Wednesday 30 May 2018

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Council’s Budget Forums A Resounding Success

MEDIA RELEASE


30 May, 2018

More than 180 people attended Blacktown City Council’s 2018 Budget Insight Forums to announce Council’s biggest ever budget, $623 million.

Two special events – a business breakfast and an evening community forum – were hosted by Council to give the City’s residents a chance to hear about Council’s draft plans in the 2018/19 budget.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said: “This year we are announcing Blacktown City Council’s largest budget, and cementing our plan to ensure this City is prepared for the 522,000 people who will live here by 2036.”
Council’s draft plans and budget are on exhibition until Tuesday, 12 June.

The guest speaker at the business event was, Rob Cassab, Director of Sphere Developments. Mr Cassab the man behind Blacktown’s first skyscraper: Altitude Tower.

Mr Cassab said he believes Blacktown will become a vibrant commercial and residential hub.

“What you have here is a blank canvas, ready for high-end premium retail and lifestyle businesses as well as people who want to have luxury affordable residential properties.

“Blacktown CBD has so much to offer with the public transport services or the bus transit ways and the train station, the shopping centre and the retail. It is exactly what young professionals are looking for,” Mr Cassab said.
Business leaders from the Western Sydney region attended the business breakfast and heard from Mayor Bali and General Manager Kerry Robinson about Council’s draft plans and vision for the future of the City.

The community forum guest speaker, Anyier Yuol, is Blacktown City’s Woman of the Year. A Sudanese orphan refugee, Ms Yuol has called Blacktown “home” for more than 10 years.

Ms Yuol said: “This community has played a very important part in my life. The Council facilities which I was able to use helped transform my life.

“I wanted to be good at one thing and that was soccer, so I used a lot of reserves and sports fields for my training.”
“Therefore seeing some of Council’s new projects and the vision for Blacktown is enlightening. I am very excited about the future of the City and this community,” Ms Yuol said.

Council’s community budget forum on Tuesday night attracted a diverse group of people who were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet with the Mayor and Councillors .

Mayor Bali said: “Developing the Warrick Lane precinct and securing a university campus in Blacktown CBD are transformational projects which outline Council’s practical approach to achieving the community’s aspirations for the City.

“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.”



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