Region. Top four in the west

The top four LGAs in the Sydney metropolitan area to experience population growth, according to ABS figures in the year to June 2008, were all in Greater Western Sydney: Blacktown, 5300 (1.9 per cent); Parramatta 4000 (2.5 per cent; The Hills 3300 (2.0 per cent); and Liverpool 3200 (1.9 percent). As for the region, population growth has accelerated in Greater Western Sydney over the 12 months to June 2008 with over 54 per cent of Sydney’s growth, compared to just under half of total growth in the five-year period to 2008, according to Alex Gooding, of.Gooding Davies Consultancy, at Lawson

Region. Urgent meeting on planning panels

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has called for an urgent meeting of planning directors of the region’s 11 councils, before the NSW Government’s Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPP) come into effect on July 1. “The stripping away of councils’ basic planning authority by expanding the powers of these panels, is not on,” said WSROC president, Clr Alison McLaren.“The panels take away the power of the elected people to represent their constituents in major development issues”. She said the JRPPs could make the planning system more costly, time consuming and confusing.

Parramatta. Hotel sale likely

The 181-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel, in the Parramatta CBD, is close to being sold for a likely $19 million, according to The Australian.. The hotel was one of three jointly owned by the failed New Zealand financier, Bridgecorp. The receiver is Korda Mentha, which sold Marriott hotels at North Ryde and Surfers Paradise, for $70 million.

North Ryde. Top incentives in business park

Australia’s largest incentives for rents in business parks are at Macquarie Park at a time when landlords are offering attractive deals in the Sydney CBD. Incentives at Macquarie Park are typically at 30 per cent and in some instances as high as 40 per cent. The Australian newspaper said some analysts noted the incentives were high because landlords overestimated the popularity of the location and the asking rents were initially too high.

North Ride. Watpac wins $80 million contract

Brisbane-based property group Watpac Limited has been awarded the $80 million contract to construct the new global headquarters and manufacturing facility for Australian hearing implant specialist, Cochlear, in the emerging hearing precinct, at Macquarie University. The project involves the construction of a six-storey building of approximately 24,000 square metres net in close collaboration with Cochlear to meet its unique requirements. Work is underway with the project due for completion in late 2010.

St Marys. Rondo to relocate

Rondo, a building supplier company jointly owned by CSR and Boral, plans to relocate to a purpose-built facility, at Erskine Park, in December. It has sold its 32,000-square-metre complex, in Glossop Street, St Marys, to an undisclosed developer and potential owner-occupier, for $7.5 million. According to Jones Lang LaSalle, the purchaser is considering uses including leasing the two buildings on the site or demolishing both to create about 10,000 square metres of hardstand

Chester Hill. Fantastic looking for öpportunities

“Opportunities may arise in the short-term to medium-term to expand through acquisitions. The funds raised will enable us to act quickly and decisively should appropriate opportunities arise,” said Julian Tertine. MD, .of budget furniture chain Fantastic Holdings, after the company completed a $9.7 million placement of 4.23 million shares to institutional investors, and plans to raise another $2.6 million by issuing 1.12 million shares to directors, subject to shareholder approval.

Yennora. Emissions trading could cause closure

Australia's largest aluminium recycler, Alcoa, has warned 600 jobs could go in its rolled products factories, at Yennora and Geelong, if the Federal Government did not make further changes to its emissions trading scheme. In a submission to a Senate inquiry, the company said it did not believe it would be eligible for the Government's industry assistance, even though most of its business involves exporting to China and South East Asia. Yennora is home to Australia’s largest aluminium recycling facility.