Parramatta. Destination Parramatta campaign

Parramatta City Council is to launch a public transport campaign called, Destination Parramatta, in an effort to place pressure on the State Government to regard the city as a destination rather than a departure point. The campaign’s four transport priorities are funding of the West Metro, completion of the Chatswood to Parramatta rail link, creation of a RiverCat commuter service and support for commuter networks, with parking and bus connections into the Parramatta CBD, according to the Parramatta Sun..

Hawkesbury. Boost economy and employment

A festival to develop tourism in Sydney’s north-west could boost the local economy by an estimated $5.7 million in direct expenditure by visitors. Clr McLaren, president, of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), said a one-day ‘start-up’ festival to be held on March 13, next year, would lay the foundation for a three-day event in the Scheyville National Park every October long weekend. Clr McLaren said Western Sydney had unlimited tourism potential and the festival offered significant economic and employment opportunities in a local area. Organisers hoped the festival would attract up to 80,000 visitors over time.

Parramatta. Funding may restrict expansion

Parramatta Lord Mayor, Tony Issa, said council would find it “extremely difficult” to implement plans to extend the Loop bus service around the CBD. “The free shuttle bus service has proved so popular that council is keen to add a third bus and extend the route” but funding would be a problem, he said. The service had carried over 700,0000 passengers in its first year.