Region. UWS boosting indigenous emoloyment

The University of Western Sydney has launched an Indigenous Employment and Engagement Advisory Board to help boost employment and engagement opportunities for indigenous Australians. The board will provide valuable strategic advice and input into the University's employment and engagement initiatives. "The Greater Western Sydney Region has the highest number of Indigenous peoples of any region in Australia outside the Northern Territory, with the 2006 Census recording 25,699 Indigenous Australians living in this region," said Melissa Williams, director, UWS Indigenous Employment and Engagement. Census figures show that Indigenous Australians are two-and-a-half times more likely to be unemployed than non-Indigenous people.

Minchinbury. Aldi expands

Aldi, the German discount supermarket plans to invest $1 billion over the next three years, including $30 million on a quality control centre, at its Minchinbury headquarters, $340 million on two new warehouses, in Sydney and Melbourne and the balance on new stores, according to “The Australian Financial Review”. The company recently opened a 800-square-metre store in the Parramatta CBD and is planning one in Northmead.

Parramatta. Council seeks top executive

Parramatta City Council has advertised for a group manager, outcomes and development, following the controversial resignation of Illana Halliday. The position plays a key role in providing leadership to ther strategic planning and development assessment and transport planning “as it turns the 2025 agenda from vision to reality” The position is one of three executive staff reporting to council’s general manager and council.

North Ryde. Suburb 'forges ahead'

North Ryde continued to forge ahead in the provision of quality office space in spite of vacancy levels rising from 6.1 per cent to 8.7 per cent, in the six months to July 2008, according to Ken Morrison, NSW, executive director, of the Property Council of Australia. “Only three short years ago vacancy rates in North Ryde were in double digits. Today, North Ryde is a major economic growth zone, well supported by public transport and with the commercial zoning capacity to still double in size. What other business centres like Parramatta and North Sydney need to recognise is that North Ryde will experience continued growth, with 53,460 square metres of additional stock due this year and a further 39,700 square metres to be delivered in 2009. This equates to a further 14 per cent growth in less than 18 months,” he said. A-Grade vacancies increased from 4.6 per cent to 9.9 percent; B-Grade decreased from 7.8 per cent to 5.7 per cent; and C-Grade remained steady at 15.6 per cent