SOPBiz - # 29 - August 2009

Watpac and GJS on a winner with 8 Australia Avenue

Forget zero population growth and zero tolerance, as of July 2009 GJS Property Consultants have zero commercial vacancies in Sydney Olympic Park.

Their last ‘For Lease’ space was filled in June when Silex took over the BP Solar facility at 2 Australia Avenue and the Office of Emergency Services took a five and a half year lease of a floor in Quad 1 vacated following the recent take-over of Dairy Farmers. Hopefully this relocation by a government department will see others follow as further office space becomes available in the Park.

Watpac’s 8 Australia Avenue Development, their second construction project in the Park after 10 Dawn Fraser Avenue, is on target for a January 2010 completion date. It provides an injection of 6,000sm of office and 665 sqm of retail space. As the leasing agent, GJS has already agreed terms for approximately half that space, with additional enquires on the building totaling up to around 10,000sm

‘We’ve even had interest from overseas corporations” said Jason Wright, a Director of GJS Property, Commercial and Industrial Property Consultants who have been in the park for four years.

“Companies now see Sydney Olympic Park as a cost-effective solution. We are on the map as a preferred location for businesses looking to relocate from the CBD and Parramatta as well as those local industrial businesses looking to increase both their profile and quality of office accommodation.”

In addition to office space, 8 Australia Avenue has five potential retail outlets, one of which is already ear-marked for a café to service the five floors of office accommodation.

The lifestyle options available at Sydney Olympic Park stand it apart from other business parks. It is a sophisticated address and diverse precinct which will hopefully become an official suburb soon.

“It is certainly an address that overseas companies recognize and Australian corporates want to be part of. “ said Wright.

Silex takes over BP Solar Building

Silex, who move to the Park in October, anticipates that their new manufacturing operations in the previous BP Solar building, will involve a progressive roll-out of advanced technology and innovations, potentially including novel materials being developed by Silex’s Silicon Valley subsidiary Translucent Inc.

“This is a fantastic outcome for Silex” Dr Michael Goldsworthy, Silex CEO said.

“We now have the opportunity to accelerate the start-up of our commercial solar business in a relatively short time. In parallel, we will focus on developing and implementing advanced solar technology aimed at increasing solar conversion efficiency, and lowering the cost per watt of electricity produced”, he added.

The Sydney Olympic Park Plant is the largest solar manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere.

Further information on the Company’s activities can be found on the Silex website:
www.silex.com.au or by contacting:
Dr Michael Goldsworthy (02) 9532 1331
Mr Chris Wilks (02) 9855 5404

Australian Scout Museum opening

On Saturday July 18, 2009 more than 250 members of the Scouting Community gathered at Newington Armory Buildings 146 and 140 for the official opening of the Australian Scout Museum.

Grant De Fries, Chief Commissioner, Alan Marsh, Sydney Olympic Park Authority CEO and the Hon. Barbara Perry MP addressed the crowd about the museum’s journey and the importance of sharing Scouting’s story with the community.

“This is the first step in a larger heritage project that will bring the contribution made over the last 100 years to Scouting’s social history to the Australian community,” said Grant De Fries.

Once the museum is fully operational, the Scout Heritage Fellowship will manage the displays under the direction of Stephen Dally, the Australian Scout Museum’s curator. Check www.nsw.scouts.com.au for updates on when the museum will be in full operation.

August Road Closures

Sydney Olympic Park Authority advises that road closures will be in effect throughout August 2009, for the following events and activities:
* Sunday 2 August 2009 - Rabbitohs v Bulldogs and Disney on Ice
* Saturday 8 August 2009 - Bulldogs v Raiders
* Friday 14 August 2009 - Rabbitohs v Titans
* Saturday 15 August 2009 - Swans v Geelong
* Saturday 22 August 2009 - Bledisloe Cup
* Monday 24 August 24 2009 - Bulldogs v Roosters
* 28 August to 31 August - Bulldogs v Warriors & Rabbitohs v Dragons (final dates & times tba)

Details of all road closures can be found at: http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Visiting/transport

OUT 'N ABOUT

Gold for Aussie Rollers at the Sports Centre

The Australian men's wheelchair basketball team claimed gold at the Rollers World Challenge after beating Canada 77-48 in the final at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on Saturday night. This was a rematch of the Beijing Paralympics gold medal match.

Australia's forward Justin Eveson and guard Michael Hartnett were both named in the tournament's All-Star five.Eveson's capped off an amazing night by also winning the prestigious 2008 Sandy Blythe Medal for International Wheelchair Player of the Year for his efforts in leading the Rollers to gold in Beijing.

And Silver for new-look Hockeyroos!

The Hockeyroos, fielding seven tournament debutantes, recently went down fighting to defending title holders Argentina 4-3 in a penalty shootout finishing as runners-up at their last Champions Trophy tournament at least until 2011.

Argentina superstar Luciana Aymar hit home the winning penalty to wrap up the win after Hockeyroos Fiona Boyce and Nicole Arrold missed their shots.

Australia keeper Toni Cronk saved one of the Argentinians penalty strokes, while Hockeyroos Casey Eastham, captain Madonna Blyth and Emily Hurtz scored after the match was locked at 0-0 following 15 minutes of extra time.

Despite winning the silver medal, the Hockeyroos were relegated from the elite six-nations tournament for the first time in history as bottom place getters England qualify as hosts of next year's event in Nottingham.Relegation, then, was decided by Olympic rankings where Australia sits a lowly fifth.

Frank Murray's youngsters earned Australia's first medal at the tournament since 2005 along with the prized scalp of Olympic champions the Netherlands, who finished third.

The Hockeyroos performed well beyond expectation and matched it with the top hockey nations during the event.

For morer hockey news - communications@hockeynsw.com.au.

ANZ Stadium fans pay tribute to the real heroes

Saturday night July 25 was not about the Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels trying to win a place in the NRL top eight. It was the night when footy stars took a back seat to some deserved heroes who dedicate their lives to saving our most precious asset. Our Children.

The Bandaged Bear is the symbol of The Children's Hospital at Westmead and in March this year it celebrated its 20th birthday. More than 60,000 children and their families are cared for each year at the hospital.

The Bandaged Bear Cup, in it's third year, is played when the Bulldogs host the Eels at ANZ Stadium. In 2009 the Eels won the trophy for the third time 27-8.

The special guests at the Bandaged Bear cup are the staff and families of The Children's Hospital at Westmead, with 10,000 tickets shared among them for this match.

Scouts Australia Annual General Meeting

Members from across the State gathered recently at Newington.

The Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC, President, chaired the meeting with formalities including the Flag Parade and National Anthem – led by Cumberland Gang Show Cast Members Brendan Richards and Alexandra Edmundson.

The new branding of Scouting in this state was presented - “Building a Better Future Today”, a theme which is now featured on all Scouts Australia NSW stationary and email signatures. An address by The Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP then followed.

In addition to elections for key positions, four Youth Members, who had already received their Queen Scout Awards, were presented with a further accolade – the Queen’s Scout Scholarship. They were Alexander Hairs (1st Turramurra), Jessica Micallef (1st Dural), Braedon Smith (3rd Bathurst) and Victoria Hardy (3rd Byattunga).

Prior to the meeting’s close a special presentation of the Silver Kangaroo was made to Chief Commissioner, Grant De Fries by his three Deputy Chief Commissioners, Bob Baker, OAM, Peter Bach, and Elston Hynd. This was presented following special permission sought and granted by the Chief Commissioner of Australia Reg Williams.

Park-based Titan Management announces the sporting story of the year - a move for client Karmichael Hunt

Titan Management is pleased to announce that Karmichael Hunt has signed with new AFL Franchise, the Gold Coast Football Club for the 2010 – 2012 seasons.

A current Australian Rugby League International and Queensland State of Origin representative, Karmichael Hunt will become the first ever athlete to make the switch from professional Rugby League to AFL.

Twenty-two year old Karmichael grew up in Queensland and is looking forward to his new career path in his home state.

For further information please contact:
Phoebe Munro
Sponsorship & Marketing I Titan Management
Level 1, 1 Showground Road, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay NSW 2127
Ph: 02 9746 6355 I Fax: 02 9746 6366 I E: phoebe@titanmanagement.com.au

Sunrise comes to the hockey

Sunrise weather presenter Fifi Box recently presented her live weather crosses from Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre to promote the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy – Women, 2009. She also tried out her hockey skills against our Hockeyroos!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Inaugural Special Olympics Australia Golf Day

Special Olympics Australia invites all Business Association members to join them for the Inaugural Special Olympics Golf Day on 20 October at Long Reef Golf Course.

Located just 20km from Sydney CBD, the course has panoramic beachfront and sweeping coastline views.
The day features:
• 18 Hole Ambrose Golf
• Golf Dinner with Celebrity Guest Speaker
• Auctions, trophies and great prizes and
• Hole Sponsorships available.

For further information please view the attached pdf.

SOA Golf Invitation

Sydney on track to host the biggest ever World Masters Games

Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay recently announced that Sydney is on track to stage the largest ever World Masters Games this October.

“At last count we had 28,091 people registered for the Games with a large portion of these registrations coming from overseas. This is a fantastic vote of confidence for Sydney and the World Masters Games,” Ms McKay said.

“It reinforces what a drawcard Sydney is as an international destination particularly as this year’s Masters Games has had to contend with travel deterrents such as the Global Financial Crisis and Swine Flu.”

Ms McKay said the most popular sports include athletics, football, softball, swimming and rowing.

“We have over 170 teams competing in the football, which will be Australia’s largest ever football competition held,” Ms McKay said.

Ms McKay said registered athletes include 101 year old Griffith athlete Reginald Trewin, the Games oldest athlete, competing in the lawn bowls.

“We also have registrations from a netball team from Sri Lanka, a softball team from Botswana and a volleyball team from Lithuania,” Ms McKay said.

“There will also be a vast array of skill levels on display during competition with nearly 200 registrations received from former Olympic athletes, including participants from the Beijing Olympics of 2008 and the Berlin Olympics of 1936.

Paris stadium spectaculars set for Sydney

Spectacular theatrical and entertainment events from the world’s most innovative stadium scaled producer are set for Sydney’s ANZ Stadium .

StadeFrance Live Events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the iconic Stade de France in Paris, which hosted the 1998 FIFA World Cup final and has become one of Europe’s premier sports and entertainment venues.

Under the agreement, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium will be granted the exclusive first right to conduct events produced by StadeFrance Live Events.The new partnership places Sydney at the forefront of the emerging global entertainment genre of stadium scale presentations of classic theatre and opera, as well as contemporary entertainment.

StadeFrance Live Events and Stade de France have produced and hosted productions of Carmen, Ben Hur, Turandot, Aida and Verdi Requiem. Contemporary productions include Celtic Night, Stadium’s Horses and Unighted.

The agreement is a first for an Australian stadium and follows a new strategic direction being adopted by stadia looking to open up opportunities for innovative non-sporting events with worldwide appeal.

Daryl KERRY, CEO of ANZ Stadium said: “We have been most impressed by the quality of Stadium scaled shows being produced by StadeFrance Live Events and their professional commitment to developing shows that will have mass appeal.

We are delighted that as future shows are developed ANZ Stadium will have the ability to deliver those shows first to Sydney audiences and later in the broader Australian and New Zealand markets. The prospect of regular artistic performances on a grand scale complements our current schedule of major sporting events making ANZ Stadium one of the world’s most versatile stadiums.”

Pictured: ANZ Stadium showing its versatility for Andre Rieu.For more ANZ Stadium news - Boots 'n' All Newsletter-bootsnall@news.anzstadium.com.au

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Members can 'Be part of History'

The AFL plans for a new Club to be based in Western Sydney from 2012 will bring at least nine new major events into the Park each year. This represents a significant boost in visitations to the precinct from both intra and inter-state spectators enhancing job opportunities and investment in infrastructure. Similarly there are spin-off benefits for businesses in and around the Park.

Business Association members can be amongst the first to find out more about the planned expansion of AFL in the west by attending a special “Be part of History” Corporate Dinner at the Swans v Geelong match at ANZ Stadium on 15 August.

Bookings can be made through Alayna Shackleton on 83338004 or Alayna.Shackleton@aflnswact.com.au

'Be part of History 'Dinner