Westmead Medical Research Foundation’s (WMRF) corporate partners have been proactive in organising fundraising initiatives to support research, new equipment and innovative health care.

At its inaugural Charity Golf Day held recently at the Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club, Arab Bank Australia (ABA) raised $27,000 towards heart disease treatment and research. Supported by over a hundred attendees from the business community and well-wishers, ABA Chief Executive Joe Rizk OAM, teed off the event. At the luncheon that followed, guest speaker Dr Eddy Kizana, Westmead Hospital cardiologist and researcher presented an update on gene research into heart rhythm disorder.  Attendees were thanked for their participation and generous donations.

“People don’t think much about medical research or necessarily support it, but when you understand the gains, you realise how essential it is,” stated Mr Rizk. “We’re a bank that wants to be part of the community and the whole Westmead precinct is such an important part of this community”. Arab Bank Australia has been a strong supporter of the Foundation for over 20 years and is one of its most engaged corporate partners.

 “We are grateful to our corporate partners for their support because proceeds go towards improving the quality of life, increasing access to state-of-the-art technology and finding cures for diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity, as well as many others,” said Susie Saba, Partnerships & Community Officer at WMRF.

Another of our corporate partners, Parramatta-based travel management company Elite Travel is generously donating $100 to WMRF from every international ticket purchase prior to March 31, 2016. Email info@elitetravel.com.au, visit www.elitetravel.com.au or call 1800 627 746 and quote promotion code ‘WMRF15’.

WMRF is the primary fundraising body for Westmead Hospital and Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research (WMI), and can offer tailored solutions towards building a strong corporate social responsibility profile for companies, helping them to raise funds through events, promotions or special initiatives. Call 02 9845 8162 or email susie.saba@wmrf.org.au for more details. To make a donation, call 1800 639 037 or visit wmrf.org.au

The much anticipated 2016 Celebrate the West function will be held at WatervieW in Bicentennial Park on Friday, 11 March 2016.

Celebrate the West honours the service to the community by San Miguel Family Centre at North Richmond.

In 2016, a new group of champions who have excelled in their field, will be honoured. Some of our past Champions of the West have been Toni Collette, Steve Waugh, Noeline Brown, Lisa Wilkinson, Chris Bath, Ben Quilty and Thomas Kenealy.

Hosted by Bryan Brown, Celebrate the West includes entertainment by internationally acclaimed artists, amazing food, gourmet beverages and silent and live auction items.

Early bird tickets are now available for an afternoon of fun, food and fundraising Westie style!

Thirteen of Blacktown Regions' most talented students received awards for excellence in the workplace last night. Tamarah Bradley of Wyndham College was named VET Student of the Year, an awards program set up by BREED, the leading employment and career pathways organisation in the region. Other award categories included: Outstanding Work Placement, School Based Trainee, School Based Apprentice and Participants in the Digital Enterprise Project. 

The Awards Dinner, now in its 11th year, took place at the Blacktown City Council’s Nirimba Room and guests included Parents, School Principals, Education, Community and Industry Leaders. The students were nominated by their respective employers for displaying excellence while undertaking their work assignments. This year included awards for Ben Fulwood and Harmony Trotman, two outstanding students of the Digital Enterprise Project, a research project aimed to create pathways to Education and Employment for Young People with Disabilities.

The Awards program also acknowledges Outstanding Employers who provide the work placement positions to the over 4,500 students through-out the year. The Employers are nominated by students, schools and the Blacktown community. The 9 employers receiving awards included: Cumberland Ford, Busways, T & T Built in Wardrobes, Cleanaway, Panarottis Blacktown, Australian PC Distributors, Ability Options Wholesale Nursery, Trade Secret Mt Druitt and Alpha Hotel Eastern Creek.

‘It is important that the Blacktown Region community acknowledges exceptional students for their achievements and encourage them to further strive in their next stage of studies, or career.’ said the Chairperson of BREED, Ms Berice Miller. ‘The work placements are a Partnership between students and the employers and both benefit from such a partnership. Students have the opportunity to experience the world of work. While the employers have the opportunity to identify potential talented employees and give their staff the experience of supervising and mentoring as well as supporting our next generation of employees and business people’.

The Students BREED places in Industry come from 25 High Schools, TAFE WSI and Trade Schools. The student’s courses cover vocational frameworks, each requiring a mandatory work placement component for their HSC studies. Frameworks include: Business Services, Construction, Entertainment, Primary Industries, Information Digital Technology, Metals and Engineering, Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Events and Automotive.

BREED programs are assisted by funding from the NSW Government and University of SA. For more information about the 2015 Awards, Winners and BREED please contact:

Stephen Frost 

P: 9853 3200 

or visit www.breed.org.au.

Some of the biggest names in Australia’s sporting history will soon come together for a landmark charity event.

Cricketing greats such as Michael Bevan, Greg Matthews, Frank Misson, Alan Turner, Murray Bennett, Barry Knight and Marshall Rosen will be joined by around 500 of Sydney’s business and community leaders to take part in Northcott’s 20^th Anniversary Cricket Legends Lunch at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Northcott is a not-for-profit disability service provider that hosts the annual event to raise money for children and adults with disabilities.  

Since its inception, the event has been attended by cricketing greats including the late Richie Benaud OBE, Allan Border AO, Ian Healy, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Geoff Lawson OAM, Frank Misson, Mark Taylor AO, Doug Walters MBE, Mike Whitney, and the Chappell and Waugh brothers.

In addition, some of our current Australian cricketers – all legends in the making – have also attended. These include Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Australian Captain Steve Smith.

With its event partner Cricket NSW, Northcott’s Cricket Legends Lunch has raised an incredible $1.2 million which has allowed hundreds of children and adults living with disability to take part in a wide range of sporting and social activities through Northcott’s Recreation Service. From ski trips and outdoor adventure programs to annual swimming and athletics carnivals, the money raised at the Cricket Legends Lunch has brought joy to countless families in Western Sydney and made a significant impact within the community.

This year’s special 20^th Anniversary event will take place on Friday 19 February 2016 at the Noble Bradman Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Pre-lunch drinks will commence at 12.00pm on the hallowed turf of the SCG followed by lunch at 1pm in the Noble Bradman Stand. 

For enquires or to RSVP your attendance please contact Racquel Sherry on 02 9890 0128 or email racquel.sherry@northcott.com.au. 

Energy costs form a significant proportion of business operating costs. WSBC Platinum Partner, Parramatta City Council is offering free workshops to help local businesses reduce their energy costs.

Attendees will receive expert independent advice on energy saving and solar opportunities and will be eligible to receive a free energy assessment for their business.

Improve business performance through energy efficiency

Thursday, 25 February 2016

7:30 am for a light breakfast with the workshop running from 8 am to 10 am

Rydalmere Bowling Club, 6 Park Road, Rydalmere

Learn about:

• No cost and low cost energy saving opportunities
  
• Financial benefits of energy efficiency
  
• Innovative financing options such as Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs)
  
• Free advice from independent experts
  

To register visit www.pccbusiness-energy.eventbrite.com.au

Reducing energy costs for businesses through solar panels or solar hot water systems

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

7:30 am for a light breakfast with the workshop running from 8 am to 10 am.

Rydalmere Bowling Club, 6 Park Road, Rydalmere

Learn about:

• Basics of solar systems including installations
  
• Solar panels and storage technologies
  
• Costs savings generated
  
• Innovative financing options such as Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs)
  
• Free advice from independent experts
  

To register visit www.pccbusiness-solar.eventbrite.com.au

For further information please contact Kartik Madhira, Parramatta City Council on 9806 8291.

The highly anticipated Greater Sydney Commission Bill 2015 has passed through the Legislative Council of Parliament. 

The Urban Taskforce supports the commission and hopes that this authority will put an end to the haphazard approach to strategic planning and development assessment which has hindered the growth of Sydney as a global city.

WSBC is interested in hearing your views. 

Read the Parliamentary Hansard of the Legislative Council debate here, commencing on page 37 here. 

A Parliamentary Research Paper provides an overview of the commission here.

Source: Urban Taskforce Australia

JLL and UK consulting firm, The Business of Cities, have produced a new report outlining a global hierarchy of cities, which breaks cities into established, emerging and new world cities, informs Urban Taskforce Australia, . 

The report, titled Globalisation and Competition: The New World of Cities, states that the global structure of cities is changing, and smaller cities which are lower-down on the global hierarchy are becoming more specialised and becoming ‘niche’ cities, catering to specific markets. 

Sydney is the only Australian city to fall into the ‘established’ world city category, with Brisbane and Melbourne in the ‘new’ world city category. 

The report notes that in order to maintain a competitive edge, established urban cities such as Sydney will need to implement bold urban transformation plans, and also require a major boost to residential supply in order to attract global investment and address local housing affordability.

See the Full report here.

Source: Urban Taskforce Australia.

The Australian and NSW Governments are planning to upgrade The Northern Road as part of the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan to improve safety, increase road capacity and to reduce future congestion and travel times.

Stage 4 of the upgrade needs to divert The Northern Road because the existing road is on land required for the western Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek.

In July 2015, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) presented four route options to the community to divert The Northern Road around the western Sydney airport site and to pass through or around Luddenham.

After carefully assessing four shortlisted route options and consulting with the community, the Eastern Option has been selected.

RMS have prepared a community update newsletter with information about the Eastern Option and the selection process. 

You can view a copy on their website: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/ 

RMS have also prepared a short video that is available on their interactive portal at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/wsip

An Options Report will also be available on their website shortly.

Roads and Maritime will invite the community and stakeholders to provide their feedback on the preliminary design and access strategy in early 2016.

If you have any questions, please contact the team by emailing WSIP@rms.nsw.gov.au or phoning 1800 703 457.

Our third “Making Western Sydney Greater” survey, targeted to Western Sydney business owners and managers, is now 'live' for you to complete. 

Results from previous surveys, of over 200 business owners and senior management from across the region, have highlighted the challenges that businesses are facing, both in attracting appropriately skilled employees and continuing to train their employees. 

Led by William Buck, and supported by Western Sydney Business Connection, St. George Bank and Western Sydney University, the results are used to contribute to and influence discussions on NSW Government policy regarding workforce skill and employee training. Our aim is to achieve positive changes for businesses in Greater Western Sydney. 

In this edition, we're looking into the benefits and obstacles of being a business based in Greater Western Sydney. 

In releasing the second report, WSBC President, Brendon Noney, comments "The second Making Western Sydney Greater report demonstrates the continued growth and opportunity that lay in Western Sydney and the importance of the Greater Western Sydney economy as a powerhouse of the Australian economy as a whole”.

The key issues identified were employment and training – with businesses identifying this as critical to the region’s development and success. Transport is also a priority, echoing a theme identified in our first survey.

Parramatta City Council will host a summit of international Smart City experts and local industry leaders aimed at positioning Parramatta as one of the country’s future leaders in the field.

The summit is being held on Tuesday 10 November and will feature speakers from Amsterdam and Chicago exploring leading-edge technologies and innovations that can be incorporated in Parramatta’s future planning.

The conference will be opened by The Hon. Victor Dominello, the State’s first Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, and the Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard.

Guest speakers include Amsterdam’s Smart City Senior Strategy Advisor for Low Carbon and Connected Urban Planning Frans-Anton Vermast, City of Chicago Former Chief Technology Officer and PostivEnergy President John Tolva and Meld Strategies Director Bruce Duyshart.

Council is partnering with Future Cities Collaborative, a strategic policy and research support unit, to host the event which is being held on the same day as the opening of a new technology ‘Launch Pad’ initiative by Western Sydney University and KPMG.  

“The Summit is designed to spark discussion about how Parramatta can transform into a globally recognised Smart City where clever design and innovation become part of the fabric of our community,” Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard said.

“It’s about fostering an environment of collaboration where we can work together to uncover solutions to improve the City’s liveability and to encourage investment into the region.”

John Tolva and Frans-Anton Vermast will also take part in a panel discussion with Baxter Asia Pacific Information Technology Director Marise Hannaford and ParraConnect Chairman Cr Steven Issa, led by Future Cities Collaborative Founder and Chair Professor Ed Blakely.

Parramatta Councillor Steven Issa, who is chairman of the ParraConnect Committee that has been driving a number of smart city projects, said now is the time for Parramatta to plan for a digital future and ensure high-tech initiatives are incorporated in new developments across the City.

“The summit is an important step in our Council’s journey to becoming a Smart City. It is about working collaboratively to solve our City’s ongoing challenges, to make the city more liveable and shape our future identity,” Cr Issa said. 

Parramatta City Council adopted a Smart City Masterplan in August this year and appointed a Strategic Smart City Officer to guide the integration of leading-edge technologies and planning across the City, including major urban renewal projects such as the $2 billion Parramatta Square development. 

The event is invite only. All media wanting to attend should email  media@parracity.nsw.gov.au.