Blue Mountains. Chance to win gold

The Blue Mountains tourism industry has earned recognition at the highest level with three finalists from the region nominated to win gold at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Perth. The Magic of Jenolan (festivals and events category), Old Leura Dairy (unique accommodation category) and Garry Crockett (outstanding contribution by an individual to tourism category) qualified for the national awards after being one of five winners at the NSW Tourism Awards held last year.

Campbelltown. Business park needed

"We need a large business park in Campbelltown but government's got to do its part by moving some of its bodies out here to the outer suburbs. If they don't they're only going to create more traffic going to the city." Mayor, Paul Lake, said.

Parramatta. $50,000 is up for grabs

Parramatta City Council is on the hunt for the boldest, most innovative and creative thinkers to present their vision for a 2.2-hectare site located between Lennox and Bernie Banter bridges as part of an international ideas competition, ‘Ideas on Edge’. Prize money of $50,000 is on offer for a commercially viable idea for the site located at a prime position on the edge of Parramatta River, with the competition open to people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world. The competition will close on Wednesday 11 May 2011 at midday. Entry to the competition is free.

Liverpool. Council defers decisioon

Liverpool City Council has deferred discussions on the building of the new council chambers and administration centre, which was destroyed by fire in August last year. Mayor Wendy Waller said she was waiting on "sufficient" information from council officers and the general manager before setting a date for a meeting. Almost 50 council staff remained working in the undamaged north wing while just fewer than 190 staff members moved to temporary offices at 33 Moore Street, Liverpool.

Penrith. New image for the city

Penrith City Council plans to spend $120,000 to “refresh and revitalise” the image and marketing of the city and the council. Deputy Mayor Jim Aitken questioned whether it would be better to invest in footpaths or in making the city more presentable to bring in more business, jobs and investment. Information and customer relations group manager Brian Steffen said the brand would attract people to the city.

Penrith. Projects worth $43 million approved

State Government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel has approved four projects worth an estimated $43 million for Penrith. The four projects included applications for a new oral health facility on the Nepean Hospital site, an $18 million multi-storey residential complex in Henry St, Penrith, a village lake for Jordan Springs and a 281-lot residential subdivision in Glenmore Park stage two. Deputy Mayor Jim Aitken said: “There are a further seven projects to be reported to the JRPP in the near future.“This buzz of investment activity indicates the confidence developers and investors are showing in our city.

Ingleburn. Talking to TV companies

The Ingleburn-based MediaHub, the $50 million television “playout” company, owned by WIN Corp and the ABC, is talking to other TV companies about using its 12-month-old facility. The facility, in a former printing company premises, was designed to handle more than the ABC’s 40 TV channels and WIN’s 82 channels, with the capacity to handle more.

Blacktown. Hotel approved

Amalgamated Holdings Ltd’s application for the construction of the three storey Abode Hotel, at 32 Cricketers Arms Road, Prospect, has been approved. The three-storey building will have 124 rooms and 82 parking spaces. Approval has also been given for the reconfiguration of southern movie screen and parking of existing drive-in cinema.

Parramatta. A 'genuine' CBD

Christopher Brown, the former head of Tourism & Infrastructure Taskforce, said: “The only city in Australia that can aspire to (genuine) CBD status in the next 50 years will be Parramatta.” He was speaking at an economic development forum, Parramatta: Australia’s Next CBD, organised by Parramatta City Council

Parramatta. Commitment needed

In addressing senior executives in public and private sector circles from downtown Sydney, Dr Robert Lang, Parramatta City Council’s CEO said: “Commitment from government and investment from business are the two things needed to take Parramatta to the next level of development.”. He was speaking at council’s economic development forum, Parramatta: Australia’s Next CBD. “We’ve realised Parramatta has a much larger and more strategic role to play in the Sydney economy. If Parramatta succeeds, Sydney succeeds,” he said.