Parramatta. UWS students release findings

Third-year economics students, at the University of Western Sydney, will make presentations on four topics, at the Parramatta campus, on Friday, May 29, as part of projects for Parramatta City Council. The topics are: Visitor accommodation availability in the Parramatta local government area; the economic contribution of the café and restaurant sector to the Parramatta economy; the economic impact of the proposed carbon trading scheme on Parramatta businesses; and industry clusters located in the Parramatta local government area.

Bankstown. Development sites at airport

Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown has released four development sites “available to be customised to a tenant’s requirements in both landside and airside locations,” said CEO, Kim Ellis. “We have continued interest in our property business, coupled with a stable tenant base and strong tenant retention; we are well placed to manoeuvre the wider economic downturn.” Mr Ellis said the airport was and “exceptional business location with a thriving business park as well as operating one of Australia’s premier general aviation airports. “Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown is a major centre of economic activity generating employment for 6000 people, it makes a significant contribution to the local economy,” he said..

Parramatta. Company dropped from bidding

Following the resignation of Jim Glasson from his position as director-general of the Ministry of Transport to become CEO, of the Parramatta-based ComfortDelGro transport company, that company has been dropped as a bidder for Sydney Ferries. Transdev TSL and Veolia will be asked to bid for the service. A decision on privatising the loss-making service is expected at years-end. ComfortDelGro’s business includes the Westbus and Hillbus services.

Rosehill. 'Things are tough' at the STC

The Sydney Turf Club, facing a loss of $3.8 million, aims to cut its wages bill by 3 per cent. By asking employees to work four days instead of five and taking other steps, the STC “will save around $500,000 a year”, club chairman, Bill Picken, said in The Sydney Morning Herald. “Things are tough”. The loss would be the first result in the red in 70 years of operation. The STC employs about 120 full-time and 800 casual workers.

Region. Hospital service $43.7m in debt

The Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS), which runs hospitals at Westmead, Penrith, the Blue Mountains, among others in the region, owes $43.7 million in invoices unpaid for at least 30 days. This included $14.6 million invoiced 90 days or more, according to figures obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, not run by the SWAHS, owes 41.7 million. All figures are as at the end of April 2009.