Region. Rental yields

Western Sydney suburbs offer investors excellent rental yields, according to Bernadette Brennan, of Premier Homes Finders. Investors could expect an average yield of 7.1 per cent in Mt Druitt, where the average apartment price was $220,000, in Blacktown an average yield of 6.7 per cent for an apartment valued at $250,000, and Fairfield a yield of 6.0 per cent with an average price for an apartment valued at $250,000.

Blacktown. Challenge to approval

DEXUS Property Group is challenging Blacktown City Council’s decision to approve the development of a rival shopping centre next to the group’s Plumpton Marketplace Mall, one of Australia’s top-10 small shopping centres.

Penrith. 11 priority projects

Western Sydney is growing fast and now is the time for the State Government to act on its promise to fix Western Sydney according to Penrith City Deputy Mayor Jim Aitken. Council has an Advocacy Program encompassing 11 priority projects in four themes to address existing and future infrastructure and capital investment. The themes are Regional City, Jobs, Connections and Lifestyle, which will be addressed during the NSW government a community cabinet in St Marys.

Norwest. MD departs

Managing director, Tony Dragicevich, of Wattyl Paints at Norwest Business Park, has departed from the paint maker less than two years after joining the company and barely 12 months after a $142 million takeover by US paint company, Valspar.