Castle Hill. Gloria Jean's Coffees in court

US-based, Western Export Services, a coffee exporter. is suing Jireh International, owner of Gloria Jean’s Coffees, headquartered at Castle Hill, for up to $56 million in damages and unpaid commissions, claiming it broke a joint venture agreement that provided for the exclusive supply of coffee beans. The matter is due to return to the NSW Supreme Court today (Thursday, February 18), according to The Australian Financial Review

Parramatta. DA for Coles supermarket

Plazawest Pty Ltd, has lodged a DA with Parramatta City Council for the occupation of part of the ground floor of an approved mixed-use development, for a Coles supermarket. Approval is also sought to occupy part of the basement for associated offices and back of house areas. The supermarkt will be in the mixed-use complex, with 127 residential units, nearing completion, by the Parramatta-based Dyldam Developments, on the corner of Victoria Road and Church Street, in the Parramatta CBD

Parramatta. West Metro pushed back

Treasury officials were pushing yesterday (February 17) for work to begin on the Western Metro as late as 2030, despite an original deadline on the CBD Metro to begin mid-year. Cabinet sources say while the Transport Minister, David Campbell, is pushing hard for the go-ahead for the Western Metro as soon as possible, Mr Roozendaal and Treasury are blocking it and are likely to succeed, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. ''It is a constant battle against Treasury,'' said a senior cabinet source.

Parramatta. CBD property sold for $2.3 million

A private investor paid $2.3 million for a single-storey building, subdivided into four retail outlets in the Roxy Arcade, 71-73 George Street, in the Parramatta CBD. The property, which has 375 square metres of lettable space, is fully leased and will yield 6.9 per cent from a net return of $1.6 million.

Norwest. Paint group on the way to profits

Paintmaker, Wattyl, based in Norwest Business Park, expects to return to profit following shedding 14 per cent of its workers and introducing lightweight plastic paint cans as part of a two-year program which aims to reduce costs by $26 million by June this year. Wattyl recorded a profit after tax of $2.4 million for the half year ended 31 December 2009, after a loss of $1.5 million in the corresponding period in 2008. Sales volume fell in liner with a 5.6 per cent for the industry during the half-year to December.. Full-year earnings, before interest and tax, may total between $12 million and $13 million. Wattyl has new products, with more to come, to meet competition from Nippon Paints, which entered the market two years ago. “The challenge will be for us to grow our market share after a number of years of decline,”said CEO, Tony Dragicevich.

Parramatta. On the market in the CBD

The recently completed five-storey mixed-use building, at 24 Hunter Street, in the Parramatta CBD, will be auctioned on March 24. The building, with 1335 NLA and footplates of 280 square metres, has level 5 and a cafe leased for approximately $87,567. Levels 1-4 are vacant. Also in the CBD, a car yard of approximately 2796 square metres, at 334-336 Church Street, adjacent to the former Marshall Motors site, will be auctioned on March 23. (Marshall Motors has relocated to new premises on the corner of Meeham and Church streets)