Wetherill Park. Loss of 240 jobs

Narional Foods will close its yoghurt factory, at Wetherill Park, in March 2012, with the loss of240 jobs. The company, owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings, said it would close the plant as part of a broader ''consolidation'' that also involves its Baulkham Hills factory and plants in the Victoria. The company's operations director, Arthur Murphy, said workers would receive their full entitlements and would be offered employment help. Free, independent counselling was also being offered to all employees and their families.

Berala. Woolworths plans $10m project

Woolworths has lodged with Auburn Council an application to build a shopping arcade at Berala station, at a cost of approximately $10 million. The project, which includes speciality shops, would include three levels of car parking, two of which would be underground.

Ingleburn. Opening of MediaHub

Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, will today officially open the MediaHub, at Ingleburn, a joint venture between the ABC and WIN TV. MediaHub has been built to ensure a smooth switching of signals between cities as the broadcaster will soon have ABC News 24 to add to ABC1, ABC2, ABC3 and ABCHD. ABC chief operating officer, David Pendleton, said the centre was need to replace ageing technology in each city. The chief executive of MediaHub is Andrew Hogg, formerly of Omnilab Media.

North Ryde. $690,000 pledged for research

Panasonic Australia has today pledged $690,000 to fund environmental research and public education as part of a new Macquarie University eco initiative. The company said it would support the university’s commitment to climate-risk research and education during the next three years, including the creation of the Panasonic Chair in Environmental Sustainability. Professor Tim Flannery, an internationally acclaimed Australian scientist, explorer and conservationist, has been appointed as the inaugural chair. Steve Rust, MD, Panasonic Australia, said it was the single largest environmental initiative to be undertaken by the company in Australia.

Yagoona. New business enterprise corridor

The NSW Government has approved a new business enterprise corridor which will help create additional employment and housing opportunities along a section of Hume Highway at Yagoona. Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the amendment to the Bankstown local environmental plan (LEP) will rezone an area known as the Rookwood Road precinct in Yagoona to a combination of business enterprise and residential zones.

Parramatta. Workshop on economic levy

Parramatta City Council will hold a workshop to discuss the future use of the economic development levy, including the possible re-introduction of the economic development board and the composition of its membership, tenure and outcomes.