Parramatta. Small business needs studied

Parramatta City Council has initiated a report on the needs of the small business sector in the local government area (LGA). It is anticipated to be finalised later this year. The council publication, Business News, notes that approximately 30 per cent of small businesses are in the property and business services sector, followed by the construction industry sector. ABS figures show that small businesses with less than 19 employees make up over 95 per cent of all business in the LGA Well over half of these businesses do not employ staff.

Penrith. Centro Nepean on the market

The Centro Nepean shopping centre, in Penrith, is for sale. The centre, with a total GLA of approximately 20,983 square metres, includes a Coles Supermarket, A Kmart and 50 specialty outlets, plus at-grade parking for 802 cars. Some 112,430 people are located in its primary trade area and an estimated 306,240 in its main trade area. Net income is approximately $7.5 million annually.

Eastern Creek. 4.5-star hotel opens

The 4.5-star, 104-room Chifley Eastern Creek hotel, at Eastern Creek International Raceway, at the junction of the M4 and M7 motorways, has opened. The property caters cater to people attending events as the raceway and to corporate guests associated with the increasing number of companies in the area. The hotel includes three conference and function rooms catering for up to 200 delegates, a business centre, indoor lap pool and gymnasium.

Parramatta. Venue closed - no laughing matter

The Comedy Store, in a first-floor venue, on the corner of Church and Phillip streets, in the heart of Parramatta’s restaurant precinct, has closed – after two weeks. Darren Sanders, co-director of a competitor, The Laughing Garage, said Parramatta was not big enough for two comedy venues. His business was originally located at the Comedy Store’s location, but when that property was sold and the Comedy Store moved in, he relocated down the road to Riverside Theatres, on the banks of the Parramatta River.

Region. Potential economic corridor to the west

The Department of Planning has identified a potential economic corridor from Macquarie Park, westwards through Sydney Olympic Park-Rhodes, to Parramatta and Westmead, which contains a series of strategic employment locations, such as Macquarie Park and Parramatta. These are expected to grow significantly over the next 30 years. The corridor could assist expansion of higher skilled jobs towards Western Sydney, complementing the existing Global Economic Corridor, which extends from Macquarie Park, the through the Sydney CBD to Sydney Airport-Port Botany.

Parramatta. 'Thought leader' is key speaker

Paul Harmon, regarded as one of the global thought leaders in Business Process Management (BPM), according to the University of Western Sydney, will be the keynote speaker, at an Executive Breakfast Briefing. BPM helps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of an organisation by bringing the full operational picture of the business into view and using software and systems to automate business processes. Mr Harmon is co-founder and executive editor at BPTrends USA. The breakfast will be held at the UWS Parramatta campus, on August 13, from 7-30am to 9.30am. For information or to register visit: http://bpes.uws.edu.au/bpmebb/

Rydalmere. Thales in transfer of technology

Thales Underwater Systems, at Rydalmere, has benefited from a significant transfer of technology from France to Australia, from a contract with EuroTorp Pty (the Australian subsidiary of EuroTorp GEIE) and French company, DCNS, to locally assemble DCNS-designed battery sections for integration into EuroTorp MU90 torpedoes, to be supplied to the Australian Defence Force. Also, Rydalmere will assemble the MU90 homing head. The torpedo has been successfully test fired from HMAS Toowoomba. Thales Underwater Systems is part of Thales Australia, the local arm of the French defence aerospace giant.

Parramatta. DVD to 'enhance' city's profile

Parramatta City Council has engaged a film crew to produce a DVD designed to enhance Parramatta’s profile to potential businesses, investors and employees. “After some industry roundtables with council, it was identified that there was a need to promote Parramatta externally,” a council spokesperson said. “The DVD compliments the marketing the city brochure, with potential users being local recruitment and HR firms, real estate companies, Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, WSBC (Western Sydney Business Connection), as well as within council, for example.” The DVD is expected to be completed by the end of the year.