Region. UWS scores funding

The University of Western Sydney has received more than $3.2 million in funding from the National Health Medical and Research Council (NHMRC). UWS has been awarded four NHMRC Project grants and one Partnership grant totalling $2.4 million. In addition, newly recruited UWS researchers have also been successful with Project grants totalling more than $800,000. Also, the university has received a significant boost to its research funding, securing more than $3 million from the latest round of prestigious Australian Research Council grants. UWS has been awarded 10 'Discovery Project' grants valued at over $2.8million, moving UWS to 16th in the sector, up from 21 out of 40 last year.

Region. Home builders suffer

Home builder Cosmopolitan Constructions, at Padstow, has gone into voluntary liquidation. The company has around 150-200 homes under construction in NSW. Creditors have voted to wind up the last of the Westminister Homes Group, at Baulkham Hills.

North Ryde. Uni could scrap degrees

Macquarie University could scrap undergraduate honours degrees and replace them with two-year research master’s degrees as a pathway into a PhD, as it looks to boost its international standing and that of its graduates. The move would align its degree structure with those in Europe, North America and China, according to The Australian Financial Review.

Bella Vista. Woolworths land bank

Bella-Vista based Woolworths, the nation’s largest retailer, is rapidly expanding its land bank and becoming one of Australia’s biggest property developers. The group is cementing its dominance of the retail sector by acquiring prime land in urban and regional areas for stores, and going into partnership with residential developers to build housing, according to The Australian Financial Review. Areas where Fabcot, the company’s development arm, owns land in Western Sydney include Baulkham Hills, Berala, Chester Hill, Fairfield Heights, Greystanes, Katoomba, Kellyville, Leura, Schofields and Windsor.