Parramatta. Job generation

Parramatta City Council’s employment development strategy makes employment generation the overarching goal for Parramatta. It aims to meet or exceed the Metropolitan Plan targets of 27,500 extra jobs by 2036; increase the number of people living and working in Parramatta; shift the profile of the workforce towards the ‘knowledge’ end of the employment spectrum; and concentrate employment in four specialists precincts; CBD, Westmead, Camellia and Rydalmere.

North Rude. Uni seeks top person

Macquarie University is conducting a worldwide search for a vice-chancellor to head the institution, ranked fourth in Australia for research, with the retirement of Professor Steven Schwartz in December 2012.

North West. Concern over rail cost

Barry O’Farrell’s infrastructure adviser, the former premier Nick Greiner, is pushing the government to reopen the saga of the north west rail link, citing concerns about its cost and a lack of faith in RailCorp, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. In a development recalling the missing line's tortuous 13-year history, Mr Greiner is lobbying inside government for it to consider throwing the planning and operation of the line to the private sector. If the government adopts Mr Greiner's suggestion, it would need to break a commitment to have the line's final plan and cost set in stone by the end of this year.