Parramatta. Council wins management award

Council has won the 2008 Westpool Risk Management Excellence Award for its work reviewing procurement practices and benchmarking them against other organisations. “This award shows that Parramatta is committed to getting the best value for money for the ratepayer and honours the hard work of Council’s risk management team who spent twelve months tailoring a procurement process that is ideal for the city,” said Lord Mayor, Tony Issa.

Parramatta. Campaign among the top three

Council’s, Parramatta CBD – Take Another Look, campaign was judged as being among the top three marketing strategies, in Australia, at the 2008 Economic Development Awards. Council’s strategy was among the best to demonstrate a measurable increase in economic activity through effective marketing, from a total of 18 applicants in the category of Economic Development Marketing Award. The campaign’s objective was to attract senior managers into Parramatta to meet their local counterparts, and in turn spark greater interest in choosing Parramatta as a destination for future investment and business operations. The event was run by Economic Development Australia, the peak body for economic development in Australia.

Region. UWS wins $3.9m in research grants

The University of Western Sydney has received funding worth $3.9 million in the latest round of research grants announced by the Australian Research Council (ARC). A total of 18 projects received highly sought-after ARC Discovery and Linkage grants to tackle issues that are critical to the prosperity, health and educational future of the nation, UWS said The grants were awarded across the disciplines of business, urban environment, psychology, nursing and public health, engineering, education, computing and mathematics, and cultural research. "This result is a clear demonstration that UWS research ranks among the nation's best,” said Professor Andrew Cheetham, pro vice-chancellor (research).

Region. Woolworths new data storage facilities

Woolworths proposes to establish a data storage facilities in John Morphett Place, in the Erskine Park Employment Area and in the 'Raceway Precinct' at Eastern Creek. The proposed facilities would house computer systems and associated components and would be used by Woolworths to store data across all of its businesses

Region. Local firms win export awards

The following companies in Western Sydney won awards in the 2008 Premier’s NSW Export Awards: Innovation in Export Strategy – Ignite Corp, Silverwater; Emerging Exporter – Hot Rock Dining International, Buradoo; Small Business – Haltech Engine Management Systems, Wetherill Park; and Western Sydney Exporter – Gloria Jean’s International, Castle Hill.