Region. Rent rises in outer and middle-rings

The NSW Department of Housing Rent and Sales report showed median weekly rents on rental properties in the middle ring (which includes Parramatta) and the outer ring (which includes the Blue Mountains) saw an increase of $10 over the quarter to $360 and $300 respectively. Parramatta is a rental hot spot for two-bedroom separate houses, with an annual rent rise of 19.6 per cent.

Camden. Making waste work

WSN Environmental Solutions’ $50 million Macarthur Resource Recovery Park opens this month, at its existing Jacks Gully site. It was built as a result of Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee councils entering into a 15-year resource recovery contract with the company. Up to 50 jobs were created during the construction phase, and 40 workers will be employed daily. Elsewhere, the company’s landfill at Marsden Park continues to contribute to renewable energy generation three years after its closure.. The site incorporates a 1.25 Megawatt gas engine power station, owned and operated by International Clean Energy Company exports enough green electricity to the NSW Energy Grid to supply over 1,000 homes with year-round clean power. WSN is based at Rhodes.

Parramatta. Looking for work closer to home?

Packed trains and buses and the cost of petrol are some of the issues tempting commuters to look to work closer to home. Parramatta City Council has come up with The My New Work City website (www.mynewworkcity.com.au), a portal with detailed profiles of industries, companies and recruitment agencies that exist within Parramatta, along with a Seek-driven search function to find jobs in the area. The project has been under development since January by council’s economic development team. Council said the partnership with online resource Seek is a first of its kind for local government and is a value-add for job seekers. The website is supported with extensive marketing including billboards along the main transport routes, like the M4 and at Town Hall station, along with other online mediums, councils said.