Region. Surge in university applications

UWS, like other universities, is experiencing a surge applications, reflecting a growing number of mature-aged applicants returning to education. A strong demand exists for business and commerce, policing, psychology and nursing – more than 1000 first preferences were received for its bachelor of nursing. New combined degrees such as the bachelor of arts/master of primary teaching and bachelor of health science/master of physiotheraphy have received 500 and 300 first preferences respectively. The bachelor of medicine/bachelor of surgery received more than 600 first preferences,according to The Australian Financial Review.

North Ryde. Uni foundation launched

The Macquarie University Foundation has been officially launched paving the way for a new era of philanthropy to support education for the benefit of the wider community. The role of the foundation board is to implement a strategy for campus fundraising built on developing strong relationships with alumni and supporters, and effectively communicating what the University stands for and hopes to achieve.More broadly, its aim is to create new revenue streams at the university to help realise Macquarie's vision to achieve excellence in teaching and research, and support equity-based scholarships. The foundation's honorary chair, Dr Maurice Newman, the former Chancellor of Macquarie and chair of the Australian Securities Exchange, and current chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Bidwill. $30 million tree planting program

NSW Minister for Housing, David Borger, launched the $30-million, Green Street, tree planting and landscaping program, at Bidwill, in Western Sydney. Mr Borger said there was a need to green-up social housing estates, especially those inland where the summer heat often makes local streets unbearable. “Studies have shown that canopies of trees can cool street temperatures by as much as 8 degrees and that’s obviously going to be a big positive for our tenants,” he said.

Minto. Government saves 40 jobs

NSW Treasurer and Minister for State Development, Eric Roozendaal, has saved 40 jobs after the Government secured the assets sale of Minto food company Quality Ingredients. Mr Roozendaal said Quality Ingredients was in receivership and faced an uncertain future but has now been purchased by Wetherill Park-based company, New Food Coatings. Workers have accepted offers to move across to New Food Coatings early next year. The Government stepped in to broker the deal as it was feared the Quality Ingredients business would move interstate resulting in the loss of local jobs. Mr Roozendaal said NSW’s processed food and beverage sector is the State's largest manufacturing industry and an important employer with over a fifth of the State’s manufacturing workforce. “In 2006-07, this industry turned over about 20 per cent of NSW’s total manufacturing output,” he said.

Region. Handing down of transport plan

The State Government is due to hand down its ambitious 25-year transport blueprint this week, outlining a priority list of at least 10 road and rail projects valued at more than $50 billion, along with controversial options such as a congestion tax.But the list of projects - believed to include the $10 billion M4 East, the $4 billion M5 tunnel duplication, the F6 extension, the F3 to Sydney Orbital, and metro networks - faces a massive funding problem. The Government's ability to borrow to fill the gap is severely restricted because of the need to finance its ever-increasing budget deficit, and several of these projects are not suitable for private sector investment, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.