Parramatta. Westfield to lose sales

Westfield’s Parramatta and Burwood shopping centres would lose $15 million in sales should the Department of Planning (DOP) permit US giant Costco to develop a $60 million outlet in Auburn, according to the company’s consultants, Essential Economics. The research notes 28 existing rival shopping centres in the Sydney catchment would lose a collective $61.7 million worth of sales. The proposed centre would have about 14,000 square metres of shopping area - four to five times the average Coles or Woolworths supermarket – 4000 different products versus more than 20,000 different products in an average Coles or Woolworths, and up to 800 car parks. Westfield, AMP and the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, which are among objectors of the project, said the proposed store was in breach of existing state planning laws. Some 454 comments have been made to the project on The Australian’s website. Costco opened its first Australian outlet at Docklands, in Melbourne, in Aug 2009

Parramatta. Former steakhouse for sale

The former site of the Lone Star Steakhouse, at 5-7 Parkes Street, Parramatta, is for sale through Jones Lang LaSalle, The property, with a site area of approximately 2016 square metres, has frontages to both Parkes and Anderson streets, and adjacent to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, which is also on the market through Jones Lang LaSalle.

Region. RDA Sydney yet to go online

Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, told a workshop of local government GMs and officers, in Penrith, that Regional Development Australia (RDA) was a network of 55 committees established to engage with local communities to grow and strengthen Australia’s regions. RDA committees were contributing to regional planning by developing their own “regional roadmaps”, she said. The RDA website notes 14 RDAs were set up NSW last year, five of which, including RDA Sydney (including Western Sydney), have yet to set up websites publicising their role and activities. Membership of RDA Sydney includes: Alan Pendleton, chair, Roy Medich, deputy chair, and members Carole Maher, Lesley McMahon,, Dr Mano Nugapitiya, Frank Oliveri, Professor Phillip O’Neill, Fr Chris Riley Committee, Aaron Rule, Josefa Sobzski, Marcus Testoni and Mary Waterford. RDA Sydney will host the 2010 Western Sydney Manufacturing Leaders Forum, at Sydney Olympic Park, on May 3.