Blacktown. Krispy Kreme into administration

Poor sales have forced Krispy Kreme Australia, based in Blacktown, to go into voluntary administration and placed in the hands of accountancy firm Smith Hancock. The doughnut chain denied the downturn has been caused by increasingly health-conscious customers, instead pointing to a number of ailing outlets affected by high rents and high distribution costs. The US-based chain arrived in Australia seven years ago - now there are 50 outlets employing 660 staff across Australia. Company spokesman, Matt Horan, said it was unknown how many employees would be made redundant or if any stores would be closed.

Penrith. Auction of swim centre

The Inswim Aquatic Centre, on the fringe of the Penrith CBD will be auctioned on November 4. The facility, established in 1997, has a 6 lanes x 25 metre pool, separate lap pool and a resident swimming club.

Blue Mountains. EOI for Palais Royale

Expression of interest have been called for the sale of The Palais Royale, in Katoomba, a restored boutique hotel, with 40 guest rooms, ballroom and within walking distance of Echo Point.

Region. Chair sought for catchment board

The NSW Catchment Management Authorities is seeking to appoint a chair of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Board. Applicants should reside in the catchment area. The successful applicant would be appointed for a three- year term.

Westmead. $7 million for hospital

Westmead. $7 million for hospital

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead will benefit from more than $7 million in funding for essential medical equipment and refurbishments to the hospital’s emergency department resuscitation room. The Emergency Department at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is one of the busiest hospitals in the Sydney region and sees more than 50,000 patients each year.

Liverpool. $142 million project underway

Minister for Transport, John Robertson, announced early works on the $142 million Liverpool Turnback Project will have commence later this year. He said the project will include a new section of track, a new train turnback, upgrades to Liverpool station and new signaling to improve services. The project due to be completed in 2014.

Auburn. New LEP for LGA

The Auburn LGA will become a major employment hub with a total of 44,500 new jobs created across the council area within the next 20 years following the approval of a new council-wide local environmental plan (LEP). Under the LEP, Lidcombe and Auburn town centres will be expanded with a focus on mixed use developments containing retail, commercial office space and residential units. Existing industrial land on the key arterial roads of Parramatta Rd and Silverwater Rd will be rezoned as enterprise corridors to encourage economic activity.

Granville. Revitalisation of town centre

Granville town centre has been identified for revitalisation under a new State environmental planning policy (SEPP), an important part of the government’s aim to create more connected cities and communities, where new housing and jobs are linked to public transport. It will allow the NSW government, working closely with local councils, to investigate the rezoning of land in areas where there is adequate and effective transport infrastructure.

Blue Mountains. $20 million upgrade

The Fairmont Resort, at Leura, will benefit from a $20 million upgrade over the next 18 months after being sold by the Bankwest to Schwartz Hotels, the largest family-owned hotel company in Australia. Geoff York will stay on as general manager after rebuilding the resort’s reputation since Deloitte was appointed as administrators in February, after previous owner Brighten Pty Ltd was ruled in court to have defaulted on its loan by running the resort into the ground between 2007 and 2009. The Fairmont Resort is the tenth hotel owned by Schwartz Hotels, established by Dr Schwartz’s late father.

Liverpool. Development of business skills

The Liverpool Business Enterprise Centre has launched the Young Entrepreneurs Program to help business owners aged 18-30 develop their business skills and improve their business. Macarthur and Liverpool Business Enterprise Centre business development manager, Bill Parker, said the program involved assisting young entrepreneurs to identify the areas in their business where they felt they needed help.