Parramatta. Lowest number of DAs received

Parramatta City Council received 1092 development applications in 2008/09, the lowest number received over a four-year period. In the financial year, the number of DAs decreased from 316, in the September quarter 2008, to 248 in the June quarter 2009. The June quarter 2008 totalled 304 DAs.

St Marys. Turn now for Dunheved Estate

Now that the State Government has given the go-ahead for the $80 million Erskine Park Link Road, Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO, Jill Woods, hopes Dunheved Business Park will be the next priority project. Planning Minister Kristina Keneally pledged support for the area when she attended a chamber lunch in May. “We've advised the Planning Minister how thrilled we were with link road and are now moving to develop our relationship with the Department of Planning. We want the right outcome for the Dunheved area,” Ms Woods said in the Penrith Star.

Erskine Park. Govt 'will tax it to death'

None of the promised 18,500 jobs would be delivered if the NSW Government imposed a $180,000 infrastructure charge on each hectare of developable land in the rezoned 800 hectares near the M7/M4 intersection. The Property Council's NSW executive director, Ken Morrison said in the Penrith Star: “While it's good to see this land rezoned the Government will tax it to death.” CSR's group property manager Andrew Mackenzie said the $80 million M7 link would be a boost for local businesses but he feared the charges could discourage development. The rezoning was part of the M7 link road package which Penrith Council and local businesses warmly welcomed.

Bankstown. Release of draft master plans

Sydney Metro Airports will release for public review the Preliminary Draft Master Plans for Bankstown and Camden Airports, in September, said CEO, Kim Ellis. During a 60-day consultation period the community and airport users will be able to make submissions and these will then be used by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport when he considers approval of the plans and strategies, in March 2010.