Region. Hospitality company collapses

The Austech Institute for Further Education, founded with 10 students, in Blacktown, in 2002, and now based in Ashfield, with a facility at Liverpool, announced on Friday it was going into voluntary liquidation, leaving more than 750 fee-paying hospitality students out of pocket. Its closure is part of a shakeout of the sector in which several high-profile colleges have closed and international student enrolments have fallen because of the global financial crisis, a strong Australian dollar and changes to skilled migration policy, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. By 2007-08 turnover from its Ashfield and Liverpool campuses had reached $30.4 million and it was hailed by BRW magazine as one of Australia's 100 fastest growing companies. ABC TV's Four Corners last year highlighted the activities of the college in a program devoted to alleged abuses in the education export industry.

Blacktown. EOI in heritage buildings

Blacktown City Council has called for expressions of interest for the adaptive reuse of the council-owned Woodstock, in Plumpton, which consists of the heritage-listed Victorian/Georgian homestead, built upon a 4000 square metres of residentially zoned parcel. Council has also called for EOI to lease the heritage-listed Melrose Federation building, circa 1890s, in the Grantham Heritage Parkland, in Seven Hills.

Region. Troubled housing estates to be razed

The state government plans to tear down troubled housing estates across Western Sydney to be replaced by discreetly "salt and peppered" public housing, indistinguishable from privately owned homes. After 40 years as a slum, the derelict public housing at Minto was being razed and replaced with prime real estate. First-home buyers were flocking to the suburb, camping out to buy land-and-house packages for as little as $120,000. Housing Minister, David Borger, said Bonnyrigg was next in line to become a "bright, fresh housing estate”. Councils were discussing the same fate for Airds and Claymore.

Balcktown. Economic officer sought

Blacktown City Council has advertised for an economic development officer. One of council’s key priorities is to actively promote and foster the creation of new commercial and industrial businesses, including tourism, in the city. The previous economic development and tourism officer, Ben Artup, took up the position, in January, of manager, industry and investment, with the Penrith Business Alliance, formerly the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation.

Fairfield. $12 million seniors' units in CBD

NSW Housing has paid $1.8 million for a site in the Fairfield CBD for the construction of a $12 million seniors’ only mixed-use high-rise building. The 44-unit complex will be funded by the federal government’s financial stimulus plan.

Parramatta. Garrard meets local MPs

Parramatta City Council Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, has met with local MPs to discuss the state government’s Metropolitan Transport Plan and to reinforce the importance of the Parramatta to Epping rail-link. He said one of the positive outcomes was that all MPs recognised the need for improved transport solutions, particularly the provision of the Parramatta to Epping rail-link, which would open the city to a huge area of potential employees and businesses north of Sydney. Cr Garrard said council had ramped up its Destination Parramatta campaign, aimed at improving rail, bus, ferry and cycle services to one of the fastest growing regions in the country.