Region. 'Jobs Saving' strategy

The Australian Employee Buyout Centre (AEBC) is now operational - it has signed a funding agreement with DEEWR to establish a "Jobs Saving" strategy under the "Jobs Fund", in Western and South-Western Sydney, through intervention in businesses, where jobs are under threat as a result of business failure or closure. A formal 'business turnaround' process will be followed to preserve those jobs which can be saved and will involve transitioning the ownership of the business to its employees through an employee share ownership trust. The AEBC will shortly be employing staff and will be setting up an office in Bankstown. The AEBC's mission is "to protect, preserve and enhance jobs through employee ownership".

Region. Locals at Manufacturers Week

A wide range of manufacturers across Western Sydney will participate in National Manufacturers Week (May 11-14) when it relocates to Sydney Olympic Park – much closers to the heart of Sydney’s manufacturing hub in Western Sydney. Companies include Strata Group, Kings Park, Bosco Storage, Ingleburn, Cryonomic, Penrith, Laboratory Systems, Bankstown, and MSPC Australia, Arndell Park. They will be among 200 exhibitors from Australia and overseas taking up some 9000 square metres of space at the Sydney Showground. “We’re especially pleased that NMW 2010 is moving to the Sydney Showground, in the heart of Australia’s largest manufacturing region, to help the 10,000-plus manufacturing companies in Sydney’s west take advantage of the advances in technology, innovation and educational developments in store at the event,” said Reed Exhibitions’, Paul Baker, exhibition manager for NMW 2010.

Parramatta. Housing Institute awards

Australasian Housing Institute (AHI) will hold its NSW Professional Excellence in Housing Awards for 2010, at Old Government House, Parramatta, on May 20.The awards celebrate the contribution social housing people make in improving people’s lives and building strong communities and reward great work and achievements by individuals and teams, and recognise best practice and high standards of service, promote and celebrate innovation and develop and increase the profile of the profession.

Region. Local food production at risk

The Sydney Basin is an important location for food production, the economy and employment. The basin’s agriculture includes market gardens, poultry, orchards, cut flowers, mushrooms, turf and nurseries worth around $1 billion, representing up to 12 per cent of the NSW total agricultural production. Some 1000 vegetable farms produce 43 per cent of NSW vegetable production, by value, according to the ABS. When the growth centres and other greenfields lands are transferred to urban uses, the NSW Department of Agriculture surveys show that 52 per cent of the basin’s remaining vegetable farms will be eliminated, according to UWS Urban Research Centre report The recently released Metropolitan Strategy Review document acknowledges the sector’s importance and the departments of planning, industry and investment – primary industry are working closely with councils on Sydney’s fringe to identify significant agricultural lands and develop policies for their ongoing viability in the face of urban development pressure.