Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Forum Invigorates ‘Give Doonie A Lift’ Campaign

MEDIA RELEASE

1 August 2018

Blacktown City’s Council’s campaign to lobby for a lift at Doonside station was welcomed at the community forum on Monday night.

More than 90 people attended Blacktown City Council’s most recent Have Your Say Forum at Doonside Community Centre to voice their frustration over government neglect of Doonside station.

Long-time Doonside resident, Wendy Calman, described her life as a parent and foster carer as “difficult” without a lift.

“When you have too many children to fit into a car, or don’t have enough car seats and you live in Doonside, then you can’t use your own station to take the children out.

“This station has been on the cards, talked about and promised for over 20 years and we still don’t have it.

“It’s clear our community is not a priority for the government or we would have a lift by now,” she said.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said the continued calls from Doonside residents have become legendary in the area.

“People have signed petitions, written to the NSW government and featured in media reports about their personal experiences, but still the station is yet to get a lift,” he said.

“It is unfair to make the community wait any longer for what is the right of the residents rather than a privilege,” said Mayor Bali.

Residents made several comments, during a question and answer session, supporting Council’s campaign lobby for a lift.

One elderly resident who did not want to be named said he had lived in the area for over 50 years.

“Previously we didn’t need it because we could walk across the railway at the level crossing, now there is a ramp that is too steep and we are older.

“I really hope I get to see this lift so we can get around more easily,” he said.

Bradley Seymour, who uses a power wheelchair, attended the forum with a sign that read: “I lived my whole life in Doonside and can’t use my station”.

Other issues raised at the meeting were concerns about more community spaces for young people, commuter car park and community grants for sports clubs.

Council’s next community forum is in Ward 3 on Monday, 13 August, 7pm at Metella Road Public School, 117-131 Metella Road, Toongabbie.

“These forums are rare opportunities for people to come and meet Councillors and Council staff face-to-face, and I encourage people to attend,” Mayor Bali said.

“We want to hear your concerns.”

Next forum details: 
Monday, 13 August, 7pm at Metella Road Public School, 117-131 Metella Road, Toongabbie. Email: Forums@blacktown.nsw.gov.au

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - New Doonside Playground Opens

MEDIA RELEASE

20 June 2018

Doonside locals are enjoying a new and improved playground in their suburb after Doonside Heights Park received a $113,000 upgrade.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said this Doonside playground is one of many playgrounds to receive a facelift as part of Council’s ongoing renewal program.

“Playgrounds are vital to our community. They contribute to our lifestyle, and provide valuable spaces for children to play and learn,” Mayor Bali said.

“Blacktown City has recognised this importance by allocating funding to upgrades for several parks across the city every year, including at Doonside Heights Park.”

Council undertook a consultation workshop with Crawford Public School students and consulted with the surrounding community for the Doonside Heights Park.

“Community views played a significant role in designing the playground and choosing the equipment,” Mayor Bali said.

“The park features a range of equipment including a flying fox, pod swing, carousel, swing set, springers and a trampoline.

George Alder Reserve in Quakers Hill, Thomas Kelly Street Park in Lalor Park, Prospect Park in Prospect, Azzopardi Street Park in Glendenning and Willmot Reserve in Willmot, will all receive upgrades in the coming months.

Mayor Bali with happy Crawford Public School students. The students were given the opportunity to have a say during a consultation workshop.

Doonside Heights Park.

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Doonside Station Ignored Again By NSW Government In 2018 Budget

MEDIA RELEASE

8 June 2018

Community cries for lifts at Doonside train stations have been ignored again in the NSW Government’s 2018 budget.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said: “It was a slap in the face for our constituents this week when the State Government announced that 11 more stations will receive upgrades, but Doonside station is not on the list.”

“Council and residents have been campaigning for more than two decades for lifts at Doonside. All we got was a token lick of paint and a facelift at the station last year.

“At the time I said Doonie needs a lift, not a facelift. It needs reconstructive surgery! One year later, and clearly the people who rely on these railway stations are being shafted again,” said Mayor Bali.

This week, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance announced that the NSW Budget 2018 will include a further $133 million in the next financial year for the Transport Access Program.

The funding will provide for accessibility upgrades at North Strathfield, Kingswood, Hazelbrook, Wyee, Blayney, Mittagong, Clarendon, Hawkesbury River, Wahroonga, Taree, Roseville and further progression of Glenbrook, Beecroft, Millthorpe and Como stations.

“Doonside station is once again being ignored in favour of the North Shore and Inner West, yet Blacktown City is one of the fastest growing Council areas in NSW.

“Unfortunately the Berejiklian government has chosen yet again to ignore the elderly, mothers with prams and people with a disability in Doonside.”

“According to the most recent Census, 6.4 per cent of Doonside’s population needs help in their daily lives because of a disability.”

“It’s time we ramp up the ante and lobby Premier Gladys Berejiklian to put our lifts on the list.”

“Council is hosting a community forum in Doonside next month and I invite Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance to come and hear directly from our residents how they struggle to get to school and work every day without a lift at these stations.”

Click here Blacktown City Council - Public Transport Forum 41

Click here for previous post from 'whyilovemountdruitt' Blogspot

Nurrangingy Reserve - A Great Local Peace Place to Emjoy And Think.....

Just outside of Mount Druitt, there is a beautiful place where people and families can enjoy picnics, bar-be-ques and quite pleasant walks along different pathways.

People that need to take time out to think things out, people that need to exercise their energy, exhaust their lives with  social activies and continous communication between family and friends. Here is a place of natural beauty, natural Australian frogs, ducks and pond fish, with waterfalls that can make you relax and breath the natural beauty of our fresh clean air. One of the end results of the day is fun and entertainment.

Thank you to Blacktown Ciy Council for keeping natural beauty of Australain bushland and keeping landscapes simplistic with the over seas combination of a Chinese garden linked to our sister city, Liaocheng City, China.

Click here for details on Blacktown City Council Sister Cities details

This is a supreme place to relax and rest with families and friends, right throughout the week with picturesqure ponds with clear water and  loads of picnic and bar-be-que places to entertain yourself with. You can also become fit by cycling around on the shared cycle ways  that  goes around this Reserve and there is ample  toilet amenties to asist each visitor arond the Reserve.

 With an overflowing water fall that continues the entire day to  produce overflow pristine water flowing on rocks leading to unmoved ponds that glow with mirror images of surrounding trees and grasse. Well worth going too, especially if you need natural quietness to clear your minds.

- Click here for further Details

All the children from families will be enetertained with  showering water  from  buckets of water to windmills of water

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Click here on Plumptomn Wetlands Post - another natural beauty park

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Doonside Festival Photo-shoot

MEDIA ALERT

11 July, 2017

Event Details Photo-shoot with Mayor Stephen Bali and entertainers including an Elvis impersonator and Bolivian dancers. Date: 10am Thursday, 13 July  Location:  Corner Cross St and Hill End Road, Doonside Doonside’s resident Elvis entertainer, Glenn Freestone, will perform all the King’s greatest hits at Doonside Festival on July 22. Mr Freestone, AKA Absolutely Elvis, will be part of an impressive line-up of local talent set to entertain crowds at the popular festival.

Blacktown City Council Media Alert - Blacktown's Heart Starter

MEDIA ALERT

Blacktown City Council has become the first council in NSW to place a defibrillator in every sporting venue across the council’s area.

Under the plan, 101 defibrillators will be rolled out across the council’s sporting facilities.

The $252,000 project is underwritten by Blacktown City Council with contributions rolling in from local MPs Ed Husic, Michelle Rowland and Edmond Atalla as well as sporting groups.

Mayor Stephen Bali will be announcing the initiative at 4pm on Friday June 2 at Charlie Bali Reserve, Knox Road Doonside.

Event Details:
4pm Friday 2 June 2017
Charlie Bali Reserve, Knox Road Doonside.

On Offer:
Mayor Stephen Bali,
Federal MPs Michelle Rowland and Ed Husic
State MP Edmond Atalla
Representatives of local sporting groups
A very large pile of defibrillators

Click here for previous post

Blacktown City Council Maintenance Clean Up From Storm Yesterday - Blacktown City Council Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE

We had a significant storm event today. Emerton, Blackett, Whalan and Dharruk have been affected by the storm.

Council maintenance teams are in clean up mode across the city following the heavy storm which lashed Western Sydney this afternoon.

The following locations have been reported:

1)      24 Mimika Av, Whalan

2)      5 Lisbon St, Mt Druitt

3)      2A Tulloona St, Mt Druitt

4)      171 Beames Av, Mt Druitt

5)      Emerton Leisure Centre

6)      5 Keypost Cr, Glendenning

7)      Sedgman Cr, Shalvey

8)      107 Yarramundi Dr, Dean Park

9)      53 Deptford Av, Kings Langley

10)   7 Kikori Cr, Whalan

11)   99 Northcott Road, Lalor Park

12)   3 Chesam Place, Plumpton

13)   30 Winsome Avenue, Plumpton

14)   275 Woodstock Avenue, Dharruk

15)   6 Coveny Street, Doonside

16)   Byron St x Derwent St, Mount Druitt

17)   46 Alice St, Rooty Hill

18)   5 Wonga Rd, Seven Hills

19)   4 Thea Pl, Rooty Hill