Novotel Sydney Parramatta would like to introduce a familiar and friendly face who is often spotted around the hotel lobby that would be Amanda Lloyd, our Rooms Division Manager.  When arriving at the hotel reception, you can guarantee to be greeted with a warm and beaming smile that is welcoming and easy to approach. 

Amanda joined the team at Novotel over a year ago, after previously working as a Front Office Manager at a sister hotel, Mercure Sydney for approximately two years.  Working in hospitality has taken the Newcastle born lady to all kinds of places including as far as Alice Springs.  Amanda describes her jump into hospitality as a ‘pleasant mistake’ having not pictured herself in the industry before however sees many possibilities ahead.

Attracted by the opportunities and Accor’s passion to help employees strive to their best, Amanda made the decision to swap from a competitor hotel group.  Amanda saw the endless opportunities of working with an international company like Accor, to help build her career into senior management. Accor has many programs available, such as A| Gen: Diversity; an initiative that drives Diversity to create an equal balance at all levels at Accor. Like Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Office of Accor Pacific puts it, ‘At Accor we aim for every employee to achieve their ambition’

Accor gives employees the chance to expand their education and training, while still providing a balance in their work and personal life. Amanda has recently been able to complete her Bachelor of Business in International hospitality management and Accor’s ‘The Edge’ program that helps individuals develop leaderships skills needed to succeed, all while working full time. Amanda’s leadership skills are visible through her smooth coordination of the front office team, reservations, housekeeping and maintenance, overseeing integral operations that help the hotel run smoothly.

So how does a lady, with a large workload unwind? By spending time with her partner Adrian, who is a pilot and shares in her love for travel and adventure.  The lovely couple met through mutual friends during her time working in Alice Springs. Amanda also lives an active lifestyle, often taking beachside jogs down Coogee after work and on weekends.  During her time with Accor, Amanda recalls a memorable moment participating in Accor’s Race to Survive, a fitness challenge that promotes leadership and teamwork, whereby individuals work through various strenuous exercises, while raising money for charity.

Amanda describes her time at Novotel Sydney Parramatta, as the most challenging role yet, but rewarding in its same respect with each new day bringing something different and working with an exceptional team that makes the load easier.

During your next visit to Novotel Sydney Parramatta, make sure to drop by the reception to have a chat with Amanda and her team. Also be sure to check out special offers and events at www.novotelparramatta.com.au. 

The green of the Sydney Thunder will be seen at Spotless Stadium, Sydney Showground next season with the stadium to host two home matches during BBL|04.

Sydney Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins praised Spotless Stadium as an ideal venue for the BBL: “…we believe the [Spotless] Stadium will offer great atmosphere and comfort for those fans attending our games."

Former Australian batting star and new Australian selector, Mark Waugh, will return as the ‘Governor’ of the Thunder Nation for BBL|04. Waugh, a veteran of 128 Tests and 244 One Day Internationals, and recently announced as one of the new selectors on the National Panel, is not only one of the best players Australia has produced, but also possesses one of the sharpest cricketing brains around.

Mark expressed his excitement at being involved with the Thunder for a second season: “I enjoyed my time working with the Thunder last year and it is nice to be involved with the club for a second season. The team has great potential and with Mike Hussey in charge and Jacques Kallis on board I’m looking for an improvement from them in on-field performance. The Thunder represent an important part of Sydney and have a loyal supporter base and they need to be strong for the benefit of the Big Bash as a whole.”

Peter Thorpe, General Manager, Sydney Showground commented, “We’re extremely excited about having Thunder Nation and the Big Bash League come to Spotless Stadium.  It will be great for the venue but more importantly great for cricket fans as our boutique stadium is designed to ensure you’re close to the action no matter where you are.”

Make sure you come along and bring the family, what a great way to spend a summer’s night in Sydney! 

Spotless Stadium, Sydney Showground fixture:

Sydney Thunder V Hobart Hurricanes               7^th January (7.00pm)

Sydney Thunder V Melbourne Stars                17^th January (7.00pm)

The first building of Sydney’s newest business park in the heart of Western Sydney. Construction of the multi-million dollar Werrington Park Corporate Centre (WPCC) continues at speed and is on track to cater for western Sydney’s growing need for new high-tech industries and knowledge-economy jobs.

Leading builder ADCO Constructions reached a milestone recently with the structure completed and the building topping out.

WPCC will be the highest quality commercial office development west of Parramatta. The new three-storey office building is state-of-the-art in its design, and is rated 5 Green Stars and 4 Star NABERS for sustainability, minimising its energy and water use reducing operational costs.

It will provide A grade office accommodation comparable to that recently developed in Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, Norwest and Macquarie Park.

The $30 million project is a partnership between the University of Western Sydney, Penrith City Council and the Penrith Business Alliance, and also supported by the Australian Government. It is the first step to establishing a 58-hectare multi-million dollar Business Park Precinct for Greater Western Sydney – a region home to 2 million people, and predicted to grow by another one million people by 2036.

Located in one of Australia’s largest and fastest growing economic regions, WPCC is centred between the North West and South West growth corridors. 

With excellent presence on the Great Western Highway, it is the ideal Western Sydney headquarters for a business who wishes to leverage the future growth associated with the development of Sydney's second airport at Badgery's Creek and the infrastructure being developed in the region.

The leasing campaign is underway, with agents CBRE and Colliers International sourcing tenants and reviewing the more than 30 enquiries received to date. The University is also leveraging its relationships and partnerships across the computing, engineering, IT, mathematics, humanities, communication arts, science and health fields.

Tenants at WPCC have the opportunity to collaborate with the University in areas such as employee professional development, research, graduate placements and have access to the proposed onsite Business Development Incubator that will promote entrepreneurship for start-up businesses.

Over the next 20 years, the Precinct will have the capacity to generate 6,000 ‘knowledge jobs of the future’ in areas such as health, engineering, digital communication and education, and importantly, give people the opportunity to work and learn where they live.

Many of Greater Western Sydney’s residents currently have to commute long distances to work. Within the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA) alone, more than 64 per cent of its 88,000-strong skilled workforce spends close to two hours each day commuting to and from a place of work that’s outside the LGA.

It is expected to be completed by early 2015, and will have 5,500 square metres of commercial office space with ample parking.

Key opportunities:

• one of Australia’s largest & fastest growing economic regions,
• world class business environment, cutting edge technology, quality user amenity,
• opportunity to recruit some of the region’s brightest minds is available,
• a research institution and a major provider of new graduates to the workforce,
• within minutes of public transport & easy access to motorways,
• flexible adaptable design, meeting workspace needs for the digital economy.

WPCC will become a major catalyst for attracting more industry, investment and research to Greater Western Sydney - a region that is one of the fastest growing in the country and home to almost 2 million people and Sydney’s second airport.

For more information visit www.werringtonpark.com.au.

The NSW Department of Education and Communities provides educational and training services to the population of New South Wales from pre-school to tertiary education.

State Training Services, a division of the Department, funds, promotes and supports vocational education and training to develop the skills base for the State and to grow the NSW economy. State Training Services also provides expert advice and information to industry, employers, training providers, apprentices and trainees.

State Training Services is operating as a Commonwealth-funded Australian Apprenticeships Centre providing a fully integrated one-stop shop for all apprenticeship and traineeship services and broader vocational education and training advice. State Training Services is also responsible for mediation and dispute resolution between apprentices, trainees and their employers and issues certificates to those who successfully complete their training.

The One-Stop Shop service is designed to ensure  industry, training organisations, employers and their employees have all the necessary support and advice to obtain the skills and qualifications their business needs.

Each year the NSW Training Awards celebrate and reward outstanding achievements in vocational education and training. This year the Western Sydney region had four separate category winners in the regional awards, a finalist building a truck from scratch, a teacher with an innovative approach to teaching and a student that was so successful in his studies that now wants to continue to become a teacher and help students develop their very best.

These winners are finalist on the 2014 NSW training Awards to be held on the 9 of September in Sydney, if successful and winning their category they can later on be on their way to Adelaide for the National Awards.

It’s really a remarkable achievement being a finalist from all the people that are postulated, the success stories behind many of the candidates are an inspiration to us all. Taking on an apprentice or a trainee has not only financial advantages for employers but they become active benefactors off the community and they are a drive in the economic development of their region.

Be recognised and increase your profile in your industry and community. Final year apprentices, trainees and students as well as teachers, training providers and employers are encouraged to enter.

If you are a large national employer or a small or medium sized business our commitment to you is to provide a professional and timely approach to all your training issues, respond promptly to your requests and assist in achieving a positive outcome for all concerned. State Training Services will provide you with a single point of contact in the holistic management of all your employees throughout the duration of their traineeship or apprenticeship.

NSW Premier Mike Baird launched the Premier’s Innovation Initiative, which will use ‘crowdsourcing’ to solve issues of congestion, social housing assets and open data.

A competitive selection process will be undertaken to identify inventive solutions to these issues from private and non-government organisations.

It follows the lead from countries like the UK and US where public services have been improved by community working with Governments.

The initiative focuses on four areas: congestion, social housing assets, open data and open ideas, where the public nominates areas. 

Key milestones were announced in the delivery of WestConnex this week, including the release of the M4 Widening Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The M4 Widening is part of WestConnex, Australia’s biggest urban road project, which will provide greater Sydney with a continuous free flowing motorway.

The EIS shows the project will achieve travel time savings of up to 74 per cent for motorists using this stretch of WestConnex – saving motorists up to 100,000 hours of travel time a day and $1 million a day on car maintenance.

Over the next month, businesses, residents and motorists will be consulted.

The NSW Government is seeking community feedback on its plan to unlock $20 billion in infrastructure funding by undertaking a long-term lease of 49 per cent of “poles and wires” network businesses.

We outlined a clear plan to improve the daily lives of families across NSW by investing in our roads and rail networks, our schools and hospitals, and our water infrastructure.

We encourage you to have your say, in the first step of the consultation process on specific issues or concerns regarding the Rebuilding NSW plan and the proposed partial lease.

You can respond to the initial discussion paper by 19 September 2014.

Parramatta and Harris Park will once again spring to life when the vibrant sights and sounds of the fifth annual South Asian festival Parramasala returns from 17-19 October.

Featuring an exciting program of local and international artists, Parramasala is set to transform Parramatta with contemporary music, dance, theatre, film, workshops, exhibitions, free concerts bazaar market and Bollywood-style dancers.

Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr John Chedid, said Parramatta is looking forward to reaping the social, cultural and economic benefits from this annual festival.

“Parramasala draws thousands of visitors to Parramatta and brings some of the world’s best performers and artists to our City, helping reinforce our position as one of the leading major events destinations in Sydney,” Cr Chedid said.

“Our City is home to one of Australia’s largest Indian and South Asian communities and this festival not only highlights our thriving cultural diversity but also provides a great opportunity to showcase Parramatta and Harris Park to a large number of visitors from across Sydney.”

Some of the highlights of Parramasala 2014 include the free opening night parade through the streets of Parramatta, events in Harris Park and a range of entertainment and celebrations over the weekend.

The full 2014 program for Parramasala will be available in late August.

For more information or to sign up for the e-newsletter about the event, please visit parramasala.com

Parramatta City Council has received a windfall of almost $130 million for new community assets from the sale of a large site in Melrose Park where a new apartment complex will be built.

Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr John Chedid, said the 4.8ha site, bounded by Victoria Rd and Wharf Rd, has been bought by property group Aqualand Australia in western Sydney’s biggest development site sale of 2014.

“This is a great win for our community,” he said. “The site is a key eastern gateway to Parramatta near excellent public transport links and the Parramatta riverfront with Sydney-wide views.

“For many years, this site has been under-utilised and surplus to community needs. The sale provides a financial windfall for our community and will deliver high quality new housing in a sought-after location.”

The CEO of Parramatta City Council, Mr Greg Dyer, said Council had taken advantage of the current strong market for apartment development sites in Sydney’s west.  

“We have achieved a great result for our City,” he said “The sale will allow us to invest in new assets that will better meet future community needs. It’s about maximising the value of our assets for the benefit of our ratepayers and residents.”  

The site, which includes a mini-golf amusement park and vacant land, is partially owned by NSW Roads and Maritime Services.  

While the site has already been rezoned for apartments, Aqualand Australia will need to submit a development application detailing the proposal.

All relevant planning issues will be carefully considered and there will be a focus on high quality and environmentally sustainable design.

The sale was hotly contested by 11 parties, including both local and offshore developers, in an open expression of interest process. A decision to exchange contracts with Aqualand Australia was made at Monday’s Council meeting. The sale has a 100-day settlement period.

Cr Chedid said the new development would help to revitalise Melrose Park and provide much needed new apartments in the fast-growing suburb.

"It will also provide greater housing choice in the area – for empty-nesters looking to downsize and young couples seeking to enter the property market,” he said  

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