Largest outside Sydney CBD
Parramatta has NSW’s largest employment concentration outside of the Sydney CBD. Close to 90,000 people work in the area, with over two thirds of jobs located in the major business hubs; Parramatta CBD, Westmead and the industrial estates of Camellia, Rydalmere and Rosehill, according to Parramatta City Council.

Ranked for the first time
The Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) has been ranked for the first time in the Financial Times Global MBA rankings. MGSM was ranked 99th on the list of top global MBA schools, while its accountancy and finance programs were rated number five and number eight respectively in the top schools by subject rankings. To be ranked among the top 100 MBA programs in the world is a significant achievement for MGSM, the university said

Sydney Water’s new intake
Twenty university graduates and eight new apprentices have started work at Sydney Water. The new graduates will take on a new role every six to 12 months during the three-year program, giving them experience across a number of different areas within their field of expertise. The eight new apprentices will be based across Sydney Water’s area of operations including Springwood in the Blue Mountains, the Illawarra and Alexandria. Sydney Water now has 24 apprentices and 70 graduates in its award-winning trade and graduate programs, Sydney Water MD, Kerry Schott said.

Employment growth
Employment in the Parramatta CBD has grown at least eightfold since 1971 - from an estimated 5,000 jobs to an approximate 40,0002 today. Parramatta City Council said strong employment growth was evident across a number of industry sectors including health services, finance and insurance and professional services.

Researcher honoured
Professor Tony Cunningham, regarded as one of Australia’s leading infectious disease experts and foundation director, of the Westmead Millennium Institute, at Westmead, has been appointed and Officer on the Order of Australia (AO) for his viral research, medical and biomedical research, which has spanned more than 20 years. Professor Cunningham is also director of the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research.

New businesses created
Create Media, managed by Parramatta-based Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and supported by the Westpac Foundation, encourages young people from a refugee background to learn new skills and, ultimately, to develop their own new media business. Selected participants will have financial and mentorship support in setting up their creative enterprise. At the end of the project, one business idea will be selected and provided with establishment costs, mentorship and office space. 

ICE goes national
Thanks to the sponsorship of the newly established SBS Foundation, the Parramatta-based Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) will be able to reach a national audience by broadcasting 30-secondvertisements on SBS One TV. ICE works on a wide range of innovative programs and projects that engage and support the region’s diverse communities and artists to express, create and collaborate on a range of screen, music, radio, sound, online and new media projects.

Defence leases CBD space
The Defence Department will relocate some staff from its Orchard Hills facility to the Penrith CBD, where it will lease 4000 square metres at 311 High Street, because of an organisational restrictions and a requirement for modern accommodation, with transport facilities, a Defence Department spokeswoman told the Penrith Star

$25 million research funding
Macquarie University will receive more than $25 million in funding this year under the Commonwealth Government’s Research Block Grants scheme. The money is part of the government’s $3.1 billion funding boost for research and innovation allocated in last year’s budget. 

Light rail plans
A proposal by urban planner, Garry Glazebrook, of the University of Technology, Sydney, would transform the poorly patronised Carlingford line by replacing it with light rail and incorporating a Parramatta-Bankstown line along the Duck Creek corridor, helping to revive a declining area, as championed by the Assistant Minister for Transport, David Borger, when he was lord mayor of Parramatta

Challenges to creating jobs
Penrith business leaders discussed the key challenges to creating jobs in the Penrith economy. Ideas included: government support in reaching the CBD’s jobs target of 11,000 new jobs by 2031; ensuring Penrith’s employment lands are developed to maximize industrial jobs growth; helping Penrith’s small business sector to grow. The ideas will form the basis of Penrith’s submission to the NSW Government. The workshop was organised by the Penrith Business Alliance (formerly the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation) in partnership with Penrith City Council.

More power to the grid
WSN Environmental Solutions and joint venture partner, LMS Generation, have commissioned another engine, at the Eastern Creek waste and recycling centre, raising its capacity in converting waste to electricity to 7000 homes. The project now has seven 1.1-megawatt (MW) engines to export renewable energy to the NSW grid. The Eastern Creek plant began operating with five engines in May 2008. More are expected by 2014.

$19 million rail upgrade
The $19 million upgrade to improve services and reliability along the 10.7 kilometres of rail corridors between Glenfield, Fairfield and Villawood stations has been completed, included upgrading the power supply allowing better air-conditioning and quicker accelerating trains, and. concrete sleepers replaced timber ones allowing trains to keep running at normal speeds for longer in hot conditions.

$3.7 million centre upgrade
The $3.7 million refurbishment of the Whitlam Leisure Centre, in Liverpool, has commenced and is expected to bring a significant boost to the economy by creating jobs, with an estimated 40 contractors over the next 18 months, according to Mayor Wendy Waller.

$46.9 million research centre
Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, and representatives from the Ingham Health Research Institute have signed a $46.9 million funding agreement at Liverpool Hospital to provide a new, four-storey state-of-the-art research centre, at Liverpool Hospital, through the Federal Government’s Health and Hospitals Fund. Ms Elliot said the centre would be the focal point of research in south-west Sydney, housing 340 researchers.
 
New city farm owners
The new owners of Fairfield City Farm, City Farm Pty Ltd, a branch of the Sutherland-based GBS Investments, are preparing to reopen it in early March. Some staff members will be offered jobs under the new owners. Others have been offered redundancy or alternative positions within Fairfield City Council. 

Freight service to Port Botany
Anew train service from Yennora to Port Botany will deliver economic improvements to the port-related supply chain and ease congestion and pollution on major roads such as the M5. according to Paul McLeay. Minister for Ports and Waterways. P&O Trans Australia  estimates the service would remove up to 136 truck trips per day off the M5 and contribute towards meeting the NSW Government’s long term target of 40 per cent rail modal share to and from Port Botany. 

Publishing company wins awards
In the past year, Giramondo Publishing Company, at the University of Western Sydney, won a total of six prestigious literary awards, and were shortlisted an additional 13 times. Giramondo was set up in December 1995 with the aim of publishing quality creative and interpretive writing by Australian authors. Since 2005, the company has also operated as the publishing arm of the UWS Writing and Society Research Group, based at the university's Bankstown campus.

Criticism of resort operators
Blue Mountains Tourism Limited (BMTL) chairman, Randall Walker, delivered his harshest criticism of the current owners of the downgraded York Fairmont Resort, in Leura, singling them out as causing the most damage ever to the Blue Mountains’ good reputation, according to The Blue Mountains Gazette. “In the history of tourism in the Blue Mountains region no single operator has ever inflicted so much damage to the industry and reputation of the destination,” he said.

UWS offers up 16 per cent
The UWS made 10,160 main round offers to students - the largest number of offers of any university in NSW and the ACT – up 16 per cent on 2009. Seventy per cent are to students within Greater Western Sydney. UWS continues to be a university of first choice, receiving the second highest number of first preferences in NSW, a spokesperson said.

No decision on freight terminal
The Federal Government has yet to rule what will be done with land at Moorebank, which has been sighted as an intermodal freight terminal, said Michael Deegan, of Infrastructure Australia, who was asked to examine whether the site could be used for such a facility. 

Jobs boost at airport
Currently it is estimated that Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown has created either directly or indirectly over 6000 jobs. A further estimate is that over the next 20 years an additional 10,500 jobs will be created, the airport newsletter said. Approval has been granted for the commencement of civil works by Western Earthmoving to provide a new vehicle storage area of approximately 5 hectares for Pickles Auctions expansion at the eastern end of the airport complex.

Brickworks sale nears
Building material maker, Brickworks Limited, at Horsely Park, is expected to wrap up its $70 million sale of a 90-year-old quarry and brickworks factory, at Eastwood, by next month. The sale is running more than a year late because of hurdles faced with removing equipment and cleaning up pollution, according to The Australian Financial Review.

API to expand Priceline
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), based at Camellia, aims to boost its 213 franchised Pricleine stores to 400 by early 2011. API’s total sales for the four months to December 31 rose 5.6 per cent over the corresponding period, while same store sales increased 2.2 per cent. CEO, Stephen Roche, said. API, which has 329 stores across Australia, opened 30 outlets over the past year.

Hospital merger proposed
The state's two biggest children's hospitals, The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick are expected to come together under one administrative umbrella, within six months, to form a new health service to be known as NSW Kids. The proposal will be open to public consultation until the end of the month.

Sydney Water forecasts
Sydney Water forecasts it will need to build over $695 million of water service related assets to service urban growth, over the next five years, with $265 million, or 38 per cent, spent in the North West and South West Growth Centres, according to Sydney Water’s first Growth Servicing Plan, 2009-2014. This figure will increase to $4.1 billion, or 66 per cent, of a total forecast of $6.2 billion, over 22 years to 2031, when Sydney’s population is anticipated to grow to 5.3 million people,  “Urban growth” includes new housing, industrial and commercial facilities. 

Move to Melbourne
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will relocate its dermatology business, Stiefel, in Castle Hill, to Melbourne by mid-June this year. GSK acquired the US-based Stiefel Laboratories, the world’s largest independent dermatology company, in July 2009, to create a specialist dermatology business. The relocation of Stiefel operations to GSK’s head office, in Melbourne, provided greater synergies to grow its dermatology lines,” said Deborah Waterhouse, vice president and GM, GSK Australia.

Revitalising CBD core
Parramatta City Council’s adoption of the urban design strategy for the proposed mixed-use Riverbank project, facing the Parramatta River, is part of council’s aim of revitalising the CBD core. The proposed mixed-use Riverbank project – which comprises the block bounded by the Parramatta River and Church, Phillip and Wilde streets – is one four blocks, on an axis aligned along Horwood Place, which are designed to revitalise the urban core. Council has prepared a redevelopment masterplan for the Horwood Place carpark and is preparing one for the Erby Place carpark.
 
Council seeks new GM
Blue Mountains City Council will start 2010 looking for a new general manager following the resignation of Phil Pinyon who will take up the role of general manager, at Wagga Wagga City Council, in February.

Going it alone
The Hills Shire Council has accused the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) of not delivering on issues in Sydney’s north west and plans to leave the regional lobby group on June 30. The Hills Shire Council, which would focus on developing the North West sector as a brand of it’s own, would work at strengthening ties with Hawkesbury and Hornsby councils to focus on important issues such as planning, infrastructure, transport and economic development. WSROC plans to discuss the issue with council.

Housing projects in the city
Landcom is expected to commence, this year, an 800-home project surrounding the UWS Campbelltown campus. Landcom’s project in the city are nearing completion, including Park Centre, 90 per cent, and Garden Gates, 80 per cent.

70,000 people and counting
An aim of Parramatta City Council’s Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, that events become a major feature of Parramatta’s cultural and tourism sectors seems likely to be realised if the 70,000-plus local and interstate people who attended the concert by Indian composer, A.R.Rahman, is a guide. Australia Day activities were as popular as ever and the Sydney Symphony concert in Parramatta Park, in March, and the inaugural Parramasala, the Australian Festival; of South Asian Arts, in November, promise to be big drawcards. Gross revenue generated by businesses and organisations in Parramatta to service demand generated by tourists is estimated at $830 million. Council expects to launch its Destination Parramatta website soon.

UWS centre wins grant
The UWS Urban Research Centre, based in the Parramatta CBD, has been awarded a prestigious Australian Research Council Discovery Grant for 2010-12. The project, to be led by director, Professor Phillip O’Neill, would evaluate the directions in infrastructure spending in Australian cities with a view to more effective, sustainable outcomes. He said centre aspired to be an international leader in research and teaching initiatives involving cities and urban management.

Medical premises near hospital
The new $35 million Q Central offers medical practitioners and associated services office accommodation close to the recently opened $140 million Norwest Private Hospital. Peter Campbell, MD, of Lindsay Bennelong Developments, said the demand for A-grade quality workplaces was strong in the north-west. He said the building would raise the bar for future development in the region.

City’s new GM
Former Parramatta City Council GM and executive director of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), John Neish, has taken up his GM’s position at Ryde City Council. He will be heavily involved in the $1.7 billion Macquarie Park business precinct plan, the biggest single development area in Australia, and the ambitious expansion planned for the adjoining Macquarie University.

Shopping centre up and running
The Top Ryde City shopping centre, Australia’s largest mixed-use development under construction, already boasts 120 new retail stores and a food court attracting shoppers from across Sydney’s north. When it is completed towards the end of this year, the $470 million project will boast 270 retail stores, 11,800sq m of commercial office space and about 425 apartments.

Local brew on tap
The Australian Hotel and Brewery, owned by the Colosimo family, is expected to have a staged opening, with the TAB, gaming room and bar set to open in March, followed by the rest of the venue in June. A microbrewery adjoins the beer garden allowing patrons to see beer being brewed. Patrons will be able to brew their own beer. The Colosimo family aims to operate the greenest pub in Sydney, run on solar energy using recycled water. 

Largest in the mountains
Woolworths proposes to establish the largest liquor shop in the Blue Mountains by applying to transfer an existing liquor licence it holds in Jindabyne to Katoomba. A DA states the company plans to build a 1420 square metre liquor shop with 57 off-street car parking spaces in the vacant block next to the Blackburn’s Family Hotel and Bottlemart outlet. The application has attracted strong opposition including a submission by the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce and the council

Harris Farm Markets closed down
Tristan Harris, general manager, buying and marketing, of family-owned Harris Farm Markets, said the closure of its outlet, in the empty Brand Smart shopping centre, in the Parramatta CBD, was because the business was unviable. All of the centre’s 50-plus tenants, other than Sydney Technical Institute, a hospitality-training centre and a café, have left. The head offices of Landcom and Suzannegrae, a women’s fashion group, and the NSW office, of Sportsgirl, are tenants in the Brand Smart Corporate Centre.

Marketing manager sought
Parramatta City Council has advertised for a marketing manager, for Riverside Theatres. The successful candidate will be responsible for marketing the complex for hire, the annual performance season and other activties including the education, music and comedy programs

Boost to regional tourism
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) is building a strategy with member councils and other organisations, including the National Trust and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, to promote tourism in the region. President, Alison McLaren, said cultural tourism offered the potential to create jobs, with spin-offs to the accommodation, transport and business sectors. She said it was important for the region to have a co-ordinated cultural tourism strategy. A website will be launched during 2010. 

Region. CEO of WorkCover
Lisa Hunt, a former member of the dissolved Greater Western Sydney Economic Development Board, a board member of Westlink Ltd, a former senior executive of Transurban, a board member of the Sydney Catchment Authority and other organisations, has been appointed CEO, of the WorkCover Authority.

Focus on South Asia and China
South Asia and China are in Parramatta City Council’s sights as an opportunity to boost the city’s international profile and economy. Events NSW in a joint initiative with council will stage the inaugural “Parramasala, the Australian Festival of South Asian Arts”, in November, with a focus on India. The Asia Business Connection and council are inviting expressions of interest from the Parramatta and Western Sydney business community to join a 20-person delegation to Yiwu, in China, in April/May, this year. Parramatta Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, will lead a delegation 

Civic Place project closer
Grocon is expected to lodge a DA early this year for phase one of the $1.6 billion Civic Place project. Construction is expected to commence, in early 2011, of council’s new administration block, library, art gallery and council chambers, on the corner of Smith and Macquarie streets, adjacent to Sydney Water’s new head office. When the total project is completed it could include 100,000 square metres of A-grade office space and some 9000 workers.

Trust members reappointed
Members of the Parramatta Stadium Trust have been reappointed for another four-year term, by Kevin Greene, Minister for Sport and Recreation. Trust members are John Brown, Doris Drewery, Denis Fitzgerald, Craig Gallagher (chairman), Alan Overton, Pam Smith (deputy chairwoman) and Patrick Smith.

Referendum on lord mayor
Parramatta City Council Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, said a referendum on whether the lord mayor should be publicly elected, could be held either before, or at the time of, the local gocvernment elections in 2011. If agreed to, a four-year term would commence in 2015.

Strategic transport priorities
Parramatta City Council has stepped up its campaign, in conjunction with the community and business groups, “to remind the NSW Government” of the need to advance integrated transport for Parramatta. Council will focus on promoting four strategic transport priorities: lobbying for funding of the West Metro, completing the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link, establishing a full commuter inbound RiverCat services, and supporting commuter networks with parking and bus connections.

Expanding program
Parramatta City Council expanded its three-year-old Parramatta Social Enterprise Hub into a more sustainable Sydney-wide program, in 2008/09, according to council’s 2008/09 annual report.

Thirty new skyscrapers
A major campaign being conducted by Parramatta City Council is raising the city’s profile as the capital of Western Sydney, so that it may continue to attract an extra 30,000 workers, 20,000 residents and see the construction of the equivalent of 30 new skyscrapers forecast for Parramatta, by 2013, according to council’s 2008/09 annual report.

$19 million to three councils
Three Western Sydney Councils have received nearly $19 million in funding from the Local Infrastructure Fund, which provides interest-free loans to councils for major projects which need to be completed within 18 months of the loan being issued. Liverpool Council received $10.4 million for a new stormwater detention basin at Jardine Drive to support development of the Edmonson Park release area. Hawkesbury Council received $4 million to upgrade part of the South Windsor sewer infrastructure to allow for medium density residential development in South Windsor. Penrith Council received  $4.6 million for the upgrade of Collector Road, which will bring forward residential development in the Caddens area, and improve access and road safety to the Werrington Enterprise Living and Learning precinct.