Blue Mountains. Upgrade of' 'run down' estate

Up to 350 jobs could be created in the Blue Mountains after the federal government announced it would provide $3.5 million for a 22-hectare clean technology park. The funding will go towards council’s $5.8 million, environmentally-sensitive plan to upgrade the “run-down” Lawson Industrial Estate, and will be used to provide stormwater, electrical and telecommunications infrastructure as well as footpaths, cycleways and landscaping. The project was expected to support 100 local jobs during construction. “By improving the Lawson Industrial Estate, making it more attractive and more economical to establish an enterprise here, we at least open up the possibility that the estate can become a focus for not merely jobs but jobs in new and clean technologies,” said Member for Macquarie, Bob Debus, in the Blue Mountains Gazette. He said nearly 60 per cent of employed people living in the Blue Mountains worked outside the area.

Cabramatta. Multi-storey car park for CBD

The Transport Infrastructure and Development Corporation will design and build a new car park planned for the Cabramatta business district. Fairfield City Council’s previous plans for a ground-level car park, with an option to build more levels later, at the corner of Hill Street and Cabramatta Road, have been scrapped and a multi-storey car park will be built on the site. Concept plans for a five-storey car park have been costed at up to $20 million, but a decision has not yet been made.

Hawkesbury. Council shuts down plant

Hawkesbury Council has shut down its co-generation plant, which was installed, in mid-2005, in the Deerubbin Centre, at a cost of $3.6 million. The plant generates electricity for the centre, its cafe and for the old hospital building. According to the company that installed it, it was supposed to pay for itself within eight years, but it has not made a profit yet, according to the Hawkesbury Gazette. Council voted to shut down the diesel generator for up to 12 months pending a business plan and a report, prepared by the general manager, Peter Jackson, comparing the cost of buying in electricity and running the plant.

Eastern Creek. Panther's man now racing head

The Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), at Eastern Creek, has appointed former Panthers Group chief executive, Glenn Matthews, as the club’s newly created position of general manager. He will take up his position on July1. The ARDC announced in March its plans to appoint an inaugural CEO to drive the strategic development of Sydney's only motor sport complex since the Oran Park Raceway closed last year. Club GM, Geoff Arnold, will continue to direct operations at the complex but will report to the CEO, who will oversee relations between the club and the government. The CEO’s position attracted more than 70 applicants.