Region. Funds for projects in state budget

The NSW Budget allocates $186 million to build a bus interchange at Glenfield station and train storage sheds at Auburn as part of “stage one” of the south-west rail link. Some 7000 parking spaces will be created, at a cost of $171 million, at Katoomba, Emu Plains, Penrith, Seven Hills, in Western Sydney, and at Woy Woy, Tuggerah, Ourimbah, Wyong, Helensburgh and Waterfall. Some $132 million has been allocated to the Great Western Highway. The Government will also spend $108.7 million on a feasibility study for a possible rail link between Central and Westmead, although this includes $91 million announced in the Federal Budget, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Region. Super agency a 'golden' opportunity

Western Sydney councils have welcomed the creation of the super-agency, NSW Transport and Infrastructure, as a promising decision by Premier Nathan Rees “We believe it is a golden opportunity to start thinking and planning on a ‘whole of service’ approach,” said Clr Alison McLaren, President, of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC).“We stand ready at any time to offer our assistance in any such planning”. Clr McLaren said WSROC had been lobbying for some 30 years, with limited success, for better roads and public transport. She said it was only in recent decades that residents had been able to use a “very underdeveloped” road and public transport system to travel across the region to shop, go to work and to enjoy social and sporting occasions. “It is a question of equity,” she said.

Region. School of medicine head appointed

Professor Alison Jones has been appointed dean-elect of the UWS School of Medicine and will take up the role as dean at the end of September this year. Professor Jones joins UWS from the University of Newcastle, where she is currently professor of medicine and clinical toxicology within the school of medicine and public health. She is an internationally recognised leader and educator in clinical toxicology and an active clinician.