Warrick Farm. World-class training centre

Racing NSW chief executive, Peter V'landys, will support an application by TAFE for $15 million in federal government funding to build a world-class training academy at Warwick Farm. ''Everyone is supportive of trying to get this academy over the line, and Warwick Farm is the perfect place for it, but we need between $10 and 15 million to set it up properly,'' he said. The academy could have a temporary home at Canterbury after ATC chairman, John Cornish, made the offer of the club's offices, which will be vacated soon, for use as a teaching facility.

Parramatta. $500,00 for festival in Parramatta

Parramatta will receive a major event boost with NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Barry O’Farrell, announcing the first ever dedicated Sydney Festival program for the city’s west, with $500,000 devoted to the development of a ten-day Sydney Festival in Parramatta. “My Government is committed to attracting major events to Western Sydney and this expansion of the Sydney Festival delivers on that,” Mr O’Farrell said

North-West. Keen interest in rail link

The NSW government’s $8 billion North-West Rail Link has attracted keen interest from accounting firms, consultants and banks vying to provide financial advice to the state’s biggest infrastructure project “We’re very happy that we’ve got such a strong field,” said Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, in the Australian Financial Review.

North Ryde. Uni joins centre

Macquarie University has joined the new Centre for International Finance and Regulation. Hosted by the University of New South Wales, the centre will use the talent of its members and collaborators to produce world-class research, policy, teaching and engagement.

Parramatta. All properties secured

Parramatta City Council has now secured the freehold of all the properties to enable the $1.6 billion, 3-hectare site Civic Place redevelopment to proceed. The Civic Place site adjoins the main bus and heavy rail interchange and will be staged over an estimated 10-year period. It will include over 170,000 square metres of commercial, retail, residential and civic space, as well as over 6000 square metres of high quality public domain aimed at redefining the city’s centre. .Lord Mayor, John Chedid, said council had received enquires from enquiries from blue-chip companies and state agencies. Grocon is council’s partner in the project.