We Farewell And Provide A Tribute To 4 Former Blacktown City Councillors of Ward 4 and 5

Every 4 years there are Blacktown City Councillors that are either not running for election and they retire or they have not been re-elected to Council for various reasons: not being pre-selected from  within their party or resigning from the party and running as an Independent. Each of the the three  Councillors that I would like to dedicate this post to them.

They each have committed so much time personal time in many years, to service their  local constituents and I'm sure that they have each achieved their goals in what they wanted to do as a Councillor of Blacktown City Council.

Retired Councillor, Charlie Lowles OAM, has served the community in Ward 5 for  a long twenty 27 years and his name is well known when it comes to local community improvements/issues. He normally places his hand up first and seeks ways of resolving our local community requirements and turns up at a lot of community events, enjoying himself. He was elected Mayor from 1995-1999 and from 2008-1010. He has  provided so much commitment to his community in everywhere he goes and has served our community with such pride leaving a mark that cannot be forgotten. We wish him well with his retirement.

Retired Councillor, Edmond Atalla has taken up elected office as the NSW Member of Mount Druitt elected to the 56th NSW Parliament in 2015, after  serving the community as a Councillor for over 12 1/2 years in Ward 4, this has given him great insight in being elected as a NSW State Member of Mount Druitt. This new role will give him great character and aspiration to be the best member of our area, especially with his  passionate views on public transport and Mount Druitt hospital as well as education. We wish him well with his newly elected office.

Former Councillor Isabelle White, elected since 2012, was  not re-selected from the local Liberal Party ranks. A vocal voice for the closing of Mount Druitt pool and change of name of Blacktown City name and a current High school teacher, we wish her well in  her future.

Former Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, Ward 4 for 8 years has  provided quality dedicated time to her community and was recently a great support fro Mayor Stephen Bali, as soon as she was elected Deputy Mayor last year. She has supported community improvements from parks and gardens to bus stops to street improvements. She started with fixing and was elected as a Liberal Councilor in 2008, in 2015 resigned from the Liberal party due to local internal party politicking. She since ran as an independent,  and was elected Deputy Mayor for 1 year. Although  she contested Ward 4 as an Independent, she wasn't elected for her third term and will consider her options within the next 4 years, while she takes a well deserved rest. We wish her well with he future decisions.

New Bus Time Tables At Mount Druitt Bus Interchange, Needs Proper Fully Detailed Bus Time Tables On Majority Of One Sided Of New Two Sided Signs

I noticed recently that a majority  of the new bus time tables - don't actually have the bus time  tables on one side of the sign. They seem to notify us of  when the first and last bus is but not the bus services in between. That leaves bus commuters guessing as to when the next bus services are  after the first bus service has departed.

What a brilliant idea, wasn't their consultant with our local NSW State Member for Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla, first, so he could have reviewed the sign and  most likely pick this up as well. Actually NSW Transport does bypass local State Members  as they have approval from the NSW Minister of Transports and Roads (which covers a majority of NSW State Members).

Our suggest is to place every bus service time table on the one side of the sign. Admittedly, The other side of the sign has it but if the commuter reads this sign and walks away frustrated, that leaves upset commuters. NSW Transport must ensure that all commuters are well informed of bus services, on all signs, even if it is  two-sided.

We hope that through this post, our NSW Member for Mount Druitt, will take this on with the NSW Government inclusive of NSW Transport, for improved  bus time table displays on all sides of signs at  Mount Druitt Bus Interchange. They should be fully detailed.

This is a proper  bus time table display for commuters:

 

So The Changes In Ward 4 and 5 Blacktown City Council Elections 10th September 2016

Would you believe it, we are still in election mode. No, not  Federal Election mode, the buzz and excitement is gone, now we have an elected Federal Government. We have  the Blacktown City Council election occurring on the 10th September 2016.

Here are the calendar of events for the  Blacktown City Council, General elections: Click here

Check here for Poling Booths Click here for Polling Booths in All Wards

So, what changes are happening in  candidates/Councillors in Ward 4 and 5 that covers Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs?

Clr Charlie Lowles OAM

Clr. Edmond Atalla

Well we have 2 retirement of Councillors: Ward 4 Councillor Edmond Atalla, now current NSW State MP since 2015, elected  as a Councillor since 2004 and retiring and Deputy Mayor 2006-7 and Ward 5 Councillor Charlie Lowles, with over 26 years of being an elected member  of Council.

This will leave Mayor Councillor Stephen Bali with the strongest chance to win the from Ward 4, 1st elected candidate and the same with Tony Bleasedale in Ward 5 (who'll jump up to number on the Australian Labor Party ticket)

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, will be swapping her nomination as candidate to from Ward 5 to Ward 4, this time running as an Independent. I understand that most of the Blacktown City Council constituents Councillor Donaldson. meet are mainly living on Ward 4. This will leave a big gaping hole in Ward 5 as the former Liberal Candidate Councillor Donaldson had  pick up a dramatic  swing swing to wards her at last Council election in 2012, a new incumbent  Liberal candidate may find it hard to maintain votes.

We don't know if Councillor Isabelle White will re run as a candidate in Ward 4. If she does,  we will advise the community , so most definitely there will be 3 new faces on Council from Ward 4 & 5 after the  Council elections after 10th September 2016.  

We will keep you posted as soon as  nominations have closed and then we will seek  each candidates 'whyilovemountdruitt', to help you consider who you will vote for.

Missing Link On Rooty Hill Overpass!

Okay, this seems to be a topic that hasn't come into the political/community field in the time I have can remember, nearly over 26 years.

There is no secret that every person that travels over the Davis overpass, which goes from Railway Street (north of Rooty Hill) and join Francis Road. What the simple thing that has  happened, since it was supposedly built in the early 1980's is, it is a single lane way on each side of the bridge. 

See the wall built ready on the south side!

With traffic congestive traffic between 3pm and 5pm Monday to Fridays, it is thought that there is that option of expanding the overpass with dual lane ways on the overpass, which would you believe is just about done. Since it's construction,  dual walls were completed on the western part of the oveerpass, both on the northern and southern end. Surprise, surprise!

See wall on North side of  Rooty Hill

Rob, a businessman from Rooty Hill has advised this would be the best major improvement that could be done, to ease traffic and  make drivers more happy. So this is the time that Ward 4 Councillors, Mayor Stephen Bali, Councillor Isabelle White and State Member for Mount Druitt , Hon. Edmond Atalla ( Also a Blacktown City Councillor) start advocating for this major improvement for Rooty Hill community members and surrounding suburbs. We also need to including Traffic Officers also need to include it in the Blacktown City Council Integrated Transport Management Plan!

So what is now required is simply complete the bridge overpass to fill in the missing link - the walls are already constructed.

Please complete blog poll, at the bottom of this website, to show how you feel?

A Year On For NSW Member For Mount Druitt 27/3/2016 - Hon. Edmond Atalla - Reflection!

It is almost a year on out of 4 years that we have a newly elected  NSW Member for Mount Druitt, Mr. Edmond Atalla. As a true family man and his full time job as  a State Member of NSW Parliament, we will be asking Mr Atalla his reflection as a growing Labor Party opposition team, his successes and his position in maintaining his 'whyilovemountdruitt'.

Personally, I think if he he was given a report card from the Mount Druitt community, he would have passed all tests and head for A+ results. No one cam be critical to any politician, who has entered his/her first year of NSW State political life. 

He is starting to take on issues within the NSW State Parliament and also from issues raised in this blogpost, which is highly commendable for him to do so.

He has the next three years, to be as vocal, passionate and progressive in chasing up all major community infrastructure improvements, promised by the current NSW Government. Also take a stand  on NSW IPART's public transport fare hikes that may be making a decision on which could  raise fares substantially. Finally, ensure that more roads are well maintained (fully) especially the major arterial road, Luxford Road. Parts of it has been upgraded, near the Mount Druitt business hub, yet there are parts that make you feel you are entering a country town that leaves you driving on road surfaces, wearing out.

A blog poll is ready for all Mount Druitt community members to provide feed back on the last year, even though it is nearing on Mr Atalla's  performance within the seat of NSW.  Go to the bottom of the  blogspot to enter your poll.



Click for post on NSW Election News 28/3/2016

 Click here for Edmond Atalla's 'whyilovemountdruitt'

NSW Transport Ministers Response To Accessible Buses In Region 1 - Hon. Edmond Atralla - NSW Member Of Mount Druitt!

It is great to hear that our number one community advocate and NSW State Member for Mount Druitt Hon. Edmond Atalla, is charging forward, with  improvements in public transport accessible buses. He has done his job and referred to the NSW Minister of Transport, Hon. Andrew Constance.

While  I respect both of their offices, I question the response from the NSW Minister of Transport on that he understands..... it is not confirmed.  Busways says they are complying to 55% and the Ministers understands that Busways has 61% - yet we are called 'Outer Sydney' - So 'Inner Sydney' appears to be a preference as per previous NSW Government Sydney Bus documents Click here for inner Sydney 86% wheel chair accessible buses 

If you go to quarterly performances - September 2015 from Sydney Buses page 86.9% are wheel chair accessible - this confirms that we are right behind the times compared to these bus regions. We are considered outer Sydney, yet Bus Region 1 is part of Sydney's bus region. We are definitely part of Sydney's bus network within Western Sydney, we no not say that North of Sydney is outer Sydney, so the same should  be  said of us. Outer Sydney west would be the Blue Mountains.....

All NSW bus Regions within Sydney (which includes Bus Region 1), should be equally provided with the same  ratio of accessible bus, same as other bus regions.

I take point where the Minister suggests that  I contact 131500 - I had done  that on a previous blog and got a bureaucratic response from Busways which did not address the issue. If  previous blogs were read this would have been picked up.* It needed a Minister of Transport response and our State Member for Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla got it. Well done!

And Still the issue remains! I'm sure this will still be discussed in NSW Parliament!


Response from 131501 inquiry

 Previous post

'Breaking The Ice Community Forums' Mount Druitt Needs One?

We live in a time where illegal drugs such as 'ice' has been supplied to drug affected community members within New South Wales, whilst the NSW Police is doing it's best to cut the supply of it.

The results of this drug on communities may be not only death to the drug taker but to the people they live within their lives. So to combat this drug, we  need a community forum that reaches out to our Mount Druitt communities, so that we are all educated on this drug, it's affects and side affects. What can be done as a community, with the NSW Government Agencies support and what is there to protect us as a community affected?

I would like to see our strong community advocate for our area (stronger than myself). Hon. Edmond Atalla, NSW State Member of Mount Druitt to take this baton up to  and for the community and let's have our say on 'Breaking the Ice!'

Click here for further NSW Government Information on 'Breaking the Ice' 

Hole In The Fence Mount Druitt Bus Interchange!

Yesterday, I noticed that Mount Druitt bus interchange has a hole in the fence again, which needs to be addressed, time and time again. Although it is not as big as previously reported (with other hole in the fences), it is still important to ensure that all community infrastructure is well maintained.

We can say this responsibility is left with our State Member  of Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla as he cannot be everywhere at the same time. He is a community advocate himself and stands up for important issues within our community. There's lots of parliamentary documents to read also understand and then there's press releases for good stories for the area. Responsibility is on all of us to raise these issues to the relevant authorities.

So people of our community should not be shy and raise this small  or larger issues  for community improvements, which definitely fits in the larger picture of making Mount Druitt a better to live in. I'm sure this matter will be attended too as quick as possible.

State Member Of Mount Druitt - Councillor Edmond Atalla Concerned Of Accessible Buses in Mount Druitt As Well!

This is a late published blog (which should have been published late last year), so I apologise to the community for this. Yet, for our State Member of Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla, I have to say he is really standing up for the community and is passionately a true advocate for improving public transport around the area.

So, it is so pleasing to hear that he is taking on the issue on current accessible amount of buses within the area for peak times (and  maybe all times) and seeking answers.

Please note how quick he responded to the original blog published 21st December 2015, from the copy of letter dated 22nd December 2015 (as above).

He very passionate about public transport in relation to Rooty Hill train station upgrade for lifts. He is aware of bus improvements in the area. Also he moved the motion in Blacktown City Council for a Hospital bus service and it has arrived but not in the Mount Druitt Hospital. At least it is heading in the right direction!

So for him to refer to the current Minister of Transport and  take on this issue is fantastic, great for the community and shows he is leading the community in the right way in relation to local bus improvements. We will update the community as soon as we receive further feedback.


Click here for previous blog

Here is the original blog published and emailed to Mr Atalla on 21/12/2015 

Pacific Vision' Charity's Fundraising Night Is Annouced: 7th May 2016

Each year Pacific Vision Charity holds a fundraising event to assist community organisations  within the area and people in need within the pacific islands. It is called, "Masti Masala Night"!

 मस्ती मसाला रात

Last years guest was Councillor Edmond Atalla, Member for Mount Druitt, who gave a very proud speech of this organisation. This year we will find out who is it is? Maybe, you could write to this organisation and recommend, who should be guest speaker, this year?

The event costs $20.00 per head, local and may I say great entertainment is provided and great Indian food. 

If you you like further information, Click here for Pacific Vision Charity Website 


Click here for last years Pacific Vision Fundraising Event 

and check out their Face Book Page for acts and speeches from 2015: Click here


Date: Saturday, 7th May 2015
Bowman Hall,  Blacktown
Start: 6.30pm

State Member For Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla Update, December 2015 To The Community - Edmond Atalla

Tonight, reporting to the community, 'Questions and Answers', raised by our State Member for Mount Druitt, Edmond Atalla  in NSW Parliament. You can see yourself they are all diversified areas of interest, some of us would take great interest in some or all of them. Others may just be interested in one item and want continuing updates.

The updates are from the Rooty Hill Labor blogspot and were posted a week ago. I will keep you updated with others as they are published.

Here they are:


Mount Druitt Hospital Hospital Beds

NSW Trustee & Guardian Assisting NSW Housing Residents

Rooty Hill Train Station Upgrade Status

Westmead Hospital Entrance

Women Only Refuge Centres 

Aneesh Chakravathula 

Blacktown City Council 

Emergency Social Housing Accommodation 

Measures To Address Truancy 1  & 
Measures To Address Truancy 2

Mount Druitt College 

Good Feedback on 755 Bus Driver Comments - 2770 Watch Without Childish Admin Face Book Group!

753 bus

We rarely get bus commuters around Mount Druitt give good feed back on bus drivers  common semnse good actions and responses to commuters.

At the same time, I also thought that bus with steps were out of service around the area, with this blog we ask stake holders, when will these buses go out of service?

Amy Nicole feeling happy.

13 hrs

I totally forgot his I. D number. But I want to thank the lovely MUSLIM bus driver on route 755 shalvey to Mt druitt this afternoon. I was sitting in the heat. It was the bus with the steps. He actually said 'I don't pick up prams, but I can't let kids sit in this heat'
I was shocked...

Councillor Edmond Atalla

Further comments from the community were commenting how  difficult it is when Busways realizes these Buses with steps and cause difficulty with the community with prams and  wheelchair commuters. Maybe, our State Member for Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla can follow this up with the NSW State government and  give us feed back!

Other comments came came in was that 99% of Muslims in our area are like this bus driver, to me that is very comforting!

Mount Druitt Train Station Was Damaged By Vandals on Wednesday Night - Security Guards/Police Required

On Wednesday night there was over night damage caused by unsympathetic vandals with damages being expenses to attend too.
 
  Sydney Trains station staff had done their  best to prevent any further accidents to commuters. In our day of age, it is send a  wrong message to the community that  our community does have good people living in it. The few people that did this anti social behaviour, must be caught and be dealt with by our NSW Police, judicial system and made to pay for damages.


In fact, I do believe we need to have security/police at Mount Druitt train station until late night to prevent these issues to occur. Maybe Blacktown City Council Transport, Member for Mount Druitt, Edmond Atalla, NSW Police can have discussions to  provide greater security for community and  to prevent damages to Sydney Trains property.  The security could be provide from private security guards or NSW Police which is most probably the better choice. This is an immediate requirement to make it safer for night commuters.