POLITICS
Nominations for the 2025 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards now open
People in Mount Druitt can recognise an outstanding older person in their community with nominations for the 2025 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards now open .
Edmond Atalla , Member for Mount Druitt said the 2025 Seniors Festival and the Local Achievement Awards celebrate the tremendous contribution seniors offer to their community .
“ If you know a senior who strives to make our community a better place through volunteering , innovation , or simply supporting family and friends , now is the time to nominate them for the Local Achievement Awards ,” Mr Atalla said .
“ We are indeed fortunate to have so many seniors in our local community who are generous with their time , energy and commitment .
“ By highlighting seniors ’ continued efforts in helping Mount Druitt thrive , we are continuing to challenge ageism and empower seniors to overcome social stigma .”
Nominations are now open for the awards program , one of many initiatives the NSW Government promotes to support the state ’ s seniors living happy , healthy , and active lives .
Winners of the Local Achievement Awards will be announced during the 2025 NSW Seniors Festival which runs from 3-16 March .
The awards program is part of an exciting schedule of events across the state . For more information about NSW Seniors Festival and the Local Achievement Awards , visit www . seniorsfestival . nsw . gov . au .
MESSAGE
with Brad Bunting Mayor , Blacktown City Council
Happy New Year
Welcome to 2025 . I hope you enjoyed the festive season and have made a good start to the new year . If you are still on holidays , lucky you !
I am looking forward to delivering real progress for our community this year . We have a diverse set of Councillors and I am confident we can work with you to achieve big things .
Some projects I am looking forward to include :
- The expanded Kevin Betts Stadium at Mount Druitt
- Upgrading the intersection of Elara Boulevard and Northbourne Drive , Marsden Park
- Progressing plans for an expanded Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
These are just some of the exciting projects underway .
We will continue to seek your input so our planning serves the people who matter most - you .
As always , if you see me around town , please come up and say hello .
Help to beat the heat
Summer is in full swing and there are more hot days to come .
We know people in Western Sydney experience extreme temperatures , so Council is playing an active role to keep
FROM THE
MAYOR
our community safe .
Council is working with community organisations to provide Cool Centres – places where people can find relief from the heat – on heatwave days , through to the end of March .
Libraries , community centres and other venues can be used as Cool Centres . Cool Centres will be advertised at Council venues and online ( website , social media ) when available .
We have also developed a contact register so we can reach vulnerable people quickly .
For children , Council has extended the hours of our splash parks from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm until 28 February . These are great places to cool off .
Council continues to plant more trees and is working with the building industry to encourage materials that reduce heat .
Council CEO Kerry Robinson OAM is Chair of the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce , which is exploring more ways we can make Blacktown City a cooler place to live .
Can you provide a good home to an abandoned pet ?
At this time of year we sadly find many cats and dogs abandoned . In some cases these animals were Christmas presents that proved too much for their owners .
If you can provide a permanent home to an animal in need , the staff at the Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre at Glendenning would love to hear from you .
18 ISSUE 46 // JANUARY 2025 HAPPY NEW YEAR ! theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT