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THE NEW WORLD OF WORK
RURAL FIRE SERVICE RELOCATES
MOVES to have the NSW Rural Fire Service headquarters and jobs move to the Central West have been dashed with its relocation from nearby Lidcombe to Sydney Olympic Park.
GPT Group will develop a $100 million state-of-the-art office tower with the RFS taking up take up around 60 per cent of the space in the five-storey building.
Construction of the 15,680 square metres campus-style building is expected to start early next year and is due for completion in the second half of 2018.
Minister for Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the new location was convenient and meant about 300 jobs and investment would remain in Western Sydney.
“Sydney Olympic Park is where many of our athletes became national heroes, so it is only fitting that it will also become the home of more than 74,000 NSW RFS volunteers,” Mr Elliott said.
“This state-of-the-art new building allows for a modern workplace and a better capacity for things like behaviour modelling, public information and support of the service’s 74,000 volunteers,” Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
The current lease for the Lidcombe base expires in November 2018.
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COMMENT: IT'S TIME TO CUT LOOSE
Parramatta's Paul Hogan connection
By Andy Marks
SECOND banana, second fiddle or second act. The road to success is littered with lesser celebrated figures on whose shoulders the big names rose.
OUR WORKERS ARE BEING ROBBED
THE Fair Work Commission’s decision on weekend penalty rates means about $12M a year in lost wages for Blacktown workers, says Blacktown Mayor, Stephen Bali.
“Some 24,750 workers in Blacktown City have the potential to be affected once all the changes take place,” he said.
“If only 20% of these employees work on a Sunday or Public Holiday that would mean approximately $12M in wages will be taken from workers in Blacktown City each year.
“The lowest paid workers in our economy have been belted and this sets a dangerous precedent for all other workers.
“I do not accept the argument that we live in 24/7 economy. There are still clear distinctions between Monday to Friday versus the weekend. If a person is giving up their weekend to serve us, then they are entitled to something extra.
“The Fair Work Commission has opened the way for hairdressers, beauticians and club employees to have their working rates reviewed. It won’t take long before all penalty rates are wiped out.”
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CITYSCAPES: LAND OF THE DRONES
Exploring the new distribution force
By Professor Edward Blakely
DID you get drone for Christmas? Drones are becoming increasingly popular.
FACELIFT FOR EAT ST CARPARK
EAT Street Car Park in Parramatta is set to undergo a major transformation designed to make the car park a more welcoming and user-friendly space for visitors and regular users of the multi-level facility. The $135,000 upgrade will include the installation of wayfinding maps, signage on every level of the car park and new creative design elements to enhance user experience. The upgrade is part of a pilot project which is expected to be completed by July 2017. For more information about the car park upgrade or ‘Life is Sweet on Eat Street activation, please visit Council’s website –
www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
$28M CENTRE AT CAMPBELLTOWN
A DEVELOPMENT application has been lodged with Campbelltown City Council for a $28 million, 19-storey mixed-used building.
