Region. Light rail plans

An urban planner, Garry Glazebrook, of the University of Technology, Sydney is among advocates pushing for light rail lines including around Parramatta, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. His plan would transform the poorly patronised Carlingford line by replacing it with light rail and incorporating a Parramatta-Bankstown line along the Duck Creek corridor, helping to revive a declining area, as championed by the Assistant Minister for Transport, David Borger, when he was lord mayor of Parramatta The Government's 2031 Transport Blueprint, now under review, includes proposals for a Bankstown-Liverpool light rail.

Region. Funds for local works

Local Infrastructure Fund grants announced by Premier, Kristine Keneally, include: $11.8 million to upgrade streets in Camden from rural to urban standard, providing access to the new Elderslie and Spring Farm urban development areas; $10.4 million to bring forward development of around 2,000 lots, or 20 per cent, in the Edmondson Park, release area; $5.8 million to increase residential densities at Campbelltown station; $4.6 million to bring forward the development of potentially over 870 dwellings in the Caddens sub-precinct, Penrith; and $4 million to upgrade part of the existing South Windsor sewer infrastructure to allow additional medium density residential development in South Windsor.

Penrith. Challenges to creating jobs

Ideas from a workshop attended by senior Penrith business leaders to discuss the key challenges to creating jobs in the Penrith economy, included: government support in reaching Penrith CBD’s jobs target of 11,000 new jobs by 2031; ensuring Penrith’s employment lands are developed in a timely and effective way to maximize industrial jobs growth; helping Penrith’s small business sector to grow: and creating more reasons for young residents and skilled professionals to live in the city. The ideas will form the basis of Penrith’s submission to the NSW Government. The workshop was organised by the Penrith Business Alliance (formerly the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation) in partnership with Penrith City Council.

Region. Arts grants total $2.3 million

The Minister for the Arts, Virginia Judge, has announced $2.3 million in new arts grants for the region “I am determined to ensure NSW remains the premier state for the creative industries – and that support does not end with the Sydney CBD. Western Sydney is the geographic heart of Australia’s most creative city and home to approximately 2 million people of all cultural backgrounds. It is Australia’s most ethnically diverse region, including Parramatta, Blacktown and Bankstown which are rapidly emerging as the state’s most exciting cultural hubs,” Ms Judge said.

Eastern Creek. More power to the grid

WSN Environmental Solutions and joint venture partner, LMS Generation, have commissioned another engine, at the Eastern Creek waste and recycling centre, raising its capacity in converting waste to electricity to 7000 homes. The project now has seven 1.1-megawatt (MW) engines to export renewable energy to the NSW grid. The Eastern Creek plant began operating with five engines in May 2008. More are expected by 2014.

Blacktown. Events on the Village Green

The new multi-million dollar, Village Green, in the Blacktown Central Business District would be completed this year to revitalise the eastern side of the CBD, according to Mayor Charlie Lowles. The Village Green, with improved recreational facilities, will be used for community and civic events. Other development projects and activities scheduled for 2010 are Riverstone's Bicentennial celebration, $1 million improvements to the Mt Druitt commercial centre and the reconstruction of North Parade into a four-lane carriageway.

Region. Home owners' grants

Liverpool headed the top 20 suburbs receiving First Home Owners’Grants, with 1327 owners receiving a total of $19.7 million. Blacktown (3) had 1072 owners receiving $16.6 million. Cabramatta (10), 665 owners, $9.3 million. Mr Druitt (12), 657 owners, $9.5 million. Faiefield (19) 517 owners, $7.4 million.

South-West. $19 million rail upgrade

The $19 million upgrade to improve services and reliability along the 10.7 kilometres of rail corridors between Glenfield, Fairfield and Villawood stations. The work included upgrading the power supply allowing better air-conditioning and quicker accelerating trains, and. concrete sleepers replaced timber ones allowing trains to keep running at normal speeds for longer in hot conditions.

Liverpool. $33.7 million centre upgrade

The $3.7 million refurbishment of the Whitlam Leisure Centre, in Liverpool, has commenced and is expected to bring a significant boost to the economy by creating jobs, with an estimated 40 contractors over the next 18 months, according to Mayor Wendy Waller.

Liverpool. $46.9 million research centre

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, and representatives from the Ingham Health Research Institute have signed a $46.9 million funding agreement at Liverpool Hospital to provide a new, four-storey state-of-the-art research centre through the Federal Government’s Health and Hospitals Fund. Ms Elliot said the centre would be the focal point of research in south-west Sydney, housing 340 researchers. The research groups associated with the institute created the medical emergency teams now used in hospitals around the world. They were also the first to discover the role of stellate cells in pancreatic cancer.

Fairfield. New city farm owners

The new owners of Fairfield City Farm, City Farm Pty Ltd, a branch of the Sutherland-based GBS Investments, are preparing to reopen it in early March. Some staff members will be offered jobs under the new owners. Others have been offered redundancy or alternative positions within Fairfield City Council. City Farm GM, Carl Small, said a review of entry priced was being undertaken.

Fairfield. Food inspections in the city

The NSW Food Authority has released the first annual report card on food inspections revealing Fairfield City Council made 1004 inspections, from January 2009 to June 2009, Only 387 inspections were found to be satisfactory, with 377 businesses at “high risk” of food contamination’ and another 199 “medium risk” in the area. Council issued 100 warning letters, one prohibition order and 30 penalty notices were served, with five prosecutions. Council investigated 48 complaints about food businesses, with food hygiene and handling making up half of the complaints. There are 780 retail food outlets throughout the city.

Parramatta. New businesses created

Create Media, managed by Parramatta-based Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and supported by the Westpac Foundation encourages young people from a refugee background to learn new skills and, ultimately, to develop their own new media business. Selected participants will have financial and mentorship support in setting up their creative enterprise. At the end of the project, one business idea will be selected and provided with establishment costs, mentorship and office space. Create Media will support the launch of a new multimedia enterprise that will be managed independently and provide income for the artists involved

Parramatta. Reseacher honoured

Professor Tony Cunningham, regarded as one of Australia’s leading infectious disease experts and foundation director, of the Westmead Millennium Institute, at Westmead, has been appointed and Officer on the Order of Australia (AO) for his viral research, medical and biomedical research, which has spanned more than 20 years. Professor Cunningham is also director of the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research. Others honoured in the local area included: Rothrewel Donald Stein, Member (AM), of Winston Hills, for service to the earthmoving and contracting industry, health and service groups; Hani Elturk, Medal (OAM), for service to media as a journalist and to Arabic-speaking community; and James Donald Taggart, of Kellyville, for service to charitable, sporting and sporting organisations.