Deloitte, the Westmead Millennium Institute, Westfield, News Limited and the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) are among the groups who have been approached to become founding members.
The identity of the city is one of six “pillars” in council’s economic development strategy which has been allocated $550,000 in 2012-2013.
The business pillar includes stepped-up activities directed at the city’s professional services sector and the Westmead precinct, and the establishment of a small business hub.
Council intends to continue building ties with universities, TAFEs and private colleges, and introduce a business survey exploring the experience of local firms attempting to recruit professional staff to Parramatta.
Land and property at Camellia will be a priority with the closure of Shell’s Clyde refinery and funds will be allocated for studies on master planning the peninsula.
To help firms attract talented staff a focus will be placed on improving the “finer grain” of the CBD including amenities, such as, small bars, cafes, laneway enterprises and creative industries.
The final pillar is infrastructure and council will boost exposure for Parramatta and Western Sydney transport proposals, and to ensure a regional perspective is “audible” within the broader debate on infrastructure.
Council will allocate funds from its economic development reserve to complete studies for the Rydalmere project which has the aim of developing a high-tech business park in conjunction with the expansion of the adjacent UWS Parramatta casmpus. An amount of $550,000 has been raised by a levy on the business community for these activities and $160,000 has been allocated from reserves, making a total of $710,000 for the 2012-2013 year.
Councillors approved the recommendation but saw no need to seek feedback from business and industry groups by placing the documentation on public display.
