Region. Funding sought for four major projects

The Australian Financial Review reports speculation that Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who has identified Western Sydney as a priority area, will announce major initiatives for the region before the election. Projects for consideration include the $4 billion duplication of the M5 tunnel and the $11 billion M4 east, which would help commuters from the south-west and west respectively. Rail projects requiring funding are the $6.7 billion North-West Rail Link and the $4.5 billion Western Express. The federal seats of Lindsay, Macquarie, Parramatta and Macarthur are vulnerable at the election due in the next six months.

Region. UWS medical students go west

Eight UWS medical students have commenced work in the Rural Clinical School based at Bathurst Hospital. UWS medical students in their fourth and fifth years will spend 12 months working in the Bathurst community at the hospital and in other local healthcare settings, such GP clinics. Dean of the UWS School of Medicine, Professor Alison Jones said the school provides students the opportunity to experience the rewards and challenges of providing healthcare in regional Australia..

Region. Movement of containers

Sydney Ports is investing $97.4 million in the development of the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre (ILC) to boost the transit of containers. Currently, 85 per cent of containers through Port Botany originate from or are bound for a destination within 40 kilometres of the port. May was the highest ever May monthly throughput and the eighth consecutive monthly record in Sydney Ports’ container trade history, reaching an increase of 7.9 per cent on the same month last year. The ILC is part of a network of existing and planned intermodal terminal facilities in Sydney and would service around a quarter of the total intermodal demand. The project is expected to commence operations progressively during 2011, and to be fully operational in 2012.

Parramatta. Restaurant fined $660

Prospero’s restaurant, in the Church Street dining precinct, has been fined $660 for failing to maintain all fixtures, fittings and equipment to the required standard of cleanliness. An accumulation of food waste, grease, and other visible matter was observed.

Parramatta. Forum attracts over 150 delegates

NSW Minister for Transport, John Robertson and the Shadow Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, will attend the Lord Mayor's Transport Forum, which has attracted over 150 delegates from a wide range of government departments and agencies, and leading private businesses in Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney. The half-day forum will be held at The Sebel Parramatta, on Friday, July 2. The forum is an initiative of Parramatta City Council.