Region. Full control of hotels

The NRMA is angling to take full control of the $375.2 million Travelodge Group from its partner Mirvac Group, according to The Australian Financial Review. Travelodge has hotels in Bankstown, Blacktown and North Ryde.

Sydney Olympic Park. Stadium upgrade opened

Premier Barry O’Farrell has opened the revamped Sydney Showground Stadium. Key features of the upgrade include new grandstands to the north east and south east of the stadium; an increase in capacity for seating from approximately 13,000 to 25,000 and in concert mode 40,000; and upgraded corporate hospitality, bars and function space. The $65 million upgrade was jointly funded by the NSW government, the Australian Football League and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.

Eastern Creek. Raceway rebranded

Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway has been rebranded as the Sydney Motorsport Park following a $12 million transformation, including the first new race circuits in Australia in a decade, upgraded pit facilities and the near doubling of capacity. The redevelopment is the result of a joint venture between the New South Wales government and the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club, which manages the venue. Sydney Motorsport Park will remain the only motorsport facility in the entire Sydney basin after the closure of Amaroo Park in 1998 and Oran Park in 2010.

Parramatta. $76 million project

Developer of the Eureka 2 Project 10 Pty Ltd, at 109-113 George Street, on the corner of George, Argus Lane and Union Street, in the eastern precinct of the Parramatta CBD, has approval to construct two 19-storey towers contained 264 residential units, at a construction cost of $76 million. On April 2009 a DA was approved for a 14-storey commercial office tower.

Penrith. Creative industries forum

Penrith City Council, Penrith Business Alliance and Parramatta City Council’s Pop Up Parramatta project present Creative Industries Business Development Forum, at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, in Penrith, on June 8, from 7.30am-9.00am.

Blue Mountains. Quiet carriages

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced quiet carriages would be trialled for three months on all intercity trains on the South Coast Line between Kiama and Central and the Blue Mountains Line between Lithgow and Central from 1 June. The decision to implement quieter carriages was made based on feedback received from customers during the three-month trial on the Newcastle and Central Coast Line which started on 13 February.