Glenfield. Government accepts farm findings

The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, has announced the NSW Government will accept the findings of the Peters Inquiry into the future of Hurlstone Agricultural High School, at Glenfield. “I will be instructing the Department of Education to implement the inquiry’s key recommendation which is to abandon plans to sell the majority of farm land from the school site. We have also accepted the report’s recommendation to sell 10 hectares at the western edge of the site, with 100 per cent of the proceeds to be used to revitalise the school, including improving the boarding facilities and farm infrastructure,” she said. The former head of the NSW Farmers Federation, Mal Peters, found there were significant opportunities to revitalise the school to ensure it delivered a world-class agricultural education.

Region. UWS and RAS partnership

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is set to further promote a better understanding of rural industries among city show goers under a new partnership between the University of Western Sydney(UWS) and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS). The partnership will see several projects rolled out to capitalise on the event's renewed focus on educating visitors about the complexities of Australia's changing rural industries These and other activities will be filmed by students from the university's School of Communication Arts and aired on Television Sydney (TVS), the community television station based at the university. "UWS has a proud 100-year history in agricultural science and education at its Hawkesbury Campus, and being involved with the Sydney Royal Easter Show allows the university to further engage with the community and promote understanding of the issues facing rural Australia," UWS vice-chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, said.

Hoxton Park. Mirvac proposals for aerodrome

Mirvac Projects Pty Ltd proposes to redevelop part of the former Hoxton Park Aerodrome for industrial purposes. The company proposes to establish a warehouse facility for Big W. The project includes: construction and operation of a 89,000 square meter warehouse; and associated infrastructure. Mirvac also proposes to establish a Dick Smith warehouse facility, which includes: construction and operation of a 38,880 square metre warehouse during Stage 1 and construction and operation of a 40 metre wide and 37 metre high bay extension during Stage 2; and associated infrastructure. The Department of Planning has both proposals on public exhibition

Villawood. New home for Custom Coaches

Bus body builder, Custom Coaches NSW will stage the relocation of its head office and manufacturing plant, to Villawood, from Smithfield where it has been since 1975. The Villawood site will be the home for Custom’s bus plant, Custom Care parts and service, Custom Manufacturing component manufacturing, engineering, logistics, purchasing, administration & NSW Sales “Our future lies in providing innovative, high quality & competitive products for the Australian bus industry and the new Villawood plant will play a significant role in our future success,” said CEO, Mark Burgess.

Moorebank. Consultation on freight hub

Stockland, a major co-owner of the Defence National Storage and Distribution Centre, in Moorebank Avenue, one of two major freight hubs planned for Moorebank, said the site would not be developed until a community consultation process was completed. A second site, which houses the School of Military Engineering, will make up a second freight hub. Residents fear the two hubs would bring another 2739 container trucks into the area each day. Stockland is now waiting for a federal government decision on the next step for the proposed intermodal facility.

Rouse Hill. DOP got it wrong

The Department of Planning has apologised for upsetting Rouse Hill residents, admitting maps showing a proposed transport corridor were wrong. Residents feared it would mean 200 houses as well as a portion of Rouse Hill Public School would be demolished for a transport corridor linking the new industrial precinct with Rouse Hill Town Centre. The apology follows a letter received by residents earlier this month requesting access to their homes to undertake testing as part of planning for the Box Hill Industrial Precinct.

Baulkham Hills. Local man heads group

The Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) has appointed Bruce Gleeson , of Baulkham Hills, as regional chairman on its NSW State Council for 12 months. Mr Gleeson has been a member of the institute’s Region NSW Council since 2007. He became a fellow in 2009. He is also a member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia and was recently appointed to the Companies Auditors and liquidators Disciplinary Board.

Blue Mountains. Supermarket for Leura

The Joint Planning Panel has granted planning approval for a full-sized Woolworths supermarket, which could be built at Leura by the end of the year. The panel approved an application for a 1500 square metre supermarket, basement level parking for 89 vehicles and four specialty shops at the former Colless Foods site on The Mall. The Leura Village Association welcomed the decision as a positive development. “The development will attract Leura residents back to treating The Mall as their local shopping centre and we are also looking forward to the additional parking facility,” said association president, Mark Alchin.

Bankstwon. Redevelopment of Boeing site

Sydney Metro Airports Bankstown will consider a redevelopment of the site occupied by Boeing Australia – a major airport tenant – following the company’s announcement of the relocation of its manufacturing operations to its Fishermans Bend plant, in Melbourne, by 2013. “While we are sorry to see them leave Sydney, their departure provides an excellent opportunity for a comprehensive redevelopment of this important site for aviation and non-aviation businesses,” said airport CEO, Kim Ellis.