Sydney Olympic Park. Authority wins award

Sydney Olympic Park Authority has been recognised for championing sustainability in education, after receiving the Corporate Award for Excellence in the Learning for Sustainability 2012 Awards of Excellence.The authority received the award in conjunction with the NSW Department of Education and Communities and the University of Western Sydney for its innovation in the delivery of the 2011 Youth Eco Summit.

The Hills. $26 million contract

Richard Crookes Constructions has won a $26 million contract, by the Hills Shire Council to upgrade its new council chambers in Columbia Court, in Norwest Business Park, which is expected to open by year’s end. Council also approved $300,000 for specialist consultants to carry out architectural interior design, engineering, furniture, fittings and equipment.

North West. $100 million project

The NSW Government has approved a $100 million project to provide vital water infrastructure to enable the development of 13,000 new homes Sydney’s north-west. The 14 kilometres of pipelines, two reservoirs, two pumping stations and 10 kilometres of pipelines will service residential and land release areas in Box Hill and Schofields. “There is potential to create around 17,500 jobs across the precincts in the business park, light industrial and retail and commercial areas,” Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard, said. “Schofields has already been zoned for urban development and revised plans for the Box Hill industrial precincts were recently put out for public feedback.”

Parramatta. Employment study

Parramatta City Council seeks quotations from consultants to undertake an employment lands study of prescribed industrial and business zoned land within the Parramatta local government area.

Region. Continue to play 'catch up''?

Western Sydney has a choice to accept a future designed by others and to continue to play “catch up”, or to define and embrace its own vision, according to WSROC’s Future Directions report. “WSROC (the Western Sydney Regional Organisations of Councils) has the opportunity to take the lead on the renewal and transformation for Western Sydney and re-position the region as one of the leading city-regions of Australia,” the authors, Strategies for Change/ARUP.