Sydney Olympic Park. Boost for Acer Arena

The Acer Arena, at Sydney Olympic Park, would be the beneficiary should the Sydney Business Chamber succeed in its call for the demolition of the Sydney Entertainment Centre to allow for an expansion of the exhibition and convention space, at Darling Harbour. The venue and its car park could make room for an extra 20,000 square metres of exhibition space in a multi-purpose facility with a hotel. ''We need more convention space in the CBD to attract high-profile international events to Sydney that will boost the economy and cement Sydney as a regional business and cultural powerhouse,'' said the chamber's executive director, Patricia Forsythe. Demolition of the Entertainment Centre would leave the 15,000-seat Acer Arena as Sydney's only large indoor concert venue.

Region. Levy cap may be raised

Planning Minister, Tony Kelly, told the mayors of Penrith, Baulkham Hills, Camden and Campbelltown he was pushing a compromise to have the caps on council developer levies lifted from $20,000 to $30,000, with a $50 million grant to make up for levy shortfalls for affected councils. The proposal also involves the cap not applying on developments where more than a quarter of the project has already begun. Mr Kelly said Treasury opposed his idea and urged them to get their local MPs to lobby ministers on the issue, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.