Eastern Creek. $37 million waste facility

The former 120-hectare Pioneer quarry, at Archbold Road, Eastern Creek, is to become a $37 million waste-recovery facility and tip, creating about 100 jobs. The Planning Department has approved the Light Horse Business Centre's development plan and will place it on public display early next year. When completed, the facility will process two million tonnes of building, demolition and green waste each year and will have room for up to 11 million cubic metres of non-putrescible landfill.

Region.Two hotels sold

The Royal Hotel, in Richmond, sold for $3.5 million, and the Ground Zero Hotel, in Liverpool, sold for $2.7 million in the past fortnight, according to selling agent, Jones Lang LaSalle While the hotel industry has been one of the hardest hit this year, sales of a further $45 million worth of assets under agreement are due to be completed over the next month.

Blue Mountains. 'Tourism tax' a no go

Blue Mountains City Council has ruled out introducing a new "tourism tax" only three weeks after possible plans for a day-tripper charge made tabloid headlines and caused a sensation on talkback radio. Council won’t even investigate plans for a tourism levy following a unanimous vote at a recent meeting. Although it ruled out pursuing a compulsory tourism charge, council will get a report about introducing a tourism donations scheme, according to The Blue Mountains Gazette.

Souht-West. Decline of vegetable farms

The development of the South West Growth Centre for housing would account for a large section of land currently devoted to growing vegetables, states a report released by the NSW Department of Industry and Investment. It found that of 1052 vegetable farms in the Sydney region, 420 were in the south-west release area. “Vegetable production competes for land with urban expansion, equestrian pursuits, sporting activities, hobby farmers, life-stylers as well as other rural activities,” the report said.
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Parramatta. Royal Easter Show joint venture

Parramatta City Council has accepted an invitation from the Royal Agricultural Society to collaborate on a number of cross-promotional initiatives planned, for the 2010 Royal Easter Show, such as holding a joint pre-event launch, participation in the official opening ceremony, hosting a local community day and the provision of discounted pre-sales ticket offers to ratepayers

Penrith. Challenges facing regional city

A significant backlog and lack of funding for infrastructure has been highlighted as some of Penrith’s main challenges as a regional city, according report commissioned by Penrith City Council, which looked at a strategy detailing the options for key infrastructure over the long term. Chris Wajzer, senior consultant, with SGS Economics and Planning, said the challenges facing Penrith were equally applicable to the wider Western Sydney region, according to a Western Weekender report

Parramatta. Five social entrepreneurs

Five Parramatta-based social entrepreneurs were successful in securing places in the first cohort of students for the new Australian School for Social Entrepreneurs, based in Auburn. Michael Rigby, Granville Men's Shed, aims to develop a fully functioning Men’s Shed; Kevin Crouse, Mars Hill Café, maintaining The Mars Hill Espresso Cart located centrally in Parramatta and providing employment, job skills, life skills and mentoring to local marginalised young people; Paul Leary, Chainbreakers Shed, has a mission is to provide a supportive rehabilitative environment for ex-offenders, addressing re-offending risk factors in the context of employment, relationships and social skills; Di Turner, Parramatta Clay & Arts Inc, aims to develop a social enterprise around clay and arts practice, and provide access for community engagement around all forms of handcrafted arts, ceramics, clay and sculptural forms; and James Hookey, JH Landscapes, aims to support and mentor young Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander men from Western Sydney and beyond to find short and long-term work placements within the garden landscaping and labouring market.