Parramatta. Penalties for breaches

Parramatta City Council has inserted a new clause into its outdoor dining policy regarding the conduct of outdoor dining operations, which will be monitored for contraventions. Should the number of contraventions, or breaches, exceed two per annum, a renewal application from the operator will not be accepted for a period of three months, and the operator will be required to cease outdoor dining for that period. Council may also issue fines depending on the circumstances of the breach.

Region. Westlink M7 biggest earner gain

Toll road operator, Transurban, has reported the Westlink M7 showed the biggest earnings gain of the company’s seven motorways in Australia and overseas M7 traffic volume for the year ended 30 June 2009 was 43.7 million transactions, an increase of 4.5 per cent on the prior year, and toll revenue for the year was $160.2 million, an increase of 9.2 per cent on the previous year. Traffic volume on the M4 was 40.8 million transactions, an increase of 0.6 per cent on the prior year. Traffic volume on the M2 was 34.0 million transactions, an increase of 1.0 per cent on the prior year. Transurban and the NSW Government are currently in discussions regarding the widening of and adding additional ramps to the M2.

Liverpool. Rural suburbs miss out on funds

Rural projects in the Liverpool local government area will receive only $775,000, or 13 per cent, for rural projects in Liverpool City Council’s expenditure of $5.9 million on road, bridge, and footpath works across the LGA. The Department of Local Government recently approved a special 9 per cent rate increase for Liverpool, on top of a 3.5 per cent rise given to all councils in the state, taking the average rate rise to 12.5 per cent. Rural suburbs such as Bringelly, Greendale, Luddenham, Rossmore and Kemps Creek have a rate rise above 12.5 per cent because values in those suburbs did not drop as much as other parts of the council area.