Parramatta. Passengers to change trains

The first step in the State Government's proposal to convert to single-deck trains will be to terminate all western line services from Parramatta at Central Station, forcing 40,000 passengers to change trains twice a day to get to and from Town Hall and Wynyard stations. The NSW Treasury is working on an estimated cost of $2 million to convert just the western line from Parramatta to Central, The Sydney Morning Herald said.

Homebush Bay. Shareholders give OK

Shareholders of the Homebush Bay-based Dairy Farmers have endorsed the Japanese-owned National Foods' proposal to purchase the co-operative for $910 million. The merger, if formally agreed to on November 26, will create Australia's largest branded dairy business. Japanese brewer, Kerin, bought National Foods from food and beverage company, San Miguel, last year.

Region. Costs twice as much on fringe

Curtain University research shows the cost of infrastructure, transport, health and greenhouse gases for new housing in Sydney's fringe suburbs was worth $63 million for every 1000 new dwellings compared with $309 million for inner-city development. Fringe development contributed to the recent financial crash in car-dependent cities around the world, said Curtain University's Professor Peter Newman, in The Sydney Morning Herald.