Thursday 29 June 2017

Blacktown City Council - Approves People's Budget 2017-2018

MEDIA RELEASE


Blacktown City Council has approved what has been termed “The People’s Budget”

The $610 million budget – the city’s biggest yet – was formally approved at last night’s meeting.

Moving its acceptance, Deputy Mayor Tony Bleasdale called it “the People’s Budget”.

“Despite the challenges we face as we head toward a population exceeding half a million people – we have, I believe, delivered what should be known as the People’s Budget,’ Councillor Bleasdale said.

“We will deliver a City full of life and opportunity for our residents and the tens of thousands who will make it their home in the years ahead.

“It’s a budget which delivers first-class services and facilities and has a vision for jobs: a vision which will be delivered in partnership with our local business community.

“And a vision for education – seeking to add a full-scale university campus to our great schools and TAFE institutes.”

Councillor Bleasdale highlighted the decision to prove a larger-than-required pensioner discount for rates.

“By maintaining the rates rebate which we substantially increased for our 12,500 pensioners, and this caused us to be named as one of the most socially caring councils in NSW.

“And  - good news for all ratepayers - 80 per cent of Blacktown ratepayers pay rates that are nearly 10% less than the estimated State average, he said.






Tuesday 27 June 2017

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Hip-hop Into Blacktown

MEDIA RELEASE


27 June 2017


Western Sydney’s strong influence on the development of Australian hip-hop will be showcased in an upcoming exhibition in Blacktown.

It’s Our Thing: More History on Australian Hip-Hop (Part II) will be presented by Blacktown Arts from now until 12 August 2017.

Fourteen artists will present works both inside and in the open at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, exploring the explosion of hip-hop culture in Blacktown during the 1990s and its impact on current artistic practices.

“The history of Australian hip-hop is firmly ingrained in the streets of Blacktown,” Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali said.

“This exhibition celebrates that legacy and its profound influence on Australian art and music culture.”

In the 1990s, Blacktown was home to Western Sydney’s first artist-run initiative, Street Level, led by graduates from the University of Western Sydney (now Western Sydney University) and the College of Fine Arts.

Curated by Kon Gouriotis and Paul Howard, It’s Our Thing (Part II) features some of the original graffiti artists and visual artists active during at that time.

“The hip-hop movement in Australia, like that in America, was a form of expression by people outside the mainstream of fine arts and music,” Mr Gouriotis said.

Street Level was significant because the works that emerged embodied the signature and tone of a distinctly Australian hip-hop voice that continues to resonate.”

The exhibition includes performances, paintings, graffiti (both at the Centre and throughout the Blacktown CBD), video displays of female hip-hop performers from the 90s to now, and a rare original piece by visual artist Unique, last displayed in 1992.

The program includes an opening event with live graffiti and a DJ set on Thursday, 22 June 2017, and a hip-hop concert on Saturday, 12 August 2017, presented in partnership with FBi Radio.

Throughout the exhibition, Blacktown Arts will host a series of free panel discussions with the artists, school holiday workshops and special events for young people and seniors.
For more information on this program, visit their Facebook page (@BlacktownArts) or blacktownarts.com.au.



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Artist MCTrey (Thelma Thomas) is part of the It’s Our Thing: More History on Australian Hip-Hop exhibition. Photo credit: Joshua Morris.
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Jason Wing is part of an exhibition that explores Blacktown’s impact on hip-hop in Australia. Photo credit: Joshua Morris.
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A piece by artist Spice (Sharline Bazzina). Photo credit: Joshua Morris.




THE ARTISTS
CChez
GGarry Trinh
SSpice (Sharline Bazzina)
L Leo Tanoi
DDan Kyle
RRose (Tianna Vokac)
GGeorge Tilianakas
UUmph (David Challinor)
UUnique (Paul Westgate)
MMistery (Matthew Peet)
MMini Graff (Wendy Turner)
MMC Trey (Thelma Thomas)
PPrins / Haro (Chris Bisset)
J Jason Wing

EXHIBITION DATES
Thursday, 22 June 2017 – Saturday, 12 August, 2017

ABOUT BLACKTOWN ARTS
Blacktown Arts is a recognised leader in the development of contemporary arts in Australia. We support artistic innovation and offer exciting, new experiences for audiences through an award-winning curated program of exhibitions, performances, workshops, residencies and events. 
Blacktown Arts is committed to making dynamic, culturally diverse work that reflects Blacktown, its history and its communities. We place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities at the heart of our program to develop new work drawing on issues of local and global significance.
This is how we make art.
Connect with Blacktown Arts
Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @blacktownarts
Address Blacktown Arts Centre 78 Flushcombe Rd Blacktown NSW 2148
Phone (02) 9839 6558#ThisIsHowWeMakeArt
Opening hours for Blacktown Arts Centre
Monday Closed
Tuesday 10am – 5pm
Wednesday 10am – 5pm
Thursday 10am – 5pm
Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday Closed

Blacktown City Council - Media Alert - New Outdoor Gym Unveiled In Blacktown

MEDIA RELEASE

Media Alert

27 June 2017

Fitness enthusiasts will have more spaces to dip, crunch, lift, press and stretch on new gym equipment at a Blacktown City Council park. 

Mayor of Blacktown City Councillor Stephen Bali said four new fitness stations have been installed at Tregear Reserve.

“Council already has a number of outdoor gyms at parks across the City, and it’s fantastic locals living near Tregear Reserve can now enjoy the benefits this equipment provides,” he said.

“Not everyone has the time or the money to go to a gym. These outdoor exercise stations mean people can work out at no cost within walking distance of their home.

“It’s free, convenient and has the added benefit of being located in a wonderful parkland setting.”

Mayor Bali said the fitness stations included equipment such a cross trainer, leg lift bench, pull up bars, chest back press and squat press.  

“This new outdoor gym is as good as it gets, featuring equipment that you would expect to find in a commercial gym,” he said.

“Blacktown is a sporting city and this new outdoor gym will help our community lead more healthy and active lifestyles.”

The gym equipment got a big thumbs-up from the Mt Druitt Clontarf Academy, which recently held a team fitness challenge at Tregear Reserve with students from the academy.

“We want to thank Council for installing this equipment,” Year 8 student TJ Summerfield said.

“It’s really useful, especially for people who can’t afford to go to the gym.”

Mt Druitt Clontarf Academy Director Luke Swain said: “The boys were impressed Council had put such nice equipment in a park.

“It was a great conversation starter for the group around how local government is attempting to encourage healthy lifestyles in the community, why this is important, and why we should take pride in our community and look after these machines.”

The total cost of the project was $89,162, jointly funded by Council and the NSW Government’s Department of Family and Community Services.

“Family and Community Services (FACS) are committed to supporting projects that create better and stronger social housing communities through its Social Housing Community Improvement Fund,” said Megan Beckett, FACS Acting Executive District Director Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains District.

“SHCIF, a $20 million grant program, provides one-off grants for capital works or refurbishment projects, such as the new outdoor gym in Tregear Reserve, to improve the liveability and amenity of social housing communities.
“It is wonderful being here today to acknowledge the contribution this project will make to Blacktown and its social housing residents.”

Follow the link to download high resolution photos of the pictures below:


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Mt Druitt Clontarf Academy student Lionel Murray, Cr Brad Bunting, Megan Beckett from FACS, student Waarlan McDougall and Mayor Stephen Bali.


Description: Description: \\bccfiler\users\rankea\Documents\Releases and responses\06\Tregear gym equipment\IMG_7506.JPGMt Druitt Clontarf Academy students Lionel Murray,
TJ Summerfield, Waarlan McDougall and Aaron Templeton;  Mt Druitt Clontarf Academy Director Luke Swain; Mayor Stephen Bali; Megan Beckett from FACS and Cr Brad Bunting.

Mount Druitt Commuters Hurt Whilst Escalator Stops

A few commuters were injury on the eay to Mount Druitt train station, whilst travelling up escalators.

A Sydney Trains representative advised ambulance were at hand within minutes attending to the injured.

Video footage will be used from both upstairs to see if it was a mechanical fault or whether somone had pressed the Emergency Stop' button.

I would like to suggest on behalf of the Mount Druitt community that this is onvestigated, so it doesn't happen again or thete are practices put into place to ens ure proper health and safety of commuters.

Ru Ben Is 'Thankful To Many' For His Local Fame.......'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Group


Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, standing
Currently!!!
Thank you bro
John Svoboda, sis Marissa Georgopoulos, bro Phil Rogers and The Standard.
Thanks be to GOD
through the Power of The HOLY SPIRIT In JESUS Name Amen


So  above is Ru Ben showing is happiness in being discovered in the local Mount Druitt - St Marys Standard newspaper and 'Thanks' many.....

A Mount Druitt Visitor - On Sydney Trains - Singing Her Heart Out...

Yes, last Friday morning, it was a cold and frisky  pitch black morning, at Mount Druitt train station 'Platform 1', as the sun was rising and this young lady 'Shilo' who raised my heart and inspirations of the day, with her blues entertaining songs. Unfortunately, I only recorded one song (with her permission). What an inspirational personal, especially, this time in the morning.

Although, she was just here visiting family, she left a wonderful mark with our community as she travelled 1 hours to home. Shilo, we really are proud of how you sing and wish that you do something with your life in music and entertain your families and friends as you have entertainment myself.

Click here for her Face Book version song

Editors Notes:
It wasn't a 'Quiet Carriage' we were on - I checked  that out.

Monday 26 June 2017

Westfield Mount Druitt Celebrates Naidoc Week 1st - 4th July 2017

Image result for Naidoc 2017 logoCentre Court at Westfield, Mount Druitt has aboriginal and Torres Strait island people helping our local children with their craftwork, during Naidoc* Week 2 - 1st - 4th July 2017.


Image result for westfieldClick here for details from Westfield Mount Druitt


Click here for Naidoc Week explanation


* National Aboriginals & Islanders Day Observance Committee

Blacktown City Council - Media Alert - "Incinerator Inquiry"

MEDIA ALERT


Blacktown City Council has successfully lobbied for a parliamentary inquiry into the Energy from Waste industry.

The Dial a Dump group has applied to build one of the world’s largest Energy from Waste facilities at Eastern Creek.

The proposed waste incinerator would generate electricity by burning some 1.105 million tonnes of waste a year.

There is strong opposition to the project from surrounding residents and Blacktown City Council is opposed to the proposal, which we do not think should be approved by the NSW Government.

On Tuesday June 27, Mayor Stephen Bali and representatives of the company wanting to build the EfW plant will be giving evidence at a hearing to be held at Rooty Hill RSL from 9.00 am.

Dial a Dump will be giving their evidence at 11am, Mayor Bali will be giving his at 12.00pm and we will be calling a media conference for 12.45pm.

“There are several schools within reach of the incinerator’s emission plume, and parents have rightly told Council they are worried about the health of their children,” said the Mayor of Blacktown City, Stephen Bali.

Mayor Bali has previously made the point that, according to the proposal, the cooling system used at the plant cuts out when the temperature gets above 37 degrees, causing the entire plant to “trip” or shut down. 

“If the plant had been operating this year, it would have shut down on at least 11 days,” Mayor Bali said at the time.

Mayor Bali said:  “This is their second go, and the company wanting to burn more than a million tonnes of waste a year is yet to come up with a plan that provides maximum protection for the hundreds of thousands of people living around it.”

The proposed plant would be located near the Light Horse interchange of the M4 and M7 motorways at Eastern Creek, adjacent to the suburbs of Minchinbury, Colyton, Rooty Hill, Mount Druitt, Oxley Park, Erskine Park and Arndell Park.
Details:
Upper House inquiry into Energy from Waste
Boomerang Room, Rooty Hill RSL
Tuesday 27 June.
Hearing starts at 9.00 am.
Dial a Dump gives evidence at 11.00 am
Mayor Bali gives evidence at 12.00 noon.
Blacktown City Council is calling a media conference for 12.45 pm.

Saturday 24 June 2017

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Butt Out Littering In Blacktown

MEDIA RELEASEMEDIA RELEASE
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16 June 2017

Blacktown City Council is using street art to encourage smokers to butt out in the Blacktown central business district. 

Western Sydney artist Anton Pulvirenti has created superhero-themed artworks in five locations across the city.

“I wanted to put a positive spin on the message so the smoker would feel like a hero for putting the butt in the bin, rather than feeling bad for leaving it on the ground,” Pulvirenti said.

“The images and words aim to empower the smoker and act as a trigger to encourage them to think about their behaviour.”

One of the images, located at 42 Main Street and made using acrylic paint, depicts a female superhero and contains the message: ‘Be a local hero. Bin your butts’.

Another artwork shows a whale made up of litter and butts washing down a drain, spruiking the slogan: ‘All drains lead to the ocean. Put it in the bin’.
“The piece aims to make people aware the stormwater system is Blacktown’s direct link to the ocean,” Pulvirenti said.

“Litter dropped in Blacktown CBD washes down the drain, along Breakfast Creek, into the Hawkesbury River and then into the ocean.

“Once in contact with water, cigarette butts release hazardous chemicals which are toxic to some aquatic life.”

Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali, said the project aims to encourage smokers to dispose of their butts responsibly in the butt bins. 

“Cigarette butts make up 36 per cent of all litter and are our biggest and longest lasting problem,” he said.

“Because they are made from cellulose acetate and are not biodegradable, they can remain in the environment for up to 10 years.

“This project is about encouraging people to do the right thing through one of the most effective platforms available to us: public street art.”

The project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

The artworks are the final element of the project, which included installing ‘Butt it and bin it’ signs around the 75 butt bins in Blacktown CBD and a cigarette butt ballot on Main Street.

The five artworks can be seen at various locations in the Blacktown CBD:
·         Male superhero – contains the message ‘Be a local hero. Bin your butts’. Near the Patrick Street entrance to Westpoint.
·         Female superhero – contains the message ‘Be a local hero. Bin your butts’ In front of 42 Main Street.
·         Whale – contains the message ‘All drains lead to the ocean. Put it in the bin.’ Near the Patrick Street entrance to Westpoint.
·         Cyborg artwork – contains the message ‘The bin is within reach. Bin your butts.’ Next to the side entrance of Westpoint on Flushcombe Road.
·         Octopus – contains the message ‘Butts belong in the bin, not in the ocean.’  Out the front of Commonwealth Bank on the corner of Campbell Street and Main Street.

The artworks will remain for the next few weeks or until they wear off.


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Artist Anton Pulvirenti puts the
finishing touches on his octopus
artwork for the ‘Butt out littering
in Blacktown  CBD’ campaign. 



Editors Notes:
Every time I see littered rubbish, I see and vision 2 things: individual laziness and the Millions of Dollars spent by Blacktown City Council to clean up our streets, parks, reserves and public places, when a lot of it could be prevent by each one of us.

I must admit, I have seen this even in my younger years in the Eastern Suburbs of  Sydney and no matter how much we talk about, the litter volumes increase. I am sometimes lost for words and hope by publishing these posts, that at least one person understand, one person changes  and one person actions positively and make our own community clean.

It can be simply us carrying a  small plastic bag and keeping our rubbish in this as walk within our community and place it in our own rubbish bins at home. I fully back any promotion
 that Blacktown City Council  provides in us all reducing litter.and its costs.







Friday 23 June 2017

Blacktown City Council - Media Alert - New Outdoor Gym To Be Unveiled In Tregear

MEDIA ALERT
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23 June 2017


Event Details
Opening of new outdoor gym at Tregear Reserve
2.00pm, 27 June 2017
Tregear Reserve
Corner of Wilkes Cres and Debrincat Ave, Tregear
Meet at the Wilkes Cres carpark for a photo shoot at the gym equipment nearby.
Mayor Stephen Bali and students from Mt Druitt Clontarf Academy will be available to be photographed.
Media release to follow.

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Black Elvis is in the building


MEDIA RELEASE
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23 June, 2017
Tuesday 4 July | 11am – 4pm

‘The Koori King of Country’, singer Roger Knox, leads a strong line-up of talented performers at Blacktown City Council’s 2017 NAIDOC Family Day.

Also known as “The Black Elvis”, Knox will perform popular hits from his 40-year career, including songs written by Aboriginal artists, perfectly capturing this year’s NAIDOC theme: Our Languages Matter.

“We are honoured to have Roger Knox – a NAIDOC Artist of the Year and Australian Country Music Foundation Music Hands of Fame inductee – performing at Blacktown’s NAIDOC Family Fun Day,” said Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali.

“Mr Knox is beloved by the Aboriginal community for the work he does sharing the gift of music with Aboriginal audiences in remote communities and prisons in Australia and overseas.

“I am very much looking forward to hearing this legend of Australian country music perform.”

The Mount Druitt Indigenous Choir, The Green Hand Band, Sharon Carpenter and Dr Greenthumb will also perform throughout the day.

There will be workshops and stalls, a free barbeque and lots of activities for the kids to enjoy, including the opportunity to showcase their talents on the stage as part of the ‘Blackfullus Got Talent, So You Mob Think You Can Dance Idol Competition’.

“The NAIDOC Family Fun Day is a very important event in the Blacktown City calendar,” Mayor Bali said.

“It is an opportunity for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.”
Koori Radio 93.7FM will be broadcasting live, so listen out for on-the-spot interviews with community members and performers during the day.

The 2017 NAIDOC Family Fun Day will be held on Tuesday 4 July from 11am – 4pm at Blacktown Showground, Richmond Road, Blacktown. It is a free event.

About NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week 2017 will run from 2-9 July. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Local community celebrations during NAIDOC Week are encouraged and often organised by communities, government agencies, local councils, schools and workplaces.