Macquarie Park. New growth phase

Following a year of no new supply in 2011, Macquarie Park has entered a new phase of staggering growth off the back of substantially pre-commitment developments, said Simon van Grootel, CBRE’s director of industrial and office parks. In the next four years, about 56,755 square metres of new space is forecast to be created, according to CBRE’s latest Sydney Metropolitan Office MarketView report.

Region. $3.3 billion for rail link

The state government will commit $3.3 billion to be leased over four years to the North West Rail Link in the forthcoming budget, with a second Sydney Harbour Tunnel expected to be included in the plans, according to The Sydney Telegraph. The final project cost is expected to be between $8-9 billion

Penrith. Facility for health research

Penrith Business Alliance's chief executive, Bijai Kumar, said Penrith was well placed to become a health and educational precinct, with UWS, Kingswood TAFE and Nepean Hospital all close by. He said an enterprise park at the other side of it would attract national and international business to the region. Mr Kumar said the facility, built on the UWS Werrington South campus, would house health and bio-scientific industries as well as engineers, researchers and communications specialists. UWS has stated that it will contribute $14 million, or 50 per cent of the costs, to the project

Moorebank. Union supports facility

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says it supports the federal government's proposal for a freight container storage facility at Moorebank because it would meet increasing demand for freight transport in NSW, however more must be done to relieve congestion on the existing network.

Parramatta. Institute has permanent home

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced a $7 million grant to restore the historic Female Orphan School, at the UWS Parramatta campus, enabling the Whitlam Institute to be permanently housed in the building. ''There could be no better place to establish a permanent home for the Whitlam Institute and the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Library than in this grand old building, within this young, vibrant university,'' said the institute's director, Eric Sidoti.

Moorebank. $900 million move

Defence units based at Moorebank will move to new purpose-built facilities at Holsworthy Barracks, by 2014. The federal government allocated $559.4 million in the recent budget for the relocation and the Department of Defence will contribute $332 million from existing resources. The government approved the Holsworthy Barracks plan in April but it will be considered by the Public Works Committee of the Parliament in a public hearing this month.

Blacktown. Seeking underground water

Blacktown City Council is drilling two test bores of between 60 and 200 metres deep in an attempt to locate an underground water source for use at the Blacktown International Sports Park The project makes council’s decision yo go ahead with the $4.4 million investment, a first for the state.

Blacktown. $24 million carpark

Blacktown City Council has received a DA for the $24 million, multi-storey carpark, at Blacktown Hospital. The carpark will provide 600 spaces.

The Hills. New home for council

The Hills Shire Council is set to move from its current location on the corner of Showground and Carrington Roads, Castle Hill, to a new location at 3 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills at the gateway to Norwest Business Park, to ensure continuity of customer service during the construction of The North West Rail. “Council has been considering a number of alternatives for the future. Contracts have been exchanged on a site in Norwest Business Park that will become the new administrative centre for The Hills Shire,” council’s GM, David Walker said. It would take at least 18 months to complete and fit out the premises before relocation could occur, he said.

Norwest. Session on uni course

The University of Notre Dame Australia will conduct an information session on the availability of postgraduate courses which are planned to be held in the Norwest Business Park. The courses include professional accounting, business leadership, HR management, marketing, not for profit management and public relations. The information session will be held at the Crowne Plaza Norwest, on June 14, from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.