Chinese delegation visits city
More than 35 local business people attended a briefing by a delegation from the Yiwu Government, in China, on the commercial opportunities open to Australian businesses seeking to trade with China.
The delegation, hosted by Parramatta City Council, visited the CBD including Westfield Parramatta and the University of Western Sydney Parramatta campus at Rydalmere.
“I was delighted to welcome to Parramatta a senior Chinese delegation from the city of Yiwu and facilitate a briefing and networking opportunity with our local business community,” said Lord Mayor Paul Garrard.
“Yiwu is one of the world’s largest commercial centres for the exhibition and distribution of consumer goods and the city’s leaders have taken a keen interest in Parramatta.
“When I join with local business leaders on a return trade mission to China, in September this year, we will be promoting Parramatta as a destination for Chinese investment and trade.”
Cr Garrard and Michael Hilliard, president of the Parramatta-based Asia Business Connection, will jointly lead the delegation.
Members of the Chinese delegation to Parramatta were: Huang Zhiping, Secretary of the Yiwu Municipal Committee; Jia Zongjin, Director General of the Yiwu Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau; Zhao Jianming, Director General of the Yiwu Financial Bureau; Zhu Jianfu, Mayor of the Suxi Township People’s Government of Yiwu City; Huang Weiyong, Vice President of the Yiwu Youth Entrepreneur Association; and Ye Yuzhi, Deputy Section Chief of the Yiwu Foreign Affairs Office.
Artists to use disused space
Disused commercial premises in the Parramatta CBD will get a new lease of life as creative enterprise hubs, following the announcement of a $100,000 project jointly funded by Parramatta City Council and the NSW Government.
Lord Mayor Paul Garrard said the funding would promote Parramatta as a leader in the creative industries by transforming disused commercial premises into innovative spaces for artists and other creative practitioners to create, exhibit and sell their work.
“Council is dedicated to providing good creative opportunities in Parramatta and this project will ensure that we not only retain our artistic talent but can also attract more visitors to our area and generate increased economic opportunities,” he said.
Unemployment rate
Statistics from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, for March 2010 quarter, show that the unemployment rate in Parramatta-South was 13.6 per cent, three times the figure for the lowest rate in the city, namely, Parramatta-North-West, 4.4 per cent.
Parramatta-North-East was 4.6 per cent and Parramatta-Inner, 6.5 per cent.
The highest rate in Western Sydney was Blacktown-South-West, 13.1 per cent, followed by Fairfield-East, 12.1. The rate for the Sydney Statistical Area was 5.9 per cent. $200 million proposal sent to DOP
Parramatta City Council will submit to the Department of Planning an application by Crown International Holdings Group for the construction of 26-storey mixed-use development comprising 339 residential units in the CBD.
The project also includes 1903 square metres of retail space, 5488 square metres of commercial space and six levels of basement parking for 506 vehicles.
The building to be known as Macquarie Place, is on a 4879-square-metre site on the corner of Macquarie, Marsden and Hunter streets. The cost of construction is expected to be $200 million. Boost in fees
Parramatta City Council’s 15 councillors will each receive an increase of $700 in their annual fee to $23,950, from July 1. On top of that, the lord mayor’s annual fee will increase by $2030 to $69,780, making the total of $93,730 for the position.
The total fees payable to all councillors will be $429,030.
The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal places Parramatta in the ‘major cities’ category along with Newcastle and Wollongong.
Civic Place hurdle overcome
Another hurdle in the controversial saga to set in train the construction of Parramatta City Council’s $1.6 billion Civic Place has been overcome.
A mutual agreement between council and R & R Fazzolari Pty Ltd allows council to acquire properties at 20-22, 24 and 26 Darcy Street, for the redevelopment.
The price was undisclosed. Four properties remain to be purchased.
Although a DA has yet to be approved, stage one of the project includes the development on the east side of the 3-hectare site - bounded by Smith and Macquarie Streets.
This stage will include new council offices, a range of first-class community facilities including a new state-of-the-art library and new public space.
The overall site, when completed over a 10-year period, will contain new inner-city residences and A-grade office space, pedestrian links to the neighbouring Parramatta Transport Interchange and open public space that will represent 50 per cent of the site.
Cr Andrew Wilson said at a council meeting that $15 million had been spent over 10 years, without a “sod being turned”.
Budget investment in the city
Member for Parramatta Tanya Gadiel has announced major investments worth more than $90 million in local infrastructure and frontline services as part of the NSW Budget.
Investments include: $2.5 million to further reduce the elective surgery waiting lists at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead; $3 million for southbound bus lane on Church Street, from By Street to Pennant Hills Road at North Parramatta; $1.8 million for improvements to Western Sydney’s court network, with facilities to be renovated at Parramatta.
As part of this the Children’s Court at Parramatta will receive an additional courtroom and an area for mediation; and $14.5 million to establish West Parramatta ZS and East Parramatta Switching Station as part of a network of 132/11kV zone substations servicing the greater Parramatta area.
Program has some 120 members
More than 80 representatives from local government, Sydney Water, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) and businesses participating in the Streamline Sustainable Business Program attended a function at Rydges Parramatta.
The function was held to celebrate the success of the Streamline Sustainable Business Program – a joint initiative between Parramatta and Auburn City Councils.
The program launched in 2009, a free program for businesses located in the Duck River Catchment area, has more than 120 businesses members.
What’s in council’s drinking water?
Parramatta promotes itself as a place to live but there’s a question mark over what’s in the water council officers are drinking when one wrote in a recent council document: “Parramatta has set [itself] the target of increasing its population to 1.9 million by 2031. This is 590,000 new residents”.
Using these numbers, the city’s current population would be 1.3 million, far and away above the current figure of some 166,000, as shown on council’s website. The forecast for 2031 is 200,000 people.
Someone better tell the NSW government how ambitious Parramatta is in helping it to solve Sydney’s urban sprawl.
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