Eastern Creek. Extension sought

The Department of Planning is considering an application from the Australian Racing Car Drivers Club Ltd to construct an extension to the Eastern Creek Raceway to create two linked but potentially independent circuits, an associated second pit lane and a building incorporating six off-pit garages, public amenities and race control room.

Parramatta. No joy until 2036

An assessment by Transport NSW of Sydney's long-term rail strategy, Long Term Rail Strategy Phase 5 Assessment, marked ''cabinet in confidence'' and dated August 2011, obtained by the Sydney Morning Hetrald, reveals that rail planners expect that so much money and expertise will be tied up building the north-west rail link until about 2019 that another big project is not considered possible until then; the Epping to Parramatta line is being planned as a shuttle between the stations but is not expected to operate until 2036.

Granville. MSD to close

Pharmaceutical company, Merck Sharp & Dohme, plans to close its South Granville factory. Drug formulation will come to an end in 2012 and packaging in 2013. “It is not a good thing for the country. The company looked at how to consolidate its network of manufacturing sites, and we just were not competitive with other options,” said Jane Orr, MSD’s CEO, in The Australian Financial Review.

Harris Park. Property sold for $4.34 million

A private vendor has sold to Thaktol a property which includes two circa 1970 two-storey residential blocks comprising 26 one-bedroom units, over a 1700-square-metre site, at 46-48 Harris Street, in Harris Park, for $4.34 million