Parramatta. ICE goes national

Thanks to the sponsorship of the newly established SBS Foundation, the Parramatta-based Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) will be able to reach a national audience by broadcasting 30-second advertisements on SBS One TV. ICE works across Greater Western Sydney which, as home to the largest migrant, refugee and urban indigenous populations in the country, is Australia’s most culturally diverse region. ICE works on a wide range of innovative programs and projects that engage and support the region’s diverse communities and artists to express, create and collaborate on a range of screen, music, radio, sound, online and new media projects.

Yennora. Freight service to Port Botany

A new train service from Yennora to Port Botany would deliver economic improvements to the port-related supply chain and ease congestion and pollution on major roads such as the M5. according to Paul McLeay. Minister fior Ports and Waterways. It will be operated by P&O Trans Australia (POTA). “POTA estimates the service will remove up to 136 truck trips per day off the M5 and contribute towards meeting the NSW Government’s long term target of 40 per cent rail modal share to and from Port Botany,” he said.

Bankstown. UWS publisher wins awards

In the past year, Giramondo Publishing Company Company at the University of Western Sydney won a total of six prestigious literary awards, and were shortlisted an additional 13 times. Professor Ivor Indyk, Whitlam Chair, in the UWS Writing and Society Research Group, said making the shortlist of Australia's most prestigious literary awards is a great honour for both the authors and the publisher. Giramondo was set up in December 1995 with the aim of publishing quality creative and interpretive writing by Australian authors, primarily through the literary journal HEAT. Since 2005, the company has also operated as the publishing arm of the UWS Writing and Society Research Group, based at the university's Bankstown campus.

Region. BAE Systems wins $208m contract

The NSW Government has helped aerospace company, BAE Systems, which has facilities at North Ryde, Bankstown Airport and Moorebank, win a $208 million contract to provide maintenance support for the Navy's Seahawk helicopters, supporting 130 jobs in Nowra The construction of a purpose-built maintenance facility at Albatross Aviation Technology Park - located adjacent to HMAS Albatross, scheduled to be completed and operating by the middle of 2011, will support 130 BAE Systems jobs as well as further flow-on work for local sub-contractors. BAE Systems holds the current Seahawk maintenance contract on-site at HMAS Albatross but it was due to expire in March 2010. The contract will be an initial seven- year contract with future extensions dependent on performance