Monday 18 January 2010

Parramatta. Revitalising the CBD core

Parramatta City Council’s adoption of the urban design strategy for the proposed mixed-use Riverbank project, facing the Parramatta River, is part of council’s aim of revitalising the CBD core. The proposed mixed-use Riverbank project – which comprises the block bounded by the Parramatta River and Church, Phillip and Wilde streets – is one four CBD blocks, on a south-north axis aligned along Horwood Place, designed to revitalise the urban core and provide direct pedestrian access to the Parramatta River. The three other blocks are the Civic Place project, and the so-called Horwood Place and Erby Place blocks. The latter two include the Erby Place carpark, for which council is preparing a redevelopment masterplan, and the Horwood Place carpark, for which a redevelopment masterplan has been prepared.

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The Hills. Going it alone

The Hills Shire Council has accused the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) of not delivering on issues in Sydney’s north west and plans to leave the regional lobby group on June 30. The Hills Shire Council will focus on developing the North West sector as a brand of it’s own. “WSROC has not delivered to us in terms of infrastructure and funding and this council will not continue to pay an on-going subscription of nearly $70k (annually) for little or no return. The inequity this council received at the hands of WSROC will only hold back future success. We are stronger if we move into the future on our own.” He said council would work at strengthening ties with Hawkesbury and Hornsby councils to focus on important issues such as planning, infrastructure, transport and economic development for Sydney Hills. WSROC plans to discuss the issue with council.

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Parramatta. 70,000 people and counting

An aim of Parramatta City Council’s Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, that events become a major feature of Parramatta's cultural and tourism sectors seems likely to be realised if the 70,000 plus local and interstate people who attended the concert by Indian composer, A.R.Rahman, is a guide. Australia Day activities will be as popular as ever and the Sydney Symphony concert in Parramatta Park, in March, and the inaugural Parramasala, the Australian Festival; of South Asian Arts, in November, promise to be big drawcards.

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Region. Snap plans to expand

The family-owned WA-based Snap Printing, with more than a dozen outlets in Western Sydney among a chain of 151 outlets in Australia and 36 overseas has plans to expand to 200 stores by 2013. "We want to be a one-stop shop serving small businesses. We want to have a franchise model like McDonald's," said CEO, Grant Vernon. Snap has established the Snap Academy for new franchise owners, in its NSW office in North Ryde. Snap turns over annual sales of more than $150 million -- including $130m in Australia. Sales fell by 6 per cent last year compared with a 7 per cent increase, in 2008, because of the global financial crisis.

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Castle Hill. 'Country meets city'

The Hills Shire Council has called for EOI from commercial and community hirers “to deliver unique business outcomes, at the Castle Hill Showground which provides a strong theme of ‘country meets city’ and has strong links with local agriculture”. Council said it was keen to consider appropriate activity on the site as part of a broader community experience in keeping with the plan of management.

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