Blacktown City Council May 2021 e-Newsletter

 

Mayor's Message

Council delivers a balanced budget

Blacktown City Council has delivered a balanced $656 million draft budget for the 2021/22 financial year. This budget delivers on promises made to Blacktown City’s residents, businesses and Council’s loyal staff. Last year, at the height of the COVID-19, Council faced a projected $24 million revenue loss due to the pandemic. Council made a commitment to maintain services, preserve the health and wellbeing of our residents and Council staff, and to continue the transformation of Blacktown into a modern, sustainable city. Council maximised savings and cut non-essential expenses. I am proud to say Council maintained all our essential services, provided additional cleaning services, kept our childcare centres open and our staff employed. Now, through responsible financial management we can deliver a budget that includes a major capital works program of more than $150 million and delivers increased spending on service delivery. The transformation of Blacktown City continues at a rapid but sustainable pace. Students are now studying at ACU’s campus in Blacktown. Work is nearing completion on Council’s $80 million redevelopment of the Warrick Lane precinct in the CBD, featuring a massive underground carpark, a plaza and park, shops, restaurants and offices. Works will soon be underway on our $100 million International Centre of Training Excellence at the Blacktown International Sportspark and a world-class $30 million Animal Rehoming Centre at Glendenning. Environmentally, we have the biggest roof-top solar installation of any Council in Australia, we planted more than 33-thousand trees last year and we’re spending more than $56 million on parks, playgrounds and sporting fields. Blacktown City Council we remains committed to maintaining jobs, paying our creditors, and providing quality services, facilities and infrastructure for our residents and businesses. Tony Bleasdale OAM | Mayor of Blacktown City

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Transforming Blacktown – online Budget Forum

We invite you to attend our 2021 Budget Have Your Say Online Forum. Hear about how Council intends to deliver the future of Blacktown through our transformational strategy and plans. Learn more about our exciting projects from Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM and hear from our outstanding guest speaker, Mr Richard Errington, Chief Executive Officer of West HQ Limited. You can pre-submit your questions to the Budget Have Your Say Online Forum here. The draft budget includes: a major capital works program of more than $150 million $25.3 million for Kids’ Early Learning Blacktown City $21.5 million for community facilities $10.1 million for our libraries $37.7 million for parks, reserves, playgrounds and sporting fields $72.3 million for roads, footpaths and bridges. You can view Council’s draft Delivery Program 2017-2022 and Operational Plan 2021/22 and $656 million budget for 2021/22 here. The plans and budget are on public exhibition from Wednesday 5 May until Tuesday 1 June 2021.

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Medieval Fayre returning on 22 and 23 May!

Blacktown’s favourite event, the Medieval Fayre will transform Nurragingy Reserve back into the dark ages over two spectacular days. Immerse yourself in medieval culture with the Birds of Prey Show, medieval displays, combat artillery, handmade arts and crafts, free camel and pony rides and a working blacksmith hut. The jousting competition will be the highlight of the event with riders from all over the country fighting for the prestigious title. Visitors will experience the excitement of living history at its best and all spectators are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite medieval attire. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and in the interest of public health, tickets are now required for this event. Tickets are now available and cost $7 per person (children 12 months and under are free).

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Blacktown City Festival has something for everyone From our Lots of Laughs Comedy Night, to Drag Bingo and Blacktown City Parkfest, there is something for everyone at this year's Blacktown City Festival.

View the full program

Restored vintage ‘Sunshine Harvester’ – a workers’ memorial

A restored 1907 harvesting machine will be installed in a workers’ memorial garden in Blacktown, as a commemoration of a pivotal moment in Australian industrial history, where one of the foundations of modern living standards was established. The Sunshine Harvester was unveiled in a ceremony marking International Day of Mourning on Tuesday 28 April, a day when gatherings around the world pause to commemorate workers who have died or been injured as a result of workplace incidents or occupational disease. Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said; ‘Not only did the Sunshine Harvester forever change agriculture in Australia, but it was at the heart of a test case that set the country's first minimum wage and set the standard for National Wage cases for many years.’ ‘The Harvester Decision in 1907 by the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Court (CCAC) changed the way wages were determined in Australia by setting a minimum wage for all Australian workers.’

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Be involved – informed - heard

You are invited to Blacktown City Council’s Ward 1 Pop-Up Community Information Session on Saturday 15 May at Riverstone Festival. Pop-up community information sessions are a chance to raise your concerns about important issues that affect you and hear about what’s happening in your neighbourhood. Blacktown City’s Ward 1 Councillors will be available from noon – 2 pm at Council’s information stall at the Riverstone Festival. When: Saturday 15 May 2021 Time: Noon – 2 pm Cost: Free Contact: forums@blacktown.nsw.gov.au Location: Council’s information stall, Mill Street Park, corner of Mill Street and Riverstone Parade, Riverstone. Community forums are back! Watch this space every month for information on upcoming forums. For more information, email forums@blacktown.nsw.gov.au.

What’s on this month

22 May - 19 June Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown MORE INFO   Songlines and Sightlines – Colouring in Blacktown Songlines and Sightlines – Colouring in Blacktown is an interactive gallery experience that invites visitors to colour in and draw directly on the walls of The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre. Artist and Darug knowledge holder Leanne Mulgo Watson and artist Peter Rush have mapped sites of significance onto the gallery walls reflecting Darug song lines, plants, animals and the built environment for visitors to interact with, follow and be inspired by.

27 May 4 pm - 9 pm Village Green, Flushcombe Road, Blacktown MORE INFO   Sweet Indulgence Dessert Festival Oh sugar, it’s back! The dessert lover’s paradise ‘Sweet Indulgence’ is returning to Blacktown Festival! Sugar lovers will flock to the Village Green to satisfy their sweet-tooths with mouth-watering creations from some of Sydney’s top, hand-picked dessert vendors including KNAFEH and The Bearded Bakers! Donut miss out!

16 June Noon - 2 pm Online webinar. Registrations are essential. REGISTER   Composting and Worm Farming 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.