PANPA 2014 NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP
weekender the western
Printed on 100% recycled paper
FRI 16 JAN 2015 • Issue 1186
Soward’s mission
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Business Advice, tips and profiles on the best local businesses p.30-31
Penrith of the future Struggling CBD in the spotlight as PBA aims to revitalise our city centre KATHERINE TWEED
Panthers look to go one better in 2015 p.38
Foley mixes with locals p.5
Deadline closes in Businesses must make switch to NBN p.6
@ktweed_
M
eet the man who may just be the Penrith CBD’s saviour. The appointment of Jonathan Drane as the Manager of Investment and Development at the Penrith Business Alliance (PBA) is being seen as a key move in the long-held dream of revitalising the city’s centre. The Sydney developer is known for his work supporting and studying the transformation of Australian streets, like Palmer Street in Townsville, from nothingness to dining and hospitality hot spots. Mr Drane specialises in helping to revitalise cities and, with his new role at the PBA, he hopes to ignite a change in the Penrith CBD, focusing on High and Henry Streets. “I am coming in as an outsider, to an existing organisation that has been well established for five years. The PBA has asked me to come on board to give a fresh view,” Mr Drane said. “I will hold up what I call a ‘mirror’ to give them my view of Penrith and they will listen. From there, Penrith will decide what it wants.” The main aim of the PBA is to create more jobs in the Penrith area and to do so, Mr Drane said that the revitalising of certain areas would help. Mr Drane is currently part of the way through his research of the area which, upon completion, he will use to identify “catalyst areas” and then work with other PBA members and Penrith Council to create initiatives, projects and developments to bring those areas to life. Story continues on » p. 8
Jonathan Drane hopes to revitalise the Penrith CBD. Photo: Melinda Jane
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