Maybe patrons are eating less, selecting cheaper dishes or whatever, but the Church Street dining precinct seems as busy as ever. Maybe they are too young to have ever experienced a recession.

Or maybe it is the result of a survey which showed some 98 per cent of 300 users of council’s Dining Guide 2009 saying they were prompted to try a new restaurant. (The survey also found that 87 per cent of respondents said the guide helped them to change their perception of Parramatta)

A recent survey by Ipsos Mackay, reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, noted that 58 per cent of respondents had stopped eating at restaurants. While no figures are available for Parramatta, anecdotal evidence indicates a major fall off in patronage at the CBD’s more upmarket establishments.

The Corporate Lounge pub, in Church Street, which closed several months after opening, is for lease as a licensed restaurant. Council had approved a 96-seat outdoor dining area in front of the building,

Generation Y are still dining out, no matter what.   Photo: Parramatta City Council

Vaccine for whopping cough

While it is too late to arrest the whooping cough epidemic which is sweeping the state, the National Centre for Immunisation Research Surveillance, at Westmead, expects to introduce a vaccine which could be given to babies at birth.

Unfortunately, babies can only be vaccinated at eight weeks of age, at present.

Professor Peter McIntyre, the centre’s director, in urging children to be vaccinated, said just 3 per cent of children in NSW were vaccinated

He said children living on the North Coast, South Coast, Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains were most at risk. More than 3360 cases had been diagnosed this year.

While on the topic of kids, the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bandaged Bear fundraising venture this month. Over the years, the Bear has raised $11 million.

Bandaged Bear Day will be held on Friday, March 27. So remember to buy one, or two.

Funds for bushfires

The Parramatta Eels and the general community raised more than $41,082 for the appeal following the disastrous bushfires in Victoria. Football players raised $6082.10 for the Salvation Army’s Bushfire Appeal, and the Lady Mayoress’s celebrity concert, at the Riverside Theatres, raised more than $35,000.

Crime prevention priority

NSW Attorney General, John Hatzistergos, said the Rees Government had endorsed a Parramatta City Council crime prevention plan and as a result council was eligible for $100,000 in funding, double the amount usually made available to local governments.

The additional funding was available because the NSW Government has identified Parramatta as one of six priority crime prevention locations.

Mr Hatzistergos said council was planning to provide additional free bus services to drive a loop around the city area, specifically to move patrons of licensed premises to transport hubs.

He said council planed to carry out an audit of lighting and blind spots in Church Street Mall, upgrade safety at council-managed car parks as well as other popular public areas in Parramatta.

“The council can now move forward in its bid to thwart crime and prevent anti-social behaviour in the Church Street Mall and surrounding streets,” said Mr Hatzistergos.

“An effective way of preventing crime in Parramatta would be to reduce the number of people who loiter in the city centre at night,” he said. “The plan aims to reduce the incidence of assault, malicious damage and stealing from motor vehicles, retail stores and individuals.”

Informing users of the city centre about how they can reduce the risk of being targeted by thieves was another feature of the plan.

“It is important that people feel safe as they get on and off trains, park their cars, attend sporting and cultural events and walk around the city centre,” said NSW MP for Parramatta, Tanya Gadiel. Ms Gadiel said the council plan had been developed in consultation with police, community organisations and local businesses.

Council reopened a section of the Church Street Mall, between Macquarie and George streets, to help improve safety and security in the CBD.

Corporate sponsorship affected

The financial crisis is affecting corporate sponsorship of the city’s major events and festivals. Council’s December quarterly report shows the target for the quarter was $75,000 but only $55,000 was raised – a gap of 27 per cent – compared with $80,000 raised in the September quarter.

Council said efforts to increase the Australia Day sponsorship base were “disappointing”, which may reflect a widespread downturn in available sponsor dollars, council said.

Shot in Parramatta

Those who prefer the ABC to commercial TV stations will be aware of the former’s new offering, Rogue Nation, covering 43 years of life in the colony some 200 years ago.

The two-part project tells the story of Australia’s birth as seen through the eyes of two maverick individuals, the solder and pastoralist, John Macarthur, and a convict-born newspaperman called William Wentworth.

Viewers many not know that scenes in the $1.6 million production were shot at Old Government House, in Parramatta Park, and at Elizabeth farm House, at Rosehill.

Council targets small business

The small business sector will be a target for council’s efforts to boost its contribution to the city’s economy. Opportunities will be created through forums, lunches and events to hear about the issues facing small business. Council will conduct these events in partnership with business organisations.

One of the key focus areas will be those businesses which are run by entrepreneurs from non-English-speaking backgrounds, as they make up approximately 40 per cent of the city’s business owners

Library figures on the way up

Attempts by the Federal and NSW Governments to encourage children to read more seem to be paying off if statistics from council’s library service are any guide.

While a breakdown by age is not available, unfortunately, it is pleasing to note that in the December quarter, library members increased by 4000 over the previous quarter, to 69,083, and the number of visits increased by 10,000 from the same period last year to 192,595.

Children surely are well represented in these figures. Council’s budget for the purchase of books is $100,000.

Membership of council’s library service increased by 4000 in the December quarter.  Photo: Parramatta City Council