Richmond. RAAF base ruled out

Sydney Airport CEO, Kerrie Mather, says she will defend the company’s first right of refusal to build and operate a second Sydney airport, including any conversion of the Royal Australia Air Force base, at Richmond, to regular passenger use. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, issued a report to investigate Richmond airport for “limited civil operations” to help ease constraints at Sydney Airport.

Region. Climate change effect

Temperatures in Western Sydney are rising faster than the eastern suburbs leading to prediction hospital admissions will skyrocket by 2030. The Climate Commission said, in a report released today, that Western Sydney was suffering form “an urban island heat effect” with concrete, buildings an asphalt rising temperatures by 1C to 2C. The report said hot days had already increased 60 per cent in Western Sydney since 1970 and days in Sydney above 35C would balloon from 3.3 in 2008 to 14 in 2100.

Penrith. Inaugural City Talk

Mr Toby Compton, business development advisor for the State of Tennessee, in the USA, will deliver the inaugural City Talk event, hosted by the Penrith Business Alliance (PBA) and Penrith City Council. His topic will be: Attracting Global Capital in the Healthcare Industry- the Nashville Experience. “It is hoped that there are good lessons to be learnt from the Nashville experience in growing our own Penrith Health and Education Precinct which has a vision ‘to become one of Australia’s premier destinations for health, education, medical research and related industry over the next ten years.’”, said PCA CEO, Bijai Kumar. The event will take place at Panthers on June 5.

Penrith. Passing on carbon tax

Glass packing manufacturer, O-I Australia, which has a facility in Penrith, will pass on to cuastomers cost increases arising from the carbon tax which comes into affect in July. O- is adopting the same approach as rival Amcor.

Blue Mountains. Call for directors

The Blue Mountains City Council, as the founding member of Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise Limited,, is seeking expressions of interest from up to six voluntary individuals to be appointed to the board. The entity has recently been created to identify and pursue strategies to promote sustainable economic activities and stimulate investment to diversify, grow and strengthen the employment base of the Blue Mountains.

Sydney Olympic Park. V8 Supercars may go

Government inaction could see the Sydney 500 V8 Supercars race – the highest attended sporting event in NSW – head to Queensland or overseas, according to The Sunday Telegraph. V8 organisers fear the O’Farrell government will not renew the $2 million five-year contract to hold the three-day finale at Olympic Park because of little progress in negotiations.