Uni-sponsored team wins in USA
The Macquarie University-sponsored Thunder Down Under robotics team has returned to Australia after winning three awards and the respect of teams from around the world, at the recent FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia. The team, comprising high school students and home schoolers from across Sydney, will be helping out with robotics programs at the Powerhouse Museum and as part of Engineers Australia's Australian Engineering Week event, in August.
Transformation of Rydalmere
Parramatta City Council proposes to allocate $90,000 to investigate options to transform the Rydalmere precinct into a technology and knowledge centre. Council regards Rydalmere as a major component of the Parramatta Primary Centre, the economic hub of the city. The proposal is contingent on council obtaining approval from the Department of Local Government to continue a special rate for economic development.
ADI site cleared for housing
Bulldozers have moved into the 230-hectare western portion of the former Commonwealth-owned Australian Defence Industries (ADI) site, at St Marys, clearing it for housing, despite last minute appeals from the Western Sydney Conservation Alliance.
TV head calls it a day
Laurie Paton, CEO, of Sydney's community channel, TVS, has stepped down from the position after six years at the helm of the station based at the University of Western Sydney, at Penrith.
Relocation of parking stations
Parramatta City Council plans to relocate a total of 1339 parking spaces in its Horwood Place and Erby Place multi-storey carparking stations, in 2012/13, to allow for redevelopment projects. It plans to build multi-storey stations at its Fennel and Macquarie streets at-grade parking stations.
Civic Place DAs expected in 2010
The feasibility analysis of the $400 million first stage of the $1.4 billion Civic Place is currently being finalised, with planning applications expected to be lodged during 2010. Construction is expected to commence in 2011/12 and be completed in 2013/14. The total project will be staged over an estimated 10-year period.
Tourism and technology projects
Parramatta City Council aims to boost tourism's net economic contribution to the local economy with the establishment of a tourism secretariat and the appointment of a tourism development officer, subject to the Department of Local Government agreeing to the continuation a special rate for the economic development of the city Council says the direct and indirect contribution of tourism to the city is in the order of $830 million.
UWS awards honours
The University of Western Sydney has awarded the Foundation Dean, of the UWS School of Medicine, Emeritus Professor Neville Yeomans, with an Honorary Doctorate of Science, and Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley and Ms Mary Foley, a former and longest serving Board of Trustees, with Honorary Doctorate of Letters degrees.
Silex Solar opens facility
The Minister for State and Regional Development, Ian Macdonald, officially opened Silex Solar’s solar panel manufacturing facility, at Sydney Olympic Park, in the former premises of BP Solar. Mr Macdonald said the company was the only significant Australian-owned manufacturer of solar cells and panels, and it expected to double its workforce to around 100 people by the end of 2010.
KISS relocated to airport
Chep Pallets agent, Keep It Simple Systems Pty Ltd (KISS), will establish new facilities, valued at some $4 million, on the western perimeter of Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown. KISS will enter a ten-year lease for a new 7000-square-metre pallet recycling and storage facility. Construction is timed to commence in June,
Conversion of shops to units.
Parramatta City Council has under preliminary assessment an application from Meriton Apartments Pty Ltd to convert 20 retail shops to 16 residential units, at 180 George Street. The estimated cost of the development is $2.9 million.
Uni hospital to open in June
Macquarie University Hospital will provide advanced surgical services, when it opens in June, with a particular focus on the neurosciences, and comprehensive cancer care to patients in Sydney and throughout Australia. It is the first private hospital to be built on a university campus in Australia. Robert Glynn is the hospital's foundation CEO.
UWS to relaunch business school
The University of Western Sydney plans to relaunch its Sydney Graduate School of Management (SGSM) to provide graduate business studies in the relatively untapped market in Western Sydney of undercredentialled business people who want to formalise their qualifications.
Collaboration with CSIRO
Sapphicon Semiconductor (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor Australia) at Sydney Olympic Park, has signed an agreement with the CSIRO jointly develop a complete radio receiver on a chip measuring 5 mm x 5 mm that could eventually be used in mobile phones and other communications technologies.
An emerging business location
Premier Kristine Keneally said the NSW Government’s approval of the concept plan for US discount retail giant Costco’s $58 million warehouse and national headquarters cements Auburn as an important emerging location for business.
Opposition to ‘Texas oilfield’
AGL wants to expand its Camden gas project in the neighbouring municipality by building 12 gas extraction wells to collect coal-seam methane, five of which will be in the Campbelltown local government area. Campbelltown City Council has unanimously opposed the plan. ''My concern is that I don't want my Scenic Hills turning into a Texas oilfield,'' said Mayor Aaron Rule.
DA for 220 residential units
Parramatta City Council has under preliminary assessment an application, lodged by Jamaj Investments Pty Limited and Sonenco Group Pty Limited, for the demolition and construction of a mixed-use development containing 220 residential units and commercial floor space, at CDS House, in Cowper Street, Parramatta. The estimated cost of development is $35.7 million.
Club sold for $4.35 million
An owner occupier has paid $4.35 million for the 20,140-square-metre site of the former St John Park Sports Club, in Bonnyrigg. The site has 3310 square metres of improvements including a clubhouse, soccer field, grandstand and bitumen car park.
$387 million boost to the economy
The Blue Mountains received 2.7 million visitors in 2009, who spent 1.3 million nights in the region and contributed $387 million to the local economy, said the Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay.
$400 million project on track
The first stage, of stage 2, of the $400 million redevelopment of the Stockland Merrylands shopping centre will open in May and the remainder is scheduled to open September. When completed in 2-3 years, the total project will include over 200 outlets and a 750-seat food court, over two levels, and over 3000 car parking spaces.
Water project nearing completion
One of the largest recycled water schemes in Australia, the $250 million Replacement Flows Project, at St Marys, is 90 per cent complete and is on track to begin full operation in September. The plant will soon produce 18 billion litres of recycled water a year, equivalent to the water use of 72,000 Sydney households.
Hotel for sale
The 181-room Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta, in Anderson Street, is for sale by tender. The property, in the southern precinct of the CBD sits on a 8017-square-metre site and has a 220-vehicle car park.
Former steakhouse for sale
The former site of the Lone Star Steakhouse, at 5-7 Parkes Street, Parramatta, is for sale. The property, with a site area of approximately 2016 square metres, has frontages to both Parkes and Anderson streets, and adjacent to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel which is also on the market.
$55 million for Seven Network site
Meriton Apartments has paid $55 million for the Seven Network site, at Epping, with plans to build at least 650 units in a joint venture with the Rebel Property Group.
Penthouses sold
Crown International Group has sold two penthouses for $850,000 and $805,000 respectively, in its $125 million Gallery twin-tower, 246-apartment complex, in Cowper Street, in the Parramatta CBD. The complex has a total of 12 penthouses.
Redevelopment of Cumberland site
Cumberland Courier Newspapers plans to redevelop the Parramatta Advertiser site, at 142-154 Macquarie Street, Parramatta. The EGO Group Architects, on the group’s behalf, has applied to the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water for approval, under Part 6 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, to undertake archaeological test excavation and monitoring prior to the redevelopment.
Professor Reddell honoured
Professor Roger Reddell, director, of the Westmead-based Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI), has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Fellowship of the academy, one of the highest accolades bestowed on Australian scientists, is made up of more than 400 of Australia's top scientists. Professor Reddel is a world-leading authority on cell immortalisation.
PBL cancels project
PBL Media has abandoned a plan to build a $150 million printing and distribution centres, at Smithfield, for its ACP Magazines, after spending more than 18 months looking for sites and talking to foreign printing-equipment suppliers.
Victorian developer buys site
Victorian developer, Villawood Properties, has acquired a 60-hectare development site, at Schofields, plans to a project with a likely end value of $240 million comprising 800 residential lots.The project will be developed in conjunction with the land’s original owner, Dairy Corp.