Penrith. No to being 'consumed'

Penrith City Council does not want the city to be “consumed” by the expanding metropolitan area but to “stand as a distinguished place”, according to a council report on the preparation of the 2009+ Strategic Plan, currently underway. Council said it would maintain its strong relationship with the business sector and other stakeholders in its aim to “lift the bar” in its preparation of the new strategic plan, which is expected to be approved by council in December and placed on public exhibition in February 2009.

Sydney Olympic Park. Supercar decison soon

A NSW Government decision on turning the Sydney Olympic Park precinct into a V8 Supercar street racing circuit is expected by the end of the week, according to V8 Supercar boss, Tony Cochrane. He said the event would not return to Eastern Creek if the decision was negative, and Oran Park closes next year.

Region. WSROC seeks new executive director

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) seeks a new executive director, following the resignation of Alex Gooding., at a salary up to $147,500 including a vehicle and superannuation. WSROC, which represents 11 local government Authorities in Western Sydney, is an advocate for regional issues before NSW and federal governments.

Rouse Hill. Town centre wins two major awards

GPT Group’s $470 million Rouse Hill Town Centre has won two major awards, one for the environment and one for urban design, namely, the People’s Choice prize at the 2008 Banksia Awards, and the Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, at the NSW Architecture Awards. The jury for the architecture awards said the Rouse Hill Town Centre was a new model for town-centre development in NSW. The project, in which Landcom and Lend Lease were also involved, was designed by Rise Daubney, Allen Jack & Cottier and Group GSA in association with Civitas Urban Design and Planning.

Sydney Olympic Park. Bidders for Dairy Farmers

Three rival bidders are in the race to acquire control of Dairy Farmers, based at Sydney Olympic Park, for a sale price of as much as $900 million. The bidders are Canada’s Saputo, a consortium of Italy’s Parmalat and Victorian co-operative Murray Goulburn and National Foods and Cheese and Butter in Victoria. The bidders have to gain clearance from the ACCC and the deal needs the approval of Dairy Farmers 2000 farmer-shareholders, according to The Australian Financial Review.