Parramatta. Local people on regional panel

The UWS Urban Research Centre, in Parramatta, will play a vital role in the development of the region’s cities and neighbourhoods . “Professor Phillip O’Neil, Director, of the UWS Urban Research Centre, and Sharon Fingland, a PhD student, at the centre, are members of a panel with wide-ranging expertise across the contentious issues facing Parramatta and the region,” said Clr McLaren, president of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Ltd (WSROC). She said residents, business and other groups would have the opportunity to raise local issues – such as the Parramatta - Epping rail link, affordable housing, medium density, coping with growth and safety and security issues on the interactive http://www.westernsydney2030.com.au/ website.

Parramatta. Repayment of West Metro grant

The federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, has requested the NSW Government to return the unspent portion of the $91 million grant it provide for the scoping study for the West Metro, from Central to Westmead. The NSW government has advised Mr Albanese it had spent $10.8 million, when it scrapped the CBD Metro. A final figure would be confirmed by the end of March, according to The Sydney Morning Herald

Region. New UWS board members

The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, has appointed Emma Stein and John Banks to the board of the University of Western Sydney. Ms Stein is a Sydney-based director of energy company, DUET, and engineering and construction company, Clough. She formerly had rolls on the boards of Arc Energy, Integral Energy and the NSW Growth Centres Commission, and held executive positions in leading European building materials, fuel distribution and energy industries. John Banks is director of Talent2 Consult and has served on the board of the UWS Foundation. He was founder and chairman of The Banks Management Group which provided a range of human resource and performance management services to industry. "The university is very fortunate to have Ms Stein and Mr Banks joining the Board of Trustees. They are both very accomplished business leaders who bring a wealth of experience and skills to their new positions at UWS," said vice-chancellor, Professor Janice Reid.

Yennora. Dana puts off 115 workers

Car component parts manufacturer, Dana Automotive Systems, is expected to put 115 people out of work, at its Yennora factory “The company is taking much of the operation to Thailand where labour costs are approximately 20 per cent of Australian wages. You can't live on that in Australia," said AWU NSW state secretary, Russ Collison. He said quality at the Yennora plant was one of the highest in the world among the Dana plants, which stretch out across 26 countries employing over 20,000 workers. Dana’s head office is based in Ohio, USA.