Linfox’s $27 million facility
Linfox has opened a $27 million facility at Erskine Park. "Big trucking operations require a lot of support property for vehicle washing, parking, maintenance and fuelling. You get to such a scale you may as well own your own fuelling depots,” said chief executive, Michael Byrne.

Floods take toll on company
The Quensland floods have taken a toll on profits of engineering services company, A J Lucas, based at Macquarie Park. The company has warned of “considerable delay” to work it is carrying out at Chevron’s $43 billion Gorgon liquidified natural gas project in Western Australia.

$39 million research facility
Planning approval has been given for the construction of the $39 million purpose-built Ingham Health Research Institute, at Liverpool Hospital, boosting plans to make the hospital an important hub for medical research and education. The world-class research facility will bring together more than 200 researchers currently scattered across NSW into one modern, purpose built-building.

Workshop to boost growth
The Parramatta-based RDA Sydney will hold a workshop in Parramatta, on February 16, seeking to boost the growth of the financial and professional business services markets, and subsequent employment, in the city. Participants would be tasked with uncovering the key challenges facing the further growth of Parramatta CBD as a major centre both regionally and internationally, for the finance and professional services sector RDA Sydney is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments, to advance sustainable economic development and social equity within Sydney’s regions.

Profit rise in first half 2011
The Queensland-based Retail Food Group, which has its NSW office in Granville, said at its AGM that the first half net profit after tax in 2011 would be around 10-15 per cent higher than the $12.5 million in the first half of fiscal 2010. The company owns and franchises including Donut King, Michel’s Patisserie and Brumby’s Bakeries, many of which operate in Western Sydney.

Councillor aims to be state MP
Councillor on Parramatta City Council, Pierre Esber, has been selected by the Labor Party national executive to contest the state Parramatta seat in the March election, following the retirement of Tanya Gadiel. An opponent of Cr Esber, owner of a plumbing business, will be UWS academic, Dr Geoffrey Lee, for the Liberals.

Best for rents and capital growth
Sydney’s outer ring housing market, particularly the south-west and west, would outperform other Sydney areas in rents and capital growth in 2011, according to SQM Research’s MD, Louis Christopher.

Rebel has tough times
Sportsgoods retailer Rebel Group, headquarted at Silverwater and with outlets across Western Sydney, is unlikely to relist on the stock exchange in the next 12 months after reporting flat 2009-10 sales.

Beverage profit drops
Diageo Australia, the local arm of the UK-based beverages group, which has its production and distribution facility at Huntingwood, had a profit drop of 43.6 per cent from $39.37 million to $22.22 million, in 2009-10. MD, Tim Salt said Johnnie Walker was an outstanding performer, growing 19 per cent over 2009-10.

Question over Colorado
A PricewaterhouseCoopers report on Brisbane-based, Colorado, which has Colorado, Jag, diana ferrari, Williams and Mathers outlets across Western Sydney, stated: “There is uncertainty whether the group will continue as a going concern.” PWC said consumer confidence and deep discounting with in the fashion sector were hurting the company’s returns.

Top people resign
Two of Blacktown City Council’s staff director, Bob Macklinshaw and Liz Jeremy, have resigned, and the manager of communications, events and industrial liaisons, Leighton Farrell, has been moved to work at Blacktown Olympic Park promoting events. Mayor, Alan Pendleton, said the vacant positions had not been advertised and that the general manager, Ron Moore, had considered reshaping management roles.

Forum on food sustainability
A forum hosted by the University of Western Sydney brought together the key players who are responsible for sustaining and growing Australia's food industry at a time when the Australian population is booming and the climate becomes more challenging.

Asian investors buy properties
CBRE associate director, Harry Bui, said its biggest auction result for 2010 was the acquisition of the Cabramatta City Centre for $18.1 million, at a tight initial yield of 5.7 per cent, by a private Asian syndicate in October. Another Asian investment syndicate acquired the Cecil Hills Shopping Centre for $10.8 million.

WSROC pleased but has reservations
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has welcomed the release of the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 but noted much more work needed be done. WSROC president, Cr Alison McLaren, said the review had identified many of the issues of critical importance to Western Sydney, but lacked detail in how they would be successfully implemented.

Hospital to expand
The Hills Shire Council has approved plans for an additional ward and operating theatre, at the $140 million Norwest Private Hospital, which opened at year ago. The work is due to be completed in May. Council’s GM, Deborah Fogarty, said the hospital had experienced 26 per cent growth in patient volume since relocating from the Hills Private Hospital. She said beds would increase from 170 to 213.

Lord mayor is optimistic
Parramatta Lord Mayor, John Chedid, expects the long-awaited $1.6 billion Civic Place redevelopment project to be launched in early this year. ”This will combine with several promising developments aimed at revitalising areas along the (Parramatta) river foreshore generating … optimism about our city’s growing role as the regional capital (of Western Sydney) in the years ahead,” he said.

Hotel on the market
Stamford Property Services proposes to demolish the 257-room Stamford Grand Hotel, to build 10 apartment towers of up to 21 storeys, including 625 apartments, in a $175 million redevelopment on the 22,433-square-metre site near Macquarie University, at North Ryde. The Department of Planning does not support development as high as 21 storeys.

$119m data centre proposed
Hewlett-Packard Australia is set to invest $119 million in the M7 business hub, at Eastern Creek. The company proposes to build a data centre complex on a 13.4-hectare site with the potential for a second centre at the same location in future. The company’s submission to the Department of Planning estimated construction work would take about 12 months to complete.

City to join economic corridor
The newly released Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 proposes the extension of the Global Economic Corridor from Macquarie Park to Parramatta. It currently runs in an arc from Port Botany and Sydney Airport through the Sydney CBD/North Sydney (Global Sydney) to Macquarie Park. The document said the extension of the Chatswood-Epping rail link to Parramatta would improve accessibility for more Sydney workers.