Blacktown City Council - Media Statement - Industrial Relations Commission Endorses Council Return To Work Agreement

4 July 2019

Blacktown City Council has welcomed the decision by the

NSW Industrial Relations Commission to endorse an 

agreement between Council and the United Services Union 

that will result in the resumption of work.

The United Services Union (USU) called a stoppage of work 

for outdoor staff yesterday over the use of Glyphosate (a 

herbicide used in certain weedkillers).

Under the agreement Council will implement a trial of a 

viable alternate weed control product. Council has previously 

offered to undertake such a trial.

The trial will involve one of Council’s crews using the 

alternate product. Other crews will continue to use the 

Glyphosate-based product under strict conditions in 

accordance with the label directions.

The trial will be monitored by Council’s Work, Health and 

Safety Representative Committee.

Council welcomed Commissioner Webster’s statement that 

she recognised that Council has a strong and active Work, 

Health and Safety Representative Committee.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said: “We place the 

safety of our staff and the community as our highest priority.

“Council has consulted with staff and unions on the use of 

Glyphosate extensively.

“Council is continually monitoring the situation and will act 

according to the recommendations of the regulator and on 

the findings that result from the trial.

“We have agreed to trialling viable alternatives. What is 

important for everyone to understand is that Council will not 

place employees or members of the public at risk,” Mayor 

Bali said.

Council is guided in this by the relevant regulatory authority, 

the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority 

(APVMA).

The APVMA states that:

•           Glyphosate is safe for humans, animals and the                      environment when used according to label directions

•           No regulatory agency in the world considers                            Glyphosate to be a carcinogen

•           The APVMA does not expect any significant changes               to the registration of Glyphosate in Australia.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service use 

Glyphosate-based weed control measures throughout 

national parks in Sydney.

Residents affected by the stoppage have been asked to 

leave their bins at the kerb until collection occurs.

Blacktown City Council - Media Statement - Two Decades Of Cries For A Lift Is “Unfair”

MEDIA STATEMENT

13 July, 2018

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP says the NSW State government’s failure to recognise the desperate need for a lift at Doonside railway station is cruel.

“Cries for a lift at Doonside railway station have been heard for more than two decades and every year the government has failed to bring this vital piece of infrastructure to the community,” Mayor Bali said.

“We have heard some very sad stories of people using the out-dated ramp and falling off wheel chairs coming down the ramp and, in one case, having a heart-attack while trying to walk up the ramp.”

Last week Mayor Bali sent official invites to NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance to a community forum on Monday, 30 July.

Council has not received confirmation that the ministers will face the Doonside community at the forum.

“We are giving them the opportunity to meet with this community, the same people who are screaming for a lift.”

“The Government has already omitted this lift in the 2018 Budget, they have ignored the community’s desperate cries for over twenty years, now let’s see if they will give us the cold shoulder again by not facing this community face-to-face,” Mayor Bali said.

Blacktown City Council has been in touch with the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, on numerous occasions, including in 2015, when an official response from Minister Constance indicated Doonside station would be considered for funding.

Reports on the NSW Government’s 2018 Budget revealed 11 more stations will receive upgrades, and there were further progression of four stations.

Again Doonside was not on the Government’s list.

Forum details: Doonside Community Forum starts at 7pm on Monday, 30 July 7pm, The Doonside Community Centre, 31 Graham Street, Doonside.

The lack of a lift means that Jackie Roach is no longer able to access Doonside station.

Blacktown City Council - Media Statement - Council Staff Commended For Response Rescue

MEDIA STATEMENT

04 July 2018

Blacktown City Council has praised the heroic efforts of two

staff who tried to save a disabled man trapped in a house

fire.

A 41-year-old man in a wheel chair was rescued from a

house fire on Blacktown Road, Seven Hills by emergency

workers and taken to Concord Hospital in a serious condition.

The officers were driving in the Seven Hills area at about

6.30am when they noticed smoke coming from the house,

they stopped and tried to gain access to the property.

With the gates locked, the pair used their truck to knock

down the gate and desperately tried to enter the house.

Emergency services officers arrived soon after and removed

the man from the house.

The men do not want to be fully identified and are only

prepared to share their first names as Shane and Dennis.

Blacktown City Mayor, Stephen Bali MP praised the men for

their quick response.

“I applaud these two men for their quick action this morning.

“I am extremely proud to have people like Shane and Dennis

as part of the Blacktown City Council team and I’m sure the

community appreciates their selfless act.”

Shane said: “We came in today to do our normal work,

everything happened very quickly. We just did what we had

to.”

“Right now it’s a bit of a shock. We did what we would do for

anybody.

“Blacktown is our backyard and helping people is just part of

what we do.”

Mayor Bali said the Council workers will be offered support

as they come to terms with the incident.

“They went above and beyond their roles at Council, and

performed a heroic act for their community,” he said.

“Council recognises these efforts. I look forward to meeting

them and ensuring their heroic efforts are properly

recognised,” Mayor Bali said.

Shane said while the interest in their role in the rescue has

attracted attention from the media and local community, the

pair is looking forward to having a rest today and returning to

their normal roles tomorrow.

Blacktown City Council - Media Statement -The Incinerator Fires Back

Media Statement

18 January 2018

The NSW Government’s planning authority is giving Next Generation’s (TNG’s) energy from waste incinerator a third chance to meet the state’s mediocre pollution laws.

“TNG has allegedly answered 967 submissions objecting to the incinerator and now we have to check whether they’ve done this or not,” the Mayor of Blacktown City, Stephen Bali MP said.

“If you or your organisation lodged a submission, I advise you to audit it against the TNG response and check whether or not your issues were properly addressed. 

“If they weren’t, you need to let the NSW Department of Planning and Environment know as soon as you can. 

“This NSW Government instrumentality is responsible for either approving or rejecting the project.

“Blacktown City Council has been given until Monday, 5 March to lodge its response, so everyone who lodged an objection needs to get cracking.

“My great concern about this and TNG’s other responses is that the incineration process or technology has not changed, but the theoretical modelling that “predicts” the pollution level has.

“How can we have any faith in the moveable and theoretical numbers when the actual effects of the incinerator’s emissions on nearby residents will be permanent and immoveable?

The “Response to Submissions” report follows the public exhibition of an amended environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Energy from Waste incinerator at Eastern Creek.

“This proposal affects everyone in the local area, so please conduct your own review of TNG’s response, which is on the Department of Planning and Environment’s website: 

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=6236

Scroll to the bottom of the planning dept page to see where to make a submission.