Farewell To A Difficult Year -Blacktown City Council - December: E-Newsletter

 

December e-newsletter

Mayor's Message

Farewell to a difficult year

In my last ‘Mayor’s message’ for this year, I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the people and businesses of the great City of Blacktown. This past year has been one of the most difficult and turbulent that you and your Council have faced. From days of record heat and air pollution in summer, through to local floods and storms and then the COVID-19 lockdowns and isolation, Blacktown City had it all. But together we responded. Our City sent tonnes of food, equipment, non-perishable items, and people to the bushfire ravaged areas. Blacktown City Council’s Bushfire Appeal raised more than $80,000 that went directly to bushfire victims. Our Council acknowledged a climate emergency, and we committed to a target of 100% renewable electricity for Council operations by 2025. Together we weathered the COVID storm in our city. We looked after each other. We supported our frontline workers and maintained our essential services. Working together, Blacktown City emerged with one of the lowest infection rates of any city. We look forward to a brighter 2021. We will welcome students to Australian Catholic University Blacktown campus in just a few weeks. We will enjoy the redeveloped Warrick Lane precinct with its massive underground carpark, plaza, parks, offices and restaurants. Construction will commence on the world-class Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre at Glendenning and the International Centre of Training Excellence at Blacktown International Sportspark. Your council will continue to act in the best interests of the health and wellbeing of all our residents and businesses. Recently, we had a look back at 2020 and all we've been able to achieve despite the setbacks this year. You can watch this in our End of Year video by clicking here or the image below. Have a great festive season and even greater New Year. Councillor Tony Bleasdale, OAM

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Celebrate Australia Day 2021 in Blacktown

Join us as we celebrate Australia Day on Tuesday 26 January in Blacktown! Wake up with the wildlife breakfast Start the day by enjoying breakfast with your favourite feathered and furry friends at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, Doonside! There are limited session times (sessions to be confirmed) so be sure to get in quickly! Tickets cost $10 per person, which includes entry and an Australia Day pack. A sausage sizzle breakfast will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets will be available to purchase online from the Council website at 8 am on Wednesday 13 January 2021. Guests are welcome to stay and explore Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park after their session finishes until the park closes at 5 pm! Australia Day awards Do you know a local resident who deserves to be recognised for making an outstanding contribution to community service, has attained remarkable achievements in education, sport, or the arts, or a community group that has organised a successful community event? Nominations for the Blacktown City Australia Day Awards are now open and will close on Friday 8 January. For more information, or to nominate someone, click here. Australia Day Concert and Fireworks Celebrate all the festivities of Australia Day 2021 at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney from 4.00 pm to 9.30 pm. The event will play host to an outstanding stage program including performances by Ian Moss, Bachelor Girl, Don't Change - Ultimate INXS, VTribe and Vulture Street - Powderfinger Tribute. It will also host an array of activities including kids' amusement rides, food trucks and stalls ahead of one of Western Sydney's most spectacular firework displays! Cost: $3 per person, or $10 for families (up to 5 people). Tickets will be available to purchase from Council's website from 8 am on Tuesday 5 January. For more information, click here.

ACU Blacktown campus set to open to students

The Australian Catholic University Blacktown campus at 22 Main Street in Blacktown city centre, is now open and taking student enquiries. The campus opens to students in 2021, offering a range of courses.  Student Orientation Week is 22 - 26 February 2021 and first semester classes commence on 1 March 2021.

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Check out this year’s Christmas lights competition entrants!

Entries to the Blacktown City Christmas lights competition have now closed. Residents were encouraged to decorate their home, town house or villa or nominate their neighbour's property, with over $4,000 in cash and prizes to be won! Our 2020 Christmas Lights Competition winners are: 1st place overall winner: 9 Trezise Place, Quakers Hill 2nd place overall winner: 19 Climus Street, Hassall Grove 3rd place overall winner: 7 Garbett Place, Doonside Ward 1 winner: 9 Trezise Place, Quakers Hill Ward 2 winner: 19 Purcell Crescent, Lalor Park Ward 3 winner: 7 Garbett Place, Doonside Ward 4 winner: 31 Coghlan Crescent, Doonside Ward 5 winner: 19 Climus Street, Hassall Grove Encouragement award: 56 St Albans Road, Schofields Encouragement award: 12 Errol Place, Quakers Hill Nominators prize: 66 Stockholm Ave, Hassall Grove Best street: Errol Place, Quakers Hill Best townhouse/villa: 17 Landon Street, Schofields. Check-out all of the entrants this year by visiting our website.

Check out entrants!

New playgrounds in Blacktown City

Stage 2 works for Reserve 879, corner of Beacon Drive and Arilla Close, Schofields, with a new playspace is now open to the public. Features of the new park include: multiplay unit with slide swingset with standard and toddler seat 360 swing junior play hut with panels trampoline spinner springer picnic sets and seats and much more! In addition to the delivery of Reserve 879, Council has also delivered the following parks and playspaces this year: Reserve 971, Oallen Place, Schofields Reserve 883, Prairie Street & Farmland Drive, Schofields Reserve 873, Greenview Parade & Ridgeline Drive, The Ponds Bill Swift Reserve, Peter Street, Blacktown William Lawson Park, Myrtle Street, Prospect Lake Woodcroft, Woodcroft Drive, Woodcroft Kruse Park, Erebus Crescent, Tregear. For more information, or to find out other ways to keep active throughout summer, click here. Pictured above: Mayor Tony Bleasdale, OAM, and Councillor Moninder Singh with local residents enjoying the new playground facilities at Reserve 879.

Find out other ways to keep active this summer

Blacktown City’s Bushfire Appeal helping victims to rebuild

From Batemans Bay to the Blue Mountains, from Moss Vale to Moruya, the generosity of Blacktown City’s residents is helping dozens of bushfire victims around NSW to rebuild their lives. The Blacktown City Council Bushfire Appeal raised nearly $80,000 to go directly to victims of the 2019/20 bushfires. The funds generously raised by Blacktown City locals have enabled the donation of practical goods to bushfire-affected individuals across NSW. Blue Mountains residents Dirk and Caroline Nelson are among those who were given a helping hand through Council’s Bushfire Appeal. The bushfires tore through their entire property in December, with a single shed the only building left standing. Heavy rains then washed away the local public bridge and road that allowed them access to their remote property, and access was only restored several months later. Blacktown City Council, along with Blue Mountains City Council, GIVIT and Step By Step came together with Katoomba Camping and Hardware Store to provide the Nelsons with camping gear. The donated equipment, including tents and camping chairs, means the couple have been able to stay on their property as they rebuild.

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What’s on this month

21 January noon - 1.30 pm Online webinar. Registrations essential. MORE INFO   Worm farming and composting workshop Learn how to set up your organic recycling system to turn food scraps and garden 'waste' into a fantastic fertiliser and soil conditioner for your garden. You will learn the basics on how you can get started and the different options available including composting, worm farming and Bokashi systems. You will also get some great tips on how to reduce your waste at home.

Until 28 January Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown MORE INFO   Blacktown City Art Prize The Blacktown City Art Prize is a much loved open-themed award and exhibition which celebrates its 25th year in 2020. Over 100 artworks by artists across Australia are on display, along with additional artworks selected for three of the Blacktown City Libraries. Click here for previous post