Parramatta. Council to apply for rate rise

While Parramatta City Council has reported cost-cutting initiatives resulting in an $11 million improvement in its overall budget, it is considering seeking approval from the Minister of Local Government to increase ordinary rates by 5 per cent, staggered over four years. If granted the increase in the rate would be an extra $10 per year, over four years, for a typical household. Last month, the minister pegged the rate at 2.6 per cent for 2010/11.

Parramatta. Growth of economy

The Parramatta economy grew by 8.8 per cent over the year to $14.2 billion, in 2008/09, contributing 5.5 per cent of the Sydney region’s gross regional product (GRP) of $255.1 billion. Parramatta’s financial and insurance services sector contributed 23.4 per cent of the city’s total, followed by manufacturing 10.1 per cent, heath care and social assistance 8.2 per cent and public administration and Safety 7.5 per cent, according to council’s Biz Facts, autumn/winter 2020 edition.

Penrith. Panthers in trouble

Panthers, Australia’s largest licensed club empire, with a total of 14 clubs in NSW and a membership of more than 140,000, is expected to report a loss of $11 million at its upcoming annual general meeting.