Region. Resilient industrial market

The Central West has emerged as the most resilient industrial market in Sydney. Over the past three months, CBRE has leased over 15,000 square metres of industrial space in business parks throughout the Central West, which includes Homebush, Lidcombe, Auburn, Silverwater, Rydalmere and Chullora. CBRE Parramatta MD, Cameron Grier, said a scarcity of vacant industrial sites had underpinned land values in the area, even during the worst of the GFC, when land prices across Western Sydney had fallen on average between 25 per cent and 40 per cent.

Lidcombe. New head office for Synnex

Synnex Australia Pty Ltd, a global IT supply chain services company and one of the largest distribution companies in Australia, paid $10.5 million for a 2.1-hectare site, at Lidcombe, to build a state-of-the-art office/warehouse facility to serve as the company’s new Sydney headquarters. The property was listed for sale by National Foods. CB Richard Ellis negotiated the sale.

Parramatta. New civic leader's plans

Plans by Parramatta’s new lord mayor, John Chedid, include a strong focus on commercial districts so that the CBD continued to attract new workers and by developing an innovative approach to business. “I’m confident we can cement our city’s status as one of the nation’s leading economies. I want Parramatta to be the model of economic growth in this country and set commercial benchmarks that other cities follow,” he said. Independent Councillor, Michael McDermott, has been elected as deputy lord mayor.

Parramatta. Work on digital applications

Work has commenced on the development of a number of digital applications aimed at improving the way ratepayers, residents, businesses and visitors interact, as part of Parramatta City Council’s ParraConnect initiative. One of the projects examined is a Parking Availability Application, which is being developed in conjunction with University of Western Sydney students. Council is currently negotiating with its four parking stations so that real-time parking data can be provided to users to assess the availability of car-spots across the area. Discussions are also underway to trial wi-fi kiosk terminals throughout the CBD, which will provide access to council, visitor and event information and details of local businesses.