Penrith. Shaping a vision for Penrith

Penrith City Councill has announced a creative partnership that will see a French art collective re-imagine Penrith as a modern and sustainable city. Museum of Contemporary Art director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, said artists like Campement Urbain founder Sylvie Blocher, who visited Penrith in February, challenged the city’s status quo. Bolstered by Blocher’s work, the project will guide the council in shaping its vision of a progressive, innovatively designed urban centre. Mayor Kevin Crameri said he was “intrigued” about the project’s possibilities. The Future of Penrith/Penrith of the Future project is a collaboration between the council, Campement Urbain, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Panthers, Penrith Performing and Visual Arts, C3West and Landcom.

The Hills. Business plan for showground

The Hills Shire Council has adopted a business plan for Castle Hill showground until 2020. The plan calls for "vast improvements'' in services, infrastructure and customer service to attract "higher calibre'' and numbers of clients. The site has “great potential'' for increased use and to generate income while still being able to cater for the needs of existing users. The plan envisages the showground being a central location in The Hills for major events, expos, festivals, markets and agricultural shows.

Liverpool. Chamber gives thumbs up to rail link

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce members see "light at the end of the tunnel'' for business and the local economy when the South West Rail Link project is completed. Transport Construction Authority representatives, public affairs manager, Adrian Leopardi, and director of planning, David Gainsford, said the project would service an expected 110,000 homes in the South-West growth centre. Mr Leopardi told members at its monthly meeting work on the $1.3 billion and 11.4 kilometres of track from Glenfield to Leppington will start this month. Chamber president, Harry Hunt, said: `"The rail link will be a real boost for the economy.”

Region. Ratepayers pay for lost cases

Parramatta City Council lost 77 per cent, or 17 of 22 cases brought before the Land and Environment Court, costing ratepayers $1.9 million in legal fees, in the 2008-09 financial year. The Hills Shire Council lost 100 per cent, or 11 of 11 of cases, costing ratepayers $977,000, according to an investigation by The Daily Telegraph.

Parramatta. Large footplates 'all time low'

Large contiguous office space in the Parramatta CBD is at an all time low, with only three buildings able to offer over 3000 square metres of A grade space; current demand could see this contiguous vacancy very easily absorbed, according to John Siciliano, associate director – office leasing in Knight Frank’s Parramatta office. “The largest vacancy is 5000 square metres at 126 Church Street with GE’s 87 Marsden Street close behind with 3500 square metres vacant. There are only two properties able to offer a floor plate of over 1200 square metres, The Octagon and Denison Group’s 30 Cowper Street,” he said Organisations looking to expand having no other choice but to remain on short term leases in their current premises in anticipation of new development supply. While the majority of existing tenants are eager to stay put, some businesses have had to relocate simply because the market could not accommodate them at the time, he said.

Region. $21 million of retail property sales

More than $21 million worth of retail property, in Western Sydney has been transacted in the second quarter of 2010, specifically in the sub-$30 million bracket, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report. "The second quarter illustrates that demand seems to have shifted to retail investment with a solid cash flow,” said Harry Bui, of CBRI. ”The standout example of our recent sales is the (3911-square-metre) Cecil Hills Shopping Village sold for$10.8 million on an initial net yield of 8.9 per cent,” he said.