Have 'Your Say' - Blacktown City Council - Is A Fair Go For All To See, Learn And Understand

Last night I attended my first Blacktown City Council, Community 'Have Your Say' and although, half  the seats were filled, I did find it  great value as an individual community member to attend. You can have your say, it is fair across  the board. 

How many  people know who their local Councillors are - a lot of people don't care, don't want to know or simply are not interested. Yet if there is a major Council decision happening in their street and they are directly affected negatively, then they will want to know who their Councillors are and revved up their Councillors, so that decisions may be overturned.

So congratulations to the community members that turned up and it was a shame that the fellow next to me, left halfway through the meeting. He missed out on a lot. There were a arrange of topics covered good and bad as we explained how Council is involved in community safety audits, when  there anti-social issues that destroy Council or privately owned property and the Local Area Command Police are involved.

 Everyone was reluctant to start the questions, so I had a 2 part question. These are issues that passionately been in my heart for more than  8 years now. The  breaking consistently of glass sheltered buses and its Cost to Council and  Whalan has 3 - 4 overpasses that may not be safety for the public as well, The answers I received from Mayor Stephen Bali, indicated he has done his research and homework and even suggested that in time as the community grows there will few be few or less incidents with glass shelters being broken, over a period of time as the community  grows in time. With the overpasses it was noted that people do required them as access to get around the community.

There were topics on NO  Incnerator, NO Western Sydney Airport, local  medical practice  is seeking  for Council's help to make use of the derelict  building behind the shops - Council agreed to discuss and there was John Rosewarne, President from the Whalan Community Action Group, who are worried  about losing their premises at the Old Whalan High School - Mayor Stephen Bali assured him that Council would work with his group to locate new facilities and finally was the discussion for  the  Council to accept  Westfield carpark fees - apparently  may have been accepted in NSW Government  bodies, if Council went against it, so Council has negotiated reduced costs - which maybe the community will not understand - that process itself is difficult.

The thing about opening up and have your say at local community meetings, it gives us a chance to let our how we feel of the area - how we love our area and we require it to be more utilised and beautified- you can gain and gage answers from both Councillors and Council Officers, depending on who has the right answer to the question

I thoroughly recommend these community meetings be on a regular basis, no matter who is Mayor. This is a great concept to continue  to have and hold and alert the community on what is happening and  may be happening.

I would like these meetings be placed in Council Calendars in years to come, so the community is aware when they being held.