It’s all happening at Camden where the council is preparing to move to its brand new premises in Oran Park in less than 12 months. But what will happen to all of its buildings in the old town centre and at Narellan?
Well, we are glad you asked that: because of the Oran Park move a number of Camden Council building assets will no longer be required, but council does want to keep it in ratepayers’ hands. In other words, council will not sell any of its properties. But it has decided to gain some revenue by offering them on a lease basis. The five sites are:
Council Administration building – 19 Queen Street, Narellan;
Council Parks and Gardens Depot – 15 Elyard Street, Narellan;
Former Family Day Care Building – 27 John Street, Camden;
Council Administration building – 37 John Street, Camden;
Macaria – 37 John St, Camden.
It is expected that all sites will be vacated by July 2016 with the exception of the Council Parks Depot which may be vacated earlier. Combined Commercial Real Estate has been retained by the council to manage the leasing of its properties. Council says the agents will run a marketing campaign for 10 weeks starting this week. If you or your business is interested in leasing one of these properties, call the agent direct.
♦ Up north, Liverpool is about to embark on a new project to save energy – and money no doubt – by replacing street lights. Launch of the Light Years Ahead program – which came out of WSROC – will be on Tuesday, August 18.
♦ The lights will be shining brightly and the beer flowing when the mighty Campbelltown Harlequins rugby club host A Night With Glen Ella on Friday, August 28. A flyer landed in our inbox and it says “come along and share a couple of drinks with like minded rugby fans and listen to an Australian Rugby Legend. All time low cost of $50. There will be finger food provided and the bar will be open at club prices. Glen and his team will be bringing along some memorabilia for auction and there will be a lucky door prize. Come along and support grass roots rugby in Campbelltown.
Tickets available at https://events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/ANightWithGlenElla or on 0404 829 356. We will be going, so if you attend come and give us a some feeback on SW Voice.
♦ Still on fun events, later this year Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre will celebrate its 21st birthday by putting on a barbie, also known as Barbeque Biennale. On Saturday, October 24, BBQ Biennale will celebrate the diverse cultures of the Liverpool area in a feast for the senses and the centre wants to hear from performers and those who may wish to have a stall on the day. If you are a cultural dancer/ dance troupe, musician or performer, they want to hear from you. And if you are a stallholder or food business located in the Liverpool Local Government Area, they also want to hear from you. They are looking for a range of barbecues, from the Indian tandoor, Pacific ground ovens and South American churrasco, pictured below. Sounds like a day not to be missed.
♦ The Police Football Charity Shield we told you about in our last edition has been put back for a while due to unforeseen circumstances. Alf Vella, the main man behind it, says the shield will now be held next March 2016. Alf, a good supporter of ours, thanked the South West Voice for its coverage in announcing the reschedule.
Adriana Care, president of the very successful Narellan Chamber of Commerce, has reminded members that its AGM next Wednesday, August 12 is a “must attend’’ because of proposed changes. “I appreciate that it is a really busy time of the year, new financial year has started off and momentum is building to our run home for this year,’’ says Ms Care in her note to members. “Our Annual General Meeting is one of the most important meeting we hold for the year. However this meeting is even more important than most, as the board are proposing a number of changes that require our financial members vote,’’ she said.
A new constitution and change of name are just some of the proposals to be voted on.
“Our board have put in a lot of hard work in the background to put Narellan Chamber on the front foot, so please support us by attending the AGM.’’ As well as the AGM, digital marketing specialist Luke Hodges from NSW Business Chamber will be the guest speaker on the night at Harrington Grove.
♦ We haven’t mentioned poor old Campbelltown so far, which has been in the wars lately, what with losing out to Liverpool over the Wests Tigers and the sports centre of excellence and Queen Street’s decline the focus of attention – again. Well, change is as good as a holiday, apparently, and in six weeks or so Campbelltown will have a new mayor sitting in the big chair. Paul Lake is great in that chair but the system says he only gets a year in the job. I still have my money on another Paul to replace him, Councillor Hawker, the senior Liberal Party member on the council. It will be interesting to see how Hawker will tackle these two issues, the Tigers and Queen Street.
♦ Speaking of the Liberal Party, up at Liverpool Council, where they have a majority and run the joint, it seems it’s not all smooth sailing anymore. Indeed my spies tell me a few cracks are appearing and there are a few nervous people around if one of them is not available for a council meeting. Watch this space, as they used to say in the tabloids.
