POLITICS
MESSAGE
with Brad Bunting Mayor , Blacktown City Council
Exciting facilities for sports lovers
Have you enjoyed watching Australia ’ s Olympians in France ? I have , and it is timely that Council has begun some exciting sports projects at the grassroots level .
Basketballers and wheelchair athletes will be pleased to see work underway to expand Kevin Betts Stadium at Mount Druitt .
The venue is wildly popular and Council will be doubling capacity by adding two indoor courts adjacent to the existing structure . More amenities will be provided , as well as more parking and driveway improvements .
Meanwhile Council has also started work on the Disability Sport Centre of Excellence at Blacktown International Sports Park .
This project will deliver a multipurpose indoor training facility , along with bespoke amenities designed to help athletes combine practice with work , study and family commitments .
Council and Disability Sports Australia are working together on the facility , which will complement Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub ( BEST ) at Blacktown
FROM THE
MAYOR
International Sports Park .
On a related note , the Paris Paralympics begins this month . Recently I met Blacktown City swimmers Tim Hodge and Chloe Osborn and their coach Misha Payne , all of whom will be giving their all at the games .
Tim , Chloe and Misha are fine examples of pursuing your dreams and I wish them good luck . Huge response to Women ’ s Forum I was delighted by the full house we had for the 2024 Blacktown City Council Women ’ s Forum at Bowman Hall in July .
Our speakers shared thoughtprovoking ideas of how we can help women seize opportunities . There was a great spirit among attendees in brainstorming solutions to a range of challenges .
All feedback ideas will form part of a forum report outlining recommendations and calls for action .
This report will be a useful aid for myself and Councillors to guide decisionmaking . Thanks for your support This is my last Mayoral column before Council enters ‘ caretaker mode ’ prior to the election on 14 September 2024 . I am truly grateful for this role and the support I have had from the community . Blacktown City has so much to offer and I encourage you to meet more people and visit more places in this diverse city .
Council has some fantastic projects in the pipeline and I hope to be working with you again to deliver them .
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 41 // AUGUST 2024 17