Parramatta. Bollywood star to boost Eels' fans

Parramatta Eels’ boss, Paul Osborne, has travelled to India in a bid to increase the club’s membership and its financial standing. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, he has signed Bollywood star, Nandamuri Balakrishna, who will come to Parramatta to sell rugby league to the thousands of people of Indian heritage living in and around Parramatta. In the 2001 census, 3346 Indians resided in Parramatta. By the 2006 census, the number had increased to 7088, an increase of 111.8 per cent. Indian nationals are the second largest non-English speaking group, after the Chinese, residing in the Parramatta local government area. The majority lives in the Westmead-CBD-Harris Park area.

Wentworthville. Bonds factory to close

Bonds factory, at Wentworthville, is slated by parent company, Pacific Brands, for closure in March, taking total job losses to about 3000 in facilities in Australia and New Zealand, as part of a cost cutting program including shifting production to China. Pacific Brands, whose brands include Bonds, Holeproof and Kayser, is one year into its three-year restructure plan to build profitability

Silverwater. Hastie Group's profit down

The Hastie Group, at Silverwater, which provides technical services to the building and infrastructure sectors, has reported a net profit of $21.6 million for the six months to December 31, down from $31.8 million in the previous corresponding period. The 32 per cent fall in first-half net profit was due to the global downturn. “In Australia we are seeing an upturn in tenders, with greater signs of activity in the resource-rich states of Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia,'' said CEO, David Harris.

Parramatta. Help for aboriginal enterprises

Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Paul Lynch, launched the Aboriginal Economic Development Officer program, in the Western Sydney Business Centre, in North Parramatta. The program is designed to promote and grow a small business entrepreneurial culture in the region. It’s where most of the NSW aboriginal population live

Penrith. Stadium in the money

The Penrith City Council managed Whitewater Stadium, which hosts local, state, national and international canoe slalom events and other activities, made a profit of $400,000 on revenue of $2 million dollars. Council provided $1.5 million of the total cost of $15 million to build the facility for the 2000 Olympic Games.