Parramatta. Masters Games in Parramatta

More than 3000 room nights have been booked in Parramatta hotels to accommodate competitors and their families attending The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games, in October. Some 25,000 competitors are expected to attend the 8-day spectacle contributing close to $60 million to the NSW economy, said Tourism Minister, Jodi McKay. Three events will be held in Parramatta. More than 10,000 room nights have been booked in Western Sydney.

Parramatta. Sydney Water pays $8.9m rent

Sydney Water will pay rent of $389 a square metre, or $8.9 million a year, for 23,000-square-metre head office, on the corner of Smith and Darcy streets, in the Parramatta CBD. The utility sold its former HO, in the Sydney CBD, for $140 million, two years ago.

Castle Hill. 'On track' for coffee sales

Keith Brown, CEO, of Gloria Jean’s Coffees, at Castle Hill, Australia’s largest coffee retailer, with 489 stores, aims for year-on-year sales growth of 6-10 per cent. “Things are a bit more volatile right now, but we are on track with that growth,” he said in an Australian Financial Review article on the effect of the economy on cioffee shops and cafes.

Macquarie Park. AJ Lucas revenue up 43%

Infrastructure and engineering firm, AJ Lucas, at Macquarie Park, boosted revenue by 43 per cent, in the first half of the 2008-09 financial year. Net profit after tax was up 1,9 per cent to $160.3 million. Company CEO, Allan Campbell, said the strong first half result reflected the company's strategic positioning in providing services to the energy and water sectors, which were experiencing growth despite the downturn in economic activity as a whole