$140 million investment
The Department of Planning has issued its requirements for the environmental assessment to be prepared for the redevelopment of the 17-hectare Parklea Markets site, to include a 12 storey, 336 room, 4.5 star hotel, an exhibition/convention centre and a growers market, to be completed in two stages. The proposed development will have a capital investment value of around $140 million dollars and provide up to 1500 full-time employees to operate the development in any one year. The project could take 3-5 years to complete. The applicant is Almona Pty Ltd, owned by Con Constantine. The Parklea Markets building is the largest indoor market in the southern hemisphere.

Sydney Festival attracts crowds
While the box office receipts have not been disclosed, The Australian Financial review reports that Sydney festival events in Parramatta, Penrith, Minto and Campbelltown attracted enthsiastic crowds” helping to exceed the overall box office target of $4.7 million for the $17.6 million three-week event.

ACCC approves of merger
The merger of the Sydney Turf Club and the Australian Jockey Club needs only to be signed off by NSW Racing Minister, Kevin Greene, after being given the all-clear by the ACCC. An incentive of a $174 million package will be used to refurbish Randwick and Rosehill racecourses. The $150 million renovations to the stands at Randwick will be funded through a deal with the TAB, while the NSW government has provided a $24 million grant for an upgrade to the facilities and access routes at Rosehill. The combined membership of the two clubs will be about 14,000, with about 250 full-time and  200 part-time staff. The name of the meged club is yet to be announced.

$108 million hub approved
The NSW government has approved the construction of the $108 million, six-storey Australian Hearing Hub, a major state-of-the-art medical research and teaching facility, at Macquarie University. The Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the government had provided $360,000 to bring together three non-profit hearing organisations, the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children and the Shepherd Centre, to work with leading researchers at the university He said the project would support the growth of the Macquarie Park Specialised Centre which was identified in the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036, released in December.

Over $2.7 million in savings
Efforts by the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) supply management team has resulted in a collective savings of over $2.7 million in existing supply contracts. WSROC said details of all existing procurement projects would be posted shortly on the organisation’s website for easy access by participating councils. To ensure continuous improvement in this area WSROC appointed Mal Ackerman, in 2010, as a full time procurement and joint activities coordinator.

Reducing flood impacts
The Hills Shire Council is working to effectively reduce flood impacts through flood-related building and development controls plus flood mitigation works. The shire drains into two river basins, the Upper Parramatta River and the Hawkesbury River making the Sydney Hills a risk area. Major floods took place across Sydney, hitting The Hills hard in 1986 and 1988, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses in the Upper Parramatta River catchment. Flood mitigation works and services between The Hills Shire Council and neighbouring councils has halved the number of houses above floor level in a 100-year flood and the number of flood-affected businesses has been reduced by more than two-thirds in the Upper Parramatta River catchment.

Council talks to Opposition on rail link
Parramatta Lord Mayor, John Chedid, has called on the NSW Opposition to re-consider its plans to scrap the Parramatta to Epping rail link and will host talks with shadow transport minister, Gladys Berejiklian, this week to discuss transport solutions for Parramatta and Western Sydney. Cr Chedid said the rail link was the number one transport priority for council, which has stepped up its lobbying efforts over the past 12 months. This included hosting a Transport Forum last year, attended by Ms Berejiklian and Transport Minister, John Robertson, along with key industry experts “It is crucial that we have direct transport links to the business in Macquarie Park and North Sydney, and the workers on the North Shore, to support our continued growth,” Cr Chedid said.

City snubbed on free transport
Parramatta Lord Mayor, John Chedid, has slammed the state government over its decision to fund free shuttle-busses in Liverpool, Campbelltown and Gosford, while snubbing one of the first places to introduce the service – Parramatta. “This is a massive slap in the face to the ratepayers of Parramatta who are currently funding their own shuttle bus service, the Loop, out of their own pockets, while every other major CBD in NSW has a free shuttle bus service funded by the state government,” Cr Chedid said.

Food production lost
Sydney would lose about half its land used for fresh fruit and vegetable production immigration-linked urban sprawl, according to lead researcher, Jonathan Sobels, from Flinders University, in the 335-page Long-term Physical Implications of Net Overseas Migration: Australia in 2050 report. He said farms and public land would be consumed as bulging cities expanded. The National Institute of Labour Studies report finds that Sydney and Melbourne will each require more than 430,000 hectares of new land for housing if net overseas migration remains above 260,000 a year.

Floods and population increases
Devastating floods are a reminder communities need to factor in land use changes and urban growth when planning for both droughts and floods, said Associate Professor Basant Maheshwar, a hydrologist at the University of Western Sydney. Population increases in the Western Sydney, and other peri-urban zones around Australia, will create challenges beyond increased demands for services and greater stress on local water catchments during times of drought, he said.

South Creek study
For the past five years, Professor Maheshwari, a hydrologist at the University of Western Sydney, has been leading a team studying the water cycle and catchment area of South Creek, which has large tracts of undeveloped bush and farmland but is also an epicentre of massive urban growth. Almost 400,000 Sydneysiders live and work in the South Creek Catchment, which covers 625 square kilometres and stretches from Narellan in the south to Windsor in the north. In the next 25 to 30 years the population is expected to almost double.

Launch of Centre of Excellence
The CRC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Disorders (CCD) based at Macquarie University, will be offically launched on February 3, concentrating  new world-class research into a range of brain and cognitive disorders.The centre will be multi-institutional, with nodes at Macquarie University, the University of Western Australia and the University of New South Wales. Keynote lectures will be given by world leaders in the field of cognitive science, Dr Douglas Cheyne, senior scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute at the University of Toronto and Professor Georgina Rippon from the School of Life & Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham.

Free loop buses
The NSW Government will introduce free loop buses in Campbelltown and Liverpool from January 31. The shuttles will provide free transport links between key commuter destinations, including hospitals, transport hubs and shopping centres. The new buses are part of the Government’s Metropolitan Transport Plan to provide families with more transport options closer to home.

Head of news
Trevor Seymour has been appointed head of news at News Limited’s Cumberland Courier Newspaper Group, based in Parramatta. With over two million readers each week, Cumberland Newspaper Group is the largest community newspaper group in NSW with 31 titles across Sydney, Central Coast and Lake Macquarie.

Businessman chairs dragway
Liverpool businessman and motor sport insurer, Sam Sofi has been asked to take on the chairmanship of the Western Sydney Dragway, at Eastern Creek, following the suspension of the board, following allegations of favouritism, nepotism and calls for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to conduct an inquiry into its financial management. Mr Sofi has been given “full control” of the company for six months, according to The Sun Herald.

Accor to manage resort
The 210-room Fairmont Resort, will be managed by leading Australian hotel group, Accor, and will become the third hotel in Accor’s prestigious MGallery Collection, in Australia. The resort’s owners Schwartz Hotels will invest $20 million in its refurbishment. The majority of upgrade works is expected to be completed within six months. General manager Geoff York said the hotel’s revival would be a boon for the local tourism industry. Set in 10 hectares, the property has three lakes and walking tracks, and boasts views over the Jamison Valley and adjoining 18-hole Leura Golf Club.

Liverpool local identity named chairman
Liverpool identity, John Cornish, has been named as the new chairman of the newly proposed Sydney Racing Club. Mr Cornish, who is the vice-chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, heads the new and united racing board, a merger between the AJC and Sydney Turf Clubs. The new racing club, yet to be officially named, is expected to start as the new entity in February. Mr Cornish led the way for the $16 million developments of Warwick Farm, which were completed in May 2009. He was also instrumental in attracting leading bloodstock agents and global thoroughbred organisation, William Inglis & Sons relocating from their long-time Sydney premises to building a multi-million dollar new site at Warwick Farm. Work is expected to start on this project later this year once Liverpool City Council has granted development approval.

Enterprise factory could close
The Karelle Life Enrichment Service’s enterprise factory, at St Marys, could cease operations unless it becomes self sufficient before federal government funding runs out in June. Up to 15 people with intellectual disabilities make items, such as, cheese boards and chopping blocks to coffee tables, toys, mirrors and wine stands from recycled timber. Marketing assistant, Chami Gunasinghe, is hopeful it will remain open to give people with disability the opportunity of a normal working life.“It would be heartbreaking if we couldn’t keep them on. They are treated like any other employee and get to experience a real working life. They receive award wages,” she said.

$28.4 million investment
Works are expected to commence in mid 2011 and take approximately two years to complete, on Integral Energy’s $28.4 million project to provide customers in Casula and Glenfield. with a safe and reliable electricity supply.

Designers off to USA
Tato & Memi, based in Carramar, is one of four clothing designers from NSW which will be featured in the Australian Fashion and Jewellery Showcase, part of G’day USA 2011 Australia Week. Tanya Memon and Marijana Golic, who met at East Sydney TAFE design school, draw their inspiration from India.  “The NSW Government is proud to help the next generation of designers establish a presence in the world’s most competitive fashion market,” said NSW Arts Minister, Virginia Judge.

$140 million investment
The NSW government will hold a series of information sessions, in February, to discuss plans for a $140 million investment in new water, recycled water and wastewater infrastructure in Sydney’s North West. “Sydney Water will display an environmental assessment later this year and will give residents the opportunity to provide feedback on plans before construction begins in 2012,” said the Minister for Water, Phil Costa. The North West Growth Centre is expected to provide about 70,000 new homes over the next 30 years.

UWS makes 10,062 offers
The University of Western Sydney is giving even more students the opportunity to study at university, as it makes 10,062 main round offers, the largest amount of offers of any university in NSW and ACT, and prepares for the largest ever intake of students in its history. As one of the largest universities in Australia serving one of country's fastest-growing regions, the university is making over 75 per cent of its offers to people from Greater Western Sydney., said demand to study at UWS continues to rise, particularly amongst school leavers, with UWS receiving over 11,000 first preferences for this year - the second highest number of first preferences in NSW. The university is planning to increase its current student numbers from just under 40,000 enrolments to 50,000 by 2020.

UWS outlays millions of dollars
The University of Western Sydney expects to outlay $245 million on buildings and campus infrastructure over the next two years, following an investment of more than $200 million in new buildings and campus infrastructure since 2009 in order to support the university's growth and significantly enhance the student experience, said acting vice-chancellor, Professor Wayne McKenna. He said UWS was currently embarking on a major academic recruitment program, which has it appointing 100 new academics each year for the next five years.

Boutique hotel approved
Parramatta City Council has approved alterations and additions to a 3-storey commercial building, at 21Argyle Street, Parramatta, for use as a 20-room boutique hotel containing a ground floor cafe. The estimated cost of the work: $ 483,120.

Firm in voluntary administration
Victorian-based listed refrigeration and air-conditioning supplier, Frigrite, which has a branch in North Rocks, has been forced into voluntary administration. Blaming the loss of major supermarket services contract and insufficient manufacturing work. KordaMentha was appointed as administrators of the company’s two main subsidiaries and is looking for a buyer of all, or parts, on the business.

Ryde river and floodplain study
Ryde City Council is seeking submissions from consultants to undertake the Parramatta River Ryde Sub Catchments Flood Study and Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

Company to supply NBN Co
Prysmian Cables and Systems Australia, based at Liverpool, will supply equipment to the national broadband network. The company’s Italian-based parent has won a five-year contract worth up to $300 million with NBN Co. The company has manufacturing facilities at Liverpool and Dee Why. Prysmian's presence in Australia began in 1975 trading as Pirelli Cables Australia Ltd manufacturing both power and telecommunications cables in Minto.

Sonic expands overseas
Sonic Healthcare, Australia's biggest provider of pathology services based at Macquarie Park, has paid $54 million for KBL-BML-Unilabo and Woestyn Laboratory, in Belgium, and made its first foray into the Californian market, paying $30 million for Physicians Automated Laboratory. Sonic managing director Colin Goldschmidt said the acquisitions were part of the company's growth strategy in Europe and the US and added there were more to come.

Company builds 200 buses
Custom Coaches, in Villawood, will build 200 air-conditioned buses with chassis to be supplied by Volvo and Scania. Minister for Transport John Robertson said the new buses will be built with the latest technology. “The 12.5 metre, air-conditioned, low-floor, rigid buses are the latest and most fuel efficient diesel bus models available, developed by Volvo and Scania,” Mr Robertson said. These new buses are over and above the 1000 buses the Government will purchase over ten years under the Metropolitan Transport Plan.

Accor’s trading up significantly
Accor’s hotels across Western Sydney benefited throughout 2010 by increases in occupancy across the board as a result of the major events, concerts and sporting fixtures held in Western Sydney, according to spokesperson, Peter Hook, Accor’s hotels in Sydney Olympic Park – Pullman, Novotel, Ibis and Formule 1 – experienced an “exceptional” year recording occupancies in the mid 70 per cent ranges, The Novotel represented an increase from 66 per cent average, for 2009, to 77 per cent in 2010. He said the percentage increase in meetings-related business across its properties in Western Sydney grew 19 per cent in 2010 compared to 2009, and double-digit growth was anticipated in 2011.  “No major new supply (hotels) is expected in Western Sydney at least in the short-term, but there has been a continuation in the relocation of businesses to Western Sydney, so we anticipate growth in both occupancy and rate during 2011. Overall, the market is very buoyant and healthy.” he said.

Primo primed for listing
Primo Smallgoods, based at Chullora, is seeking a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in the first half of 2011, according to The Australian Financial Review. The company, which has facilities at Greenacre and Prestons in Western Sydney, has granted Macquarie Capital the mandate to advise on an ideal public offering that could see the company valued at between $700 million and $800 million.

Smith joins Baskin Robbins
Ian Smith, formerly group chief executive for Gloria Jean's Coffees International based, in Castle Hill, has joined Baskin Robbins, the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, where he will oversee operations, marketing, supply chain, training and business development activity in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, he will be focused on building franchisee relationships and working with them to grow the brand's presence in the market.

Legal firm takeover completed
Listed law firm Slater & Gordon Ltd says it has completed its $35 million acquisition of personal injuries litigant Keddies Lawyers, an exclusive personal injuries litigant, with an office in Liverpool. It has branches also in Redfern, Ashfield, Wollongong and Brisbane.Slater & Gordon announced the acquisition in October last year, subject to due diligence, and on Tuesday confirmed the takeover had been completed.

Region - Residential property values
Data from the NSW Valuer-General’s Department shows suburbs in Sydney’s heavily indebted mortgage belt, such as Penrith, Campbelltown and Blacktown, have emerged from the worst of the downturn, with medium property values unchanged following declines in recent years, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The data showed the medium value of residential property in Parramatta, in 2009-2010, at $319,000, a rise of 7.8 per cent. Parramatta City Council will use the data when assessing rate rises.

Old defence site plans
A mix of housing, commercial and recreational facilities is planned for the old defence site north of Penrith railway station. The concept plan for what’s been dubbed the North Penrith development - to be located between the station and Coreen Ave and developed by Landcom – is currently on exhibition. About 900-1000 dwellings are planned including Station Square centred around a public square with retail and commercial space. Landcom corporate marketing general manager, Robert Sullivan, said he hoped the approval process would move quickly to allow work to begin later this year.

Parramatta  Five-year tourism strategy
Parramatta City Council is expected to issue a five-year tourism action plan in the first quarter 2011, following an extensive market research, tourism planning and product development project funded by a federal government grant of $500,000. Council said in its 2009/10 annual report, published in December, that it produced a series of prospectuses to encourage potential tourism operators to establish in the city.

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