Region. Manufacturing Week in the West

NSW Manufacturing Week Western Sydney 2010 commences on May 3, with a range of site visits, seminars and other activities across the region. To-date, these include a site visit to Custom Coaches, Australia’s biggest bus body builder, at its new head office and factory, at Villawood, and events, such as, Women Standing Tall in a Changing World, at Mount Druitt TAFE and Work Fatigue – Managing the Risk, at the Business Centre, Industry & Investment NSW, North Parramatta, and Advanced Technology Manufacturing Technology: From Research to Money Maker, at CSIRO, North Ryde.

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Region. UWS appoints legal counsel

The University of Western Sydney has appointed Helen Fleming, with 20 years' experience in the university sector, as its legal counsel. Ms Fleming is a member of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law, a founding member of the Australian and New Zealand Education Law Association, and the Society of University Lawyers. She has presented widely in Australia and overseas about issues affecting Australian universities.

North Ryde. Funds for two organisations

The Minister for Science and Medical Research, Jodi McKay, has announced that Macquarie University and the CSIRO Material Sciences and Engineering are among six public sector research organisations to each receive $50,000 in State Government funding to encourage better links between university researchers and the business community. Ms McKay said the funding would support new ‘connector’ roles within the universities, and was the latest stage of the NSW Government’s $1.4 million TechVouchers program.

Region. NSW State Plan agenda

The NSW State Plan notes the redevelopment of Liverpool and Nepean hospitals is included in the government’s investment of more than $2.4 billion, over the next four years, in new medical equipment and technology and health facilities. The plans also notes the Western Sydney Employment Fund and the Western Sydney Business Growth Plan are aimed at maximising the employment and productivity in sectors where NSW has a competitive advantage.

North Ryde. $350m shopping centre expansion

AMP, which has a $2.4bn development pipeline, plans to start work early next year on the $350 million expansion of Macquarie Centre to increase its total area to 130,000 square metres. The project, jointly owned with Westfield Group, is one of the $10 billion worth of development to be undertaken as retailers expand to tap into Australia's population growth, according to The Australian.

Region. UWS researcher on water project

The human and social dimensions of water use in Australian cities will be the focus of a new fellowship project involving the National Water Commission and Dr Zoe Sofoulis, from the University of Western Sydney's Centre for Cultural Research, In the one year project, Dr Sofoulis will take a snapshot of current social and cultural water projects, and bring together industry leaders to develop better partnerships for socially sustainable urban water management. Dr Sofoulis has previously led groundbreaking studies into community attitudes and practices surrounding water use, and she says the new project will help bring to the fore urban water strategies and programs that engage with ordinary people.

Parramatta. Funds for rail link?

One of the projects, which the new Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority could undertake if the NSW Government obtains funds in the next round of federal government infrastructure handouts, is the Parramatta end of the controversial rail link to Chatswood. “We could bring forward projects such as the M5 East expansion or the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link,” said Premier Kristine Keneally, in The Australian Financial Review. Elsewhere, Parramatta City Council Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, said the provision of the Parramatta to Epping rail-link would open the city to a huge area of potential employees and businesses north of Sydney.