Homebush. Peregrine wins plaudits

Peregrine Semiconductor Australia, at Homebush, won the Products, Manufacturing Facilities and Processes Award in the Sydney division, of the 2008 Engineering Excellence Awards, for its UltraCMOS silicon-on-sapphire technology that can be used in any device that has to send and receive a signal. NASA, defence forces and companies such as Nokia, Motorola, Blackberry and Apple iPhone, use the product, which has landed on Mars twice and been to Saturn and Venus.

Blue Mountains. Hydro Majestic for sale

Jones Lang LaSalle has called for expressions of interest for the purchase of the Hydro majestic Hotel, in the Blue Mountains. The property, which has 84 rooms, restaurant and conference facilities, is offered with vacant possession, and has the potential to developed underutilised land.

Cobbitty. Lu Papi wins awards

Luciano Papi, the director of Lu Papi and Associates, a small engineering firm at Cobbitty, was winner of Welfare, Health and Safety; Innovations and Inventions and President’s Award, for the Freedom Wheelchair, which took three years to develop and is now patented worldwide. Mr Papi worked closely in the design process with the Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital, biomedical engineers, a Paralympian, as well as paraplegics and quadriplegics.

Bankstown. Expansion at airport

Development Bankstown Airport is creating new records and this activity is expected to continue well into next year. Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown has invested more than $3.5 million dollars to deliver a series of state-of-the-art hangars and facilities. Four of the five hangers have been leased, with three tenants from Hoxton Park Airport to relocate to Bankstown. The fourth business is a leading flight training school that has expanded its existing business at Bankstown. ”These new developments reinforce Bankstown Airport's role as one of Australia's premier aviation, aerospace and transport hubs,” said CEO, Kim Ellis.

Parramatta. Applications with council

Argos Investments Pty Ltd has lodged an application with Parramatta City Council for alterations and additions to the Commercial Hotel, on the corner of Hassall and Smith streets, Parramatta. The estimated cost of development is $4 million. Council has approved an application for an internal refurbishment of the Parramatta Leagues Club, in O’Connell Street, Parramatta, at an estimated cost of $780,000.