Region. Tourism events in the west

Parramatta and Penrith are leading the way in developing tourism promotions and attractions for their region, while Blue Mountains City Council has tourism as a central plank in their economy, according to Clr Alison McLaren, when commenting on Premier Barry O’Farrell’s statement to talk to Western Sydney councils about staging more tourism events in the region. “The move will bring major benefits to the region by boosting employment and investment opportunities and at the same time would open the doors to local, interstate and international visitors who may not previously have been aware of what the region has to offer,” she said. Deputy Mayor, Jim Aitken, of Penrith City Council, said the city was primed and ready to take on and host some of NSW’s major events and festivals.

South West. Tenants for new business park

The $100 million Central Hills Business Park in the heart of the South West Growth Centre has secured a $12.5 million, 13,500-square-metre Woolworths hardware, in the 45-hectare business park on Camden Valley Way, Camden Hire, Wisdom Homes and a civic engineer and haulage contractor, TRN, are other tenants. Dart West Developments is developing the park and creating the nearby Gregory Hills housing community. More than 250,000 people are expected to move into the area in the next 40 years.

Reguion. CarLovers in trouble

The major shareholder, Berjaya, has appointed receivers, PKF, to protect is secured loans in CarLovers Carwash group, based in Seven Hills, which has outlets across Western Sydney and interstate. Berjaya bought the company in 2003 in an off-market cash takeover after it went into administration, according to The Australian Financial Review. PKF partner, Ken Whittingham said it planned for CarLovers to trade on and to sell the business as a going concern as quickly as possible

Penrith. Yellow Brick Road goes west

Lending and financial services firm, Yellow Brick Road, has opened an office in Penrith, with plans for a second office in St Marys to open by the end of June 2011. Principal of the new office, Fernando Lemos stated: “We opened in Penrith to take advantage of a gap in lending and financial services in the west. Over the next 2 years Yellow Brick Road will establish a large presence in Penrith, and we will be looking for skilled finance professionals who want to work with us”.

Parramatta. Report on electric cars

Parramatta City Council has resolved that a report be prepared on incentives to encourage Parramatta-based organisations or individuals to acquire electric vehicles and such report investigate possible expression of interest processes to procure electrical recharge units and possibly electric vehicles for a trial period.

Region. Highlighting manufacturing

NSW Manufacturing Week, which will be held from May 2-6, promotes the key role manufacturing plays in the NSW economy. Events will address many of the issues relevant to the future success of the industry. The workshops, seminars and site visits are designed to show how to boost profitability through innovation, productivity and. sustainability. The Western Sydney Manufacturing Leaders Forum and Innovation Technology Showcase will be held from 1.00pm to 8.00pm, on May 2, at the Novotel, Sydney Olympic Park. Manufacturing is the dominant industry in Greater Western Sydney, contributing approximately 16 per cent of the $85 billion regional GRP, and is the largest employer in the region and the metropolitan area.

Parramatta. Council calls for EOI

Parramatta City Council has called for expressions of interest for potential members to join its design excellence advisory panel to provide independent expert advice and expertise on urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, art and sustainability within Parramatta. Council is also seeking EOI in the provision of advertising services on the infrastructure of council.