Parramatta. Anti-social behaviour concerns

Parramatta City Council proposes to prepare a report, based on submissions from the business sector, non-government agencies and residents on the perceptions and impacts of anti-social behaviour in Parramatta. Council said anecdotal information suggested this behaviour might be hindering its initiatives to attract business, investment, visitors and residents to the city

North Ryde. Uni-sponsored wins in the USA

The Macquarie University-sponsored Thunder Down Under robotics team has returned to Australia after winning three awards and the respect of teams from around the world at the recent FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia. The team, comprising high school students and home schoolers from across Sydney, will be helping out with robotics programs at the Powerhouse Museum and as part of Engineers Australia's Australian Engineering Week event, in August.

Castle Hill. Gloria Jean's denies equity stake

Nabi Saleh, co-owner of Gloria Jean’s Coffees, based in Castle Hill, said in the NSW Supreme Court, he never thought two US exporters had an equity stake in his business. US Coffee exporter, Western Export Services directors, David Cisneros and Steven Meir, are claiming $56 million in damages and unpaid commissions from the company behind Gloria Jean’s, Jireh International, owned by Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine. The company has 917 stores across 35 companies, according to The Australian Financial Review.

Camellia. API may win Sigma's customers

Stephen Roche, chief executive, of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), at Camellia, said there were opportunities for the company to win customers from Sigma Pharmaceuticals, which is being forced by its banks to sell assets and cut generous credit terms to clients. API is one of Australia's leading health and beauty companies.