Parramatta. $200m project sent to DOP

Parramatta City Council will submit to the Department of Planning the Part3A project application by Crown International Holdings Group for the construction of 26-storey mixed use development comprising 339 residential units, 1903 square metres of retail space, 5488 square metres of commercial space and six levels of basement parking for 506 vehicles. The building to be known as Macquarie Place, is on a 4879-square-metre site on the corner of Macquarie, Marsden and Hunter streets. The cost of construction is expected to be $200 million.

Region. TVS wins top award

A cutting-edge TV show produced by the University of Western Sydney and Metro Screen received top honours at the Antenna Awards taking out the Best Program of the Year and Best Current Affairs Program awards. The weekly chat show is broadcast on TVS (Television Sydney), based at the UWS Penrith campus, and other Australian community TV stations that explores controversial topics such as sex workers, Australia's citizenship test and female infertility.

Region UWS to help drive efficiency

The University of Western Sydney has joined forces with Business Enterprise Centres (BEC) Australia, Pinstripe Media, Fairfax Community Newspapers and Netregistry to empower 20,000 small business operators with the knowledge to use online technologies to help drive business efficiency, build capacity and seize new markets. Dr Geoffrey Lee, Associate Dean of Engagement in the College of Business at UWS, has completed extensive academic research in the areas of e-business, e-learning and small business, and prior to joining academia he owned and operated several small businesses. Dr Lee said the program comprised 10 learning modules, which have been developed using well-researched teaching methods from UWS and information from leading industry practitioners. The one-on-one mentoring sessions will be run by the Business Enterprise Centres in 70 locations around Australia, and a national training program will be developed for all BEC trainers to ensure a consistent approach is adopted

Region. Region has 58 per cent of new buses

Fifty-eight per cent, or 175, of the 300 new buses promised by the state government has been allocated to Western Sydney, with the delivery of the final 19 vehicles six months ahead of schedule. The Hills district/North-West Sydney has received 113 buses and Western/South Western Sydney, 62 buses.

Norwest. Wattyl accepts bid by Valspar

Paint maker Wattyl, based at Norwest Business Park, has entered a scheme of implementation deed with Valspar after the US group raised its Initial $1.30 a share bid to $1.67, valuing Wattyl at $142 million. The Wattyl board has recommended shareholders vote in favour of the deal, on September 6, according to The Australian Financial Review.