Parramatta. Raceway sold to local group

International Speedway Pty Ltd has sold the lease of Parramatta City Raceway, at Granville, to Sydney Speedway Pty Ltd. The new owners, Garry Rush, Rod Bowen, Dennis Loudoun, and Brett Morris, have made an undisclosed financial investment to secure the future of speedway. The owners are Western Sydney businessmen and have been involved in the sport for many years. International Speedway had operated the track for nine years.

Penrith. PVEDC to be 'peak' business group

The revamped Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation (PVEDC) aims to be the ‘peak’ business organisation to coordinate and leverage support for major job creation initiatives, in the region. A Deed, expiring in November 2011, has been signed between the PVEDC and Penrith City Council which makes provisions for funding the corporation to undertake a number of economic development functions and to work towards achieving specified job targets. The PVEDC strategic plan includes establishing it as a first port of call for development, and marketing the lifestyle, employment, business and investment opportunities in the city. The plan will be launched at a business function on December 3.

Moorebank. Reclaim buys a tyre facility

Reclaim Industries Limited, at Moorebank, has expanded its operations with the acquisition of the inventory and the majority of the plant and equipment associated with the former Renaza tyre processing facility, at Fairfield, for $621,000. The transaction has resulted in Reclaim securing a high quality car tyre processing facility capable of producing 2400 tonnes of rubber per annum, the company said. Reclaim is the only company in Australia focussed on receiving whole waste tyres, processing them and manufacturing products for a wide variety of uses. MD, John Crosby, said sales have increased substantially over the past three months, with revenue, at $1.35 million, already up 27 per cent from the disastrous 2009 financial year. Of the approximately 20 million waste tyres generated in Australia each year, about 10 per cent is currently recycled in Australia

Penrith. Call for funds for community TV

Penrith-based TVS CEO, Laurie Patton, secretary of the Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA) has called on the Federal Government to allocate a portion of Screen Australia funding to the producers of community television programs. This follows the recent announcement that community television stations are to be allocated digital spectrum for simulcasting in the period to December 2013 when analogue television transmissions will cease in the capital cities. ACTA has written to Arts Minister Peter Garrett pointing out the Community Television sector's ability to foster the development of new and innovative local content and to provide a training ground for new entrants to the screen industry.

Fairfield. Recycled-water plant on its way

Water Minister, Phil Costa, said a recycled-water plant upon completion, in Fairfield, would supply more than four billion litres of recycled water annually to industry in Sydney's west and inner west. The plant will take treated effluent from the Glenfield and Liverpool sewage treatment plants and further treat it for reuse by industry in cooling towers, irrigation and boilers. Companies including Shell, Visy Paper, Marubeni Australia Power Services and Rosehill Gardens Racecourse will use the water. The scheme will be the first in the country to distribute recycled water to industry in a built-up area. Mr Costa said construction would create up to 300 jobs over the next two years.

Liverpool. Hospital reaches new heights

A tree-topping ceremony has marked the height of the $390 million stage-two redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital. Upon completion of the project, the hospital will have 855 beds, 23 operating theatres, 60 intensive-care beds, a major ambulatory care centre, extra parking, new education facilities and a road and pedestrian bridge over the railway line to link the eastern and western campuses.

Moorebank. 'Largest' in the nation

Michael Deegan, infrastructure co-ordinator, with Infrastructure Australia, said the proposed Moorebank intermodal freight terminal would be the largest in the nation. He told a Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport luncheon the complex would include at least two rail spurs which would connect to the Southern Sydney Freight Line by a new bridge over the Georges River. He said the army's School of Military Engineering, which occupies the site, would not go to Puckapunyal, Victoria, but will most likely move to Holsworthy Barracks. Liverpool Council, GM, Phil Tolhurst, said in the Liverpool City Champion, that in spite of numerous inquiries the council had not much information on the project.

Holroyd. $30 million swim centre a possibility

Holroyd City Council has commenced a feasibility study into the possible construction of a $30 million aquatic centre, similar to that at Sydney Olympic Park, after receiving a damning report on the deteriorating financial position of its pools at Wentworthville, Merrylands and Guildford, which were losing almost $2 million a year, according to the Parramatta Sun.

Region. Assistance for expanding SMEs

Owners or operators of small and medium businesses in Western Sydney planning to create jobs by investing in expanding or diversifying their operations, may qualify for assistance through the Western Sydney Business Employment Fund. The Department of Industry & Investment NSW has a focus on businesses in manufacturing, ICT, creative industries, transport, logistics and storage, and the development of eco-friendly technologies. For details phone 8843 1100 or visit www.business.nsw.gov.au

Liverpool. Call for EOI in new car park

Liverpool City Council has called for expressions of interest in the demolition of the Northumberland Street car park and the construction of a multi-level public car park, with a minimum capacity of 600 spaces, in the Southern City Centre. Council says the city will experience rapid growth in the coming decades as the city “transforms from a traditional large suburban town to the metropolitan regional centre for south-west Sydney”.