Parramatta. $2.2m water project in CBD

Sydney Water has commenced a $2.2 million project to lay 1.3 kilometres of new water pipes in the Parramatta city centre to meet demand. “The work will be undertaken in seven stages around the CBD starting in Smith and Church Streets, then moving along to Macquarie, Station, Parkes, Fitzwilliam and Valentine streets,” Parramatta MP Tanya Gadiel said. “It is estimated the number of residents and office staff living and working around the city centre will grow by 10,000 by 2011. Ms Gadiel said this number would include 1400 Sydney Water staff which would move into its new head office, on the corner of Smith and Darcy streets, from April 2009.

Penrith. $60m state office block opened

The $60 million State Office Block, in Penrith, will open its doors this month. It will include state agencies including the Department of Community Services, the department of Fair Trading, Sydney Catchment Authority and the Office of the Hawkesbury/Nepean River. The eight-level building has been designed to achieve a four-star Australian Greenhouse Building rating. It will, also, have one of the highest energy efficiency ratings of any government office building in greater metropolitan Sydney.

Parramatta. $15.9m upgrade for UWS campus

The University of Western Sydney will use a grant of $15.9 million from the federal government’s Better Universities Renewal Fund to upgrade its Parramatta campus. The money will go towards capital and infrastructure upgrades to develop a student precinct, to refurbish the school of computing and mathematics and provide new teaching and postgraduate research laboratory space.

Region. DOP has focus on the west

The Department of Planning is looking at new technology jobs and business parks, as well as offices and retail employment in existing centres. “My department has until March 2009 to come back to me with an update on the draft subregional strategies, and plans for new jobs and new types of jobs for Western Sydney. The Western Sydney Hub, located at the intersection of the M4 and M7 motorways, is already turning into a major employment centre,” said the Minister for Planning Kristina Keneally.