Region. 'Serious risk of losing investment'

The Property Council of Australia has called on the NSW government to “make a call on the future of the Western Sydney Employment Land Investigation Area” at Eastern Creek to ensure certainty of the future supply of land. “If we don’t promote and support the development of (employment) hubs, NSW is at a serious risk of losing investment to our interstate competitors,” said Glenn Byres, the council’s NSW acting executive director. He said the government released an action plan, in 2007, for employment lands but the delivery had fallen short.

Parramatta. Chinese delegation to visit

Parramatta City Council and the City of Yiwu, in China, have been working towards developing closer economic ties\, with the strong support of the Chinse Consulate General in Sydney. A consequence is a visit to Parramatta by a delegation from Yiwu Government, next week, to provide a briefing to the business community on the commercial opportunities open to Australian businesses seeking to trade with China, through Yiwu and the city of Yiwu itself. Lord Mayor Paul Garrard has been invited by the Yiwu Government to lead a delegation from Western Sydney to China, in early September, to explore opportunities for regional companies to do business with China.

Penrith. Visit by Chinese delegation

A high-level delegation from the Xicheng District of Beijing has visited Penrith for the third time as part of a mutual cooperation agreement, signed in 1998, with Penrith City Council. The agreement focuses on business to broaden the range of business and cultural relationships.

Wentworthville. $40 million redevelopment

The Wentworthville Leagues Club has plans to modify the club’s entrance, add a 600-seat function room and an outdoor dining area, and build a two-level car park to increase the number of vehicles by 45 per cent to 780. The cost of the project is expected to be $40 million.

Parramatta. Launch of ParraConnect program

The federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, will launch the ParraConnect program, at the Riverside Theatres next week. The program, promoted by Lord Mayor Paul Garrard, is an ongoing initiative enabling businesses, community groups, government stakeholders and residents to capitalise on the growth of emerging connective technologies. “The ParraConnect and its driving body, the ParraConnect Partnership, is an alliance of community leadership groups," said Cr Garrard.