Rhodes. Meriton's massive project

Meriton Apartments Pty Limited has its received approval, from the Department of Planning, for the construction of a residential development, at Rhodes, comprising 4 buildings of 6, 7, 25 and 25 storeys over basement parking levels providing 583 apartments. One retail tenancy, 694 car parking spaces, childcare centre, private gym and swimming pool facilities and landscaped public open space.

Silverwater. Metcash may challenge ACCC

Metcash, based at Silverwater, is expected to challenge a decision by the ACCC to block its planned $215 million takeover of the Franklins supermarket chain, claiming the threatened exit of Franklins' owner would only cede more power to industry heavyweights Woolworths and Coles. The ACCC said it believed Metcash's purchase of 85 Franklins stores would effectively give Metcash a monopoly on grocery wholesaling to independent NSW supermarkets. Franklins is owned by South African retail giant Pick n' Pay.

Region. Servcorp looking to second quarter

Servcorp, which opened its serviced and virtual offices in Parramatta in July, the first of four new Australian locations due to open in 2010, said tough trading conditions in the first quarter of this year would give way to improved revenues in the remainder of 2010-11. Servcorp has an office in Norwest.

Region. Bookseller loses business

REDgroup, which has Angus & Robertson and Borders bookstore outlets in Western Sydney, is considering cutting jobs as consumer expenditure falls and Australian booksellers lose business to the internet. It is believed any job losses will not be at its stores as it strives to maintain customer service but it will focus instead on reducing its headcount in back-office operations and administration. The chief executive, David Fenlon, resigned last week. The company has denied industry speculation his departure was over the business's financial woes and rather was for personal reasons.

North Ryde New research centre

Indian Consul General, Amit Dasgupta, has launched Macquarie University’s new India Research Centre, which is designed to act as a focus, catalyst and showcase for the exciting styles of research on India already taking place within the Faculty of Arts at the University, said faculty of arts executive dean, Professor John Simons. He noted the India Research Centre is a central part of the larger ‘Great India Project’ – a multi-disciplinary initiative designed to increase understanding and create bridges between Australians and Indians. The project began earlier this year with a donation of 100 books presented by the Indian Consul General to the university.