Parramatta. Opposition says no to legislation

The NSW Opposition has voted against legislation the Rees government introduced enabling Parramatta City Council to compulsory acquire several properties in its bid to proceed with the $1.4 billion Civic Place project. The legislation will be considered by the Upper House, where the Opposition holds the balance of power.

Parramatta. Report on council's wages bill

Council has been requested by Cr Andrew Wilson, to prepare a report on council’s wage system, specifically to a) explain and detail the unsustainable growth in council’s wages and salaries bill, by paying particular attention to growth in real wages and salaries relative to CPI and national averages, b) total wages and salaries as a percentage of total revenue and total operating costs, and c) seek solutions to ensure future balanced budgets and minimise any need for redundancies.

Parramatta. Cafe de Wheels for CBD

Council has approved a DA for the installation of a mobile food van for use as a Harry’s Café de Wheels diner, with associated outdoor seating, within part of council’s Fennel Street Carpark, on Church Street, North Parramatta.

Kellyville. House wins architecture prize

In an encouraging sign for the mass housing market in NSW, The Logic, at Homeworld, Kellyville, by Environa Studio, in Surry Hills, won a Special Jury Prize, at the Australian of Architects, NSW Architecture Awards The citation said the house represented “an initiative to offer a better compromise to project-home buyers between cost per square metre and good and more sustainable design … the jury was enthused by the potential of this approach to deliver better designed and more sustainable homes to the broader market”.

Mt Druitt. Property sold within a week

Borg Group Pty Ltd has paid $1.1 million for a 1600-square-metre, free-standing office/warehouse, in Mt Druitt, from Trade Facilities Pty Ltd, within a week of the property being listed. “This sale again demonstrates the strong level of demand from owner-occupiers looking to take advantage of the perceived slowdown in the industrial property market, with particularly strong activity in the sub-$10 million price bracket,” said Greg Pike, of CB Richard Ellis, The Australian Financial Review reported

Parramatta. DA approved for relocation

Council has approved an application by Parramatta Scrap Metal to relocate from rented premises, at 12 North Rocks Road, North Parramatta, to a 695-square-metre site, at 21 Daking Street, North Parramatta, currently occupied by Aus-Audio Warehouse. The proposal sought a change of use to a metal recycling facility with a capacity for recycling up to 15 tonnes of non-ferrous metal products. The facility would employ six people.