Blacktown. EOIs called for Warrick Lane

Blacktown City Council has called for expressions of interest for the redevelopment of the Warrick Lane site in the CBD. The site comprises an area of approximately 3.36 hectares and straddles the main western railway adjoining the Blacktown City Centre and the railway station. As an option, council is also offering the opportunity for the redevelopment of the current council chambers and Civic Centre precinct on the basis of provision of a new Civic Centre and community facilities, either on the current site and/or an alternative site. The area of the Civic centre is 1.3 hectares. EOIs close on August 27.

Parramatta. Feeding Sydney research project

The Parramatta-based UWS Urban Research Centre (URC) is concerned about the future of produce production in the Sydney basin will undertake a long-term, interdisciplinary project designed to deliver the research needed to address this and other food supply issues. “The time has come to re-examine the wisdom of sacrificing agricultural lands adjacent to our cities to new residential sub-divisions. These lands may well be critical in the delivery of sustainability, quality of life and health outcomes in the decades ahead,” said Professor Phillip O’Neill, URC director. The centre said the Sydney basin produced in 2001 an estimated $1 billion worth of agricultural output, and supplied over 80 per cent of Sydney’s total perishable vegetable requirements.

Eastern Creek. $93 million proposal

The Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) has revealed a $93 million “Supercircuit” plan for the Eastern Creek International Raceway, in a bid to host Australia’s first Formula One Grand Prix under lights. The $350,000 report, commissioned by the club, said the new facility could be built within two years, using more than 70 per cent of the existing circuit. “It will be a spectacular sight in a natural environment,” said Clive Bowen, of the British company, Apex Design, which drew up the plans. The ARDC, which commenced racing in Parramatta Park in 1952, leased Eastern Creek from the NSW Government.

Region. High-speed rail link to Penrith 'killed'

A $2 billion proposal put forward by a private consortium, Western FastRail, of a high-speed rail link from the Sydney CBD to Penrith has been “killed” by the NSW Government’s transport co-ordinator, Professor David Richmond, according to The Daily Telegraph. A Penrith Council report said the Ministry of Transport was looking at the feasibility of a West Metro underground link between Sydney and Parramatta but not extending it above ground to Penrith. The paper understands that Professor Richmond opposes the extension as it relies on the outdated CityRail network. The link could halve travel times for up to one million residents west of Parramatta. The paper editorialises: “Instead of coming up with reasons why a fast train to Penrith can’t work, the Government should be examining ways to make it work

Region. UWS calls for more education funding

ABS figures from the 2006 census show only 3.2 per cent of the Greater Western Sydney population are attending university, compared with 5.3 per cent of the population in the rest of Sydney. "For almost 20 years, UWS has been instrumental in opening up higher education opportunities for people who have traditionally been denied a university education," said vice-chancellor, Professor Janice Reid. UWS is one of Australia's largest universities, with 52 per cent of its students being the first in their families to attend university, and two thirds coming from Greater Western Sydney. UWS has called on the Federal Government to significantly increase higher education funding in order to lift the participation rate of people undertaking university study.