Blacktown City Council Has Fixed Hole In The Ground, William Mason Reserve North Mount Druitt!

Yes, there are things that we, community members sometimes see unnoticed. These unnoticed things are to fix or provide improvement to the everyday living of all community members and to their health and safety.

So the hole in the ground a William Mason Reserve has correctly been fixed, preventing any potential accidents. They spotted it and did the right thing, we take our hat off the Blacktown City Council.

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William Mason Reserve Has Been Installed With One Rubbish Bin!

What is a good thing is that Blacktown City Council has been providing a sulo bin tide to a pole, at William Mason Reserve. This is for the North Mount Druitt community members to place their rubbish in the  bin, keeping the community cleaner and healthier.

I hope Blacktown City Council doesn't have a 'B' rating for picking up the bin and replacing it as it has for the park itself. This is a great idea for Blacktown City Council to do as a great incentive to enure person does their job in ensuring we live in an more improved quality of life community.

We ask the community to use the park properly with using this bin for its proper use.

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Mount Druitt Train Station Concourse Is Overcrowded - Improvement Required!

Time and time again I have mentioned to people I speak to within Mount Druitt that Mount Druitt a growing hub of population and commuters, we all end up in peek times 12-15 deep with limited exit barriers. 

The Opal Electronic Ticketing System does bring a quicker way of  exiting and entering barriers and train stations. Yet according to
Bureau of Transport Statistics

This is where the queue ends when walking up steps

Mount Druitt train station barriers entering in and out 2012 shows over 14,000 commuters using the station station, per day. Allow ing  for increases I'm sure we are reaching 16,000 by now per day. The top concourse needs to be upgraded  by way of widening 
the concourse from North to South,  then more electronic barriers, then easy steps to get home - improvement confirmed!

Mount Druitt Bus Interchange - Non-Smoking Signs Are So High & Small To Read!

For years I have been complaining of how small the Mount Druitt Bus Interchange are to Blacktown City Council Transport Officers and they finger point to NSW Health who administer signs being placed there.

 
 Here you will see from a distance no one can see it and when you are close  you can not read the fine print.

My suggestion is to have the same large adverting that our local buses when they are adverting. The bigger the sign the more people will not smoke there, under the NSW Smoke-Free Laws.

Christmas in Mount Druitt Is Around The Corner - But No Santa Claus Yet!

Last week, when I was passing the centre stage of Westfield Mount Druitt, I had seen some men commence the footings of the Christmas Tree set. I must admit they fooled myself as I wasn't thinking what they were doing (before these photos came up).

So now is when the commercial world (2months before Christmas) starts flogging Christmas sales, which sometimes are not Christmas sales being brainwashed into shoppers minds. Yet, purchasing Christmas gifts for  family and friends is great, I think it is an over-kill for introducing Christmas 2 months before the event. The centre stage is beautifully made up - I would like to see Westfield give to the young children - maybe small bags of lollies. So far, no Santa Clause to be seen - but I'm sure he will be seen soon!

NB: Christmas is celebrating the Mass of Christ Jesus's Birth day.

New Surface Road On Luxford Road, North Mount Druitt

It is great to see the road improvements happening in Mount Druitt. This is how the new road surface is looking at Luxford Road, Mount Druitt:

It looks like a completely

 

new suburb!

As the majority of the road upgrade is happening at night time, this picture show the activity happening around 10pm:

Luxford Road, North Mount Druitt Possible Road Improvements!

When I first walked across Luxford Road, North  the Mount Druitt I had noticed how deteriorating the road was in between Rashay's Restaurant and the entrance of Shennan Walk Way.  I haven't done a story on this before as I knew the diplomatic Council response would be we have referred this to NSW Roads and Maritime Service and NSW Police for their recommendation/decision.....

We may even get our foot crossing that I have been advocating for for a while now. On the South side of Luxford Road, North Mount Druitt, roads are continuing to resurface the road.

You can see the 'cracks' on the road from wear and tear on the first 4 photos, the 5th one is showing you the new surface up to the traffic lights and the last one is showing you the resurfaced road going past the Mount Druitt Police Station:

 

 

 

Hythe Street Reserve - No One Enters!

Is Hythe Street Reserve a Reserved or is it Reserved for Median Density Housing?

Whether you are a 'Greenie' or not, Hythe Street Reserve (which has no signage in front of it) on the corner of Hythe and Earl Streets North Mount Druitt, sending a message that id begging for a private developer to provide median density housing like 3-4 levels of units or multiple Town Houses. In its vicinity (a stone throw away) Shennan Walk Way (again, no park signs indicated) is capable of having proper children activities and amenities in this park.

Up the road at the end of Earl Street, is a huge park, 'William Mason Reserve' (less than 200 metres away) and 15r

Blacktown City Council has neglected to place signage of 'Shennan Walk Way' and 'Hythe Street Reserve', which in itself may cause problems when establishing where one person may be relaxing in and  for establishing a community identity for these Reserves.

In relation to 'Hythe Street Reserve' it has generally overgrown grass and pedestrian passer-byers toss out their rubbish into it. It is even used as a dumping ground. Council's does it's duty to clean the Reserve as often as they can. With the cutting of the grass, this is neglected and seems to been done once every six months.

I request Blacktown City Council to either upgrade and
 maintain this Reserve, more often than previously done. Also Council need to maybe placing a  short cut path way from Hythe Street ( East of Hythe Street Reserve) to Earl Street (North of Hythe Street Reserve) or if the property is just a property, reserve to be sold, do that

Belated News: Marlissa (Our Local Talent) Won X Factor!

How can a young person carry a mature adult voice, sing with passion, bring out the power of love and win a National Talent competition is incredible.

Marlisa was probably not the favourite to win (outside of Mount Druitt area), but she overcame all challenges and I also think that  she has com out holding her head high, that all Australians should be so, so proud.

Her future seems like will be laid out in front of herself, here is the story from TV Week .

Click here for Marlisa's Hot Release, 'Stand By You'

Western Sydney Community Forum 'Zest' Awards - Nominations!

 The Western Sydney Community Forum 'Zest' Awards are rewarding for people that nominate and for the person/group that are nominated and actually win.

I have been very fortunate to have been nominated and being the finalist of the 1st and 2nd 'Zest' Awards: Outstanding Community Leader 2011 & 2012.

Should you know of someone or a group of voluntary organisation that is doing good for the community, nominate them immediately, they will appreciate it. Here are the details:

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

ZEST Nominations are now open! The ZEST Team are pleased to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 2014 ZEST Awards. The ZEST Awards are the annual celebration of innovation and creativity of the Community Sector and has a rich history of recognising the great outcomes achieved in Greater Western Sydney. The Awards, a partnership project between Western Sydney Community Forum, TRI Community Exchange and WESTIR, have celebrated 377 outstanding projects and individuals from the community across the past four years. The ZEST Awards culminates at the Awards Ceremony, which has quickly established itself as the premier event for the Community Sector in Greater Western Sydney. All nominees are invited to attend, with over 600 people expected to gather to celebrate the Community Sector in 2015. We have a few exciting new award categories this year, including the UWS Unsung Heroes Award. This will be awarded to an individual enrolled in study at UWS in 2015 who is making a difference in their community, and will include a UWS Prize worth $5000. To help you get started the ZEST Team has put together a guide entitled ‘5 Tips to Writing a Successful ZEST Nomination’ which shares our experiences from reading and judging nominations. Nominations for the ZEST Awards will be closing on the 5th of December, so make sure you don't miss out. The ZEST Awards relies on nominations from the community to ensure that these inspiring individuals and projects are recognised. We need you to highlight their positive impact on the community. Nominate an initiative or person who inspires you in Greater Western Sydney! The ZEST Team 2015 ZEST Awards Major Event Partners

 

A Suggestion From A Comunity Member From Willmott - Regarding Cyclists!

Following on from cyclist sharing pathways, I have been advised by a Whalan commuter Blacktown City Council did a thick book report in the 1970's  in relation to cycle pathways and shared pathways and this hasn't emerged from anywhere to show what theses plans were in those times. Maybe there wasn't a focus in that time as maybe there wasn't a lot of cyclists on the road in a growing community.

In relation to cyclists having more access to shared pathways in Mount Druitt, it was reported by a commuter from Willmott, that in one news paper recently that there should be a speed limit for cyclists. This is to prevent speeding cyclists on pathways having potential accidents with pedestrians. The speed limit suggested was 10km per hour.
 
It seems like it is happening around the world - why are we behind the times?

My question is as a cyclist, how do we gauge this when bicycles are not supplied with distance or speed gauges and how will his Police? Will there be radars and cameras to issue, 'Issue on the spot fines'. A good suggestion, yet Council's obligation will be for them to ensure ample speed limit signs are placed on relevant sections of the shared pathway.

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More Shared Cycle Pathways Approved By Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc.

At the recent meeting of  Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. meeting yesterday, I  raised and moved a motion, that, 'Blacktown City Council provides more shared cycle paths within the Mount Druitt Suburbs, along major arterial roads that lead to and from all shopping centres.'

At the moment only under 12 year olds are allowed on pathways and anyone else it is illegal. So you ride on the road and people horn you or drive so fast, they want to scare you!

The members at the meeting overwhelmingly passed the motion and will refer this to Blacktown local Council. We are limited in Mount Druitt for cycle ways, plenty around Blacktown and in the new suburb of Ropes Crossing, plenty of cycling!

Blacktown City Council Public Transport Forum 2014

In the past I have been honored to represent the people of Mount Druitt to Blacktown City Council's annual Public Transport Forums since 2010. The next one will be held on the 27th November 2014. 

The event is an invitation only meeting not an invitation to all members of the public, anyone that is a member of a transport advocacy group is invited within Blacktown Local Government Area.

I am still a member of Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. and from next year I will ask if I can be  representing whyilovemountdruitt.blogspot.com? I have asked Council to invite the Secretary of the group, who can give a report of the group within the last year.

The Blacktown Public Transport Forum is important for Local Government Area's to have as it discusses the issues and improvements required current and for the future. I will report back to you in relation to this vital and important Forum.

I thank Council for showing keen interest in Public Transport.



 

Public Transport Forum 2014

This Forum was established in response to the need to have an ongoing structure through which public transport improvements in the Blacktown City Local Government Area can be co-operatively and effectively achieved.

The Forum has the following key objectives:

·                Act as a forum for exchange of information on local and state public transport matters between transport operators, community groups and relevant agencies.

·                Identify and consider the needs of the community with regard to public transport services and facilities.

·                Facilitate and encourage improvements to the level of public transport services.

·                Provide information and encourage input on Council's forward planning and activities in relation to public transport issues.

·                Initiate and facilitate projects as recommended by the forum and approved by Council. Sub groups be formed to deal with more complex issues that will require additional research and investigation.

·                With the assistance of Council, WSROC and any other supporting transport advocate group, lobby relevant authorities for alterations or amendments to Policy, Guidelines and Legislation. (Federal Government, State Government, Local Government Association).