Blue Mountains. Councillor to stand down

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) president and Blue Mountains Ward 3 Labor councillor, Alison McLaren, will not stand at the 2012 local government elections. At 23, Cr McLaren was the youngest-ever person to be elected to Blue Mountains City Council. She is the longest-serving president of the WSROC.

Blue Mountains. Economic body formed

Blue Mountains City Council will join with local business to form a new economic development entity, Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE). The BMEE will have a skills-based board of six to eight members, including two council representatives, with the public selection process for board members to commence shortly. Council’s overall support to sustainable economic development through the BMEE will be at least $1.3 million over four years.

Camden. AGL considering submissions

AGL is preparing a response to the more than 20 submissions lodged about its Northern Expansion project - an extension of its Camden Gas Project, which has been ongoing since 2002. The expansion, known as Camden Gas Project Stage 3, would comprise drilling wells 700 metres below the ground at 12 locations around the Camden and Campbelltown local government areas.

Penrith. Panthers to sell 12 clubs

The Panthers Group has resolved to sell 12 clubs regarded as “not core property” to ride itself of an $80 million debt, according to The Sunday Telegraph. The Panthers annual report noted the key reason behind the proposed sale of assets was $63 million loan that Panthers has to repay by June next year. Panthers posted losses of $61 million over the past eight years, including $9.5 million last year.

Windsor. Road through historic square

Hawkesbury Council’s preferred choice of a $31 million, four land, high-level bridge over the Hawkesbury River has an approach road through the historic Thompson Square. “It is the only civic square in Australia from the 18th century,” said heritage architect, Graham Edds.

Greenacre. 200th outlet

Bunnings opened its 200th store in Greenacre, with 18 stores under construction, as part of $1,5 billion, 78-store building program over the next three years, in Australia and New Zealand.

Region. Fastest growing LGAs

ABS statistics show that in 2010-11, the six fastest-growing LGAs in NSW were all within Sydney Statistical Division. Three of these were located along the Parramatta River in inner western and central western Sydney: Canada Bay, 3 per cent, Parramatta, 2.5 per cent and Auburn, 22.4 per cent. Camden, in outer south-western Sydney recorded 2.8 per cent. Council areas in Western Sydney with the largest population increases were: Blacktown, 5800 people, Parramatta, 4300 people, Liverpool, 3400 people and Bankstown, 3000 people

Region. Infrastructure in GWS

Nick Greiner, head of Infrastructure NSW, will speak on “Infrastructure in GWS”, at the Crowne Plaza, at Norwest Business Park, on June 21. This is a Western Sydney Business Connection event.

Region. What they said

“There’s an overriding focus on the (Sydney) CBD as the only place to do business, but the Western Sydney brand is starting to emerge as an attractive place for people to operate out of; there needs to be the willingness to invest the time and resources to make sure that growth happens in a planned,” … Peter Forrester, Deloitte Managing Partner, Western Sydney

“Take 30 seconds to study a map of Sydney and it will be immediately obvious that the key to the future development of this city lies at Parramatta. If we take the long view, it is evident the geographic heart of the city must become its commercial hub and its principal transport interchange” … Gary Burgess, the NSW Premier’s Chair of Public Service Delivery, at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government

“By 2036, more than half of Sydney’s population will reside in the west. Instead of continuing to try to funnel these workers in the Sydney CBC we must create the necessary links to Parramatta, Penrith and Liverpool.”… Parramatta Lord Mayor, Lorraine Wearne.

“It is inevitable that Parramatta will become the city’s second CBD and infrastructure planning must be recast with that at the front of our minds. Among other things, Parramatta will become the principal rail interchange”. …Gary Burgess, the NSW Premier’s Chair of Public Service Delivery, at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

“As a first step, Mr O’Farrell’s government should recognise the importance of the area by increasing the ministerial focus given to the west … Editorial, The Daily Telegraph.