Mike needs a bed in Parra
PREMIER Mike Baird, in the lead-up to the March 28 election, should have permanent hotel bed in Parramatta, considering all the time he has been spending in the west. From turning the sod of the Parramatta CBD campus, opening the KPMG office, announcing the new-look multi-storied schools to dining with the Indian community, Mr Baird is almost going from Minister for Western Sydney to fully-blown Westie. Now, which of Parramatta’s fine hotels should have a Baird suite?
Heritage precinct needs a plan
WHILE the business community of Parramatta tends to focus on the burgeoning CBD, tucked around the back, at North Parramatta, is some of our glorious, crumbling past. Many of you would know the more visible Old Government House in Parramatta Park or Elizabeth Farm House and Hambledon Cottage towards Harris Park - but how many of you have paid heed to the heritage precinct around Cumberland Hospital? There lies some of the most significant heritage buildings in Australia. The Female Factory, Catholic Orphanage, Parramatta Mental Asylum in the early days of the colony and later Parramatta Girls Home and Norma Parker Periodic Detention Centre for Women . . . . there are ghosts walking forlornly among those magnificent buildings, many used by Cumberland Hospital administration. They are not in ruins, although certainly in need of some repair, but they will be if they are not revitalised as part of a workable plan that the community, heritage protectors and the government agrees on. At the moment, the State Government, through UrbanGrowth NSW, wants to put up more than 4000 apartments very close to this sensitive site. That is the government’s unimaginative and ill-thought-out plan to pay for the site’s future as another Sydney Rocks, with cafes, museums, art galleries and performance spaces. On one hand, heritage protectors and residents want to see a business plan based on sensitive adaptive re-use of the site so it is self-sufficient while the government insists that selling off and developing public land is the only way to pay for the ongoing costs of the site. We need the business community - those who can see the potential for the whole of Parramatta in terms of tourists - to come up with a viable, holistic plan for the site. The potential for tourism, and so for your businesses and workforce, is huge. The North Parramatta Residents Action Group has had a successful rally against the UrbanGrowth plan and is writing to Planning Minister Pru Goward to pause the development until there is more community input. But we need business input as well. Check out the North Parramatta Residents Action Group on Facebook.
Penrith celebrates turning 200
OF COURSE, Parramatta is not the only historic city in the west. Penrith is turning 200, and the Bicentenary will be celebrated throughout the year with a number of activities in the library. Penrith City Library will host the 14th Annual History Conference on Saturday, March 14, focussing on the 200th anniversary of Penrith’s first government building, with several prominent historians invited to speak about the early settlement and the people who were instrumental in its development. The rest of the day will be devoted to acknowledging the district’s contribution to WW1, including information about the creation of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) and the Gallipoli campaign. Penrith City Mayor Ross Fowler said this year is an important year in Penrith’s history and anyone interested in learning more should pay a visit to the library. “There are so many ways to learn about the history of Penrith, but really there’s only one place to do it, “Cr Fowler said. “In addition to the special history events we have planned, Penrith City Library also has a large collection of local history records and documents held in its Research Room. For more in depth local knowledge, you can even read the digitised version of the Nepean Times (Penrith’s first newspaper) - which ran from 1882 to 1962.” Hope you don’t mind the history lessons, but I do believe that you sometimes have to look back while planning the future. There are lessons to be learned.
Don’t forget Women’s Day
FELLERS, don’t forget International Women’s Day on March 8, with celebrations of women’s successes happening in the first two weeks of the month. Theme this year is Make It Happen. So, make it happen if it hasn’t already in your company. For local events, go to your council’s website and look out for business organisations’ functions.
State of the City address
DON’T forget Parramatta Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City Address on March 13, in the Novotel in Church St from 11.45am. Learn about Parramatta’s future and where it stands in Sydney’s plans from Lord Mayor Scott Lloyd; Dr Tim Williams, Chief Executive, Committee for Sydney; Barney Glover, Vice Chancellor UWS; Roger Byrne, President Parramatta Chamber of Commerce and Greg Dyer, CEO Parramatta City Council. MC will be the Boss Lady Amanda Rose, a woman who dwarfs me in every way. Details at the Chamber on 9635 0022 or rsvp@parramattachamber.com.au
