Blue Mountains. Tourism plan collapses

Blue Mountains City councillors are putting pressure on businesses to come up with ways to ease the burden on ratepayers for infrastructure costs in tourist areas after a 12-month Tourist Voluntary Contribution Scheme trial collapsed due to lack of support, according to the Blue Mountains Gazette. A council report stated the planned trial — aimed at raising at least $60,000 via guest donations — required the involvement of at least seven major accommodation businesses to be viable but it lacked the support of Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism (BMLOT), the Blue Mountains Accommodation Association (BMAA), and the Australian Hotels Association.

Blue Mountains. Hotel manager dies

The general manager of three iconic Blue Mountains hotels has died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart disease. Heinz Colby was the group general manager of Lilianfels Resort and Spa, Echoes Boutique Hotel and the Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath. He was 48-years-old when he died from cardiomyopathy,.

Macquarie Park. 550 new apartments

The Departmdent of Planning has approved of five buildings up to 12 storeys high in a new housing development of up to 550 apartments in Herring Rd, Macquarie Park. The land is owned by the Baptist Union of NSW in Epping and is occupied by Morling Baptist Theological College. The Baptist Union agreed to sell more than 17,000 square metres – about a third of its total holding – to Lipman Properties No date for a start on construction has been given. The estimated value of the is $150.5 million.

Region. Campuses as laboratories

Professor Scott, UWS pro-vice-chancellor (quality) said the university was interested in using its campuses as laboratories for environmental sustainability, "particularly with regard to climate change and various options for dealing with it".