POLITICS
Cutting 20 per cent off student debt
If you have a student loan , we ’ re looking to cut 20 per cent off from this June . And this applies to any student who has racked up a loan — university and TAFE students alike .
So what does this mean ? If you have a $ 27,000 debt , that ’ s around $ 5,000 less that you ’ ll have to pay back to the ATO . And it doesn ’ t matter if you ’ re still studying , or you ’ ve already finished . This will help over 23,000 students in our local area reduce their debt .
On top of this , our recent changes to cut back the indexation rate for 2023 and 2024 mean a student with a $ 35,600 debt would have over $ 1,500 wiped off their loan .
with Ed Husic MP
A billion dollars for local roads
The Federal Government has announced funding boost to fix local roads in our area . With all the growth occurring here , our infrastructure needs to keep up .
We ’ re investing $ 580m to support housing and flood relief in the Hawkesbury-Nepean area and targeting Garfield Road West upgrades to four lanes and upgrading Townson Road .
This is on top of the $ 520m joint Federal and New South Wales Government funding to upgrade Richmond Road .
Past Federal and State Liberal governments ignored these roads , and our calls for investment .
In our first term we ’ re righting this wrong .
If I can be of assistance about a Federal matter , please do not hesitate to contact my office . See my details below .
MESSAGE
with Brad Bunting Mayor , Blacktown City Council
Got a question for Council ? Come and meet your Councillors
Our Pop-up Community Forums are underway for 2025 and I am looking forward to our team meeting and hearing from you .
Your ward Councillors will be at the locations listed below so you can approach them with any questions or comments you might have .
There is no agenda and no appointment is necessary .
We had positive discussions with residents at our Ward 2 Pop-up Forum in February and I am looking forward to more .
Upcoming dates : Ward 1 : Saturday 15 March 9:30 am – 11:30 am – Stanhope Village Ward 3 : Saturday 15 March 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Seven Hills Plaza Ward 5 : Saturday 29 March 10am – 12 noon – Emerton Village Ward 4 : Saturday 12 April 10am – 12 noon Outside Mount Druitt Library
Empowering people with disabilities
I recently walked through the building site of the Blacktown Disability Sports Centre at Blacktown International Sports Park and it ’ s coming along nicely .
The centre will give people of all abilities the opportunity to use state of the art sports facilities .
FROM THE
MAYOR
It will include two multipurpose courts for a variety of sports and activities , as well as support for balancing training with work and study commitments .
Disability Sports Australia and Volleyball NSW will be among the first users of the centre .
Council is delivering the project which is fully funded by the NSW Government .
I will be sure to let you know when the venue opens mid-year .
A tribute to a servant of community sport
I was saddened to learn of the passing of a man synonymous with Doonside Little Athletics , and other sports around Blacktown City , Ron Keys OAM .
Ron volunteered at Doonside Little Athletics for more than 40 years in a number of roles and helped countless children develop skills and confidence .
He helped organise Blacktown fun runs such as Relay for Life , trained teams at Doonside Junior Rugby League , and was president of Parklea Golf Club .
A couple of weeks ago I joined Doonside
Little Athletics ’ members at Charlie Bali Reserve to unveil the Ron Keys Stand and plant a tree in his honour .
We will miss Ron dearly .
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 47 // MARCH 2025 19