The Hills. Council resigns from WSROC

The Hills Shire Council has resigned from the Blacktown-based regional lobby group, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC). Council said WSROC had not delivered the infrastructure and funding it required and would not continue to pay a fee of approximately $65,000 annually “for little or no return”. Council will focus on developing the North-West sector as a brand of its own and will work at strengthening ties with Hawkesbury and Hornsby councils to focus on important issues such as planning, infrastructure, transport and economic development for Sydney Hills.

Auburn. Harvey Norman to pay $55m-plus

Harvey Norman Holdings is expected to hand over a cheque for more than $55 million today to settle its acquisition of more than 30 stores in the Clive Peeters retail chain. Most of the money will go to repaying Peeters's only secured creditor, National Australia Bank, which is owed about $38 million.The purchase price includes stores clearance centres and some warehousing facilities of strategic value.

Emu Plains. End of quarry operations

Building and construction materials group Boral will invest $200 million over three years in Peppertree hardrock quarry, near Marulan, to replace its Emu Plains quarry which was nearing the end of its life, expected in 2014.

North Ryde. Professor wins coveted fellowship

Macquarie University evolutionary ecologist Professor Mark Westoby is one of 15 researchers nationwide to receive a coveted Australian Laureate Fellowship.The fellowships scheme, awarded by the Australian Research Council, gives outstanding research leaders the opportunity to tackle some of the most urgent and complex research issues facing Australia and the world. Professor Westoby, in the Department of Biological Sciences, leads the Genes to Geoscience Research Centre. His research interests lie in the fields of ecology and evolution, mainly of plants. He is convenor of the ARC-NZ Research Network for Vegetation Function.