A police van was also torched outside an inner-west tattoo parlour, which reportedly has links to the Nomads.

Both sides started strongly in attack and defence to make for an enthralling contest. It took a rare first half mistake to create the opportunity needed to open the scoring. The scoring was opened by some good second man play from the Bulldogs to put Turner in to score in the 12th minute.

Premier Barry O’Farrell and Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian on Friday announced the $19.8 million buyout of monorail and light rail company Metro Transport Sydney (MTS), saying it would give them greater control over CBD transport planning.

The MTS purchase cleared the way to remove the controversial monorail, they said, almost 25 years since it began operation.

The monorail first rolled out during the 1988 Bicentenary Year, following mass protests against its construction.

Mr O’Farrell said the monorail struggled right from the start, with patronage figures in its first two years less than half that predicted by the Unsworth Labor government.

“The real problem with the monorail I think for most Sydneysiders is that it doesn’t actually go anywhere that you want to go,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“The monorail is not integrated with Sydney’s wider public transport network and has never been truly embraced by the community.”

Ms Berejiklian said tearing down the monorail would remove constraints on the proposed new convention centre development in Darling Harbour, which is expected to be completed by 2015-16.

She said the monorail could be pulled down in two to three years, but the government would not know for another 12 to 18 months the exact date of its removal.

Buying out MTS also gives the government greater flexibility when it came to planning future public transport, particularly proposed extensions to the light rail network, she said.

“It means our options have increased in relation to light rail,” she told reporters in Sydney.

“Our options have increased in relation to how we integrate the convention centre with other modes of public transport.

“The monorail’s been around for 20 years, and many argue that its use-by date has arrived, and that is certainly the government’s position.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who led protests against the monorail in the 80s, said it was “ugly” and “an intrusive, ineffective transport system”.

“Replacing it with efficient and effective light rail will improve transport access in central Sydney,” she said.

Business groups Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA), the Sydney Business Chamber, the Tourism and Transport Forum and the Property Council all backed the monorail’s removal, saying it was a barrier to the success of the new convention development.

IPA chief Brendan Lyon said few people would miss the monorail.

“It is an analogue mode in a digital world and is in the way of a range of important projects like Sydney’s new convention centre,” Mr Lyon said.

Opposition leader John Robertson was one of the few to criticise the decision to tear down the monorail, saying the government should be investing in new projects.

“I think it’s a good indication that Barry O’Farrell is more interested in destroying public transport around Sydney than he is in actually doing something about it,” he told AAP during a visit to the NSW Central Coast on Friday.

The report, released today, recommends no major increases to water bills and estimates that annual household costs will be $57 less in real terms, by 2016.

IPART Chairman Peter Boxall says the recommendation would mean revenue to Sydney Water would not increase.

“They put in a submission last September for a 15 per cent increase, in real terms, and our recommendation in the draft determination is that it be relatively flat,” he said.

“We believe that we can hold the revenue for Sydney Water roughly constant, in real terms, over the four years and they will still be able to supply good quality services and and comply with their licensing agreement.”

IPART assumes the desalination plant wont operate, as dams are full.

The opposition water spokesman Luke Foley says IPART has done the right thing.

“It’s now up to the O’Farrell Government to do the right thing and stop demanding massive profits, massive dividends from Sydney Water,” he said.

“The O’Farrell Government is demanding a massive 78 per cent increase from Sydney’s Water profit and unprecedented dividend payments to government.

“My my concern is that that profit and dividend would be at the expense of services and jobs.”

IPART has identified savings Sydney Water could make which include slowing the rate of investment in infrastructure.

It has called for stakeholder submissions on the recommendations by April 13th, with a final determination due for release in June.

Several caravan parks on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, between Windsor and Sackville, were also put on high alert.

The NSW Food Authority has closed the abattoir in Sydney’s far north-west after reviewing the footage. The RSPCA has also examined the video and is launching an on-site investigation today into possible breaches of animal cruelty laws.

Not for the first time this season, Victory coughed up a 2-0 lead, deservedly as they inexplicably sat back and let the much more enterprising Sydney to dominate the second half.

Lavicka said the Socceroos star would make his own call on whether to play at the Sydney Football Stadium but hinted he could sit out and be saved for Thursday’s blockbuster against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

The Mariners will travel down the F3 brimming with confidence after taking a six-point lead at the top of the table.

Sydney have conceded 10 goals in their last three games and slipped to fifth spot and must face reigning premiers Brisbane next week.

However, Carle missed all of those encounters due to a hamstring problem and the former Bristol City and Crystal Palace midfielder is confident the Sky Blues can stop the rot against the Mariners.

“They are playing some very good football, but so were Brisbane when we beat them a few weeks back,” Carle said.

“Every game we play is a big game and this one is no bigger or more important than any other we have played this year.”

Czech wideman Karol Kisel will also return to the side following suspension and coach Vitezslav Lavicka said he will ring the changes, with his leaky defence put on notice.

Sebastian Ryall is in line for a recall with Jamie Coyne or Michael Beauchamp under threat.

“Things have not been working and we need to improve in defence,” Lavicka said.

“We have to make some changes.

“Nicky’s return is positive as we haven’t won when he’s been out.”

The Mariners must find a replacement for Matt Simon, who scored twice in his final game for the club in the 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory on Wednesday.

Simon will link up with South Korean side Chunnam Dragons and coach Graham Arnold could turn to Adam Kwasnik, Troy Hearfield or Daniel McBreen to replace the Socceroos striker.

The injury-prone Harris joins James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus in the 12-man party for the second match in the four-Test series, which starts on Tuesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Pattinson, playing in only his third Test, edged Siddle and Hilfenhaus to Man of the Match honours in Melbourne after all three played key roles with both bat and ball in the 122-run victory.