Liverpool. Shopping centre gets the go-ahead

Liverpool City Council has approved a 225-stall weekend retail market on the same site as the infamous Orange Grove factory outlet, which was closed down, in 2004, after the Supreme Court deemed it was wrongly approved by council, according to The Daily Telegraph. Nabil Gazal and his architect partner, Frank Mosca, have been given the green light to re-open in March under a State Government rezoning.

Camden. Gas explorer recommends $171m bid

Sydney Gas Ltd, coal seam gas explorer at Camden, said shareholders were unlikely to achieve a better return on their investment than the $171 million AGL Energy Ltd takeover offer, given the company's future capital requirements. The company said without the support of major shareholders it would unlikely obtain commercial underwriting of any capital raising in the current economic climate. Sydney Gas said proceeding with a rights issue without a commercial underwriting of the $60 million required over the next three years would require the support of major shareholders and would likely lead to a change of control without a premium bid. The company has recommended the all-cash bid of 42.5 cents per share from AGL Energy.

Parramatta. Myer and hospital join forces

The Myer store in Parramatta is the first of the company’s four Sydney outlets to trial a service where customers can have breast screening clinics in the lingerie departments. The mammograms taken in the Sunflower Clinic are then transmitted in seconds to the NSW Breast Cancer Institute (BCI), at Westmead Hospital, where they are read by doctors. The clinic is fitted out with the latest advanced digital screening equipment and improve the speed with which women receive their results. . Myer Parramatta will be the pilot store for the program, and if successful, the clinics could be rolled out at Myer’s stores in Castle Hill, Blacktown and Penrith “This is a breakthrough for Australian women, especially in Western Sydney, and the company is so proud of its involvement in this initiative,” said Myer NSW spokesperson.

Rhodes. Pagemasters to double business

The Australian Associated Press (AAP), based at Rhodes, expects to double the business of its newspaper production company, Pagemasters, over the next two to three years. “Clearly with all the pressures that newspapers are under, we are getting inquiries from publishers all over the world. There is a tremendous upside to the Pagemasters business,” said CEO, Clive Marshall, in The Sydney Morning Herald. The unit makes up close to 20 per cent of AAP’s more than $60 million in annual revenues.

Penrith. EOIs in newspaper business

PKF Chartered Accountants is seeking expressions of interest for the sale of The Western Week-Ender, which has been in operation since 1991. The business distributes 55,000 copies in the Penrith and surrounding areas, and a smaller publication is delivered to approximately 14,000 households in the Hawkesbury area.
The business also publishes and distributes a bi-monthly magazine, The Australian Acreage & Property Review. EOIs close on January 23.

Castle Hill. Gloria Jeans goes to China

Gloria Jeans International, based in Castle Hill, has announced its first move into China with the appointment of master franchise partner, Dash Brands. The first store should open in Shanghai by mid-2009, with the Beijing coffee house operational before the Chinese new year in 2010.