Region. Housing market activity

The housing market in south-west Sydney has seen significant activity following a prolonged period of relatively no sales activity in new housing estate, said Curtis Field, national director, of site development, at Colliers International. “We expect the volume of activity for development sites to increase over 2009, ” he said. Mr Field and Fab Dalfonso, executive of industrial, in the Liverpool office, negotiated the sale of a 75-hectare parcel of land, at 1075 Camden Valley Way, for $11 million. “There has been interest from developers who have traditionally only dealt in the more pricey north-west markets, an indication that experienced developers are keen to get into affordable projects,” Mr Field said.

Parramatta. Deputy lord mayor resigns

Cr Paul Garrard will resign from his position as deputy lord mayor, effective April 27. He took this action, he said, based on the current failing economic and business environment, so as to better organise his business arrangements over the next 5-6 months in preparedness for his candidacy for the position of lord mayor, next September.

Parramatta. Free, 15-minute parking proposal

Council will consider the provision of free, 15-minute parking tickets in the core of the CBD on April 28. An analysis showed the highest demand for 15 minute or less parking was located around ATMs, banks, the post office and library which require short-stay parking. Forty meters are proposed to have 15-minute free ticket buttons installed in an area bounded by Marsden, Phillip, Smith and George streets, Civic Place, Darcy Street and meters located in Church Street between Argyle and Campbell streets

Region. Less than 20ks in 69 years

Professor Phillip O’Neill, director of the Parramatta-based UWS Urban Research Centre, said less than 20 kilometres of new railway had been built in Western Sydney since 1940 despite a fivefold increase in the population. He was commenting in the Sun-Herald on an article on Sydney’s inadequate rail system. He said Western Sydney was forced to rely on a mishmash of local roads and poorly designed bus services. Some 80 per cent of Western Sydney’s workers employed in the region travelled to work by car. Norwest Business Park had more than 90 per cent car dependency.