I used to live near Lidcombe.
It is near the area that is in the news a lot for drive by shootings lately but TBH it has a much stronger sense of community than other parts of Sydney that I lived in. It's just a few train stations away from Auburn which is the most multi-cultural suburb in Australia so if you're a foody you can buy obscure ingredients for just about anything on your doorstep and you're just a stone's throw from the Flemington markets for fresh fruit and vege and a farmer's market in Liverpool for even fresher produce and organic food.
The train ride to the city is less than 45 minutes. If you catch an express it only stops about 5 times.