They paved paradise and put up a light rail stop

Sarah Muller 5:33 PM   Scores of trees were cut down over the weekend in anticipation for a light rail line in Sydney's east.

Latest NSW news

Sydney Uni loses first-preference race

University

Eryk Bagshaw 4:17 PM   The University of NSW has become the most popular choice for school leavers for the first time, a success the uni attributes to its science and engineering faculties.

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Satudarah outlaw motorcycle club shut down

A Satudarah outlaw motorcycle club shirt seized by NSW Police

Nick Ralston 3:05 PM   An bikie gang known overseas for its extreme violence has attempted to get a foothold in Australia by recruiting members for its Sydney chapter via social media, NSW police say.

Call to make directors liable for gift cards

Dick Smith's bankers pulled the pin on the chain this week.

Esther Han 5:17 PM   Retailers would place money from gift cards sales in escrow to protect customers in an event of a corporate collapse - like that of Dick Smith - under changes to law demanded by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon.

Comments 90

Unis falling behind on indigenous enrolment

Indigenous high student Dana Cutmore-Farina taking part in the Wingara Mura – Bunga Barrabugu program at the University of Sydney.

Tom Joyner 4:33 PM   NSW's most prestigious universities are falling behind their regional counterparts in indigenous enrolment rates, data from the Federal Department of Education has revealed.

Heat warning issued for Sydney

Bondi Beach's Icebergs - one place to chill out in coming days.

Peter Hannam 5:08 PM   Heatwave conditions are forecast for most of the state in coming days, with NSW Health advising people to limit physical activities and spend time in air-conditioned buildings.

Gas disconnections soar across NSW

Gas-related disconnections and complaints are rising, according to the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW.

Esther Han 2:56 PM   More NSW households are struggling with growing gas costs, with the number of residential gas disconnections and those on hardship payment plans jumping in the past financial year.

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Property sales forced under 'unfair' rules

NSW Premier Mike Baird with Drummoyne MP John Sidoti, right.

Sean Nicholls 12:15 AM   Private property is being forcibly resumed by the NSW government for major infrastructure projects such as WestConnex using a system it was warned three years ago was deeply flawed.

Lucy Turnbull to sit on powerful committee

Lucy Turnbull formally takes up her new role on January 27.

Sean Nicholls 12:15 AM   Businesswoman and former Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull will attend key meetings of the powerful infrastructure committee of the state cabinet in her new role as Greater Sydney Commissioner.

Mine faces challenge over water impact

Mine workers Adam Powell and Darrin Francis, at the Springvale mine near Lithgow.

Peter Hannam 9:10 AM   Environmental groups have begun legal action to overturn the Baird government's approval of a Blue Mountains coal mine expansion.

The growing 'digital divide' between kids

School parent Jeanette, mother of Cameron, 17, Jeremy, 8, and Jacinta (not pictured), says buying devices under BYOD schemes is a "huge expense".

Esther Han   Many parents are struggling to pay for electronic devices for their children's schooling, which teachers fear will lead to a "digital divide" between families that can afford them and those that can't.

'Chinese Disneyland' to continue 

The proposed theme park at night.

James Robertson   Wyong council says that a planned $500 million Chinese cultural theme park called 'Chappypie China Time' will go ahead despite non-payment and delays.

Shorten rebukes Foley over GST comments

Bill Shorten

Nicole Hasham   Bill Shorten has issued a rebuke to his NSW counterpart Luke Foley, saying it would be "wrong" to hike the GST and slug every family in Australia to raise money for education and health.

Use patrolled beaches, swimmers told

A wave swamps the pool at Bondi Icebergs.

Phoebe Moloney   Surf Life Saving Sydney is urging people to swim at patrolled locations after a number of rescues at NSW beaches with no lifeguard presence over the past fortnight.

Supplement converts into carcinogen

Chromium is a trace mineral  sold as nutritional supplements.

Kim Arlington 11:04 AM   Concerns raised over taking chromium long term or in high doses.

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Warning on outdated smoke alarm laws 

Fire survivor Matt Golinski's family received no warning from two ionisation smoke alarms.

Nicole Hasham   A Senate inquiry into smoke alarms has heard that a few simple changes to outdated smoke alarm laws might prevent tragedy.

Wild Oats XI owner Bob Oatley dead at 87

fIRST USE AFR ONLY!!!!
Sailing Buddies; AFr Magazine;Story by Fiona Carruthers; Photos By Jessica Hromas; Job #000935501700, 8th of October 2008.
Bob Oatley, who will be racing Wild Oats in this year Sydney to Hoart, 2008.

Josh Dye   Businessman and owner of Wild Oats XI Bob Oatley has died of illness, aged 87. 

Ugly row over new mosque

The proposed mosque at South Hurstville has attracted attention from right-wing groups,

Natalie O'Brien   Australia's right-wing anti-Muslim groups have hijacked the debate about a new mosque, encouraging people who live outside the area to oppose the $3 million development.

Lifeguard's 'incredible' rescue 

Professional Life Guard Ashleigh Searle (left) rescued the two swimming from the surf.

Michael McGowan   A young lifeguard has been labelled a hero after she pulled two young men from punishing surf at Hawks Nest in the Hunter region.

Rebels bikie club in 'disarray', police say

A patched Rebels member who was among riders protesting bikie laws at Parliament House in Canberra in December 2014. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Ava Benny-Morrison   The Gangs Squad has taken advantage of a leadership vacuum, with 281 Rebels members or associates arrested since mid-2014.

Highlights

RIP Centennial Park trees

Driving on Friday night along Alison Road at Randwick, I was confronted with a shameful sight.

Romance of flying as biplane aviator lands

Tracey Curtis-Taylor has flown from Britain to Sydney in an open cockpit plane. 

Tarantino brings 70mm back with a vengeance 

Quentin Tarantino's passion for shooting and screening his bloody westerns using 70mm film will come to life in Sydney this week.

The high cost of free Sydney Festival concerts

Questions remain over the cost and suitability of The Domain as a large-scale music venue.

Invisible man or playing the long game?

A year ago this week Luke Foley was still reeling from the whirlwind nature of his unexpected rise to the leadership of the NSW Labor party.

Baird must establish a parliamentary investigator

With its powers newly defined, the ICAC's investigations into Liberal Party rorting of donations laws and the activities of the Obeid family-linked Australian Water Holdings are assumed to be imminent.

VIDEO

Waves smash rock pool visitors

Many suffer injuries after rogue waves knock over visitors to the Figure Eight rock pools in Sydney's Royal National Park on Saturday afternoon.

Two backyard pool incidents in Sydney

A young boy has died and a toddler is in a critical condition following two separate incidents involving backyard swimming pools in Sydney's south-west. (Vision courtesy ABC News 24)

Youtuber parodies viral Western Sydney Uni ad

Parody video mocks privileged Sydney University students after the viral success of a Western Sydney University ad featuring the true story of refugee-turned-lawyer Deng Adut.