New-look Westfield Miranda is weeks away

SHOPPERS will get their first look at the "new" Westfield Miranda on October 16 when stage one opens.

However, the bigger event will come a few weeks before Christmas with the unveiling of stage two, which is the major part of the $435 million project.

The final stage, a 10-screen cinema complex and six rooftop restaurants, is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

Another major change will occur by the end of this year when paid parking will be introduced, using new number plate recognition technology, instead of paper tickets. [See separate story].

Despite the opening of the first stage happening two months later than projected earlier this year, Westfield said the project was "on track".

Centre manager Kate Holsgrove said the first stage, on level one [the bottom mall level], extended from what was previously the first floor of Myer into the new building facing the Kingsway.

Ms Holsgrove said it would principally be a new fresh food section, with some fashion and homewares.

"A new Woolworths supermarket will anchor the fresh-food section and around it will be retailers like Fruit Ezy, Jones the Grocer, Costi's Seafood and Christopher's Cake Shop, which is one of Australia's oldest cake shops," she said.

"We will also have Sourdough Bakery, Bannos Brownies and Ragamuffin, which makes steam-baked muffins, and Beyond the Label, a unique wine-tasting concept.

‘‘Lindt [chocolate store] will be returning and Gelato Messina will be opening in stage two.’’

Ms Holsgrove said the fresh-food section was designed to have ‘‘a market feel’’, with a demonstration kitchen and stalls ‘‘removing some of the barriers between the customer and the product’’.

‘‘Stage one will also include a new customer service desk and new car park off the Kingsway,’’ she said.

Ms Holsgrove said stage two, to open in late November or early December, would be in levels two and three of the new building, and the majority would house fashion retailers.

This will include the opening of the new Kingsway entrance.

‘‘The final stage is the cinemas and rooftop restaurants, which we are looking to open by the middle of next year,’’ she said.

‘‘There will be six restaurants next to the cinemas, making 15 in the precinct, and we are calling it a ‘garden in the sky’, because it will have lots of lush landscaping.

‘‘It is designed to be open and outdoor, but with covers, so it is still a nice place to be in wet weather.’’

Ms Holsgrove said shoppers would be glad when the disruption caused by building work was over.

‘‘It is is certainly challenging but we wanted to make sure the whole centre had an upgrade, so [the existing section] was brought up to the same standard.

‘‘Most of the floor surfaces and balustrades around the voids have been replaced and new lighting and seating installed throughout the centre.’’

‘‘It has been designed to have a lot of natural timber and gardens and landscaping to reflect the lifestyle in Sutherland Shire.’’

PAID PARKING

New number-plate recognition technology will be used when paid parking is introduced at Westfield Miranda by the end of the year.

The first three hours of parking will be free and there will be no charge after 6pm. This is more lenient than some other Westfield centres, which allow only two hours free parking and free entry after 7pm.

Motorists will not have to collect a ticket as they enter the centre. Instead, the vehicle number plate will be photographed on entry and exit.

Shoppers will have to make a note of when they arrive.

Before leaving, if they have stayed longer than three hours, they will need to put the details of their number plate into a machine and pay a fee.

Centre manager Kate Holsgrove said Westfield had received very positive feedback after trialing the ‘‘smart system’’ at another centre.

‘‘We are not aware of it being used in any other major shopping centre in Australia,’’ she said. ‘‘We will put in a great deal of support to help shoppers through the process and we will have a trial period.’’

Ms Holsgrove said paid parking would stop people parking all day while they took the train to work.

‘‘This is about freeing up bays for genuine shoppers,’’ she said. ‘‘The majority of our customers stay less than three hours.’’

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Entertainment and children’s play areas will be features of the redeveloped centre.

‘‘There will be a number of spaces where we can have anything from concerts to buskers or DJs,’’ Ms Holsgrove said.

‘‘Miranda has a huge history of great events and entertainment.

‘‘We haven’t done as much in recent years, but we will be going back to that.

‘‘I think people want to go to a shopping centre and have some different entertainment. It’s not just about shopping, it’s about lifestyle and entertainment.

‘‘We are putting in two new kids’ play areas, one of which will have a very large climbing structure for older children.’’

Are you keen for the new-look Westfield to be ready for business?

Source: http://www.theleader.com.au/story/2512048/new-look-westfield-miranda-is-weeks-away

By Murray Trembath

The fastest way to fitness: running

Photo: istock

Running is simply the best medicine, writes Clive Hopkins.

CITY2SURF EVENT GUIDE: www.city2surf.com.au

'Humans really are born to run," says Sydney-based personal trainer Mike Moore. "It's a very simple form of exercise - it's low cost, and you can do it anywhere, anytime."

Moore's clients range from complete novices, right up to the kind of elite athletes who will run The Sun-Herald City 2 Surf presented by Westpac in under an hour.

Moore believes that when people start running training, they notice an improvement in their fitness very quickly, more quickly than they would in other forms of exercise. "Your body already knows how to do it, which is the opposite of something like swimming."

And while there are techniques involved in running, it's not necessary to go down the technical path to get something from the activity.

For anyone taking up running for the first time, Moore advises getting some correct footwear (which doesn't have to cost $300), before setting achievable goals for yourself.

"I'm big on getting a sense of achievement from exercise. For the first time ever, this might just be running from one lamp post to the next lamp post."

The rule of thumb for those starting out is that you should be able to talk while jogging. "You should be comfortable, so that at the end of a run, you feel you could have done a bit more."

Even those who resist the idea of running can get a lot out of it.

Moore recalls one client saying to him, 'if you ever make me run, I'll leave'.

"She'd been made to run at school, and got no enjoyment out of it. Now, though, she's done several 10-kilometre races."

For Moore, one of the most striking benefits of running is the potential for weight loss. "I'll stick my neck out and say that, in my experience, if someone starts running two or three times a week, their body will change for the better."

Moore's reluctant runner client lost an incredible 20 kilograms, essentially, he believes, just from running.

"In contrast to something like cycling, running is a whole-body exercise that uses upper and lower body muscles," says Dr Rhonda Orr, senior lecturer in exercise and sports science at The University of Sydney.

"The changes [adaptations] brought about by aerobic exercise like running are very beneficial."

What lay people refer to as an increased fitness or aerobic capacity, health professionals refer to as an improved VO2 max score.

Orr says there are two components to VO2 max - an essential component to do with your heart, and a peripheral component to do with capillary (small blood vessel) density and mitochondria (the "energy storehouses" of the body), and associated enzyme action.

"If we look at the heart, running training over time will lead to a decrease in the resting heart rate, as well as a decrease in the sub-maximal heart rate for any activity," says Orr. "This is good adaptation.

"There is also an increase in the heart's 'stroke volume', that is, how much blood is ejected from the heart during every cardiac cycle. The heart is pumping more effectively, leading to improved circulation."

Aside from the benefits to the heart, running requires the whole body to work together in unison, to deliver more oxygen to the working muscle. Increased mitochondria and enzyme action leads to improved fat mobilisation.

"The increased capacity to transport fats leads to an improved fat utilisation during exercise," says Orr. "By doing this, you spare your glucose or your glycogen stores, which your body uses for short bursts of energy.
"When you train well, you're not only training your muscles and endurance - you're training your body to use optimal energy stores."

It's this better fat utilisation that can result in weight loss.

Running training can also lead to better blood glucose control.

"This is also good for our general health," says Orr.

"If we improve our glucose kinetics, we can help retard, not just the onset of type-2 diabetes, but potentially also the onset of metabolic syndrome. This is a cluster of conditions: high blood pressure, high glucose, high cholesterol, and excess body fat around the waist, which are all connected with cardio-vascular disease."

For those who already have type-2 diabetes, running is a good adjunct to their medication, and running can also help reduce blood pressure in mildly hypertensive patients.

Moore, though, believes that running is good for you in ways that go far beyond the physical. "I feel it's also a great benefit for mental health - something you can enjoy by being by yourself, or as part of a group.

"The great attraction of running is being able to do it anywhere, whether it's a city or the Sinai desert," he says.

"I've actually used running to explore New York City. You see people and places you wouldn't see if you were in a car, because you're amongst it."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/athletics/the-fastest-way-to-fitness-20140723-3cf2b.html

Latest Reviews from TripAdvisor.com on Metro Hotel Miranda - April 2014

~ METRO HOTEL MIRANDA ~

“Brilliant”

Reviewed 10 April 2014 by Belinda via mobile

The visit was for our brother's hospital stay at Kogarah. They upgraded our parents to a superior room and helped with bus schedules and offered any assistance they could. The room was clean and had everything you needed. We would recommend this Hotel to anyone & everyone.

Stayed April 2014, travelled with family

“Pre and post wedding party accommodation”

Reviewed 11 April 2014 by ChikasonDP via mobile

We were very lucky to have our whole bridal party plus siblings plus parents stay at Metro Miranda. The staff were very kind, helpful and assisted with so many "special requests".

Rooms on standard floor clean and serviceable, rooms on superior floor nicely renovated. Only problem is the access keys not working 100% of the time after being placed near mobiles but apart from that - excellent value for money and everyone enjoyed their stay.

• Stayed April 2014

“Superior room always!”

Reviewed 3 weeks ago by Ofsoski

I have stayed here afew times, always pay extra for the superior suite, very modern bathroom, huge comfy bed. Super close to west fields and gym. Looks abit old, but superior suite I repeat is great :) will come back whenever I trip down to Miranda/gymea bay.

Metro Hotel Miranda - Superior Suite

Source: http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g552106-d281267-Reviews-Metro_Hotel_Miranda-Miranda_Sutherland_Shire_Greater_Sydney_New_South_Wales.html



Book your next stay at Metro Hotel Miranda: www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-hotel-miranda/
Location: Corner of Kingsway and Jackson Avenue, Miranda NSW 2228 Australia
Phone: 02 9119 7901