Penrith. $13.5 million for precinct

The federal government has contributed $13.5 million towards the Werrington Park Corporate Centre, the first step to establishing a multi-million dollar Health and Education Precinct for Penrith and Greater Western Sydney. The precinct will have the capacity to generate 6000 knowledge jobs of the future over the next 20 years, in areas such as health, engineering, digital communications and education. The funds will see the first stage of the $29.5 million Werrington Park get underway, with the development of a new 7000-square-metre office building on the UWS Werrington South campus. Penrith Business Alliance (PBA) chairman, Paul Brennan, said that the PBA would jointly deliver Werrington Park together with UWS.

Penrith. Response to discussion paper

Penrith City Council’s response to the state government’s “Sydney over the next 20 years” discussion paper includes support Penrith as the regional city for north west Sydney, expand the specific jobs target in Penrith to reflect council’s adopted target of 40,000 new jobs by 2031, reinforce the 70 per cent-30 per cent split for housing between existing and greenfield areas so as to confine Sydney’s urban footprint and reduce our ecological footprint, improve employment opportunities by locating a minimum of 50 per cent of all new jobs in Western Sydney, and improve public transport connections within Western Sydney, particularly between residential and employment locations.

Penrith. Social entrepreneurship in the city

Penrith City Council in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs will hold an information session to unearth social entrepreneurs in Penrith. The session aims to foster the skills, talents and ideas of local social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur is someone who works in an entrepreneurial manner, but for primarily social or public benefit. They may be running a business that employs disadvantaged job seekers, selling fair trade products, or offering an innovative service to support new migrants. Examples will be given of social entrepreneurship in Western Sydney and how to identify and support social entrepreneurs working in the Penrith area. A follow up session will be held in early June to introduce local social entrepreneurs to support networks and programs such as the School for Social Entrepreneurs, local funding opportunities and different organisational models. The session will be held in the Penrith City Library Theatrette, May 19, from 9.30am-11.30am.

Penrith. Council wins $5 million funding

Penrith City Council has secured a $5 million funding grant from the federal government to build the new $5 million Howell Oval pavilion and improvements to CUA Stadium. The funding includes $1.8 million for the upgrades to the stadium to be carried out by Panthers and $3.2 million for the construction of the new Howell Oval pavilion, which will be put to tender. The Penrith Business Alliance (PBA) has estimated the investment would result in a total of 33 new jobs in the local economy, of which18 would be created directly in construction, with a further nine jobs created indirectly across local industries. The remaining six jobs would occur as a result of local household spending stimulated by the investment, the PBA said. Its analysis showed the funding application would generate $2.1 million of wages and salaries accruing to Penrith households.

Penrith. Boost for medical services

Medical services in outer Western Sydney will get a boost with the Federal Government funding the state-of-the-art Nepean Clinical Medical School to the tune of $17 million in the budget. The facility is expected to be operational in 2011.

Penrith. No to being 'consumed'

Penrith City Council does not want the city to be “consumed” by the expanding metropolitan area but to “stand as a distinguished place”, according to a council report on the preparation of the 2009+ Strategic Plan, currently underway. Council said it would maintain its strong relationship with the business sector and other stakeholders in its aim to “lift the bar” in its preparation of the new strategic plan, which is expected to be approved by council in December and placed on public exhibition in February 2009.

'Buy Penrith Valley' campaign launched

Residents shopping out of Penrith Valley did not benefit the city, Mayor Greg Davies, said at the launch of the “Buy Penrith Valley” campaign, at the Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre. “It is of no value whatsoever to have somebody from the Hawkesbury or Bathurst spend $500 in Penrith, if someone from Penrith goes to Parramatta and spends $500 in Parramatta. It doesn’t achieve anything,” he told some 40 business people. Cr Davies said Penrith Valley had the potential, as a regional city, to attract people from a large catchment area to generate wealth and economic development, but it was important that local people supported such development to boost local employment opportunities

Penrith business park sold for $6.5 million

A Sydney investor, Mark Betar, paid $6.5 million for the newly developed Eclipse Business Park, in Penrith, which has a building area of 7559 square metres comprising 28 strata industrial units, incorporating both warehouse and office space. The property was put on sale on behalf of a finance company, The Australian Financial Review reported.

Penrith and Xicheng co-operative agreement

Penrith and Xicheng, in China, have benefited from the economic, cultural and social
Programs over the past 10 years as part of a mutual co-operation between the two cities, said Penrith Mayor, Greg Davies, at a function attended by Li Jiang, senior adviser of the People’s Government of Xicheng district. Cr Davies said the relationship had achieved excellent results in municipal and corporate training, tourism and business development areas.