Hawkesbury. Food production conference

Speakers from the farming, food distribution and retail industries will join experts in sustainable agriculture for a close examination of the Sydney agricultural landscape, at conference, at the University of Western Sydney's Hawkesbury campus, on September 24. Professor Phillip O'Neill, director, of the UWS Urban Research Centre, said Sydney would provide an excellent case study. "There's an urgent need to balance the demands of new land releases for housing with the need to maintain a permanent supply of suitable land for food production," he said. Other speakers include Professor Bill Bellotti, Vincent Fairfax Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development at UWS; Tristan Harris, Harris Farm Markets; Chris Davis, Commissioner of the National Water Commission; Andrew Hall, Director, Corporate and Public Affairs, Woolworths Ltd, and John Webster, Chief Executive Officer, Foodbank Australia

Auburn. $10 million Smart Village trial

Smart electricity and water metres will be installed in 1000 homes in Newington and Silverwater as part of a two-year, $10 million Smart Village trial, a partnership between Energy Australia and Sydney Water. The trial, which is expected to commence in February, is designed to demonstrate how intelligent networks will reduce bills and environmental impact. The trial is expected to save more than $400,00 from domestic energy and water bills over two years. Greenhouse gas emissions are also expected to fall by 2500 tonnes, The Australian Financial Review said.