Sydney Olympic Park. Park to play a role

Sydney Olympic Park, Moore Park, Sydney’s hotels, the Australian Technology Park, the Hordern Pavilion, Royal Randwick, Luna Park and Allphones Arena will play expanded roles in hosting conferences, smaller exhibitions and entertainment, following the NSW government’s announcement that an interim facility will be built on Glebe Island to temporarily host exhibitions during construction of Australia’s largest convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities, at Darling Harbour from December 2013 to late 2016.

Hawkesbury. $40 million investment

A $40 million entertainment complex anticipated to provide more than 80 jobs is planned for McGraths Hill, the developers having just completed DA prelodgement discussions with Hawkesbury Council.The complex is planned to have a 10-screen luxury cinema over two levels, multiple family restaurants, a tavern, bowling alley, laser skirmish centre, and a children’s activities and play area. The recently-acquired site is a vacant block in the Groves Avenue industrial complex.

Region. Fewer councils suggested

Fewer, bigger councils and a ''Sydney senate'' to make city-wide planning decisions are among the proposals submitted by the Committee for Sydney, an influential policy group, to the state government's reviews of planning and local government.

Tim Williams, CEO, of the group, said the city should create 10 ''planning sub-regions'' or ''super councils'' - more powerful councils that could work with the state government to make planning decisions across Sydney.

The 10 sub-regions would eventually replace Sydney's existing local government areas. Representatives from each sub-region would join a small working group called the ''Sydney senate'' to help the government design and deliver city-wide plans, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Blacktown. $16 million first stage opened

Blacktown City Council has officially opened the $16 million first stage of the three- stage Blacktown Showground. The total cost of the development is expected to be more than $70 million.