyday of the week, including the feeding of Dingos, Tasmanian Devils and Crocodiles. 

Image taken from

http://www.news.com.au/national/photos-e6frfkp9-1111120201372?page=8

Additionally, you could head over to the Kangaroo/Wallaby reserve and get up close to feed them personally, or, for an even more intimate experience, you could go to the Koala Sanctuary where you could literally cuddle a Koala or see Featherdale's superstar, Archer the Koala.

Image taken from

http://www.featherdale.com.au/explore-the-wildlife-park/

The Featherdale Wildlife Park is a perfect destination for a family outing or if you are keen on visiting the national wildlife that Australia is renowned for.

Archer the Koala

Image taken from

https://www.experienceoz.com.au/archer-the-koala

Suburbs - BANKSTOWN!

Bankstown is a vibrant city and home found just 20km South-West of Sydney's CBD!

The city itself is home to one of Australia’s largest ethnic populations with almost 40% of it’s population from overseas and 35% from non-English speaking country. These statistics shows the diversity in which the suburb has found itself in. 

Unlike Parramatta and Blacktown, Bankstown is not known for its transportation services but it still provides train and bus services.

The culture of the suburb is infectious and has made the local Rugby League team, The Canterbury Bulldogs, one of the National Rugby Leagues (NRL) most respected clubs. 

Western Sydney Attractions - Wet'n'Wild

Another major attraction in Western Sydney is the recently opened water park 'Wet'n'Wild'. The park is located in the suburb, Prospect, and was opened on the 23rd of December, 2013, just in time for the summer holidays. The park features over a dozen unique slides and a wave pool that doubles as a beach, holding over 6,800,000 litres of water, this wave pool is also the largest in Australia. Additionally, if you are seeking a more calm experience, you could grab an inflatable donut and float down the community named river, 'Boomerang Bay'. Alternatively, for a more intense experience, you could feel the exhilaration of falling face-first towards the ground from 75 metres in the air, that's higher than the Sydney Opera House!

Image taken from
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/overview-to-wetnwild-sydney/story-fngr8i5s-1226778802589

Not only does the water park offer numerous slides and attractions, it also acts as a venue and a host for numerous events such as, 'Sunday Sessions', an afternoon experience that occurs every Sunday where a DJ plays the latest songs, or, you could sit back and watch a movie at the beach every Friday or Saturday within January.You might also meet some friendly faces while you're there. But most notable of these events is the Australia Day BBQ and the New Years Eve party where you could bring your family together at the wave pool to count down into the New Year.

Image taken from
https://wetnwildsydney.com.au/#/

'Wet'n'Wild' is quickly becoming an icon of Western Sydney, it is most definitely an attraction to visit in Western Sydney, especially during the summer months where the heat is on and the water is cool.

This is a park map to display the grandeur of this iconic water park

Image taken from
https://wetnwildsydney.com.au/visitor-info/park-map#/

Suburbs - Parramatta

One of the many hearts that lie within Western Sydney, Parramatta is another big player in the ball park. It holds to around 20,000 people within the large area. And much like Blacktown, Parramatta is also home to many other suburbs within the council of Parramatta.

The suburb is well known for its diversity in culture and food; the streets of Church street illustrates the diversity within the suburb. It is also known as another major public transport hub. The station has a amazing number of buses, ferries, trains and taxis etc.

Within the area, it holds one of the major hospitals in NSW, this is Westmead Hospital. It’s famous for it’s children’s hospital which many public figures go to, to support the children.

Parramatta is an beautiful suburb. Recently the Parramatta Lanes: International Food Stalls, is a great example of the suburb’s beauty.

Crimes in Western Sydney

Western Sydney has one of the highest crime incidents in New South Wales. Crimes that usually occurs within the Western Sydney area, more specifically in Blacktown, Parramatta, Penrith are domestic and non-domestic assaults. According to a reliable source, there is a high probability or rate of assault crimes that usually happens in the mentioned areas. The rates are 491.8 per 100,000 population within the area and also 423.7 per 100,000 population in NSW. These rates could be affected by the demographics living in these areas and also the living conditions are also factors of these high crime rates.

Here is a crime map for reported assaults within Sydney

http://crimetool.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/bocsar/

In 3 October 2015, about 11:30pm a 17 year old teen was charged with assault and malicious damage. This happened in Taronga Street in Blacktown, where the teen threw a glass bottle through the front window of a 54-year-old male occupant. Then when the man decided to see what was happening, the teenager allegedly decided to grab the 54-year-old man by the throat and began smashing his head with the glass bottle.

The 17-year-old teen was later arrested on Grove Palace and taken to Blacktown Police station, where the teen was charged with wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm and malicious damage.

The teen was granted with conditional bail, to appear at the Children’s Court on 22 October 2015.

Religion and Tradition in Western Sydney

Religion and Tradition in Western Sydney

As you explore your way around Western Sydney, you will see a wide variety of religions and traditions represented. As at 2014, top religions that are represented in Western Sydney are Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Everywhere you go, you will see these religions and their vast traditions being celebrated.

Celebrating Religion and Culture/Traditions in Western Sydney:

1.     Every year in Parramatta Park (Western Sydney CBD), Hindu’s and other local residents will gather and celebrate the religious festival of Diwali (Festival of Light). People who participate in the festival are invited to learn more about the festival and culture through food stalls, kid and youth activities, traditional music and artwork. This year’s festival runs from 7-8 November 2015.

Temple in Glenwood- Indian Place of Worship
Source: http://eastsidefm.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC00225-500x334.jpg

Church in Parramatta
Source: http://www.weddingnsw.com.au/images/church005.jpg 

2.     Various traditions and celebrations are also occurring in Western Sydney every year. One of these are local Christmas Carols which take place every year in various suburbs such as Parramatta, The Ponds and Penrith at local parks and community centers. Local residents are always invited to enjoy a fun atmosphere with family and friends and celebrate the holiday with songs and fireworks.

      

      Western Sydney is also the home of various local places of worship such as churches, temples and mosques where locals can visit and practice their beliefs and religion. 

Religion and culture are two of the very most important things that make up Western Sydney. Without these elements, the unique diversity of Western Sydney would not be what it is today. 

Suburbs - Stanhope Gardens / The Ponds

Stanhope Gardens and The Ponds are situated in North West Sydney in the City of Blacktown Area. They are currently the newer suburbs in the area and have seen large growth in the last 5 years. 

Stanhope Gardens only existed as a suburb from 1996, however most of Stanhope Gardens being part of the Newbury Estate, a Mirvac project has had land for sale from the early 2000's to the early 2010's. The vast majority of houses built around mid to late 2000's. The Ponds only existed as a suburb from 2007  and is a Landcom project that has had rapid growth where the last stage of land was only released last year.

Both suburbs have been award winning Stanhope Gardens winning the Royal Australian Planning Institute Award for Excellence in Plan Making - Urban Planning.  The Ponds achieving Residential Development and Sustainable Development categories at the UDIA NSW Austral Bricks Awards for Excellence.

Both Suburbs are known for there lifestyle and recreational qualities. Stanhope Gardens is known for having clubhouses with tennis courts and pools scattered over the Newbury part of the suburb. The Ponds has great bike paths, green areas, parks and obviously the various ponds in the area hence the name. Both suburbs have decent sized shopping villages, Stanhope Village and The Ponds Shopping Centre.

These suburbs are seen as simply the best for family living in Sydney.


Jayan Hirani

Western Sydney Attractions - Sydney Olympic Park

Sydney Olympic Park

Western Sydney is home to many attractions, among them is the Sydney Olympic Park, home of the Olympic Games of 2000. Originally part of the suburb of Auburn, Sydney Olympic Park gained recognition as its own suburb in 2009. It is, to this day, still used as a venue for major sports such as Rugby Union, National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL). 

Though it is still home to many sporting facilities, the Park is now also used as a venue for music festivals such as Stereosonic, Big Day Out and Soundwave, or for other popular events such as Pop Culture Expos, the Sydney Festival and most notably, The Sydney Royal Easter Show. 

Stereosonic Music Festival

Allphones Arena is also a major attraction of the Park as it is used for numerous concerts and as a venue for many major artists such as Katy Perry, Maroon 5, 5 Seconds of Summer, Drake and soon to be the first venue of the popular South Korean band Big Bang's first Australian concert. Allphones Arena has also been noted as one of the most profitable venues, behind New York's Madison Square Garden. The Sydney Olympic Park is now home to more than 5000 events each year and is definitely one of the many attractions to visit when visiting Western Sydney.

Drake performing in Allphones Arena

Transport in Western Sydney

Car

Western Sydney has three main motorways to get commuters to the city, the M2 Hills Motorway, the M4 Western Motorway and Westlink M7.

Bus
Buses in Western Sydney are operated by Busways, Hillsbus, Westbus and Sydney Buses. Western Sydney has a T-way or a transitway system, which is a bus-only lines/roads system that offer a fast way to travel to places such as North Sydney, Macquarie Park and CBD by connecting to the M2 Hills Motorway. Other main locations are Blacktown, Parramatta and Rouse Hill and Castle Hill.

Train
The main train lines that serve Western Sydney are the North Shore, Northern & Western Line and Cumberland Line. North West Sydney is not served well by a train system as of now, but North West Rail Link is being implemented, however Schofields Station and Quakers Hill are the closest stations for North Western Suburbs.

North-West rail link
The North-West rail link is to be completed in 2019, a line from Rouse Hill to Chatswood connecting the North West growth area, consisting of new housing and estates. The area has the highest car ownership levels per household in Australia, with much demand of fast transport to the CBD, Macquarie Park and North Sydney.

Ferry
There is only one ferry route from Western Sydney, from Parramatta to Circular Quay along the Parramatta River. It runs between 7am and 7pm and takes around an hour from Parramatta to the CBD.





Jayan Hirani

Suburbs - BLUE MOUNTAINS!

The Blue Mountains...

What a great view right?

These mountains covers 11,400 km's of Western Sydney! 

The Blue Mountains look over suburbs such as Katoomba, Penrith, Wetherill Park etc. Each of these suburbs contain its own characteristics; Penrith is the home to one of Rugby Leagues storied franchises, the Penrith Panthers, Wetherill Park is known for its bushwalking track. 

The mountains also are home to an infinite amount of wildlife (some of this wildlife is endangered)! 

As for directions to the Blue Mountains, it takes one train or you can catch the motorway and you’re there. 

It truly is an amazing place to visit, if you have the time, make sure to visit the mountains.

Western Sydney- Demographics

Western Sydney Demographics

As time has progressed, Western Sydney has developed into one of the largest multicultural regions in New South Wales. With this, we have been exposed to various number of cultures and traditions from a variety of religions, social classes and a variety of different walks of life.

Demographics:

Religion and Language:

Within Western Sydney, you will find all the main religions well represented. More than 40% of Western Sydney residents were born overseas (ie. outside Australia). The top 3 overseas countries that are represented in Western Sydney are India, Vietnam and China. As a result of this top languages in Western Sydney include Arabic (7%), Mandarin (5%) and Hindi (5%). This has made Western Sydney a unique and culturally diverse area. Everywhere you go in Western Sydney you will see different cultures and religions represented heavily through the celebration of festivals and religious events or local places of worship and restaurant serving local cuisine.

Households:

As you drive around Western Sydney, you can see a lot of large homes usually with more than two bedrooms. This is because Western Sydney was built for families. More than 42% of households are with children and all suburbs contain at least a primary and secondary school. Single people households are not common in Western Sydney with the lowest percentage in NSW. Western Sydney is known for it’s housing affordability with most first homeowners deciding on this region as their first residence.

Jobs:

Western Sydney can be described as the ‘working economy of NSW’. Whilst a low percentage of people are in office or high power jobs (only 29%), more residents are in the technical and trade occupations business.

Source: http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/115432/Greater_Western_Sydney_summary_statistics_November_2012_FINAL.pdf

Food in Western Sydney

Western Sydney is an incredibly diverse suburb, when someone wanders the streets of Western Sydney there is no doubt that they would see many people of different ethnicities. Having said this, there are numerous restaurants that embrace the countless ethnicities and cultures.


A few of these restaurants include Chocolate Kkomz, a restaurant that specialises in Korean cuisine in Eastwood, Temasek in Parramatta, which focuses on Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine, Ginger in Harris Park, a restaurant that expertly manipulates spices into creating unique Indian dishes, or Aaboll Cafe in Merrylands which provides a unique take on Ethiopian food, additionally, this restaurant allows the opportunity for its customers to further embrace its culture by letting them eat the food with their hands. 

But the most notable restaurant that can come to mind when someone mentions Western Sydney would be El Jannah, from Blacktown, or Frangos, in Bella Vista. Both of these restaurants are best known for their charcoal chicken, El Jannah takes a bases their recipes on the Lebanese culture and Frangos uses Portugese culture to make their dishes. Additionally, what makes these restaurants even more unique is the fact that they are only available in Western Sydney. While these restaurants may not seem too extravagant, many people from other suburbs often make their way to Western Sydney specifically to order food from these restaurants. 

                                                         El Jannah Commercial ft. Tahir Bilgic
                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf_BZ7Thk0U

Frangos in Bella Vista

Suburbs - BLACKTOWN!

When somebody thinks of Western Sydney and is asked to name a few suburbs, the common responses include Penrith, Parramatta and Blacktown.

Blacktown can be considered the Mecca of the Greater West of Sydney. It holds to one of the most multicultural communities in NSW and the public transport in Blacktown is one of the most efficient in the state (it has a successful train line along with a myriad amount of bus services)! 

Blacktown finds itself in the average to lower social economic status category of society. Although the suburb is not considered classy, the people are authentic and keep it real with you. The suburb even has a council named after it, the ‘Blacktown Council’ looks over the suburbs that are found within a rough 5 km radias. 

BLACKTOWN REPRESENT!

Welcome to our Blog

This blog is a voice to show how important Western Sydney is and is a guide for those looking to visit or move to Western Sydney. 
Western Sydney is the third largest economy in Australia, it is home to 1 in 11 Australians. Western Sydney adds approximately $95 billion to the nations GDP annually and its largest industries are manufacturing, transport, postal & warehousing and wholesale trade. This makes the area very important not just for Sydney, or New South Wales, but for the whole of Australia. 
We are from Western Sydney and are proud to be part of it. 

This is our group: Nathaniel Manlolo - Bachelor of Arts majoring in Software Technology MJ Sabana - Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting James Hu - Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Secondary Education majoring in Mathematics Siddharth Sobti - Bachelor of Applied Fiance and Bachelor of Economics Jayan Hirani - Bachelor of Information Technology majoring in Software Technology and Business, Analysis and Information Systems