Parramatta. Festival boost to business

Parramatta City Council and the local hospitality and retail sectors hope the inaugural Parramatta – Australian Festival of South Asian Arts, from November 4-8, will boost Parramatta’s profile on the cultural map and set cash registers ringing. “This festival showcases NSW’s rich cultural heritage and will be a premier arts event across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” said Premier Kristina Keneally at the launch. “This festival showcases NSW’s rich cultural heritage and will be a premier arts event across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” said MP for Parramatta, Tanya Gadiel. Parramatta Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, said: “The festival is expected to draw thousands of visitors and provide a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase Parramatta’s appeal as an events-led city. The festival is run by Parramasala Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation, in partnership with the NSW Government through Events NSW, and Parramatta City Council.

Region. More rooms for UWS students

Students’ residences at the UWS Campbelltown campus have more than doubled to 320 rooms. At the Penrith campus, the upgrade to the Penrith Residential College has allowed for the creation of 109 additional rooms. UWS Residential Colleges provides a total of 1179 rooms across five UWS campuses at Campbelltown, Bankstown, Hawkesbury, Penrith and Nirimba Education Precinct at Blacktown. In the past 10 years over 6000 UWS students have lived on-campus at UWS.

Penrith. New job for councillor

Clr Jim Aitken, on Penrith City Council, has been elected deputy chair, of the National Growth Area Alliance (NGAA), which represents Australia’s fastest growth local government areas. Clr Aitken, joins Craig Butler, council’s director of planning, who represents NSW on the NGAA executive committee.