Parramatta. Popularly elected lord mayor

Parramatta City Council’s new lord mayor, Clr Paul Garrard, an independent, has raised the issue of whether the city should have a popularly elected lord mayor. He seeks a debate on the issue.

Region. M4 and loss of revenue

The removal of the $2.75 toll on the 40-kilometre M4, in February, will result in an immediate increase in peak period congestion, according to The Australian Financial Review. Cars which previously avoided the toll would flock to the motorway said Evans & Peck consultants, which said the cash-strapped NSW Government would lose the opportunity to raise a significant amount of revenue to fund more road projects

Parramatta. Insolvencies to rise

Insolvency practitioners have predicted that small to medium size businesses will dominate the second wave of business failures despite signs of an economic recovery, according to The Australian Financial Review. Insolvency practitioner and chartered accountant, Schon Condon, of Condon Associates, in Parramatta, said a number of insolvency firms anticipated a significant increase in engagements last year, which did not eventuate. However, he expected that situation would change as higher interest rates bit in the next year or two.

Parramatta. Cancellation of RiverCats

The NSW Government is forking out $4 million to deliver a new peak-hour commuter ferry service to Parramatta despite admitting it will be riddled with cancellations because of tidal restrictions, according to The Daily Telegraph. More than 50 RiverCat runs are cancelled each month due to tidal restrictions. Sydney Ferries has already cancelled 54 Parramatta services for the month of October, blaming low tides. Angry private operators have blasted Premier Nathan Rees' decision to scrap a proposal to use smaller vessels to avoid problems caused by low tides, and opt instead for an "unviable and unreliable" RiverCat service. The government-run Sydney Ferries is now aiming to start up the new service by the end of the year, to deliver commuters during peak periods on express routes between the CBD and Parramatta. Adding to the farcical situation, Sydney Ferries is today releasing its own expression of interest document asking for private sector charter boats to run services along the river in a bid to free up its RiverCat for the Parramatta express.

Region. Gun violence statistics

Western Sydney recorded 203, or 71 per cent, of all gun violence incidents in the metropolitan area, in the period from July 2007 to June 2009. Eight local government areas (LGA), listed in the top 10 LGAs.by the Bureau of Crime Statistics were in Western Sydney: Fairfield, 34 incidents; Blacktown, 29; Bankstown, 25; Auburn, 24; Liverpool,20; Holroyd,17; Penrith,17; Parramatta, 15.

Region. PBL looking for a site in the west

PBL Media is expected to miss its deadline, announced a year ago, that it would build a printing and distribution centre in Western Sydney for its ACP Magazines division. The company is looking for suitable options for land and/or land and buildings The deadline is understood to be in late 2011, according to The Australian Financial Review. A senior printing executive claimed PBL Media would need to spend $150 million to $200 million to set up a printery that could handle ACP’s needs

North Ryde. Business journos for the CBD

SKY News, based in North Ryde will open a studio in Sydney as it prepares to launch local news services next month. Business journalists will be based in the new Sydney CBD studio, closer to the business community

Westmead. Dedicated language centre

The University of Western Sydney's UWSCollege, at Westmead, is launching the region's first dedicated English language testing centre in a move that will support Greater Western Sydney's migrant and refugee settlement programs and services for new arrivals. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Centre. It is an internationally accredited test for students who need to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language, and is recognised by education institutions, employers and government agencies. The centre caters for about 350 candidates a session. UWSCollege is a wholly owned entity of the University of Western Sydney, and offers academic pathways to the University, continuing education and professional development programs for Australian and International students.

Westmead. New research facility approved

The NSW Government has approved a $99 million redevelopment of the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), at Westmead. The redevelopment, over a 10-15 year period, would deliver a state-of-the-art medical research facility in a new building at the Westmead Hospital precinct. Some 125 full time construction jobs would be created in addition to up to 500 full time positions during operation. The proposal involved the staged demolition of the existing research building and construction of: a five-storey building Sir Lorimer Dods Professor and CMRI director, Roger Reddel, said the approval provided the opportunity for another 28 world-class research groups to be developed at the institute and expand Australia's research capacity and international reputation.

Region. Future founders on new formula

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) fears the future of the region would suffer if the Grants Commission’s proposed new formula for the distribution of GST revenue was implemented. “Western Sydney plays a significant role in the status of Sydney as Australia’s global city and to say we are puzzled with being overlooked for funding for massive public transport infrastructure is a understatement,” said WSROC president, Clr Alison McLaren. Western Sydney, which had the third largest economy in the nation contributing some 40 per cent of the overall Sydney total, had a population of 1.8 million representing some 43 per cent of Sydney’s population and was expected to accommodate an estimated 70 per cent of the growth in the metropolitan figure in coming decades.

Penrith. New office in city

MAS National, a not-for-profit Australian apprenticeships centre, presently covering the area from their Parramatta headquarters,is optimistic its new Penrith office will provide more opportunities for both employers and jobseekers. “We feel the time is right to establish a bigger presence in Penrith,” Sydney regional manager, Jenni May, said

Parramatta. Putt Putt wins lease

Parramatta City Council has authorised its strategic asset management unit to complete negotiations with Putt Putt West Ryde Pty Ltd for a further community lease, over the community land known as 661 Victoria Road, Melrose Park.

Parramatta. Council defers consideration

Parramatta City Council resolved to defer consideration of the latest economic development update, and a and a workshop be held on council’s economic development team. The workshop to include discussion on the announcement of funds received for tourism.

Sydney Olympic Park. Masterplan approved

The long term growth of Sydney Olympic Park is set with the release of the Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan 2030, under which the suburb will grow to include around 30,000 workers, 14,000 residents and 5000 students, while maintaining its major event capabilities and 430 hectares of parklands. “Master Plan 2030 builds on Sydney Olympic Park’s world-class sports, entertainment and recreation facilities and expands its rapidly growing business, education and hospitality activities with in excess of 1 million square metres of developable floor area,” said the Minister for Western Sydney, David Borger.