for everyone !
LOCAL LIFE
Banks abandoning the community in Blacktown City
Lunar New Year - Year of the Snake Nurragingy Reserve , Doonside Friday 7 February 2025 Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens in Nurragingy Reserve will be alive with colour as we prepare to ring in the Year of the Snake .
Decorated in the spirit of Lunar , the celebrations will feature a range of cultural activities and entertainment between 4 pm - 9.00 pm and conclude with a spectacular fireworks display including Chinese fire crackers .
The event will feature free workshops , activities and kids rides . 5pm to 9pm - two stages of cultural entertainment - lion and dragon dance - roving entertainment - food and market stalls - free workshops – fan painting , snake crafts , dough sculptures , calligraphy , lantern making - Chinese firecrackers - fireworks
Blacktown City Councillors took a stand for our community , calling on the Commonwealth Bank to reverse its decision to close yet another local branch in the Blacktown City area , but to no avail .
The latest closure , the Doonside Branch closed on 29 November last year .
The Mayor of Blacktown City , Brad Bunting , expressed concern over the impact this decision will have on residents who rely on access to local banking services , “ Many of our residents , particularly those who lack transportation , including elderly and disabled residents , depend on nearby branches and accessible ATMs ,” he said .
“ When Commonwealth Bank closed the Rooty Hill branch , residents were directed to Doonside . Now , Doonside has closed , pushing people even further away from essential services .”
The Doonside closure follows a string of others in the area , including branches in Rooty Hill , Toongabbie , and Blacktown . This pattern , coupled with similar closures by other major banks , has failed to consider the needs of Blacktown ’ s rapidly growing population .
Mayor Bunting said , “ It ’ s time we push back , the banks assume everyone lives in a digital world , but that ’ s simply not true for many of our residents . They need accessible banking . It ’ s time banks put people before profits . Local workers are losing their jobs , and residents are losing vital services .”
Across Australia , the big four banks have closed 1,446 branches since 2018 , according to S & P Global Market Intelligence . In 2023 alone , Westpac closed 167 branches , followed by Commonwealth Bank with 73 closures , ANZ with 72 , and NAB with 63 .
Mayor Bunting called on banks to listen to the community they serve . “ Banks are ignoring
The Mayor of Blacktown City , Brad Bunting and the Deputy Mayor of Blacktown City , Bob Fitzgerald outside the Commonwealth Bank Doonside branch .
the views of their customers , our residents . Blacktown City is calling on the Commonwealth Bank and other financial institutions to remember their service obligations to the community .”
“ We are also urging the Federal Government to consider a moratorium on further closures . Blacktown City has diverse communities that need infrastructure and services , and banks are a vital part of that .”
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ISSUE 46 // JANUARY 2025 9