Region. Call to protect agriculture

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has called for renewed focus on agricultural industries in and near Sydney. “These industries are essential to maintaining a diverse economy and securing the supply of fresh produce for Sydneysiders – which in turn secures healthy families and workforce productivity”, WSROC president, Clr McLaren said. “Agriculture in Western Sydney directly employs 12,000 people, with a further 24,000 employed in manufacturing, 48,000 in food retail and another 96,000 people working in Sydney’s restaurants,

Parramatta. ICAC report to be studied

Sydney Water, headquartered in Parramatta, has accepted an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) report into allegations of corrupt conduct. “The commissioner found that nine people had engaged in corrupt conduct. Five were former Sydney Water employees, one is a current employee, one has recently moved to the Office of Fair Trading, and two are members of the public,” said Kerry Schott, MD, of Sydney Water. “Sydney Water will study the ICAC report and fully action the recommendations as soon as possible,” she said.

Bankstown. 'Free Weekends' pays off

Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown said its Fly Free Weekends initiative was a success, as it showed an increase in movements of 4.3 per cent from the previous quarter weekend. “The recent trends in the general aviation activity have been depressed with traffic falling 20 per cent in 2010 compared to the previous year. As airport businesses across the board have experienced a decline in activity, we decided to trial some initiatives to boost traffic and stimulate the flow-on effect to aviation businesses across the airport,” said Colin Grove, CEO Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown.