Parramatta. Government's plans for the city

The NSW Government’s new Metropolitan Transport Plan states:”The Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority will make Parramatta a priority for economic development, focusing on better planning and better transport infrastructure and services for Western Sydney. We will plan for increased densities in and around Parramatta and in nearby centres such as Westmead and Rosehill, and ensure transport to and from Parramatta is efficient and sustainable. The Western Express will provide fast, frequent, express trains to the Sydney CBD.”

Liverpool. Government's plans for the city

The NSW Government’s new Metropolitan Transport Plan states: “Liverpool’s economic health will be boosted by new commercial development around the public transport interchange, with retail development focused around Macquarie Street Mall and Westfield Shopping Centre. Links within the city centre and between the city centre, Casula Powerhouse, Chipping Norton Lakes system and Warwick Farm will be improved and will help reconnect the city centre to the Georges River. We will coordinate new development with new residential areas in the South West Growth Centre and strengthen the Liverpool Education and Medical cluster.”

Penrith. Government's plans for the city

The NSW Government’s new Metropolitan Transport Plan states:’We will work with local government to increase private sector investment and help expand Penrith as an administrative centre following the opening of NSW and Australian Government office sites. Connections between the Nepean River and the city centre will be improved as part of wider support for walking, pedestrian and bus links. We will develop the North Penrith defence site as an element of the city centre for business.”

Region. Intermodal freight network

The new Metropolitan Transport Plan aims to develop a network of intermodal terminals. Enfield is already under development, and the government is investigating Moorebank in partnership with the Australian Government. Eastern Creek is in its long–term planning. The government has developed motorway networks and will continue to upgrade highways and key road links to support efficient freight movement. In 2010, a NSW Freight Strategy will be developed

Region. Jobs growth in the region

The new Metropolitan Transport Plan sees sustained job growth in the metropolitan area from the current 1.99 million in 2006 to 2.70 million by 2036, leading to an increase of 714,000 jobs in the Sydney basin. The jobs breakdown in the region is: South-West 105,150. North-West 166,160 and West Central 113,170.More than 384,480, or 54 per cent, of these jobs will be located in Western Sydney. To-date, around 40 per cent of jobs growth has occurred in Western Sydney.

Region. Express trains from the west

The Western Express Project, comprising trains from Richmond, Penrith, Blacktown and Parramatta, will see the Main West tracks, which currently terminate at Central, extended via new track from Eveleigh into new underground platforms at Redfern, Railway Square (near Central), City West (near Town Hall) and Wynyard, leading to more and faster trains from Western Sydney; eight new platforms, each long enough to accommodate 12 car trains, will be constructed between Redfern and Wynyard. Trains will initially be 10 cars long, with capacity for future growth Ultimately more than 5000 extra seats from Parramatta will be provide in the peak hour. Travel time between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD will be cut by five minutes and by 10 minutes from Penrith to the Sydney CBD, according to the New Metropolitan Transport Plan.

Parramatta. $400m stage one on Civic Place

Developer, Grocon, has presented, to a Parramatta City Council workshop, a $400 million stage one proposal of the $1.6 billion Civic Place redevelopment. The presentation included council facilities as well as commercial and retail development. It is understood that redevelopment would first occur on the site facing Smith Street, between Sydney Water’s head office and Macquarie Street.

Parramatta. Trade mission to China

Parramatta City Council Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, will lead a delegation of business people to Yiwi and Shanghai, in the People’s Republic of China, from June 19-27, to develop closer economic ties The aim of the trade mission is to promote Parramatta as a destination for investment and to facilitate commercial opportunities beneficial to the local business community. The mission's program will include: business matching, both in Yiwu and Shanghai, three days attendance at the World Expo in Shanghai, Chinese Government receptions, meetings and briefings with both Chinese and Australian government and business officials, business networking events, in-market briefings and site visits including visits to Yiwu commodity exhibitions

Blue Mountains. Properties on the market

The Glenella guesthouse and restaurant, plus adjacent commercial cottage, at Blackheath, will be auctioned as a going concern, on March 24. Accommodation, grounds and restaurant are fully restored. The York Fairmont Resort is for sale by expressions of interest closing on March 26. the combined land area is about 12.67 hectares. Both properties are being handled by Colliers International