Over 27,000 people at Expo
THE Parramatta-based Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA), organisers of the Penrith Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo, reported that over 27,000 people attended the Penrith Expo over a weekend at the Penrith Panthers Exhibition Centre.
Cost of flooding
INFRASTRUCTURE NSW, in its 20-year strategy, has recommended the state government invest $500 million over five years in a flood mitigation plan for the Hawkesbury Nepean. A study has found that a flood similar to the one in some Queensland catchments in 2011 would cause $8 billion in damage. It would put 43,000 residents and 9000 employees of local businesses at risk, flood 14,000 homes above floor height and destroy 6500 homes.
Award for hotel
CROWNE Plaza Norwest has been judged the best mid-sized hotel in Australia for accommodation, by the Australian Hotels Association. A few months ago the hotel was crowned a winner at the Tourism Australia Accommodation Awards..
Passengers at RAAF
Base INFRASTRUCTURE NSW’s 20-year strategy suggests that with the growth of Western Sydney a case could be put for a passenger airport at the RAAF Base Richmond for a period while a new second Sydney airport was under development.
$219.2m project
THE Department of Planning and Infrastructure has on exhibition a concept plan for the construction of a six-stage mixed-use development comprising residential, retail and associated uses, on the former Panasonic suite, at 164 Station Street, Penrith. The plan seeks approval for: approximately 570 residential flat dwellings Total site area of 7.855 hectares. The capital investment value of the development proposed is $219.2 million.
New Masters store
PARKVIEW Penrith Pty Ltd propose to develop a 13,603-square-metre Masters Home Improvement store, Nepean Green, as part of a joint concept plan and stage 1 project on the former Panasonic site at 164 Station Street, Penrith. The store is expected to generate $35 turnover in its first year of trading.
Site for sale
THE Lighthouse Business Centre, at Eastern Creek, is for sale by private treaty. The 33.19-hectare industrial site, adjoining the M4 and M7 motorways, is available for immediate development.
CEO for economic entity
THE Blue Mountains City Council has advertised for a CEO, of the Blue Mountains Economic Entity, at a salary package around $130,000. The organisation was created to identify and pursue strategies to promote sustainable economic activities and stimulate investment to diversify, grow and strengthen the employment base of the Blue Mountains.
Ruth wins top award
RUTH Goldsmith, Penrith City Council’s group manager, leadership, has received one of this year’s six Australian Awards for Public Service Excellence, from the Australia-New Zealand School of Governance (ANZSOG) Institute for Governance.
Five rowing events
THE Sydney International Rowing Regatta, to be held on March 18-24, 2013, is expected to draw huge crowds to the International Regatta Centre at Penrith. The regatta will include first of next year’s Samsung World Rowing Cup regattas, the Australian Open Championships, the King’s Cup and Queen’s Cup Interstate Regatta and the Australian Open Schools Rowing Championships. The regatta is expected to attract entrants from rowing’s power base in Europe and North America and also the Asia-Pacific region.
EOI in council site
LIVERPOOL City Council will call for expressions of interest, again, for the sale, lease or community use of its former administration building site, a 1-3 Hoxton Park Road, which was destroyed by fire. An earlier application did not provide an acceptable financial return.
Air quality assessment
A SPOKESMAN for the proposed federal government’s intermodal terminal at Moorebank has rejected comments from Liverpool City Council general manager, Farooq Portelli, that the air quality assessment will not include "all potential pollution occurring from an intermodal facility".
NBN available next year
NBN Co community relations adviser, Ian Scott, told attendees at Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce event, that installation of the National Broadband Network would commence for businesses and residents in Liverpool between April and June, 2013.
Research showcase
THE Ingham Institute for Medical research will partner with Sydney South West Local Health District for this year's 7th Annual Research and Teaching Showcase event. An important event on the health calendar, this year's event is scheduled for Friday, November 30, 2012, at the Thomas and Rachel Moore Education Centre, Liverpool Hospital.
Relocation approved
THE federal government has approved the Moorebank Units Relocation project, which will result in the relocation of 13 army units and four defence facilities from Moorebank to Holsworthy, including the Australian Army's School of buildings, currently on the site of the proposed Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.
Lipman wins contract
THE Lipman Group has won the $80 million construction management contract for the infrastructure on the Village Roadshow’s $115 million Wet’n’Wild theme park, at Propsect.
Refining ceased
FOLLOWING the cessation of refining at Clyde, Shell is working through the DA process to decommission the refinery and remove redundant machinery and infrastructure. The refinery employed about 310 people but is expected to need only 50 to 60 workers once the conversion to a distribution terminal was completed. About 40 to 50 hectares of the site is expected to be freed for other uses once the terminal is in operation.
Building sold for $10.6m
ARGO Investments has sold to a private investor a four-storey B-grade office building, at 90 Phillip Street, in the Parramatta CBD, for $10.6 million. The 1370-square-metre building is on a 2940-square-metre site. The building is 70 per cent leased.
Renovation work for UNE
WORK has commenced on the renovation of the two-storey, heritage-listed building, formerly Parramatta’s first post office and latterly used as a restaurant, at 211-213 Church Street, for use by the University of New England as an information office and café.
Little to improve transport
THE Draft NSW Long Term Transport Masterplan offers little to improve transport links to Parramatta except bus improvements within the 20 years life of the plan, according to Parramatta City Council’s submission.
Cross-city bus service
PARRAMATTA City Council requests the state government considers cross-city bus services through Parramatta, in its submission on the Draft NSW Long Term Transport Masterplan. This would not only provide direct transport services for bus passengers to both Westmead and University of Western Sydney but to reduce the increasing pressure of more bus layover space in the Parramatta city centre.
Approval for $52.8m project
DEFENCE Housing Australia has been given the go-ahead for a $52.8 million development on the foreshore of the Parramatta River, at Ermington. It will feature 450 homes on a 16-hectare site. $17.3m for vacant site MERFAD Capital has paid Eureka Funds Management $17.3 million for a vacant site, at 111 George Street, in the Parramatta CBD. The site has approval for 265 apartments in twin 19-storey towers. The initial approval was for a 19-storey commercial building.
Property for sale
A PARTIALLY occupied property on the high-profile corner of Church and Parkes streets is for sale. All leases expire after March 2015. A proposed development of 386 apartments has been prepared on the 4778-square-metre site.
Bonds factory sold
PACIFIC Brands has sold its eight-hectare Bonds factory in Wentworthville for $27.5 million, which has the potential for up to 600 townhouses and apartments, subject to approval.
Top exporter for 2012
RØDE Microphones, at Silverwater has been named the 2012 NSW Exporter of the Year, at the 2012 Premier’s NSW Export Awards. With more than 20 years’ experience, RØDE has become a leading manufacturer of microphones and accessories, distributing it products to 97 countries. Exports comprise 92 per cent of sales. The company has 150 staff worldwide. The company was also presented with the Large Advanced Manufacturer Award
The Octagon for sale
EXPRESSIONS of interest have been called on The Octagon office building, which has frontages to Phillip and George streets, in the corporate precinct in the Parramatta CBD. The RTA, which contributes 86 per cent of rent, BankWest and Servcorp are among the tenants. About $8.3 million has been spent on refurbishment over the past four years.
