Mayor
01 October 2024
FROM THE MAYOR OF BLACKTOWN
New Councillors to be sworn-in
THANKYOU you to everyone who voted in the 2024 Blacktown City Council election.
Soon, 15 Councillors will be sworn-in to office to be your representatives on Council.
I encourage you to keep providing feedback to Councillors so we can make the best possible decisions on your behalf.
The swearing-in will take place at an extraordinary meeting to be held on Wednesday 9 October at Council Chambers.
Councillors will vote to elect the Mayor at this meeting and the public is welcome to attend.
Please note that all Council operations and services are continuing as usual.
Congratulations Paralympians
I was delighted to see our Blacktown City athletes do so well at the Paralympic Games in Paris.
Swimmer Chloe Osborn claimed a silver medal as part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team.
Para-cyclist Gordon Allan also performed strongly and won a bronze medal as part of the men’s 750m sprint team.
Swimmer Tim Hodge claimed two gold medals. He won the men’s 200m individual medley SM9 and was part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay team. Tim also won silver in the men’s 100m butterfly S9.
Misha Payne, who coaches Chloe and Tim at Blacktown Aquatic Centre, was one of the coaches of the successful Australian swimming team.
All four have done our community and country proud. Well done!
Celebrating Diwali
Many people in our community will celebrate the ancient Hindu festival of Diwali (“the festival of lights”), also known as Deepavali, on 1 November.
The festival marks the victory of light over darkness and people will be lighting lamps and candles in homes and temples to get into the spirit.
There is great interest in Diwali. More of our overseas-born residents were born in India than any other country.
To help bring the community together for the occasion, Council is encouraging people to decorate their homes as part of its
Diwali Lights Competition. See the Council website for details.
The Hindu Council is organising a Deepavali Festival at Blacktown Showground on 19 and 20 October. Best wishes to all who celebrate the occasion.
30 July 2024
MLAYOR'S MESSAGE AUGUST 2024
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 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 thought-provoking 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 decision-making.
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.
Featured
08 June 2024
THE WORK OF COMMUNITY BUILDING CONTINUES
Blacktown's future is strong and sustainable
By Mayor of Blacktown City, BRAD BUNTING.
I AM honoured, though it is with a heavy heart, to have been chosen to be Mayor of Blacktown City Council.