SOPBiz # 19 September

Looking for a personality for your next event?

Titan Management is SOPBA's newest Bronze Member.

Based in the RAS, they are one of Australia’s leading Sports Management companies representing clients from various high profile sports including Rugby League, Rugby Union, Basketball, Football (Soccer), Surfing and Golf. Titan's emphasis is on allowing its clients to focus on their sporting performance while assisting them advance their professional careers through our strong business relationships.

Titan Management is a well established company that prides itself on its dedicated and professional staff. The staff and consultants are experts in their respective fields and together have 50 years experience in the sports industry.

Titan has an extensive list of clients competing in a wide range of both team and individual sports with many clients having attained representative honours, junior and senior, at State, National and International levels.

In the attached pdf you can get a complete rundown on the high quality sportsmen and women that you could invite to one of your upcoming functions.

Visit : www.titanmanagement.com.au to find out more about them.

Titan Client list

Ribs and Rumps come to the Park

Ribs and Rumps are previewing their newest restaurant with a cocktail party in their Dawn Fraser Avenue restaurant on Wednesday, 3 September with each SOPBA member having the opportunity to bring along 10 employees. They are also our newest Silver Member.

From its humble beginnings in Manly, one of Sydney’s most popular seaside destinations over 13 years ago, Ribs and Rumps has now gone international with its sizzling steaks and finger-licking ribs!

At Ribs and Rumps only the finest lazy-aged steaks are served. All their meat is carefully selected, then well hung and matured to perfection, before being basted in our secret basting and grilled to order.

For more information about ribs and rumps visit http://www.ribsandrumps.com.au

Formule 1

The Formule 1 at Sydney Olympic Park is open for business with rates from just $89 per room per night.

The 156-room F1 signals a new era for the popular budget brand, with sleek new rooms and a modern exterior in keeping with the design philosophy of the surrounding world-class venues of the Olympic precinct.

The $19 million Formule 1, located on Edwin Flack Avenue. It provides affordable accommodation right in the heart of the action, across the road from ANZ Stadium and just a short stroll from Acer Arena and the Aquatic Centre.

As the largest and newest Formule 1 in Australia, the hotel will set new standards in budget accommodation, with rooms catering for up to four people and newly designed interiors that make even better use of space, plus a departure from the traditional colours into more subtle and sophisticated hues.

The new Formule 1 will complement Accor’s existing Novotel and Ibis complex, and Pullman hotel bringing the total number of rooms operated by Accor within Sydney Olympic Park to 689 and signals Accor’s confidence in the growth of this vibrant precinct.

The Formule 1 Sydney Olympic Park is the eighth Formule 1 in the Sydney area and joins a network of 19 F1s in Australia.

For bookings phone 1300 365 339 or go to www.formule1.com

UPCOMING PARK EVENTS

First Pullman Hotel for Australia Opens for Business

Sydney’s only 5-star hotel to open this decade and Greater Sydney’s first-ever 5-star hotel to cater for rapid growth in corporate & meetings demand has opened its doors in Sydney Olympic Park.

At a total development cost in excess of AUD$50 million,Pullman is one of the great names in hospitality, best known for its association with the luxurious railway carriages that changed the face of overnight accommodation on trains in America, the UK and Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Pullman carriages still operate on the Orient Express in Europe. Accor acquired the brand name in the early 1990s as part of its purchase of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.

Accor is using the Pullman name for a new 5-star hotel brand that will be positioned between the newly upgraded Sofitel luxury brand and the well-established 4-star Novotel brand.

The Pullman brand is principally aimed at corporate and meetings business, which makes the brand ideal for the Sydney Olympic Park destination, which is Sydney’s fastest growing commercial and events precinct.

The contemporary 18 storey, 212 room Pullman will include 14 suites, 340 square metres of conference space plus pre-function areas (for up to 220 delegates), a boardroom, Pullman executive floor and lounge, lobby ‘chill out’ area, 24 hour gym, business centre, 24 hour IT solutions manager, restaurant and bar. The hotel’s interior design is by Joseph Pang.

For further information and hotel reservations, phone (02) 8762 1111, email H2732@accor.com

Sydney Royal Fine Food Shows and Royal Dinner

The Sydney Royal Fine Food Show takes place twice a year and features ten separate Competitions.These competitions are closed to the public, but being held in September at Sydney Showground.

The first session, the Summer Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, occurs in February, judging Bread,Cake & Pie, Coffee, Pasta, some classes of Aquaculture (at their seasonal best) and for the first time in 2007, Beer.

The second session, the Spring Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, is held in September and focuses on Olive Oil, Aquaculture, Deli Meat, Regional Food, Branded Beef and for the first time in 2008, Branded Lamb. Judging will take place from Monday 1 to Wednesday 10 September 2008.

Individual dates for competitions are:

-Sydney Royal Regional Food Competition - Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 September 2008.
-Sydney Royal Deli Meat Competiton - Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September 2008
-Sydney Royal Olive Oil Competition - Monday 8 September 2008
-Sydney Royal Branded Beef Competition - Tuesday 9 September 2008
-Sydney Royal Branded Lamb Competition - Tuesday 9 September 2008
-Sydney Royal Aquaculture Competition - Wednesday 10 September 2008

Visit the website for more details:
http://www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au/wdff/finefood/showdetails.html

Sydney Royal Dinner is open to the public and entails a four course dinner with wines that celebrates the winning producers that were awarded at the recent Fine Food Shows.

Sydney Showground's award winning catering team will be developing a menu that encorporates winning products. Cost is $110 per ticket. Held on 24th October.

The RAS has just appointed a new General Manager - Sales & Marketing. Karen Bolinger commences on Monday 1 September. We will bring you more details on Karen in the next edition of SOPBiz.

OUT 'N ABOUT

Last meeting for 2007-08 SOPBA Board

In the Parklands Room at the Novotel, on Thursday 28 August, the 2007-08 Board met for the final time before the AGM where the new and out-going Board members were announced.

Pictured from left are Lorraine Mercuri (Novotel/Ibis-SOP), Peter King(RAS), Louise Baxter (ANZ Stadium), Matthew Turner (Commonwealth Bank), Garth Simmons (Accor), Greg Allan (Coca Cola), Victor Georos (GPT Group), David Humphreys (Acer Arena and SOPBA President), Alby Taylor (Gift and Homewares Association and 2007-08 Vice President), John Dillon (Colonial First State) and John Ferguson (SOPA standing in for Alan Marsh). Missing from picture is Kel O'Connor (Colonial First State)

Lifestyle workshop at Bel Parco

Lifestyle recently hosted a workshop for HR Managers in the Park to see how Lifestyle can work more effectively within businesses to communication activities and offers.

Susan Skoudas the outgoing Lifestyle Manager also introduced the group to the new Lifestyle Manager Peter Schulz and to the voice at the other end of the Lifestyle phone - Administrative assistant Therese Ngyuen who directly attends to all Member enquiries.

SOPA NEWS

Get in touch with your greener side!

Have you ever wanted to know what lives in your urban backyard? Now is your chance to join experts in an outdoor search party exploring plant and animal wildlife at Sydney Olympic Park.

On Sunday 28 September 2008, Sydney Olympic Park will play host to BioBlitz08 – a 24 hour ‘snapshot’ biodiversity survey. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the birds, mammals, spiders, insects, frogs, reptiles and plants that live at Sydney Olympic Park.

BioBlitz is a FREE initiative of the the National Parks Association of NSW and NatureKeepers, and supported by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. A range of activities will take place in Bicentennial Park and Newington Armory.

You can choose to team up with experts in field survey to record as many animals and plants as possible in a given period or attend an information session provided by experts.

For more information or to register, go to www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au

Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre Patrons Support Paralympic Team

Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and its patrons have helped raise much-needed funds to support the Australian Paralympic Team as they head for the Beijing Games.

Minister for Western Sydney Barbara Perry MP recently presented a cheque for $3,700 to Australian Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Darren Peters on behalf of the Aquatic Centre and its patrons.

The donation was organised by the Aquatic Centre and the funds were generously donated by users of the Centre over the past few months.

‘It is great pleasure to present this cheque to the Australian Paralympic Committee on behalf of the Aquatic Centre and its patrons,’ Ms Perry said.

‘I am touched to see the strong support of the communities in and around Sydney Olympic Park for our Paralympians,’ Ms Perry said.

Australian Paralympic Committee CEO Darren Peters said the funds would help support the Paralympic Team, which is leaving for Beijing over the next days.

‘These funds, together with money raised by people from around NSW and Australia, will help our Paralympic Team participate in the thirteenth Paralympic Summer Games, which starts on 6 September,’ Mr Peters said.

‘It is gratifying to see the strong community support for our Paralympians ahead of the Games,’ Mr Peters said.

Sydney Olympic Park Chief Executive Officer Alan Marsh said he was pleased that this initiative had been so strongly supported by users of the Aquatic Centre.

‘I would like to thank the users of the Aquatic Centre for getting behind this initiative and supporting our Paralympians,’ Mr Marsh said.

‘I encourage people to consider donating much-needed funds to support the Australian Paralympic Team as it heads for Beijing,’ Mr Marsh said.

Donations can be made by calling the Australian Paralympic Committee on 1300 88 99 48 or online at www.paralympic.com.au

TRANSPORT UPDATE

Transport Consultative Committee -August Update

MasterPlan 2030 – update (Craig Bagley)
-MP2030 is on public exhibition from 16 July to 18 August. Submissions to date have been fairly light.

-MP2030 including supporting documents (Draft Infrastructure Contributions Framework, State Environmental Planning Policy can viewed at www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au

When the exhibition period closes, Department of Planning will require SOPA to address submissions received and provide comments back to the Department. It is expected that a final Masterplan will be adopted within 2-3 months.

Copy of Transport Strategy supporting MP2030 to be circulated to Traffic & Transport Committee Australia Ave / Homebush Bay Drive Roundabout.

On 1 August 2008 , RTA CEO has written to SOPA stating that the RTA has no objection to certain upgrade works being undertaken provided consultation with both Auburn and Strathfield Council’s is obtained. SOPA is to establish a working group going forward.

DFO DA for Expansion
Land Use & Assessment Department of RTA is aware of the DA and looking at unified approach to the situation, however Phil Margison from RTA to make ultimate decision.

SOPA’s concern is the impact the expansion will have on the roundabout, particularly during major event mode given its current inability to cope with existing traffic conditions at certain times.

On Street Car Parking Arrangements
A SOPA Board paper detailing the proposed changes to on street car parking arrangements will be put to the SOPA Board at its 28 August meeting.

In order to balance the emerging needs of Sydney Olympic Park’s retail stakeholders and their customers - it is intended to concentrate more of the 15 min and 1 hour free parking spaces within the town centre (Dawn Fraser Ave & Murray Rose Ave).

The free 2 hour parking spaces will predominantly be located on the Boulevard and Grand Parade to support recreational type activities and use of the Sports Halls & Monster facility.

The number of free on-street parking spaces is approx. 400 spaces and the proposed changes to on-street parking arrangements re-allocates where these spaces are located and does not seek to increase or decrease the number of spaces.

SOPA will consult directly with retail stakeholders with regards to these new arrangements for car parking. Outcomes from the SOPA Board Meeting to be discussed at the next TTC meeting.

Traffic Lights – Australia Ave/ Herb Elliott Ave
Contract to be let by 25 August and installation, including RTA works scheduled for completion in October 2008.

CBA Staff Movements – Sites 6&7
-Site 6 rollout currently scheduled for October 2008.
-Site 7 rollout currently scheduled for December 2008.
-By July 2009 - 3,500 CBA staff to be on site.
-Free parking for CBA staff ends September 2008 which will only put further pressure on public transport.

Strategic Bus Corridor Update
-Corridor No. 13 Parramatta to Burwoord – requires approval from the respective CEOs at RTA & MoT for the actual route to pass through Sydney Olympic Park.

-Weekly ticket to be available in October 2008 on every private bus service however it will not be transferable.
-Karen Grega stated that a full list of issues have been tabled with MoT and next meeting with MoT (Steve Timbrell/ John Brodie) is scheduled for 4 September.

Traffic Accident Audit within Sydney Olympic Park
-Spreadsheet with traffic accident history for last 3 years was tabled at the meeting .The history shows no fatalities, only injury and property damage.
-Worst intersection is Dawn Fraser / Edwin Flack – minor works have been undertaken there to improve sight lines.
-Second worst intersection is Olympic Boulevard/ Sarah Durrack although it is signalised – possible solution is installing right turn bays. -Intersections with more than 4 accidents during this period were reviewed and minor works improvements undertaken.

-Graphs indicate that overall the average for traffic accidents hasn’t increased however traffic growth for Sydney Olympic Park is above average when compared with the growth for the Sydney Metropolitan area.

-Bennelong Parkway Project is still looking to reduce speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h.
-Karen Grega raised issue of CBA shuttle buses pulling up directly outside CBA offices instead of using bus bays. John Fergsuon (SOPA) to raise issue with CBA

General Business
Schedule of meetings to be changed to 3 per year commencing 2009. The schedule for 2009 to be issued at next meeting.

Next Meeting – Thursday 13 November , 10am to 12pm
Any particular agenda items should be raised in advance prior to next meeting and e-mailed to Marie.Evans@sopa.nsw.gov.au