POLITICS with Ed Husic MP
Funding the Metro Missing Link
While work has finally begun on the $ 500m project to upgrade Richmond Road, the fight continues on another key infrastructure front in western Sydney: extending the Sydney Metro rail line.
Ending the Sydney Metro at Tallawong was short sighted- and frankly, bizarre.
In March we received the helpful news that Infrastructure Australia had decided that the Tallawong to St Marys rail connection will be a priority project, moving it up the infrastructure list. This was the right move, but I will continue to push the government to invest in expanding public transport in our area.
Recently I raised this issue in parliament, calling on the federal and NSW governments to work together to extend the Metro and finally fix the missing link in the outer suburban rail corridor.
I’ ve been mobilising local peoplepower to send a message to the Federal and NSW governments to extend the Metro and finally fix the missing link in the outer suburban rail system. Have you signed my petition( access via the QR code)?
Expanding the Metro makes sense- it would sit at the foot of some of the fastest-growing areas of western Sydney. Having
the Metro run through Marsden Park can unlock the start of work to create a new central business district there, generating more local jobs and opportunity.
Healthcare staff in Western Sydney
Western Sydney is growing fast but the number of local doctors isn’ t keeping up.
Our region has some of the lowest GP numbers per person in Australia, and that’ s not good if we want to see better access to care for local families.
I recently attended a parliamentary roundtable for Western Sydney MP’ s held by the federal member for Macarthur and former paediatrician Mike Freelander. We caught up with local healthcare providers to talk about how we train, attract and keep more doctors in our community.
This is a big priority for me and our part of North-West Sydney.
Our government’ s $ 8.5 billion investment in bulk billing is massively important, but we also need more doctors working in Western Sydney.
No one in our area should ever feel they can’ t see a doctor because they can’ t afford it or can’ t find one locally to provide them essential healthcare.
MESSAGE
with Brad Bunting Mayor, Blacktown City Council
Festival time means fun for families and friends
The Blacktown City Festival is here and I cannot wait to see many of you enjoying the action and entertainment right through May.
Our Festival has run for more than 50 years, and I am proud of Blacktown City Council’ s commitment to helping our community celebrate where we live.
Many family budgets are tight in 2026, so I am pleased there are plenty of free events. I encourage you to look through the program on Council’ s website for activities that might suit you.
A favourite of mine is the big finale, the Streets Alive and Parade Day. It will take over Blacktown city centre on Saturday 30 May.
There will be music, performances, street performers and much more. See you there.
Introducing the new home of the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
Have you seen Council’ s concept design for a purpose-built arts centre at Alpha Park in Blacktown city centre?
Our arts community deserves a new home to be excited about after we said goodbye to the old site in January.
The new Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre will include gallery space, a flexible performance studio, workshop and creative learning
FROM THE
MAYOR
areas, artist workspaces and spaces for exhibitions, performance and community events.
Council will be asking for your thoughts in the coming months as we continue to refine the design.
A big thanks to the NSW Government’ s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants( WSIG) program for making this possible.
Young leaders providing fresh perspective
When Council plans the future of Blacktown City, listening to our young people plays an important part.
This is where our new 2026 Youth Ambassadors, Blacktown City residents Laura Corvalan Sotomayor and Sardip Guha, come in.
Laura is a prefect at William Clarke College and has served on Council’ s Blacktown City Youth Advisory Committee.
Sardip has been a member of the Student Representative Council at Penrith Selective High School. The pair are taking part in the Youth Advisory Committee and helping shape Council’ s understanding of issues affecting young people.
Laura and Sardip are also joining Councillors and I at events including citizenship ceremonies and civic receptions.
I would like to congratulate our outgoing ambassadors, Caiden Bond and Jiyaa Sahdev, who did a marvellous job over the past 12 months.
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 62 // MAY 2026 19