Parramatta. Council plans to acquire properties

Parramatta City Council has budgeted $4,020,000, in its draft management plan 2009/10, for the acquisition of “high-priority properties for the purposes of pedestrian and vehicular connection” in the CBD. Council will also facilitate the creation of key sites for business and the community in the CBD, such as, managing long-term redevelopment options for Riverbank (a block including the former David Jones site) and the Horwood Place block

Parramatta. Council 'welcomes' decision

Parramatta City Council has “welcomed” the NSW Government’s decision to clarify the intention of the Lands Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act, which“ fixes an anomaly so that we are able to acquire land adjacent to council-owned land for an overall public purpose,” said council CEO, Dr Robert Lang.. “The State Government recognises it is vital we deliver this ‘Federation Square’ for the people of Parramatta and Western Sydney.” Earlier, the High Court ruled that council could not compulsory acquire properties in Darcy Street and Church Street for its proposed $1.4 billion Civic Place redevelopment.

Region. UWS 'considers' engineering course

The University of Western Sydney was considering expanding its academic offerings to run a course in mechanical engineering, to meet demand, said the Minister for Western Sydney, at the launch of the 2009 Western Sydney Manufacturing Week. He said this would complement its robotic and mechatronic engineering course which has a heavy emphasis on automation and control.

Parramatta. State Ferries may yet be sold

Premier Nathan Rees has denied an earlier newspaper report that the Government was set to continue running State Ferries, saying the service could be privatised by the end of the year. An independent report in 2007, by Brett Walker SC, which recommended the sale of the service to the private sector, also recommended the cessation of the Circular Quay-Parramatta RiverCat run.