Region. TAFE takes out top award

TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute has been named the 2010 Australian Large Training Provider of the Year, at the Australian Training Awards The accolade – one of the Australian Training Awards’ highest honours – comes on the back of the Institute being named NSW Large Training Provider of the Year for two years in a row. Asia Pacific glass packaging and manufacturing company, O-I, at Penrith, won the Australian Training Industry Award for Manufacturing.

North Ryde. Smoking policy at university

Macquarie University has announced that it will introduce a new smoking policy across its campus from 1 January 2011. Smoking on university property will be restricted to designated smoking zones, making the majority of the campus smoke free. Macquarie is one of the first universities to introduce such a policy across all its properties. Elsewhere on the campus, the Macquarie University Hospital Cancer Care Centre at North Ryde has been officially opened The centre will have access to state-of-the-art cancer treatment facilities at the Macquarie University Hospital. The centre is part of the 183 bed not-for-profit hospital, which is funded by the university.

Silverwater. Metcash advises ACCC of purchase

In a brief statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, the Metcash grocery group, at Silverwater, said it had advised the ACCC of its decision to acquire the 88-store chain from Franklins' South African owner, Pick 'n' Pay Retailers. Metcash, which supplies the IGA supermarket chain, announced in July that it planned to buy the loss-making Franklins from the South African Pick n Pay Group for $215 million.

Newington. Ericsson to provide technology

EnergyAustralia will rely on Ericsson technology to deliver the first national smart grid, in a deal worth up to $12 million to turn 15,000 NSW households into smart homes in Newington, the Sydney CBD¸ Ku-ring-gai, Newcastle and Scone.
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