POLITICS
MARSDEN PARK NEEDS A POST OFFICE
As the edge of Sydney moves further west , with new estates growing rapidly , we don ’ t need residents waiting forever for the infrastructure or services they need .
That ’ s why it was so good to have so many Marsden Park residents attend my community meet up to speak with Australia Post representatives about how we can boost postal services in our area .
The nearest Post Offices are some distance away - or need you to tangle with the nightmare that is Richmond Road ! Given the size of Marsden Park and the surrounding suburbs , there ’ s more than enough customers to support greater services locally . with Ed Husic MP
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEDICARE For four decades , Medicare has delivered affordable healthcare for all
Australians .
To keep Medicare strong into the future , the Albanese Labor Government has tripled the bulk billing incentive for doctors to help those in greatest need – and we ’ ve taken action to cut the cost of medicine . And in Chifley , we secured our own Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Rooty Hill . To celebrate Medicare ’ s 40th birthday , I dropped by Mount Druitt ’ s Medical and Dental Centre to say thank you to the wonderful team and the role they play in serving our community .
MESSAGE
with Tony Bleasdale OAM Mayor Blacktown City
I was overjoyed to see our community help officially open two new Council parks communities in Grantham Farm and Schofields . Making the most of school holidays , local kids are loving Galungara Park at Schofields , and the new park at Edmund Street Basin Precinct in Grantham Farm . Both projects were built with funding from the NSW Government and developer contributions administered by Blacktown City Council .
Council and the NSW Government have invested a combined $ 35 million in the construction of water retention basins , cycleways , playgrounds and landscaping in the two reserves that make up the Edmund Street Basin Precinct in the new suburb of Grantham Farm and in the construction of a new amenities building , a playground and landscaping in Galungara Park in Schofields .
Blacktown City Council , with the Minns Government , is determined to provide the very best infrastructure to serve the needs of our residents in the rapidly developing suburbs such as Grantham Farm , Riverstone and Marsden Park .
I want to thank for their support , The Hon . Ron Hoenig , the NSW Minister for Local Government and the Warren Kirby , the MP for Riverstone .
Each year , Council spends over $ 1 million cleaning up graffiti across the city . Council staff regularly inspect public spaces and have carried out 8,650 graffiti removal jobs so far this financial year . Our community is proud of their Blacktown City home , and we want to help keep it that way .
FROM THE
MAYOR
I want to encourage you - if you see graffiti please report it to Council for removal . Council staff will respond promptly so we can all continue to be proud of where we live .
Graffiti can be reported via Council ’ s graffiti webpage : www . blacktown . nsw . gov . au / our-environment / pollution / graffiti or by calling Council ’ s customer service centre on 5300 6000 . There is a free removal service for residents and owners of Blacktown CBD properties .
I am also delighted to report that Council has installed 10 new bus shelters to provide shade and protection from heat and harsh weather for those using public transport . The shelters include seating , cover from the elements and tactile elements to support people with visual impairments .
Council has funded five shelters and will use funding from federal government ’ s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to build the other five .
The new shelters will be installed in the next six months .
Our community deserves protection from the sun and the rain while waiting for a bus . Council is the sole provider of bus shelters in the local government area and regularly adds , maintains and replaces this infrastructure .
We recently made submissions to the 2023 NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Current and future public transport needs in Western Sydney seeking a discussion on funding needed to keep up with community demand for bus shelters .
As Blacktown City ’ s population grows , so does the financial demands on Council to provide basic infrastructure and services .
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 38 // MAY 2024 19