Blacktown City Counci - Media Release - Community Backs Council On IHAP

FOR IMEDIA ELEASE

2 March 2018

Blacktown Councillors got a strong vote of support from residents who raised their voices about the impact of the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel at the most recent Have Your Say community forum.

During the open forum session residents raised concerns that, from 1 March, their local councillors will not be approving development applications.

The Mayor of Blacktown City, Stephen Bali MP said: “From 1 March our hands will be tied as councillors.

“These applications will go through a separate process and we as a council won’t have a say in the approval process.

“Yet every day we have residents telling us about the adverse impact these properties are having on neighbours.”

Council staff also updated the audience about upgrades and plans for parks and reserves in the area, including a proposed fitness station at the Alwyn Lindfield Reserve in Glenwood.

The state-of-the-art human powered fitness station will allow users to charge their devices while using exercise as a source of power.

Mayor Bali said: “Face to face engagement with the community is powerful. It is great to see people turn up to our forums to hear what Council is doing and raise their concerns directly with us.”

Council’s next community forum is at 7pm on Monday, 30 April at The Ponds Community Hub, 45 Riverbank Drive, The Ponds.  

Next forum details:
Monday, 30 April, 7pm at The Ponds Community Hub, 45 Riverbank Drive, The Ponds.  Email: Forums@blacktown.nsw.gov.