Independent Blacktown City Councillor Creates Confusion with Election of New Mayor - Imgaine If We Had 15 Independents To Electect Mayor!

Mayor Changes To Labor Independent and Blacktown City Council turns into turmoil in relation to further improvements that have been made as a progress under the Liberal Independent Local Government for the last 2 years, in Mount Druitt.

The *'Chewing Gum' new Mayor, Stephen Bali has been thrown into the deep end, when Blacktown City Council was trying to get out of the red, financially. Now Council, may go back into the red and never be self sufficient! Stephen is National Secretary of AWU Greater Western Sydney Branch. Now a Unionist running Blacktown City Council!

The new Mayor ran against Jess Diaz and won 8 votes to 7 in a secret ballot! I think it should always be a show of hands as this is a proper way to vote from your heart.

The Independent of Blacktown, Councillor Russ Dickens has now thrown a spanner into the works, by changing his vote 'at the last minute' as a measure of despair! I understand the there was an issue that Councillor Russ Dickens wanted to save 'Mount Druitt Pool' Had he asked the question to 6 Councillors of Ward 4 and 5 if they all swim at Mount Druitt Pool or not in each summer. Most probably the answer, would have been 'No'. And these are the elected representatives, from with the area.

I understand the Mount Druitt swimming pool issue, is a 'hot potato' to the local community, for the few that go there and swim! Especially when I walk past, which can be a few times the pool seems like it has low patronage and this is costly for the community, pipes have not been maintained. We might now see a gross in expense for maintain acne and the pool re-opened at a substantial cost to rate payers. 

Then we will wonder why the new may raise rates!  What gets myself with the opposition to the pool closure you have at least 2 local current and past members of State & Federal Members of parliaments involved in real estate sales and I am sure that these people are for improvement and developmental projects to increase housing for future population. One of them is selling multiple storey units right opposite the pool. I'm sure that when the time comes if the pool came available for future he median housing development  - they will jump at the first opportunity.

A radio interview with Mayor Len Robinson and also Councillor Stephen Bali on the Swimming Pool Closure. The radio announcer  an announcement that 47,000 people used the pool last year - if based on 4 months of the pool being opened that is 391.6 per day (based on 120 days). That results in approximately 49 people per hour ( if opened 8 hours per day) is at the pool at any time. For it to be enjoyed by the community it should be  at least 4 times that amount of people per hour!

Click here for interview


Imagine if we had 15 Independents to elect one Mayor? It would go on for days a be a shambles. Results would be hard to get. 

It appears Councillor Russ Dickens may have changed his vote (for what ever reason). I don't know his real age, but I feel that Councillors should have a retirement age of 65 years (when your 4 year term ends). I respect that Councillor Dickens has been in Council for a long time and my feelings are that younger people should be given an opportunity to be elected into Council.

I would hope that as a true Independent he will change votes when and if the new Mayor makes a slip. In the 2016 Blacktown Local Council Elections, there will be 2 Councillors that will not be running Councillor Len Robinson (Retirement) and Councillor Edmond Atalla ( As he may win the State Election due 2015) and I would assume Councillor Russ Dickens as a possible third one!

*Chewing Gum Councillor -  the reason he is called this in my books is that is what he does during Council Meetings! Which I think this is disgusting. Surely there are rules for proper manners. Will he chair meeting with chewing gum  in his mouth - ask him?