Penrith. New man at business group

Ben Artup, former economic development and tourism officer, with Blacktown City Council, will take up the position, from January 4, of manager, industry and investment, with the Penrith Business Alliance, formerly the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation.

Bankstown. Uni buys seven new planes

The University of NSW Department of Aviation has purchased seven new Diamond aircraft for its aviation training fleet from Bankstown Airport-based Hawker Pacific, which will maintain them for five years. UNSW Aviation has over 500 students enrolled in a selection of programs and services related to the aviation industry. “This transaction along with the lease of two locations on our Airport reinforces UNSW Aviation's role as the pre-eminent university for aviation training in the Australasian region and is also a leader in research,” the airport’s latest newsletter said.

Bankstown. Purchases worth $2.5 million

Kim Ellis, CEO, of Sydney Metropolitan Airport-Bankstown, said more than $2.5 million had been spent over the past 12 months sourcing goods and services from over 100 businesses in Western Sydney. “This highlights our continuing commitment into the airport site and the aviation industry,” he said.

Region. Five factors of 'coolness'

Buying material possessions won't make you cool, said consumer psychologist, Adam Ferrier, who researched the traits of cool people for his PhD at the University of Western Sydney. He found five factors determined a person’s “coolness”: self-belief and confidence, defying convention, understated achievement, caring for others and connectivity. The good news is that anyone can become cool, he said.

Parramatta. Lunar Year celebrations

Parramatta City Council will close off Church Street, between Fitzwilliam, Campbell and Aird streets, in the CBD, for council’s Lunar New Year celebrations to be held on 19 February, 2010. The event has been approved for three years

Parramatta. Office building sells for $48.4m

A private investor is buying the Grosvenor Group’s eight-level, 10,500-square-metre office building, at 25 Smith Street (on the corner of Smith and Macquarie streets in the CBD) for $48.4 million, showing a yield of just less than 8 per cent, according to The Australian Financial Review. The building, fully leased to Insurance Australia Group, was a joint venture development between Grosvenor and Leighton Properties. Grosvenor is developing another property in the Parramatta CBD, a 20-storey office tower, at 60 Station Street, opposite the Commercial Hotel, which is undergoing a significant expansion and expected to be completed by March/April next year.